My son Evan and I were at a restaurant the other night that had a beautiful salad bar. So after we ordered our entrees, we both dashed over to the salad bar area to see what we could fill our plates with while we awaited our meals. It started off fairly normally. I put some lettuce on my plate, followed by some tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, chick peas, and green peppers. Only a few croutons could fit at that point. Anything else and it would have been on the floor. So I carefully added a little ranch dressing and took my plate back to the table. Evan had made a similar looking plate although not quite as full.

Before beginning to eat, we both walked back to take a look at what else they had on the bar. The soup looked good so I took a cup of that. Then I noticed along the back edge of the salad bar there were big plates of whole onions, whole tomatoes, whole peppers, and big heads of lettuce. Ostensibly these were meant to be "decoration," but would it be OK if I took a whole tomato back to the table and cut it up and ate it? I wasn't sure.

Then I looked further. There were large whole melons and there was a gigantic watermelon. Now of course these were also decoration, but would it be legal for me to remove the twenty pound watermelon from the salad bar, take it to the table, and insist that the waiter cut it up for us? Isn't anything up there technically fair game? If I took the watermelon and they called the police, what would the police do? Arrest me for taking fruit from a salad bar?

And where do you draw the line? There were beautiful large glass jars filled with olives and peppers and all kinds of stuff. You know what I mean... the kind you see in delicatessens. Could I take those? I think if they were on the salad bar, they could theoretically be taken.

Then I looked up on a shelf above the bar. There were large industrial size bottles of mayonnaise, ketchup, oils, dressings, vinegars. I could have done my weekly shopping and I don't think anyone could have stopped me. What about the lamps? They were very cool looking.

Anyway, I decided to go back to the table to enjoy my salad and soup. But next time I'm coming with large bags. Or perhaps some boxes. Maybe a rental truck because the salad bar tables would look beautiful in my house. As they say, anything on a salad bar is fair game, isn't it? I think so!

I know something about you that is absolutely true. I guarantee it.

What you may ask?

I can tell that you have been working too hard. I can actually tell by the way you are reading this blog. My computer has built in sensors. I don't understand the science, but it has something to do with the way your eyes appear to your monitor. That gets translated into some type of computer code and jettisons across T1 cable until it is picked up by my ISP and downloaded to the hemulator on my motherboard.

Anyway, I have received data telling me that you are overworked and you have not been taking enough time to get out and enjoy yourself. True??? Of course it is.

So what I am going to suggest is that when you finish what you are doing, please go outside and take a walk by yourself for no less than one hour. I don't care if the temperature is cold. Just dress properly and you'll be OK. I promise.

During your walk, take a look around. Observe everything. Sometimes it helps to take a camera with you. I have noticed when I have a camera with me, I see more of my surroundings.

Breathe in the fresh air. Look at the clouds. Touch the snow. Listen to the sounds of your feet on the ground. Open your eyes. You're alive.

Don't allow your work schedule to prevent you from enjoying life. Before you know it will be too late. Get out now and take an hour walk. You will want to thank me. But you don't have to. Just get out!

See you next time.