Shutting Off

Here's an idea on how to shut off with some friends or family. Visit Jim Bishop's Castle, located in the Wet Mountains in southern Colorado. This place is truly an adult version of the coolest McDonald's Playplace you'll ever see. Jim's been building his castle - by hand with rocks, cement and wrought iron - for over 40 years.

This adventure isn't for anyone with acrophobia (fear of heights, not spiders). The castle rises over 100 feet above the ground, and the entire structure is open to exploration. You can climb, crawl or tip-toe your way just about anywhere the narrow walkways, awkwardly spiraling staircases, and Sara-Palin-esque bridges to no where will take you. Entrance is free, but user donations help Jim keep the castle rising to new heights.

Be ready for a 2.5 hour drive south and west from Denver, and bring a lunch. You'll be in the San Isabel National Forest with plenty of places to relax and enjoy an afternoon with friends in the woods.

Interesting article about distracted driving and the idea that it only takes 2 seconds. I can admit that I'm a much worse driver when I'm using my phone.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/28/us/distracted-driving-dangers/index.html?iref=allsearch

At distracted driving forum, a focus on danger beyond '2 seconds' - CNN.com Experts at a distracted driving forum discussed the time difference between an engaged driver and a distracted one.

Yesterday, I spent some time with co-workers shutting off at Happy Jack cross country ski area outside of Laramie, Wyoming. The wind was howling in the parking lot, but the trails are well protected by the trees. It was my first time on cross-country skis, and although it took a while to get the hang of "skating" I enjoyed the experience. Next time I won't waste so much time and energy figuring out the motions.

Today, my body is reeling a bit from the exertion. For me, cross country skiing is one of those activities that uses muscles your body didn't know it had. It's a wake up call for parts of my legs more accustomed to pounding the pavement than gliding along well-groomed forest trails. If you're looking for a nice way to spend a weekend (and shut off for a couple of hours), visit Happy Jack (no admission cost) after stopping by the Cross Country Connection in Laramie to rent some skis.

Cross Country Connection- Home Page The Cross Country Connection is Laramie's finest outdoor store

Here's a fun distraction - about being distracted. These quick "games" test your ability to filter out distractions and irrelevant information, and to switch between tasks. Take the tests and post your scores.

Test Your Focus Measure your ability to filter out distractions in this test based on a Stanford study.