After I've read the newspaper, tried and failed to get on the non existent free wireless network, and forgotten the earphones to my iPod on the plane on the way out, I like to play a simple little game sitting on the floor next to the electricity plug, waiting for my flight back home to Denver at some far away airport.
I call is the "Guess Who's Coming Home With Me" game.
The game is very straightforward. I try to decide, just by observing my fellow travelers, which ones walking down the terminal hallway are on my flight.
Now you might think this this would be pretty easy game to play. You would be right, but probably not for the right reason.
I'm betting you are thinking that in order to identify Denver bound passengers I look for the obvious clues like, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, ski wear, Broncos jackets or jerseys, or even Uggs...the hugely popular ski town "must have" footwear.
But while all these items of clothing are good indicators of my fellow Colorado bound travelers, I have a much more simply way to tell who joining me on my flight.
I look for the young and thin passengers. To be more precise the ones that are not over weight, or as the US government would define them..."obese."
You see Colorado is the thinest state in America with just under 17 percent of the state's population being categorized as obese by Uncle Sam.
I suspect that this fat percentage also correlates with the age of the population in Colorado. In fact according to the last census report Colorado has one of the lowest mean ages (34), plus we have one of the highest male to female rations in the entire country. Only Alaska, and a handful of other states, have a lower mean age and less women per men per the census.
So if you are a young single guy looking for a state with young thin and single women, I have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that we have them, the bad news is that you'll have plenty of company from other guys already here looking for the same thing.
BTW: Our mountain towns (Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and such ) are notorious for having a 10 to 1 male to female ratio, so you'd do well to avoid these places if you are looking for that young, thin, and athleteic gal of your dreams.
Just my 2 cents because I can already see the wheels spinning in your brain. Just know that skiing and sex don't really mix unless you BYOG (Bring Your Own Gal).
On the other hand gals....
But back to matters at hand. You don't have to live in Colorado to be thin, or you certainly don't have to live here to lose weight. Take a look at THIS and THIS Wisconsin blog. This husband and wife have lost hundreds of pounds in the home of this country's best beer and brat combo.
The point I'm trying to make in this roundabout intro is that it doesn't matter where you live when it comes to your weight, what really matters is how you live.
Let me explain. The census numbers above don't really illustrate the point that we Coloradoans are a very active bunch.
When my wife and I first moved here we had a hard time making friends. Every weekend all of our possible new buddies were out skiing, or hiking, or mountain climbing, or cycling, or running, or camping, or snowshoeing, or doing a thousand other mountain and sun assisted outdoor activities. That sort of very active outdoor lifestyle is obviously one of the biggest reasons that people move here. It also why it is so hard to make friends.
In Chicago, where I grew up, the typical Mother's Day weekend consisted of getting together with friends and family at this or that restaurant or home. Both options included a lot of yummy food, and a lot of sitting around.
In Colorado I tend to get together with my friends on a much more regular basis to go running, or skiing, or biking.
For instance this weekend I went for a windy 50 mile bike ride with two friends who are training for Ride The Rockies (a one bike week tour of Colorado's most scenic roads). I also celebrated Mother's Day with at our great neighbor's house sitting around eating bagels, cake, and chatting.
But that was on a weekend that also included a 7-mile run, with the 50-mile bike. I just don't think that in Chicago it would be so easy to do both a long bike and run, and brunch with the neighbors.
To be fair a lot of the folks reading this have had a similar Mother's Day weekend. But let's face it gang, we are certainly the exception and not the rule.
Anyway, next time you are stuck at the airport, bored and crazed out of your brain from the constant "Ding! the moving sidewalk will come to an end. Ding! " recording, try my game and see if you can tell who's flying to Atlanta and who's flying to Denver?
