By CHRIS KEYSER
FOR THE FREE LANCE–STAR

When I got married, I knew some things would change—like my overall cleanliness, the amount of time I have to play video games and my magazine subscriptions.

What I didn’t count on where the unexpected changes in how I spend my time with my wife.

I now have a strange addiction to the Lifetime Channel because she enjoys watching the twisted tales of desperate housewives. I have found that I can vacuum and do the dishes, and I enjoy my wife’s face when she comes home from work and the house is cleaner than she left it.

One of the best changes is that we try to do a lot of new things together. We try to venture out and do different things around town and on weekend trips where we can build life experiences together.

This weekend we are going to participate in the MS Walk for the Cure at James Monroe High School this Saturday morning—it’s something we have never done. Registration begins at 8:30 and the walk begins at 10 a.m. The walk takes you though historic downtown Fredericksburg, and is a wonderful way to kick-start that last minute bathing suit diet.

If I am still able to walk after the 5k, then on our way back home we are going to hit up some garage sales. If you are like me—a little creative, and a little broke—then garage sales are the way to go. I don’t recommend buying used underwear or deodorant, but if you are looking for an end table, or you collect books like I do, then you can have a good time.

The trick about garage sales is knowing what you are looking for—because if you don’t, you will end up with a monkey statue, a punching bag, and a painting of Jimi Hendrix. You may only pay $60 for all of that, but when you get home and show your wife the treasures, then you will have a monkey statue, a punching bag, and a painting of Jimi Hendrix in your garbage. And you are down 60 bucks.

Man Wisdom 287: Never buy a monkey statue, or a punching bag, or a painting of any rock star over a decade old without your wife’s permission.