Yesterday was not just another day during which I failed to finish “Spore,” it was also one of the last days I’ll be playing video games for a while. On Sunday I’m going on a week’s vacation. Unless any portable game materializes today that I want to play, that means I will be game-free for the eight days.

I don’t like taking games with me on vacation. A DS or PSP game is decent for a plane flight, though I prefer to catch up on reading. Once I’m wherever I’m traveling it seems silly to play at all (except, of course, for that time a year ago when I took an Xbox 360 and the first two “Halo” games to a wedding).

Come Saturday night I will power down my consoles, hopefully be done with “Spore” and pack a suitcase. For a week I’ll miss the DS release of “Lock’s Quest” and be back just in time for the launch of “Rock Band 2.” That’s not such tough timing, not like the time a few years ago when I left the country for a truly wonderful three week trip and played nothing smack during the November releases.

While you diary readers are enjoying yourselves next week, play a little extra for me. I won’t miss gaming too much, right?

Next: On Saturday I’ve got to cram in a quick try of “Infinite Undiscovery,” return to “The Force Unleashed” for undisclosable reasons, and tend some more of my “Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise” garden.