Boo

Good job!

Good job!

I learned something about vaping I had not realized before. I was talking to a guy I know through my work. He's a vaper. You never see him without that big clunky device with the glass tube on top in his hand. He hangs out at some vape shop and apparently he's not the only one. He goes there after work. Spends hours in the place. From the way he described it, it sounded like a pub environment. Except instead of drinking booze they sit around and blow fruity smelling clouds at each other. I don't really have a point with this post. I just thought it was weird that there is a whole "culture" out there that revolves around vaping.

It's playoff time! Keeping an eye on the Dodgers-Rockies game to see where the Braves are heading to start the postseason (the Dodgers are leading by two in the fifth right now). I thought the Braves were a year away. I had questions about how soon the young talent would contribute. Thought the starting rotation had the potential to be good, but had some reservations. And I didn't trust the bullpen one bit. Sometimes it's nice to be wrong. Feel free to join in and sing-a-long with me...

Great job Linda. You're doing great. Congratulations.

A wise decision Deanna. The money saved will be one of many benefits you will enjoy now that you've quit. Enjoy the ride.

I became a father today...of sorts. Me and Sugar Britches adopted a black lab and brought him home today. His name is Cash(as in Johnny Cash aka "The Man in Black." You see...Black lab, Man in Black...it's a theme.) A couple that live down the road from us are the ones who put us in touch with the family that had the dogs up for adoption. They adopted one of Cash's brothers, his name is Walker. We've got him set up with a bed area, water and food bowls, toys, and other dog needs in the sunroom. We also got him a doghouse that sits right outside the backdoor. And with all that, he's sleeping on the couch right now. I still don't know how to post personal pictures, so I searched the internet for a picture that would give you some idea of just how cute Cash is... And if you looked at that picture and said to yourself "Awwww." That is the appropriate response. The little guy is so cute it's ridiculous.

Meathead...he ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer. And he has a bad habit of going missing for prolonged periods of time. However, four-years is a solid achievement. And, as Saz mentioned earlier, he did create the greatest thread on the interwebs with "Babe of the Day." Good job Meathead. Enjoy this video featuring some classic Van Halen and a bunch of hot chicks...

Good job!

Good job. (insert random Australian meme here)

Closing in on the lido deck quickly now. Congratulations GITW.

Great job Parsley. Enjoy the freedom...and the Chinese food.

There once was a dope, dumb as a cantaloupe He made NOPE a daily trope And gave hope to those climbing the rope

Good job Fart-Knocker.

Boxing is a phenomenal workout. There are so many skills to work on (footwork, punching, ducking, slipping, bobbing, angles, etc., etc.) that it is pretty much impossible to get bored with a boxing regimen. The first thing I would tell anyone looking at going to a boxing gym for the first time is this: don't be intimidated by the boxing gym. The trainers and fighters I encountered at the gym were all good guys who were interested in teaching people new skills regardless of what level they were at. There won't be any pressure to get in the ring if you don't want to. In fact, sparring is done in such a regulated manner in boxing gyms now, setting up a full-speed session in the ring is a process that involves a lot of scheduling and waiting. The trainers at boxing gyms enjoy working with female clients. If most are being honest, they would rather work with beginner level women than men. Many of us men bring a lot of preconceived notions about boxing to the gym with us. Sometimes we men are guilty of thinking we know more than we do about fighting and thinking we're more advanced than we actually are. You know...the whole male pride and machismo thing. Trainers waste a lot of time with some men making them "unlearn" things. In the gym environment, women are on average more likely to admit that they don't know something. Which makes the trainer's job easier. If at first the training doesn't seem as exciting as you thought it might be, be patient. The fundamentals come first at the gym. Setting up in a proper stance, learning to move your feet correctly...these are the foundation that boxers are built on. The fancy stuff doesn't work if the fundamentals are not there. Some folks come to the gym expecting to learn to throw a left hook like Joe Frazier on day one. Those people don't last long at the gym. Boxing will test you at every level. Boxing will also benefit you at every level.

Good job!

Great job Tammy. Three months of freedom is cause for celebration.

Good job!

Congratulations and enjoy the lido deck KT.

The stench. The stained walls and ceiling. Sitting around with your fellow addicts looking miserable and desperately trying to get a fix that would last the duration of your flight. This little trip down memory lane was a good reminder to celebrate a successful quit.

Great job TobacNO. The wins add up and the benefits of quitting accumulate with time. Congratulations and enjoy the ride.

I couldn't get it together and quit either. Until I did. Quitting looks like an insurmountable goal if you stand back from it and make it out to be bigger than it is. When you commit to the quit and make forward progress everyday, the fear ceases and you realize that freedom from smoking is attainable. Commitment. Education. Resolve. Proceed. Good luck Sean.

A belated welcome aboard Kdad. Congratulations on making a great choice. Those thoughts of driving to the gas station and buying a pack of smokes are just that, thoughts. Thoughts have as little or as much power as we give them....they come and go. Your commitment to freedom from cigarettes is infinitely more powerful than any passing thought. Fresh air and freedom...A fine combination!

Great start to a new life of freedom. Good work Christa.