Boo

Thanks. Oddly enough, Sugar Britches is calmer than I am right now. And she's the one doing all the heavy lifting. Shout out to my mom and dad and for that matter, all parents everywhere. Pregnancy and childbirth is the most intensely emotional thing I've ever experienced.

Good job Denali.

Welcome aboard the Quit Train Marie. We have quitters of all stripes here. Some used Chantix/Champix. Others used nicotine replacement. As for those of us who went cold turkey, I can only speak for myself, we really appreciated the direct path. Cold turkey may not be easy but it is undeniably the simplest way of quitting smoking. We focus more on the mission of quitting than the method of quitting.

Can't offer up any information on the elections down under. As for the other big announcement...Mister Jackson has not made his big debut yet. We are in the the 39th week. The boy is at full-term. If Jackson does not make his grand entrance by this time next week, the good doctor has said she will consider inducing labor. So, to answer the question "what are you doing right now?" Pacing....lots of pacing.

Good job Steven.

That is the quitter's paradox: I don't want to be a smoker, but I sure could go for a cigarette. We conditioned ourselves for years with cigarettes. There was nary a situation that came up during a day that a cigarette wouldn't fix. We accepted a lot of lies born of addiction as gospel truth. Time and repetition will allow for a reset. Keep doing what you're doing...you'll get there in time.

Top-shelf quit Mac. Congratulations.

Do it. I've worked out a lot of issues in my life by getting in a few rounds on the heavy bag. Bag work is cathartic. Damn good workout as well.

Good job Sunnyside.

I never made it up to Tahoe. Took a couple of trips out to Kernville back in the nineties; nice town. Had plans on venturing out and seeing more of the area, but if the river was up we just stayed and ran whitewater all day.

Sitting on the couch or laying on the bed while listening to music helped calm me down during the early days. I can go down the rabbit hole when I start listening to music I like. In quitting smoking there are infinite options of things to do with your time. There is only one thing you can't do: smoke. Time spent stacking BB's or trying to nail Jell-O to the wall is a better use of your time than smoking.

I like corned beef. The cabbage...not so much. The German potato salad there is really good as well. And there's primo trout fishing within walking distance of the place. I'm a simple man. Don't really need much more than that to have a good day.

Welcome aboard the Quit Train Brioski. Congratulations on eight days smoke-free. Fate pushed you in the right direction. Good call on keeping the momentum going.

And one that has become my favorite Johnny Cash train song...

I'm nothing if not predictable. Train songs? Take it away Mr. Cash...

The Train rolls on.

Great job Justin. Congratulations. How many lunar cycles 'til the lido deck?

Great job Yoda. Seems like only yesterday you were a freshman...

Viva la Tank!

She's right Denali. The days of white knuckling and hanging on for dear life will pass with time. Gradually, you become far more comfortable in your quit. Eventually, smoking becomes a distant memory. Earlier this month, I reached the six-year anniversary of my quit. Going from year five to six felt like less of accomplishment than going from month five to six. When I was still counting months, staying quit took real dedication and commitment. Going from year five to six was just basic maintenance. I didn't even crave a cigarette during that time so there were no battles to fight. The baptism by fire stage of the quit is temporary. Get through that, and you can just get back to business of living.

Looking for news about Hank the Tank. If you don't already know, Hank the Tank is a black bear that lives near Lake Tahoe, California. He found himself in a bit of trouble when it was believed that he was breaking into homes to steal food. The last I heard, Hank had been cleared in some of the break-ins as it was found that some of the bears breaking and entering were females. Hank took the rap because he's a fat boy and likes to eat. I know there are a lot of other news stories out there right now, but I wish someone would do a follow-up on Hank. Godspeed Hank the Tank, wherever you may be.

That's why the epitaph on my tombstone will read "Told Ya So!"

Congratulations Catlover. Enjoy spoiling both of the little fellas.