Boo

Congratulations on three months smoke-free. Good job.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. I appreciate the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, etc.. However, I'm always prepared to save enough room for a heaping helping of homemade banana pudding...that's good eating.

I have a better understanding of the grandparent code now. Was talking to my mom earlier today getting the final details for Thanksgiving settled. The conversation quickly turned to Miss Maddie. I explained that the little gal is doing great, but we are having a problem with the word "no" right now. Last night she was playing with a wooden box filled with pictures that we keep on the coffee table. With where her hands were I could see her accidentally closing the lid on her fingers. So I took the box away from her and explained that the picture box is not a toy. That's when the drama started...she puckered up her bottom lip and looked sad. She can break out the little lip pucker at the drop of a hat now. Maddie pulls out the "woe is me" routine when I tell her no; she goes more for the test of wills when Sugar Britches tells her no. After explaining all this, my mom says: "that doesn't sound like her, that little girl is sweet as can be." I have a good relationship with my mother, but if she's choosing sides...she will go with Maddie over me every time.

Way to go Joe! Rock star among quitters and decorated veteran of the numbers game wars. +20!

Good job JSG. Congratulations.

I didn't even remember writing this. Sometimes I forget just how wise and insightful I really am.

I always put on a bit of weight around the holidays. Rather than fight it this year, I'm just going to lean into it. Figure if I'm going to bulk a bit might as well start a powerlifting program. I'm going with a four day split, alternating volume and intensity. Monday: Deadlifts (1x5), Highboy Rows (3x5), Romanian Deadlifts (3x5) Tuesday: Squat (1x5), Bench Press (3x5), Overhead Press (3x5) Thursday: Deadlifts (3x5), Highboy Rows (2x5), Romanian Deadlifts (2x5) Friday: Squat (3x5), Bench Press (1x5), Overhead Press (1x5) It might look like overeating, but I'm calling it "bulking."

Memories. Those Saturday afternoon episodes of the "Wide World of Sports" when Evel Knievel was attempting his latest bad ass stunt were must-see TV. That man was a hero to many of us.

We went big last year at Christmas. The only way to top that is to go bigger this year. Already have one new tradition. Sugar Britches came up with an oversized Santa hat for Pumpy. Pumpy is a scarecrow with a pumpkin for a head. We put him out on the front porch for Halloween and Maddie took a shine to him. She plays with and talks to Pumpy on a daily basis. I don't have a clue what we're going to do with him after Christmas. Right now, it's looking like Pumpy is going to be a permanent fixture around here.

Project Winter Wonderland is now all systems go here at Boo Acres. Christmas decorations have been sorted. Strings of lights have been tested. The logistics of the operation have been planned. Beginning early on Friday morning (day after Thanksgiving) we are going for ridiculous levels of holiday cheer here. Having a one year-old gives me a perfect excuse for over-the-top decorating.

Other than that...How's your day going? Seriously though, hope you're feeling better now and your recovery goes smoothly.

Good job Kris. Congratulations.

Welcome back aboard the Quit Train Darcy. The cycle of constantly craving a cigarette. Then smoking and regretting it. Then constantly thinking of quitting again... It all begins to feel mentally exhausting and futile. There is a way to end the cycle for good: commit to the quit. Make it through the early challenges and eventually smoking becomes a distant memory.

Riding the Clutch...

It's just a joke ladies. Don't hold this meme against me in the future.

Good job Gus. Congratulations.

Get well soon Doreen. The place just isn't the same without our Horny Toad at 100%. There is a level of depravity that lives in some folks that most of us will never be able to wrap our heads around. I remember being at a particularly nihilistic place in life several years ago. I had pretty much reached the conclusion that mankind was a mistake. A good friend of mine said: "if most people were truly evil, we would have all killed each other a long time ago." There's plenty of evil to go around, but there's still a bit of good out there. Some days you just have to look a bit harder for the good than others.

Top-shelf quit Johnny. Congratulations.

It's not uncommon for holidays, changing seasons, etc., to trigger a crave for a smoke. We conditioned ourselves for years. About eight months into my quit, I was rolling along pretty well. Hadn't had a serious craving for weeks. Then I raked the leaves for the first time that year. Raking leaves was one of those chores that I "rewarded" myself with a cigarette upon completion. Had to sort things out in my head, but I got through it. There is a reason that the one-year mark of a quit is such a big deal. Going a full calendar year without a smoke really cements your place as a full-fledged non-smoker. Quitting smoking is not an event, it is a process.

I was eating lunch this afternoon. The restaurant had a TV on in the corner. One of those "news" networks was on. Couple of dipshits arguing the same old talking points we've all heard a million-and-one times. Anyhow...this song came to mind.

The official unofficial Friday anthem of every Morning Zoo Crew in the 1980s. Have a good weekend folks.