Boo

I don't want to talk above my pay grade here but...I think your attitude and outlook are going to be great assets going forward. I believe that our mental state directly affects our physical condition in ways that people who are far smarter than me don't fully understand yet. The mind-body connection is not just symbiotic but also mutual. You've done yourself a great favor with the way you've handled recent developments in your life Hellkatbaby. Stay strong and fight on.

Here's Warren Haynes doing a cover of U2's "One." Not sure why he's on a rooftop by the highway, but he did a damn good job regardless.

Congratulations Christa. Welcome to the lido deck.

Congratulations QueenB.

Couldn't help but notice I've not been asked to man the helm after confessing to my little mishap on the river yesterday.

Congratulations on three years of freedom SmokeFree.

He just finished his tenth week of training. He started out with two strength training sessions a week, but has been consistently going to the gym three times a week. Right now he's doing two heavy sessions and one lighter session per week. He is also doing a lot of mobility and balance exercises, some that he does seven days a week. The change is already noticeable. He walks better. His back is in better shape than it has been in years. He's sleeping better at night. Overall, he's in much better shape now than he was just three months ago. And even more good news: Dad has been talking to me about doing more hiking and fly fishing this Fall. The old man is feeling strong and healthy and is ready to get out and have some fun in the mountains.

In my opinion exercise is the best tool to deal with anxiety. There have been numerous studies and a lot of research done on the link between exercise and anxiety. I won't get into all those. I will just focus on my own personal experience. Not only does exercise leave me feeling calm and anxiety free, I also benefit from increased mental clarity following a good workout. I've experienced this time-and-again over the last three years: something is weighing on my mind, I obsess on trying to find a solution, then after a good workout...the answers just seem to come naturally. My opinion is that the body doesn't quite know what to do with feelings of mental anxiety. We've been hardwired to translate certain feelings into an immediate threat. The mind is just trying to sort itself out while the body is going into fight-or-flight mode. Exercise gives the body an outlet to release feelings of stress while the mind focuses on the task at hand. When the mind-body connection is in harmony, life just seems to make more sense.

What could possibly go wrong?

Birds look impressive from a distance. Soaring through the sky...gliding along with the greatest of ease. Then you get a closer look at them and realize they're idiots. A bird got into my garage. A 10 x 7 door was open. I also opened a window to give him another option. And the little dummy just kept flapping his wings wildly and banging his head against the ceiling. I had to swat him with a broom to get him going in the right direction. As a parting gift he took a shit on my workbench. Stupid bird.

That sandwich would go better with pure grain alcohol. Douse the sandwich. Strike a match. Kill it with fire.

Welcome aboard Yep. Good call on giving up the smokes. That's called addiction. When you stop feeding it, it loses its power and goes away. Grab a seat and enjoy the ride. This Train is a fast-track to freedom.

Thinking of food as fuel has changed the way I eat completely. Every now and again I will eat something just because I like that food, but most of the time I eat with sights on what will better fuel my body and replenish valuable nutrients. And don't feel sorry for me, I eat well. Healthy eating is more satisfying on every level than the average American diet. Speaking of stuff some of my fellow Americans are eating...I saw an ad for this monstrosity and could only ask myself: "Why?" The only situation I could imagine even taking a bite of such a thing would be if I lost a bet of some sort....

Congratulations Doreen. What can I say about you that hasn't already been said...well, a couple of things come to mind but they would be wildly inappropriate even by our standards. You're awesome and I consider myself lucky to know you. Doreen is the best...simply the best!

Speaking of being behind schedule...Where is my jet pack? For 50 years now they've promised us jet packs! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the advances in technology that have been made. But dammit...I want a jet pack!

Welcome aboard NoNicChick. Congratulations on setting yourself free from the smokes. Good call.

There's not much point in preaching the good word to those who don't want to see the light. Those spreading the message will find it to be an exercise in futility. While those cigarette smoking heathens will only consider you to be a pain in the ass. Lecturing an addict who has no will to change is like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall; you can work at it all day and never accomplish anything. That being said: Don't hesitate to celebrate your quit. Don't hide your pride. Don't muzzle your truth. When you make positive changes in your life, there are going to be some "nattering nabobs of negativism" that will try to rain on your parade. Don't let 'em. You've done one of the best things for yourself you will ever do; shout it from the rooftops if you are so inclined. As for those who are uncomfortable with your success, that's their problem not yours.

For what it's worth, learning to truly identify as a non-smoker was the last hurdle I cleared in the process. I quit smoking. I had reached a point where serious cravings for a cigarette were few and far between. However, it just didn't feel entirely possible for me to identify myself as not only a non-smoker but someone who would never smoke again. Eventually everything clicked together, but it took a little while. Patience and repetition are not sexy and exciting, but they are two of the most effective tools in your kit. That pride is well deserved. Good job.

I have a bit of a dilemma with a friend of mine as well. I've mentioned him here before. He has been "planning" on quitting for over two years now. Regardless of how much information he gathers, there is always a "reason" (excuse) for why he can't quit right now. He is also looking for that perfect time to quit when there is no possibility of encountering any of life's stresses during the first weeks of his quit. I suggested that he find a nice monastery on a mountaintop in Nepal and live there for a few months. He said I was being a smart-ass. On the one hand, I want to help this guy and he has asked for my advice. On the other hand, I feel like I'm beating my head against the wall answering the same questions to no avail. And I've come to the conclusion that he is not looking for actual answers, he is hoping that I will eventually change my answer and give him the confirmation bias he desires. That's not gonna happen. Quitting smoking is simple. Convincing others to make better decisions is damn near impossible.

Initially, I used the money saved to build a home gym in the basement of my old house. Quitting smoking freed up some money to build a home gym. Building a home gym and working to get in better shape reaffirmed my commitment to stay quit. It was a perfect circle.

How did life begin? Are we alone in the universe? Why do the Marlins, in spite of always being in last place, give the Braves a hard time? These are just a few of the questions for which I have no answer.

Great job Abby. Congratulations.

The race in the N.L. Central looks very likely to go right down to the last day of the season. Right now the Cardinals, Cubs, and Brewers are all within two games of each other. And speaking of the Central division, the Pirates are out of contention at this point but could play a spoiler role down the stretch. For a last place team, those guys are a pain in the ass to play. When the Braves played the Pirates earlier in the season, Pittsburgh's 1-8 lineup were all tough outs.