Boo

My quit date is March 9, 2016. On March 8, 2016 I performed a ritual of sorts. Went out on the back porch at 11:50 p.m. and smoked one. At 11:58 I lit another and just before the clock hit midnight, I took one long last drag. I guess it made sense to me at the time, but in hindsight it seems ridiculous. My advice to anyone just starting the process would be: don't do what I did. Don't get caught up in minutiae and don't perform cigarette based rituals right before quitting. If you want to start counting the second you ash out the last one, do that. If starting the count at the beginning of your first full-day without a cigarette feels better to you, do that. Just remember not to put anything in your mouth and set it on fire. Everything else is a minor detail.

The way the Blue Jays handled the Stroman trade was just weird. They asked for a lot from the Yankees in exchange for Stroman: two top prospects (Florial and Garcia). When the Bronx Bombers rejected the deal, Toronto basically looked at the rest of the league and asked: who wants this guy? Hindsight being 20/20 I wish the Braves had taken a shot at Stroman. If you can pick up a starter with a sub 3.00 ERA for pennies on the dollar...that's a great deal. I'm pleased with the moves made by the Braves. The bullpen has been an area of concern for quite a while now. The addition of Chris Martin(not the guy from Coldplay) and Mark Melancon should bolster the pen. And I am very excited about the acquisition of Shane Greene from Detroit. The Braves have a legitimate closer now!

I need to replace that chair. I lost it in the woods. If you're rolling your eyes and asking: did Boo just do a lame camouflage joke? Yep...sure did.

That's not true. I never hide my erections.

I could not be more enthusiastic about offering up congratulations than I am in this thread. You have been awesome Linda. You started this process with fear and doubt. You questioned your ability to quit even when the rest of us believed in you. With time and through the ups and downs life throws at us, you just kept marching forward; step by step, day by day. We had the opportunity to watch your quit become more solid as the distance between you and the smokes grew. And now...Now you are a model for everything that is good and right with the Quit Train. You not only built a great quit for yourself but have been helpful and welcoming to those following your lead. You're an awesome lady and deserve every pat on the back you get in this thread. It's been a treat to ride the Train with you over the last year...Welcome to the lido deck.

I didn't have a strong opinion on this one, so I did my default vote and went for the original. Plus, I was worried Doreen might whack me with her frying pan if I voted against the Beatles. Before any moratorium on Beatles covers takes effect...OTIS!

Most everybody complains about getting older. Sure, there's a few odd aches and pains that can't quite be explained. However, I'm finding more and more that I just don't give a damn about a lot of stuff that I used to get all wound up about. And the damns I do give are distributed far more judiciously now. The rest I put back for a rainy day. I wouldn't turn back time if I could.

Way to get the job done Rec.

Ray Wylie Hubbard is a legend in one respect. His songs have been covered by many and a diverse group of artists have praised his work: Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ringo Starr, etc., etc.. None of that ever amounted to Hubbard enjoying commercial success. In part because the dolts who run the music business (the "syphilitic parasitics" as John Prine calls them) just don't get him and his work. And also in part because Ray Wylie Hubbard is not going to be told how to make music by a bunch of number crunchers. Here's one you should be able to watch: "Down Home Country Blues" with Ray's son Lucas on guitar.

What the hell...one more from Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Here's another song from the same set. It's called "Mother Blues." Features two of my favorite lines ever penned by a songwriter. "We hit it off like a metaphor" always makes me laugh and "the days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...I have really good days" is just good advice on living.

A few decades late, but the Grand Ole Opry finally invited Ray Wylie Hubbard to perform. Not many folks make their debut at age 72, but RWH doesn't do things like everybody else.

What kind of school has marketing guys or "brand ambassadors" coming in to make a sales pitch under the guise of a seminar? And when asked to leave, the teachers left the room? What the f**k? I wouldn't expect any less from the Juul guys. They're vultures that market addictive poison to young people, so while I still consider them to be human garbage, I'm not surprised by their behavior. However, I would like to think that school administrators and teachers are looking out for their students best interests. They failed the test in this case.

Sorry about what you're dealing with Hellkatbaby. You have a great attitude and courage to spare though. I certainly wouldn't bet against you. Godspeed.

Staying with the cowboy theme...

It's probably best that I don't even admit where my mind went when I read the title of this thread.

My dream job has always been and will always be: Space Cowboy.

A brief update: the old man wrapped up his eighth week of training today. He's made steady progress, has surprised his trainer with how much weight he has added to his Deadlifts, and dad says his back feels better now than it has in years. His trainer has made a great impact on his life and dad has made an impact on his trainer. The trainer admitted to me last week that my dad is his favorite client. Never misses a workout, works hard while he's there, and never complains. His trainer told me: "it's a relief to not have to explain to a client why we don't do some stupid bullshit they saw on Instagram." I assured him that would never be a problem: "the old man doesn't know what Instagram is." Barbells are good medicine.

Walking is a great exercise, on its own or as a part of a more comprehensive program. And for those who say walking is boring, add a bit of variety...

High five Sandy.

You have no responsibility to take anyone else's opinion to heart...even family members. Let 'em call you weak, just remember that you are strong. Be relentless with the commitment you have made to yourself and you will be immune from external criticism. Good job Ankush. Onward and upward.

Wait...what? Is Bobby "The Brain" Heenan running England now?

Great job Paul. Congratulations on six years of freedom. I'm going to try not to butcher the quote too badly, but I'm working strictly from memory here. Early in my quit, I read a line you wrote: you don't have to fight the waves, you just learn to surf. That really resonated with me. Celebrate and enjoy, you earned it.