Boo

Osprey makes a line of backpacks that double as a child carrier and daypack. Can't wait to explore the mountains with Baby Boo on board.

Baby Boo is starting to get active. Sugar Britches said she wouldn't describe the movement as a kick, not yet anyway, but more of a feeling of temporary bouts of "fluttering." The activity levels have increased this weekend and the little one is an early bird; more activity in the morning than other times of the day. We went over to Laurel Snow this morning. The baby got increasingly active as we hiked near Richland Creek and eventually reached the falls. I like to think this means that my kid has a natural affinity for waterfalls and steep creeks.

I've breathed in both fresh mountain air and the noxious smoke of the cigarette. The mountain air is way better. Safe travels and good luck on your exams.

Experimenting with playing feel-good holiday music in the background while preparing my taxes. Thought it might lead to some carryover good vibes from the halcyon days of December; offset the inherent irritability that comes with tax work. So far...I can't say that it's working.

I hadn't even thought about potty training yet. Cash just goes out in the yard and does his business. It's a bit more complicated with a kid. I've got a lot to learn.

Good job Catlover. Congratulations on two years of freedom.

I've got eight pieces of scrap wood set aside from the crib build to make matching picture frames for the walls of the nursery. I'm going to start with a couple of 8x10 frames.

There were moments early in my quit when I wasn't sure whether I should fart or go blind. There was one morning when I was getting ready for work and forgot to put my pants on. I spent my first smoke-free Friday night pacing around the house cussing under my breath and doing push-ups to exhaustion. Those first couple of weeks were a helluva ride. These are distant memories now and I have no regrets. The way you learn to live without smoking is a matter of time and repetition. There is no quick fix. You honor the commitment you have made to yourself, take smoking off the table, and repeat the process daily. In time you will adjust. Buckle up, knuckle down, and drive on.

Congratulations Rec. You built a rock-solid quit for yourself and helped so many others along the way...Top shelf. Hope to see you back soon. You will always have a reserved seat on this Train.

Bingo! The moment I decided to quit fighting my addiction was the same moment I no longer had any need to fight. Funny how life works out.

Welcome aboard SamDy. You made the right call when you decided to give up the smokes. You can. It's a simple process: don't put things in your mouth and light them on fire. One step and you're good to go. Commit to the process and you will be rewarded many times over.

If anyone here has suggestions for future projects for the nursery or getting the house ready for a baby, I'm open to suggestions. I'm enjoying the building projects. Finished the bookshelf a couple of months ago. The crib is all but finished and the changing table will be a relatively straight-forward job. I'm looking at five months of nervous anticipation...I need to keep myself busy.

The bed frame, legs, and cleats are finished and ready to be set up. I've finished building the side walls. The front wall is the only one with railing, so that made the job pretty simple. I'm gonna sand the walls one more time, I've been downright obsessive with the sanding on this project. After that, start finishing the wood. I did a temporary set-up and everything fit together nicely, right angles and straight lines all-around. The actual assembly of the crib will be a simple process. I'm building a changing table next, then...I'll decide what project to start after that.

Damn. That's some bad action. I hope you are on the road to recovery and feeling better now. Stay strong and be well.

Good job Runfree, aka Daisy, aka Bigfoot. High five!

Good call on giving up the smokes Hal. Welcome aboard the Train. Enjoy the ride.

This sounds like a job for sniper cat.

Hours become days. Days become weeks. Weeks become months...and so on. You're well on your way to a lifetime of freedom. Congratulations.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday. Double-down on the festivities.

I've been cutting a lot of walnut lumber over the last few days. Freshly cut walnut is one of my favorite smells. Of course you can never go wrong with the smell of freshly cut pine either. No one asked. I just thought I would throw it out there. First thing I though of when I read "Prince Charming" was this old joke: What did Cinderella do when she got to the ball? She gagged. Maybe the high-falutin' royal life ain't for me after all.

I could be to England what Billy Carter was to America. Put in a big ol' Bar-B-Q pit in the backyard at Windsor Castle. Make Freebird an official national anthem...It'll be fun. Sir Boo, Duke of Hazzard