I Won't - Here's Why

I am taking a hiatus from my blog. I realize that I haven't posted for a couple of weeks. The hours that I am putting in at work have made me too tired at the end of the day to work on anything new. Now that spring has finally sprung, our customers want their dogs fluffed and buffed. It is a busy time of year. I am not complaining about being busy, however. I look on it as job security.

I also will not be spending nearly as much time at my computer for some time. It is while sitting at my computer that I smoke more than I should. I am out of cigarettes. I will not buy any more. I have tried to quit smoking many times in the past, and have failed at each attempt. I am determined to succeed this time.

It is not easy. I have symptoms of withdrawl. I am not feeding my addiction of nearly 50 years, and my brain wants nicotine, and I refuse to give it any. And I am CRABBY. At this moment, I would cheerfully chew up anyone who comes near me. Mike is hiding out in the bedroom. The dogs stay away. Even the cat doesn't like me. I don't blame him. But I will not buy another cigarette.

We are spending the weekend getting rid of the smoke odors in our home. All of our bedding, clothing, towels, curtains, etc. will be washed. I am buying a new carpet steam cleaner and Mike will clean the carpets early next week. Our landlord has some primer paint that will seal the walls and ceilings so that we don't have to scrub them all, and then we will start painting each room. I hope it will be a little bit easier to deal with this when the smell of smoke is gone from our living quarters.

I am doing my level best to think positive. I spend time thinking about what to do with the nearly $300 a month I will save by our not smoking. I also think of what it will be like to have clothes that don't have burn holes in them. Or what it will be like to stay indoors when the weather is bad because I am not going outside for a smoke. This also helps.

I promise not to be one of those smug, self-satisfied former smokers. I really dislike those people. I will not frown on those who smoke. I understand how incredibly tough it is to quit. I firmly believe that I will go to heaven, as I am going through my own personal hell right now, and I wouldn't wish this withdrawl thing on anyone. Please forgive me in advance for being cranky and out of sorts. I am sure that it will pass.

I want a cigarette about three feet long right at this moment, but I won't. I won't.

And this is why I won't.

http://www.4shared.com/file/44582898/3a41d8a6/I_wont_-_heres_why.html

Hockey Star

We have a hockey star in the family.

Zach learned to ice skate when he was three years old. When he reached the age of five years, he started playing hockey. He played for the Mini-Mites for two years. This year, he played in Mites 3, which is the highest level in that hockey program. His team is the Bulldogs.

Zach says that he likes playing the center position best because he gets to skate all over the ice. He likes the position of goalie the least, because they wear so much equipment, and it isn't all that comfortable!

I am continually amazed by the things Zach can do. At age seven, not only does he plays hockey, he also swims and plays chess. And, he can say the alphabet backwards. I can't! At age seven, I was playing hide-and-go-seek and hopscotch. And struggling through "Dick and Jane" books.

This generation of children is so much further advanced than was my generation. My grandkids can whomp me any day of the week at video games. They play sophisticated games on the internet that I don't even understand. I am not too crazy about their choices in music, but I recall that my parents weren't too happy with my music, either.

There is something to be said for a slower, less frantic way of life like I had as a child, but there is also a good deal to be said for the advances that have been made since then. These kids will grow up with so much more knowledge at their fingertips, and with skills that I could not even imagine. I am so lucky to be able to watch them grow and develop these skills.

We are very proud of you, Zach. This page is for you.

Love, Grandpa and Grandma

http://www.4shared.com/file/43378193/5c519087/Hockey_Star.html