Passport

I remembered how lost and angry I felt when I went through the process of getting a US passport before my trip and decided to write a guide for the other unfortunate souls who want or need to cross one of invisible lines surrounding us, aka leave the country.

Mexico

I'm baaaaaaack! Been in MEXICO for the last 5 weeks, came back at night and went right back to work the next day. I would say sorry for the delay, but nobody is reading this. Wrote a poem for the hell of it. Here is the link if you are interested. Mexico was great by the way. I recommend learning Spanish and visiting. I'm not going to bother trying to give an account of my trip as it would take all day just to write the highlights, so just visit there yourself if you get the chance.

Busy, busy, busy. I've been sleeping in a lot lately, but have a ton of stuff to do. I wrote this top ten beer list and a haiku just to see if it got any hits. That's about it.

Pork Ribs and Podcasts

It finally rained here, for two days. I'ts nice and cool also. I wrote this pork rib recipe and this list of fiction podcasts and worked. Took the wife to the pregnancy place and got a sonogram. WOW there's a little freak with a giant head in my wife's belly and it's half ME! One of the coolest experiences I've ever had..

Some good reasons not to smoke

I posted this short article on how to quit smoking last night and today found myself thinking of some of the ways I'm better off now that I have quit. Here's a list, in no particular order. If you think of more put them in the comments.

more energy-I've picked up running and exercise

more willpower/determination-see above+I get a lot more done

less chance of cancer

more money

the ability to stay indoors/occupied for more than an hour at a time-no more smoke breaks

more testosterone-smoking inhibits testosterone production in men, lowering sex drive and overall masculinity (I understand non-smoking women also have gender specific benefits, see Google)

vast improvements in the auto immune system-no colds, sore throats, or coughs, and only one time with a runny nose in a year.

better smelling breath

whiter teeth

I can stay at home for a few days-no need to go to the store for smokes (I live in the country)

no need to leave a conversation/movie/dinner/ect. for a smoke break

more endurance/stamina

overall empowerment-Since defeating cigarettes I have been gaining the above benefits and continuing to get stronger, faster, and tougher, both physically and mentally. I see most people/obstacles/tasks  that were imposing before in a new light that shows them as they are, conquerable.

Disadvantages: More likely to strangle someone, having a lighter in your pocket comes in handy sometimes.

Wrote something else

I've spent a pretty large part of my life in the restaurant business, and I encounter the same frustrations again and again, so I wrote a list last night.of complaints against the people who pay my bills, the customers. I feel that people wouldn't do these things if they knew they were so irritating, so hopefully this will get the word out.

I wrote something

Posted a hub detailing how to make my awesome banana bread, of which there is only one slice left, last night. Nothing else to note.