Good night, sweet boy.

Crankily for the best.

I quit smoking today. Really, I quit smoking on May 5, 2002, and then again in July of 2005, but I've had a bit of an occasional dependence off and on since then. Until January, when I decided going back to smoking could be a short term coping mechanism. Psychoanalysts will tell you that they consider 20 sessions of therapy to be short term, so really if you factor in a session a week for 20 weeks with a couple of breaks for visits from mom and detox days, I'm coming in under the wire. But only just. I'm less worried about the need for the nicotine than I am about the habit of having something to do with my hands when I'm annoyed. Or sad. But mostly I'm worried about my nagging cough, and can't hang around in denial-land about it anymore.

So today, decision to quit smoking: you make Babz's List of Optimistic Ponderances, or BLOP of the day.
1. I quit smoking because I want to be healthy, and not develop COPD.
2. I bought new running shoes (even though they're really ugly) so that I can start taking old school healthy power walks.

3. I took an old school healthy power walk (they're old school because I didn't have my 6-year old pseudo shared custody shepherd lab cross along for the fun outdoorsie times so it was actually about me wanting to go).

Today's BLOP had some additional unintentional meaning as well in that I discovered a couple of COPD/Canadian Lung Association issues that may lead to some relatively interesting stakeholder relations work. All in all, a positive holiday Monday.

Oh so self indulgent... here is my Christmas list so far...

Shawl from Artists for Afghanistan Foundation

Aeropress coffee maker

Flames jersey - this has been a long time coming... it's finally time. I will have to edit for size and customization details later.

Fun exciting yarn for knitting things like socks and mittens.

Vanity

I just googled images of myself and am sad to report my web sightings are down. My only mention lives on the 5th page of results and isn't even a proper picture.

So I was tagged by my friend Jer.... and am thoroughly embarrassed to be listing these as the list contains nothing new or exciting and is mostly full of cheesy sad songs (who am I kidding, I'm always listening to cheesy sad songs)... but here it is. My 7 songs are as follows:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what they are. They must be songs you are presently enjoying. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to...

1. Red Dirt Girl - Emilylou Harris, Red Dirt Girl
This has been on my ipod since I got my ipod, was on my iriver before that, and has been on every computer I have been able to rip music to since buying the disc in 2000. I don't really know what it is about this song, but I love it. It might be the reminder that you always have choices, it might be the reference to the blue tick coon hound. All I know is that it makes me want to drive/run/cry/drink/call my best friend/just plain go home again, and I love it.

2. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
I'm a sucker for an acoustic love song, and lately I've been trying to remind myself what long distance is like... And this cheesy love song reminds me of the good kind of longing about the whole thing. I turn up the radio every time I hear it.

3. Someday Some Morning Sometime - Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue Volume 2
Clearly feeling melancholy or nostalgic of late... I'm sure it's because I'm thinking of going back to school...Anyway, this song is sweet and underrated, and for some reason it makes me feel spring-like and blossomy.

4. I love the rain the most - Joe Purdy - (it pains me to write this) Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack, Season 1
Toby was kind when I was sad that my music didn't fill up half my fabulous ipod that my crazy friends bought me for Christmas (the mp3 player I have been using for the past 3 years is only 256mb) and promptly filled it up with the soundtrack for Grey's Anatomy Seasons 1 and 2. While these are mostly full of crap that I skip through, there are some outstanding little gems such as this sweet little ditty. See comments above about being a sucker for acoustic love songs...

5. A Case of You - KD Lang - Hymns of the 49th Parallel
This Joni Mitchell song was beautifully recorded by KD Lang a couple of years ago, for a compilation of wonderful songs by Canadian icons. The entire disc is gold, but this song and #6 below are standouts...both the KD Lang versions and the originals.

6. Helpless - Neil Young - Decade
This is just one of those classic summer songs for me. Listened to it this past long weekend on my way to Algonquin Park for the first camping/hiking adventure of the year. Gotta love Neil Young.

7. Holiday in Spain - Counting Crows - Hard Candy
Man am I ever in a wine and sad song place... I have unabashedly loved the Counting Crows for the past 10 years. This is one of my favourite songs. It is also sad, sad, sad - but could really only be here because Rob and Nina are soon off to Spain... hmmmm.....

I tag: Toby, Nico, Matt Cameron, Graham, Robbie, Steve (even though he's going to think less of me when he sees my list), and Joanna.

Oh the funny....

www.ecofraud.ca

Flames vs. Avs

This could be it folks! I'm pumped. We could clinch tonight. There are 8 points left up for grabs, we sit 7 points ahead of Colorado. One more win will do it for us. Here's hoping it happens tonight!