Your “Party’s Over, Back to the Grind” Wednesday Evening Open Thread.

Well that was fun wasn’t it?

Today marks the beginning of what I call “The Grind.” Holidays are over. You’ve consumed approximately 12,000,000 calories over the last week and the next holiday is a long fucking way off.

Back to work, fuckos!

Are you the type of person who makes New Years resolutions? Ever had any luck sticking to them? Let us know in the comments.

I’ve had two success stories that I’m kind of proud of. First, I managed to quit smoking, er uh, quit smoking cigarettes that is. It’s been many years. I’m actually so cured of cigarettes that I can even smoke one once or twice a year and not feel the urge to pick the habit back up again.

Look, just because I use a vape system for nicotine delivery does not mean I’m a smoker.

Second success story is alluded to by the banner image. Eighteen years ago tomorrow, January 3rd, I started my morning walk. I’ve shared bits of this before but when I weighed in at my pulmonologists’ office – while suffering a lengthy bout of bronchitis – a few days before and that fucking scale said I weighed 339 pounds… Well that was enough. For most of the years following I walked every damn day unless it was raining and since I live in LA that means at least 350 days a year. Sure I’ve had breaks due to illness, three different knee surgeries and maybe a vacation day or two but I am deeply committed to my walk.

It’s my religion, my meditation, my preparation for a new day and I just fucking love it.

I am currently still over 100 pounds less than that fateful day at the doctors’ office and I ain’t letting that shit come back.

Over the past 18 years during my walk I have encountered some interesting things. I’ve seen whales, dolphins, sea lions and even elephants (circus was in town.) I’ve walked the beach, the harbor, the city streets of Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, New York, the Vegas strip, Downtown Denver, Philly, The Jersey Shore and Phoenix among many others. I’ve walked directly through a double homicide scene at 3:30 in the morning. The officer setting out the crime scene tape wasn’t really happy about that but he let me go. I had one encounter at about 4:00 AM while walking where a carload of girls, very obviously gang members, rolled up on me, rolled down their window and stared. I’m pretty sure my very sincere “Good morning” might have saved my dumb ass from a gang initiation.

Through it all I’ve kept right on walking. I go through probably 4 to 5 pairs of walking shoes a year so it’s not exactly a “free” endeavor but I’ll pay the price. The walk more than likely saved my life. I walked this morning and I’ll walk tomorrow.

It’s what I do.

Just felt like sharing that so if we’ve got anybody out there who has sworn to get rid of the holiday pounds or maybe even a few extra pounds; you CAN do it. It’s dedication and commitment but it can be done.

SPORTS:

There’s a decent slate of NBA games including T-Wolves vs Celtics and Lakers vs OKC.

NHL has a handful of games to keep you amused.

And well that’s about it.

Join us won’t you? Today is the last day of my 5 day “end of the holidays” vacation so there will be some final festive drinks.

What do you say?

One last round before getting back to the grind?