M to the C to the D

I just found my new favorite website in the world. You should try it out. You must read the following to see my blog translated to JIVE. Awesomeness:

http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmcdoherty.blogspot.com

How cool is that?

The Melting Pot was really good. Cheesy cheesy cheesy appetizers and chocolatey deliciousness for dessert. I recommend it. It is really great for groups. Next time, I may just get dessert.





No cigarettes and no crazy cravings today either. Woot woot!

So far, so good

My first day as a non smoker. Not too bad so far. The patch is a little itchy and burny. I was concerned, but apparently, this is normal. How ironic that I have been inhaling nicotine for so many years, yet I am nervous about a bandaid with a little nicotine on it that is stuck on my arm. Ridiculous.

I wouldn't say that I am dying for a cigarette, but I would like one. It is kind of like I am hungry for something, but don't know what it is I want. I am doing good things for my body already though. Did you know that once you quit smoking:

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.

In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.

In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.

In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.

This is from https://www.healthforums.com/library/1,1258,article~8641,00.html.

Not too shabby!

I am off to eat some delicious fondue at the melting pot. Cheese, chocolate and wine. Yum yum yum.

I'm a video game widow

I knew from the get go that Marty was a video game junky. Our home has pretty much every single video game console there is. Excluding the PS2, which Marty boycotted for some reason. And I mean every video game system. Atari, Calecovision, Nintendo, Playstation, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Genesis...there all in the attic. Currently hooked up are the Wie, Xbox and the prized prized possession: the Xbox 360. Then there is a shiny, new, expensive PS3 that is still sitting in a box. Apparently, there are no games out that are worthy of playing. So we have a lovely $642 box of hardware that is collecting dust nicely. But I digress...

Last night was the release of (GASP!) HALO 3!! Ummmm...you probably cannot tell, but that was said sarcastically. So now I get to hear Master Chief (the futuristic looking soldier guy below) shoot these little gremlin like creatures while I spend time at home with my husband. The gremlins make some little comments that are actually kind of funny.


I often think that I should get a job for Electronic Gaming Monthly as a writer. I can usually tell if a game is good by the amount of time my husband spends on the couch with the dork Xbox live headset on (who wants to play alone when they can play with a million strangers?) and the xbox or wie controller in his hand. For example: The most recent Zelda game was good, but not great. In other words, Marty would play it for a few hours, but seemed okay if he didn't play it for days at a time. Gears of War on the other hand has gotten many many many hours of my husband's attention and hands down is the best game of the year to date in my opinion. And I have never actually played the game. I'm just going by the hours my husband has logged playing it.


I get to hear loud guns and chainsaws killing these ugly ugly beasts (the Locusts. FYI: those are the bad guys.) who make guttural noises and monster sounds. The sounds are so horrid, If I happen to fall asleep on the couch and Marty sees his chance for a match, I will normally wake up because I've had a nightmare where someone is chasing me with a chainsaw. And the chainsaw wielding maniac of my dreams usually resembles a locust. Pretty, aren't they?

I cannot be too hasty with this Game of the Year business though. Get back to me in a few weeks and we will see if Halo 3 is in and GoW is out. The future looks bright for Halo 3. There were at least 8 straight hours of play last night! Electronic Gaming Monthly, do you hear me? I know what I'm talking about. And if you guys have a contest for the Best Significant Other of Gamers, I am totally in. Who do you think drove to Game Stop to pick up the Halo 3 that was prepaid for in July? Yep that was me. Here I am on about two hours sleep after waiting up all night outside of Kmart to buy the XBox 360:


Can you say "best wife ever"? Sigh. So, I lose my husband sometimes to the video games and that is why I am a "video game widow". It could be worse, right? He could be a drug addict, addicted to internet porn who beats me... Oh! And don't tell him, but sometimes when he is not home, I sneak in some Guitar Hero II by myself to hone my skills. He hates that I can beat him at a video game. Play on!

One more day and I will be smoke free!

And God give me the strength. I have made a monumental decision to stop smoking. Smoking has been a daily part of my life for a long time, so it is a little daunting. All of the reasons to quit are obvious. Before I get to that list though, I'm going to tell you why I smoke. I started as a teenager and at the time, I totally thought it was cool. I am over the cool factor now, but now have an addiction.

Believe it or not, smoking can have a bonding effect with people. I know that when I go to a bar or restaurant, while I am outside smoking there will definitely be some smoking buddies there. I have had some good conversations with these fellow "buttheads".

Cigarettes are also my friends. They are a comfort to me. When I am sad, bored, tired, stressed...They are always there for me, more so than some other things in my life. They are reliable.

There is also a momentary gratification from smoking. I feel a need, I smoke a cigarette and then I have a feeling of a hunger being satisfied. I know I know... That is my addiction being fed.

So there is that list. I'm sure this one will be a little longer!

Smoking is stinky. I hate the smell of my clothes, my hair and my car after smoking. And yes there are times when my breath literally does smell like an ashtray. Gross.

The health risks are just not worth it. I actually purchase a product that has a warning on it with what the serious health risks are. Then I proceed to open up that product, light it and inhale smoke. Umm...why did I start this again?? Any smoker that tells you that they are unconcerned with developing some terrible disease from smoking is lying. We all know the real risks and that we could die from this habit someday. My excuse? I always thought that it would take years of smoking and that I would quit long before I could get sick. Now I am 14 years into the habit and it is time to stop. My health is at risk.

Smoking makes me antisocial with the people who matter. I may meet new friends while outside a bar smoking, but why would I worry about them? There are really few smokers left that I know. It is not so cool to be at a bar, restaurant or party and in the middle of a conversation saying "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go smoke real quick." It's kind of rude, now that I think about it. I have one sister who still smokes and a couple of friends. They are not friends that I see often though. The people that I hang out with the most are all nonsmokers.

Bad weather. Wow, we smokers are committed people. 30 degrees in February? You bet your ass I'll be outside smoking! Is it fun? Not really. Do I do it? Yes. Do I know why? Not really. Rainy day? The car window is cracked and my one arm, one leg and car door are soaked.

Sickness. When I get a cold or a cough, it lasts a hell of a lot longer than the average person's cold.

Getting harrased by people. "You know that isn't good for you." "You're going to get cancer." "God I wish you would stop." What else can I say besides "I know I know". That is what I have been saying for some time now, followed by "I'll quit". I usually try to hide smoking from kids, particularly my nieces and nephews. Well, I was not so subtle one time and my four year old nephew looks at me and says "I want a candle too". Ouch.

Most of all, I want to quit for my darling husband and my family. My husband is a non-smoker, who will look me right in the eye and say "I love you and want you to be with me for a long time". He really means it too. As grossed out as I get by smoking, I cannot imagine how he hugs and kisses someone who smells like cigarettes. He has put up with it for a long time, so I hope I am strong enough to do this for him and myself. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Buffet season is over

But what a good season it was. The 2007 Bama Breeze Tour. Our first show was in Pittsburgh on June 23rd. Tom, Annie, MC, Marty and Megan drove from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on Friday, went to the show with Eric on Saturday and returned home on Sunday.


It was a long drive, but worth it. We have a lot of good memories from that weekend.

"A tunnel, huh? This is interesting." Marty and I were thrown off by a detour in Pittsburgh. We made it safely there though.

Stackers from Burger King on the turnpike

Beer pong and Marty's "action" shots

John our tailgating neighbor, who we didn't like so much and his steaks, which we liked a lot.

The completely deflated palm tree.


Eric's random naps during the show.

A piece of grass skirt hanging out of Eric's fly.

Shotgunning beers. Who thought that was a good idea?

MC's bright bright orange hair clip. You couldn't lose me.

JP - the most awkward dancer I have ever seen.

Going to Pittsburgh from New Jersey to order sandwiches from... Jersey Mike's

Eric completely asleep at Eat N Park and waking up only to ask the waitress or her telephone number.


Just two days later we went to the Camden show. It was HOT HOT HOT but still FUN FUN FUN. A definite highlight of the night was Megan, Thomas, Theresa and Jamie on the big screen during the show. I don't think Megs and I stopped screaming. These were also the best seats we have ever had and it probably ranks at the top of the shows we've seen. We also had the crowning of the most drunk people. And the winners are:


TOM AND RYAN!! WOOT WOOT









The final show of the season was at Madison Square Garden on September 20th. Tom, Annie and I took Karen to her first show. A Buffett Virgin!! I think we broke her in nicely. After taking the train in from New Brunswick, Karen and I met Tom and Annie at Houlihan's in Penn Station to look for our "lost shaker of salt". And guess what? Tom found it and put in his pocket. He thought to leave the pepper shaker on the bar would be too obvious, so he grabbed that too. For the rest of the night, we changed the famous lyrics to "searching for my lost shaker of pepper. pepper! pepper! pepper!" He is a trip. Annie had an AWESOME cheeseburger hat. I dressed as a pirate for the occasion, which was a huge hit. I got a lot of "aaargh's" from people throughout the night. I'm ready for a whole pirate theme for next year. AAAAARGH.






It was sad to see it end, but we had a great summer!!