Life is good. I'm typing by candlelight tonight. I almost never hang out in the dark, especially if I am alone. So when I do, it feels like a special occasion.

I have only roasted a chicken twice thus far in my life: several years ago, when I over-basted the chicken with butter, to the extent that the butter washed off the salt and spices, producing a tasteless white glob, and tonight, when my chicken turned out quite tasty. Geoff, Rob and Bruce made it over for dinner. It was a good time, mellow and fun as always.

It's been a good weekend. After having a pretty lousy week, especially where diet and exercise were concerned, I did workout on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (today.) I started out pretty well on the diet, but have "drifted" for the past day and a half. Still, I'm doing better than I was before I started.

Smoking just isn't much of an issue for me anymore. I just don't do it. I refuse to go back. Life is good without it.

Plus, I've started taking better care of my teeth. I finally went back to a dentist, for the first time in four years. They remarked that my mouth had held up surprisingly well, in spite of the dental neglect. I mean, I have always brushed and flossed regularly, only missing a day or two here and there, but no one can really get away with not going to a dentist once in a while.

The other day, I was digging through my wallet for receipts and stamps and such, and I happened upon my original reasons for quitting smoking, from a previous quit. They are still very true and valid reasons for me to quit:

"My Reasons for Stopping

1. It's way too expensive. I spend over $100/month on it.

2. It's too time-consuming. I waste almost 2 hours/day on it.

3. Smells bad, tastes bad, not sexy.

4. I don't want to be weak-willed. I want to defeat this.

5. I don't want to be smoking when I get pregnant."