Last night Caputo told me about this book she saw at Barnes & Noble called "Skinny Bitch," another one of those nutrition books that just lays it all out on the line. Well, I bought it this morning. I'm sure I know all this stuff already, but it's so easy to forget when you're at a birthday party and there's cake or when you're ready to head out to the gym, but your favorite show is on and you don't have TIVO. So, anyway, I started reading it. Apparently I have to quit drinking coffee (and other libations, of course). They say it's a load of crap that someone would claim to "need" coffee. Well, I think I do. Even my sister said, "Oh god, if you stop drinking coffee, you're gonna be a huge bitch." She knows me well. But there's all this jargon about how coffee is acidic and our bodies build up a layer of fat over our organs to protect us from that very acid. It got me thinking, years and years of trying to eat well, exercise more, quit smoking, quit smoking, quit smoking, and the only variable I have never meddled with is my very addictive coffee-drinking habit. So, maybe it's time to pull back on it. As a replacement, the Skinny Bitches suggest herbal tea (which I love, especially when "ginger" is in the title), and a small glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice can provide the same kind of jolt as a cup of coffee. Not that it's the jolt I think I even need. I think this habit is purely that -- habitual. I wake up, dump yesterday's musty filter, and do it over again (usually to the tune of about 4 cups until later that afternoon when I'll brew another pot, but then realize I'm developing rot-gut, and instead drink a glass of water which then suddenly inspires me to go to the gym or for a run. Huh, they may be on to something.)

Anyhoo, on my constant struggle to be a better me, I think this will be my next major tackle.... starting tomorrow. I'm nearly to 6 months smoke-free this time (quit on 5/19), and there's no reason I should go back to it what with the smoking ban scheduled to take effect in just 3 more months. Plus, I can soon make the call to get my health insurance lowered.

Meanwhile, I'm playing a Christmas party in Las Vegas. How cool is that?

See ya later, blogheads.