Teddy Got Staples, I Got a Knife, and Holly Got a Giant Chicken (Almost)

So this past week, I’ve been really dialed in—just trying to hold myself accountable and do the things I said I was going to do. It sounds simple, right? But we all know that follow-through is often the hardest part. I’ve especially been focused on sticking to my morning routines. That’s where the day really starts to take shape for me. I’ve been making it a point to get things done early—knocking out a few priorities before the day officially kicks off—and making sure I’m setting my intention for how I want the day to go. That part’s huge for me: starting the day with purpose, knowing what I want to accomplish, and just being mentally in the zone. And honestly, it’s been going really well.

Now, I’m not saying it’s been perfect. Two weeks ago, I managed to sprain a muscle in my back—nothing major, but just enough to remind me that I’m not twenty anymore. It’s one of those “it’s fine during the day, but you really feel it in the morning” kind of things. And when I say “a little stiff,” well, let’s be real—I’m almost 50, and “a little stiff” usually translates to “it hurts.” It takes some time in the morning to loosen things up. Stretching, walking, moving around—it’s a process. But by lunchtime or mid-afternoon, I’m usually good to go again and can get a workout in. So I’ve had to adjust when and how I train. I’m doing more walking earlier in the day, saving the heavier stuff for later once everything’s warmed up. It’s not ideal, but it’s still progress, and I’ll take that over nothing.

Now, if you remember last week, I mentioned the duck situation—the one that took over my pool and decided to turn my cold plunge into his own private spa. Well, that duck apparently decided he needed a buddy. Because this week, when I went out for my morning plunge, there were two ducks hanging out in the pool. Just floating there, like they owned the place. They didn’t seem too bothered by me until I got a little closer. That’s when they slowly waddled out, like, “Okay, okay, you caught us.” I guess they weren’t in the mood to share after all. I mean, I don’t blame them—it’s a pretty nice spot. But it’s becoming clear that I might be hosting a little duck resort here.

On the home front, Teddy—our dog—has been going through a bit of a recovery journey himself. He had surgery recently, and while the internal healing has been going great, the skin around the incision wasn’t healing the way we hoped. So we had to take him back to the vet, and they ended up swapping out the stitches for staples. Poor guy looks a little rough right now, but he’s been a champ through the whole thing. He’s moving around like normal, full of energy, tail wagging, acting like it’s no big deal. It’s always amazing how resilient dogs can be. You give them love, food, and a little encouragement, and they’ll push through just about anything.

Now, something kind of funny happened while Holly and I were out shopping the other day. We stumbled upon this giant chicken statue—just out of nowhere, sitting there in the store. I mean, it was huge. I didn’t even know what to think. I looked at it and thought, “What in the world would someone even do with this thing?” We didn’t buy it, but it definitely stuck in my mind. And wouldn’t you know it—just a few days later, Holly pulls me out to the Coweta County Chicken Fair. Yep, that’s a real thing. A full-blown fair dedicated to chickens. They had all kinds—chickens, ducks, rabbits—it was like a barnyard paradise.

I was blown away by how many different kinds of chickens exist. Different colors, different combs, different feather patterns—stuff I never even knew to notice. Some of those ducks, by the way, don’t migrate. One of the guys there was telling us that if you get certain breeds, you’ll end up needing to build them a little duck house because they’ll just hang around all year long. And let me tell you—those roosters? They don’t just crow in the morning like in the movies. They crow whenever they feel like it, and they’re loud. I’m not sure I want that kind of wake-up call outside my window every day. And then it was amazing, the different sizes of the eggs you can get from different-sized chickens. Some look so small, I don't know why you would ever have them, because I think you'd have to eat like 30 to get a full meal! But still, the whole experience was kind of fascinating. And I think it hit a soft spot for Holly—she used to love feeding ducks at the lake near our old house, and I know she misses that. If we ever get a piece of land, I wouldn’t be surprised if ducks show up on the list.

And speaking of shopping, while we were out, we also came across those cute stuffed Highland cows—you know, the ones with the little fluffy bangs. Holly couldn’t stop pointing them out. I think the whole homestead vibe is creeping into our life more and more. My sister-in-law has been talking about raising chickens and ducks, starting a garden, all that good stuff. It’s contagious.

One more fun story for the week—someone actually mailed me a present. Just showed up, completely unexpected. It was a knife. Not your typical thank-you gift, right? Way better than a bottle of champagne or a random bottle of liquor. It was from Cutco, which was funny because we have a friend who’s been selling those knives for years. He’s made a whole career out of it, going door to door, and he’s done really well. So when this knife arrived, it was kind of this cool, full-circle moment. I don’t know exactly what I’ll use it for, but I’ll tell you—it was a neat surprise, and definitely a step above the usual gift.

And finally—Easter prep. Holly and I have been wanting to decorate this year. We’ve missed it the last couple of years with all the travel between Peachtree City and Charlotte, but this time, we’re making it happen. So on April 1st, since my back was still tight and I couldn’t lift heavy, I decided to move all the Easter stuff from storage up to the living room as a surprise. Holly usually handles the decorating, but I take care of getting everything out. So when she woke up and walked into the living room—it was all there. Surprise! Kind of an April Fools meets Easter moment. We didn’t do much else for April Fools this year, but if you pulled off something good or saw a great prank, I’d love to hear about it.

Or if someone’s ever sent you a gift cooler than a knife—just out of the blue—I want to know that too.

And of course, as always—If you're in pain, call Shane!