Fat and categorically drunk

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Can I not talk about my DUI for a while? I know what the mail’s going to look like, and, to be honest, in some ways I wish I hadn’t said a word about it when it happened. I was compelled, though, to save some people some New Year’s agony. I hope this will help someone, too.

• • •

By the time this column is published, the results of our Biggest Little Best of Northern Nevada readers’ poll and our Biggest Little Songwriting Contest will be downloaded, but it will take at least through the weekend for my staff and me to get all the stuff added up. I’ve been asked before what takes so long for us to tabulate, and it’s like this: People may vote for Ascuaga’s Nugget, the Sparks Nugget, John Ascuaga’s Nugget, J.A.’s Nugget, the nuget, and all the possible combinations. We have to figure out if they’re talking about John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks or the Reno Nugget downtown. Now, multiply that times 250 categories.

• • •

So, along non-work related lines—although what is really “non-work” in my line of work?—some Facebook pals and I are starting a 90-day diet and exercise program designed to get us from here until New Year’s Day, which means we’re going to be concentrating on our health during the time of year we’re most likely to overindulge and pack on the pounds. We’re calling it the Abs Challenge Reno, and if you plug that name into the search thingie, you’ll get to our group. We’re going to take photographs every Friday (started out shirt-off since it was just Chuck Short and me, but that’s been modified for bashfulness) and chart our weights. We’re also going to offer each other support and cajoling and workout partners. I gained 10 pounds since I quit smoking (again), and I’m going to knock that off, and maybe 15 more pounds to see that washboard. Yeah, right. That’s the plan anyway.