Animal with Home Value

  ## The Hidden Side Effect: When "Add to Cart" Becomes an Urge Most of us think of medication side effects in terms of physical symptoms—drowsiness, weight changes, or a dry mouth. But there is a specific, documented side effect of **Abilify (aripiprazole)** that hits somewhere else entirely: **your wallet.** ### **The Dopamine "Tug-of-War"** Abilify is unique because it is a *partial dopamine agonist*. While many medications simply block dopamine, Abilify can actually stimulate the reward centers of the brain. For some, this "turns up the volume" on the brain's search for a dopamine hit, leading to **impulse control disorders.** The FDA has officially warned that this can manifest as:  * **Compulsive Shopping:** An uncontrollable urge to buy, even when you don't need the items.  * **Hyper-Gaming:** Buying every new release or spending heavily on microtransactions.  * **Gambling or Binge Eating:** Other forms of "reward-seeking" behavior...

  April 20th – Warm Weather, Good Company, and a Quiet Dog at Home Today was one of those spring days that just settles into your bones in the best way. Dad, Dixie, and I headed out for a walk, and even with the 20 kg (45 lb) pack on my back, we kept a solid pace. The forecast said we’d hit 24°C, and you could feel that warmth building as we moved. By the time we finished, I was comfortable enough to switch into shorts — a rare treat this early in the season. We covered 3.77 km , and at one point I took a break by the pond, sitting for about ten minutes while waiting for my walking friend. The water was calm, the air warm, and it felt like the whole world was taking a breath with me. My heart rate topped out at 134 bpm , averaging 115 bpm , mostly in the easy zone with a bit of warm‑up zone mixed in thanks to that peaceful pause by the water. Dad made a comment that stuck with me — “One more rain and the leaves will just pop open.” He’s right. You can already see the buds swelling...

  Easy Effort, Good Rhythm, and Spring Energy This afternoon’s run with Dixie was exactly what I needed — simple, steady, and full of that early‑spring energy that makes getting outside feel effortless. We headed out for a relaxed 2 km loop, and the pace reflected the intention: nothing rushed, nothing forced, just moving together and enjoying the moment. The route wound along familiar paths, and the map from the run shows those little shifts in pace that come naturally when you’re running with a dog who’s curious about everything. Dixie kept a good rhythm beside me, happy to be out again, and the whole run had that calm, companionable feel we’ve settled into over time. What really stood out today was how balanced the effort felt. The heart‑rate breakdown shows almost the entire run sitting right in the Easy and Aerobic zones — 10:56 in Easy and 10:26 in Aerobic — which is exactly the kind of work that builds endurance without beating up the body. It’s the kind of run that quietly ...

 Late‑Night Miles, Warm Air, and One Happy Dog Tonight turned into one of those unexpectedly perfect running nights. I got off work a bit early, and even though it was already nine, Dixie was buzzing with that “let’s go” energy. So we headed out for a run under the streetlights, the air still holding onto the warmth from a day that climbed up to around 20°C. It was warm enough that by the time we got home, the house was sitting at 75°F — about 23.8°C — definitely on the toasty side for this time of year. I’ve still got all the windows open because I’m refusing to turn on the AC this early in the season. The run itself felt solid. Dixie was excited right from the start, ears up, tail going, ready to move. She’s had a spoiled day — I took her for a walk, Kim took her for a walk, and then she still had the energy for a run. She kept a great pace beside me, and we even stopped for one photo along the way. There were signs everywhere reminding people to pick up after their dogs, which m...

After 14 days off, a simple hike sparks new plans for travel and staying smoke‑free I definitely need some time off after some nights of work that kept me up... Back on the Trail After 14 Days After a two‑week slump, the dog and I finally got out for a proper walk — 4.23 km in 54 minutes. Nothing heroic, nothing dramatic, just steady movement and a reminder that my body still knows how to do this. Most of my heart rate stayed in the easy and aerobic zones, which is exactly what I needed. I always feel better on the days I get my heart rate up, and today was no exception. The dog was thrilled, of course. She doesn’t care about my slumps or my excuses — she just knows when we’re out together, and she’s happy. The Quit‑Smoking Birthday and a Sleep‑Deprived Purchase I’ve been thinking a lot about my quit‑smoking birthday coming up. Last year I celebrated with an Xbox. This year… well, the plan changed in the middle of a sleep‑stupor after a night shift. Instead of heading to the gas statio...

 This season is teaching me a quieter kind of strength: absorbing more than I complain about, moving through uncertainty without letting it own me, and choosing presence over prediction. A Walk, a Weight, and a Winter That Wouldn’t Let Go This morning the dog and I finally broke the spell. We met my dad at 10:15 for a walk — nothing dramatic, nothing heroic, just the three of us moving through the cool air while I hauled a 45‑lb pack on my back. We covered 3.65 km in 45 minutes , settling into a steady 12:16/km pace . Not fast, not slow, just honest. The kind of pace that reminds you your body still knows how to work, even when your mind has been stuck in neutral. Dixie had a blast. She’s been staring out the window all week, waiting for something to happen, waiting for me to get out of my own way. She deserved this one. Maybe I did too. The Weight Behind the Weight I’ve been calling it executive dysfunction — that strange paralysis where you know a walk would help, you know you’d...