“I don’t know what happened but all of Ingles’ ground beef was wiped out. All but 80:20. That’s what I’d buy if I’m making us badass burgers … but not for my meal plan! I have a hard time believing the people of Lenoir City are suddenly super conscientious about the leanness of their ground beef.”

_{— Me, a meathead, angry that my local Ingles grocery store was completely sold out of 96:4 ground beef last night. This was sent via text to my sweet girlfriend who had to have thought I was nuts.}

Not only did I need 96% lean ground beef but I needed six pounds of it. Honestly, even if Ingles DID have it, I would have been beyond lucky if they had that much of it anyway. But I walked out of the store with everything else I needed for my meal prep … except my six pounds of ground beef.

I’d planned on “winging it” this week with my nutrition — a dangerous game, no doubt — but when a trainer I follow posted a recipe for muscle-friendly “cheesy” biscuit sliders (basically little baby cheeseburgers made on biscuits), I had to make it work. I had to wait until this morning to hit Kroger at sunrise to get the absurd amount of ground beef I needed. I then spent the afternoon cooking and assembling a total of 25 biscuit sliders.

Talk about a nutrition plan anyone can follow along with.

And as I was about to finish my last one tonight, I nearly lost the last half when my dog jumped up and nearly snatched it out of my hands.

My dog.

MY dog.

This is a good time to announce to the world that I. Have. a. Dog.

Going back to how 2020 has been my year, honestly I don’t know how it could have gotten any better yet it did in October. More on that tomorrow and later this week but on October 24, my life officially entered the next level.

How about I just introduce the guy first — everyone meet Mötley Brüe!

Brüe is a six-year-old Boston Terrier that I rescued from Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee and he’s made me incredibly happy. He’s a big fan of treats, midday naps, tearing ass around the backyard, kissing faces and tearing up anything with stuffing. He doesn’t care much for ball toys (though he’s quite fond of a ball/rope combo some friends bought him), doesn’t seem to like it much when I sing and was NOT a fan of seeing me squat with a barbell on my back during a recent visit to my gym for leg day.

Having a companion like this is a big deal for me. I like being alone but I hate feeling lonely. Like it or not, living alone will make you feel alone more often than I ever realized. Now no matter what, I have a couch buddy and a nap buddy. I have someone to keep me entertained 24/7 if I need it, someone to say things out loud to … and most important: a canine companion that can’t be taken away from me.

Expect to see lots of this guy over on my Instagram and in this blog. He’s even got a little pinned highlight reel because I’m THAT guy now.

Anyway, here are a few shots from our first photo shoot in my backyard. All photos were taken with my Canon 77D and a nifty 50mm lens.

Ever onward. See y’all tomorrow.