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Are We Having Fun Yet?Since I can't seem to bring up anything lately that doesn't end in political controversy, let me try this one: I like to consider myself above average IQ wise, I have had two professional courses in Anger and Stress Management, and I have several friends for support so I figure I should have no problem quitting smoking cigarettes. But I have smoked for 50 years, two packs a day at the, I hope soon to be, end. I have progressed from two packs a day to two cigarettes a day for the past nine days. I know, thats wonderful but there are side effects. I can't seem to remember things lately, especially names. But its alright because I now find a lot of people so irritating that I don't really want to remember their names. There is total boredom sometimes punctuated by moments of wild, white hot, pure rage. It rarely lasts more than two seconds. I feel every little ache and pain along with a general sensitivity all over my body accentuated with bursts of uncontrolable energy. Food now tastes great, which is not a good thing if you are already the giant economy size. When I do smoke my daily control dose, I now get headspins and sick to my stomach, now that's a life improvement. But I haven't hurt anything yet and the Bride hasn't had to used the tranquillizer gun to dart me down. But if you see some strange man arguing with himself on the street, shaking his fist at the sky, or biting a chunk out of a tree trunk, don't be alarmed. It's just me making myself better. I am much better now.
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Congrats
Larry, your story made me laugh. My other half and I quit smoking when I got pregnant, and I wasn't sure either of us would live to see the birth of our child. Talk about hormones out of control - LOL!!! Unfortunately one of us (me) started again, and I have regretted it ever since. Sadly, I really enjoy smoking and I know I won't quit until I decide to do it. I wish there was an easy way, but I know there's not. And NO, I'm not getting pregnant again just so I'll quit.
Anyway, thanks for the funny story. I will keep an eye out for you, and if I see you uptown during one of your fits I'll just head for the sidewalk on the other side of the street. But honestly, I feel for you and wish I had your strength. I'll quit someday, I just have to convince myself it's time. I admire that you're already past that step.
Example
I have driven vehicles, legally, now for 46 years. In all that time I have never lost my keys. I smoke in my truck with no heat on nor any radio playing as a kind of aversion therapy, I want no peripheral pleasure associated with smoking. I open my locked truck door, driver's side, put my keys in the ignition, smoke, pull out my keys, get out of the truck, and lock the door. Simple isn't it? Not if your head is spinning and your stomach is doing flips. I locked my keys in my truck.
No problem I say, I have a spare key in my wallet. No wait, I gave that key to my Bride who is at work. I called the Bride and asked if she could come home at lunchtime and unlock my truck after admitting to her that I am now an idiot. Her laugh was not comforting. Then fate decided it was time to mess with an addict.
The Bride had taken lunch earlier and couldn't get home till her regular time. The daughter and her children are all sick so I couldn't get her to take me to the Bride to get her keys. I could breakout the window and report it as vandalism, no that nuts and illegal. Well my stress is going up so I will just smoke a cigarette to settle down, but no because they and my lighter are locked in the truck.
So I wait for 3 hours till the Bride gets home only to find that she doesn't have the key but swears either I never gave it to her or I gave her the wrong key. STEADY, CAREFUL, my love life and possibly my home are on the line here. Wait, no problem, the police in the Heathen North will come open a cardoor for you, surely LPD will.
The Bride goes to a meeting and I call the LPD. I embarassingly admit that I am an idiot and ask for help. The Dispatcher informs me that a policeman can't open the door for me unless a child is locked in the vehicle. It dawns on me that if I lock a child in a vehicle and call a LPD patrollman man then I would have committed Child Endangerment and reported myself. Strange how the mind works and smashing that window is looking better all the time. Wait, call a wrecker, it will cost me but those fools don't know me and will never see me again anyway.
When the wrecker arrives, my friend Russel who lives on the next block and passes my house everyday gets out. " I thought that address seemed familiar", he says in his best condesending voice. It took him all of maybe 10 seconds to pop the door. I am embarassed and give him a $25 check as he says, "Just call me if it happens again." I have no pride left, I have been broken down to a drooling moron. I now have keys hidden all over the place as I know I can't be trusted.
ROTFLMAO!!!
Your post was too funny. I read it aloud to all in the room, laughing so hard I could barely get through it. Hysterical!!! Thanks for the belly laugh! I'm a little bit healthier tonight due to your efforts to kick the habit.
soon to be 4 years
I, like Mrs. Hawes, enjoyed smoking. My dad, like Mr Koker had smoked the better part of his 65 years. After 9 (yes NINE) heart attacks, he decided it might be a good time to quit. While visiting him one day, he said "Ya know, I been thinking about trying that hypnotisim thing to quit smoking"..before I knew what I was saying (and being the supportive daughter I am) I blurted out "If you go, I'll go." Our appointment was December 20. I remember telling my brother that maybe it was not a good idea so close to the holidays...he said "and then what will your excuse be?" He was right. If I didnt go then, I would find another reason not to go next time. So away we went, spent $50 each, went at the same time, listened to the same person give the same speech...I walked out and never smoked another cigarette.(will be 4 years in December) I did keep ONE cigarette in my car for about a year. I figured that if I HAD to have one, it would be there, but if I had to buy a whole pack, I would smoke a whole pack. My dad lit up a couple hours later. He now would like to try the prescription medication, but his medicare won't cover it...ironic, they will cover his heart attacks and possible future cancer..and we wonder why our healthcare system stinks.
Larry ~
that's TOO TOO funny!! I have all these images now and I'm not sure what to do w/them!! *lol* I didn't have such funny antics when I quit 10 years ago. Although I will have to say, I finally got to a point where going to the garage in the dead of winter to smoke lost it's appeal. ;o) Congratulations to you and good luck!! You can do it!! :o)
Margo
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
~Edmund Burke~
Check out my Blog!!
http://osmom93.blogspot.com/
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Day 13
Update: Well its day 13 of this Batan Death March to health, LOL. I started this thing so I think its only fair to keep you up to date. I am still using two cigarettes a day with my worst day having been three. Sunday I will cut it to one per day or try to skip days, slow and easy while letting my body tell me what to do. Granddaughter loves that Papaw isn't smoking and that the smoking room is now another room that she can explore. The Bride, who never harped on me to quit in the first place and who wouldn't browbeat me if I failed, says I am doing great but doesn't make a big deal of it incase I need a "do-over". She quit, cold turkey, six months ago (showoff). And at the current price of my cigarettes I am saving $65 a week not to mention what people promise me I am gaining in health and life aspects.
The latest thing I have noticed is that now I can smell cigarette smoke or residue where cigarettes have been smoked. I know that peole who don't smoke think that people can't avoid smelling it. I guess its like a friend of mine who worked on a hog farm and I use to complain about how bad his work clothes smelled. He said he had worked there so long that he couldn't smell it anymore. My guess is that a smokers system becomes desensitized to it. I can tell you I can now smell it when I open my truck door and even when I walk into a room where people have smoked recently. I don't think it stinks rancidly like nonsmokers like to throw a fit about but it sure doesn't smell good either.
I can relate to that ~
I seem to smell smoke everywhere I go. While I'm out walking, if a car drives by, it's there. When I'm delivering newspapers, I can smell it at certain houses. It's weird. I was astonished the other night while I was buying gas in Kokomo and standing behind a young woman who was buying a pack of cigarettes that she paid 5.75 for them!!! OMGosh!! SO glad I'm not doing that anymore!!
Keep on going Larry!! :o)
Margo
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
~Edmund Burke~
Check out my Blog!!
http://osmom93.blogspot.com/
Find me on Facebook!!
I quit ages ago
I smoked all the way through high school. Back then cigarettes were easy to get and were very cheap. Anyway I quit the habit at a time when most people start. I had just joined the military. The Army to be exact. Vietnam was winding down and Pres. Nixon (tricking dickie), Kissinger, and the Paris Peace talks were coming to an agreement on the ending the war. Shortly after I started basic training Nixon announced the curtail of troop movement to Vietnam and the subsequent withdrawal of Vietnam. Basic training back then was tough. It was up at 0500 (5:00AM for you non military folk) and PT or physical training started at 0530. After formation of doing jumping jacks, pushups, situps and whatever other exercise that the drill sgts deemed necessary to get our hearts pumping, it was off for a little jog. A 5 mile jog. After that jog I was hacking and coughing up my lungs. After we had breakfast, training was scheduled for the rest of the day. Learning how to march, learning how to fire your weapon, basically learning how to survive in a combat environment. At the end of the days training, we had another 5 mile jog. Needless to say another round of coughing and hacking up my lungs. I had just bought a new carton of marlboros, I decided right then and there I would never smoke another cigarette, and I didn't. I gave all my cigarettes to friend in the barracks and I never bought another pack. Even though troop withdrawal had started and the war in Vietnam was winding down, they didn't keep the Army from deviating from their training schedules. Those 5 mile jogs helped me kick the habit. I have said since then that anyone can go cold turkey. All they need to do is make a change in their lifestyle. Paying $5.75 for a pack of cigarettes would be enough for me to say enough is enough. I can think of better ways to spend $5.75. Yes that is a lifestyle change.
Keep the faith Larry. Once you have cleaned your lungs of all that bad air and your taste buds are able to taste food again, smelling and eating good food will keep you from lighting up again.
James Delp
james_delp901@comcast.net
www.myspace.com/rich1121