The Great SD SMOKE-OUT Topic - Part 2

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

For some reason, I did not see the new thread yesterday! Sorry!

Jeannie, I know you’re feeling really bad right now but don’t beat yourself up–pick yourself up! You’ve just got to start again. All that you have done has not been for nothing–that remains as proof that you can go at least that far again! And if you can go that far, you can go all the way this time! You don’t need to give us reasons why you smoked–your body/mind thought it wanted it. You were strong enough to come back here and tell us–that was not easy. But take that same strength and apply it to your new resolve to quit. There are many people posting here who know exactly what you are going through. We are here to help you, not to judge you. I hope you will just see this as a bump in the road and continue on. We’re all here for you!

Shayna, this is an amazing topic. I cannot believe the love and support that has been shown here! This is really a great group of people. Thank you for starting this thread!

22

::Blushing:: Amy, you are too sweet. I think your daddy’s pretty cool/hot, too! Let us know what happens next time your friends come over. Be strong - you can do it, ok?!!

{{{{{{{{{{Wally}}}}}}}}}} You’d better be coming to Vegas in September so I can do that in person!

ultress, I’m so proud of you! If you need any help at all, a sponsor, anything, just give a holler and I’ll do whatever it takes, k?

Sanibelman (Yay! I got it right this time - LOL), just the fact that you had so much to do and were so exhausted but came here anyway to check on me and let me know you were thinking of me is incredibly sweet. I wanna hug you, too… {{{{{{{{{{Sanibelman}}}}}}}}}} Good luck on your exams (I’ll be rooting for you!) and have an awesome time in France! I’m so jealous. Think I’d fit in your suitcase? :smiley:

Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie, I could just spank you, young lady. Do I have to come there in person and sit on your hands? Ok, that’s all I’m gonna say. I know you feel bad enough without me beating you up. But Jeannie, you have been so strong and I KNOW you can beat this thing! Try as hard as you can, for at least a month, not to put yourself in any social situations where smoking would be that great a temptation. I am going to sponsor you tomorrow, and on the chance that you don’t see this post in the morning, I’m going to sponsor you Tuesday, too. PLEASE do not smoke for me!

Dave, I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to still see you holding on and hanging in there. I’ll tell you what - if you can make it until September and go to the gathering in Vegas, I will buy you dinner and give you a big ol’ kiss!

Where the heck is everyone else? I’m starting to worry. And you don’t want me to worry, do you??? Come on, everyone - check in!

My meter tonight reads…

2 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
251 cigarettes not smoked, saving $38.96.
Life saved: 20 hours, 55 minutes.

23

Hi, all!! Sorry that I’ve been too busy to check in lately. Mr Bear came home on Thursday eve, and we’ve been busy ever since. :o No, not so much with that! :smiley: Just a lot of stuff to do to get our son down the aisle for graduation, and getting ready for family to come in for it.

Anyway, I just wanted all of you to know, I’m here, and I at least lurk, if I don’t have time to post much right now. It’ll get better soon, and I can post much more often again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers, each and every one of you! Both the quitters and the supporters of same.

Shayna, you really ROCK for starting the other thread, and for keeping it going in this new one! I, too, am amazed at the outpouring of love and caring from the people on this board. Mundane and pointless, indeed!

I’ll be here to sponsor anyone that needs me, just ask.

{{{{{{{{{{{GroupHugs}}}}}}}}}}}}

24

My bad! I’m so sorry that I forgot to finish my post. Guess I’m tired, and should go to bed, huh. :stuck_out_tongue:

Amy, I was thinking about what to say to you, but Shayna said it just fine. I agree with her.

Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie! 30 lashes with a very wet noodle!! But I know that you can still do this!! You will do this. You must do this! We won’t let you fail!! Now, get back up on the horse, and ride again… here, let me help you up…there you go, hold steady, now. You can do it!

Where are the rest of you guys? I’m a bit worried too. Check in with us here, please.

25

Ok, just where the heck IS everybody???

I am NOT happy to see this topic sinking and none of the quitters checking in.

beatle, Cristi, Lissa, ruadh, we haven’t heard from you guys in days. What gives?

If I don’t hear something soon, I’m going to have to start hunting you down, you hear me?

Sheesh, I even miss seeing Wally in here. :frowning:

(Btw, Satan, evilbeth & purplebear, thank you guys so much for continuing to check in on us. It means so much to me, you have no idea!)

Alright - I’m off to go sulk.

26

Still here and still smoke free :slight_smile:

1 week, 3 days, 20 hours, 32 minutes, 3 seconds
cigs not smoked: 325
money saved: £61.75

27

I heard on the radio this morning that cigarette sales have declined this year in the U.S. by 8 percent—and that’s just from Shayna and Wally alone!

Jeannie, don’t you DARE smoke tomorrow, or you’ll hear about it from me!

28

Thank you all for your support. You know, I actually don’t even feel bad about smoking Saturday night. I had some cigarettes. It’s over. I haven’t had any since. I don’t plan to have any more. But if I do, I will not beat myself up about it. I am still a non-smoker. Case closed.

I was going to set up my meter again, but looking at it makes me feel guilty and like I went so far for nothing. So, for now, I am not setting it up. Maybe when I’ve gone a little farther. I will still check in here.

I don’t mean to sound bitchy here. I have a lot of things going on in my life right now that make me feel lousy. I will not allow my five (or whatever) cigarettes from Saturday night make me feel worse. That’s all.

And for Shayna and Falcon, I did not smoke today :slight_smile:

29

Yeah, Amy, what Shayna said.

Jeannie, if you’ve gone this far, the rest should be just a piece of cake! (I hope.) Sure you slipped, but you didn’t fall. Keep up the good work!

Shayna, you’ve been doing so well, I guess I’m taking it for granted that you’re officially now a non-smoker. Congratulations!

ruadh, if you translate your money saved into italian lira, you will soon be a millionaire! We’re all pulling for you.

weirddave, what are your plans for that extra 11 hours and 35 minutes of your life? Think of something great to do for 11 hours! (like maybe sleeping. :D)

30

You guys rock. You bring tears to my eyes. I am so impressed, proud of, and awed by your efforts. I am so very glad that you’re kicking the cigarette habit.

When I was fourteen, I nearly lost my dad to cigarettes. He made it through and hasn’t touched a cigarette since. I cannot imagine what the last half of my life would have been like without him there for me.

So, in his honor, anyone who needs a sponsor, a distraction, a patter-on-the-back to make it through, just give me a yell.

31

Today is not a good day. Why the HELL won’t these cravings just leave me alone? I have been close several times, and had there been anyone around me that had a cigarette on them, I’d probably have stolen at least a drag. DAMMIT!

Phouka, I’m using you as my sponsor today. I need you! And I needed to come back here and read your message about your father to remind myself why, even though I have always enjoyed smoking, that I NEED to quit!

Where is everyone else? I’m starting to feel pretty alone here.

32

Don’t smoke!! Just keep reminding yourself over and over again how terrible you felt when you were smoking. Not to mention the stinky smell that clung to your hair, clothes, and house. You’ve just gotten to the point where your house smells nice (especially after the cleaning you did last night).

You can also go look at that disgusting lung picture Arnold posted a couple of weeks ago. I’m still having nightmares about that picture.

You have worked too hard to backslide now. Stay strong. Take a walk. Drink some water. Fantasize about Wally. Read the board. Think about Wally. Balance your checkbook. Balance my checkbook (I haven’t done it in years). Think about what you and Suebee are going to do tomorrow. Do anything but do not smoke.

Love ya,
Bren =)

33

Sheesh! I can’t leave this place even for a couple of days.

Jeannie, believe me, I understand. It took me five tries. But each time I fell, I picked myself up and went at it again until I beat it. Just keep trying. You’ll make it because you don’t want to smoke anymore.

Shayna, Some days are worse than others, but I want to remind you of your third day. Remember? Is today harder? I don’t think so. You’re getting tired of fighting. Reach into your reserves. You’ve got them. Don’t smoke today. Promise me.

If you smoke, I’ll jump on a plane, go to your house, take your clothes off and… wait, that won’t work.

You’ve come such a long way. Just a little longer, hon. Just a little longer.

Who loves ya the mostest?

34

Okay guys. I’m sorry. Yes, I’ve been avoiding you.

The reason I didn’t check in over the weekend was because I was at DopeFest II in Chicago.

The reason I haven’t checked in since then is because I have fallen totally off the wagon. I am so sorry. I want to blame it on Chicago, but hey, that’s a cop-out and I know it.

I will quit again soon. I am still taking the Wellbutrin, and the cravings are not as bad as they were, so I’m not smoking much. My target date to quit again is May 28th. The beginning of the week, and the weekend that I will be moving to my new house.

Please accept my apologies, and I promise you, I will quit again. I swear I will.

35

It’s okay, Cristi. I know how hard it is when there’s drinking and smoking and you’re around friends and having a good time.

Just get back up and try again. I knew from the beginning that there would be slip ups, but those that keep trying will beat it eventually. Each slip is a learning experience.

I’m pulling for you guys. Keep trying. You’ll get there. And then you’ll be free.

36

I’d like to add my moral support to this thread.

I’d would really like to give you all some very heartwarming or inspiring story about how not smoking changed my life, but it wouldn’t be true. I’ve never smoked a cigarette, ever.

(When I was an older kid, I began to suspect that I had a potentially addictive personality, so I actively avoided drinking and smoking. I drink very infrequently now, and only the weak stuff–beer, wine, champagne. I am, however, addicted to the internet, as the time of this post can tell…)

In posting to this thread, I’m thinking of my former best friend at my present place of employment. I know she wanted to quit several times, and did, for a while, while she was pregnant. Unfortunately, she started back up when the baby was born, though she’s at least careful to keep it away from the baby.

I’ve lost touch with her, and I have no reason to believe she reads this, but Deb, if you do, I hope you’ve quit, or will someday.

To the rest of you, from someone who’s never had this problem, my sympathies, and my moral support. Maybe I’m about to make a major faux pas here (I’m new to the board, and haven’t read through all the smoking threads–not that I’m disinterested, but there’s SO much to read on this board, and I concentrate on the funny stuff and the stuff that touches on me most closely), but it seems to me that trying, and even temporarily failing, is better than not trying at all. Those of you who’ve already fallen off the wagon have rid yourself of smoking for at least a few hours and days, and hopefully, if you get back on the wagon, it’ll be that much easier. Sorry if this sounds, naive, trite, and has been said before…

Question: It seems that those of you with meters are adding five minutes of life for every cigarette foregone. Am I correct that you’re estimating the number of cigarettes smoked per day? (The figures seem different in the meters I’ve seen) Also, the money saved per cigarette seems different. Just curious.

Kudos to Shayna for starting this thread (Gotta give it up for my fellow LA dopers, particularly because I’m a newbie looking for acceptance)

Best of luck to you all!

37

DRY, Fine post. No worries mate :D. I must also join Cristi.( unfortunately not for sex. Damn, she’s a red head too! ) Crash, burn, pee on the ashes. Pick myself up. Kick myself. Start over. One of these damn times…

DRY, the timers do the figureing themselves. I dunno how they calculate Life. My new one reads:

9 hours, 42 minutes and 34 seconds.
8 cigarettes not smoked,
saving $1.31.
Life saved: 40 minutes.
P.S. Shayna, you rock. DON’T blow it for yourself like we lesser mortals have done!

38

Shayna,

Some days are better than others…

…but no day will get better with vile cigarette smoke, I promise you.

Hang in there. Think back to how awful the first few days were. And you beat them - you can beat this temptation, this day - I know you, and I know you can.

Hang in there, hon. You can do it. Hell, you ARE doing it. And you’re doing great.

  • Rick
39

Good post, DRY! I’m with you, it’s better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all, and I would imagine that it gets easier each time. For one thing, you’ll know what you’ve been through the last time.

Keep up the good work guys! We’re pulling for you.

40

Just when I was ready to dredge this topic up from page 2 and wish it a pleasant death, you guys come out of the woodwork and fill me with inspiration once again. You blow me away.

Yesterday sucked. I don’t know why, exactly. Nothing in particular happened that was bad. I was just feeling overly emotional and moody. And a cigarette would really have taken that edge off, you know? I’ve spent 20 years relying on that crutch, and only 3 weeks & 2 days without it. I know there’s nothing physical about my cravings anymore, but I’m still really angry sometimes that I can’t just relax with a smoke to calm my nerves when I want to.

Grace, no wonder you are my best friend. Dammit girl, why don’t we live in the same city? MOVE! I’m gonna have to have a little chat with Brian…

Wally, you were right to retract that offer as a means to keep me from smoking. If smoking is what it would take to get you out here and taking my clothes off, someone please pass me a cigarette!! LOL And I love you the mostest, too!

BTW, how did things go with Amy’s friends next time they came over and wanted to smoke? I’ve been wondering how she handled the situation and what the outcome was. Please tell her I’m thinking of her, k?

Arnold, I really do wish I could say that I consider myself a non-smoker now, but I think that’s going to take a while. Right now I feel like a smoker who’s just been a while without a cigarette. I’m still plugging away, though, and I appreciate your encouragement more than I can say. Still looking forward to seeing you and Elizabeth again!

Phouka, I didn’t really say a proper thank you for your offer of support. I am so sorry to hear that you almost lost your father to this insidious habit, but thrilled to know that he beat it! I read somewhere that you are moving to Southern California in the next couple of weeks. If you’re moving to the LA area, I’d be thrilled to roll out the red carpet for you. Drop me an email at Shayna61@yahoo.com if you’d like.

Cristi, sweetie, no one is going to be mad at you here. We love you and want this to work for you, so please don’t feel like you have to avoid us. I’ll tell you what, I’ll sponsor you on the 28th, ok? Hang in there - you can beat this thing. Believe me, if I can do it, you can too.

Dave, hey, what am I, chopped liver? I’m a redhead… and I even offered you dinner and a kiss if you could make it to the Vegas gathering without having smoked. Must I now sweeten the deal with sex? How 'bout I throw in one of my psychic orgasms, will that do? :wink:

Dave, you are stronger than these stupid, paper-wrapped, shredded weeds. I mean, think about it. Shall we start a topic, “Who would win in a dog fight, weirddave or a stupidstick?” My money’s on you! I am so proud each time you turn that meter back on and don’t give up. You will make it!

ruadh, congratulations on your continued success. Are you going to be able to come to the States for the gathering in September? That would be so cool!

DRY, a most heartfelt welcome to The Straight Dope! Out of all the topics you have to pick from that are fun, funny, interesting, etc., I am touched that you took the time to open this one and wish us all well - especially since you’ve never been a smoker, so this couldn’t have held all that much interest for you. It’s great to have another LA Doper on board. Where in the LA area are you? I’m in South Redondo Beach.

Again, thank you so much for your kind words and support! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better on the boards.

Rick, my dear, dear friend. Your faith in me means so much. You’ve been on the receiving end of some of the frustration that I’ve been feeling since not being able to use cigarettes as a crutch. I love you with all my heart for putting up with me when I’ve gotten so bitchy. Thank you for checking in on me here. I appreciate it more than I can say. I love you bunches.

So today marks 3 weeks, 2 days, 12 hours, 0 minutes and 51 seconds since I quit smoking. I’ve avoided 282 cigarettes, saving $43.71 and adding 23 hours, 30 minutes to my life. It’s still hard, but not nearly so much as the first few days. Thank you to everyone who keeps reminding me to go back and revisit what I went through. I never want to go there again!

And thank you all, again, for keeping my spirits up when they have been at their lowest. Were it not for all these incredible posts since my last one, I would have given up and let this thing sink. Bless you all!

{{{HUGS}}}
Shayna