# The Great Straight Dope SMOKE-OUT Topic **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2000, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249 "2000-05-01T13:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/81 "2000-05-04T02:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > So far I’ve been 2 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes and 34 seconds without smoking. > I’ve not smoked the 34 cigarettes I otherwise would have. > I’ve saved $5.30 and added 2 hours, 50 minutes to my life! > > \*\* I’m so proud of you!! BTW, by my estimation, of the 2 hours and 50 minutes you’ve added to your life, I think we’ll spend about an hour and a half of it on the phone. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/82 "2000-05-04T02:54:02Z")
Oh, and I forgot to say… **For Wally, I did not smoke today!** Kyla - isn’t this amazing? I so did not expect this kind of response when I started this topic. I just thought Cristi and I would be bitching and throwing things while we went through withdrawal together. I don’t think I’ve ever been this touched and this inspired to do anything in my life - ever. Thank you again to everyone!! It’s been 2 days, 20 hours, 38 minutes and 55 seconds now, and 34 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5.32 and adding 2 hours, 50 minutes to my life. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/83 "2000-05-04T03:12:27Z")
Hi everyone! I am so sorry that I got busy and haven’t checked in in a couple of days. Forgive me. I am with all of you in spirit and I am pulling for **all** of you. I am amazed and humbled by the courage and strength you are all showing! I would consider it an honor to sponsor any and all of you for Sunday. Or Monday or any other day you may need. I regret that I will be out of town from Sat thru next Thurs but I will be with you all in spirit. Jeannie and weirddave, please don’t beat yourself up for a brief lapse, this is one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life, so just dust yourselves off and go on from here. You can all do it!!! I am **certain** of it! To all of the ex-smokers: {{{{{{{ex-smokers}}}}}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/84 "2000-05-04T09:27:27Z")
Heh, I’m still here. I haven’t had a chance to post here in a few days, but rest assured I’m still smoke free. I’ve been staying stay over my girlfriend’s place, who doesn’t smoke and knows I’ve just quit, so I’ve had support. It hasn’t been too hard, I’ve felt somewhat tired and hazy since I stopped by haven’t ran into any real hurdles as of yet. I’ll give an update on my quit meter when I get back on my home computer. ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/85 "2000-05-04T12:28:37Z")
**Shayna and Jeannie, you girls rock!** Shayna for hanging in and Jeannie for having the courage to get back up on the horse. That “evil voice” will be talking to you all day. You know, the one that says: “I can’t do it right now, I’m tired of fighting it, I don’t have the strength…blah blah blah.” You can’t shut that voice off and you can’t ignore it. But you can refuse to do it’s bidding. Someday, someone will offer you a cigarette, and you’ll say, “No thanks, I quit.” And you’ll feel good about it. But, there will come a time when you’ll say instead, “No thank you, I don’t smoke.” And you’ll feel great. So, what’s up? How’s everyone doing? Inquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/86 "2000-05-04T12:49:29Z")
OK, it’s Thursday, “my” day— Shayna, DON’T YOU DARE GO NEAR A CIGARETTE TODAY! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/87 "2000-05-04T13:56:52Z")
Good morning, everyone! **Eve** , you’re incredible. And today, I will not smoke for you (as much as I’m still dying to). The physical addiction is _supposed_ to be over now, but I still want a cigarette as much as I did on day one. I still feel, to some degree, light-headed and disoriented as well as angry that I “can’t” have a cigarette when I want one. I am eagerly awaiting the day I don’t want one instead of feeling like I can’t have one. **Wally** , what are you still doing in my head? Amazing. You have no idea what a difference you are making in my daily struggle. Bless you. **Purplebear** , you’re an angel. And Monday, I will not smoke for you. {{Hugs}} **Chief Crunch** , I’m so glad you’re still with us! WTG, and keep it up, ok? Please don’t smoke when you get back to your place and away from your girlfriend. Don’t sneak a cigarette because she’s not around. Just tell yourself you can do this no matter where you are! **Jeannie** , I know you won’t see this until you get home from work today, but remember I’m pulling for you. Today’s going to SUCK. You will be angry and irritable. I’ll keep my eye here this evening for you, in case you need to talk through it. Good luck, girlfriend. I know you can do it! It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been 3 days, 7 hours, 42 minutes and 38 seconds without smoking!!! I’ve not smoked 39 cigarettes, saving $6.17. And I’ve added 3 hours, 15 minutes to my life, which I will need, because it’s all going to be spent on the phone with Grace. 😃 **And today, I will not smoke for Eve!** ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/88 "2000-05-04T14:13:34Z")
You BETTER not smoke—I know where you live, and I’ll bitch-slap it right out of your hand! ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/89 "2000-05-04T14:22:29Z")
Sorry I haven’t gotten back with a progress report for you guys. I morphed into MegaBitch to such an extent that my husband went out and bought me another pack of cigarettes, saying “This is the year 2000, sweetie. No need to try to kick it on your own. We’ll get you some Zyban.” The day started out pretty well, and I thought I was going to make it, until the Customer From Hell. An elderly gentleman, and I use that term loosely, came in to ask questions about a satellite system, and reminded me repeatedly that he was wasting his time talking to me “Because what does a woman know?” When, he kept asking, would a MAN be in the shop so he could talk to him? He was absolutely dumbfounded when I said that no men worked here in the shop-- just us silly females. I went back into the back, and broke into my emergency stash. I feel bad about it, but I was so stressed at that point. I wanted to cry (and did) and throw things. It occured to me that I’d actually be laughing about the situation if I wasn’t craving so badly. It just seemed like the whole world was against me. I had a horrible, rotten, awful, no-good day, and I crashed back into the addiction faster than the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. If I can’t get a Dr’s appointment soon, I’m going to resort to the gum or the Patch, I think. I don’t want to be a smoker any more. Keep wishing me luck, and send some good thoughts my way. I now realise why so many people have such a hard time quitting! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/90 "2000-05-04T14:27:18Z")
Ooooh, be careful, Eve. The prospect of being bitch-slapped by _you_ might just _en_courage me instead of _dis_couraging me. 😃 😃 I promise, I will not smoke for you today, Eve. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me an incentive to keep this up. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/91 "2000-05-04T19:20:34Z")
Well, Shayna? “My” day is slowly drawing to a close; how’re you doing? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/92 "2000-05-04T19:49:45Z")
It may be drawing to a close for you, Eve, but for me it’s still only 12:53PM. I’ve got to get through the rest of the afternoon and evening. I’m committed to doing this today for you, though, so I’m just gonna have to keep hanging on. So far, so good though. My cravings aren’t nearly as bad today as they have been and I don’t feel the least bit bitchy. 😃 It’s been 3 days, 13 hours, 38 minutes and 58 seconds since I’ve even so much as touched a cigarette, let alone put one to my mouth. I’ve avoided 42 cigarettes I would have otherwise smoked, and saved $6.63. I can now talk to Grace on the phone for an extra 3 hours, 30 minutes! And Lissa, you just keep on trying your best every day. I’m sorry that guy was such a jerk to you. Believe me, I know how those kinds of things can make you want to light up. But eventually, you’re going to have to learn how to handle the anger and frustration without smoking, so next time someone is a putz, just that once, try not having a cigarette after. Keep us posted on how you’re doing! ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/93 "2000-05-04T19:52:45Z")
What’s happening out there, people? **Talk to me.** ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/94 "2000-05-04T21:07:31Z")
I made it! Boy, I thought it would be harder after my slip-ups. But it wasn’t even that bad today. If any of you remember, I was sucking on lollipops every time I had a craving to smoke. I’ve only needed two lollipops today! Okay, I’m having one now, but that’s just because I like these lollipops. So, (so far) today I did not smoke for Shayna. Grace, of course you can be Sunday’s sponsor. And on Monday, I will not smoke for purplebear. I echo what Shayna said earlier. You guys have all been so wonderful. Thank you so much for the support. I think I might actually be able to do this. My meter: I have been smoke free for: 23 hours, 42 minutes and 1 second. 14 cigarettes not smoked, Money saved: $2.96. Life saved: 1 hour, 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/95 "2000-05-04T21:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I think I might actually be able to do this. Correction: You CAN do this! I am so proud of you for getting through today, Jeannie. Way To Go! And if it’s any encouragement to you at all, day 4 for me has pretty much been a breeze. Can you believe it? Yesterday I thought I was going to die. I didn’t believe the people who told me the physical addiction would be gone by now. But (I think) they’re right. The only times I’ve craved a cigarette today have been when I was feeling stressed or anxious about something. And for Eve, I sucked on my water bottle and rode out the cravings. I think tomorrow’s going to be a good day for both of us. Today, I have not smoked for Eve. Tomorrow, I will not smoke for Libby. Congrats again, Jeannie, on having such a great day! I haven’t inhaled those nasty chemicals for 3 days, 15 hours, 5 minutes and 36 seconds. 43 cigarettes have not been smoked, saving me $6.75. And I have 3 hours, 35 minutes more phone time with Grace! ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/96 "2000-05-04T21:18:42Z")
I was thinking about you all day, Jeannie. Nice going. Don’t forget, tomorrow is my day. Stay strong. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/97 "2000-05-04T22:32:40Z")
All right, can I sponsor a day next week? For my sponsorship, I’ll offer to send Shayna/Jeannie some swiss chocolate through the mail. Good luck people! You can do it! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/98 "2000-05-05T01:49:47Z")
Arnold, that is so incredibly nice of you! You may be my sponsor for Tuesday. But there is only one way I’ll accept any Swiss chocolates from you, and that is if you and Elizabeth deliver them to me in person. Come out to Redondo on a Saturday or Sunday and we can hang out at the beach, on the pier, or cruise the strand in Hermosa. Ooh, Ooh, or maybe pick a weekend when there’s a pro beach volleyball tournament - those are always fun to go to. Or one of Hermosa’s street fairs. And now that I don’t smoke, you’ll be able to enjoy the nice, clean air in my apartment when you get here! Drain, tomorrow is your day, and it’s a very important one for me. In none of my previous attempts to do this have I ever made it past the 5th day. Wish me luck! The rest of my sponsors so far are: Saturday – **Falcon** Sunday – **Grace** (How appropriate :)) Monday – **purplebear** Tuesday – **Arnold** Thank you for being my inspiration today, Eve. The day went really well, but this evening has been a little rough again. But I’ve kept my promise to you and now it’s been 3 days, 19 hours, 32 minutes, 58 seconds and 45 cigarettes since I’ve smoked! I’ve saved $7.09 and racked up an extra 3 hours, 45 minutes to yack on the phone with Grace. ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/99 "2000-05-05T01:54:17Z")
Way to go, folks! Fee free to use me as a sponsor! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249/100 "2000-05-05T01:56:04Z")
_exasperated sigh_ Of course, that should read “Feel free…”. On a positive note, it helps me pad my post count. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-straight-dope-smoke-out-topic/18249.md?page=6)