The Great Straight Dope SMOKE-OUT Topic

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
321

I’m here, babe.

How is everybody? I hope everyone remembered that this is a no smoking area.

My neighbour Tony came over last night and gave me a jug of homemade wine. I said, “Tony, when are you going to stop smoking?” He answered me in the usual way: “Wally, you have one daughter. I have four.” I don’t know how to respond to that. Any ideas?

Huge hugs to** Shayna, Cristi, Jeannie and Lissa.**

Who loves ya the mostest?

A handshake for the fellas because people may start to talk.

You guys are simply awesome. You’re doing so well that I don’t have to nag anymore.

Scratch that. If I don’t get regular updates, I’m going to nag.

322

Hello, everyone! I’m so sorry that I got sidetracked with my new thread last night and didn’t get to check back in. I’ve been with everyone in thought though.

Shayna, ROFL!!! Thanks for the extra hug. I love hugs! Did I ever tell you that? And, sorry to say, I’m selfish. I won’t be sharing Mr Bear this trip home. :wink: Maybe next time. :wink: As to what my plans are… I’ll leave that up to y’all’s imagination. :o

AuntiPam, what Shayna said. Please stop. No more funerals.

In the interest of keeping this thread from getting too cumbersome, I’ll just say a general howdy and WTG to all of the other quitters out there.

weirddave, my dear. It’s okay, really it is. I don’t have any personal experience with this, but I know a lot of other people who have quit. It is very hard to do, and slipups can happen. Glad to see that you’re getting right back up and going for it again. I admire you a lot for that. Truly. {{{{{{{{{weirddave}}}}}}}}}

beatle ROFL! Thanks for the laugh! Sorry that you’re feeling so snarly today. {{{{{{{{{beatle}}}}}}}}}

To everyone, quitters and supporters alike:

{{{{{{{{{{GroupHug}}}}}}}}}}

323

Hey Shayna you better not smoke otherwise I shall send my leigon of squirrel ninjas after you and they shall hold you captive and tickle you until you stop smoking…

and who really wants that??

324

Haven’t smoked yet. Still doin OK. It’s usually day 3 that kills me.

Wally, ask your neighbor if he wants his wife to be stuck with 4 orphans? Maybe not apropriate, but I’m feeling snotty.
Clock:15hrs 15mins 6sec
12 cigs not smoked
$1.95 saved

325

Called the doc and asked him to phone in the Zyban Rx – stopped at the drugstore, and apparently he forgot, so I’ll kick his ass tomorrow. :slight_smile:

Skipped the usual afternoon smoke break at work. Yay!

I’ll be reading but not posting in this thread for awhile, since it’s getting so long, and I don’t want anyone who’s jonesing to have to wait any longer than necessary for it to load.

And Shayna! Thanks for the emphysema story!! It was awful! What an inspiration!!!

Oh! I looked at the PDR at work, and one of the side effects of Wellbutrin/Zyban can be a slight numbness in your mouth, or deadening of taste buds. Maybe that’s another reason why it seems to work for some people. (?)

Way to go everybody!!

326

Sorry I haven’t been by in a while. Don’t worry, I’m still not smoking :slight_smile:

Wally–Yes, I know who loves me the most. Thank you for the support.

Satan–I have not smoked for you today. Thank you for being my sponsor.

Shayna–Thanks for all the extra support. You’re awesome!

Cristi–I still get the thing with the phone. Especially if I’m on with my mom.

Yesterday, I was over at my parents’ house for Mother’s Day. Everyone in my family smokes. I thought for sure that I’d break down. But I didn’t. The more they smoked, the less I wanted one.

I am proud to say that today, I am a non-smoker :smiley:

I have been smoke free for: One week, five days, 2 hours, 6 minutes and 11 seconds.
181 cigarettes not smoked,
Money saved: $36.26.
Life saved: 15 hours, 5 minutes.

327

Shayna, It’s your OP. I agree, it takes a bit to load now, particularly since we can’t go direct to Page 7. How 'bout Smoke Out Part deux?

19 hours, 38 minutes and 0 seconds. 16 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2.66. Life saved: 1 hour, 20 minutes.

328

Jeannie, I’m glad you enjoyed the chocolates. Were they melted when they got to you? If so, stick them in the freezer for a day and they should be OK. Shayna, your chocolates are ready and willing. Still need to pick a free week-end. I need to sit down and figure out my calendar of events to see when they can be delivered in person.

Congratulations everybody else (too many names to mention.)

Does anyone need a sponsor for a day? I’m available. If you stay smoke-free on my day you get chocolate in the mail.

329

Re: reposting this thread as Part Deux - yes, I was thinking about doing that anyway and had even discussed it with Tuba Diva at ATMB.

I printed the first 6 screens and have them at home. I’d like to go through them and do a brief recap as the OP for Part Deux. Then I’ll coordinate with Euty to post a link to the new topic as the last message in this thread before he closes this one out.

For those who want to jump directly to page 7, here’s a trick…

Point your mouse at any of the numbered page links and RIGHT click. Choose ‘copy shortcut’ or ‘copy link location’ (depending on your browser). Paste it into the address window and change the last number to a 7.

So, for instance, if you copied the link for page 5, http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23199&pagenumber=5, you’d just change the pagenumber=5 to =7. Voila, you’re in without loading an extra page.

I’ll be back later to get updates about everyone’s progress today.

XXOO,
Shayna (who is still smoke free after 2 weeks, 18 hours, 17 minutes and 3 seconds.)

330

Shayna you drive this thing, babe, keep it up!
weirddave - the third day has historically been the chew through the straight jacket’s straps day for me; and you’re a half-day ahead of me. Keep on keepin’ on…

Arnold Winkelried - thanks for caring, pal! I mean it!

elelle keep on keepin’ on…

cristi Oh, baby, you inspire me!

331

Ok, here we go! I am your friendly sponsor today. Yes, this is a rather unusual time to start a sponsorship thread but this is the time of day when I am awake! But for you, I will try to communicate during the day also!

You are doing great! Can you smell the delicate spring flowers better yet? It will only get better!

Are you still taking your Kudzu? Does it help?

Just chant to yourself–“Today, I will not smoke for evilbeth! I will not smoke for evilbeth! I will not smoke for evilbeth! I will not smoke for evilbeth! I will send lots of money to evilbeth! I will not smoke for evilbeth! I will send all my money saved to evilbeth! I will not smoke…”

Keep it up!

332

I am SO PROUD of everyone in this thread!!

Wally, “I don’t know how to respond to that. Any ideas?” Yeah, just ask him if he’d like to get to know his granddaughters!

I love you the very mostest (even if you are a gerbil and a goldfish killer - hehehe.)

purplebear, you rock. Just had to remind you. {{{{{{{{{{purplebear}}}}}}}}}}

Talkinsquirrel, I most definitely did not smoke for you and elelle today. But it’s not because you threatened to tickle me – that I might’ve liked! :wink: Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts today. You are a doll!

Go dave! Go dave! Go dave! You are entitled to feel snotty. Remember, I’m the Hag that wanted to kick her precious little kitty on day 2! If you don’t declare other sponsors, I’m sponsoring you the entire week. You will not smoke, you got that?

AuntiePam, like we said before, we’ll be here whenever you’re ready. It’s great that you’re already skipping cigarettes. It’ll make giving them up entirely that much easier.

Don’t worry about the topic. Hopefully by tomorrow evening I’ll have a recap and new post ready to go.

As for the Zyban, the cotton mouth didn’t deter me one bit. But you’re talking to someone who kept right on smoking through a lengthy bout of adult whooping cough! I hated the Zyban - I’d get maybe 1 hour of sleep a night, if that. It made me anxious which made me want to smoke more instead of less. So I just quit taking it. I have some extras if you want them.

Jeannie, you go girl! You’d better come to the Worldwide SD Gathering in Vegas so I can give you a victory hug in person!

Arnold, I know how busy you are with wedding plans. If it’s going to be difficult to find some free time, you’re welcome to send the chocolates. I just thought it would be so nice to see you and Elizabeth again. :slight_smile:

beatle, you are so awesome, dude! Where’s your counter/meter/ticker thingy? How many bunny rabbits did you decapitate today?

ruadh, Lissa, Chief Crunch, muffinman, we need to hear from you guys. Come out, come out where ever you are.

Cristi, how did you do today? I think you’re doing better than any of us. Go you!

As I head off to bed, my meter reads…

Two weeks, 23 hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds.
179 cigarettes not smoked
Savings: $27.86.
Life saved: 14 hours, 55 minutes.

Night night all. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

333

Sorry, couldn’t get to a computer last night.

Smoke free for: 4 days, 5 hours, 53 minutes, 5 seconds
Cigs not smoked: 127
Money saved: £24.13

Yesterday was a bit tougher, but I got over it. My cough hasn’t gone away yet but it’s definitely a lot better.

334

I am so glad to see everyone doing so well.

Dave - Don’t sweat it, dude. It’s like riding a bike, and it’ll get easier this time, I assure you.

I am so happy that so many people here are doing this and doing it so well! :smiley:

Yer pal,
Satan

TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
One month, one week, 5 hours, 52 minutes and 50 seconds.
1489 cigarettes not smoked, saving $186.22.
Life saved: 5 days, 4 hours, 5 minutes.

335

Wally - look him in the face and tell him:
“That means you have four daughters that are more susceptible to colds, allergies and asthma from your smoking.
Four daughters that are learning that smoking is an acceptable behavior from you.
Four daughters who will grieve when their father dies both because he is lost to them, and because their children will never know him”
Is this your second day, beatle?

{{{{beatle}}}}

::Zyada sneeks in a quick kiss while she’s hugging beatle::
:wink:

Jeannie - that is so great. You’ve come such a long way!

Glad to see everyone hanging in there.

336

I forgot to mention some interesting news I got yesterday.

A good friend of mine has been having serious problems breathing recently :frowning:

So he’s quitting smoking :slight_smile:

337

Still here, still non.

One and all, it’s just one more (@#$%!!) (just kidding) day!

338

I got no sponsor today, unless I wanna keep Shayna busy all week. That dosen’t seem quite fair. ( if i’m gonna keep a georgious redhead busy, this is not hoe I wanna do it!;-))
One day, 11 hours, 4 minutes and 22 seconds.
29 cigarettes not smoked, saving $4.75.
Life saved: 2 hours, 25 minutes.

339

Howdy, y’all! Sorry I couldn’t get it to work yesterday. I’ll just keep this short and hope for the best. Congrats to all the non-smokers out there! I’ll keep reading and checking on you guys.
{{{{{{{{{{{GroupHugs}}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks, Shayna. You ROCK!! {{{{{{Shayna}}}}}}}

340

evilbeth! You are so awesome! I got your emails, and today, I did not smoke for you.

Grace, tomorrow is your day (again).

Shayna, I hope I can be in Vegas in September. Our wedding anniversary is that month, and that’s where we wanted to go to celebrate. However, another girl at work is getting married around that time. Even if I put in for my vacation first…well, I can’t mess up someone’s honeymoon…
BTW, did you ever get those chocolates from Bricker?

Dave, you need a sponsor? I’m there! Tell me when and I will guilt you into not smoking…

Wally (and all the coaches), what can I say? You have helped me save money and add to my life. Thank you.
I have been smoke free for: One week, six days, 1 hour, 53 minutes and 11 seconds.
196 cigarettes not smoked,
Money saved: $39.24.
Life saved: 16 hours, 20 minutes.