Sazerac

I remember Phoebe from my lurking days at QSMB ! Congratulations !

I don't read fiction very often but, if you like non-fiction... I am reading again, a bunch of books/articles by John McPhee. He has written a lot for the New Yorker. My favorite is , Oranges. (everything you possibly need to know about oranges) Also, returning to, The Rings of Saturn by W.G. Sebald. Ostensibly about his walk through Suffolk, but has me researching the many things he mentions. I love google.

Moderation had never been my forte yet, I am admirably moderate with the blessed herb, not so moderate with alcohol and was immodestly immoderate with nicotine. Luckily, I never had serious injuries that required too many doses of other substances and they never grabbed my attention on the street or in the clubs. You are right, Whisp, I do my best to never forget either, addiction doesn't go away.

Smoking/Addiction doesn't go with any lifestyle. It is a burden. I am glad you quit. Let us know if anything stumps you, we have lots of tricks among us. You mentioned that fresh smoke is a trigger, I am glad fresh smoke is repugnant to me now, it may turn sour for you too, with some time. What is your port during hurricane season ? Last year was so gnarly in the islands. I just read El Faro's last log in the eye of hurricane Joaquin. Chilling and regrettable.

420 relieves my arthritis, lightens my mood, inspires any work I choose to do and generally helps me to be a much nicer person. When first quit, smoking herb did trigger a crave for cigarettes. This is because everything I ever did, triggered a crave for cigarettes and I would always light up after I was lit but, I powered through, lol, and kept my quit. I try to smoke in a ceremonial way and try not to be careless or casual about it. I was careless and casual about nicotine. Personally, I don't care for the high of edibles but, may experiment more as the legalities work themselves out. My state is still in it's 'reefer madness' stage but, I am SO glad the world is changing for the better, at least in this instance.

Damn ! Hylas 54 is gorgeous. I just spent a bit of time learning about the designer, Germán Frers and lusting over photographs of pretty, pretty yachts on the deep blue or anchored in clear turquoise water. Your home is beautiful. You must be going berserk on land and little wonder you couldn't sleep ! Gah ! Well, smoking won't help anything, it'll just weigh you down. It won't make the parts arrive any sooner and cannot assist you with the labyrinth of Lloyds. Hold on to your quit.

You're welcome, Boater. I try to send things out that might be useful. Your red flags certainly caught my attention, and I may have misread but, I trust, you will take what you need and leave the rest. As a smoker, I thought a lot about smoking (like every twenty minutes or so for forty+ years). Then, thinking about NOT smoking when I quit, took up far too much of my time. I had to consciously, fiercely re-program my brain, that was the most intense part of quitting for me. I have been gratefully quit for five years in October and I can't remember being seriously tempted to smoke for many years. Still, I remain vigilant because the mental slavery of addiction is insidiously horrible, not to mention the rest... Your 12 days of quitting are important, congratulations. Are you afloat yet ?

Hey, Jules ! I hope you are having big fun celebrating your 5 months of freedom. Congratulations.

Congratulations KT, I hope you celebrate your fine achievement, it really is a great accomplishment.

The first days and quits in general, can be wildly different for everybody and wildly different hour to hour, day to day...etc. Gather strength from good days and more strength by powering through difficult days. Understand that unexpected craves may surprise you for a nanosecond but, never win you over. You are a non smoker. Congratulations. Reward yourself !!!

Welcome N, in sunny beautiful London ! You are making such positive adjustments in your life, congratulations ! Quitting smoking will add fuel to your inner power, your confidence. Please don't feel like you are cheating using a NRT, THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO QUIT SMOKING. Breathe deep and enjoy your new adventure !

Darlin' Jo, Thank you so much for herding all us crazy Cats and Kitties, making it look like nothing untoward happened. You've done a splendid job, and with slappy cheeks, too ! I remain chagrined over the 'kidnappers' (ahem) low-balling the ransom, surely pig is priceless ? Possibly, I am befuddled over the true story line, as you know, I am easily lost in the vapors. Ta from The QTardis (our existential alternative to the Lido), S

One day done, your first of many days, nicotine free ! Congratulations and thank you for writing about your experience, you never know who you will touch and help along their own journey.

Keeping you in my thoughts, there will be some wild celebrating upon your return.

Congratulations, Grund ! I am so glad you and your cohorts made the migration and kept your quits .

Hey, remember to reward yourself. Make a specific point of rewarding yourself, it helps to kick start your brain receptors functioning for you and your pleasure instead of serving nicotine and the addicts relief.

I am really glad you are able to sleep. Sleep makes everything better. Extra bonus your tinnitus is gone, you must be having some joy to be rid of that. Smokey thoughts may come and go but, thoughts are not demands and I'm glad you are not being shadowed by thoughts. Freedom is so great. To be free of smoking /not smoking thoughts is one of the major things I appreciate about being clean. Congratulations on your choice and your eleventh/twelfth day.

How are you feeling today, you're eleventh day ?

Your addict will think of a zillion reasons why you shouldn't quit today, they are all bullshit. The only reason not to quit today is because you don't want to quit today. Once you make the decision to never take another puff , you will be able to harvest strength from yourself. The power to quit is yours. Romancing 'that last one for old times sake' is ridiculous.... 'let me have one more chance to commit a slow and painful suicide' is more accurate. You have a great support system here, use it to your advantage. and educate yourself more even if you think you 'know'. Go get some supplies, oranges or satsumas, good juice, and special treats, stick close to the board and rant your lil heart out, play some games to pass some craves. You are beginning another great adventure.

Gently emerging from a night of continuing dreams, a fun group of formerly alive people and beautiful neglected antiques. Hi Fluffy One.

You have a fine and sturdy quit going, jo, and a support group that adores you (count me in). Rail, flail, rant and rave on. I am relieved to hear you are 'back to confident', where we all can be.

While women are not as gifted as Hyenas, the benefits of quitting smoking are abundant.

Dragonfly, Are you with us ? Don't beat yourself up over failed quits, this is a new day. A day that you can honor yourself by quitting. Let us know how you are.

Boater, Boater, Boater, You send up so many red flags that expose an ignorance of addiction or, a denial of your own addiction. Learning and absorbing the facts of addiction really cements a quit and I hope you will take the time to educate yourself. We are on your side. S

Congratulations justanotherme ! 10 months into a really solid quit, reward yourself and truly celebrate.