Sazerac

-2 Sure, @bakon. I 'MADE' reservations.

Calypso Christmas

This is a really good post.

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

I was working for a recording engineer as a P.A., Jazz Fest in the late 90's. In the crowd, there was Junior and a small movie crew filming him picking up a beautiful model and twirling her around. They said, 'cut, we got it' and he purposefully dropped her and walked away unconcerned. She fell with quite a bit of force on the ground ! The crew picked her up. I also dislike his music, I find it way too soporific and now sounds v. smarmy after that JFest incident.

Don't start me to talkin' bout Harry Connick Jr. Bleech. Here is some more blasphemy for your listening insanity

I think Jo has taken the prize on this one ! What is the nutritional profile of washer blades ? Once morning sickness was over (3 months of ginger tea) I craved for artichokes. This was a quantum crave. I couldn't get enough. As life would have it, the sperm donor and I moved from NOLA to California. We settled for a few months and the birth in Castroville, Ca. The Artichoke Capitol of The World. I was in bliss. Craves are important to consider, dig the nutritional profile of artichokes. Excerpted from 'Nutrition and You' 'Globe artichoke is low in calories and fat; 100 g = 47 calories. It is one of the finest sources of dietary fiber and antioxidants. It provides 5.4 g per 100 g, about 14% of RDA fiber. Artichoke contains bitter principles, cynarin, and sesquiterpene-lactones. Scientific studies show that these compounds, not only inhibit cholesterol synthesis but also increase its excretion in the bile. Fresh artichoke is an excellent source of vitamin, folic acid; provides about 68 µg per 100 g (17% of recommended daily allowance). Folic acid acts as a co-factor for enzymes involved in the synthesis of DNA. Scientific studies have proven that adequate levels of folates in the diet during the pre-conception period, and during early pregnancy may help prevent neural tube defects in the newborn baby. Fresh globes also contain moderate amounts of the antioxidant vitamin; vitamin-C (Provides about 20% of recommended levels per 100 g). Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body. It is one of the good vegetable sources for vitamin-K; provide about 12% of DRI. Vitamin-K plays a vital role in bone health through promoting osteotropic (bone formation) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain. It is an also a good source of antioxidant compounds such as silymarin, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, which help the body protect from harmful free-radical agents. Total measurable antioxidant strength (ORAC) of artichokes (globe or french) is 6552 µmol TE/100 g. It is also rich in the B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid that are essential for optimum cellular metabolic functions. Further, the artichoke is a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese used by the human body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper required in the production of red blood cells. Iron helps in the red blood cell synthesis in the bone marrow. Additionally, it contains small amounts of antioxidant flavonoid compounds like carotene-beta, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Congratulations, Christian on your 18 Years of Freedom and thank you so much for blazing the trail !

The only thing you need to quit is a personal commitment to NOPE. Not One Puff Ever. If you are juggling patches and nicotine gum you will have the danger of nicotine poisoning. This is serious business. Educate yourself about nicotine addiction and make the commitment to yourself. You must be willing to endure discomfort in the beginning. This will not kill you. Smoking WILL. Have a deep think about what our friend, @Sirius, asks, "The next time a craving plunks down on your face ask yourself, "What price you are willing to pay to own yourself?"

Watching Two Rats cavorting around the courtyard. Time for Traps and Poison and maybe another essay (not for the squeamish) Rat Raga.

Detritus and yecch !

-2 hello everyone

I hate this song also. Found this horror show for your displeasure

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

I wish Jacinda ruled the world. Intelligence and Compassion. What the world needs NOW. Glad your peeps are OK, Jo.

Our friend, Joel Spitzer explains this so well. This half-life of nicotine levels in the brain is 20-30 minutes under normal conditions. Under abnormal conditions it may be shorter or longer. Stress makes it shorter--significantly shorter in fact thus increasing the bodies demand for cigarettes. This helps explain why smokers smoke more under stress and why when facing equivalent stresses as an ex-smoker, they will eventually be calmer than when smoking. The first time experiencing a specific stress will be a trigger, but after a time or two the association will be broken and withdrawal will no longer be encountered during the stress. The same stress will then in essence be less stressful for all practical purposes. To never have to deal with stress induced withdrawal, r even withdrawals experienced during non-stress times--just from going too long without smoking-- always remember that to end nicotine withdrawal forever simply entails knowing to never take another puff! Joel and this video, also. Smoking Triggers

Prolonging Nicotine Withdrawal Nicotine is Nicotine is Nicotine

I love this post, @Boo. I have a prompt to help me, a deep breath and feasting my eyes on something of beauty. As soon as I could recognize the thoughts of the addict, I was able to first, distract myself from them with a deep, deep breath and replacing the thought by looking at or listening to something of beauty. This distanced myself from them further and further as time went on and clarity ensued. I use this exercise whenever I am stressed or confused or upset or in a conundrum. The breath and finding something of Beauty now stimulates my endorphins quite quickly. Creatures of habit, are we.

-2 hello darling nicotine free creatures

JO JO JO JO JO. I am glad you two are OK. You two could have been DEAD.

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE