Icanhike

Thanks for the John Denver video, BOO!! But let's focus on the sunny skies of Vegas...lol

You guys made my day!!! Hubby and I still laughing...thanks for a stellar birthday!!!

Thank you so much!! Feeling better today than I've felt in a while. I feel so lucky to be free of nicotine!!!

Watching the Tobacco Wars gave me the power to quit, (along with the patch). I had to change my emotion towards cigarettes, and Tobacco Wars gave me the ability to hate smoking. I still watch it frequently. Best viewing on the internet!

I thought smoking would help me grow up faster so I could be an adult and call the shots in my own life. For me, smoking was freedom. I finally quit when I was out on a busy hiking trail, and there were older people trotting up mountains, and I was at the bottom gasping while my poor dog waited patiently by my side. Other peoples' dogs were having a blast, running up the trail. But my dog had to stand next to me while I wheezed and struggled, and it was just humiliating. I wasn't thinking about my health, I was just thinking about my lack of dignity. Sounds so crazy!!! But there it is. I just want my dignity, and I also want my genuine freedom, that I gave up the day I started smoking.

Wow, you didn't start till you were 27...that's got such a wholesome ring to it! ?

Doreensfree, I was forced into ballet school, too. I felt so out of place in ballet class that I used to deliberately hurt myself in attempts to get out of class. LOL

NOPE!

Hi everyone, I was thinking about what I did before I started smoking cigarettes. I basically know what I did; I was an average kid who climbed trees, went to school, etc... But I was trying to remember what I loved, what made me happy before smoking. I started smoking when I was 11, so I'm having to think pretty far back in the past. Do you have memories of your life prior to smoking?

What do you mean when you say you paint woodwork?

Yeah, I know exactly how you felt. Art is very hard work, you're thinking about so many different things all at once, and trying to keep them right, and smoking was a way to stay calm. I'm not calm when I paint, I'm straining every brain cell I've got. But I'm hoping that without cigarettes, more of my attention will be freed up to make better observations, and I'm also hoping my eyesight will be better without smoking. I wish I could take Doreen out painting with me...I'd be laughing so hard I'd forget about all my psycho troubles.

Yeah, I haven't tried painting without a cigarette, and I'm uptight about that. But at the same time, smoking was a bit of a problem when I painted outside. I use turpentine, and I was always worried about starting a fire. I had a jar of water for putting out smokes so I could extinguish them fast. But I also had a couple open jars of turpentine, and I'm always sitting near dry vegetation, and it did worry me that sooner or later I'd set a national park on fire. So at least I won't have to worry about that anymore. I'll send some pictures sometime today.

NOPE. It's more fun NOT being a slave to compulsion...freedom is so delightful!!!

Hi Sazerac! Denver's getting snow, but I'm on the other side of the mountains, so our weather is different. We're slightly warmer than Denver, with more clouds. I saw your paintings and they're outstanding!!! I'm an artist, too, and I admire your ability with acrylics. I'm a plein air painter. I still have dazzling memories of blue-green agave, and the purple shadows cast onto the orange rocks. I live for the patterns created by sunlight and shadows!! Edward Hopper once said that all he wanted to paint was "sunlight on a wall." And that's exactly how I feel. I'm just spellbound by that yellow light, and what it does when it lands on various surfaces. Well, you are highly skilled...I don't know how you do that with acrylics. I used to use acrylics in an airbrush a long time ago, when I painted murals. But I was always freaked out by how fast they dry, lol. I'm an oil painter and I also enjoy pastels. But yeah, I love your paintings. Just gorgeous...great color harmonies and striking compositions!!!!!

Hey there, Linda. I noticed we smoked the same number of years. I do feel a stronger sense of personal integrity now that I've quit. It seems like I couldn't completely respect myself when I was smoking cigarettes, but I wasn't aware of it at the time. And now that I stopped, I feel more self respect, and it's very uplifting!!

The blue-footed booby may not be Australian, but only a person from Australia can say "blue footed booby" with any style.

Weird little blue feet, lol

Yeah, they absolutely are! What's the little creature in your avatar?

Thanks Jillar. ? Yeah, this is a beautiful place for sure. Will set up the ticker?

Yeah, Blue Heelers. Mine is a Red Heeler mixed with German Shepherd. I've been around dogs all my life, and heelers are the most unusual dog I've ever seen. Seems like you've got all the best critters!

Yeah, it's shocking to see all the money when cigarettes are no longer being purchased. Your vacation picture actually improved my mood!

That's hilarious! That's amazing...actually, I've admired chickens for many years but had no idea they could do tricks!

Now we're talkin!!! Did you have a wonderful time? I bet you did!!! By the way, your pig is so lovely and adorable.

Not in the same category as you're talking about, but Australia's no slouch when it comes to animals. For instance, the Australian Cattle Dog: my best friend ever!!! For those of us who can't be Aussies, at least we can enjoy your epic canines

Ha ha!! I grew up in Boulder, did the whole skiing thing as a kid. Yeah, I had an experience vaguely similar to your little video, except I wasn't airborne like that. Yeah, my binding broke off after a crash and I was stranded at the top of a stupid mountain, and my only options were riding down in a rescue sled or riding down on the ski lift. But we don't need to talk about that. Freaking Colorado...I can't believe I live here again. But thanks to you, at least I'm laughing!!