DenaliBlues

In honor of our very own Boo's new arrival...

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5. seal a letter

Congratulations, @Kris! So much respect for your 10-month quit... and so much gratitude that you're part of my quit posse! Thanks for the support and inspiration.

Glad to hear it! Personally, I had to just dive in and take the plunge when the opportunity arose. The addiction wants to maintain it's grip - it will use fear and compulsion to try and keep you prisoner. But you absolutely CAN break free! It may be painful at times, but there are lots of creative techniques you can use to cope, and people here who understand what it's like who will support you. You can do this. Before you know it, you'll be on the other side.

“Oy!” she exclaimed.

Sweet & Sour Shrimp

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Hi again @Marie71. I had a long talk with my doctor about bupropion (the generic name for Zyban) a while back. It is still often prescribed in low doses (either by itself or in conjunction with NRT) as a smoking cessation aid. There is good research indicating that it’s effective. Because I was such a heavy smoker, my doctor said NRT – lozenges, gum or patches - and bupropion could be used together. But I ended up going the NRT route alone. I didn’t want to add a second chemical withdrawal process to my already smoke-pickled brain. Also I ended up quitting smoking asap due to some unexpected surgery, with no time to let the meds build up in my system. But every person is different. At the end of the day, whatever method helps you kick nicotine and smoking to the curb is great. Pick a path and rock your quit! Have you set your date yet? I remember from earlier posts that you are worried about the anxiety of quitting. Just remember that smoking, itself, can intensify anxiety also. Withdrawal pains are temporary, but smoking pains pretty much never end, they just repeat on an endless loop. You deserve freedom from that!

limited edition print

Tasted Eggo waffle

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2. Wax a surfboard.

Congratulations, @Dianne! Your quit is inspiring. I hear there's a party in your honor starting on the Lido Deck!

evaporated milk

10. Cut into short remnants and put outside for birds to use to make their nests. What are 10 things you can do with... wax?

Hope you recover well and feel better very soon, @catlover.

Hi, @Sal. Glad you are feeling good! 100+ days is something to be very proud of, and it's worth protecting. I'm sorry to hear that Anita has started to smoke again. For what it's worth, my advice is to acknowledge that openly and nonjudgmentally. You cannot control your spouse's smoking. (Having been "the smoking spouse" for a long time, myself, I can attest to that!) But you CAN find out what's up with her choice, and you can make sure she knows where you stand about keeping your own quit. Talking about it also prevents the silence around it from getting weird. Stay strong and positive about your own quit along the way. We want to celebrate all those future milestones together with you, Sal!

Aloo Gobi

Exuberant dolphins splashed.

wasps

Kvetched expressive Yiddish.