GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us! You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access the GUS library page at dKosopedia.
Good morning, GUSsacks and guests! Glad you gathered here -- let's get going on some good gabbing!
I tried. Honest, I did.
Cold turkey on the first attempt. Cleaned every ashtray and stored them away; gathered all the lighters and matches and dumped them at the back of the junk drawer; bought carpet deodorizer and a can of air freshener in an attempt to minimize the smell of cigarettes in my apartment; laid in a supply of freezer pops and got ready for the hell of nicotine withdrawal.
So I took my doctor's advice and tried to taper off -- maybe if I could wean myself slowly from nicotine, bring myself down to five or so a day, it would alleviate the depression next time I quit for good. A week or so later, I babysat my niece for a couple of days...and my sister thanked me by giving me a carton of smokes. I should have sold it to a smoker friend or given it away, but I opened it -- and being of Scottish extraction, once I've opened something I'm damn sure not going to toss it out. So I readjusted my quit date, worked my way through the carton, staying at less than ten cigarettes a day.
Meanwhile, a couple of friends of mine took a trip to New Orleans to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. They had a fantastic time -- toured a plantation house, visited Marie Laveau's crypt and stuffed themselves on orgasmically delicious NOLA cooking.
They also returned with gifts for me -- a Bourbon Street ashtray. And two cartons of Camel Lights.
I have two packs left of that second carton. I'm going to start reading Allen Carr's book today. I've informed as many people as I can -- co-workers, classmates, family and friends -- that I've set a date to quit. Most have been fully supportive, although I've also been accused of betraying the small brotherhood of nicotine addicts left in Canada. One person even accused me of buying into oppressive government tactics that have led one Ontario city to consider banning smoking in public parks and being a secret supporter of Stephen Harper's Conservative government -- which would be like someone telling you guys that you were closet Beck fans. :)
Whatever.
I'm tired of waking up in the morning only to hack and wheeze through my first hour of conciousness. I'm tired of being out of breath every time I climb two sets of stairs on campus -- and there's a lot of stairs on campus. I'm tired of missing chunks of family occasions and friendly celebrations because I have to sneak out back for a smoke. I'm tired of spending money that could be going toward my education on a product that does nothing but destroy my health and enrich the giant corporations that I have been fighting since I was a teenager. I'm tired of getting nasty looks every time I light up within ten feet of a doorway.
I'm tired of being a smoker. So I'm going to stop.
D-day is Tuesday. Wish me luck.
Current members of the GUS team! Please post a comment if you would like to join, or if your name is here in error: 1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, amk for obama, Anne933, aoeu, Archie2227, ArthurWolf (in memoriam), awkawk, bamablue, barnowl, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, breedlovinit, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, Chocolate Chris, ChurchofBruce, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, Dexter, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, Everest42, Fineena, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, Im a frayed knot, Indexer, interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, Jeffersonian Democrat, Jyrix, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, Last Starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, marknspokane, mdemploi, Mikeguyver, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, one pissed off democrat, Ordvefa, PaintyKat, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, red mittens, revelwoodie, rkex, rosebuddear, SallyCat, seenaymah, Scrapyard Ape, sheddhead, smartcookienyc, spmozart, Tay, theatre goon, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Vacationland, webranding, weelzup, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, x
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