Today was tough but I made it. You ever have one of those days where nothing goes right? My highlight was that a vender that we purchased $360,000 worth of turbine blades from wouldn't return my call about a screw up they made until 8:00 tonight and they were still trying to get out of it. Mistakes happen, I realize that, but it's how you handle the mistake that determines if you stay in business. Oh well, tomorrow can't be worse, can it?

Still going strong here. Starting to go through the overconfidence stage. You know: "I got this sucker, hell I could even have one every now and then and not get hooked again" Ofcourse this is not true.

Going to the casino tonight, we'll see how that goes.

Hadn't seen the grilf in a couple of days ... last night we're on our way out to the ginmill (I'm driving), w/ a stopover at Seve's:

We join the conversation in media res:

G: (a bit incredulously) "so, you haven't had one cigarette?"

JP: "No. Not one." and I tell her about the other night - the "gauntlet" -- thanks, Moses and Gary. ;)

G: (genuinely impressed, especially knowing personally all the characters involved) "Wow. I'm proud of you."

At this point, we pull up in front of 7-11 and she is running in to get whatever it is she is getting.

G: "You want anything?"

JP: "Yeah, marlborolightbox" I say, joking, to her back as she gets out of the car.

Two minutes later, she comes out of Seve's, gets in the car and nonchalantly hands me the pack of smokes and starts gnoshing on the roll she bought.

JP: (smirking hard): "And what am I supposed to do with these? Didn't we just cover this?"

G: "Oh, crap. Sorry."

They sat in the car, untouched all night (by me -- it turns out she, who quit 2 months ago, snuck a couple). This morning I gave the rest of the pack to my smoking buddy at work. Breaking the news to him yesterday -- his 1st day back after being sick -- was the hardest part. :D

Yesterday (Thurs) was the first day I really felt cranky. I knew why I felt cranky but didn't want to feel uncrankified ... I just rolled with it. Must be similar to PMS.

Joel -- good luck at the casino, on all fronts.

JP

You want the bad news? That was no accident.

Strange as it sounds, when a smoker quits, his smoking friends feel betrayed. They frequently will do small things to undermine your success.

I'm still hanging in there. I haven't decided if I'm going out tonight or not, which would be my first "night out" without smoking. I've been feeling just a little below average mood-wise for the last couple of days, but not too bad.

Speaking of smoking friends, my buddy John comes over a couple of nights ago to help with my 86 Jimmy... seems it has a worse case of floor rot that I originally expected - fun. John's been pretty good about stepping away from me when he lights up a smoke lately. At one point, I jokingly said "Gimme one of those" and he refused. Good man.

Later after he'd left, however, I found one of his sitting atop my tool cabinet. Whatta wanker. Guess it was a test. Knowing John pretty well, I am positive he wasn't trying to sabatoge me... he was testing my resolve and would've chastised me if I'd have caved. I scored a 90%. I actually picked it up and lit it, took one drag, and it tasted like a$$. I promptly snuffed it out, broke it up and tossed it in the trash. I was a little sorry I'd even taken a puff, but at the same time I was happy that it tasted bad to me and I didn't want any more of it, as I had expected (and hoped).

FWIW, I am fairly certain a smoke wouldn't taste "bad" to me right now:) If only.

Moses -- you may be right, and I appreciate your candor. However, she recently quit (she has a smoke now and then when we're out drinking... but that's quitting to me) and has been on me, gently, to quit.

I said that I'd quit when the 930 was done. It was supposed to be done last March, but wasn't done until Sept. Woo-hoo, right? More time to smoke.

Well I picked up the car ... and kept smoking. Her comment, not delivered snidely or with any superiority bullshyt: "you were going to quit when you got the Porsche?" I said, "yeah, it'll happen. sooner than later". And that was that, more or less. She quit when I said I would and hasn't been a PITA about it.

I think she honestly just went into autopilot mode when I asked for the smokes - it was part of the routine -- Seve's on the way to the bar, get smokes (maybe a Red Bull) and we're off.

Kevin -- yeah, after being away from the smokes for a while, that "first" one tastes awful, and you wonder how you did it for so long.

JP

looks like we are missing reports/confessions from 3: HughA44S, Tobascobobcat and K911sc.
Who will be the first dropout? Congrats on a successful week you non-smoking Pelicanites!

JP - yeah, I knew that already and don't intend that puff to be my "first" one :-). I guess I just needed the reassurance that they really taste like crap and make that my memory, instead of remembering them as relaxing smoky goodness.

TRUE CONFESSIONS????????????? - Sorry but there are none. I have had some real cravings and came damn close to folding but haven't crashed yet. We are in a very busy period at work and I have had to tell some of my co-workers to watch me so I don't go non-linear on some people from other offices. I do need to come to grips with my basic personality which is I get addicted to stuff and things. This is not the first addiction I have had to deal with -- the key is where to channel the energy. I am good for now!!!! and over confidence is a killer.

JP, good on' ya.

I have only had ONE butt since June 26, 2003. A Newport, smoked inside a traveling after hours club, where I told them my name was "Raoul Duke."

Cutting back on drinking helped me cut out smoking, I gotta say.

Fortunately there are still a few vices left. . . anyone got a '66 911 for sale?

Involving the co-workers was a good idea. They can keep an eye on me when the wife can't and be just as severe. Still on the wagon. Nothing intersting to report I guess.

whoa whoa whoa ... everybody slooooow down here ... nobody is seriously suggesting cutting back on drinking.... Let's not get crazy.

Thanks, Kos. :D

JP

Not me. Attempting to make up the difference for the others.
Many reasons to party for Steeler fans this years.
Now I smoke meat on the grill instead of tar bags.

K911SC, Lendaddy, What's up? any cigarettes/true confessions?

Nope, I'm clean. Got back from the casino about 5:00 this morning, that was a serious test. Sitting in the poker room for 7 hours sure brings back the urges! Anyway no smokie, no winnie either:(

For the first 4-5 hours I enjoyed the second hand smoke, then it got annoying.

You guys make my life sound boring. Just hanging at home with pregnant wife.

no tabasco, it is not hanging, you wre bonding

lendaddy, didnt you play the Jets game also? Thats hardcore. Good job!

Id never thought about it until I read the post, but there is no way I could play a game and not smoke. Its a good thing I quit doing both.

True Confessions
 

I dropped the ball earlier. Had one after the Pitts - Jets game. I'm back on board now.
Shhh..don't tell the wife.