Stop Smoking Support Thread

Fierro6

<------Just learned something new about Jo.  Thank you, Jo!  I'm proud to have "met" you!

JudiH

Jo, that's a pretty long time!  They say that most people have a one or more career choices in their lifetime and you are one of them.  I think it takes a special person to be in the armed forces ... I know I'm not one of them.  I'm in the health field - public health inspector - so maybe I would be typed as a Major Hoolihan from MASH but one that looks after the food.  

Seaside you are so right about firefighters.  My dh was on call in case he was needed for 9/11. He too said he would have done what every firefighter/police officer/cilivian did that day - amazing people that day! 

jo1955

Fierro - You're Welcome.  It was my privilege to serve.  I should also mention that my DH was also in the Air Force for 20 years.

Judi - MASH just happens to be one of my favorite shows.  I was in the medical career field.  I was a Mental Health specialist. 

SeasideMemories

Judi,



All of the first responders on that day, whether or not called, are heroes in my mind!! Just such a special class of people!!

MinusTwo

I too am greatful to all the ladies & gentlemen who serve. Thanks.  And thanks to Seaside for the wonderful quote.

And while we're saluting - cuddos to all of you for not smoking JUST FOR TODAY.  Holidays are hard.  I solved the drinking trigger by switching from my usual gin & tonic to wine.  Somehow that made a difference & I could still sip along with my friends without clawing the walls for a smoke. 

There's a great term on another thread for what many will suffer from this weekend - "overbeveraging".  I plan to just drink just one toast so I won't be "overbeveraged" - maybe.

LisaMarie - we haven't seen you since last Monday.  Hope you are OK.  We're all pulling for you.

Fierro6

If you think YOU or someone you know loves M*A*S*H, you haven't met my husband.  We have two dogs.  Hawkeye and Radar.  Yup.  That's my life.  heh heh

SeasideMemories

Lol, Fierro,



And I thought my DH had the corner on the MASH adoration market although neither of our children nor any pets have been named after the characters..... yet!! He can, however, quote the script, verbatim, for any episode you would like......



He had a party waaaay back in 1983 (we worked together at the time but were not even dating yet) that I attended to watch the final episode... I think that may have been the most watched TV episode ever.... Even bigger than (for those who remember) the 'Who Shot JR?' episode of Dallas..... Oh Lordy.... i DO remember that one as well.....lol

SeasideMemories

Hi MinusTwo! I am with you on the other thread and just loved that term, too!

Fierro6

Yes, Seaside, sounds like my husband.  With satellite, you can find it on most any time, and if he runs across it, that's what he watches.  He, too, knows every word.  *sigh*  

Jo- 40cc today.  Again.  Granted, it beats 50, but it's still not 30, and the discomfort of the new compression is making me crabby.  Or maybe that's just my personality.  ha ha!  Honestly, it doesn't hurt, but it's uncomfortable.  I guess I can't think of a single thing comfortable about a JP drain, though.

I'm off to enjoy today, since it's back to work tomorrow, for the first time in 6 weeks!  Back to commuting without smoking.  I have to figure out how people do that...but I'll figure it out.

jo1955

Fierro - Bummer on the drain and no there is not anything fun about them.  I am still rooting for you and hope you can get rid of the pesky thing this week.  I did work with mind in and it was interesting at times.  I still have some trouble driving and not smoking.  What compounds the problem is to ride with DH in his truck and he is puffing away.  My solution - e-cig.  If DH would just give it up.........    Hawkeye & Radar???  LOL!  That is too cool.

Have a wonderful day ladies. 

MaddyMac

Fierro, you look MAHvelous! I'm not sure how you looked before, but I bet you look just as good if not better than pre-haircut.



Thanks to all who suggested keeping a journal. That is something I have always done. I bought myself a present to celebrate my first ten smoke-free days: it's a beautiful blank book with a reproduction of a page from the Book of Kells on its cover.



So far, I am mostly just delighted with the money I'm saving.



OK, a bit of dark humor here - I'm already overweight, so I was disappointed to learn that I will not be losing any weight due to chemo! (joking)

Fierro6

MaddyMac, one of the first light-hearted things I said to my husband after diagnosis was, "Hey, at least I'll come out on the other side really thin!  I mean, it's not how I'd choose to lose weight, but at least something good will come of it."  Then, I read here and elsewhere that I won't necessarily lose weight, and will possibly gain weight.  WHAT???  LOL  Oh well.  Maybe I could lay off the Pringles.  I won't, but maybe I could.

jo1955

Fierro - Oh no!!!  Lay off the Pringles???? Don't even think about it.  Find something else to give up - LOL!

JudiH

Ladies, you are all too funny!  MASH and Who Shot JR - two of my favourite shows.  My dh can sing the song titles to these shows .... me, I just hymm along.  He can tell you lines and sing the song titles from a lot of the shows when we were kids ... Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island, etc.  I'm not jealous because I keep telling him I don't want to feel my head with unnecessary info - head is only so big.  Jo, I tell you, what an interesting job you had.  Again, it takes a special person to work in that field, and I proud to say that I'm glad there are people like you out there.  Fierro, don't worry about the drive.  You will be so preoccupied with all of the "idiots" out there that you won't have time to think about smoking.  This will buy you the time to realize that you didn't even think about smoking.  Ladies, I'm tired, cranky and overheated .... weather up here is sooooooo hot - hormones and all make this hard!

karen333

Hi all, boy is it hot here, I have been nursing a hot flash all day.  Could not live in 90 - 100 weather, I'd be a puddle!!!!!!! hugs to all, Karen

JudiH

My, what I reread what I wrote, you would never know I went to school!  Karen, it's very hot up here 28 C or 86 F - I was a puddle and even more so after exercise!

karen333

Jo, how hot is it where you are, went up to 88 today and it was muggy too, cannot imagine how you are able to do anything in the 90's?  Do you mostly have to stay in the A.C.ing? hugs to you, Karen

Tazzy

Talking of Who Shot JR... do you know there is Dallas 2012 coming back June 12th I think.... Bobby & JRs sons fighting it out like the good old days.

Been hot here too... although a bit of occassional cloud cover to light relief.

Fierro6

It's been around 90 here for several days, and the high will be 57 on Thursday.  I stopped trying to figure out Missouri weather long ago.  I'll just be happy to turn off the a/c and open the windows and save some money!

jo1955

Karen - Way down by the Mexican border it was 97 today with a light breeze.  Typical weather for us.  We have gotten used to it.  We start work early in the morning and quit about 2:00 in the afternoon.  Then hide in the A/C until about 6:00 - then you can go back outside.  I water my plants in the evening or early morning.  When we get a breeze off the Gulf of Mexico it is not so bad.

karen333

Jo, have you always lived in the deep South - or are you from a more northern clime?  How long did it take for you to adjust to the heat, 97 is high, and I bet a cooling breeze feels delicious.

SeasideMemories

Tazzy,



No, I didn't know they were airing a follow-on to Dallas.. I think I may just check it out for old time's sake...lol!!!



Judi,



I watched more episodes of Gilligan's Island when I was young than I can count! Watched a bit of The Beverly Hillbillies but also was a big I Dream of Jeannie fan! Those times really were so much less complex than today!



Holy Moly to all of us Northern girls!!! Who turned up the heat???? It was a great weekend weather-wise but it was definitely a hot and muggy one! Tried to get some plants planted on my deck and gave up about the time my eyes started burning from all of the sweat drpping into them.... To quote my kids.... Gross!! Mom..lol



Not to bad now that the sun is down..... Try to stay cool ladies!

MinusTwo

Jo:  Wish we had the Gulf breeze.  Houston is 97 and lows are only 75.  I agree - we water early or late since it looks like we won't have rain again this year.  Do you have much humidity there?

For you northern folks - yes we get used to it.  I don't mind the heat and humidity but my DS who was raised here, said he'd never move back for any amount of money.  For much of the summer it's 98 degrees, 98% humidity.

SeasideMemories

Oh wow MinusTwo and Jo,



You Texas gals must be made from some tough stuff!! Those temps and humidty (especially the humidity) would have me crying Uncle in no time flat...lol. But then, we brave the cold and snow up here in the winter so, I guess it's all what you're used to!

MaddyMac

OK, everyone will want to hit me for saying this: at least you don't live in Phoenix. I finally moved back to my temperate home town in California, but let me tell you that one day shortly after moving to Phoenix (where I lived for 15 horrid years) my rearview mirror melted and fell onto the dash. A week or so later, the mercury hit 122 d Farenheit.



I got used to it eventually, until I had my hysterectomy at 44 and plunged into post-menopausal hot flashes. About every 20 minutes I wanted to strip and climb into the freezer. I think my husband found it amusing, the darling wretch.



By the way, pardon my ignorance, but what does DH stand for? Darling Husband? Drunken Horse? Dratted Hysterectomy? Dorky Hatchback?



Sorry, I'm wittering on as though I already had chemo brain.



And also whistling in the dark, fearfully awaiting call from surgeon.

MinusTwo

MaddyMac:  Hope you don't have to wait much longer for the surgeon.

The funny part about me & Texas  - I was raised in the Northern California Bay Area where we had to put on a sweater if we wanted to BBQ dinner in August.  Who knows why my genes changed.   We have a fair number of days over 100 degrees, but we won't beat Phoenix. At least I thought it cooled down at night in Phoenix?  Hmmm.

You'd think the heat would be an incentive not to have a "fire stick" in your mouth.  Not.

Fierro6

DH can depend upon the day.  Usually, it is Dear Husband.  On bad days, it could be Dopey Husband, Dang Husband, etc.  Usually, though, it's "Dear."

SeasideMemories

MaddyMac,



DH typically stands for Dear or Darling Husband.... Although in some conversations I've had with others about their DH's, Drunken Horse may actually apply...lol!

MaddyMac

MinusTwo, I'm a Bay Area native also. Cool. And yes, tonight in Marin we need sweaters at minimum. During the height of the summer heat in Phoenix the mercury never dips below 100. And you WOULD think that would be a disincetive to the fire sticks (not to mention outdoor grilling), but noooo.....not for me anyway.



I really appreciate all of you, and the way you're here for each other and even for me.

SeasideMemories

One more post and then I really have to turn in.... As a bit of a contrast..... Both DH and I lived in upstate NY for most of our lives.... Our jobs got transferred to MN for 5 years.... We thought we knew cold weather but, turns out we knew nothing!!!



In MN in the winter you should not wear water-based make-up... The water in the make-up will freeze and burn your skin.... Pierced earrings are a no-no in the winter because they can cause your earlobes to freeze.... Schools will cancel school when it is too cold for the kids to safely walk to school or catch the bus..... Like 60 below zero with the wind chill..... And yet the summers were Hot, Hot, Hot.... A real study in contrasts...



I loved where we lived in MN but that weather was just brutal!! I swore I would never again complain about NY winters but, I still do......lol!