Smoke Free

[AussieBarney]

Tomorrow is the month since I had a smoke. I am starting to think there might, just might, be something in this Quit Smoking lark. I dont smell like an unwashed ashtray walking down the street. The bride actually wants to get close to me and not just to reach for my wallet. I no longer am a collection of strange aches and afflictions, I no longer cough up large chunks of lung tissue every morning. One of the stranger benefits is I no longer suffer from Sleep Apneoa(sp). and that, my friends, is an absolute bonus, no more grandpa naps at 1.30 in the afternoon. Yeah. seems to be more good than bad, so I'll keep it up and let you know.

Good morning to all my friends, especially those who have joined me on this mad journey in to self torture and deprivation. hang in there I'm cheering you on.

[htom]

You're doing well, Barney. Keep on.

[AussieBarney]

This is it. A month. I think I can say I have travelled far enough down the road to be able to claim a measure of success. I would like to thank everybody who contributed to that success. It made the whole exercise eassier and less stressful. Thank you Scot for bunging on the sticky.
It is the end of daylight saving here in NSW. I'm a great supporter of the concept and the end of it signals the beginninmg of winter with its miriad jobs connected to having an open fire. Wish me luck, I'll be toobusy working to worry about smoking.

[seanz]

Good Luck.

Interesting (amazing really) that you've had positive health results in such a short time and that your lungs are recovering.

[PeterSibley]

The glue holding this thread in it's rightful place above the swamp has given way. I've asked Scot to glue it up again ...I hope he does. Until then it's bump boys bump.

[seanz]

How's it going Barney?

[Meli]

I think barney deserves a virtual award.

Can anyone think of an appropriate image?

[AussieBarney]

It's going very well. I had a moment were I could have slipped but did not. so, I might have a chance The mad rush to get heap of jobs which have all matured in the same month with the same priority. I'll be as busy as a two tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs

[chas]

I slipped two times after memorable efforts, Barney; one at three months and another time after nine months. You'll need to keep your focus for awhile yet. Good luck! / Jim

[LeeG]

Keep at it.

[AussieBarney]

At the moment I have my Nephew staying with me to help with about 50 metres of colourbond fencing, (Steel panel fencing )that I have to do. He is a smoker of the alternative type not tobacco as it were!!! I my day I was a large smoker of alternative substances, still am. just not to the same extent. The two go together and I am happy to report that no tobacco smoke passed my lips even though the temptation was severe. Oh mah lord, was the temptation bad. I'm sure if I go out to the shed there will be claw marks in the corrugated tin walls were I resisted the temptation.
So even if I am still a hopless drooling addict I have this little beastie riding on my shoulder. He is labelled "The expectations, hopes and censure of Barney and the people who have supported me in the last month or so. Very, very powerful little beastie, he is. More power, The Forum. It is working. There is no fear of failure, But, There is a fear of letting down my mates, of not rising to the challenge, of not standing by my stated aim, So, Just hopelessly, not being able to articulate the depth of my debt to you, I can say no more than Thank you again, Mind you I could do without the aforsaid temptation. I have word to do and he tendsw to disconnect me and remove all motivation

[PeterSibley]

The glue holding this thread in it's rightful place above the swamp has given way. I've asked Scot to glue it up again ...I hope he does. Until then it's bump boys bump.

Thanks Scot !

[seanz]

I'm sure if I go out to the shed there will be claw marks in the corrugated tin walls were I resisted the temptation.

Duffer.


You'll know to say "No" next time. You don't need to make the process any harder than it already is.

[PeterSibley]

The word is "cookies" Barney.

Remember it's Be Kind to Lungs Week .

[Vince Brennan]

Good lad, Barney! Keep aught from between thy lips and it's virtuous you'll be (and the first Australian to carry the sobriquet honestly!!) Now, as for that OTHER stuff, a few thoughts. (STOP LAUGHING, youse lot!)


Nah! Cookies be nice, but BROWNIES be's nicer!


Years ago, when that "certain ingredient" were running about $100 a zee, we made a 3-Z batch of brownies for those who were attending the Folk Festival but who couldn't or didn't smoke anything.


Yeh, it were a LOT of brownies, but it were also a By-God MAZUNGA set of pans as we produced. Little 1/2" x 1/2" squares were MORE than sufficient to satiate the "hunger" of most... indeed, we called them "Lembas" in that sae mickle could do sae muckle, an' ye ken.

Well, I was going out with this lady who (figuratively AND literally) was R. Crumb's "ideel" wummin, 'cept she didn'a smoke. She (assuming that it would take two hands to handle a whopper) decided that anyone who could lace up THOSE boots needed more than one square, and ate seven of them.


Seven.


I managed ONE and I was a Bappy Hoy!


She ate seven.


THAT was a fun weekend.


(I think.)


At any rate, I highly recommend the use of BROWNIES as the conveyancing medium as opposed to cookies.


Wanna know why?


(Tough. Here it comes.)



My dear Ex-Wife (comptroller of my Ex-kid, Ex-dog [nae {censored} loss, that!], six Ex-cats and my Ex-possessions, one day decided that she'd make Chocolate-Chip-"Whoopies", and used the last of whatever (stuff) we had in the house for the purpose. There was a LOT of it.

This was fine, except her mother (who lived downstairs) decided to come up for a visit, saw the cookies and decided to have one (or two [well, six or {all of them}]) resulting in my coming home from work and having to try to transport her (the mother-in-cookiedom, that is) one flight downstairs to her HIGHLY amused husband of the moment.

Last seen, there were underdaks a-flyin' in ALL directions, but.... well.... let's draw a curtain across that part of the tale.

Most of youse have just had dinner.

............................................

I still like BROWNIES as the temptation to eat a mort 'o them is far mair controllable than the temptation as for whoopies!



(Now, where are those mushrooms, and why is everything so GREEN????)

[AussieBarney]

Lazy is the word of the day, That and a certain impetuous and impatient nephew who cannot control his need for instant gratification. I have a method that takes two days but if you are patient, I will hand you a ticket to the stars and it does not involve a match. and so, Barney rides the ragged edge of disaster. Will he fall? Will he succumb? Will he, in a frensy of smoking the evil weed, take the mickey and toke on a ciggerette or will he remain true to his vow and refuse the dreaded durrie??? Stay tuned for tomorrows episode and remember Jalapeno Sweeties are the best breakfast.
I ve got eighteen post holes to dig to day, I'm gonna cheat and get a motorised post hole digger. We can get ém all dug and 5/6 posts set in concrete today and then we go sit in the shed an remove all functionality

[PeterSibley]

The true difference between youth and age is how many post holes you can dig in a day . I used to be able to put in 22 in a morning but I think that time has passed .

[chas]

"Lazy is the word of the day, That and a certain impetuous and impatient nephew who cannot control his need for instant gratification. I have a method that takes two days but if you are patient, I will hand you a ticket to the stars and it does not involve a match. and so, Barney rides the ragged edge of disaster. Will he fall? Will he succumb? Will he, in a frensy of smoking the evil weed, take the mickey and toke on a ciggerette or will he remain true to his vow and refuse the dreaded durrie??? Stay tuned for tomorrows episode and remember Jalapeno Sweeties are the best breakfast.
I ve got eighteen post holes to dig to day, I'm gonna cheat and get a motorised post hole digger. We can get ém all dug and 5/6 posts set in concrete today and then we go sit in the shed an remove all functionality"

HAHAHAHA, good thing I was sitting down. LOL. %^ck the rest, but stay off the tabaccy! "Remove all functionality", heh heh heh. / Jim

[Meli]

My oh my, we have old hippies coming out of the woodwork

[AussieBarney]

Meli. A lttle less of the old. We got the holes dug....we got the 5/6 posts concreted in and then some one stole the day. Nah wasn't that bad, we have a series of small jobs slowly working down the list. been pretty good actually, no smokes, have not touched the other too much. can still work o.k. Move a tree, Take out the window Air Con, prepare for paint.

[AussieBarney]

We have the fence finished. and without the help of tobacco or alternatives. Youse blokes have scared me away. I think you might think I.m cheating......honest I'm not. just cruising along, it ain't easy but it's not hard. keeping myself busy.
Good morning to all I hope it has been a smoke free day and will be

[AussieBarney]

Another one gone. This is starting to get easy The cravings aren't that anymore. Still using the all day sucker occassionally. Easter this year has been very productive, got lots done. Still more to plant so, I'LL get away and start some.
Have a good day and stay off the fags.

[PeterSibley]

Barney, this is sounding good, really good !

[seanz]

This is starting to get easy

Stay focused.

[PeterSibley]

Stay focused.

Especially after few ales .

[fishrswim]

Barney-

You're right that you've gone through the tough part. But the advice to Stay Focused is right on target.

Don't get overconfident man, this sxxt is HARD to kick. And it only takes a moment's slip and, well you know.

On the other hand I check in every day just hoping you're still on track. It's a little hard for me to understand cause I don't know you from Adam's goat, but I'm pulling for you and so are a lot of other folks on this thread.

It cheers us up to see you succeed.

[Chip-skiff]

I check in. time to time, to see how you're doing.

Good on yer, Barney, for a month clean. Hard when you're working, not to break for a smoko now and then. I started chewing gum, and still have that as a backup habit for times when I used to smoke, like driving long distance.

You reminded me that I have to start the spring fence job: set posts and rails on the river. We gave an easement to the state Game & Fish Dept. for a walking path so fishermen and all could have access. They gave us a truckload of posts and rails to fence it. But the rails are so bloody huge it's tough to handle them alone. Still, you have to go with what you've got.

Keep at it. You're a shining light in a dark world.

[AussieBarney]

I still use the sucker to help me. I'm just not going to let that be the habit either. I have a mate across the street who is good with cars and has asked me to trade skills. I will work on his boat and he will cut out the rust on the bus and mig some plate in to replace it, for this I have to finish the motor cover and the bait tanks as well. So I 'm gonna be busy. We both benefit from our diverse experience. So here we go. Have a good one and stay safe.

[George Jung]

You're doing amazingly well! The epiphany of how tough it is to give up this habit, and the realization that 'it can be done' - and applied to other issues - is one of the
true gifts of quitting.

I expect we'll see a photothread soon of you and the Bride gallavanting about Oz in a motorhome, ala Bigfella in Asia. Can't wait!

[AussieBarney]

George. It's a matter of learning how to load the bleeding photos on the net. Once I do that, I will be able to show people the bus, let alone its journey

I dont know any other person who will talk about the experience of "Giving Up". so I have no idea what it is going to progress to each day, its half physical, half mental, half emotional and half social ( Yeah!!! I know!!!! too many halfs) But it shows you how big the addiction is and can be for people like me who have indulged for a long time, at an intense level.
So this thread has been a learning journey for me. it has taught me personally and also as a work experience as I am a counsellor for people who are fighting substance abuse at a higher level than tobacco. It is an amazing journey to be on. It has shown me that some of my early attempts at counselling would have been very poor. For me, It is a new way of life, I had smoked since I was a boy of twelve years old. No memory of not smoking really. just waking up with a neutral taste in my mouth. I'm starting to lose that slightly breathless sensation smoking gives you. there are subtle, but, very real differences and I have not felt this way since grade school.

Good morning to all, have a bloody marvellous day and stay off the durries

[Vince Brennan]

Mate, you think this is fun now, just wait until spring when things start blooming and the ground has that earthy-wet smell (And if you're in Perth, go find a greenhouse!)... it's like being ten again!

Good on ya! Keep it up!

[Shang]

Once upon a time I brought home a new pack of coffin nails, threw them into the toilet and pizzed on them.
That helped.

[AussieBarney]

I am experiencing a slack attack at the moment and it is winning so Nothing is being done at all. I have jobs lined up that wil keep me going until christmas and I cant afford a week out of my life at the moment. I t always takes an extra week to get over it an that ticks me off. So I got to really collect the act together and start producing some results.
Still dont want to smoke so that does not worry me at th is point.
Be good and have a good day ASnd dont smoke.

[fishrswim]

Thanks Barney. You cheered me up for another day.

[chas]

LOL. "I cant afford a week out of my life at the moment" Barney, this quitting smoking business will add years to your life, and make it more productive with increased vigour. A little time off for contemplation is a good thing. I try to make it a regular item in my diet. Keep up your guard, and the good work! / Jim

[AussieBarney]

I'm bouncing around like a ten year old, and things are getting done, Steves work is on track and I started to scrub the bus as the first step to a re-paint. things are cooking, waiting posts and gates and the fences will be finished.
Still using the sucker but not as much. So, have a good one and stay safe.

[PeterSibley]

Thanks Barney. You cheered me up for another day.

+1 Me too says I

[AussieBarney]

Gawd, hell, whats happenin', I'm either going insane from giving up the durries or I'm just plain going insane. Yesterday I spent the entire day going through cold sweats or hot flushes. Either these durries are fighting back or I must be the first bloke to ever have female menopause. I did not know that they were two of the symptoms of nicotine addiction. Every morning I wake up an thank the great spirit that I was born with the male chromosone in place.

(Yeah, Yeah, I know!!!! It's not PC, but with all of your medical issues and that, Being a girl is not a real good thing to be. Having said that and making every lady on this forum an enymy for the rest of eternity. My bride complains of various issues occasionally and then does not say much. When I get the first symptons of the same issue it puts me down bad, they are tougher, they are prettier, they make better babies and thank gawd they are here, without them the world would be awash with amateur boats and their builders, with their greek fisherman's cap. The ladies keep us relatively human and civilized.

I'm outa here before I really foul up an cause a real issue, be good, take care and be kind to yourself and stay off the durries, Barney

[htom]

You've done it, Barney. You'll get these flash demands for a while. You just have to find something else to do to divert that part of your brain. This really does mean that you've quit, and the part of your brain that was happy sucking up nicotine has come to the realization that it's going to have to kick up a fuss. Just say no ... and do not give in. Those demands will get weaker and weaker, and further apart, as you go on. Start up again, and it will be in charge for a long time.

[Bobby of Tulsa]

Way to go Barney, Everytime I have trouble breathing I think of you. You are doing a good thing for yourself and those that love you.

[AussieBarney]

Thanks Booby, I hope the breathing troubles you have aren't chronic and if they are, you are able to live a reasonably active life.

This is what has been scaring the pants off me. I live in a town that is classified rural and in my age group, especially the men, the community health is not good at all. There are men and women who are at least 100% overweight with all the attendant medical issues. The number of people who carry oxygen generators and live in wheelchairs is also scary. these are people who are in my age group and they look and behave like my parents.
I have to remain healthy as my bride relies on me to be the one who carries out the normal duties of the modern world. I have a reason that will not take a low priority.
My medical issues are starting to come back to haunt me. I am no longer 22 and ten foot tall and bulletproof

My boy gets married on Saturday(Aussie Time), he was to marry on the 15th of December last year, but, MY darling grandson decided to make his arrival on the 14th. This put a spanner in the works no end and Saturday is the result. I am so blown away, it was only yesterday that I held him in the palms of my hands(with very little hanging over the edges) and wondered "What the hell have I done". Mind you, the following 23 years have made up for it. I have got to go and get the normal grooming tasks done so I will look like I have attended because i wanted to, not because the bride forced me to. I dont do social occasions very well.

Anyhow, Have a good one an be kind to yourself and try to have a durrie free day.

[Mrleft8]

Lookin' good Barn! Keep on going!
(BTW.... Bobby sounds like a cross between an old fireplace bellows and Darth Vader when he gets all wound up... And only his wife's allowed to call him "Booby".... )

[AussieBarney]

Gawd Bobby, I'm mortified at the typo I left in my post this morning. I just read it at the other end of the day and it is obvious that it was written early. Please don't take offence, I offer my sincerest apologies, it slipped past the almost non functioning personal spellcheck. At the moment I seem to be in an almost manic state, I have heaps to do and I am plowing through a lot of small fiddly jobs on the boat. jobs I have been procrastinating over for months. So, someone is looking over me and I'm actually doing it, rather than sitting in the moaning chair an thinking. Good thing for the soul but it don't get nothing done

[Mrleft8]

It was a Freudian slip, clearly..... You were thinking about one thing, and typing amother.....

A wedding could be a great test of your will power...
And this will be a perfect excuse for you to duck out of the crowd every so often to get some peace and quiet.... "Sorry.... Gotta run for a sec... The smoke is getting to me.... Be right back! Promise!" <<<<<<ZOOOOOOM!>>>>>>>

[Bobby of Tulsa]

Gawd Bobby, I'm mortified at the typo I left in my post this morning. I just read it at the other end of the day and it is obvious that it was written early. Please don't take offence, I offer my sincerest apologies, it slipped past the almost non functioning personal spellcheck. At the moment I seem to be in an almost manic state, I have heaps to do and I am plowing through a lot of small fiddly jobs on the boat. jobs I have been procrastinating over for months. So, someone is looking over me and I'm actually doing it, rather than sitting in the moaning chair an thinking. Good thing for the soul but it don't get nothing done

Heck I didn't take offence at that, I have been called a lot worse than that. Booby, Flobby, Flobby Bobby, Bobby San and a few I can't say on here. Good luck and good thoughts to you sir.

[AussieBarney]

Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa. I was offered a smoke today. (Why is it, when everyone knows you are trying to give up the rotten things, they take an almost torturous and cruel delight in offering you a smoke, just to watch the struggle you go through to not accept??) any way, I had the mongrel thing in me mouth before I realised,"Ï dont smoke".

Anyway, even though I have "confessed" as it were. I am ever so proud of being able to not light it and hand it back an abuse the clown for trying to stuff me up. He was an acquaintance from my firehouse. He dont like me and I dont like him, so we're even.

Let it be known that the force of the forum rode with me to day, when I returned home I told the bride what had happened and she laughed when I told her all I could think was "how disapointed and upset the lads off the forum would be."

This post is at the wrong end of the day as I was rudely jerked out of the marriage bed at "Oh Dark Hundred" ( 03:55 to be precise) to go peel an idiot drunk out of the car he used to demolish a telegraph pole with. It was wet, cold and bloody dangerous standing on a highway directing traffic. Directing traffic is the precursor skill to becoming a cat herder. There was the normal power lines down, cranky coppers, people stopping to ask silly questions. An ordinary ermergency run that we do. Mind you , there can be lots of s**ts and giggles, for the most part my crew mates are a real good mob. Proud to be a volunteer firefighter. It's my way of putting a little back into the society that supports my wife.

I hope you all had a good one and it was as smoke free as possible

[Mrleft8]

There really is nothing quite like trying to keep people from crashing into a stopped object at 5MPH, or to move into the opposing lane to get around a wreck at 4AM in the rain.... It's like the flashing lights hold a Svengali like power over their otherwise (mostly) rational minds.....
Perhaps the thing that comes closest is trying to convince a banged up drunk that his car really can't just be tipped right side up, and driven home.....

[AussieBarney]

I ws away all day yesterday so no entry at all. I am one of those people who only has access when I;m sitting in my home office in front of the desktop. I'm still not smoking. I was talking to a colleague yesterday and he is trying to quit as well and he reckons you mob are great in your support. We are having a fair lash of rain in my district the last couple of days, enough to bring out all the crazies.

My dealer (epoxy, not anything else) got in touch and has told me of several new products that will do the jobs that I have been putting off so the boat goes on.
The rest of my fencing gear (gates, posts and panels are ready for collection so that job is approaching completion.

Last, but not least, my eldest son marries his girl at 10:00 tomorrow, I cant wait. I am so proud of them, They are both good kids with good prospects. I wouild ask that you wish them well!


My lot. Have a good day, stay safe and no smoking.

[htom]

My congratulations to both of them, and their parents. When they look back on their anniversary, I pray that they'll know that they are happier together, and more in love with each other, than than the day they married; and that that be true when they look back at their first anniversary from their second -- and that be true for every anniversary, always happier together and more in love at all of them.

[McMike]

Congratulations!!! Here's to a wonderful life for them!