Smoke Free

[AussieBarney]

Beernd. My puter wont let go there using your link I will try again tonight, sometimes the bleeding machine just does not want to wake up in the morning. Iam weeping and moaning all the time. It is the one pleasure allowed to the working man that is not taxed or illeagle

I am still on the wagon, gawd help me if I fall off. The headlines will read "Man killed by wife, for lighting up. Wife pleads"I could not handle going through that again". Three months later headlines read "Wife found Not Guilty in Smoking Case, Judge comments "I'm hearing ya".

It's Sunday morning here and I'm off to the shed to get stuck into my build so.....

I'm outa here, saty safe, be good an dont smoke.

[chas]

" The headlines will read "Man ."killed by wife, for lighting up"

As it should! LOL. You've been warned. It's only been, what, three months now? The weepin' should be over by now, but keep your guard up! Know that if you reach 12 months, it's all over. Smoke free, other than the 'medicine'. / Jim

[Sailor]

As a small aside, there's a book out there by a french doctor (MD as well as PHD) who found out he had a brain tumour. The book is really well written and if you're interested in improving your health I highly suggest reading it. It's called "ANTICANCER" Can't recall the good doctor's name off hand but I've loaned the book out a number of times and see myself lending it many more times. Have a read. It's a book about cancer, diet and health. A good bit about diet as the hidden secret to better health. Hope it helps you on your path everyone.
Cheers,
Danie

[Steve McMahon]

I too would suffer certain death at the hands of my wife if I started again. 40 days yesterday with no substitutions. I will be very happy when the detox finishes and the sores in my mouth are gone.

[AussieBarney]

I stiil occassionaly(sp?) still use the comforter if I get stressed. But, as I have said before, I'm one of the worlds great sooks. Steve, I salute you, you are an inspiration.

[Steve McMahon]

Crackers AB, I could hardly be used as an inspiration! It took me probably about 30 tries over 33 years to get this far. My inspiration is the need to survive to teach my grandchildren how to spit and cuss, hang a spoon off their nose in a public place, and play O'Canada or Stairway to Heaven on their armpit. In other words I need to survive to take revenge on my children.

[AussieBarney]

Mate, I'm hearin' you. It is my fondest hope to be able to that. I'm already in trouble for teaching my grandson how much fun it is to poke your tongue out at everyone. he is only about eight months old. But, They dont know that I have already designed "Attitude 2.0" and I am going to install it over the next two years.

As you say, the ultimate revenge is becoming an eccentric old grandfather who hangs in the shed, builds wooden boats and other grand things, as he does that he teaches them all of the disgusting bad habits that has him barred from the house and exiled to the shed.

[Bobby of Tulsa]

You guys are doing great, Keep on keeping on.

[AussieBarney]

I dont know about me "doing grëat" I am just stumbling from one minor disaster to the next. If you want "great" apply to Steve McMahon, he's doing it cold. no support, no nothing. Just awsome mental and physical control. Steve is "The Man" goodonya Steve.

[Steve McMahon]

AB - I am amazed at some people that I have come across recently that smoked a bunch of years and I would have never pegged them. I was with a group of "old"guys (fire department executive) last week. They had noticed I had quit. We got to talking. One fellow - 40 years then quit, another 35 (still chews tobacco though), the padre - 25 years then quit, one of our oldest members - smoked for 45 years, now jogs by my house every day with his dogs (the is in his 70's). He told me that when he quit 15 years ago he couldn't jog the distance from one telephone pole to the next. He now jogs a couple of km's each day, only slows down because his dogs are tired! These guys are my inspiration. Like I said before - when I feel like a smoke (because of habit) I take a deep breath, then I notice taking a deep breath doesn't hurt anymore.

[Steve McMahon]

BTW AB - Your starting this thread, The great Scott making it a sticky, and my initial failure (shame on me) have been a major motivation for me. Thank you, and thank Scott for making it a sticky. Scott actually sent me a couple of PM's the first go around asking how it was going. I ignored him because I had failed.

[AussieBarney]

I went over to a mates house last evening to watch a much anticipated football game. Everyone there was smoking and I managed to keep my hands in my pockets. I did not have a one

I think I might actually be making some headway in this campaign to give up the durrys. It was very enpowering to be able to do that.

Steve, Im glad that the thread had an effect on at leats one person and more power to you.

[skipper68]

Nicotine is more addictive than Heroin. The cost of a pack of them were the same price as lunch. They had a smokers path, when I was in Jr. High.Same cost of lunch's of cig's to our unsung hero's in Nam/. The Gov. dropped

[AussieBarney]

I now have another reason to have given up the durries. I now have grandchild #2. I am very chuffed to be able to think he came into the world to be greeted by a grandfather who does not smoke.

As Steve says, I want be able to teach them all the anti-social habits that will drive his mother insane. And what makes it better is his defence "But Mum, Grandpa lets me do it"

[RFNK]

I went over to a mates house last evening to watch a much anticipated football game. Everyone there was smoking and I managed to keep my hands in my pockets. I did not have a one

I think I might actually be making some headway in this campaign to give up the durrys. It was very enpowering to be able to do that.

Steve, Im glad that the thread had an effect on at leats one person and more power to you.

My head was smoking after they allowed that try!

Continuing congratulations to both of you!

Rick

[PeterSibley]

Nicotine is more addictive than Heroin. The cost of a pack of them were the same price as lunch. They had a smokers path, when I was in Jr. High.Same cost of lunch's of cig's to our unsung hero's in Nam/. The Gov. dropped

Yep, a good mate gave up heroin but the smokes have him beat .

[Tom Montgomery]

Yep, a good mate gave up heroin but the smokes have him beat .

Same story with alcoholism.

Hang in there AussieBarney. Over time it gets easier. I've been nicotine free for 18 years.

[chas]

"I went over to a mates house last evening to watch a much anticipated football game. Everyone there was smoking and I managed to keep my hands in my pockets. I did not have a one"

Mates can send everyone outside for a smoke Barney; it would be unusual up here for a group to smoke inside at a telly event like that. Edumacate em! / Jim

[AussieBarney]

"I went over to a mates house last evening to watch a much anticipated football game. Everyone there was smoking and I managed to keep my hands in my pockets. I did not have a one"

Mates can send everyone outside for a smoke Barney; it would be unusual up here for a group to smoke inside at a telly event like that. Edumacate em! / Jim

Gawd mate, If you tried that here, you would get howled out yourself. mob rule applies. there was tobbacco and the other. at times it was hard to see the tele from 3 metres. and there was an even number of supporters for each team so it was an incipent riot, only the consumption of certain herbal substances kept the spilling of blood to a minimum

[RFNK]

Gawd mate, If you tried that here, you would get howled out yourself. mob rule applies. there was tobbacco and the other. at times it was hard to see the tele from 3 metres. and there was an even number of supporters for each team so it was an incipent riot, only the consumption of certain herbal substances kept the spilling of blood to a minimum

Ah yes, the calming influence of a nice pot of tea.

Rick

[beernd]

I do have a confession to make:

In 1988 I did my first non smoking attempt and I remember that it was pure hell.
It lasted 7 years.

This time it's realy easy.
It's as if my body and brain switched to non smoking mode.

Don't you feel proud of your self, fighting and slaying that tobacco devil?

Because you should feel proud by now.

Cheers

[AussieBarney]

nah mate, It's still a daily struggle. There are so many times during a day when I used to light up as a matter of habit. I still find myself reaching for them or thinking "Time for a smoke". It can get real bad when I am in the shed working, finish an evolution, reach for the smokes, take a break, reach for the smokes.

Smoking consumed more than just a lot of cash, it was a punctuation in my life. So......

I have to completely re-think how I approach the daily habits I have. Even though I find it difficult, Guess what?.......

I dont smoke no-more, an I ain't gonna start again!!!!!!!

[RFNK]

I do that too - once again, tea's the solution!

Rick

[Vince Brennan]

I dont smoke no-more, an I ain't gonna start again!!!!!!!

Goodonyer!

[AussieBarney]

Thanks for the support, Vince. It's little notes like that which keep a feller on track an make me feel like I'm actually doing it right.



Yes Rick. Á nice cup of tea does wonders for the nerves. Especially when you are trying to give up the durries

[PeterSibley]

Same story with alcoholism.

Hang in there AussieBarney. Over time it gets easier. I've been nicotine free for 18 years.

Dad gave up the booze when I was 7after 3 months in Rehab, the smokes killed him though.

[AussieBarney]

Mate, That would have had to hurt....Bad. A smoking related death is tragic. My old man died from a real shopping list of deseases and conditions, none of which could ascribed to smoking alone. I would guarantee that smoking was big contributing factor though.

As several respondants of this thread have said, I have something to live for.... grandmonsters. I want to be able to have some influence in their lives.

[WX]

I do that too - once again, tea's the solution!

Rick

Nothing wrong with a good cuppa.

[Michael D. Storey]

On this topic:

I smoked a corn cob for 20 years, gave it up at 35 when my first wife became preggers, and I realized that she could not quit if I continued.
Used to sail with a great R boat sailor, Kendall B. Castle of Rochester New York. One day, I was sitting at their place on Sodus Point with his wife, and Dorothy mentioned that she still craved cigarettes. it was 1969. I asked how long it had been. She said, since 1942.
Jenifer, My Darling Jenifer, called one night, in a tiff, pitchin a fit, over an exchange with her son over her (by then) 40 year career with cigarettes. I said, 'Look, Baby, if you decide to quit, and there is anything that I can do, all you gotta do is call, and I'll be there by your side...( to paraphrase the otherwise overrated James Taylor) She quit that week.
It was too late, however; she was gone in 2 1/2 years. Still miss her. Judith, My Darling Judith, is kind enough to say, "If you didn't miss Jenifer, I wouldn't have married you....'
Look, I love cigars, could smoke em all day, but I don't. Never.

[AussieBarney]

Gawd, you are not gonna believe this. Both of my boys are now smokers!!!!!! the youngest started when he was a young teen ager and it was a bit hypocritical for me to object. My oldest boy was always the fit one, black belt in Kung fu. Handy middle distance runner. Turns up at home this morning with the grand son in tow and the first thing he does is light up. I nearly had a fit.

Here I am fighting for my bloody life and he wants to take up smoking. I give up I truly do.

Mea Culpa, Mea bloody maxima culpa. I feel like crying.

[Mrleft8]

Is he too big to back-hand across the face, and send to his room W/O supper?

[AussieBarney]

Yeah mate. About six foot, 190lbs and he has a black belt so I would have to be real sneaky and that means hurt, for both of us. Just so bloody disappointed!!!!!

[Mrleft8]

Kids!
Well.... You can always try the old "I thought you were stronger than that..." routine, and try to shame him into stopping.... You know... And you could also kinda sorta bend the truth a little, and ask him if smoking has had any adverse effects on size, and stamina.... yet..... Like it did with you ..... And how much better all that's gotten, now that you stopped smoking!

[Syed]

Kids!
Well.... You can always try the old "I thought you were stronger than that..." routine, and try to shame him into stopping.... You know... And you could also kinda sorta bend the truth a little, and ask him if smoking has had any adverse effects on size, and stamina.... yet..... Like it did with you ..... And how much better all that's gotten, now that you stopped smoking!

Size of the step and stamina in running?

[Mrleft8]

Size of the step and stamina in running?

Ahhhhhh........................................... Yeah!....... That's what I meant!

[AussieBarney]

At this particular time I am not speaking to my older son, if I do, I am liable to say something I will regret.



I will report back in a couple of days whemn I have calmed down somewhat.

[George Jung]

Lead by example; no one ever quits because they have to, or someone else wants them to.....

being supportive is about all you've got, truth be known. But I hear you - it's incredibly disheartening.

[AussieBarney]

George, I'm just not talking to him about health related issues. I cannot just stop talking to him about life in general as he is my son and I love him. He is a reasonably intelligent adult who has made a choice. That choice may not coincide with my way of thinking but it is his choice. To stop communicating will end any chance I have of influencing what I consider to be self-destructive behaviour. He does not see it that way and truth be known, it is his life and he must walk his life jouney his own way.

As you say, I'll keep nibbling away at this issue and maybe I will have a positive affect. Gawd.... I hope so!!!!!!

[PeterSibley]

I asked my daughters while they were still at school to NOT take up tobacco, in fact any other drugs bar ones that come in syringes were acceptable , "just say no" doesn't work all that well amongst the local teen culture. Two of them did that, they smoked a bit of dope but it interfered with study in one case and painting in the other, both gave it up by age 20.

My darling first born however rather ignored my request and took up the evil weed and it was very likely a contributing factor to her stroke, the one she had at 30. She's quite disabled and doesn't smoke any more. A cruel price to pay.

[Steve McMahon]

Arrrrggggggg. Forgive me father for I have sinned...... While on my epic journey around the fair Isle of Newfoundland the last couple of weeks I accepted a couple of offered smokes while induldging in a dram outside of the hotels on a couple of occasions. It has been over 60 days from the big day. The good news is that allthough I have minor cravings, I have not bought any, and feel that I can avoid them now that my vacation is over. I hope.

[shamus]

Having this sticky thread up here in my face every day has forced me to give up again. Thanks!
I gave up in 2003 and was off fags for about 7 years. Then I had a lot of stress going on. Funny thing was the stress did not cause me to smoke again, but when the situation was finally resolved, I sat down one day, heaved a sigh of relief and lit up a smoke.
I shouldn't say this, but I quite enjoyed this relapse. Still and all, I always knew it should be short term, and to tell the truth it has been a little longer than I had envisaged.
I used the same process for giving up as I did in 2003. For a week I did not smoke till at least midday, then allowed myself a few for the afternoon and evening. Then on a Monday morning I slapped on a medium patch to get me right through that day. The next day I also used a patch, but not until I really felt I needed it, took it off straight after evening meal and went to bed early. Next day I got through with no patch and that's a fortnight ago and I have no more urges.

I know this is precisely what is not recommeded, but it has worked for me- and I prefer to get off the nicotine as fast as possible.

[RFNK]

Alright, we think you're all pretty terrific for giving up the smokes - we honsetly do. But, how about coming over to Antipodean Boats every now and again and telling us what's happening with your boats? Otherwise it"s all about bamboo .....

Rick

[AussieBarney]

Steve, You wicked, wicked child. You shall have your hand slapped and you will go to bed without supper.

Honestly mate, just climb back on, no-one will hit you or judge you, just lend you a hand and say hang in there brother!

I have just been informed that the boss, AKA The Minister for Household Morals and Prohibition has decided that she must visit a friend on The Central Coast. This leaves me at a loose end and I do declare I am going to tie on the granddaddy of all drunks starting at midday Friday. The happy state of inebriation is going to be attained using only the cheapest nastiest rotgut this fine town can provide. If the local P!sspot wont drink it. I will

[PeterSibley]

Shudder !

[AussieBarney]

Peter, The BOSS saw this post and I am under strict orders not to do it. She is not impressed, not one little bit. It does not matter that she won't be here. She has spoken.


Then.... She punctures my little fantasy by saying, "Why would you bother, three schooners and you are anyones. I am, I must admit, the world's cheapest drunk.

Having said that, why did she have to be so cruel? I am crushed.

I might have to go and commune with the spirits in my shed and not return for a week. That'll fix her little red wagon.

[PeterSibley]

You have a wise wise woman mate, one that truly wants you in good operating condition.

[Lew Barrett]

I have stayed away from this thread because I am weak and under orders that I don't always follow. But I am following the thread with interest. A non smoker can't only be a non smoker around other non smokers. It doesn't work that way. It is a viciously insidious cycle, but there is always a place to find something to smoke. Courage, dear lads. Getting the word from the doctor is not how you want to quit. And let me tell you, it doesn't necessarily make it easier.

As for the son, tell him he can smoke all he wants, just not around you. Not because it makes you mad at him, but because it makes it harder for you to be a non smoker. I would have liked to have had a son, but I'm more than just happy with the girls. Both of them smoked, both of them quit. There is hope.

[Vince Brennan]

Lew, you can ALWAYS call if you need a bit of support. I managed to do it with only 1 stumble, and the rewards are vastly worth the candle.

[Lew Barrett]

Lew, you can ALWAYS call if you need a bit of support. I managed to do it with only 1 stumble, and the rewards are vastly worth the candle.

Vince, you will always be three hours ahead of me! By then, it will be too late!

[AussieBarney]

You know Lew? truth time. The only regret I have is that I did not have girl child in my family. I love my sons to distraction, but, there is a little barney who would have loved to have had a daughter to spoil.

This is what I have asked them to do, not smoke in front of me,no distraction.