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Post by Observer2 on Mar 10, 2005 1:25:54 GMT -5
Metella,
Feel free to use the anecdote. He lived about 20 more years, which he most likely would not have as a smoker – and he certainly wouldn’t have had the pleasure and social connections of the square dancing (and round dancing) clubs, which made a huge difference in the quality of his life. Psychologically, those were the healthiest years of his life, and that ability to dance, and connect with people through that, made the difference.
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Mar 10, 2005 13:13:08 GMT -5
That was a great story about your father Observer! Only wish my father had heeded some of smoking warnings he'd had before he died. Ah well...
Janet: Glad your concert went well. I'm jealous, I want to get back to NYC SO badly!
Nikki: Great animated pix you and Observer are using. I'm not that technically minded I guess, cause I can't even change my avitar on here. *smirk*
CONGRATS to Techguy for the years of being Smoke-Free! WOOHOO!
Trisha, I'm curious what worked for you with quiting smoking? I know its different for different people, but I'm trying to get my best friend(she's 24) and one of my brides maids, to stop smoking and she wanted some thoughts.
You rock, bytheway, for keeping with the program and being Smoke-Free!
~Mel ( who really needs to cut down on her caffeine intake...lol)
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Post by NikkiGreen on Mar 10, 2005 13:42:13 GMT -5
Observer, thanks for sharing your father's story. Nice to hear about his happy and healthy life after having given up his smoking habit. BTW, I did forget about providing the fireworks icons. Thanks for the kind words, but it wasn't really necessary. And while I'm at it, I'll just ignore yours and Metella's comments, shall I! I still say that they're blowing their tops. ;D
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Post by trisha on Mar 10, 2005 13:51:26 GMT -5
Mel, you know, that is actually more personal a question than you might suspect, but I've gotten personal before, and if it will help someone else, I'm willing to spill in public again. Again, it depends on the person, and the reasons they smoke. I know some who have used the patch and the gum, and have been smoke free for over a year, some longer. I also know someone who quit the day she found out she was pregnant and never smoked again, so some people can do it without finding otherways to blow off steam, or not get steamed up in the first place. For them, it's just a matter of will. For me, smoking was a mainly nightly activity. I've had problems with insomnia for most of my life. I found smoking relaxing, and used it in attempts to wind down at night. Using the patch and the gum didn't work for me because my addiction was mainly psychological. To quit, I had to spend a *lot* of time self reflecting, using my journals again (rereading the old ones and starting a new one). Though I got rid of the smokes, I still have issues I have to deal with that keep me up at night from time to time, and I had to accept that it may be that way and not let it frustrate me. One thing that really does help me wind down is physical exercise. Just walking one mile on my treadmill while watching tv between 9 and 10 is enough to get me to sleep within minutes of going to bed around 11. I know that many others have used running and other types of physical exertion in combination with therapy and/or meditation to combat the symptoms of depression. It really does work, and an added benefit is that you're not only getting rid of something damaging to your heath, you're replacing it with something hugely beneficial. Hope that helps
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Post by NicoleMarie on Mar 10, 2005 21:07:47 GMT -5
Michael, Thank you for answering that for me. I feel like a dork for asking but feel like an even bigger dork for not knowing what language arts is. I don't have any kids anywhere around here, so I am completely *clueless* when it comes to what's being taught in schools now. Well, besides the obvious. hehehehe Trisha, Thanks for the advice with my parents! Believe me, I have given up nagging and whining to them. They don't believe it is really hurting them! (NicoleMarie screams!)The only person I managed to bagger into quitting was my husband. And he thanked me for it! For mom and dad, I have almost given up but I will try to be sneaky and recommend those patch things but they both just give me that look. ****pouts**** And you're an insomniac like me! It seems there are so few of us...I can be awake for 2 or 3 days straight, sleep 5 hours and get the next morning without being exhausted. It's weird. I guess it's just the way I am though it is frustrating as hell! MaybeI am in dire need of medication but I am much to afraid to take it. I keep thinking I'd be on it for the rest of my life... Ok, I'm rambling! Thanks again!
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Post by trisha on Mar 10, 2005 21:44:46 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever been up for more than 24 hours straight, but getting just 1-2 hours here and there over a few days is another story. While I could also function on 4 hours or so a night, I was always tired, and now that I've been getting 6-8 on a semi-regular basis, I don't know how I lived like that for so long. There is just nothing like sleeping for 8 hours straight for me. It's the most wonderful thing. I should also mention that when I was first quitting, Observer recommended chamomile tea for a relaxing bedtime beverage, and it really helped. Straight chamomile was not very palatable to me, and the last thing I wanted to do was add sugar (a stimulant) to it. I found that Celestial Seasonings makes a tea called Sleepy Time Tea, and it has spearmint to make for a more pleasant taste. It really did help me a lot
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Mar 11, 2005 0:53:21 GMT -5
I really appreciate your openess Trisha, it really benefits more than you know. I know my friend has tried the gum and it didn't work, but the working out before bedtime might help de-stress. She is a stress smoker, I've seen her back-slide when something bad happens in her life. Which makes it really hard, I'd imagine, to quit. As I suffer from migranes (which suck, btw) I too have sleep problems. This interferes with my workouts, since I jog and lift weights--which are good things to boots the imune system. So, naturally, when I loose sleep--don't workout--then start getting run-down and ill...its like a vicious circle. Working out or walking in the evening is one of the best ways to wind-down. I was getting hooked on so-called "mild" sleep aids, and had to find alternatives to stay asleep. Cutting the caffeine after 3pm or so helps too...and those teas you mentioned Trisha are very good. I do need to find a new route to jog on, because some stupid kid nearly took me out today in his car...and I was on the sidewalk! LOL! He was playing with his stereo...go figure!
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Post by Metella on Mar 11, 2005 8:11:44 GMT -5
ah, please step away from the pills unless life-necessary. The are such a crutch unless used for acute complaints AND now that I have had a small peak into the research and development of drugs ..... oh good god - leave them alone uless there is no other alernative.
Check into allergies of things like milk & wheat; some peolpe have to elimiate these from the diet totally.
Let's all go jogging right before we watch our homework!
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Post by Sirenna on Mar 12, 2005 16:40:36 GMT -5
Congratulations, Techguy on ten years!
My parents smoked for about twelve years when we were kids but up and quit. I say up and quit because it was a quite sudden change, motivated, I suspect, by their calculating how much $$$$$ was going into ciggies as their habit escalated. They've never touched one since and niether have we (my and my siblings).
Tips that worked for them: Us (hard to explain to a kid why not to do it when u r doing it in front of them.) The money they were saving That they both quit together - supported each other Substituted physical excersice. We would go swimming as a family treat at the YMCA during the week. The more you work out, eat healthy, etc the less you want to mess up the effort with a ciggarette (at least worked for them.)
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Post by janetcatbird on Mar 12, 2005 22:32:06 GMT -5
My other grandfather (not the one who died of cancer) was a bit of an odd story. It was back when my dad/aunts were in college (early-mid 70s) when he quit, so I'm sure part of it was the studies coming out. Mainly though it was a price factor, when cigarettes went to about $3.00 a pack (I think) he decided not to do it anymore. The kids had been giving him grief about it for a while, one day when they were all home on break they got on the subject. Granddaddy just let them go for a while then asked "When was the last time you saw me with a cigarette?" Way before my time so I can't give any tips that worked for him, although everybody in my family has a good bit of stubborn, so I'm sure that helped.
I may not be able to post much this week--rehearsals and performances every day, then next weekend we're going to visit family while my aunt is in town to plan her wedding. Very exciting, but very chaotic! I'll definitely try to stop by and keep up-to-date, though. I just wish I didn't have to go back to school tomorrow, not enough rest, I'm coming down sick, and I just don't wanna do classes. I know, I'm whining. Later all, take care.
Catbird
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Post by NicoleMarie on Mar 13, 2005 11:53:00 GMT -5
Grr! My post didn't post from the other night so I'm a bit behind! @##$@$##%$$*@# Ok, I've chilled out now. hehehehe Regarding smoking: So far, my parents have bad asthma. My mother has been diagnosed with beginning emphesyma. It's not really bad yet but, if she keeps smoking... Regarding insomnia: Trisha, thanks for the advice about the tea. I'll try anything! I wish I could 8 hours of sleep! And I have tried. I can never sleep through the night. I keep waking up. Grr! And I agree with Metella, pills seems scary. I look at those OTC medicines and am tempted to take them but...no way! And JanetCatBird, $1 to wash, .25 to dry?! Here it costs $1.75 (for the smallest washers) and to dry costs at least $2. And to spin clothes costs .75! The largest washer costs $4.75. The mambo washer costs $6.50! Hmm...NC. If it looks anything like SC, I think I'll come be your neighbor. ( I have family all over SC.) LOL!
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Mar 14, 2005 14:26:12 GMT -5
Heck yea Metella, Jog before the homework!
BTW, I was at the lake this weekend, and the boat died as we began to be blown further out into the REALLY big lake!
Note to self: When reattaching the fuel line to the tank, make sure it is not reversed...sucking fuel out of the engine, instead of pumping it in! *Laugh*
Yea, the water is still about 58 degrees...so swimming in would have sucked, to say the least! Just a litte bit of my weekend to make you laugh...
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Post by Metella on Mar 14, 2005 16:43:09 GMT -5
did ya have to paddle in? by hand? brrr cold hand! ;D
So - how long were you stranded, what handsome stranger rescued you?
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Mar 14, 2005 20:15:47 GMT -5
Well, Metella, we drifted about 500 yards from shore, the wind has been really horrible here.
This was a pontoon boat...one of those hug party-barge sized deals, that even if you had rowers on all sides like a Viking barge...you still wouldn't get anywhere. The thing caught the wind like a damn sail! So, with our one little paddle (and this is not my boat you see...otherwise there would have been a pole and more freaking paddles!!) We floundered for about 30 minutes or so.
With it being the begining of Spring Break weekend, the lake was bustling with boats, so I wasn't too scared that no one would rescue us. It was like Daytona 500 out on the main lake...no wonder no one was catching anything...
Our rescuers were three little old chubby men, probably about 75 yrs old, who came over when we flagged them down. They were very courtious and chivilrious, and towed us in behind their boat. The handsome young guys...well they were too busy drinking and partying and falling off their own boats to bother with saving us. *snerk* As always, OLDER men turn out to be the true gentlemen! *grin*
~Mel ( who will always remember the little old men who saved me for a very chilly, very LONG swim to get help)
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Post by Metella on Mar 15, 2005 8:08:03 GMT -5
that's a cool story. I'm not water friendly, while I would have noted the many people, I would have begun to be - restless - after a few minutes. Glad your old men were not grumpy old men.
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