TOF: The Facts and The Legend (now illustrated!)
Stepper
(Click here, then click above the house)
http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
First, the facts!
Ten years, 0 minutes and 30 seconds.
182650 cigarettes not smoked, saving $22,831.25.
Life saved: 1 year, 38 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 50 minutes.
Yowzer! (Missed by 30 seconds!)
Now, the legend ...
Long ago, in the now forgotten land of usenet, dwelt a tribe of
intrepid quitters. Their tools were crude and primitive, consisting of
28.8 kilobaud modems, dial-up ISPs, Win95 platforms, and a few, rare
and lonely, pre-iMac era, vintage Apples.
Chantix was still just a dream in the mind of a pharmaceutical
researcher, and a gleam in the eye of a corporate bean counter.
Limited to bupropion, NRTs, and the stone axe of smoking cessation,
Cold Turkey, these brave quitters nevertheless soldiered on, stoic and
determined in their quest for freedom.
Befitting such primitive times, myths, legends, and superstitions
abounded. I recall one tale in particular, of three major demons,
encountered at day three, week three, and month three in turn, whom
every quitter must battle, each in his or her own way. Here is how the
legend was told ... and retold ...
------------------------------------------------------------
The following post first appeared in AS3 on Oct 9, 2002.
NEW: An illustrated version of the story is available here:
http://users.chartertn.net/jonesjp/TheFourthDemon
Click the link NOW and read it! It's worth it! :)
------------------------------------------------------------
The Fourth Demon
<<The nighttime scene: a campfire in the woods, somewhere in the
wilderness of Middle Earth. A small band of travelers are resting,
spending another evening together on their long journey, yet listening
with keen ears, lest some mischievous Forest Troll fancy a little
evening entertainment. The eldest member of the party speaks.>>
"Our legend has it, in the lore of quitterdom, that we are visited by
three Major Demons. The first, on Day 3, appears in the form of a
thundering herd of Screaming Cravings, known collectively as the
Nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome, and has trampled the quits of many of
our tribe beneath the sharp edges of its countless hooves. The second,
on Week 3, is a mysterious demon with no name, or many names, and
appears to each of us differently. Some members of the council believe
this demon is called Seemingly Insurmountable Life Problem -- it
beckons us to Escape, smothering our emotions and our reason with
drugs. The third demon, in Month 3, is known as Exhaustion, and is
often accompanied by her servants Negligence, Overconfidence, and
False Security.
"Always remember, we are battling for our lives against addiction, the
most devious of all demons afflicting mortal man, and his agents are
numerous, cunning, and powerful. Even his Minor Demons can be deadly,
and you must learn to fight Perceived-Social-Obligation, Found-Smoke,
and the most persistent of them all, I'll-Just-Have-One. There are
many, many others.
"Yet what Grim Reaper of Death, worthy of his Name, would be without a
Fourth Horseman? Some members of the council believe there is a Fourth
Major Demon, and that He sends it to torment our brethren with
alarming frequency. Like the second demon, it has not just one
countenance, but many, and can challenge the strongest among us with
its terrifying power. Listen closely, for battling this demon will
require all the wit you possess. The name of this demon is Major
Emotional Trauma.
"Here are the facts, as they appeared to us, as evidence of this
demon. Though there were but three of us at council, between us,
within the first year of our quits we endured:
- mother dying of emphysema
- father dying of heart attack
- diagnosis of brain tumor, brain surgery, and recovery
- diagnosis of heart disease & accompanying heart surgery
- loss of job, leaving self, wife, and 2 kids with no income
- only child leaving for college
"And there is the proof, my friends, the proof that there is no
depravity beyond the reach of the Dark Lord Nicodemon and his Four
Major Demons. The stakes are high -- they want nothing less than your
life -- for addiction, for disease, and for death. That is the
sentence before you. They want your soul, and they will not lightly
let you go free.
"Rest well tonight, fellow travelers, for the morrow brings a
visitation by who knows what foul demon. Stay as you are, as One
Fellowship, banded together against the agents of the Dark Lord, for
by your collective wisdom, you may yet survive."
------------------------------------------------------------
With that, my friends, I now claim Ten Years, and join the Titans of
Quitting.
And I say to you, it is the best and wisest thing I have done in my
life.
Now go forth, and do likewise!
Stepper,
TOF!
P.S. With special thanks to fellow council members Elle and Pixie, who
through keen wit and courageous determination, defeated their demons,
even the Fourth, and to the rest of the AS3 tribe, who helped me
overcome mine. I remain deeply grateful and I'll love you all forever!
P.P.S. I have stories to tell! I lost the quit weight and much more,
I'm down to a trim & muscular BMI=25, am athletic again, and have gold
medals to prove it! Feeling great, swimming fast, BEING ALIVE, and
oogling fit, senior cuties in their Speedo LZRs is well worth the
quitting, my friends!
P.P.P.S. Enthusiasm du jour: Alicia Keys concert! Breathtakingly
beautiful music, by a breathtakingly beautiful artist. And the price
is right! Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf62ngMvGSw then "Click
here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
TOF Celebration!!!
http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
SteveS
Congratulations and many happy returns!
SteveS
OOF
Stepper <stepp...@gmail.com> wrote in news:1b2ce1ca-3716-4e54-9061-
124feb...@k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com:
...pat.
It sounds like life is good, and really, that's what we hope to have.
10 years. Dang, how time flies.
...pat.
--
quit Jan 20 2002 for the last time.
Stepper
It sure is nice to have the whole quitting thing behind you, right?
New quitters ... it gets better! Much better!
On Jan 1, 12:30 am, SteveS <inyo...@spamm.ers> wrote:
> Love it! Fantastic to all new TOF's tonight. Great post.
> Congratulations and many happy returns!
> SteveS
> OOF
>
> Stepper <stepper....@gmail.com> wrote in news:1b2ce1ca-3716-4e54-9061-
> 124feb5fe...@k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com:
> > is right! Clickhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf62ngMvGSwthen "Click
Stepper
Yes, time flies. 10 years already! Good to see you again!
elle
Imagine that? Who would have thought we'd still be standing ten years
after (ooh, that would be an awesome name for a band)... yet, here we
are! All that, and more, and not a single tube of burning leaf has
passed these lips.
Glad to hear you are fit and well and all of that. I do hope to see all
of that continuing for the next ten.
Hugs from the hallowed and ancient archives,
elle
9y+
Stepper
Indeed, who would have thought 10 years ago that we'd make it this
far? And that this newsgroup would still be active? 10 years ...
that's a millennium in internet time!
Shall we make a plan to meet again in 15 years to become Silver Old
Fogies? I think it's possible!
I hope everything is going well for you; I remember our adventures
with great fondness!
> > is right! Clickhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf62ngMvGSwthen "Click
eightpans
> here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
>
> TOF Celebration!!!http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
What a great post and a Great Achievement can feel your every word
WELL DONE
Chris
kestrel
> here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
>
> TOF Celebration!!!http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
Wow!!! What a wonderful legend you have given us. Congratulations
Stepper. And thank you for the fireworks too.
Joyce
12 years+
Stepper
Stepper
Joyce! Good to see you!!
Be sure to see the illustrated version of the story; I made it last
year for some friends and I think it turned out rather well!
http://users.chartertn.net/jonesjp/TheFourthDemon
It's so nice to see past quitting buddies!
rosie@readandpost
congrats to you!
Stepper
> THAT was one hell of a post, i could "feel" your enthusiasm!
> congrats to you!
Hi Rosie!! I see you're still reading and posting! What a fine thing
it is to see some familiar names here -- it really is a remarkable
newsgroup and has helped hundreds or thousands of people over the
years. Big hugs!
suze
yours. (Or maybe it was raw fear, if those demons you've posted are
the ones in your head! Geez, Stepp, give us nightmares! ) We kicked
their ass, tho', don'tcha think?
I am most happy to congratulate you for the 10th time--and glad to
hear you're healthy and well. Let's hope the next 10 bring more of
the same.
Suze
TOF
Stepper
There are NO DEMONS in this world who can stand up to the ass-kicking
we gave 'em, Suze!! I'm overjoyed to see you, and glad to hear you're
doing well!
And I'm delighted to join you in the TOFtub (kinda like the hottub,
but *much* better!)
WooHoo!!! We won!!
Lynn
--
:) Lynn OOF+ Leaper
support www.quitbuddies.org
"Stepper" <stepp...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1b2ce1ca-3716-4e54...@k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Sue
Congratulations on TOF!!
Sue
Three years, nine months, one week, five days, 17 hours, 55 minutes
and 33 seconds. 45663 cigarettes not smoked, saving $7,603.22. Life
saved: 22 weeks, 4 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes.
CuckooCat
Congrats on TOF! Looks great on you!
"Stepper" <stepp...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1b2ce1ca-3716-4e54...@k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Stepper
> Happy TOF Stepper
> --
> :) Lynn OOF+ Leaper
> supportwww.quitbuddies.org
>
> > here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
>
> > TOF Celebration!!!
> >http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
Thank you, Lynn! You will be there soon yourself!
Stepper
TOF <-- (this looks way cool sitting there!)
Stepper
> >here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
>
> >TOF Celebration!!!
> >http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
Thank you, Sue! You have a pretty impressive meter yourself!
Congratulations!
Stepper
TOF
Stepper
> Awesome post as always.
>
> Congrats on TOF! Looks great on you!
>
> > here to watch LIVE concert highlights filmed on 12/1". Enjoy!
>
> > TOF Celebration!!!
> >http://www.alexandersinn.com/new-years-eve/testfireworks.html
Hi Cat! Good to see you again! Thanks very much!
Stepper
TOF
FlatIronMike
time I see another winner get to TOF I celebrate realizing that I am
on that same road and can get there too, ODAAT! So, do sit back and
enjoy as The Original Yodeling Gnomes head your way, along with
Horace, the Huffing Hogg, to sing songs of smobriety to help you
celebrate this grand achievement!
FlatironMike
Two years, ten months, three weeks, two days, 22 hours, 53 minutes and
38 seconds. 21159 cigarettes not smoked, saving $6,347.72. Life saved:
10 weeks, 3 days, 11 hours, 15 minutes.
Janna Jones
Thank you, Mike! I see you're getting close to 3 years yourself.
Congratulations!
Marilyn Matte
Congratulations, belated or not, are *all* yours, Stepper. What a
terrific accomplishment.
Well done, old friend, well done!
mmm
TOF
Stepper
after all this time!! I hope life is treating you well -- you
certainly deserve it!!
Stepper
TOF
On Jan 8, 11:54 am, ag...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Marilyn Matte) wrote:
> Stepper (stepper....@gmail.com) writes so damn well!