Eleven years without a smoke...
kestrel
years I have been prowling on this road. Why do I still come here?
Well, I tried to tell my son when he called me this morning. I told
him that I thought maybe I could do some good to even one fellow
quitter having trouble hanging on. And besides, I have friends here.
Flatiron Mike for one; we have known each other for many years both
online and in person. And Wolfgang who lives in Vienna. He doesn't
come here at all any more, but he is more than 11 years quit. He does
a lot of traveling, often with a stop-over in NY. A couple of years
ago, he was here and we went to see the newly expanded and completely
remodeled Museum of Modern Art. He loves that museum and so do I, but
I miss the old version of it, where I knew where all my favorite
pieces were located.
Then there is my quit-buddy, Ken Allen. He doesn't come here much
anymore. He is too busy in his new smokefree life. After he quit and
felt pretty secure in his quit, he entered a seminary and eventually
was ordained a priest. He lives in New Orleans and earlier this year,
he made his first trip to New York City. He was staying at a friary
somewhere in Harlem, which is not too far from where I live, so we
arranged to meet at a nearby gallery of Austrian art that has iniside
the gallery a very good Viennese pastry restaurant. I had another
friend, Myra from Raleigh, NC, staying with me at the time, and she
was quite taken with the idea of both meeting Ken and seeing this
gallery.
Well, Myra and I got there to find Ken waiting outside. It seems the
gallery was closed to the public that day for a private function. In
NY you are never very far from a decent restaurant. So we walked down
Madison Avenue a little way and came upon a nice looking diner. We
went in and spent the next couple of hours, eating and laughing and
having a wonderful time. The food was great.
Today I am celebrating myself. If you had asked me 12 years ago if I
thought I could quit smoking, I would have said, "Not in a million
years." But that was before I stumbled across AS3 and the most
fantastic bunch of quitters in the world. I was new to computers at
that time, but I got one, a very slow Tandy box, and I thought I was
going to use it mainly for writing. But I soon found out that there
were useful things like "websites" out there just waiting to be
clicked on. Well, I am a bookish sort of person, so I went to Barnes
and Noble's reference book section where I had noticed they had a lot
of books on computers. I chanced on one called "The Internet Yellow
Pages." I opened up to the index and looked for "Quitting smoking."
And there you were.
I don't think I ever used that book for anythng else. But it was well
worth the cost. I have been coming here ever since. Even though I am
quite comfortable with my quit and I probably will never even think of
smoking again. But I still remember all those aborted quits over the
years and how much I hated myself for not being able to quit.
You guys are wonderful. You guys are life-savers. I owe my life to
you. Even so, I do have a touch of emphysema. Hey, I always look on
the bright side. It recently, along with a couple of other
infirmities, got me excused from jury duty. I had to get a letter
from my doctor and he graciously outlined all the reasons I would not
be able to serve on a jury. Hey, I've done it before. The last time,
It was a whole month of Grand Jury. I think I have more than done my
civic duty.
Joyce
With a bright, shiny new number to brag about: 11 Years today
Gracenote
A number to definitely be proud of. and it comes with a great
provenance.
Thank you for sharing it.
Annette
Nicotine free for eleven months, one day, 14 hours, 30 minutes and 12
seconds. 3376 cigarettes not smoked, saving $590.81. Life saved: 1
week, 4 days, 17 hours, 20 minutes.
montana wildhack
> I told
> him that I thought maybe I could do some good to even one fellow
> quitter having trouble hanging on.
I'm doing okay with my shiny new quit, but it really does inspire me to
see people who have kept quit for the long haul.
Thank you for your post.
jacks
I will celebrate you as well.
Congratulations. 11 years. Way to go!
Thanks for sharing. You are an inspiration.
And,
You are a life-saver.
jacks, VOF
Jef.
> ... today marks 11
> years I have been prowling on this road. Why do I still come here?
> Well, I tried to tell my son when he called me this morning. I told
> him that I thought maybe I could do some good to even one fellow
And we have you-- friend, asset, example, star and all around class act.
It's hard to explain this community to other people, sometimes.
"So, you all don't smoke, and you write messages to each other about that?
Uh-huh. I see. How much can you possibly have to say about it? Doesn't it
get boring? And you say to the other people, 'Good! Keep not smoking!' Is
that the fun part? I don't get it. " ... and so forth and so on.
We'll just let it be our little secret then, shall we?
Congratulations, Joyce. Your presence here makes it a real pleasure to be a
part of this special place.
AZ
--
AZ
http://www.myspace.com/alazikra
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
Lynn
--
:) Lynn VOF+ Leaper+AS3 Bully
"Everyone seems normal until you get to know them."
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
FlatIronMike
ago and started posting. I had quit only 20 days before you at
Hallowe'en and we both shared a lot about working our smobriety. I am
soooo proud of you making it to 11 years and I am so glad that you do
post here. Your writings about your life experiences are always so
wonderful to read and your totally NYC sensabilities always make me
smile. And I know whenever I put out the flag for a gathering in the
City, you are first to jump in for dinner!
So, do sit back and enjoy as The Original Yodeling Gnomes are marching
up 5th Avenue led by Horace, the Huffing Hogg, to sing songs of
smobriety to help you celebrate this wonderful celebration.
FlatironMike
One year, nine months, one week, two days, 15 hours, 30 minutes and 32
seconds. 12972 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,891.88. Life saved: 6
weeks, 3 days, 1 hour, 0 minutes.
PS- I wrote Bloomberg to have him proclaim a holiday! <G>
DavidL
Congratulations.
This place wouldn't be what it is without you.
Thanks for hangin' with us.
eightpans
Well Done Joyce !!! Eleven years is fantastic !!! I often wonder how
AS3 works. I too spent years quitting it was so nice to find some way
at last to get free. And meet so many nice folk along the way too.
Chris
Edna Pearl
--
ep ooooooooof
"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The
second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind." -- Henry James
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
Marvin The Paranoid Android
Mon Ami!!!
(((((((((Joyce!!)))))))))
It's been a fabulous journey hasn't it!
Congratulations!
Big Hugs, Big High-Fives,
Marvie
Ian
My Gawd! I am lost for words, confronted by this amazing record of
staying off the things.
I imagine your health is now super, especially in the breathing
department.
That's a reward in itself, as I am finding after only 8 months and a bit
--
Ian
Cough? what cough? I ain't got no cough.
kestrel
Thanks, Mike, but I have gone off Bloomberg until he learns some
sensibility about how the rest of us live. I mean, six cents per each
plastic bag at the supermarket!!!! Just ask anyone who lives in a
high rise apartment building, what will we do with our garbage without
those bags? Are we supposed to dump the potato peelings down the
garbage chute without any plastic bag to hold them? Are we supposed
to buy our own cloth bags and then throw them down the chute with the
food waste? And he is refusing to listen to reason about the $400.00
rebate for home owners. He says he is going to do away with it before
Christmas. He was the one who started it in the first place. I'll
bet he won a lot of votes that way. And he expects us to serve him up
a third term as mayor? He really is doing everything he can to make
it seem that it's someone else's fault if the City Council does not
approve his proposed rule change to allow him to run for a third
term. I'm not sure, but I think LaGuardia had three terms as mayor.
All I can remember about him was that during a newspaper strike he
read the Sunday Funnies over the radio. He was much loved. A real
New York character. And, of all things, a Republican!!
Keven
Even if you think about smoking you know you never will.
:-p~~~~~~~ Keven
Don't ever forget why you quit.
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
Jsteam
alomst bought a carton today till I thouight how much of hassle it would be to become
so addicted that I would need a carton. Guess you're never really totally free from
temptation. Thanks again for sharing you milestone wth us
Les Stewart
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!GoJoyce!!
--
Les Stewart 8y+
Beaumont, TX 30ºN 94ºW
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
FlatIronMike
since you brought up the Two-Faced Liar, I will add in my 3 cents. I
totally agree about the plastic bag issue. Mine go, cut in half,for
Lucifer to do his business, and the rest are for the can/glass
recycling as well as the regular trash. I generally managed to ambush
the paper at the mailbox and it never gets inside. I do however know
that plastic is a real losing proposition. I would agree to a
surcharge for bio-degradable plastic that rots after about a year.
It's similar to the biodegradable popcorn that many packers use for
shipping now. Certainly could still be used as we see but would not
be here for the millenium after this one.
I'm neutral about the rebate since I felt it was a gimmick from the
beginning [and I don't get any of it]. But the term limit bullshit
really has me ready to get out my soapbox in Madison Square and let
loose. We, the people, voted twice on the issue, and then the mayor
gets the council to find wiggle room to undermine what we voted for.
If they want more time to run the joint, let us vote to give them the
extra time or not.
Nuf said.
//off soapbox
FlatironMike
One year, nine months, one week, two days, 22 hours, 2 minutes and 36
seconds. 12978 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,893.51. Life saved: 6
weeks, 3 days, 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Sue
feat 11 years is. I'm so glad you're here to inspire us all.
Sue
On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:16:14 -0800 (PST), kestrel <joy...@aol.com>
wrote:
Mike M
Mike M
On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:16:14 -0800 (PST), kestrel <joy...@aol.com>
wrote:
>Dear companions on this, the journey of our lives, today marks 11
elle
the way for people like me. It's an amazing journey we're on.
hugs,
elle
Gregory Baxter
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
Wtg Grace, and nice story.
GregB
7 years + some
--
My Epitaph - I'll try harder next time.
geobehra
Thank you so much for a glorious sharing! My quit is December 2nd.
Your
posting truly inspired me. Thank you again. I am tongue-tied right
now.
But today, several times I said to myself "I can do this!"
Pray for me good friends.
Virginia (geobehra)
readandpost
thanks for that email, and thanks for the journey of the past eleven
years.
i agree, this group has been a quit saver, for many of us!
readandpost,
rosie
DutchVanAfoort
"kestrel" <> schreef in bericht ...
CuckooCat
I am sorry I had missed this.
Congratulations on 11 years of freedom.
Thanks for still being here when you can. It means alot.
Hugs,
Cat
"kestrel" <joy...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:e70677d1-e6ef-48df...@d32g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...