Tuesday, January 9th

[InnerStrength]

Tuesday, January 9th

Yay Laura! I am so happy for you today!
Hug
Jen

[dilayne]

Tuesday, January 9th

Laura, very good news! exhale.........

[InnerStrength]

Tuesday, January 9th

Fan, the magic "post" fairy must be erasing them.
She does that to me all the time.
I would have 10,000 by now.
Wait, that makes me look pathetic right?
Hmm.

[MKR]

Tuesday, January 9th

Laura dear that is excellent news! I had a second one this summer right after my mom had her mastectomy - I decided that I wasn't going to freak until I heard similar news like my mom. My husband was fit to be tied though. They mentioned to me that the ultrasound was so incredibly exactling and specific that it could almost forecast five years out. (Rather than smash the life out of you, I was wondering at the time why we weren't given those tests instead of mammograms with a lower accuracy rate.) Then I realized $$$$, insurance companies and more $$$$'s.

Yes, it is me that has quit smoking. 9 days today. Have had some climb the wall moments but for the most part . . .all good. Thanks for asking! MWO gave me the tools to know how to deal with this.

Hugs and Love,
Mary

[dilayne]

Tuesday, January 9th

MKR- 9 days without smoking? That is great Mary!
d

[InnerStrength]

Tuesday, January 9th

Mary - that is so great about quitting smoking by the way, I dont know if I said anything before. I really need to do that. In December, I really cut down to the point that I was barely smoking at all anyways (should have just made it permanent) but then on my vacation, really smoked a lot so now I am smoking semi-regularly again. Did you use anything to quit (like nicoderm or whatever its called)?

[MKR]

Tuesday, January 9th

Thanks Dilayne and Jen, I did cut back about a year and four months ago when I tried to quit. I had such a hard time I was replacing it with alcohol. Decided that I would stick to 3-5 cigarettes a day, which grew some evenings as the drinks flowed. anyway, I am using that nicorette gum and the breathing relaxing techniques learned through the CDs from here along with the exercise and know your triggers also learned through MWO.

also on that gum, I have the 2 mg. dose but have to cut it in half most times otherwise my heart races a bit.

[InnerStrength]

Tuesday, January 9th

I have never tried that gum. That;s funny because I have tried to quit smoking and just "drank" instead as well. Then I smoked. Funny how we do that eh? I wonder if quitting smoking or drinking is harder? For me I think smoking might be easier because I can honestly go days without it anyways....unless drinking....but who knows - I really have never put a real effort into trying to quit longer than a week or two.
Congrats Mary on doing this. I might pick up some of that gum myself....

[Mighty Mouse II]

Tuesday, January 9th

Hi, everybody. WOW!!! What a busy day!!! FRMCA glad that everything turned out ok!!! Has anyone heard from E today? Is she ok? Gypsi, you are so strong, I'm very proud of you. And speaking of proud Paul and Paula, that is just terrific.

Sophia, it is odd that you should mention e.e.cummings today. Yesterday, my son gave a critique verbal report on one of his poems -- oh and Fan, did I mention he said that it had a lot of sexual connotations? So, just what kind of poems are you writing e.e.cummins-fan? (Just kidding, but not about the sexual connotations). Glad to see you are feeling better Mike. And Lush, when the rest of us get to senior member, we will have to dub you queen!!!

Not So Powerless -- I think you have been doing great lately as well gaging from some of your posts.

Love to everyone,
MM

[dilayne]

Tuesday, January 9th

MKR Mary and Jenneh...just think how young you are going to feel once you get the cigs out of the way..I quit back in 1986 when I quit drinking the first time, even then I noticed that I looked years younger after a while..you'll really notice it in your face. My oldest daughter is a big smoker..she turned 30 last February and wanted to quit, but never even really tried. Her birthday is the 25th and I'm thinking about buying her some products to help her try (she really can't afford it herself) so I'm very interested in what works. Big kuddos to you both!
d

[dilayne]

Tuesday, January 9th

...oh, quitting the smoking was relatively easy for me, thank goodness..but it was because I tended to smoke mostly when I drank and when I gave up the drink, the cigs just weren't the same...I didn't have to have a cig in the morning with my coffee..

[MKR]

Tuesday, January 9th

Thanks Dilayne, I too quit smoking in 1977 for 14 years, wasn't drinking then either but maybe once a month no biggie. This time is easier than the last because, I only have one trigger set for habits as I only smoked in the evening after dinner watching a movie or hanging out. Not in public for the last 16 months, not in my car, not outside my office. I haven't coughed at all this time which says it wasn't too far over the top since the last time. I also didn't smoke while I was sick in December. . . yech! .

. . . . Still there is one cigarette I miss and that is the one directly after dinner. that's the one that has me climbing the walls!! I can get past it though I am sure of that. It actually got easier last night.

thanks for the vote!

[fsophiah]

Tuesday, January 9th

MM, almost all of cummings' poems have sexual connotations. He's a pretty hot poet, but the hot poem I taught today was "I Knew a Woman" by Theodore Roethke. The kids couldn't believe it.

[Allie]

Tuesday, January 9th

Is it too late too post since its officially "evening" now?

Wow - I wonder how many posts I have -- I never even looked! I've been running crazy for a few days and things dont look to be slowing down for quite a while!

We had a big GATOR party at our house last night for a bunch of my son's college friends (such torture for me... LOL). My husband and I talked about whether to do a party for our friends or let him do his thing, and we both felt it would be better to let him do his thing because he is very against drinking and so are the friends he has, so we knew that would mean NO DRINKING. Even my husband can tend to tie one on when the Gators get on a roll... and a ROLL THEY DID!!

But the night was so much fun and although I did wish a few times I could have a drink, overall those thoughts passed pretty quickly. Becca and texted back and forth funny remarks..... her major Ohio fan. I was honestly shocked that we won.

My son started college today. He couldnt start this past Fall or we would have had to pay out-of-state tuition, so it got delayed. My daughter's downpayment for next years tuition was due today so my husband is a "wee stressed?" As for me... long story, but I am putting it off till summer. I will take two classes then and start full time in the Fall. I just cant do it right now with my Mom needing me so much. She may still need me just as much then, but I can only take it as it comes, and right now its just not feesible. She's been really, really sick the last 10 days or so, which was my final registration time... so I just woke up one day and told my husband that I cant do it. Not now. I was having too much guilt and anxiety. I have my whole life ahead of me, she may not have much more. I dont want to spend it studying pythogorean thereoms.... (laugh Pansy!)

Has anyone heard from E? I have only had time to read THIS thread tonight... I was initially concerned when I saw it was 10 pages long! I think that posts less than 10 words should only count for half a post. It has to at least be meaningful. "Oh." does not count!

Beth your life is NOT boring.... you got to meet me didnt you? Ha ha. Now give me my shoes back.

Going AF tonight.... lets do it Beth!
Allie

[MKR]

Tuesday, January 9th

Oh, Allie, that is such a thoughtful and wise decision. I am sorry your mom has been so sick lately. You are both in my prayers.

great on your AF!
Have a calm and peaceful evening,
Mary