jillar

We thought we were so cool smoking eating these as kids!

Congratulations again rajaj, three years quit is HUGE!

Yay ren, congrats on 2 months!

Congratulations on getting past the hardest month of all!

Having a brewski and watching the finale of Master chef Jr. These kid cooks are awesome!

Confession: back in April when my mom was in the ICU and we thought she wasn't going to survive I had pretty much planned on smoking once I got to Florida to handle her estate. Luckily my mom survived and is home now so I didn't have to find out whether I would have

Thanks for sharing lust, I too am thankful the temptations have mellowed with time.

You seem pretty on your game to me so I'm saying no it didn't?

Posted 17 December 2013 - 07:44 PM When my son was young he would walk to the end of the drive to wait for the school bus. I would stand at the bay window off the side nook of our home where I could look down the drive and watch until he safely got on board. Sounding like a good father this may be. But in actuality I found I enjoyed the heat off the glass and watching the life outdoors from the birds to the ever changing leaves of the seasons. Here I would smoke my morning cigarette. It wasn’t long I had moved a small bench near the window so I could sit and be a bit more comfortable And take in a bit more of my surroundings. I bought a nice brass ashtry on a stand to place next to my bench and would bring in my newspaper into the nook ., By the following year I came to realize It wasn’t much of a bench or that comfortable, So I decided to have some work done to the room and to the window I had a much better built in bench placed into the wall almost making me like a cat sitting on a lagre comfy ledge over looking the world , searching for his pray, like that fat robin I watch in the mornings searching out a nice fat worm. On day while peering down the drive , watching , waiting for my son to board the bus, I noticed a shadowy figure standing off to his side. I would not say it a ghost or man, just an odd shadowy figure,, quite perplex this left me , almost to the point of quizzy, what was this figure ,, what was it doing out there ? For the next few mornings to weeks perhaps months I would watch with an unsettling intent ,, always wondering , what was this figure, a shadow from a limb or tree ? In the afternoons if I were to walk to the end of the drive never was there any evidence of such a figure, questioning my son , was always the same “ your crazy” he would Say. But No I was not crazy ,, I saw what I saw and what I saw was a real as you and me. As the years past , I began to come to terms with the figure at the end of the drive , I knew well whatever it was meant my son no harm. But still each day I found myself looking out the window.. Years would pass , no longer did my son need a protective eye to watch him get on to the bus. But still each morning I went to the window for my morning coffee , cigarette and newspaper. Always peering down the drive slowly it was becoming obvious the figure had turned its sights to me,, no longer was I the watcher , but now the watchy. And with this the hair on the back of my neck stood up, Schools years would come and go, Jason would be moving in the fall to attend collage and I found my self remolding more and more I had moved my study down into nook , moved a side wall expanding the nook itself allowing me more room, I worked from home and really found with these accommodations I was just fine, plus saving me time from going up and down the stairs so much. At once this shadowy figure a bit of amusement now each day an every growingly obsession, a looming haunt always in the back of my mind. Never was it different from one day to the next , but over the years it was easy to see this was a man in grim black suit complete with over coat and hat. For years I asked visitors that would stop by , “what they thought of the man at the end of my drive ?” always to be givng the same response “ Still on that kick” so in time I stoped asking , I came to except it was only myself that could see him. But as a say , what I saw , I saw , and he was real. As real as you or I. By the second year Jason had moved out , my work had slowed down. To save some money on heating and other bills I pretty much moved myself completely into the nook , which now was more like a tiny apt. I had a small bed and fridge a microwave, my coffee pot . Sure I would still make it threw the maze the rest of the down stairs had become to make it into the kitchen if need be. But for the most part I was fine in my cubby. With less work these days I found myself spending more on my bench smoking my cigarettes watching my mystery man in black. With the difference being now slowly I could see he was approaching the house. Not each day could I notice, but slowly, ever so slowly he was making his way down the drive. Until the morning I woke to look out the window and there he stood straight across the drive. I knew then , right then.. Who had come calling ! His eyes were hallow as if none were there at all. His face a slunken gray like dead skin draped across a skelton . No longer was his black suit of fine linen now a grab more like canvas with a hood from the top of his head dragging past his feet. No more then I peered into his sullun face, he turned abruptly proceeding down the drive. I knew with out a doubt . His next stop was the front door. Dizzzy, breathless, my knees week ,, I stammered back, the back of my knees hit a recliner I had set up. Into which I fell. Sitting there now lost reality was gone ,, where was I ? what was going on ? what had I done ? I reached for a cigarette to comfort me , to guide me, to give me answers. And there I sat and smoked . Looking down on to my cracked and dried skin, stained yellow from years of tar and nicotine. I saw all the answers I was looking for. With my own two hands I molded my own death , from once only a shadowy figure at the end of my drive to a creature from the underworld. I forged my own end, one cigarette at a time. One day after another ,one year after another, all the while knowing death was monitoring my every move. Why did I not stop? I could have quit ,millions do it every day. Why did I not run from this house? was I blind, a fool ? Or an addict appeasing myself, to avoid the discomforts of nicotine withdrawal… *rasp*rasp*rasp* The cold steal of his scythe rattles the front glass…

Posted 07 December 2013 - 10:07 PM just another one for fun I thought I would "bump" Quote Please have a seat sir, and we'll go over your application. All right, thanks. So ,..you want to take out a loan with us today. Yes sir, that’s correct. You’ve stated on the application, you are wanting to buy a carton of cigarettes. Yeah, it’s crazy, the price of cigarettes are killing me these days. The price? Is killing you – that’s funny! I thought it was the smoking. Regardless , to secure this loan you are going to have to put up something for collateral. Um, my truck – it’s a good running truck, I have the title to it. Ah, no – we’re going to need something a bit more significant. M, ,, m,, My house? No we were more thinking your liver. MY LIVER Well your lungs are shot, they’re worthless. It’s obvious you’ve got no brains, or you would not be smoking, never mind trying to borrow money to kill yourself! Have you thought about a burial plot, we have good interest rates on those this week! A burial plot? I’m not dead yet! …Yet… What? Nothing. So just sign here on this line and we will get the ball rolling. So does this mean I get the loan? No this is just to get an appraisal on your liver to make sure you have not destroyed that too. Get my liver appraised - are you crazy? Do you want the loan or not? Do they have to cut it out, to appraise it? Or just look at it like with an ultrasound? Oh no, they cut it out, weigh it, measure it, etc etc. Does it hurt bad? Oh yes, very painful. Could I get two cartons? How many livers have you got? I’m married - can I have a co-liver signer? Wow - how long have you been without a cigarette? 24 hours. Great…come back in two days and we can talk more about your loan.

Weren't you comparing it to bubbles getting all over you when they pop?

Yes, but I don't rub them all over me lol. Don't you think that would be a walking billboard?

Is it ok that I'm not too into sticky?

Aren't bubbles a poor man's shower?

Kindred Spirts by jwg1763 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:49 pm I have often thought as this board as a mail box , but unlike a mail box that is stationary at the end of our drive ,, this mail box travels along are journey with us. Never in front or behind always there by are side. If ever you are in trouble or need a helping hand , all one has to do is reach into there mail box to find a letter from a kindred spirit, a letter to give strength and courage to carry on It dose not matter when you reach in your mail box there is always something in there to be found . some of the word and letters are written like stories past down form one generation to the next. And other letters are written by a fresh prospective of a person who as just started there quest , new shoes on the road to living a live free of nicotine. Time and time again I have read a letter from a new traveler who will say one day when there further down the road , they will stop to help a fellow traveler . Not knowing they have already helped all the travelers along there own journey just by joining in the parade of quitters . It is there commitment and there letters that keep the magic alive Time and time again I have read a letter from more a seasoned traveler then myself . offering a bit of wisdom they may have gathered along there own journey or just to let the world know Hey ,, its all good where I am at .. come on all you can do it too As much as the seasoned traveler is more then willing to write of encouragement , too they are longing to reach into there mailbox and read letters that breath fresh perspectives and ideas , always keeping there journey new. After all living the life of a non smoker is not a destination or ever dose it have a finish line. Its not a race to be won nor is there anyone keeping score I salute and thank each and everyone of you from the newiest of the new only on there first step . to the oldest of the that clan called pharts . thank you for your letters and your words that have kept my mail box full . Ok.. so I have not read ever single one , But I have read many and never has there been a day when I could not find one that helped in some sort of way And truth be told. I have enjoyed this Journey more then any of you might ever imagine, I quit to save a few bucks . but instead I got a new pair of jeans and a bounce in my step

Why is quitting So hard by jwg » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:01 pm So that is the question , why is quitting so hard ? I think there is only one reason quitting it so hard to do Or maybe two reasons , at most three to five ,, less then ten for sure.. Sadly I don’t think most here will agree with me nor will they aperciate my opion , and that really all this. My opion . A view from my porch and from my experiences , nothing more So there that’s the warning , take it with a grain of salt The reasons quitting is hard to do First off its hard because ,, You want it to be! And yes I think that is true most people want quitting to be the hardest thing thay have ever done in there life,,,WHY ? So they can then justify in there mind why on earth they smoked for so long,, after all if quitting was “easy” they would feel like quite the heal for not quitting years ago. So in order to live with them self in a balance of peace , quitting must then be difficult. Plus with quitting being so hard to do, it gives the quitter a boost in there personal moral on how “hard” they fought and won .. The quitter wants quitting to be hard to do , so they do not have to Accept loved ones could have prevented there suffering and death if they could have easily quit. And then there is the aspect of quitting is “so hard to do” because they have been told it was for years , and like the sentence above , have even been to the funerals that proved this to be true. If you want to quit smoking and fit in with others who quit smoking , then by god you have to suffer threw it just like they did too. After all no one gets a free pass when it comes to quitting smoking ,, “The hardest thing in the world to do” Well to each there own , but it all honesty . to stop smoking is not that hard to do it at all , In fact NO ONE that ever really wanted to Quit Smoking has ever failed.. To stop smoking dose not cause pain , where as healing from most other things in fact dose , A sun burn carries with it much greater pain then any one ever suffered to stop smoking. Mentally, a spelling test is harder then it is to quit smoking .. And lastly, why quitting is so hard to do ? , because before most ever start they go into already granting them selfs permission to fail. And then this failure only dose one thing , grants them permission once more , So this goes back to my point , quitting is only hard because most just want it that way. But I know first hand , that dose not have to be the way it is and in fact if focused on the rewards vs the discomforts , quitting hands down is the easiest thing any one has ever done for them selfs If smoking is a temp pleasure with long term consequences Then to stop is is temp discomfort with long term benefits Break the cycle , evaluate your quit honestly with out the desire for it to be “so hard” and not only will you see it is not as you have been lead to believe , but too you will learn to enjoy the process of becoming free to do all the things you once sat around and labeled “one of these days” `jwg`

those were the words written across the back of the mans T-shirt "really" I though, what and odd thing to have printed on to a shirt but to each there own , I suppose I did my best just to blow it off and go about morning,reading the news paper while having a cup of coffee . I dont stop in the cafe every morning , but for all intensive purposes I am a "regular" as the term goes. I am quite sure I have never seen this man here before. I certainly have never seen such a shirt. Trying to forget about his shirt I could see just was not going to happen , in fact I was getting quite worked up over it . How dare someone wear such a shirt. Granted I am one of thous re formed smokers that the world hates so.. Well I dont go around telling everyone they should quit smoking , But to say " thank goodness for cigarettes" why thats just wrong. Kids could read that and really think there missing out on something ,,, uuugh ,, I was getting really upset. My eyes went up and down this man and I studied each inch of him . My first thought he must be some bum / wino that could not live with out his precious cigarettes , the vile things they are. But after closer examination the fellow was in pretty good shape appently he was no staranger to the gym. His arms and back I could see were very muscular, in fact I would not want to mess with this guy at all. But dont take this as he looked to be a hooligan or crook , In fact I could see althou in jeans and boots he was a very well kept and neat . Minus the bit of dirt I noticed up along his triceps and on to one shoulder. His hair short sliver balding hair was very neat and trimmed standing out against the dark tan of his scalp and neck. hmm.... he certainly was no bum "oh dam" I thought to myself. I just knew I was going to have to say something to this man. Normally I stay to myself . a real "live and let live" sort. But this for some reason I could not let go. As I walked over to the his table I thought off all the possible thing to say. Not wanting to start off on the wrong foot and start a scene. when I got up to the table I eased around a bit so to be in front of him and said " good-morning , I noticed your t -shirt . I just have to ask why thank goodness for cigarettes ?" To my relief the man gave me a broad smile and said , "I love cigarettes . they put food on my table , money in my pockets. I drive a nice car and have two daughters in collage''. Oh - I looked quiziclaky You must work for one of those large tobacco companies , that explains it . I said Lord No the man chuckled ,, " Im a grave digger"

Mine too @despair not

Daddy, did you love your cigarettes More then you loved me or did I do something wrong? I wish you could have seen my dress Mommy said I looked so pretty. You could have pined my flowers on The night I went to prom Daddy, did you love your cigarettes More then you loved me? Mommys got a new boy friend She says its to hard to be alone. Are you lonely daddy or dose Jesus Keep you company ? Daddy did you love your cigarettes More then you loved me and mom ? I wish you would have walked me down the isle And brushed away my fears, told me no matter what I would always be your little girl. Daddy did you love your cigarettes More then you loved me? His name is Jacob ,just like you His eyes sparkle blue in wonder Why dosent he have a grandpa To take him fishing or to the zoo Like all the other boys do Did you love your cigarettes daddy Were they really worth it - all that you’ve been missing? Dose Jesus keep you company and give you all my letters

A lazy Texas river spanning form Kerr county Texas to the San Antonio bay on the Gulf of Mexico. If you ever need to find a place to relax enjoy the sunshine while refreshing from the hot Texas sun, nothing beats a lazy day tubing down the slow winding of deep greens and blue. Some place your arm able to reach down and feel the stones polished by the millenniums. Hiding secrets of the Alamo and days gone by. A sacred place, where no worries in the world can follow, No troubles from work are allowed to enter, only you and your desire to be at peace can break the waters edge. In my resent ventures over this past summer I had the opportunity to experience the river , its majesty and glory , Not only was I with the river I was with the finest people in the world to share the experience. By day floating lazily carefree and by night telling stories lounging about the cabin or sitting under the stars on the porch, cooking out burgers some night or fajita’s.. I often think of that trip and the fun we all had, to go back in time , even in memory can be so nice . Some days we would float solo or holding hands keeping close together. other days we banded are pack together by twine and traveled the river as one , like a Robin Hood and his merry men , or maybe Tom Sawyer and some of his boy hood chums. One particular day we were going solo , but I lashed the tube with the cooler to my rig 6 hours or so , surly you need some sort of refreshment and maybe even pull up on to a clear shore line for a bite to eat.. And so we did. After lunch two of are young explores Decided to forgo the tubes, swim a bit and comb the bottom of the river for secret hidden treasures,, Lost sunglass or the mother load a Iphone or other such valuable loot. Now with no use for there tubes , the young explores piled them on top of the cooler . So there I was, in my tube tied to a stack of three tubes and a cooler. To which the wind had greater strength to control then the slow easiness of the river current. Some times I would find the wind speeding me along , while others the wind dragging me back and my group of merry band of men flowing down the river far in front of me. While still enjoying the river the ride and the scenery I really had no control of the speed of my travel , to which side of the river I would coast. Sometimes the wind would bring me in to the tree line . Catching me on limbs and others casting me out into the deeper waters. Basicly I was at the mercy of powers much greater then myself.. As history repeats itself ,, this is where I find myself once more, only today laying in my hospital bed. With each day that passes more tubes are added to my burden, and now with each tube the wind carries me faster down the river then we could have ever imagined. Just a few hundred yards back the option of chemo loomed in the air to slow the winds and the current giving me more time to enjoy the river, but now once more due to powers beyond my control I find myself helpless. My illness grows faster then can be controlled. I am at peace, I am comfortable. I am in my tube enjoying every last minute of my ride Down the Guadalupe I can not see the end to the river nor do I look forward to its end.. I have my friends , I have my family , I have you all , and I have the love of a beautiful women , my angel, my everything to comfort and care for me I love you all And will to my best keep you posted In the mean time Don’t put things in your mouth and light them on fire !!

Yes, congratulations on 3 years!

I found this post from you over there: one advice and info on phlegm Started by rajaj , May 27 2015 09:18 AM Please log in to reply 6 replies to this topic #1 rajaj rajaj Member Members 18 posts LocationIndia Posted 27 May 2015 - 09:18 AM Dear All, I am new here. I was a smoker for 18 years..and after thinking a lot, I quit smoking 11 days before (I am 36 yrs old). I use to smoke roughly a pack of cigarettes every day (each pack has 10). Some times 1 or 2 more..But for the past one year I smoked only 5 everyday.. After looking into this form I got to know that after quitting, phlegm will be expelled from lungs..I just want to know whether it comes out from nose or throat? Now i am getting phlegm from throat..but I am not able to spit out. I just swallowed them as it is easiler! I wanted to know when will the special mucus will be expelled..is it immediatly after 10 days? or or after 1 yr? I am worried that after quitting i do not find anything improvement.. (there is no change I hardly notice after quitting smoking). A week after quitting smoking I got 4 armpit bump..(one doctor said it is lymph node and other said it is just head boil, i.e. bump due to body heat)Now it is almost reduced.. How do I know that my lungs are improving after quitting? any changes in health? thanks for your advice rajaj

I will try to get more over here from jwg. He touched so many of us with his writings.....