The five-month mark

This week I hit the five-month mark of quitting smoking. I’m astounded.

Someone on the QuitNet website was asking quitters when they felt they were over the hump. I think it’s crazy to let yourself feel you’re over the hump. We’ve all heard of people who quit for years, then ended up as a daily smoker again. Yikes.

I feel like I’m right on the hump and I plan to stay there. I don’t want to let my guard down. My quit has been easy but there’s no sense in taking it for granted.

Sampling Martin’s home brews

These days I’m a low-carb, wuss-beer drinker but was happily anticipating giving Martin’s home brewed beers a try. I’m certainly no connoisseur but I sure do love beer, especially now that the weather has turned summery.

I just opened bottle #1 and filled my Millstream Brewing Co. beer glass with pale American ale. The glass has a beautiful, huge, foamy head. With my first sip, I was struck by the taste of dark chocolate. Beery dark chocolate. Which doesn’t sound good to me in principle but this stuff is really good, especially compared to the kinds of beer I usually drink. The chocolate flavor subsided on subsequent swallows but whatever that flavor is, it’s hitting taste buds in the same region. The last time I had beer made by a Brit was two years ago this month. I was in a pub in London drinking London Pride. But I digress — #1 was very tasty. Onto #2 . . .

A break from the routine

Most Saturdays, I have a pretty sweet routine. I sleep until I wake up, drink coffee and kill time online, then head to yoga class. Afterwards, I go to lunch with the dear friends I practice yoga with. Occasionally we go fishing instead or hit a local festival.

This weekend I broke from the Saturday routine, skipping yoga altogether in favor of canoeing. After drinking coffee and getting online, I went for a sweaty walk. Then I took my time preparing for the canoe outing. I packed a bag with a couple of towels, an extra t-shirt, some bottled water and a few cans of Bud Select.

Smokers on the Edge

I just finished reading an article on the Scientific American website about research on social networks and smokers. Initially reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers examined how social networks influence smoking behavior. Now that smoking is generally frowned upon by society, smokers tend to be at the edge of their social clusters. When a smoker quits, they become more popular within their social networks.

Once again, formal research reveals the obvious — in this case, that smokers are now social outcasts. There are exceptions but generally, no one wants to be around a dirty smoker anymore.

Is it working out?

Martin and I were talking yesterday and got to a point where we had a disagreement on terminology. I said the terms working out and exercising are interchangeable — either term refers to an activity a person undertakes voluntarily to improve their health or fitness, including walking. Martin calls that activity exercise. Not to put words in his mouth, but he seems to think working out only encompasses activities involving the use of weights.

Taking it easy

This morning I woke up with every intention of going fishing. I turned the coffee pot on, then got back into bed and started thinking about my fishing expedition. First I’d have to get online and check the latest pier reports, call the bait shop and see what they had going in the way of live bait, and then stop by www.weather.com to see what the wind and tides are doing today.

Spend or save?

After book club this morning I went to the track to walk. Before I’d ever gotten out of my car, I had settled on doing four miles. It’s a gorgeous, sunny day — the humidity and temp are down since yesterday’s stormy front moved through. I do my best walking at the track, where it’s rare for someone to pass me. It’s good interval training. I target a walker in front of me, then speed up to pass them and put some distance between us. And then I start looking for my next target.

Small victories

In 11 minutes, my last book club meeting for the season will begin. I’ll be attending but not until I’ve had a shower and gotten ready, which will take only a bit longer than 11 minutes. This morning I slept late and don’t feel like rushing. It’s Saturday morning. I’ll get there when I get there. It took me a while to figure out that with voluntary activities like a book club gathering, no one’s taking attendance and there’s no punishment for me if I show up late.

A minor Sunday morning miracle

I’m not sure how it happened but I slept until almost nine this morning. Usually, I’m lucky to get past six on a weekend morning. Granted, I was tired and stayed up a bit later than usual last night. But nine is unheard of. It felt really good but now it’s past noon and I’m still online when I should be out enjoying what looks like a nice day. I’ve got some tree limbs to saw down so they meet the city’s standards for yard waste pickup. And I’d like to take a walk and a swim.

I am soooo much better than you.

Now that I don’t smoke cigarettes, I can say it: I am better than you are. Harder, better, faster, stronger — oops, that’s Kanye on the radio. I am capable of anything, now that I don’t smoke. I’m better at yoga, I smell better, I’ll kick your ass at tennis. Overall, I’m just better than you now. Do I honestly think that? Well, no. OK, sometimes. But I suspect it’s the medication talking. I’ve heard of Chantix doing some strange things to the mind, mostly related to depression and “vivid dreams.” I have had some wild-ass dreams lately and thankfully haven’t had any suicidal thoughts although I do think the drug has affected my pysche.

« Previous Page — Next Page »