Did you ever smoke cigarettes? No - I don't mean yeah I tried 'em behind the garage and they made me puke. And I don't mean that you have a cigarette when you're in a bar with a drink. I mean were or are you a smoker? I am a smoker. Started the darned habit in high school. One of those pack a day plus people you hear about. I do not smoke cigarettes right now; haven't for 7 weeks and 2 days. Maybe I won't ever smoke a cigarette again. But if the world sees fit to give me an end date for this old life of mine...I'm goin' right out and buy a case of cartons of Benson & Hedges menthol 100's. And I'm gonna smoke every blessed one of those darn cancer sticks. Ya wanna tell me again about how they're not addictive? Come on...

I'm taking that Chantix prescription medicine, little bitty blue pill twice a day. Damned expensive too, but not as much as the cigarettes cost now. I do not understand how the silly pills work, but so far, so good. I don't think that I've slept a full night since I started taking them. DG is using the patch. He has been off 'em for 8 weeks and 2 days. He doesn't sleep too good either.

I know that people mean well, but NO, I do not feel better. And no, it does not seem nice now that I don't smell like smoke. And yes, it is nice not to cough all the time. It is not nice to be growing fat at an alarming rate. It is not nice to want to chew the arm off of near by smokers in order to get to their cigarettes. I do however LOVE standing downwind of a group of smokers. Yes, I know that it is not a particularly nice smell.

Funny thing - I smell better and I smell better. Well I thought it was funny. I laughed all the way home from work one day. And no, I don't drink at work. My fellow commuters were giving me puzzled looks. See the little blue pill has affected my sense of humor as well as my sleep patterns. DG and I are amazed that we have not been at each other's throats. We do whine at one another about it pretty regular. And I cook more and eat more. So does DG. And we are getting fat. But that is another post entirely.