Sunday, January 17, 2010

Five Years, Two Days and a request

That's how long it's been since the Evil Twin had his last cigarette! He had started talking about quitting in November or December. We did some research on quitting. One website suggested choosing a day a couple of weeks or so in the future and then stick to being smoke free by that day. He chose January 15.

He had half a pack left on the evening of January 14th. He smoked his last cigarette that night and just walked away from them. I cleaned up all the evidence of smoking. He only smoked in the workshop room or outside, but I gathered up ashtrays, cleaned them and stored them - we do have friends who smoke, so I thought it would be nice to have at least one ashtray on hand.

I socially smoked with the Evil Twin. I'd have a glass of wine and join him for a cigarette, so I ended up sneaking off to finish the half pack. The first night I had a glass of wine and no cigarette was, surprisingly, an adjustment for me as well. I wasn't addicted to them like him, but it was part of my/our routine. That's when we'd have our conversations about our day, just the two of us.

At the time, Buddy was about 7 years old and would play in his room while we skittered off for a smoke.

I'm proud of the Evil Twin for quitting and sticking to it! Just think how much money we've saved over the last 5 years! And, the cigs are even more expensive today than they were back then!

Also, Thursday was apparently delurker day. I didn't get the memo about that and already had something lined up, so I didn't participate on that day. However, if you're a lurker here, pipe up and leave a comment! You can even do so anonymously, but leave your initials or your general location. I want to know about my readers!
Thanks, guys and gals!

23 comments:

  1. Good for Evil Twin! I know how hard that can be. I've never been a smoker, but due to several friends that were when I was younger also had occasion to smoke while drinking wine. Thankfully, it never became a habit for me.

    My Mom has tried to quit several times and says the hardest time is when she is drinking. It's a habit to pick up the wine glass and light a cigarette. I think she actually changes wine brands or something when she is trying just to adjust the taste!

    Way to Evil Twin!

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  2. I don't smoke in my house or in my car, but I do smoke when I am out with my friends and having some cocktails. It is about pack a week. I think of quitting, but it isn't a priority for me. A pack a week isn't that bad - at least I tell myself.

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  3. I quit June 19, 2007 and I fully support anyone who is quitting and fighting that sruggle. It's tough.

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  4. Like I said in my post, I am just afraid that it will be impossible to quit with Mr. Burns still smoking at work. Or maybe I am just rationalizing not quitting. Who knows. It would certainly make The Husband happy if I did!

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  5. Hi ! Delurking here ! Congrats on the quitting smoking, I'm sure that is tough. : )

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  6. Thank you for that, I need some inspiration. I've tried to quit several times, and have managed it a few times for months on end - only to slide back into it. Keep us updated, and best of luck to him! After five days, it's not nearly as difficult.

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  7. Good for him! Of course, the old joke goes, "Quitting is easy. I've done it hundreds of times!" I still smoke, and I know quitting is one of the hardest things to do.

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  8. Luckily I never started that habit, but know how difficult it is to quit, Way to Go Evil Twin!!

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  9. Hi, there. I'am a lurker, yes I am, I'm a lurker. ah that doesn't really go to music, does it?
    I can't sing anyway.
    Took me 23 1/2 years to quit smoking; did it on May 26, 1992. Ya just have to be ready..
    Congrats to you and ET.

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  10. I'm not a lurker, generally, but I'll pitch in anyhow.

    Good for ET & the quit! I have 5+ years quit too, 8/22/04 for me. Cigs are pushing $8 a pack up here in the snow belt of western NY.

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  11. I'm a lurker nd love your blog! Congrats to the ET and you on quitting.

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  12. My BF quit 5 years ago too. Nice work ET, and your too, ETW, for supporting him.

    You guys make a hell of a team : )

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  13. Great job on quitting Evil Twin. I have friends who have quit and others that have not. Good luck.

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  14. It's been almost six years since I quit. I just walked away from them too. It was pretty embarassing when I was with friends to laugh at something and then cough like an 80 year old at 27. I was too young for that junk.

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  15. Congratulations to Evil Twin for sticking with it.

    This weekend was the first for my husband of not smoking while drinking. I actually took his pack away (that he had in the console for an emergency). I eventually gave it away to another group in the bar so he would quit begging me for "just one"

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  16. my husband is horribly addicted. we tried a medication for a while, but he had a really rough time sticking with it. i REALLY want him to quit, but he has literally been smoking ALL of his life. i, on the other hand, have picked up and kicked the habit several times. i can walk away pretty easily and no longer socially smoke, probably, due to the fact that this last time was the hardest time i ever had kicking it.

    i want him to just walk away, but he swears he can't.

    i've nagged, supported, and tried to scare him out of it. i've even mentioned the dollar amount i stand to gain if he kicks the bucket. lol, nothing works! i think i will just pray.

    congrats evil twin!

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  17. Great for ET and you too ! That rocks.

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  18. Congrats to all who gave up smoking. I am interested to know, who those who gave up smoking do you support smoking bans, like the one they are trying to enforce in Kanawha and start in Cabel or not, having seen both sides of the coin, as it were.

    *lurk lurk lurk* :-p

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  19. Way to go, ET!

    That's exactly how I quit smoking 5 years, 1 month and 4 days ago. Dec 12, 2005. But who's counting? The only difference: I got rid of everything before the deadline. I found four or five in a pack about a week after and flushed them away. I don't know how long your husband smoked, but I smoked for 41+ years. I'm real handsome now. And the money we didn't spend helped us become debt-free.

    Congratulations to The Twin. Continued smooth sailing--and breathing.

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  20. This is something I needed to hear today! I have been doing good cutting back on the cigs during the work week but smoked like regular this weekend. I really want to quit but I am afraid I am always going to want a cigarette and it will be a constant state of denial for me.

    That is awesome for the Evil Twin. I am very proud of both of you!

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  21. Lurker here! Read you every day. Found your site thru Tammie's site.

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  22. I've tried to quit on several occasions. I've managed to stay smoke free for more than a year on at least 2 occasions. Still smoking at the moment. Finding it really hard this time around. Cant stick to my guns. Good on you and the Evil Twin for sticking to it.

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  23. Good for him! (And you for being so supportive of something you did too. :) )

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