Saturday, February 9, 2008
According to the Chantix Counter 101 days! Lots of Money Saved! Lets do the Math...
I just posted but was trying to figure out how many days I have been off nicotine. I first started seriously trying to quit about five or six months ago. Lets see, it has been over three months since I have been on Chantix (I got a prescription extention.) Using this method, it has been at least 90 days off anything and lots of money saved! Then, before I started taking Chantix I was on the patch and only bought 1 pack of cigarettes in five or six weeks. I bummed them from time to time but did not buy them by the pack. Add the patch savings with the Chantix time. Lets see...thats about $580.00 saved just by not smoking cigarettes! To save that much money in roughly a six month period is crazy! I may miss smoking from time to time but I DO NOT miss spending $4.50 a day to kill myself or smelling like a dead ashtray!
Hi all...Lost of Smoke Free Days....Working my A*& Off!
Hi all,
I have been so busy that I have not been able to post! I have really wanted to smoke this last week but I have been simply too busy to smoke so I just tell my brain to "shut up" and I go about my business. I think I am just stressed and deadlines are quickly approacing so a cigarette "sounds" good! Sounds good and are good are too different things. I have chosen not to pick one up because I know where it will lead me. A pack a day! I have been smoke-free for over three months and I really do not want to start over again. What I mean by this is I do not want to start the whole cycle of addictive thinking again. Its funny, all addicts are enamored of the idea of having "just one!" Well, one leads to two and so on. Then the addictive side of the brain kicks in and says "just two." I just need to realize and post that for me, by smoking "just one" I am setting myself up for a lot of aggravation. Even though I have not had time to post, I still read and respond to most of the blogs I frequent! Thank God for the those of you on the same journey that still post! I keeps me on the right path knowing that you guys are still not smoking even after Chanitx. Its hard not to just pick up someday! I know that this is going to be a struggle for the rest of my life. Chanix is great but definetly not a magic pill by any stretch of the imagination! For my birthday the long weekend of Presidents Day, I decided to go to Rosorito Beach in Mexico for a day and not Vegas! My class is finishing up on that Friday and Saturday of the weekend so I only have Sunday and Monday. I was going to go to Vegas but I don't think I am ready for Vegas at this time! I may stop by the Pachanga Indian Casino on my way back from Rosorito. I can gamble and then leave!
I am really looking for a day of relaxation to celebrate my birthday and just "chill." I have done nothing but work! Most of you know I went on a tour of the south and learned about The Civil Rights Movement. To complete the project, the eductors who went have to create a project and design a lesson around its theme. Than we have to present what we did for other educators at a social studies conference. It seems like this is the never ending project! It has really pushed me to the next level in terms of teaching, lesson planning and working on being a spokesperson at a convention. I have pretty much finished the script and then finalized the written script of interview questions. One of the oral history interviews was taped yesterday. Talk about a nerve wracking and scary experience! A film crew came to my school and we did it there. Eventually all of this stuff is going to be posted online, so I am kind of nervous. I am half way done with completing the filming of the oral hisories. To finish the project, a still need to tape one more participant and that will take place on February 19. I also need to write and film a introductory segment that the ties the theme together. The final product I am trying to produce is an oral history of two people who lived during segregation, one in the South,LA one in Los Angles, CA. I need to show how different people's experiences are different based on location, race and socio-economic status. My students will then compare/contrast two common people's experiences who lived during segregation and thier memories of the civil rights movement. The kids are then going to create a visual display with a written component that focues on one of the many common heros who gave up everything to fight for justice. Lets just hope I can get all this done by April 4, which is the day I am presenting.
I must say whole process is super interesting! I have been interested in film production for a really long time and even tried to make a film with my students once. I won this grant that gave our school this amazing computer that was never utilized to its full capicity. Lets just say makinga film is WAY more difficult that I ever thought it was. I mean picking up a video camera and filming something is really easy! But making sure the audio is loud enough, the lighting is not too dark and then actally editing the work takes a REALLY long time. I must say editing is a really difficult and tedious process. I don't know how people do it for a living but they take a TON of footage and create a half hour or an hour show out of it, sometimes very quickly. I am going to be making a lot of the editing decisions for this video so its definetly a learning process. I guess I have to watch the video and think about what needs to be kept so the participants will really tell their story but it won't be too long for kids. Thank God the professionals will actually edit the tape. I put in a application to go and learn how to produce digital historical biographies in New York City this summer. Every aspect of the program is learning a lot of the stuff I am talking about. I really must be a glutton for punishment!
Gotta Run, its coffee time.
Peace,
Diva
I have been so busy that I have not been able to post! I have really wanted to smoke this last week but I have been simply too busy to smoke so I just tell my brain to "shut up" and I go about my business. I think I am just stressed and deadlines are quickly approacing so a cigarette "sounds" good! Sounds good and are good are too different things. I have chosen not to pick one up because I know where it will lead me. A pack a day! I have been smoke-free for over three months and I really do not want to start over again. What I mean by this is I do not want to start the whole cycle of addictive thinking again. Its funny, all addicts are enamored of the idea of having "just one!" Well, one leads to two and so on. Then the addictive side of the brain kicks in and says "just two." I just need to realize and post that for me, by smoking "just one" I am setting myself up for a lot of aggravation. Even though I have not had time to post, I still read and respond to most of the blogs I frequent! Thank God for the those of you on the same journey that still post! I keeps me on the right path knowing that you guys are still not smoking even after Chanitx. Its hard not to just pick up someday! I know that this is going to be a struggle for the rest of my life. Chanix is great but definetly not a magic pill by any stretch of the imagination! For my birthday the long weekend of Presidents Day, I decided to go to Rosorito Beach in Mexico for a day and not Vegas! My class is finishing up on that Friday and Saturday of the weekend so I only have Sunday and Monday. I was going to go to Vegas but I don't think I am ready for Vegas at this time! I may stop by the Pachanga Indian Casino on my way back from Rosorito. I can gamble and then leave!
I am really looking for a day of relaxation to celebrate my birthday and just "chill." I have done nothing but work! Most of you know I went on a tour of the south and learned about The Civil Rights Movement. To complete the project, the eductors who went have to create a project and design a lesson around its theme. Than we have to present what we did for other educators at a social studies conference. It seems like this is the never ending project! It has really pushed me to the next level in terms of teaching, lesson planning and working on being a spokesperson at a convention. I have pretty much finished the script and then finalized the written script of interview questions. One of the oral history interviews was taped yesterday. Talk about a nerve wracking and scary experience! A film crew came to my school and we did it there. Eventually all of this stuff is going to be posted online, so I am kind of nervous. I am half way done with completing the filming of the oral hisories. To finish the project, a still need to tape one more participant and that will take place on February 19. I also need to write and film a introductory segment that the ties the theme together. The final product I am trying to produce is an oral history of two people who lived during segregation, one in the South,LA one in Los Angles, CA. I need to show how different people's experiences are different based on location, race and socio-economic status. My students will then compare/contrast two common people's experiences who lived during segregation and thier memories of the civil rights movement. The kids are then going to create a visual display with a written component that focues on one of the many common heros who gave up everything to fight for justice. Lets just hope I can get all this done by April 4, which is the day I am presenting.
I must say whole process is super interesting! I have been interested in film production for a really long time and even tried to make a film with my students once. I won this grant that gave our school this amazing computer that was never utilized to its full capicity. Lets just say makinga film is WAY more difficult that I ever thought it was. I mean picking up a video camera and filming something is really easy! But making sure the audio is loud enough, the lighting is not too dark and then actally editing the work takes a REALLY long time. I must say editing is a really difficult and tedious process. I don't know how people do it for a living but they take a TON of footage and create a half hour or an hour show out of it, sometimes very quickly. I am going to be making a lot of the editing decisions for this video so its definetly a learning process. I guess I have to watch the video and think about what needs to be kept so the participants will really tell their story but it won't be too long for kids. Thank God the professionals will actually edit the tape. I put in a application to go and learn how to produce digital historical biographies in New York City this summer. Every aspect of the program is learning a lot of the stuff I am talking about. I really must be a glutton for punishment!
Gotta Run, its coffee time.
Peace,
Diva
Thursday, January 31, 2008
This is How I Feel Today....
Too Much Work... Not Enough Time!
Definetly Not Enough Appreciation!
Show me the Love!
Today I feel like this poor Pug must feel when thier owner dresses it up in funny clothing and puts it on parade for all to view at the doggie park! ANNOYED! Lets just say I cannot WAIT to get a new job! I am about to start the process and lots of things in my life changed since I quit smoking. I realized that not only could I help myself and improve my health by quitting smoking but I realized that I can really do anything I set my mind to! Lets just say that I can have better working conditons and a lot more respect elsewhere and instead of complaining about it, its time to move on! I do not have to stay in bad relationships with cigarettes, a bad employer, spouse or anyone or anything else for that matter! All I have to say for now is its amazing what happens when you quit one bad habits! Chantix started me on the path to quitting smoking and now I am making the decision to quit other things that are not working for me. Life is about choices and I do not choose to stay in a no win situation any longer than I have to. I am off to my Stop Smoking Support Group. Hope all is well with everyone out there in Chantix Blog Land.
Peace,
Diva
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Hi all Fellow Quitters! I Have Been to Busy to Blog!! Still Taking Chantix and Staying Smoke Free!
Hi everyone...
I miss you guys! I have been super busy with projects and such that I have not had time to blog! I do always manage to find time to log on and read some of the ones left by the people I read most frequently. Its always good to remember where I came from. I still need that extra push of motivation that reading about someones success gives me. I think I am go going to take a quick nap and then work on some grades. The end of the semester is always crazy for me. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to CHILL and do something nice for myself. Lets see, its my birthday February 20th which is right near Dead Presidents Day. Maybe I should schedule something fun for that weekend. I will have to think about it when I go lay down. I am at the point in my life that if I don't schedule something, it never happens. I have been spending way too much time doing work and finishing projects to have fun! That needs to stop for sure. Hope all of the people who begain Chantix before me and all those just beginning are doing well in the quest for a smoke free life. I am still glad I did it!
Peace,
Diva
I miss you guys! I have been super busy with projects and such that I have not had time to blog! I do always manage to find time to log on and read some of the ones left by the people I read most frequently. Its always good to remember where I came from. I still need that extra push of motivation that reading about someones success gives me. I think I am go going to take a quick nap and then work on some grades. The end of the semester is always crazy for me. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to CHILL and do something nice for myself. Lets see, its my birthday February 20th which is right near Dead Presidents Day. Maybe I should schedule something fun for that weekend. I will have to think about it when I go lay down. I am at the point in my life that if I don't schedule something, it never happens. I have been spending way too much time doing work and finishing projects to have fun! That needs to stop for sure. Hope all of the people who begain Chantix before me and all those just beginning are doing well in the quest for a smoke free life. I am still glad I did it!
Peace,
Diva
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Still Quit....89 Days on Chantix!
I am still quit and cannot believe it has been so many days since I posted. I am at a workshop deciding what aspect of the lesson I developed about the Civil Rights Movement I am going to present. Most of the people (including myself) are not done with our lessons. Lets just say we were all kind of in trouble! I am almost done thank God! I will be up most of the night finishing. Just wanted to say hi and wish everyone a smoke free weekend.
Peace,
Diva
Peace,
Diva
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Got Past the Hardcore Cravings Last Night...81 days on Chantix, 71 days off Cigarettes!
Fellow quitters....
You guys are the best and so supportive! I must say the quitting is still one of the hardest things I have ever done. I got the e-mail from Chantix congratulating me on my accomplishment and that I would be receiving e-mails only twice a week now on. I cannot believe it has been over the 12 week mark for me! What a gift! Even with the stress and cravings and tuggings, this is something I still want! I know if you really want something, you have to work for it and it does not always come easy.
I went to my cousin's "Happy F*CK%I#G! 48th birthday celebration last night. It was a huge turn-out. People that she has known since like the 7th grade were there. I was so glad to see her have so many people that she loves and love her show up to celebrate. Unfortunately, many of these people smoke! You guys knew how bad I was craving before I left. Its weird because when I started smelling the smoke when I went out so see various groups of people, it smelled good for a few seconds and then started to just gross me out! I am still really amazed and blown away at this phenomena. I am glad that I asked my doctor and he agreed to extend my use of the drug for a bit longer. Again, I am much grateful for all the support and even get to give it back sometimes.
Peace,
Diva
You guys are the best and so supportive! I must say the quitting is still one of the hardest things I have ever done. I got the e-mail from Chantix congratulating me on my accomplishment and that I would be receiving e-mails only twice a week now on. I cannot believe it has been over the 12 week mark for me! What a gift! Even with the stress and cravings and tuggings, this is something I still want! I know if you really want something, you have to work for it and it does not always come easy.
I went to my cousin's "Happy F*CK%I#G! 48th birthday celebration last night. It was a huge turn-out. People that she has known since like the 7th grade were there. I was so glad to see her have so many people that she loves and love her show up to celebrate. Unfortunately, many of these people smoke! You guys knew how bad I was craving before I left. Its weird because when I started smelling the smoke when I went out so see various groups of people, it smelled good for a few seconds and then started to just gross me out! I am still really amazed and blown away at this phenomena. I am glad that I asked my doctor and he agreed to extend my use of the drug for a bit longer. Again, I am much grateful for all the support and even get to give it back sometimes.
Peace,
Diva
Saturday, January 19, 2008
STRESS SUCKS! CRAVING BIG TIME!!!
Hey all....
I am under tremendous stress...illness, identy theft, work stuff, living with a smoker, looking for a place to live, conference call backs, scheduling the videotaping of oral histories for a historical conference...need I say more? I think I am just overwhelmed! I do not mean to be negative, but my cravings have kicked into FULL gear! My roomate told me she was going to a hooka lounge tonite and my brain really went there. My brain kept telling me stuff like, "smoking flavored tobacco in hooka isn't really smoking, its not a cigarette, etc. I am using all of the techniques to not light up and have not! I am still taking the Chantix as prescribed. I am going to my cousins house and she is a non-smoker! I think I need a massage or something! Anyway, just thought I would post quickly. I am praying for the cravings to leave me! If you all have any suggests, give a holler!
Peace,
Diva
I am under tremendous stress...illness, identy theft, work stuff, living with a smoker, looking for a place to live, conference call backs, scheduling the videotaping of oral histories for a historical conference...need I say more? I think I am just overwhelmed! I do not mean to be negative, but my cravings have kicked into FULL gear! My roomate told me she was going to a hooka lounge tonite and my brain really went there. My brain kept telling me stuff like, "smoking flavored tobacco in hooka isn't really smoking, its not a cigarette, etc. I am using all of the techniques to not light up and have not! I am still taking the Chantix as prescribed. I am going to my cousins house and she is a non-smoker! I think I need a massage or something! Anyway, just thought I would post quickly. I am praying for the cravings to leave me! If you all have any suggests, give a holler!
Peace,
Diva
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