Kev, Loved your news. Yeah, No Man's Land is a strange area to be in. It is much better when you reach the promised land (that's the non-smoking bit, not the smoking bit!) and you don't really notice anymore. As you get older, you will probably find more people quitting with you. I'm in my mid-40s, but practically no-one I know smokes anymore....and especially not at work (I work in IT too). I think you will be setting the trend and leading the way ahead for your friends. Don't be surprised if you soon become a guru! Lizzie :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/23/2003 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1626 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 24,390 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �6,097.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 162 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

Hi guys, as promised ... 'Leaving do #3 (the long version)' ------------------------------ Well as you may have guessed. I got a tad nervous beforehand as can be seen in my threads below. It is very strange to feel trepidation and fear of a place I would normally feel joy at going to. I got there at 7:30pm on the dot and suprise suprise, nobody was there. So I ordered my drink and sat at the table and thought, something is missing. At this point I would normally be nervously smoking as many cigs as possible trying not to look like a lemon. Junkie thinking for 'Ah he's not a lemon, he's just an addict'. Anyway, after a while I got moved on because someone had ordered food at the table I was on. So where next? Ahhh, the pub loners friend. The fruit machine. And then I got a tap on the shoulder. Yippee! I am not alone any more. I got ushered outside to the smoking table where I sat watching my friend smoke and drink whilst I stood sipping my drink with lots of ice in it. Then he says, 'Can you look after my laptop and cigarettes while I pop to the toilet?'. Obviously he trusts me a lot more than I trust myself. Luckily blokes aren't notorious for spending long times in toilets and he was out in a very short time. Eventually, the rest of the people arrive in dribs and drabs and we're all out at the smoking table. At this point I notice an ingenious thing. The outside heaters that are keeping everybody warm, go off every 15 mins! This is a good idea as it saves on electricity when nobody is out there. Now, we have a whole bunch of smokers who don't know each other who have a rota of whose turn it is to get up and hit the button to turn the heaters back on! As the evening drew on, everyone started having a great time. Lots of great stories were shared and I learnt something new. I now know why the word colposcomy does not fill ladies with delight. I wish they explained these things at school. Smoking was discussed of course. How did I feel? What am I doing with all that extra money and the extra time? Mainly from lifetime non smokers who have been encouraging me. I got to explain about junkie thinking and the 'NO MANS LAND' phase where I currently envy smokers and quitters at the same time. They thought it a little weird but it was quickly established that it must be kev logic and therefore entirely normal for me. :) By the end of the night, most of the crew were sozzled and ended up discussing toilet paper verses baby wipes. :) I stayed very sober and in turn stayed smokefree too. The junkie in me may have been out to play all night but it went home disappointed as I did not crumble to the temptations. It also may have helped me loads that I was going through songs in my head for a Kelly playlist and that was a great distraction for someone like me. When I got home I was told 'I am proud of you for staying smokefree. Remember if you smoke again you will not get our support'. Only my mum could turn a positive statement into a warning too! So today, I can proudly say: I promise that I WILL NOT SMOKE TODAY. Thanks to all who have been believing in me and sending positive vibes my way when I thought I could not do it. I can say it is back to the ultimate 'Am I a non smoker like people say I am or am I a smoker on a break from smoking' and of course the old chestnut 'I so want to smoke but somehow I haven't today'. aka back to normal then :) I am only 1.5 days away from those music vouchers..Yippee! Conclusions and Lessons Learnt : 1) Get to parties about 2 hours late. Never arrive on time. 2) The grass seems always greener on the other side. Whether a smoker to a non smoker or visa versa. 3) Be scared of people with spatulas! :) 4) Samosas don't all come as the vegetable kind. 5) The more drunk people get, the more they understand kev logic! I am very glad I got to write how great it has been to survive another day smokefree. It always seems to be a minor miracle to me as you know. Hence my new signature. So today is officially a 'YAY!' day. Happy Yay day everybody. Personal message time : Tresa, glad you like it. Hope to see you around here more often :) I am always impressed with the way people stay around and help others even though they are doing great themselves. I still consider myself a relative newbie with A LOT to learn. Any tips and tricks is cool. I notice you like headwear. The photo's are cool. I'd say professionally done! Aloha, You remember well! A large part of quitting has been about learning to deal with the wave of emotions that you have never experienced before. Such a massive power to face for someone who hides from emotions by smoking. You'll know that it was not only my quit that could have ended there and then but something else too. I am glad that you and others pushed some sense into my nicotine addled brain and gave me the strength to carry on. Because I can say today ...'Congratulations Aloha in advance for 200 days. You are a winner! and very special to me (hugs)' Sue, I don't know how but you always put the 'Maybe I really am a non smoker!' seed in my mind. You are lovely, and soo positive. I bet your cat is the only one in the block that goes 'I am proud to be a non smoking cat and that both my owners are non smoking too'. Anyway, it is a really good attitude to have. Unhooked, happy thanksgiving. Enjoy the turkey! (hugs) p.s. I am still attempting to read up on the NO MANS LAND phase. I could write on a daily basis of how I am struggling with it, but maybe the best thing to do is to properly come to terms with it. 'If I smoke I smoke and if i don't I don't. Don't dwell on it' kind of thinking. But it is likely I will spend way too much time analysing it as is my nature. Which means more thoughts on this particularly wonderful phase :) Anyway enough from me for now. If I don't write later I hope everyone has a great weekend. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/12/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,125 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �357.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27

thanks for explaining it to me I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!! you are doing well Tresa [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/8/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1883 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 37,660 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $6,590.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 265 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

How'd the leaving do go, Kev? What did u do instead of smoke? I laughed at your understatement, [quote] my quitting has been hard on my team as I went a little emotional [/quote] I have vivid memories of your first few weeks of shaking, hand-wringing, and being talked to, in fear of losing your job. I felt so concerned for you, but to borrow an old cig advert phrase, You've come a long way, baby! Now you are a shining example of no-smokingness. And I vote that you keep rewarding yourself with tunes -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 196 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,840 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,332.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 27 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14

You're going to be fine, Kev. You've already done this, you know you can do it again. And you will. Non-smokers don't smoke when someone moves on. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 144 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,880 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,584.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

Hi Tresa, Nice to see you. The JDK post/thread stuff is just me writing a journal of my quit. Its not a normal journal though. Sometimes there are themes and lots of random writings on my general thoughts on quitting (not just related to me). Plus a normal journal would have no outside input. This one does via everyone here, which makes it special to me. It is the reason why I am up to thread #18. I owe my quit to the people here whom I hold dearly in my heart. Absolutely no doubt about it. As of this morning I am the last quitter in my office to continue quitting (the last one caved this morning) so i expect I will be continuing to write loads and holding on here trying not to bore everyone with repeating stories :) For me there are only a couple of rules I impose on myself : 1) Every thursday, start a new thread. This stops lag between clicking on the link and getting the thread up (think of all those photo's it has to load) and also means I am able to sort my quit into little weekly packages. 2) I try not to upset anyone 3) I try some humour 4) I make a promise to my friends that I will not smoke for the day (and as yet I have not broken as single promise so to me it works) 5) Try to reply personally to everybody. It is important. I am always honoured when an oldie (in quitting terms) stops by. So hows life? That is sure one amazing quit you have there! Kelly, well you see I love the music. I am just waiting for some more vouchers to buy your playlist! Not only will be pride of place on my music player for my non smoking walks. It is my reward for not smoking that I give to myself on saturday, though i still get a lot of stick about how many songs I buy each week and have to explain to mum that it is that or buy 5 packs of smokes and after about half an hour she agrees (but then I feel guilty for the rest of the day). I always feel really happy bouncing along to new songs mind you. You see punky alternative is right up my street too so I am sure I might have some music that you would love but maybe never heard of. My last list was mainly mainstream rock I think. With a bit of metal thrown in to see if you'd like it :) Sue, you betcha. Mints, more mints and lots of cool ice drinks. I am mentally preparing as we speak and fully intend to write tomorrow how good it was without a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. All the positives. I'm likely to be thinking of spacey related songs for a playlist mostly. These things keep me occupied. Just thought of one...Babylon Zoo "Spaceman". :) I think you look after that cat well Sue. It sure looks relaxed! No animals in our house as my mum is alergic to animal hair. Apart from goldfish which really don't do that much. You never see goldfish smoke! Only haddock. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/12/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 84 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,100 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �352.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47

JDK, in short could you explain these JDK post to me, i see them but not really sure what they are about ?? Let me in Tresa :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/8/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1883 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 37,660 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $6,590.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 265 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

no worries Kev, you don't smoke any more, just remember that. Don't forget and plan for it. Bring mints, gum, etc....I bet you will smell lovely when you get home. Focus on the positive. I am not worried about you at all. :D Sue [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 154 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,540 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $269.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

(Shh... Don't tell anyone. I want to play this spacey card as long as I can.) Forgot to answer the other question. So spacey...when WILL this go away? ;p I am still only halfway through the list. I haven't had time to get any further this week but will have time this weekend. By Monday, I will have a full report for you. :) What did you think of the playlist I made for you? No thrash which seems to be your preference but hopefully some stuff you like. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 40 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $234.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

(Shh... Don't tell anyone. I want to play this spacey card as long as I can.) Forgot to answer the other question. So spacey...when WILL this go away? ;p I am still only halfway through the list. I haven't had time to get any further this week but will have time this weekend. By Monday, I will have a full report for you. :) What did you think of the playlist I made for you? No thrash which seems to be your preference but hopefully some stuff you like. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 40 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $234.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43