Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Rational, or rationalization?

Spouse isn't ready to quit smoking. I know, he's told me so. I wouldn't hinge my quitting on his quitting if it were clement outside, but as it stands, there's no way I'll be able to force him to smoke outside until spring. Oh, I could try, but we've traveled that pot-hole riddled road before. That's how you break a marital axle. And I know that I am not THAT strong to live inside a smoky house without succumbing. So then I'm thinking, okay, I'll quit in May.(At any rate, we will stop smoking in the house then.) But wait, the most fabulous vacation of life has been planned for that month. Wouldn't want to spoil that suffering from withdrawals. So that puts it up to the end of June. Now I've got to circle a date.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

The company where I used to work had a quit smoking campaign. Some were not ready to quit. They then had them to figure up how much a carton costs then how much money they spend a month and a year. When the practical people saw how much they spend on smoking they decided to quit. Serge seems like that type of person. Have him figure out just how much he spends on smoking each year and think of what he could use the money saved by not smoking for. Good luck, Ed

Anonymous said...

I quite completely almost 10 years ago. The hardest and best thing I ever did. Get a prescription for Zyban. It helped. A lot.

bardelf said...

My partner has smoked for 40 years and smokes a lot. He tries to be conscientous of my dislike of it, but I would not make this a deal-breaker when we got together...I love him too much. So it's a real challenge for us to find common ground.

Here in NC, cigarettes do not cost very much, but I know in Canada they are very expensive. That in itself would be reason to at least cut way back. Good luck.

CoffeeDog said...

I stopped smoking in my house almost 8 years ago. I stopped smoking all together about 4 years ago. I've has lapses, but I never returned to smoking in the house.

dpaste said...

Sorry sweetheart: rationalization.

My adventures said...

check out quitnet.com... it gives you stats on when you quit, how much time you've added to your life and how much money you're saving... very effective... i've got over 3 years now and i've saved over 10K... i love the little monthly reminders they send...

Adam said...

When I smoked in college I smoked in my apartment. Eventually I quit by taking a tip from my mom. I kept a glass (It's important that it's transparent) jar of water in the house as my ash tray. Eventually all the butts and ash would accumulate into a kind of swamp. The odor and the sight of it helped prevent me from continuing to smoke.

Islagringo said...

We both smoke and have just given up on trying to quit. Nasty addiction. But we started when smoking was actually good for you, soothed your nerves, all that stuff. People (like Lucille Ball among others) used to smoke on TV. But we all know better now but it is too late. I don't understand the upswing in young people smoking. They know the danger but do it anyway. I agree with Zyban. It made me quit for 10 months once. No nasty withdrawal. You just don't want to smoke. Spouse did not quit and I finally started up again. Sigh.

Rox said...

I'll tell you something, if you really wanted to quit, you just would. You're making some pretty convenient excuses for yourself there! There is never "the perfect" time to quit, except right now.

Get Zyban, get the patch and get real. You can do it! You just have to put your mind to it.

I just watched my MIL die from smoking related lung failure. Can you tell I want the world to quit and I'm tired of pussyfooting?

(Incidentally, if anyone calls me out for being an insensitive douchebag, I smoked for 18 years and have quit for almost 10. It can be done.)

Laverne said...

"When the practical people saw how much they spend on smoking they decided to quit. Serge seems like that type of person. "

Can't...stop...laughing...

Torn, you are the frugal one.

You are making excuses for yourself. You can at least try.

I just keep thinking to that Vegas trip with you when you didn't smoke. Boy, if you could keep from smoking there, you can do it anywhere! Besides, smoking inside really makes the place reek.

Just my opinion, of course.

Brice said...

I'd never have been able to stop smoking if I lived with another smoker. It's too strong an addiction.
As for June, you know something else will come up by then. It always does...
But good luck, I'm on month 8 without a cigarette (but now have the occasional cigar)...

Anonymous said...

My psychiatrist has forbidden me to quit smoking.

I don't smoke much, and only cigars, but those do very much stink up the house in the winter. But you're not going to stand outside in the cold for an hour to smoke a nice Cuban.
I probably should install a exhaust fan in the smoking room, right now when I open the window and let the cold air come in, it pressurizes the room and the smoke smell leaks out under the doors despite the rubber seals.

The Persian said...

Maybe if you quit mid april you would be over the major withdrawals by the time your May vacation arrived!

You can do it!

:)

TJ said...

Good luck when you finally decide on a date and remember that you need to stick to your guns when the date is set. Also remember your only going to be able to quit if you truly are ready and want to quit. I know how hard it was for me as it is for many. All the best

Anonymous said...

I smoke and I hate it and I love it.

I'm a confused old broad.

Uncle Zoloft said...

We're smokers too. Both of our doctors have all said not to try and quit right now esp. on Chantex (sp?) that shit will make you psychotic.

I try to keep them in another room from me. Oh, and deciding to have a glass of water instead of a butt seems to help me cut back. Otherwise I would be "smoking like I was at the Last Supper."

Anonymous said...

In fact, trying to quit when you are in vacation could be a good idea. You are in a different environment and you don't have all the usual cues associated with tobacco use.

dantallion said...

It's rational. You not only have to WANT it, you also have to set everything up in your favour so that you'll succeed.

Jen said...

You sound like Leah and I trying to figure out when the best time to have a baby is... There's always a reason that now isn't it even though you REALLY want it... At least you are thinking about change and making a plan.

mainja said...

John and I smoke outside, or if it's REALLY cold out (or if we're having a party) we smoke in the kitchen with the patio door open and the entrance to the kitchen closed off with a curtain.

My question is, what happens next winter, why will Serge smoke outside then but not this winter?

David said...

Oh my.

Seems rather split here, but I agree that there is no "best time" to give up the cancer sticks. As human beings, we can rational anything. Serge is doing, and so are you.

Both of you, in my opinion, don't really want to quit. Same as I don't really want to find a better paying job than Borders Books.

Hell, I've already added the recession we're in as a further excuse not to look harder.

So, yeah, it's winter, it's an up coming vaction, it's 2008 and the damn leap year make it impossible to quit until 2009.

*sigh*

Lacey said...

I started smoking in seventh grade (1961) and finally quit four years ago. Thing is, I didn't really want to quit...I love smoking. But I got scared. Strange noises coming from my chest and throat. Fear is a great motivator. I still have the desire to smoke, but I won't. I don't know how I know. I just do. I guess what others have been saying is true. When you really need to quit, you'll quit. I also agree that there's no time like the present.

Anonymous said...

Definitely the latter. But that makes you guys all the more charming.

Anonymous said...

The older you get, the more you are going to wish you had done it sooner. Save yourself and some trouble by doing it now.