Huge Slacker!

I've been slacking over here lately, I know. I'll just blame the holiday and the kids having the week off from school and not bore everyone with the details.

My first thought of the day, as I feel guilty about leaving my blog all alone in the great wide internet for so many days, is this: I haven't felt like I need to log in and de-stress lately. Guess I forgot, cause it does feel nice to be back in the saddle, if you know what I mean.

Really though, I find myself thinking about why I started this blog in the first place. It's done its job, and I'm proud of it. Good blog.

So, what's up with me? I'll tell ya. First, a couple of things about smoking (always a good idea to throw in a little something that's actually on topic, huh?), and the quitting thereof as it relates to my life. Now that I've been quit for long enough for it to be clear that it's not just a phase or a failed attempt, people have been taking notice.

I have had a couple phone calls whose primary purpose was to congratulate me on quitting, a couple people say that they're proud of me, a person or two asking me how difficult it is and for advice, and a number of quitters who are thrilled that I have joined their numbers. Our numbers, that is to say.

I've worked my way to indifference regarding coffee as well. Some of you may recall that I thought I was going to give up coffee along with cigarettes for a while there. It really was tasting unappealing to me for a week or so. I still ended up having a cup every other day or so, and I guess I've reacclimated to some extent. While I'm not expecting myself to be sucking down pot after pot like I used to, one or two cups a day seems to be what I've been doing. So I am liking the coffee again, but not liking liking it like a grade school girlfriend (wow, haven't had one of those in a while) anymore.

Hm, what else? Well, the whole exercising thing has gone right out the crapper, so I'm currently five pounds up from where I started. I have no excuse. I mean, I could think of a million, but am wise enough not to. Just haven't been exercising like I wanted to is all.

And scarfing down on Easter candy, Snickers and Skittles in particular. Some days, I wish the human body could be sustained on Skittles alone, they really are so good. And sweet tarts, but those usually don't show their face until around Halloween. Skittles it is then. I really can't wait till they're gone, because I will not stop eating them so long as they are here.

I'm promising myself, you guys be my witnesses on this, that I am going to clear out that damned punching bag next week. Again, no excuses. Punching bag or bust! And also to get back into some semblance of a decent eating routine. Yeah, I kind of caved and had Burger King, Domino's and chili dogs from the grill in town, all in the last four days. Definite fattie behavior. I don't even remember what I had the other day, but likely it was such crap that I've blocked it out like a bad childhood experience.

I think that's all I have in me for right now.

The Benefits Of Quitting Smoking That You Don't Hear About As Often

Discussions about the short and long term effects of smoking cigarettes on the human body and of what changes to expect upon quitting smoking seem to naturally go hand in hand. So sure, after thirty days of quitting I've noticed that I have more energy and more endurance. I know that my blood circulation is getting better, because I don't wake up with numbness in my extremities anymore when I sleep in some strange position.

I expected these things, and am glad to experience them. It's really so much more than all that, though. I'm discovering that, for me, the things that make this quit worth fighting for aren't turning out to be the things the doctors and people in lab coats have been telling us about.

Since I quit smoking, I have more time in the morning. You know, that rush around time where breakfasts and lunches need to be made, and outfits need to get picked out. It sure helps not to be trying to squeeze those things in between cigarette breaks. I actually find that it usually isn't even rushing around anymore, now that I have an extra half hour every morning.

Also since I quit smoking, my time with the kids is no longer interrupted every twenty minutes. We can get into a long match of video games, play a board game or just hang around and talk about whatever and I never have to stop. We can do it all day if we're so inclined, and I never have to break up the party in favor of a cigarette. Party... favor... nevermind. I clearly didn't bring my A-game today.

We were outside much of the day on Saturday, I was planning on doing some yard work. I ended up adjusting the kids' bikes instead (wow, they got bigger over the winter-- again!), and mister eight year old finally started practicing without the training wheels. After everybody was tired of pedaling, we kicked the soccer ball around for awhile (they're both signed up to play this season) and just kind of hung around outside, enjoying the nice weather that's finally starting to grace us with its presence.

So what are the benefits of quitting smoking? There's all the medical and health stuff, yes, but the best benefit is time. Not necessarily the time added onto my lifespan, I don't know if dragging this out for 120 years is really all it's cracked up to be, but the now. Now is what it's really all about, and the only guarantee. Might as well make it count.