Tamssmat

Yep, that’s right.  GONE.  As of around noon today, I have been smoke free.  Adrienne and I both signed contracts with one Mr. Greg Gragg to quit the “cancer sticks”.  This should be interresting and I’ll try to keep you all updated with my personal highs and lows of this little journey. 

My arrangement with Greg is that I will quit smoking and after 6 months, he’ll pay me $750 cash.  If I cheat or fail within that first 6 months, I have to pay him $250 cash, immediately.  I don’t know about you all but I don’t tend to have $250 on hand on just any given day so that is reason enough not to cheat or fail.  After the first 6 months, and after the payout, I have to stay “clean” for the next 6 months.  If in this second portion of the year I fail or cheat, I do not have to pay him $250 of my own cash moneys BUT I do have to reimburse him for the $750 he gave me.

One whole year.  I’m intimidated by the people that I’ve talked to that have told me that the urge to smoke never really goes away.  I went to lunch today with a gentleman that told me about his dad and how he was a smoker for many years.  His dad quit smoking and 3 years later (3 YEARS) he was sitting as his desk working on something and reached for his cigarettes and even got so far as to ask his coworkers if any of them had borrowed them when he finally realized, “oh yeah, I don’t smoke anymore”.  Of course, I don’t know this fellow so it could well be that he’s just plain senile but still, THAT COULD BE ME!! 

Instead of dwelling on this however, I think I shall start planning what I’m going to spend my cash flow on.  6 months can fly by don’t you know.  Let’s list out 10 things that I’d like to have…

1.  A new couch

2. Repaint the interior of my house

3. Repaint the exterior of my house

4. A fence for the dog (soon to be plural as I’ve just learned this evening that James is coming to live with us)

5. Books!!

6. A new truck (or shall I say, a couple of new truck payments)

7. A day at the spa x2

8. Fix and populate the coy pond/fountain in my front yard

9. Pay someone to mow my yard for me

10. Shopping spree

I’ve devised a plan to go for a walk each time I get a craving.  Granted, I am using the patch but there are still issues to be overcome so the walking will help not only that, but the fat issue as well.  I absolutely refuse to eat more like most quitters do.  No sense in trading one unhealthy addiction for another yo.  I’ll walk thank you very much and I might take some of you with me.  Who wouldn’t love a few minutes away from their desk to take a stroll around the building??  You can thank me with flowers.

So I guess what I’m saying is that at the end of day 1, I’m hopeful.  I’m positive.  I’m already coughing.