Wild Ride...

It's been a while since I posted. It's just so hectic and distracting to observe the markets wrench and whither under current conditions. Still, I think Dr. Bernanke and Mr. Paulson have reacted with the necessary force and rapidity to circumvent a meltdown of historic proportions. (Recrimination and criminal prosecution can wait.)

Through it all I remain completely smoke free. Today marks 411 days liberated and $3,082.50 saved.

Random Post

After two weeks traveling for both business and personal reasons I am finishing a full week back in the office. Business took me to Las Vegas where I attended our annual User Conference. The smoky casinos did not lure me and in fact I thought little about smoking other than how faintly bad my suits smelled after an evening in the them. My near annual excursion to my birth-home of Indiana was wonderful and it was so very nice to endure long flights and layovers without the burden of a nicotine habit. ( Could barely survive such long delays only a little over a year ago.)

Thanks to Chantix, GetQuit, a bunch of fellow bloggers (thanks Maggie!) and a lot of old fashioned stubbornness I am now blissfully smoke free for 392 days and saved an estimated $2,940.00 though probably a lot more.

Post Anniversary Update

Today is smoke free day 371. A ex-smoker-work-friend finally returned from Burning Man today. He had suggested he might smoke while on the playa and I warned him of the risk. He did not and is still free.

Finishing up a hectic Friday before heading off for a work conference then a vacation Back Home Again in Indiana.

T-Minus 3 and counting...

September 1 marks my anniversary of being smoke free as I quit on August 31 2007. (Damn leap year.) With a little help (Chantix and fellow bloggers) and a lot of stubbornness I've made it this far and don't intend to, er, quit. Despite challenges like stress (big trigger) and smoky bars and casinos I haven't budged. It really has become easier. Plus I have saved an estimated $2,730.00 - how about that?

A Small Milestone

"Get Quit" reminded me that one year ago today I started my Chantix journey. And what a ride it was, too. (I advise caution mixing Chantix, anti-depressants, and alcohol. Whew!) Anyway, a year later I am Chantix, anti-depressant AND smoke free. How's that for a success story?

Oh, and I've saved a whopping $2,670.00!

One Month and Counting...

Today marks 335 days smoke free. I've managed to pick up a nasty bug and feel just awful. A year ago I would continue puffing (and wheezing) away. Lord what we used to do to ourselves!

Where does the time go?

According to my calculation I have been smoke free for 304 days. The conservative savings estimate is $2,280.00. Not bad during these uncertain times.

Despite approaching the one year mark it is still not as easy as I imagined. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't at least think about smoking if not actually yearn for it. Of course I still hang out with filthy, disgusting smokers so that doesn't help.

It's a shame Chantix is getting such bad press lately 'cause it worked for me and so many others. Congrats to us all!