Update: The Great Quit Smoking Attempt of 2006

One of the purported fabulous perks of quitting smoking is that your sense of smell and taste return.

Well, I've smelled the world and it stinks!

Of course, I realize that smoking stinks. It's nasty smelling and makes your mouth taste like an ashtray. Gross, I know. Unfortunately, I'm really not convinced that cigarette smoke is the worst thing one can smell.

After lunch today, I thought it would be wonderful to take a nice walk outdoors: Breathe the fresh autumn air deeply into my healing lungs and smile because the world is beautiful.

I didn't count on the gardeners completely covering the entire city block with fresh manure!

Gah. So, now I am in a deep funk AND nauseous. Nicotine withdrawals put me in a funky mood. I get sleepy, kind of weepy, and overall just plain unmotivated. I feel like sleeping until the withdrawals have passed. But since I keep backsliding, I am just prolonging the inevitable.

Since I am on Zyban (or the generic equivalent) I am not having cravings at all. But I still have the ritual of it and other habits to break. Like when I am hungry or bored. I always smoke at those times but it turns out that I am far too lazy to fix something to eat or find something to do. It's way too easy to light up a cigarette.

But I am vain, and I want to quit so I don't wind up looking like an old ugly hag. Also it is practically illegal to smoke in California. And a few other good reasons.

I will probably continue to bore you to tears chronicle this attempt at quitting until I've got it down. I hope that my pain and suffering is at least entertaining or helpful to you. Feel free to send gifts and money leave encouraging comments for me! They really help.