That's my most recent quit date. Since the last entry, I was on the quit and off of it for nearly four years. I don't remember how long I made it in that last quit described here, and I don't know how many quit attempts there were between then and 9/15/04. On that date, I was busted by spouse, who smelled it on me. I don't know why I stunk so much on that day-- I had taken all the usual precautions. Maybe a better question is why she didn't bust me years earlier. I promised to quit, and immediately. Went to the drug store, and bought some patches.
I had never given the patch a serious effort before, having expected it to do the work for me, and allowing myself to fail when it became clear that it wasn't going to make me quit all by itself. But this time, the patch was extremely useful for giving my quit the activation energy it needed. And once I was started, it was very easy. I think I had finally reached the proper mind set. I stayed on the patch for only three weeks, and when I discovered that I was forgetting to put it on in the morning, and not suffering very much as a result, I decided to go without it. I have had a remarkably easy time of it since, and I'm now approaching 1000 days.
The difference this time? I was not obsessing about it. I spent very little time at Quitnet. And when I did, I didn't post. I'd been through that part of it, and didn't have much to gain from it. The smoking was just over. The Wizard was right: apparently all you have to do is find the right frame of mind.
May 6, 2008
Update: still quit. Still not having any problems. The occasional thoughts are further and further apart, and not at all enticing. This quit thing must be as close to done as it's ever going to be. Don't expect an update any time soon.
November 20, 2008
Update: Still going strong. Survived a most unpleasant and scary dog incident with spouse. Long story-- we took over her late uncle's dog, a wheaten terrier, and this dog became aggressive toward our older dog (Springer spaniel) and us. He attacked all three of us one day. Had to call police, ambulance showed up-- the works. Needless to say, he's history. Scuppers is ok. Spouse is still healing, almost two months later, with a really deep gash on her ankle.
December 8, 2008
Update: Spouse is doing much better, and it looks like she won’t need a skin graft. Quit is still alive and well.
