Here's to you, Joe L(?)

In 2005, I tried to quit smoking for the very first time. Vanessa and I lived together on Adams Street, and I was constantly broke and out of smokes. We talked about strategies, Googled quit information, and never really came up with anything real except for 2 things: choose a date, and cold turkey works best. So I chose a date (it was probably a Monday, as I've already reviewed) and stopped. No smoking in the morning. No smoking through the rest of the work day, which was tough, because I was a mail carrier at that time, so my routine was really to power through a bunch of mail and take a smoke break every 45 minutes or so, plus, I could smoke while I was sorting through mail in my truck. So I got home early, probably around 5, and was really antsy. I needed to smoke. We had this awesome neighbor (and still friend), Joe, who was a really heavy smoker. I loved Joe. I explained the quitting situation, and he comforted me and I begged for a cigarette. Any old cigarette. He had Camel Wides, my favorite from high school. We smoked and smoked and it was wonderful. We talked about quitting strategies, and how you just have to "be ready to quit" and that cold turkey was the best way to do it. He had quit before for substantial periods of time, and told me one thing that always stuck with me:

DAY 8 SUCKS. 

Today was day 8. It was actually pretty good. Day 6 and day 7 really sucked. I had a lot of cravings and just had to refocus myself. Oh, and on day 6, JD and I took a cab to a party and it stunk of cheap cologne and Camel Lights, so that kind of curbed the cravings for that day.

Day 7 was only rough because I went to my usual Monday night karaoke at Gym Bar, where Michael and I usually stand outside smoking and drinking while we catch up on each others' weekends. 

But no, day 8 was a day like any other. I've noticed I've been having fewer cravings. I've also been coughing up more shit (weird that people ask me what color it is... I always respond with "navy blue.") I haven't been sleeping as much, about 5-6 hours a night... but I've felt more rested when I get up. It's a nice trade off. Soon enough, I'll be able to join a gym and not collapse after 10 minutes of spin class! Then I'll be POPULAR!

OK number time (it's like Sandra Lee cocktail time, but without the implied sorrow)

Your heart rate and blood pressure have dropped: 100%

The CO level in your blood has dropped to normal: 100%

Your sense of taste and smell have improved: 100%

Nicotine has been removed from your body: 100%

Your dependence on nicotine has been eliminated: 57% **ALMOST THERE!**

Withdrawal symptoms have subsided: 28% COME ON, DAMMIT!!

Your circulation has substantially improved: 8%

Smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue, or shortness of breath have decreased: 2%

Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke has dropped to less than half that of a smoker: 2%

Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker: 0%

Risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half: 0%

Your risk of smoking-induced tooth loss has declined to that of a non-smoker: 0%

Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked: 0%