Hello from Florida!!!
Hey, everyone. So, I’m gone just a few days already, and I come out
to the website (borrowing my brother’s computer) and what happens
when I’m gone? Y’all are having a party without me!! Look at those
posts - they’re great!!! I’m so proud of how everyone is doing, and
welcome to the newcomers to this site, I hope that you will learn
about and how to apply cogquit. It takes a while for some (like me)
but definitely worth the time and effort.
A quick update on the family holiday. So far, so good. It’s been a
little rough since both my brother and sister are smokers and they’re
the ones I’m mainly hanging with so far. We took Grandma on the
casino ship today (decided to do the day trip rather than night).
Smoking is allowed ALL through the ship, no non-smoking areas at
all! But I was prepared, I went through my mental checklist from
Saturday for the Thanksgiving Prep and it worked!! Now, to get
through Thanksgiving Day and I’ll be on the home stretch. I’ll have
my daughters (my cheerleaders) around that day so that will help in
moments of weakness, if I even have any 
I need to get off. I wish I could catch one of your chat times, Pam,
probably won’t be back on in the next few days. Just in case,
though, post a day/time and I’ll try to get on. Can’t seem to get my
AOL IM account to work from here for some reason so haven’t been able
to get on there. Maybe I should download ICQ? Brother is going to
have a fit.
Later Gators,
Cat
March 26th, 2003 at 8:04 pm
Hey Cat
I’m sooooo envious thinking of you in Florida - all that sunshine when all we
are having here is rain, rain and more rain.
Glad to hear you are keeping your quit, and dealing with any urges or
possible urges with your abc’s - you are doing really well girlfriend - so
keep it up and see you when you get back.
((((((((((((((((((Cat)))))))))))))))))))))
Indi
March 27th, 2003 at 4:43 pm
Hi Cat - hello from wet and windy and cold Preston !!!
), and I caught a glimpse through the window of the
Glad you’re having a great time there and that your ABC’s are working
for you - as I knew they would. Your Thanksgiving prep post was sooo
good. Avoiding smokers and smoking situations isn’t any use and is
plain pointless - it’s about learning how to deal with them by using
the techniques you’re really getting a grip on now.
Work was fun today - really! It was lashing with rain and the wind
was howling (now don’t you feel bad about being in sunny
Florida
smokers huddled under an umbrella trying to keep their cigs alight.
I just thought again how wonderful this freedom of being an ex-smoker
really is. (Actually it reminded me of that ‘two old ladies’ joke I
sent you, Indi and Steve).
Missing you all already - have a great Thanksgiving, all my friends
across the big pond, and talk to you soon.
take care
Pam
March 28th, 2003 at 8:18 am
In a message dated 22/11/01 00:09:25 GMT Standard Time, ukpam2000@…
writes:
I thought about the old lady joke too Pam as soon as I read this - hope you
are ok and am sorry I didn’t post some times for spinchat yesterday.
I meant to do it at end of reading my messages and then the old alzheimers
set it.
Any time between midday & 4 pm Sat/Sun is good for me or Saturday 9pm - that
is all GMT.
So lets hope we can meet up and have that party.
love
Indi
March 29th, 2003 at 7:28 pm
Saturday afternoon would be good for me over at Spinchat - say 2pm?
That’s 9am EST if anyone on the other side of the pond is up at that
time. Hope a few can make it then, and hope you’re all having a
wonderful Thanksgiving celebration and enjoying being with families
at this time.
April 2nd, 2003 at 12:46 am
I know you’re absolutely right on this one, Pam. And I agree 100%
Guilty? Me?
but, for me, it’s going to take a little bit of time to get there as
you can see from my previous post. I figured I’d done very well all
week, and especially Thanksgiving Day (yesterday) was rough, so by
the end of the day, when I was a bit tired, I needed to just give
myself a pat on the back for doing well so far, and run!
- Cat
April 2nd, 2003 at 10:26 am
Hi Cat - sounds to me like you assessed the situation at the party
and used the strategy that would work for you - and it did, so it was
the right one. Good job.
It took me quite some time to get there too, Cat. Sorry, what I
meant to say and didn’t really explain very well, was the long term
picture - that a life avoiding the smoking situations wouldn’t be
practical or enjoyable. In the shorter term, do what you need to do.
I think it was at least a couple of months before I felt comfortable
taking the ‘bar exam’. I’m 9 months quit and at this point the only
thing that bothers me in a smoking situation is the stink. It was
very different at 5/6 weeks quit indeed. You are doing well, and
deserve pats on the back.
Have got a pretty stressful weekend ahead, so I’ll still try for
Spinchat but am not sure I can be online much this next few days, but
I’ll try my best.
take care everyone
Pam