Mikie

"Old Fogey4"

Mikie's Ramble

You ever have that feeling, that you are as loose as a wet noodle? I feel that way right now. I feel so warm, tired, and serene. My face is hurting from smiling all night. It's a nice hurt. I got to share today with Georgia, and now a new newbie Chrissie will share this date. My little quit sister Vickie came by, love her lots, she is special. I heard from my momma, Sherry. When I lost my mom, I think she said something to me in a dream about sending Sherry over, to help me quit. Rita, was there with the special cake, top hat, and made me cry while I read her post, it was a nice cry. some old fogeys passed by Wayne, Jerry, Lisa, Charlene, Jonie, Tommyboy and new fogey Fran.

Heard from my big sister Joanne, and Molly, from the front porch. Mark, Sherry b, Maggie, Pat.. going to keep an eye out for that bunch!!

JoanneM, she's with me on the fitness board, with Tom, Kathy, Geo, and Vickie also.

Sometimes, it was really strange, because as I look back, it was very easy. I did Zyban for a month or so, posted reguarly, and drank lots of water. Besides a few times, never really got too bad. It actually scared me that it was going so good. I still went out to clubs, but kept a supply of dum-dums with me.

Maybe it was just the power of this place, and my final resolve to be around for the Grandkids.

Whatever, I love this place and everyone here so good night
and group hug ready
(((((((((((((((((((Blairsville)))))))))))))))

mikie
I have kept My Quit close to me for: 1Y 1D 3h 6m 21s. I have NOT smoked 10983, for a savings of $1,647.58. Life Saved: 1M 1W 3h 15m That I can spend with my Grandkids.

Hi Blairsville,
I'm an old resident (from 1999). Stayed close for a while,and moved to the weight board.

I still drop by on occasions. Advice, you get plenty here, and this is the place. All I can say, Blairsville made the difference in me, I'm still quit, and hope to stay that way for a long time. So I guess that's my advice. Just go day by day till you forget. I still have those smoking dreams, once in a while. And after I do, I go day by day , again. Good luck all you newbies and middlebees. It's great to be smokeless!!!

still keeping my quit

((((Hugs))
mikie (03/22/2002 @ 11:17pm)
I have kept My Quit close to me for:
2Y 8M 3W 4D 1h 20m 26s. I have NOT smoked
29,971, for a savings of $4,870.40. Life Saved:
3M 1W 5D 1h 35m That I can spend with my
Grandkids.

Reserved for Pattishine

Quit smoking 07/10/99

"Old Fogey4"

Donald

Quit Smoking 07/16/1999

"Old Fogey4"

Donald's Ramble

The privilege of posting a one year ramble is not one that I take lightly, for I, too, have struggled with this terrible addiction just as all of Blairsville has. My faith in a loving and forgiving higher power...my willingness for change...from the bad to the good...and the help of friends...is what has brought me to this point. There is a saying..."God cares for people...through people". That pretty much spells out what happens here. For all that we get from this wonderful place, we must all try to pass on the message of "There is life after smoking"...and believe it or not, that is just what happens when we post...either a rant, a ramble, a joke, or a cry for help...the world sees it...and everyone knows...there is love here. The good people of AA, GA, and Blairsville have joined with God to save Donald's life. It's just that simple. I hereby re-dedicate my life to helping others find the faith, strength, and courage to face their addictions, purge themselves of all that causes misery, and to find peace... real peace...in their hearts and joy in the love of friends. Today, I choose not to drink, I choose not to gamble, and I choose not to smoke. Instead, I choose to breathe, live, and love. I have always called you the Blairsville Angels...and you are...but you are more than that...for helping save my life...you are heroes...and I'm blessed to have you all as friends.

Thank you, God, for all you've given me, Thank you for all you've taken from me, and Thank you for all you've left me.

I love you all... and I wish you... peace... and I remain...

Smokeless in Da Swamps... Ye Old Fogey, Donald

Donald's Two Year Ramble Here is my ramble from last night...it's important that everyone read it...even the newbies...for you all had a hand in my success.

Freedom.......that is what I thought of this morning and realized that today is my two year anniversary of the hardest "quit" I have ever tried.
Gambling was tough(5 years)....so was drinking (6 years)....but my physical addiction to nicotine was the hardest by far to kick....9 times I tried...and kept going back....
So what made the difference on my ninth try? BLAIRSVILLE, that's what!!! This magical place and it's special people gave me all I needed to finally say "that's enough"...inspiration out the wazoo....tears a-plenty....sad and happy....and of course, laughter to beat the band! I have but one want today....and that is... I want for each of you to enjoy life, as I have for the past two years, the way it was meant to be enjoyed...free from nicotine poisoning. Thanks, friends....for one of the greatest rides of my life.
I love you all...
and I wish you...
peace...
and I remain...
Smokeless, and grateful, in Da Swamps...
Donald

For the last TWO YEARS I have kicked the nicodemon all over south Louisiana. The fat cats have made 25,580 sickarettes that will never touch these sweet cajun lips. I have now saved $4,476.33 which will be spent on my wife and angel, Danine. And the best stat of all... I have added 2m 4w 19:35 to my life. I ain't gonna look back...'cause I ain't goin' that way!!! Aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donald & Danine

This was Posted by Don 08/29/2000, and I wanted to add it to his "Rambles"-Tommyboy Do You Believe?

A Time To Believe

To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds, To know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon.

To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, The innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.

To believe is to know we are not alone, That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.

To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, And all our hopes and dreams are within reach. If only we believe.

Author Unknown

Hi, folks...I found this among my writings and treasures and thought I'd share it with ya'll. It speaks volumes about faith, which to me, is the foundation of my quit. They say that fear is the absence of faith...and that faith is the absence of fear. I do so believe that.

Wishing you all a wonderful, smoke-free day...and as always... peace Donald (ps) Mais, I ain't scared, me!!! (Cajun Neaux Fear)

Lin

"Old Fogey4"

lin's ramble
Hi everyone, I have been smoke-free for one year also. Though my quit meter won't flash that pretty number until 8:30 p.m.

I have also been thinking alot about this last year and how incredibly different things are from how they were.

I went through all of the emotions that Erika listed, as well as some others I'd never even heard of. It was a rough and rocky time, especially those first two months.

Blairsville was such an important place for me in that time. Learning that everything I was going through *someone* else had gone through (even the really weird stuff ;) Learning how to find my own strength, and eventually learning how to help others find theirs. This is a truly miraculous place.

I have been frequenting the "other" board in the last several months, as my concerns now are mostly with fitness and eating patterns. But I never stop appreciating everyone here and I hope that Blairsville always stays the same. It's great to be able to pop back in and know that I'll see *some* familiar faces, and be able to re-live the healing through all of the newbies that are helping each other now.

All the best to my Blairsville angels, and to everyone who's working to stay quit.

WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

Erika

"Old Fogey4"

Erika's ramble
Well, today is the day, I am smokefree for an entire year. And you know what? It seems like I quit smoking only yesterday. I can?t believe that it has been a year already. I know this may sound weird, especially to those suffering in the first few weeks at the moment, but when I look back on this year I realise that time actually does fly.

The last few weeks, I have been thinking about this ramble and all kinds of thoughts have crossed my mind. I?ll try to share some of them. When I quit, I didn?t have an actual plan, I just ran out of cigarettes on a Friday night and decided I wasn?t going to buy another pack. The first few weeks all I could say to myself was: I don?t want to smoke, I don?t want to smoke, I don?t want to smoke??. Like a broken record.

What struck me next was the anger, I wasn?t prepared for that and of all the emotions I went through the anger scared me most. I was angry with everybody and everything and all for no apparent reason. I was angry at the weather, at the new day, at my cat, but most of all I was angry with myself for my irrational behaviour.

In the meantime I met the people in Blairsville and they told me that all this was normal. Apparently it was also normal to lie awake night after night, to feel light-headed as if being on drugs, to be restless, impatient, sad, lonely etc. It was important to realise that I wasn?t losing my sanity.

The Blairsville Angels then, became an important part of my life and to this day, they still are. Blairsville has been my haven in rough times (and there were many), the answer to many of my questions, the place to get support when I suffered most.

And now a year has passed and I haven?t smoked a single puff. I can honestly say that I never want to smoke again. Who would have thought that I of all people would say that?

I still come to Blairsville now and then, but for different reasons. I see newbies struggling like I have, and I know it will get better. I try to tell them that like many people told me a year ago. I like to keep in touch with my ?Blairsville Friends?, I am convinced that they make the world a better place to live in.

Erika

To PREVIOUS PAGE
To NEXT PAGE
To "OLD FOGEY" INDEX
To TOMMYBOY'S JOURNEY