Earth Day Hypocrites

It's no secret that I've been a wee bit bitchy lately.....call it early PMS, cigarette withdrawal or whatever....but for some reason, my bitch filter has disappeared and everything is getting on my nerves.

Which leads me to Earth Day. Lovely concept. Except for one thing.........

Earth Day Hypocrites.

I understand that every little bit counts......even if you do the curbside recycling thing, yet drive an SUV the size of a small city. Yes, every little bit counts......but there is a certain breed of Earth Day Hypocrite that drives me absolutely insane.

These particular type of Earth Day Hypocrite buys the energy efficient light bulbs, they might recycle, never buy bottled water and may even unplug all of their appliances at night.....but they are destroying their very own environment....killing wildlife and disrupting the simple balance of life. You know them, they might be your neighbor, your friend or even you.

The person with the perfect front yard. The yard with no dandelions, not a hint of crabgrass and the most beautiful flowers your eyes have even beheld. Yes, they are the ones you see toiling away in early spring, spraying their lawns, pushing their spreaders or writing a check to the local ChemLawn guy. They spray and they treat and then they stand back proud of the perfect greenness they see spread out before them.

Pretty yes......but incredibly destructive to our environment.

What some see as "weeds" are actually beneficial food to many creatures who share our space. Those cute little wild bunnies who like to nibble from your vegetable garden actually eat dandelions as a diet staple. Some grasses that people deem as "not soft enough" or "not green and pretty enough" seed at certain times during the season. These seeds are are beneficial food for many species of birds. Ground insects are there for a reason.....not just to destroy Mr Smith's perfect lawn...they are there to feed the very circle of life that sustains us all.

And those beautiful flowers in perfect vibrant colors.....the ones that need chemicals and "plant foods" to look their best. Ahhh, pretty on the outside, lovely to look upon.....but destroying our very native environment. You see, many, many plants you find in nurseries aren't native to our area. They have been introduced to this country and become a main stay. They need all of the extra help to grow because THEY ARE NOT NATIVE TO THIS AREA. And when they do grown and begin to thrive, the become invasive and destroy the native plants which are needed to sustain our own eco system.

Would you like to really, honestly and truly go green? It doesn't cost anything extra. It will actually cut down on your gardening and yard work and you'll be recycling at the same time!

First off.....relax! You aren't going to hell for having dandelions in your front yard and you won't lose your county club membership for having crab grass. Relax....mow your lawn when it needs it, water when it needs it and be proud that you aren't polluting our groundwater, poisoning our pets and destroying the circle of life that exists in your own neighborhood.

Hop online and research native plants in your area. Here in Indiana, there are many stunningly beautiful plants, flowers, trees and shrubs that have been here from the beginning....some of the very plants you may see growing along side the freeway and call "wildflowers". Plant native plants in your gardens and relax. You see, native plants thrive with very little care, no pesticides and zero chemicals. And an added bonus.....these plants will draw wildlife into your yard.....birds will flock to your yard and feast on seeds and insects, bunnies with find a safe haven and butterflies will dance through your gardens all spring, summer and fall long.

Use natural things to make your lawn and gardens more fertile. Home composting works as well as coffee grounds, egg shells and so much more! It may be garbage to you, but the wildlife and pets in your neighborhood will thank you.

And finally, enjoy your natural setting with your family, friends and children. You will find the most amazing species of insects, birds and wildlife flocking to your little piece of Heaven. And trust me, with all of those beautiful things going on, no one will notice crabgrass or dandelions. No one will talk about grubs in your lawn or that three inch diameter brown spot. Everyone will just notice the pure and simple beauty of nature...............and when you take everything else away (plastic bottles, junk mail, automobile emissions and regular light bulbs) what is left besides our beautiful Earth?

If you want any tips on native gardening, please, don't hesitate to contact me! I'd be more than happy to steer you in the right direction! Thanks for reading my Earth Day rant.....and I hope you enjoyed the photos taken in my own "little piece of Heaven".

Stop Smoking Update and the Roller Coaster Ride!

Wow........I have been on so many ups and downs the past two days, I feel like I should hang a sign on me that reads, "You must be this tall to ride".

Day 7 of my stop smoking quest, started well. I coped with my cravings, enjoyed my Electronic Cigarette a few times and then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I get hit with this enormous, absolutely crushing depression.

I wanted to cry.
I felt like screaming.
I wanted to smoke a cigarette so badly.
I felt so sad.
So frustrated.
So aggravated.

Was this worth it? All I had to do was smoke one cigarette and my symptoms would ease. My mood would lighten, I'd feel better....my stomach would stop hurting, my lung pain would ease. Why was I doing this to myself? Why?

But then, almost as fast as the depression fell over me, it lifted. I didn't smoke......I didn't need to.

So today, I wake up to a wonderful gesture from my loving husband.....a McDonald's sausage biscuit with egg and cheese. I ate breakfast, had some coffee and then.....crashed. I had no energy. I just couldn't get up.....I didn't want to. But this time, I was determined to tell the withdrawals to shove it, and get moving.

So I washed my face, got dressed and made my way outside to garden and clean up the yard. I felt so awkward and out-of-sorts.......like those "Become an ex" commercials where the guy can't put on his pants. Once I thought of it that way, this little light bulb came on and I realized that what I needed to do is relearn my day to day activities......minus the cigarettes.

And from that moment on, I had an incredible day!! I spent the day getting torn to shreds by my rose bush, on my knees with my hands in the dirt, pulling weeds, trimming shrubs and trees and loving every moment of it. My shoulders are sunburned, I desperately need a shower, my arms sting from all of the tiny thorn cuts but...I feel amazing! I went ALL DAY without one gnawing craving for a cigarette........not one!! I enjoyed the fresh air, the birds singing and the sun shining....without once stopping to light up a cigarette!

Life is good without cigarettes.

I'm sure I'm not entirely out from under their iron fisted hold, but I think I am conquering them...I am now stronger than the cigarettes, more powerful than the cravings and more capable of separating the bad moods, frustration and physical symptoms from reality. I am actually doing this!!

I am becoming a non smoker!

"Technically" It was Trespassing....But.......

Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me and I end up in all sorts of strange situations....last night was one of those times.

You see, several months ago, my neighbor passed away. Her house has been empty since, however, lately there's been a lot of activity......appliances being moved, things being packed, the pool being disassembled. And of course, me being the curious one, I wondered if they were going to rent the place out (which taking out the appliances wouldn't make sense) or sell it (again, removing the appliances wouldn't make sense) or it was going into foreclosure......now that would make sense.

So, I was chit chatting with my neighbor on the other side of me, and we both felt the house was probably going into foreclosure.....but, we were both even more curious as to what type of shape the house was in and if we could tell more about the state of the house (sell-rent-foreclosure) by peeking inside. Ahhhhh, time for a bored housewife, nosey neighbor, after-dark covert operation!!

Last night, after dark (of course) my neighbor and I (dressed in dark clothing and wielding flashlights) creep out my back door, intending to climb over the fence and slip into the back yard of the empty house....quietly. Right!

My daughter's two dogs, who are happily house in our back yard, decided we shouldn't be there. Coaga, who is half pit bull and half coon hound let out the most horrific howl-bark that could have woken the dead....and Asuka joined in with her demented-goose honk-bark. So I'm trying to get the two of them to hear me and shut the heck up......"Coaga! Asuka! Hush! It's me! Shhhhh! Shut UP!"

Baroooooooo, Bark, Bark, Bark!
Honk, Honk, Honk, Honk!!

Ignoring the dogs and hoping other neighbors aren't alert to our covert ops tactics, we attempt to climb the ancient, rickety fence between my yard and the yard of the empty house. I stick my flashlight in my pocket, put my foot up on the top board of the fence and hoist myself up.....fully INTENDING on hopping right over.

BUT......the board broke and I went over the fence head first......grabbed onto the fence for dear life with my thighs and sort of "boinged" into an upright position, rusty fence swaying under my weight. My heart is beating so loudly for fear of crashing onto my head that I did notice right away that my neighbor was in hysterics, laughing at me. "Are you alright?" she chokes out between peels of laughter........."Yeah, I'm alright." (Tell that to my thighs)

I finally pull myself off of my rusty, jagged horsey ride and wait for my neighbor to follow me over the fence (as she's still laughing...which I can actually hear over the barooooooo, bark, bark, honk honking) We creep to the back of the abandoned house and we see that there is a light on. Immediately my ballsiness waivers and I freak, thinking someone is in there. My neighbor assures me no one is there and proceeds to peek through the windows with her flashlight. We then go back around to the front of the house and look inside. (By the way, my neighbor is still snickering)

Junk strewn about in one room, boxes scattered about, cabinets ripped from the walls, appliances gone.......yes, it looks as if the house is in foreclosure and they are stripping it clean, hoping to recoup any amount of money they can. You can't really blame them in this economy. You can barely take care of your own family these days without having to take up the mortgage of the deceased relatives home.

Our curiosity is satisfied....and our sneaky little operation in the dark of night was fun....except for the enormous scrape and black and blue bruises on the inside of my thigh.....pretty. And of course, today, as I'm in the yard gardening, another neighbor stops by to chat and immediately says.....

"I heard the house next to you is in foreclosure.....saw it in the paper."

Yeah....could have saved myself a few bruises.

Day 6 With My E-Cigarette....Need Laughter and Sex Pronto!

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I knew when I saw the Electronic Cigarette that it was the right tool for me to use to become tobacco free. I just never realized how easy this tool would make it for me.

Yes, I still get cravings and yes, sometimes they are extremely POWERFUL cravings. I just need to be stronger than the tobacco....wait it out.....and if it's just too difficult, I pick up my Electronic Cigarette and take a few long draws...and the craving just disappears.

My chest still hurts, but my cough is becoming more productive. My digestive tract is still wondering what the hell is up and not sure how to work without all of the extra nicotine and chemicals. I can't really eat a big meal right now, but that's OK! Gaining weight was one of my big worries when it came to becoming a non-smoker....after all, I still want to get into my bikini this summer!

The strangest withdrawal symptom I have has so far has been emotional. I sometimes get these fleeting feelings of loss and depression, like something important is suddenly gone from my life. I believe that comes from that trigger experts say you get when you smoke cigarettes, that release of "feel good" hormones, much like those which are released during laughter or orgasm. Since I consciously know what's going on, I can reason myself out of it.......or I could just remedy it with more sex and laughter! LOL! "But Honey, it's for therapy.....smoking replacement.....I NEED it for my well being!"

Yeah right, like that will work! LOL! (Ahh, it was worth a try!)

Two very important things did happen to me today, day 6. The weather was beautiful here in Indiana, so I grabbed one of the dogs (Rukia, my best walker) and headed out for a brisk walk around the block. Usually, I'm huffing and puffing and beginning to pace myself and slow down by the time I get to the entrance of our edition. By the time I'm around the block, I'm exhausted and ready to put my feet up and take a nap! But this time, not only did I make it all the way around the block, I did so at the same brisk pace I started out with! I could feel the air filling my lungs....and they didn't feel like they were going to burst! Rukia knew it too! She just looked up at me with her excited Shih Tzu smile, tail wagging, as if to say, "Good mom, good, good, good. You get a treat now. Treat, bone, treat, yes, yes, yes. Good mom, good girl!"

Secondly, my neighbor, Jennifer, told me I "looked better". She said my skin looked much brighter and overall I looked healthier! Really?? So, of course, as soon as we were finished chit chatting (neighborly gossiping), I ran in, flipped on the bathroom light and gazed into the mirror above the sink. Wrinkles still there, laugh lines, crows feet,....check......but Jen was right....my coloring is different....my skin really does look brighter. I have color in my cheeks and my overall coloring isn't so "gray" anymore! Yes, smokers, we look gray! I'm definitely impressed and really starting to realize the physical impact that cigarette smoking has had on my mind and my body, inside and out. I mean, you can read about it, hear about it in the news and even listen to your doctor yammer about it over and over......but seriously, you have NO IDEA what cigarette smoking is doing to you until you quit.

I say, if you've been considering kicking the habit, go for it!! I don't care how you do it....with the patch, gum, cold turkey, medications or with the Electronic Cigarette.....just do it. You will be absolutely shocked and surprised at how much of a hold cigarettes have on you as well as how quickly your body will start repairing itself! You will start feeling almost immediately and you'll start looking better too!

This is awesome......I'm feeling good (though I really need more laughter and sex...Honey, are you reading?) and know now that I am not turning back! I like being a non smoker and I enjoy the comfort my Electronic Cigarette is giving me. I am proud of myself......and so happy that I have all of you cheering me on and supporting me! Thanks a million.....you're saving my life.

Day 5...and I Didn't Kill Anyone

Day 5 on my journey to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes using my new Electronic Cigarette and I feel like I'm coping well.

I have yet to kill anyone.

I woke on day 5 feeling like I'd taken a horse tranquilizer the night before.....groggy, slow, unable to think clearly. I mentioned to my oldest daughter how I'd been feeling, sort of wondering out loud how long it would be before I felt normal again. And what she answered stunned me and got me thinking....

"Maybe this IS your normal, mom. You have been smoking for almost 30 years, your body doesn't remember what normal is."

Wow. OK......first off, I certainly HOPE my normal isn't a drooling, slow, depressed, spaced-out, sleepy, groggy, achey, hacking, coughing recovering addict! If that's the case, it's no wonder I started smoking! I'm kidding.........I understand what she meant and I know my body has alot of changes to go through...............and boy, is my body changing!

At night, seems my body wants to purge the toxins via my pores. I wake up with my hair stuck to my neck, bangs plastered to my forehead and fight to peel the damp blankets from my body. I'm still sleeping alright, though it seems I'm dreaming more. My upper chest has gone from discomfort to out and out PAIN and my cough is much more productive. The dizzy spells are still there, but less frequent and much less severe.

The new symptom I'm suffering through is stomach pain.......kind of like sharp, stabbing cramps. Nothing alarming, but definitely something I read I should expect.......not fun. As a matter of fact, I got this fleeting thought to start smoking again just so I could stop the withdrawal pains and misery. I said "fleeting"........as I quickly told myself I was insane to even allow that thought to cross my mind.

I did have a comforting picture in mind......me being put in a drug induced coma, tied to a bed and sleeping my way through the rest of these withdrawal symptoms. Ahhhh, that would be nice, but of course, who would feed my dogs, take care of the house, run the errands, find everything my family has lost for the day, cook the meals, do the wash etc, etc, etc, etc? Again, my mind trying to find comfort kicking these poisons out of my body.

The good parts of this quest are starting to reveal themselves and I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel! My "fog" cleared early in the afternoon and I felt pretty good (aside from the stomach pains). I have found myself automatically reaching for my Electronic Cigarette now rather than thinking about tobacco first. My skin is starting to look brighter. I'm beginning to get my normal appetite back. And most importantly, I beginning to feel pride in what I'm doing! I'm actually proud of myself! YAY ME!

Soooooooooo, I'm now off to have a great day 6. Am planning on walking my dogs today and enjoying the warm sunshine, Let's see how my lungs react to some exercise and fresh air!

Days 3 & 4..The Good, The Bad and The Meltdown

Nobody who said that quitting smoking was difficult lied.....oh, it's tough alright...especially when you're an emotional smoker, like me and you have a meltdown.

My youngest has been sick.....it's been one of these, "Hmmmmm, is it a virus or an infection?" I broke down Monday morning and decided to take her to see a doctor. Since her pediatrician is a pretty long drive into Indianapolis, and we were having stormy weather, I decided I'd just take her down to Minute Clinic. Yeah....not such a good idea after all.

The Nurse Practitioner diagnosed the little one with a sinus and ear infection and proceeded to write a prescription for antibiotics.......this took over 30 minutes! YES 30 MINUTES TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION!

This woman couldn't figure the dosage, that is, after she spent a full 15 minutes trying to figure out which antibiotic to give her. Amoxcicillin doesn't work on my kids (so mark that one off) they "don't give Keflex for ear infections" (which I knew to be total and complete BS) this woman was driving me nuts! So we finally get out of there, prescription in hand, and all I can think about is smoking my Electronic Cigarette.....................

.............and the battery isn't working!!!!!!!!!!!!! The doggone LED tip just keeps flashing at me...mocking me...letting me know, "No nicotine for you!"

So I get home, change batteries and puff away as I speak to the pharmacist on the phone. He proceeds to tell me that not only is the dosage WAY OFF on the antibiotic, the total cost is going be to the tune of $179.00!!!! WHAT? I'm still puffing away. I just doled out $77.00 for an office call and a strep test!

So I call my daughter's pediatrician, literally in hysterics babbling about an "idiot Nurse Practitioner", "wrong dosage" and a "cost that we cannot afford". Luckily, my daughter has one of the best pediatricians in the world and the office called in a prescription for Keflex which DOES treat ear infections and happens to be free at our pharmacy. Deep breaths................no more puffing at the Electronic Cigarette...........I'm calm....and relieved.

Come to find out, one of my Electronic Cigarette batteries is defective and works when it wants to. So, I bang it on the coffee table, unscrew it, screw it back on, puff......puff.......get one drag and start all over again. I still have one good battery and the owner of Sharp Smoker has assured me that he's sending me a replacement battery right away. Ahhhhh, if only Minute Clinic could have such good service!

So day 3 ended with me still only having 4 tobacco cigarettes and learning that I really enjoy the flavor of apple smoke juice (which I used to refill one of my cartridges as well as adding a little drop to the atomizer) and learning NOT to be caught out with a dead battery, especially during this crucial transition time.

So here it is day 4.....and I'm REALLY feeling the effects of giving up tobacco cigarettes. Now, I went to quite a few of those stop smoking support sites and while they tell you about uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, they really don't give you the REAL TRUTH.

I feel like I'm walking in this haze....I'm dazed confused and feeling really funky. The light-headedness has turned to full blown dizzy spells......my body doesn't know what to do with all of this oxygen it's been starved of for almost 30 years. I almost feel high and doped up at the same time. My family can talk to me and it takes me a moment to slowly look up at them and said, "Huh?" It's difficult to concentrate on more than one thing at a time.

I have a sore throat and one heck of a deep cough....there's stuff working it's way out that I don't EVEN want to know what it's gonna look like! My chest feels tight and my extremities tingle from time to time. It's hard to think straight....or should I say, it's hard to think quickly. I do have a wee bit of a headache from time to time, but nothing to even take a pill for. I do feel tired and want to nap...not sure if it's less of the nicotine stimulant in my bloodstream or just the fact that it's easier to cope while I'm asleep!

I still don't have much of an appetite...so I suppose my Electronic Cigarette is keeping my hands and mouth busy. That's a good thing...I'm going to Florida in June and certainly don't want my daughter to have to roll me down the beach! I'd really like to prance around in a bikini WITHOUT a cigarette!

I really do feel attached to my Electronic Cigarette now......it feels more like a tobacco cigarette and has almost completely replaced them. I know they "say" that nicotine is the only addictive portion of tobacco cigarettes, but I'm not so sure. I crave the taste and I crave the tobacco....or "something" that's in them. Odd, because my Electronic Cigarette gives me the nicotine I need......though I know I'm only taking in a small fraction of the nicotine I used to take in daily.

This is a struggle for me....but one that is well worth it. In all honestly, though I am struggling, this is much easier than I thought it would be. I'm not nearly as grouchy as I thought, not eating everything in sight and so far, I'm not having any problems sleeping. Let's see what tomorrow brings.....I'm hoping that this is the peak of feeling bad.

This is all worth it. Every bit of it!! Stay tuned for day 5.

Day 2 With My E-Cigarette

Well, it's actually day 3 and I'm sitting here with my morning coffee and REALLY wanting a tobacco cigarette. I spend times like this kicking myself and asking just what it is that makes me want a tobacco cigarette.

After all, my E-Cigarette gives me the nicotine my body is craving. The taste of tobacco cigarettes is far from pleasant....probably reminiscent of licking a charred, wooden door. Why would I crave that?

Will power.

That's the one thing I need. See, no matter how well my E-Cigarette fulfills my nicotine needs, I need every ounce of will power to get off the tobacco cigarettes completely. Those things are killing me...and they have controlled every aspect of my life for nearly 30 years!!

Eat a meal...smoke.
Get on the computer.....smoke.
Drive the car.....smoke.
Bored.....smoke.
Stressed....smoke.
Frustrated....smoke.
In pain....smoke.
Kids in bed.....smoke.

So, day two was an alright day. I still had 4 tobacco cigarettes, but I have to admit that the very taste of them is making me kind of nauseous! I'm making the transition where my E-Cigarette is the taste I prefer. Though it has very little taste, my E-Cigarette doesn't leave an after taste in my mouth....actually, it doesn't leave any smells or taste behind.

It didn't bother me, at first, to have smokers around me......but now I'm noticing how much the smell of tobacco smoke bothers me......man, oh man does it STINK! And I was perfectly fine walking around smelling like that?! Tobacco smoke really does dull your senses.....your sense of smell and taste are shot to hell...........really!

I took my E-Cigarette on a little trip today....to my parent's house. I love showing this thing off....my E-Cigarette really is a brag-worthy piece of technology! My parents thought it was extremely cool....my dad was very encouraging of my quest to be smoke free...and my mom took a Sharp Smoker business card think my brother and his girlfriend might want to order one. (Yeah, right, mom smokes too and she hides it from my dad......he knows. LOL)

As far as habits go, my E-Cigarette is becoming more like a tobacco cigarette to me. I actually, unconsciously went to "flip an ash" and once, in the restroom, actually laid my E-Cigarette down on the the counter, with the cherry end hanging over the very edge. Both times, I immediately caught myself and said, "Duh".

I'm still feeling a bit light headed and my lungs are beginning to clear out (in other words, I'm hacking and coughing and my lungs are asking where all the pollution went....very attractive! LOL!) I just keep telling myself that my lungs are beginning the process of healing. At this rate, by summer, I should be able to walk around the block without huffing, puffing and feeling like I just climbed a mountain!

Something I'm finding unusual about using the E-Cigarette though is that my appetite hasn't increased at all! If you've ever tried to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes in the past, you know all to well that you'll shovel anything remotely edible into your mouth...Doritos, chocolate, cereal, that questionable leftover Chinese in the back of the fridge. But I'm not having any appetite increase whatsoever! So I'll be a non-smoker without a spare tire, love handles and a be-dunka-dunk! HA!

Alright.....that about wraps up day two......I'm gonna continue on with day 3. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. Remember, if you want to join me, you can get a great deal on a top of the line E-Cigarette from Sharp Smoker! Visit Kevin's site and he'll take good care of you!

Day One on the E-Cigarette

I got my E-Cigarette and refill cartridges today in the mail (two days, now THAT'S service) from Sharp Smoker. I needed to charge the battery for 8 hours, so decided to start on my stop smoking adventure Saturday morning. I opened the box, read all of the instructions and plugged the battery in to charge.

Fast forward to Saturday morning...........

I got the coffee on and prepared my E-Cigarette for it's first go-round. Putting it together was easy.....the battery compartment screws onto the tiny atomizer and the nicotine cartridge (looks like the filter of a tobacco cigarette) pops onto the end. The first time you use it, it's supposed to sit for about 5-10 minutes before use. So while I sipped on my first cup of coffee....one of my favorite times to smoke.....I just stared at the E-Cigarette.

My first draw was strange......the E-Cigarette is the same size as a tobacco cigarette, just a little heavier. My E-Cigarette did make a little air whistling noise when I drew from the filter end (but I got used to the sound).....and it delivered. I got the throaty, smoke feel as I inhaled and the total smoker's satisfaction as I exhaled and blew out the vapor. My younger daughter couldn't believe how much it looked like tobacco smoke.....but there was no smoke smell, no stench you often associate with tobacco smoke. (And I might also add.....no flame, so secondhand smoke danger, no staining etc) This didn't "taste" like my tobacco cigarette......but I did get the same nicotine rush and satisfaction.

I didn't realize how psychological this whole process was until my husband left the house to run an errand and there were no tobacco cigarettes left in the house. I realized this and started freaking out.....running ashtray to ashtray looking for a decent sized butt. Why? I don't know.....but I NEEDED to have one of those nasty tobacco, cancer sticks nearby.....just in case. Wow.....am I really that weak? You betcha! So I ended up keep a tobacco cigarette in the empty cigarette pack along with my E-Cigarette.

I shared my new E-Cigarette with my older daughter (she's 27 and a smoker) and she was quite impressed. She enjoyed the experience and the way she could inhale and blow the vapor out like a tobacco cigarette.

So all day on day one, I used my E-Cigarette each time I had a deep in the gut nicotine craving as well as during those times my brain needed a tobacco cigarette (computer time, after a meal, with coffee) It worked.....and it worked well.....the E-Cigarette delivered the nicotine my body craved....without all of cancer causing agents.

I did cheat on day one......which is normal for a person's first day on the E-Cigarette...actually, it's encouraged in the instruction manual. HOWEVER....I went from smoking a full pack of cigarettes to.....drum roll please.......4 tobacco cigarettes!!!! And not once did I get edgy, grouchy or feel out of control like all of the other times I tried to quit!!

Physically, I feel a bit light headed all the time......my body is now taking in more oxygen and I sometimes get this surreal, dreamy feeling....especially when I start thinking about the enormous hold tobacco cigarettes had on every aspect of my life. It's freaky....to say the least!

All in all, day one is a success!! Thanks to the E-Cigarette!

Want to join me in my journey to a smoke-free life? Visit Sharp Smoker to order your E-Cigarette.....Kevin will take good care of you!

Breaking My Addiction Using The E-Cigarette

Addiction

The word stirs up images of junkies robbing convenience stores to get money for their next fix, wide-eyed tweakers and alcoholics stumbling about, sloshing their beverage on your carpet. Now, take a look at my profile photo...........

Hmmmmm, my eyes aren't the size of cannon balls. My breath doesn't reek of stale beer and I have never stolen someone's pocket change from their dresser top.....yet, I am an addict.

This is addiction is medically confirmed as being worse than alcohol, cocaine and even heroin. It's the most difficult addiction to break as well as being the most universally used drug.

I am a cigarette smoker. I have been smoking cigarettes for nearly 30 years. Yes, I have tried to quit....and failed. And now, out of the sheer NEED to stay with my children.....the heartfelt desire to grow old with my husband.....and for the health of myself, my family and my home....I am again embarking on the road to becoming smoke-free.

I have tried cold turkey and because of my emotional, high-strung nature, it was not possible for me. I wasn't strong enough. Nicotine gum upsets my stomach and the patch scares me. (Vivid dreams? Heck, I have enough problems sleeping, thanks) And as far as drugs go....they are expensive and I have no health insurance to offset the cost. Also, I have heard SO MANY horror stories about nausea and other side effects......not for me!

My saving grace came one day, while enjoying my second addiction...television. During the television show "The Doctors" I saw the E-Cigarette. The doctors gave it to a woman who had been smoking for nearly 20 years and within a week, she was off of regular cigarettes completely. I was impressed......and intrigued. Could this finally be MY answer? MY road to a healthier life?

I immediately jumped online and started researching. The Electronic Cigarette, or "E-Cigarette" is a battery operated "cigarette" that looks like a cigarette, has a nice little LED light on the end (that lights up when you draw on the device) and delivers a dose of nicotine to the user through a vapor (much like that of an asthmatic's nebulizor) that the user can inhale and blow out, much like smoke.

I was impressed and knew that since cigarettes are as much of a psychological addiction as they are a physical one, this would probably work for me. You see, I'm not only addicted to nicotine, I love the feeling of drawing in the smoke and blowing it out.

Well, after some waiting and reading about how well it has worked for some online friends of mine...I took the leap....and ordered my E-Cigarette. I ordered it through a link posted by a friend of mine who boasted about amazing customer service and an even more amazing price....she was not exaggerating!!!

Mr. Kevin Sjodin is Director of Sales and Marketing for Sharp Smoker and has given me the best customer service I have ever experienced, not to mention the fact that he offered me an amazing price of a normally expensive E-Cigarette kit. Sharp Smoker got me on the road to better health for the cost of about 10 packs of cigarettes (here in Indiana) That included the E-Cigarette kit (with 2 batteries, charger and 5 nicotine cartridges...in a very nice box, I may add...lol) and I also bought 4 boxes of refill cartridges. I got my package in just two days!!

Now for the fun stuff.......I'm going to blog my progress....for myself and my sanity.....as well as for all of you. I want you all to read of my journey and my impending success so you know you can do it to!!

If you're interested in joining me and would like more information on the E-Cigarette, please visit Sharp Smoker at http://www.sharpsmoker.com/ Kevin will be happy to hook you up!

Next up.......Day one...............