Ok. So it's been 8 days. Before I go into anything... I just gotta thank everyone who has offered a piece of knowledge or wisdom to help breaking the terrible habit of smoking. Many of your stories and suggestions were listened to... and even tried! After 8 days of non-smoking, here are my current statistics:

Your Quit Date is: 2/23/2004
Time Smoke-Free: 8 days, 10 hours, 38 minutes and 44 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 253
Lifetime Saved: 1 day, 22 hours
Money Saved: $48.00

Quick run down of these stats. They are obviously calculated using base values... and I don't agree with all of them. For example, I'm pretty sure I spent more than $48 bucks a week on cigarettes. I guess I've saved more like $60 already. What's amazing is the "Lifetime Saved". To think that 1 week of smoking, is ALMOST 2 days of your life WASTED AWAY. By their calculations... 104 days are lost by a smoker every year. Damn. That's some incredible shit right there.

But the big question... how hard has it been? Well, I prefer to phrase it more like this: HOW EASY HAS IT BEEN?! Honestly folks, this was one of the easiest things I've done in quite some time. When you have the desire and will to do something... it shouldn't be difficult for you. For Jen and I (my fiance who quit at the same time), it's been quite easy. In fact, I can't say that I've even wrestled with the thought of having a cigarette. I simply woke up 1 week ago, and was a non-smoker. That's how easy it was. No patches, no gum... just alot of support, and a little bit of willpower.

NOW THE GOOD STUFF!!! HOLY SHIT CAN I EXPRESS IN CAPS HOW EXCITED I AM TO HAVE SMELL AND TASTE AGAIN?!? I don't know if I can or not. I was lucky to get my smell and taste back very quickly. For those of you who didn't know, when you smoke, you actually kill and degrade your tastebuds and other nasally goodness. When you quit, they quickly begin to work again... and it's truely amazing. In fact, the other day I went to put on this light coat since it was nice outside, and I just couldn't put it on. It REEKED of smoke and was literally disgusting. I know it's somewhat hypocritical of me to go from not giving a rats ass about smelling like smoke, to being a prissy little bitch about it... but the bottom line is: Fuck it. I feel good. If suddenly I have seen the light and passed through the gates of eternal non-smokingness. HELL YEAH. I'll overstay my welcome!

Think about things folks. Quitting is the right thing to do.

TO BE CONTINUED...