Sunday roll call

[teddiebears]

Good Morning!! :D

It's another sunny but cool morning here in Wisconsin. Just the kind of fall day I enjoy. At least at the moment ;) We have a wind advisory in effect until 1 AM Monday with winds 25-35 mph and possible gusts over 50 mph. :eek: And, believe it or not, they forecast possible snow showers later today and/or overnight. And for Monday they're predicting a high temperature of only 39 degrees. brrrr.......

Kathy - thank you so much for the kind things you said about this forum. I'm so happy to hear that you feel we've been helpful. :)

I must admit that I get a lot of personal satisfaction from being able to help people give up that nasty smoking habit/addiction. :) Being an ex-smoker who did a great deal of damage to my body during my smoking years, I find myself wanting to help others before they do the same thing to themselves. ;) I also believe that supporting people with this difficult task does not mean "beating them down" or "belittling" them in any way when/if a slip occurs. Simply being there to offer a helping hand to someone as they get up and dust themselves off makes much more sense to me. :)

I had a nice time at the costume party last night. Actually stayed much longer than I expected. I planned on coming homing around 10 PM or so, but instead I stayed until midnight. :rolleyes: We all had a chance to vote on the costumes in 5 categories - funniest, sexiest, most original, scariest, and best. Imagine my total shock when they announced that I won "Best Costume" of the night. :eek: :eek:



Hope all will have a peaceful and addiction-free day!!!! :D

[jingle]

:D:D Well ......
Now tell us about your costume? Were you SEXY?

Today I went to Lowe's trying to find light fixtures for the tiny tiny tiny new condo I will be moving into. This is a giant step for me - a very scary painful one and I'm doing it - I'm doing it alone.

And I don't need a cigarette!!

[Nana4&cntn]

Teddiebears, sooooooooooooooo just what was your costume;) I always have believed to give credit where credit is due! Some people take and never give back, not me, thank God!

Jingles, Good for you! I remember when I had to refinance my house after my divorce, the papers I had to sign made my stomach hit my throat. I was scared, well you know!

It is sometimes freeing to do something for yourself, I have always thought so. Money matters are the scariest! I know you can do it! You quit smoking, you can do anything!

Again thank you both so very much for you help, guidance and support while I kicked the habit. I am sure you know how much it means!

Good night!

[teddiebears]

My costume was not sexy! lol ;) I was a somewhat 'altered' version of the Bride of Frankenstein. I bought a black beehive type wig with the white stripes running up both sides. I also bought white, black, green, purple, and red cream/stage make-up to give me an eerie look. I had press on nails that were black with the tips made from glow in the dark material, and I bought some funky black and silver long false eyelashes. :rolleyes: What prompted this choice of costume was the fact that as I sorted through the boxes from my rented storage unit, I found my wedding dress (I thought I had gotten rid of it years ago). Almost the whole dress was lace which was very stained and ripping apart in several places. I have gained weight over the past 20 years so I knew it wouldn't fit without making alterations. As I cut the dress apart to alter it so it would fit me no, I began to realize that it was sort of symbolic of the way the marriage was 'cut apart' and fell apart. It's hard to explain but there was something rather cathartic to me in the whole process. Being able to use it in a relatively positive way made me feel pretty good. Even though I accepted and embraced the divorce a long time ago, working with the dress made me feel more peaceful and detached from all the negativity that existed during the last few years. I am really grateful for that!


Congratulations, jingle. Making a major move and/or life change certainly can be scary, but as you said you're doing it without cigarettes!!!!! I think that's great!!! :D As you go along, I think you'll find the whole process empowering. A real confidence builder, you know??? :)

I just realized that earlier this month you passed the three year mark as an ex-smoker! That's wonderful!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, JINGLE.

*mm1 *mm2 *sparkle *sparkle *mm2 *mm1

[jingle]

Aaaaaahhhhh :):):) Thank you!! A bit of confidence is something I could use right now - lol.

But I have no use at all for a cigarette. And if I smoked a pack I would certainly gain no confidence, would I?

THAT is the most astonishing thing I've learned .... no matter what happens in my life - good or bad - smoking doesn't help, change, slow, speed or do ANYTHING for that condition.

Kathy - You're GAINING CONFIDENCE, aren't you? Gaining confidence and strength ......... wow.

[Nana4&cntn]

Teddybears, Your costume sounds like it was awesome, of course because you won the contest! I do like your take on the wedding dress and halloween! Sounds like a lot of fun! It sounds a bit cathartic!

I remember when I got divorced and felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, single mom of 3, social worker, and a car on it's last leg. It took the holiday's for me to realize we the kids and I were truly happy for the first time in years. No walking on egg shells, yelling, name calling etc. My ex was a real SOB, we have become friends over the years since he has remarried. This was all nearly 16 years ago! Enough of me.

Jingle, if you set your mind to something, you can get through it. One step at a time, same with everything else in life. Just as you have shown me, AND WITHOUT CIGARETTES! What you have said has become a mantra for me when tempted, stressed etc. So you need to remember you can make it, we know you can!

I have had a very stressfull couple of weeks. Mom was overnight at the hospital, I passed out while there, and since mom had been given a shot of morphine she was unable to give concent to treatment. So they just left me laying there, didn't even look in my wallet for my emergency info. I don't remember a thing:D. My roof is leaking, I have had the inspector out so we will see if I pay or they do. I hope it is them! I have been babysitting my granddaughter of 4mo's and she is fun but wearing me out. We also have a family feud going on over stupid things from the past that will never be resolved. I am staying out of things as much as possible, I am trying to keep my mom from accidentally killing herself by falling. She, like me has major back problems and is currently having major problems now. Etc, etc, etc.

I read the thread for this week and it put everything in perspective for me. You two are a great support! If I were to slip up I would be beat up by most of my family. Here I know I can be honest and be told to pick my self up and get back on the horse so to speak.

Yes I am gaining strength, but am so tempted at times. Especially when I am hurting and the meds aren't helping. A cigarette wouldn't make it any better! I would just feel worse!

Thanks again!

I would have posted earlier, but my laptop keyboard went out and I didn't have time to sit down and and try to fix it. I still have some more work to do to really fix it right.