90,720 minutes. WOW I feel great!

Just about 90,720 minutes ago, give or take a few, I quit smoking.

To prove a point, I am going to use really big numbers here - and if you do smoke I hope it scares the hell out of you. Just like it did me.

For those of you who don't smoke, or never did - there are 20 cigarettes in a pack.
I smoked a pack a day. And did so for almost 21 years. That is 7,665 packs of cigarettes OR 153,300 individual cigarettes.

Holy cow. Puts things into perspective doesn't it...

I have heard smoking just one cigarette will take anywhere from 11 to 15 minutes off your life. I will be working from the higher# of 15 for this exercise, just in case. (I also don't know if it matters if you're female or male. I've heard a lot of different things through the years and when you don't want to hear something it is amazing what you will forget!)

So, by working with the figure of losing 15 minutes for each cigarette smoked, I have successfully eliminated 2,299,500 minutes OR 38,325 hours OR 1597 days OR almost 4.5 years.


Now, isn't that something to be proud of?
I totally can't wait to tell my kids what a real idiot I am. NOT!

I know what it is to smoke and like it. I know the feeling of panic that sets in when I am stuck in traffic with no smokes and no store in sight. I know the shaking angry feeling that comes on when you've been without nicotine for several hours or days and you just want to scream like there's no tomorrow. You would give your eye teeth for just one cigarette. You see someone else smoking and you just want to break their arm off to take their smoke away from them so you can have it.

Ahhh....

Or so you think...

Look at this... www.tobacco.org/Resources/599ingredients.html Aside from the chocolate, honey and plum juice - I can't think of too many things on this list that I would like to ingest...

Now, I won't go all psychotic on you - remember, I liked smoking. I am all for personal freedoms and equal rights.

No one can tell you when the time is right. No one can make you quit. You have to do it in your own time. You have to WANT to quit. It isn't easy and I won't lie to you and say it is. It pretty much sucks, no matter how you go about it. I hated every second of it. There are moments that I still hate it. But they're getting less and less every day.

My reason for finally quitting, was because I am stubborn. I don't like to think that someone or something has control over me, and these little coffin nails sure did! They controlled my every move! I couldn't get in the car or get on the phone without smoking. I couldn't drink coffee or take my dog out for a walk. I was being controlled by a little cardboard box full of cancer. I didn't like that feeling, so I decided it was time to quit. Don't even get me started on the expense!


If you want to quit, are trying to quit, are thinking about quitting, or you are a happy smoker and think that perhaps in a few years you'll quit - then talk to someone about it. Ask others what's worked for them. Have them tell you about their experience if you think it will help you. There are agencies and companies who focus on nothing but smoking cessation. A good one for the state of Maine is http://www.tobaccofreemaine.org/ These folks are trained at helping you not only quit smoking, but also understand the effects that smoking AND quitting will have on you. The best part? Their program is FREE!

Look, here's the truth. Plain and simple. Smoking kills. It isn't cool. Smokers stink. Their clothes, hair, homes and cars smell bad. Their noses don't smell too good and therefore, they can't tell how bad they stink! I can say this, because I was one. I am not unfairly speaking here, if you know a smoker then you know what I'm saying is true.

If the truth hurts, then do something about it. I don't care to hear you complain to me, so save your breath.

Because if you don't quit smoking, you're gonna need it.

Rock on with your bad self,

H

4 out of 5 dentists DO NOT agree!

About a week ago, we had a conversation with my daughter about piercings and tattoos, and then I did a blog about it - sharing with you some lovely photos of why I thought it might be a poor choice to pierce her face...She opted not to get the piercing, and instead wants another tattoo instead.

Well...we've all heard those commercials on TV and radio advertising some 'mouth-type' product and the announcer going on and on about "Bla, bla... 4 out of 5 dentist's agree...bla bla bla" right?

Yeah.

This morning, I found an article on the internet describing some new fad as being the 'white collar' tattoo. Here's a photo. Yes, that is a tooth.

Not just any tooth though, that is a FRONT TOOTH.
OK, so techincally, it's a crown, but it's still the tooth that is
in the front of your FACE!

Now, who doesn't love Abe Lincoln? The dude aboloished slavery, had his face carved into the side of a mountain, we still celebrate his friggin birthday AND he's on our money! He acheived some serious status... Does that entitle him to take up residence in our mouths as well as our hearts? Uhm, not if you ask me...

Hey though, don't be discouraged, if Abe isn't your favorite president, how about good old George Washington?












Still no?
OK, how about David Letterman? Amy Winehouse? Oh! I got it! ELVIS!!! Yeah, now that is what I'm talking about...

Maybe, you're not so fond of putting something like a tattoo on your front tooth. (Although I can't imagine why, it seems like such a great idea...) Not to worry, there are still back teeth! No need to put it right out where everyone can see it all the time, make em work a little! It might be fun to let them think you've been blessed with some back tooth decay that has the likeness of Mickey Mouse or a rooster! Trickery at it's best! Then, think of the fun you'll have when you pull your cheek aside and show them what it REALLY is!

Completely stupid!

There are a ton more pictures of these 'tattooed teeth', but I can't stand looking at them anymore. If you want to check out the rest of them on your own time, feel free to go to the website where I found them... http://www.toothartist.com/

I don't imagine that your dentist will destroy a perfectly good tooth, in order for you to get one of these (YES, it does require a visit to the dentist to get one) and if you would actually consider asking your dentist to destroy a perfectly good tooth just so you CAN get one - may I also recommend the following website.... www.psychologyinfo.com/directory/

Rock on with your bad self...

H

Piercing update!!!

OK, as you heard yesterday - we discussed with, my daughter Caitlin, the fact that she wants a body piercing. This is what I think of when I hear body piercing... I picked THE LEAST GRAPHIC photos from the stupid collection that I've received over the past day (thank you to all the listeners who are supportive of me and my decision!) to put up on this blog...

Some people may still consider these graphic, and if you're upset by them, then I offer my apology. But I chose to post the pics in my blog to further reinforce my point. And besides, maybe there are some of you who are going through this same struggle at home right now and can use these as ammo for your kids! What parent doesn't love that?

OK, so here we go...Who in their right mind wants to do something like this?
I mean really. Look at the surprise on this guys face. He can't believe he would do something so totally stupid either!

OK, how about this... Do you suppose her mother was cool with her putting this on her face? Look at her lips! They're beautiful!! They're perfect!! Now she has gone and ruined them... There is nothing "SEXY" about this at all. At least not to me.




Apparently, these two like to play hide and seek.

OK, I am down with that... You go hide and I will come seek you after oh, I dunno, 10- 15 years.... Peek-A-Boo, I see a FREAK. Yeah laugh it up funny guy, cause you don't look a bit stupid. Oh, and uh, she is smiling because she doesn't look like you.

This. Is. Just. Plain. Stupid.
Was he drunk? On pills? Cause I won't accept that someone willingly did this kind of action to themselves on purpose. Oh, wait, I know, this is an ER photo right? Hey wait, isn't this the guy who 'accidentally shot himself in the head with a nail gun'? Or was that guy trying to copy this guy,? Either way, it sucks.

All I can say to this one is WTF?

So, in conclusion, I ask you, how do these people make a living? Do you suppose any of them are school teachers? I showed the pics to my daughter and asked her that same question. Since yesterday and seeing these photos, she has changed her mind and now has decided that she'd like another tattoo. Which is totally cool with me. (Yes, even though it is permanent!)

I know that she will have to think long and hard about where to put it, what to get, how big it should be, etc. She has a small one already on her hip. She thought about that one for years. Who knows, maybe she will forget all about it in a few weeks. Maybe not.

If she doesn't, then that's still OK. Who knows, I may go along with her and get another one myself! Once you start, you can't stop. It's kinda like that commercial for Lay's potato chips from back in the day. There's no stopping at just one...

Until next time, rock on with your bad self...

H

Wow...

Well, this is my first time blogging - I've been given a few tips to make it more engaging, so hopefully I will be informative, entertaining and to the point. I know the keystrokes to get me here now, so you're going to have to deal with my rants, raves and what-not on whatever topic I choose to discuss.

Muuuuaahhhhhaaaa! (evil, menacing laughter)

Today, Bill and I made a bet.
A bet about a movie no less.

While discussing the 'new releases' at the theater this weekend, I told him that I was really excited about The Love Guru, and bet him a car wash that it would be #1 over the weekend!

What?!?

As I sit here and write this, I am thinking that perhaps I was a bit hasty in making that bet. Not because I am afraid of losing, oh no! Rather, because my history with movies, attending them, knowing stories about them or even remotely remembering what some of them are about if I have seen them - is not good.

If you've been listening to our show at all, you will have heard Bill give me a hard time about my lack of movie knowledge (or viewing) on more than one occasion. I don't mind this, as I could really care less most of the time. So, I suppose in essence, what I'm saying here is that I really don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to movies, and I had no right to make the call that The Love Guru would be #1 at the box office! I mean come on, I am not stupid. I've seen the reviews... Yikes.

However, dramatic pause, I will say that I love corny, quirky humor and find Mike Meyers highly entertaining in a juvenile, pubescent way. I own all the Austin Powers movies, and watch them on a regular basis.

So, make sure you're listening on Monday @ 8:30 to see who wins this bet!


Guess we'll find out how bad I really am with the whole movie thing, won't we...Oh well, I can't be good with everything I do. I mean, come on, I am practically perfect in so many other areas already... I gotta leave the 'little things' for someone else!

Rock on with your bad selves...

H