Glad to be here

[worktowin]

Every now and then I'll speak to a fellow quitter here and learn of a horrific story. When it happens I'm blown away by the unbelievable burden the man next to me is carrying. Someone's loved one is dying of cancer, another is burying a beloved pet, or going through a trough in a marriage, or any of a million horrific thing that enter our nightmares. The turmoil is going on all around us and yet, the quitter doggedly posts a simple promise every day. Today, I find tremendous comfort in that. I may be in a snowglobe, crushed and taking my breaths one at a time but this I got. I can chose to remain nicotine free today. I do have control over that.

...and today you are carrying that burden, yet you still came in here and posted your promise.  I am forever grateful to have you in my life.

Prayers to you my friend.

Exactly what this guy ^^^ said. Whatever you need brother

Love you brother.  We are all here to support you in this incredibly difficult time.  You aren't alone.

[69franx]

Every now and then I'll speak to a fellow quitter here and learn of a horrific story. When it happens I'm blown away by the unbelievable burden the man next to me is carrying. Someone's loved one is dying of cancer, another is burying a beloved pet, or going through a trough in a marriage, or any of a million horrific thing that enter our nightmares. The turmoil is going on all around us and yet, the quitter doggedly posts a simple promise every day. Today, I find tremendous comfort in that. I may be in a snowglobe, crushed and taking my breaths one at a time but this I got. I can chose to remain nicotine free today. I do have control over that.

...and today you are carrying that burden, yet you still came in here and posted your promise.  I am forever grateful to have you in my life.

Prayers to you my friend.

Exactly what this guy ^^^ said. Whatever you need brother

[chris2alaska]

Every now and then I'll speak to a fellow quitter here and learn of a horrific story. When it happens I'm blown away by the unbelievable burden the man next to me is carrying. Someone's loved one is dying of cancer, another is burying a beloved pet, or going through a trough in a marriage, or any of a million horrific thing that enter our nightmares. The turmoil is going on all around us and yet, the quitter doggedly posts a simple promise every day. Today, I find tremendous comfort in that. I may be in a snowglobe, crushed and taking my breaths one at a time but this I got. I can chose to remain nicotine free today. I do have control over that.

...and today you are carrying that burden, yet you still came in here and posted your promise.  I am forever grateful to have you in my life.

Prayers to you my friend.

[Athan]

Every now and then I'll speak to a fellow quitter here and learn of a horrific story. When it happens I'm blown away by the unbelievable burden the man next to me is carrying. Someone's loved one is dying of cancer, another is burying a beloved pet, or going through a trough in a marriage, or any of a million horrific thing that enter our nightmares. The turmoil is going on all around us and yet, the quitter doggedly posts a simple promise every day. Today, I find tremendous comfort in that. I may be in a snowglobe, crushed and taking my breaths one at a time but this I got. I can chose to remain nicotine free today. I do have control over that.

[Skolvikings]

Hey Athan, love you brother. Haven't gotten amd D pics for a while, so not sure what's up with that. I'll keep checking my PMs 

Cuming in hot, just got the spring edition from GQ photo spread, the "face mask" one made me puke in my mouth a bit... check your Messages @Bug Guy 

I still don't know how to unsubscribe.

[Bug Guy]

Hey Athan, love you brother. Haven't gotten any D pics for a while, so not sure what's up with that. I'll keep checking my PMs 

[Athan]

From Chickdip on five years. The whole thing left me misty eyed. You can read it here.

I hope I helped someone gain a few extra years.
I hope, when I did the right things, it helped someone.
I hope when I did the wrong things, it helped someone.
I hope I said the right things and used the right words, all at the right time to bring someone into their own quit.
I hope I was there for that one person at the very time it was crucial for them to hear what I had to say.
I hope I supported someone just enough so they could stand on their own quit in a strong way.
I hope, I really hope I saved a life, because coming to KTC and the people here did that for me.

[Athan]

Quit gold from Olcpo's HOF speech:

“If you are reading this and still sucking on DEATH...THINK, Please! You can be rid of IT. Spit it out, look at it, wait for one minute, now go for five minutes. Yeah? An hour...another hour? You are going to feel like crap, but you feel like crap now because you know you are killing yourself one dip at a time. Go rinse your mouth out, brush your teeth, get busy occupy your brain. Think about a chew? Look at the time, how long has it been? Wait another 5 minutes...A day? Read about what to expect on this site, be ready for it, know and celebrate each symptom, Nicotine will throw it all at you, but you are beating it or nic wouldn't be throwing craves, fogs, shakes, rage, _______ at you. You got it beat at this point. You used to reward yourself with a mouthful of Cancer Death, Take a break, you deserve it, have another shot of Death. Now you can reward yourself with another day of Quit/Freedom/Life.

Post your word to KTC at the start, Day one. One Day At A Time. Give your Word, Be accountable to Brother and Sister Addicts, propping each other up against Nicotine, Standing tall together. Rant and Rave here. Learn. Read. Be QUIT"

You can read the whole thing here

[Athan]

... So roughly 34K died from the flu  each year. Similar to the US. Currently they have 4,825 deaths. They still have a long way to meet the number and with the inability to “test” everyone unlike the flu, it’s hard to get the “real” numbers.......

That's true and a variable I hadn't considered. It is NOT known how many undetected cases there are as they may be very mild/moderate and medical attention therefore not sought out. Let's hope that's the case. The societal effects are starting to exceed that of the virus itself. Would hate to see the country descend into anarchy.

[chipper]

I thought this corona virus was all hype at first. Given that the flu killed 35,000 Americans last year (and an equivalent number for motor vehicle accidents). That’s roughly 1 American per 1,000 or 0.1%.
Globally, the corona virus has a much higher rate; 40 people per 1,000 infected or 4%. Thus far, the transmission rate is showing to be twice that of the flu.
To put it in perspective, I don’t personally know anyone who’s died from the flu. Before this is over, I’m fairly certain that I will know someone who’s died from covid19.

Sources:
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/3/18/21184992/coronavirus-covid-19-flu-comparison-chart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

@Athan I think that ratio is off though, because if you take Italy, they had 68,000 deaths from the flu over a 2 year season. So roughly 34K died from the flu  each year. Similar to the US. Currently they have 4,825 deaths. They still have a long way to meet the number and with the inability to “test” everyone unlike the flu, it’s hard to get the “real” numbers. Currently,and let’s take last year, everyone and anyone that didn’t feel “well” during the flu season and saw a practitioner, got a flu swap. Since we don’t have the ability to do that with corona, only the very sick that meet the criteria to be tested, receive the test, which then bumps up that ration to the 4% that was published. Just my 2 cents, what do you think? Also it’s not “more contagious” then the flu, like the Vox article stated, it’s just that no one has antibodies for this corona strain so Everyone essentially gets it... then next year we will get our flu shot and corona shot and you will either get antibodies  from the shot or from getting sick... very similar to when the H1N1 hit us hard...

[Athan]

I thought this corona virus was all hype at first. Given that the flu killed 35,000 Americans last year (and an equivalent number for motor vehicle accidents). That’s roughly 1 American per 1,000 or 0.1%.
Globally, the corona virus has a much higher rate; 40 people per 1,000 infected or 4%. Thus far, the transmission rate is showing to be twice that of the flu.
To put it in perspective, I don’t personally know anyone who’s died from the flu. Before this is over, I’m fairly certain that I will know someone who’s died from covid19.

Sources:
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/3/18/21184992/coronavirus-covid-19-flu-comparison-chart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

[Athan]

Planes, trains, and automobiles - Just ended a trip to DC with my daughter. The city is a must see, a bucket list item if you get the chance. The changing of the guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a moving experience if there ever was one, as is the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial . Made it to the National Archive and saw the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights (paid special attention to the Second Amendment). I must admit though, the highlight of the trip was breaking bread with none other than June '18's Kodiakdeath & August '18's Arrakisdq. I'd post a photo if it were possible. Amazing to roll, call, text, write to folks for two years and never see them and then out of the blue they emerge in 3-D and you see the smile of recognition from someone you've known but never seen before. It was cool beyond words.
I did see my old nemesis while there. Some inconsiderate prick dropped his wad right smack in the sidewalk at Vernon Square. Couldn't even make it 4' to the bushes on the side. Addiction is such a self centered narcissistic thing. So very pleased to be free and I think of it EVERY time I fly.

[ChickDip]

Congrats on 800 and thanks for being you! 

I could go on and on about the inspiration and the humor, etc, etc, etc that you have provided over the last 800 days.  Or, I could just say, "thanks for always being Athan!"  Whether you realize it, or not.  You ARE the capstone in the archway of quit for a whole lot of people.

Job well done, my friend.  Thank you.   

Congrats to you on the big 8 Athan. proud to quit with you!

[kybo]

Congrats on 800 and thanks for being you! 

I could go on and on about the inspiration and the humor, etc, etc, etc that you have provided over the last 800 days.  Or, I could just say, "thanks for always being Athan!"  Whether you realize it, or not.  You ARE the capstone in the archway of quit for a whole lot of people.

Job well done, my friend.  Thank you.   

[Athan]

Anyone seen Hundy?  I heard Athan ate him.  That's right, Athan ate hundy!

Ahhhhhhaaa!! Loving you Skol! You beat me to it
xoxoxo
I love you
bye