First Day

[Winter Green]

Welcome to the second floor! You are a great example for new quitters Jake! See you tomorrow at 201.

Hell yeah rollaboy. Bad ass

[worktowin]

Welcome to the second floor! You are a great example for new quitters Jake! See you tomorrow at 201.

[worktowin]

Great to meet you today! Thanks for being a part of my accountability and success. Meeting other quitters has been a big motivator for me - although we are all different, in many ways we are the same. Keep up the great work - life keeps getting better without nicotine. I wish I had the wisdom to quit at your age!

You da man -

[worktowin]

Midwest04z-This married Midwesterner lives in South Central Missouri with his wife anf three kids. He started his addiction at the age of 17 and started with Skoal Cherry and then moved onto Kodiak and Cope (see the trend here marketing to kids with candy flavors). This quitter is bringing a handle of Crown Royal and some decaffeinated Coke (I hope you all have a clean glass). In the event of an accident he asks that his daughter be contacted because his wife will be stowing away on the train with him (sounds like his quote promoted hers as well). When asked about inappropriate behavior this fine quitter turned that into a question for me “Ah yeah, that's a big 10-4. After a few crown and cokes I like shed a few layers of clothing, is the train going by the East Side Pinched?”…well brother if you promise to keep your clothes on I will put in a request for an alternate stop, I myself am a fan of nekkid women. His words of wisdom are “No one can make you quit except you and no one can make you use, except you. Look in the mirror and choose who you want to be every damn day!”

The craziest thing this quitter can think of is that for 12 years he played Russian roulette with cancer, gum and bone disease. He will be taking a vacation to celebrate his HOF. This guy will be signing up for 200 days and plans on watching his fellow Divers quit and staying true to his word. His favorite sports team is “THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS” (Hell YEAH). He lays pipe for a living, ha, I mean he is a pipeliner. He drives a 2004 Chevy Tahoe. For a hobby he likes to pick the guitar. His favorite avatar on here is from Pinched – he never gets tired of seeing that chimp cop a feel. He has been and continues to be inspired by Worktowin (great choice of a solid quitter and a great supporter – I love you too Mike).

Congratulations on a huge achievement! You have endured many tests, from beached boats, to dog bitten kids, to milestone birthdays, to late night drives to the emergency room, to business trips with devoted dippers... And you've kept your word and promise throughout. Today you should celebrate, and crown and coke sounds perfect to me! I'll have one for you!

Life keeps getting better without the nicotine choker. While today is a celebration, I promise you that even better days are ahead. You have really been and inspiration for me and for many on this site. I look forward to celebrating a lot more milestones with you. And, for the 100th day in a successful row - I quit with you today.

[Pinched]

Midwest04z-This married Midwesterner lives in South Central Missouri with his wife anf three kids. He started his addiction at the age of 17 and started with Skoal Cherry and then moved onto Kodiak and Cope (see the trend here marketing to kids with candy flavors). This quitter is bringing a handle of Crown Royal and some decaffeinated Coke (I hope you all have a clean glass). In the event of an accident he asks that his daughter be contacted because his wife will be stowing away on the train with him (sounds like his quote promoted hers as well). When asked about inappropriate behavior this fine quitter turned that into a question for me “Ah yeah, that's a big 10-4. After a few crown and cokes I like shed a few layers of clothing, is the train going by the East Side Pinched?”…well brother if you promise to keep your clothes on I will put in a request for an alternate stop, I myself am a fan of nekkid women. His words of wisdom are “No one can make you quit except you and no one can make you use, except you. Look in the mirror and choose who you want to be every damn day!”

The craziest thing this quitter can think of is that for 12 years he played Russian roulette with cancer, gum and bone disease. He will be taking a vacation to celebrate his HOF. This guy will be signing up for 200 days and plans on watching his fellow Divers quit and staying true to his word. His favorite sports team is “THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS” (Hell YEAH). He lays pipe for a living, ha, I mean he is a pipeliner. He drives a 2004 Chevy Tahoe. For a hobby he likes to pick the guitar. His favorite avatar on here is from Pinched – he never gets tired of seeing that chimp cop a feel. He has been and continues to be inspired by Worktowin (great choice of a solid quitter and a great supporter – I love you too Mike).

[worktowin]

As I approach the HOF (Time machine day today @ 88) I thought I'd read back through my intro.  It's pretty great to see all the support from everyone along the way. 

A quote from Worktowin kind of sums up what my quit is about:

"As far as looking up to the men that you respect... I hear you. Some of the best men I have ever met were nic addicts. My father, my grandfather, some coworkers, some friends, and some of you from ktc. You guys aren't great men because you are addicts... You are great men in spite of it. And once you quit, you become better men. I feel great pity for those that are still feeding the addiction. And part of the being better is what we learn about ourselves along the way. Tobacco isn't a character builder. It doesn't build us into leaders. It doesn't make us great fathers or husbands. It actually makes all of those a little harder to achieve because of the time, energy, and solitude sometimes required to feed this addiction."

I truly believed that cope was part of my persona...a trait that made me more confident, likeable, and all around better.  I could not have been more wrong.  I was all of those things in spite of nicotine.  Nicotine free, I am embracing all of the qualities I have suppressed for the last 12 years and it is truly great.  Thanks Mike for those words - they helped me understand something I may have never quite figured out.

I'll be hangin here at the station waiting on the train -

'clap' Bravo. Stay in the fight today. Worry about tomorrow when it becomes today!

Love seeing the point where things seem to get a little brighter, the road a little easier to travel, and the sky a little clearer as time goes by. You get it - you understand that the battle is worth the payoff. You see the future and the freedom that you fought for - so one day at a time the even better days will soon be yours.

I'm very proud for you today, and look forward to you raising holy ozarks hell when you jump on that train!

[Mthomas3824]

As I approach the HOF (Time machine day today @ 88) I thought I'd read back through my intro. It's pretty great to see all the support from everyone along the way.

A quote from Worktowin kind of sums up what my quit is about:

"As far as looking up to the men that you respect... I hear you. Some of the best men I have ever met were nic addicts. My father, my grandfather, some coworkers, some friends, and some of you from ktc. You guys aren't great men because you are addicts... You are great men in spite of it. And once you quit, you become better men. I feel great pity for those that are still feeding the addiction. And part of the being better is what we learn about ourselves along the way. Tobacco isn't a character builder. It doesn't build us into leaders. It doesn't make us great fathers or husbands. It actually makes all of those a little harder to achieve because of the time, energy, and solitude sometimes required to feed this addiction."

I truly believed that cope was part of my persona...a trait that made me more confident, likeable, and all around better. I could not have been more wrong. I was all of those things in spite of nicotine. Nicotine free, I am embracing all of the qualities I have suppressed for the last 12 years and it is truly great. Thanks Mike for those words - they helped me understand something I may have never quite figured out.

I'll be hangin here at the station waiting on the train -

'clap' Bravo. Stay in the fight today. Worry about tomorrow when it becomes today!

[midwest04z]

As I approach the HOF (Time machine day today @ 88) I thought I'd read back through my intro. It's pretty great to see all the support from everyone along the way.

A quote from Worktowin kind of sums up what my quit is about:

"As far as looking up to the men that you respect... I hear you. Some of the best men I have ever met were nic addicts. My father, my grandfather, some coworkers, some friends, and some of you from ktc. You guys aren't great men because you are addicts... You are great men in spite of it. And once you quit, you become better men. I feel great pity for those that are still feeding the addiction. And part of the being better is what we learn about ourselves along the way. Tobacco isn't a character builder. It doesn't build us into leaders. It doesn't make us great fathers or husbands. It actually makes all of those a little harder to achieve because of the time, energy, and solitude sometimes required to feed this addiction."

I truly believed that cope was part of my persona...a trait that made me more confident, likeable, and all around better. I could not have been more wrong. I was all of those things in spite of nicotine. Nicotine free, I am embracing all of the qualities I have suppressed for the last 12 years and it is truly great. Thanks Mike for those words - they helped me understand something I may have never quite figured out.

I'll be hangin here at the station waiting on the train -

[worktowin]

I'm in a funk and it fucking sucks!  I traveled to Houston, TX for work this week and I am totally experiencing that bad case of the mid 70's fuck-its.  I have the luxury of working in an industry riddled with nic use but luckily work a solitary position where I might not see another co-worker for a month of so.  Here I am in TX and every one I have to work with is loaded with a fatty.  I have a horrible head ache and I am constantly finding my brain reminescing (sp?) pre-quit days. I know its a funk and I'm doing the right things to stay quit.  I will NAFAR use nicotine.  Maybe I just needed to vent this disgust out of my brain...I am feeling better as I write this.  I know this funk will be over soon.

Great job realizing The funk. You'll get through it with flying colors. I know something that helps. Next time really watch them slaves suckle with the poison. Watch them as they can't make it one hour without the poison ordering them to suckle once again.. Watch how they treat the poison like it's more important than anything in thier lives. They probably enjoy being away from thier families so they can be with their true love. Watch them my friend,,, it will make you feel sorry for them. Poor slaves.

Not you my friend. You love your new life. You don't need it,, never did. Screw the poison!! I'm quit with you.

I concur with every word of this ^^^^^^ bad ass. You will learn to see users through eyes of pity rather than eyes of envy. I am sitting next to a dear friend of mine right now, he is trying like hell to get his nic fix in before we catch our second leg of the flight. Thank God I won't have to swallow that shit on the plane or go nuts without it. It's great to be quit. Erussell day 177

I don't even need to add to these^^^^^^^^^^^ badasses! But I will. We all go through these same funks. Maybe at different days, but we all have them. My worst has been after the H.O.F.! The thing to remember is that you are FREE and you are free because you have lived by a standard that works! Do not falter from that standard. Keep your head up and push through it day by day just like you did when you first started and your body wanted to revolt. Remember those days? Its the same principle. Keep pushing and then one morning you realize the funk is over and you are STILL FREE! You got this all day!

Hope you enjoyed the Cajun crabs at the restaurant last night. They taste better without Copenhagen. Everything does.

Every day up to a point in this process is either miserable or a struggle. And then it isn't. My misery lasted a little over 50 days. My struggle lasted another 100. Everyone is different, but years of poisoning your body takes time to fix. There are good, even great days sprinkled in here and there along the way. Personally, I would call Cajun crabs a great day.

As far as looking up to the men that you respect... I hear you. Some of the best men I have ever met were nic addicts. My father, my grandfather, some coworkers, some friends, and some of you from ktc. You guys aren't great men because you are addicts... You are great men in spite of it. And once you quit, you become better men. I feel great pity for those that are still feeding the addiction. And part of the being better is what we learn about ourselves along the way. Tobacco isn't a character builder. It doesn't build us into leaders. It doesn't make us great fathers or husbands. It actually makes all of those a little harder to achieve because of the time, energy, and solitude sometimes required to feed this addiction. Not to mention the lies - everyone of us had either lied to ourselves or others about our addiction...

Right now is a tough time, but better times are ahead. Those jacked up wires in your head are getting sorted out, and paradise is ahead. Keep doing what you are doing. It will get better. There's a train headed you way pretty soon....

[jake frawley]

I'm in a funk and it fucking sucks!  I traveled to Houston, TX for work this week and I am totally experiencing that bad case of the mid 70's fuck-its.  I have the luxury of working in an industry riddled with nic use but luckily work a solitary position where I might not see another co-worker for a month of so.  Here I am in TX and every one I have to work with is loaded with a fatty.  I have a horrible head ache and I am constantly finding my brain reminescing (sp?) pre-quit days. I know its a funk and I'm doing the right things to stay quit.  I will NAFAR use nicotine.  Maybe I just needed to vent this disgust out of my brain...I am feeling better as I write this.  I know this funk will be over soon.

Great job realizing The funk. You'll get through it with flying colors. I know something that helps. Next time really watch them slaves suckle with the poison. Watch them as they can't make it one hour without the poison ordering them to suckle once again.. Watch how they treat the poison like it's more important than anything in thier lives. They probably enjoy being away from thier families so they can be with their true love. Watch them my friend,,, it will make you feel sorry for them. Poor slaves.

Not you my friend. You love your new life. You don't need it,, never did. Screw the poison!! I'm quit with you.

I concur with every word of this ^^^^^^ bad ass. You will learn to see users through eyes of pity rather than eyes of envy. I am sitting next to a dear friend of mine right now, he is trying like hell to get his nic fix in before we catch our second leg of the flight. Thank God I won't have to swallow that shit on the plane or go nuts without it. It's great to be quit. Erussell day 177

I don't even need to add to these^^^^^^^^^^^ badasses! But I will. We all go through these same funks. Maybe at different days, but we all have them. My worst has been after the H.O.F.! The thing to remember is that you are FREE and you are free because you have lived by a standard that works! Do not falter from that standard. Keep your head up and push through it day by day just like you did when you first started and your body wanted to revolt. Remember those days? Its the same principle. Keep pushing and then one morning you realize the funk is over and you are STILL FREE! You got this all day!

[Erussell]

I'm in a funk and it fucking sucks!  I traveled to Houston, TX for work this week and I am totally experiencing that bad case of the mid 70's fuck-its.  I have the luxury of working in an industry riddled with nic use but luckily work a solitary position where I might not see another co-worker for a month of so.  Here I am in TX and every one I have to work with is loaded with a fatty.  I have a horrible head ache and I am constantly finding my brain reminescing (sp?) pre-quit days. I know its a funk and I'm doing the right things to stay quit.  I will NAFAR use nicotine.  Maybe I just needed to vent this disgust out of my brain...I am feeling better as I write this.  I know this funk will be over soon.

Great job realizing The funk. You'll get through it with flying colors. I know something that helps. Next time really watch them slaves suckle with the poison. Watch them as they can't make it one hour without the poison ordering them to suckle once again.. Watch how they treat the poison like it's more important than anything in thier lives. They probably enjoy being away from thier families so they can be with their true love. Watch them my friend,,, it will make you feel sorry for them. Poor slaves.

Not you my friend. You love your new life. You don't need it,, never did. Screw the poison!! I'm quit with you.

I concur with every word of this ^^^^^^ bad ass. You will learn to see users through eyes of pity rather than eyes of envy. I am sitting next to a dear friend of mine right now, he is trying like hell to get his nic fix in before we catch our second leg of the flight. Thank God I won't have to swallow that shit on the plane or go nuts without it. It's great to be quit. Erussell day 177

[srans]

I'm in a funk and it fucking sucks! I traveled to Houston, TX for work this week and I am totally experiencing that bad case of the mid 70's fuck-its. I have the luxury of working in an industry riddled with nic use but luckily work a solitary position where I might not see another co-worker for a month of so. Here I am in TX and every one I have to work with is loaded with a fatty. I have a horrible head ache and I am constantly finding my brain reminescing (sp?) pre-quit days. I know its a funk and I'm doing the right things to stay quit. I will NAFAR use nicotine. Maybe I just needed to vent this disgust out of my brain...I am feeling better as I write this. I know this funk will be over soon.

Great job realizing The funk. You'll get through it with flying colors. I know something that helps. Next time really watch them slaves suckle with the poison. Watch them as they can't make it one hour without the poison ordering them to suckle once again.. Watch how they treat the poison like it's more important than anything in thier lives. They probably enjoy being away from thier families so they can be with their true love. Watch them my friend,,, it will make you feel sorry for them. Poor slaves.

Not you my friend. You love your new life. You don't need it,, never did. Screw the poison!! I'm quit with you.

[midwest04z]

I'm in a funk and it fucking sucks! I traveled to Houston, TX for work this week and I am totally experiencing that bad case of the mid 70's fuck-its. I have the luxury of working in an industry riddled with nic use but luckily work a solitary position where I might not see another co-worker for a month of so. Here I am in TX and every one I have to work with is loaded with a fatty. I have a horrible head ache and I am constantly finding my brain reminescing (sp?) pre-quit days. I know its a funk and I'm doing the right things to stay quit. I will NAFAR use nicotine. Maybe I just needed to vent this disgust out of my brain...I am feeling better as I write this. I know this funk will be over soon.

[Mike from AB]

Awesome congrats MW on making it through a tough weekend!

[midwest04z]

Thanks Worktowin! When I choose to do something challenging in life, life tends to throw a lot of obstacles at me to overcome. All the triggers and stressful situations have been a challenge, but all I can think about is "1 problem + nicotine = 2 problems." I have survived the last 45 days on this mantra.

Yesterday, we had a poker run on the river. It's a big annual charity event and we rarely miss it. I promised my two young sons they could go and we would camp at the campground yesterday evening. We had a great nic free day and after 6 hours on the river, we headed back to the ramp. Its about a 14 mile ride back up river and we left at the absolute worst possible time. The sun was setting and casting a glare on the river to the point I couldn't see a fucking thing. I got nervous that I might have a head on collision with another boat and started slowing down. Just as I started to come off plane, I realized I was way off the main channel. Within a millisecond, our 2200 pound boat slammed to a halt in about an inch of water. Needless to say, I was pissed at myself and thank goodness there wasn't a floating C-store with a cope sign. As the sun started to set, a group of boats came past, circled back, and came to help us. About a dozen of us shoved that anchor 3 inches at time back into the channel. cleaned out the intake grate and pump and got us restarted.
Fast forward an hour: Boat's unhooked and just arrived at the campground. Socialize for a bit, eat some food, and start preparing to set up camp. I was just making a grown up drink when I hear a kid crying. Yep, it's one of mine. My youngest (18 months) got bitten on the face by a dog at the campground. Alright, loaded everything back up and make the trek to the hospital (1 hour) with crabby sunburned family. Hospital says the plastic surgeon isn't on call tonight and sends us to the University Hospital in Columbia (another 1/2 hour). All in all, he got two stitches to close up his lip and we got home at 5 am this morning. So yeah, I kicked the nic bitches ass all weekend. She can bring it the fuck on. I clearly need no more problems! Anyway, being quit is awesome. Not one time did I have to worry about where I was going to spit at the hospital and it was perhaps the most free I have felt since I have quit.
Thanks sportsfan and worktowin for your massive amount of encouragement and support - you men are truly badass quitters.