I hate all this clean air I'm breathing!

Now I know why I hadn't attempted to quit smoking before now. I mean, really giving it the old college try, not just paying the effort "lip service."

Oh sure, I'd never smoke in someone's smokeless home and often went nearly a full day without a drag on anything other than fresh air! That's easy compared to being here without even a butt laying around anywhere to light up just to get a taste!

My lungs are actually complaining about getting too much "clean air" these past few days. Of course, to keep my hands and mouth busy, I've been cramming whatever I could find that wasn't still alive into myself at a pace likened to that fellow who ate 40 something hotdogs in a nano second! Miss Freckles' dog biscuits are beginning to look mighty palatable - if I could get past the smell of them, they'd be fair game, too!

My naturally sunny nature and easy-going temperament has suffered from this self-inflicted trauma!!!!! I'm afraid I've forever stunted the pecan tree out in my front yard with the whuppings I've given it for 3 days in a row. Probably killed the good crop of pecans in their infancy, too! Fingernails are gone - toenails would probably be gone too if I could get my feet up here!

I've not succumbed to getting the car out of the garage and driving down the road to get a pack of cigarettes - YET! However, I was out and about yesterday - made a presentation to a sewing club about digitizing embroidery designs - and had to forcibly keep my car from turning in at my favorite smoke shop! Made it home unscathed and smoke free - but, kept the car parked in the front yard until after dark thirty last night before putting it into the garage. (I don't like to drive after dark!)

I wonder if, when I go to the doctor's office for follow-up lab work on Monday, my blood will show the lack of nicotine in my system!?! How long does one have to go without smoking for nicotine to no longer be detectable? Or, is that even an issue? I suppose I could busy myself with research about this subject. To be completely honest, I don't really give a damn Miss Scarlett! My biggest concern is whether I can make it through the rest of this evening until I know the country store down the road has closed and can't buy ANYTHING without going into town or waiting until tomorrow!

Why in the world is Miss Freckles laying down with her nose in her food bowl - protecting it from me, is she? I did notice that when I measured out her dose of Kibbles N Bits they smelled extra good tonight! Move over, Miss Freckles!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Get Her He Goes!

My friend ( he knows who he is ) is excited about an upcoming trip he will be making soon. In fact, he's going to be starting this trip tomorrow morning. He's not only excited, but I believe more than a little in awe concerning the path in which his life is headed.

His fair damsel is in dire need of rescue - and being the knight (no shining armor here) he is, he not only will rescue her but will have her nearer to him so he can be her protector! This young man has been riding the proverbial roller coaster of emotions for a couple of weeks - not a fun state of mind in which to find oneself while feeling there was nothing he could really do to smooth out the ride!

I hope I'm not overstepping the boundaries of friendship, but my advice (for whatever it might be worth) is: Go get her, bring her home, and wrap your arms around her forever! Everything else will take care of itself in its appropriate time and manner! I have spoken!

Anyone got a cigarette?

To Superman: Your rantings are juvenile, to say the least, and offensive to boot. I would rather you not post on my site, and you may rest assured I won't visit yours again, ever!

Boy howdy, I feel better now! Got that off my mind! Hope I didn't hurt the dweeb's feelings - tried to be gentle! But, I didn't need to find a posting like his today - I'm in the process of cigarette withdrawal and not in a particularly good mood! Been 3 days now - going cold turkey without patches or gum or anything but will power. Felt myself weakening about two hours ago - if it hadn't been raining, I believe I would have driven to the country store down the road and bought a pack!

I've received lots of suggestions that are supposed to help prevent the urge to have a smoke: eat a peppermint, drink a glass of water, chew a hunk of gum, or drink a beer! Drink a beer? What's with that? All I want to know is this: what the heck do I do with my hands that have been used to lighting up, holding that wonderful smoke, etc.? Of course, it's not just my hands - my mouth is also involved. Can't eat or drink something each time I want a smoke or I'll become the equivalent of the Goodyear Blimp in rapid fashion!

Exercise, you say! Oh, baby, let me tell you. I walk every day, with Miss Freckles, and the first thing I want to do when I get back is light up! Walking isn't nearly as much fun now because there's no "reward" waiting!

I know, I know - you don't have to yell at me. I should never have started smoking lo those many years ago and I should have quit long ago! Just don't berate me any more, y'hear! I decided to smoke and I decided to quit. Leave it alone, now! If I choose to vent here, it's my blogsite and .....oh, the heck with it. Go ahead, yell at me if it will make you feel better. After all, that's what this site is all about - hopefully feeling better after blogging here!

I neither speak nor understand Techese!

Hold on now! Tech "stuff" is getting way out of hand! I want a PDA, but have no idea what the acronym means. Folks throw around terms like MP3, IPOD, PS3, XBox, and Symbian phone with wild abandon. Hyper text as opposed to what?

I'm proud to have a fairly up-to-date PC and lap-top, two all-in-one printers, a scanner I use because scanning capabilities in printers doesn't save in format I want, web cam, digital still camera, two dongles for separate digitizing programs, two USB hubs for connecting all my USB devices to PC and one for lap top, CD R/W, DVD Burner, surround sound speakers with woofer for PC, flash card reader, 256 MB USB Data Traveler, as well as one that is 2GB, and wireless keyboard for PC.

I consider myself fortunate that I am able to operate all this mind-boggling equipment with some sense of competence - although have no idea how or why they work as well as they do. Has something to do with software - I do know that! Software - now that's another term that confuses me.

Two of my sons are very involved with computers and what makes them do what they do. One is more into the technical practices of networking, although he does write data bases. The other son does high-end programming, whatever the heck that is. While a college student back in the 90's, I had to create a website, using HTML. Whatever I learned and accomplished, I've forgotten. Can't seem to get it into my head how to put a banner on this site. I'd like to add links and friends, etc. here, but the ability to do so completely evades me. It only took me three tries to change the template, for goodness sake!

While surfing blogsites (using BlogExplosion), the tech language out there can be very formidable - even slightly threatening - to a plain spoken person like me. All the gadgets and gizmos available have made me realize just how antiquated my knowledge ?? of computers and peripherals is.

Technical terms can be very confusing. My version of technical terminology is much easier - thingy, whatchamacallit, thingamajiggy, and whatsitz come closer to my field of understanding. Connecting that thingy to the whatchamacallit works for me!

Postings

sammy_bunny: I certainly hope that Miss Freckles (depicted herein on my blogsite) isn't opening two sets of doors, jumping up on my work desk, standing on her hind legs, and turning that blasted lamp on! Couldn't help but laugh, though, about your bunny playing with your computer mouse. Not funny to lose files, though. Thanks for visiting my site and leaving a comment.

milt: This template, in my opinion, is much easier on the eyes. Thanks for your comment about the "tasteful" change. Now, if I could only figure out how to add links to my site. Working on it - think I have to visit blogger dashboard AGAIN!

As for my hitting the lamp twice with my hand, I could see that happening maybe once - but not a total of three times within the past week or so! Either I've got gremlins playing tricks on me or there's an electrical explanation of some sort. In any case, I've got the pesky lamp plugged into a new surge protector now! Maybe that will be the cure for my heeby jeebies!

Completely bumfuzzled!

Went into my sewing room this morning to stitch out a design and the brass touch lamp I have mounted on the wall above my work area was ON! Now, I realize that at times my spaghetti has slud off my plate, but I distinctly remember touching the lamp last night to turn it OFF! As I closed the door, the room was in total darkness.

In order to turn the lamp ON or turn it OFF, one must TOUCH IT! Finding this lamp already glowing at its dimmest setting has happened a couple of times before today. With the hair standing at attention on the back of my neck, I once again found myself opening closet doors and looking under beds to seek out the culprit that is playing this mean trick on me. Not really sure what I would have done if I had found someone, you understand. Made me feel better, though, to realize there isn't anyone here except me and Miss Freckles!

But, it still doesn't explain how that durned lamp turned itself on! I have two other touch lamps strategically placed in my home - they don't have minds of their own and make attempts at switching themselves on to drive me nuts. (It really wouldn't be a very long drive, either!)

Have no explanation for this phenomenon - to me, it's bumfuzzling and very disconcerting. Whom do I contact about this? Or, should I just remain quiet about it (except here where nobody will ever read this)?

Today's musings.

All is well! Storm lacked the punch required to do extensive damage in my area. Power outages south and east of me, but no problems here. Fell asleep last night listening to the wind blow!

Surfing the channels last night, I received quite an education. I was amazed to learn that tampons actually flower these days - imagine that! There's a "warming jelly" that's good to use as a body lotion. Oh my! Saw, for the first time, a condom advertisement!

I can remember the days when Elvis' pelvis couldn't be shown on television, married couples in sitcoms slept in twin beds, Lucy couldn't say the word "pregnant," housewives wore high heels while vacuuming the carpet, and rock and roll would be the "downfall of the world."

While enjoying my coffee this morning, I got to thinking about my first car. Why, I don't know. It was a 1946 Chevvie, bald tires, brakes were very iffy, broken shift lever, electrical wiring for horn and lights was messed up, paid $65.00 for it, and absolutely adored that car! Was so very proud to be the ONLY ONE who could toot the horn by touching a bare wire to the steering column! When I sold "Bevvie the Chevvie," I got $125.00 for her - and I had driven her for nearly two years! Does anyone else have fond memories of his/her first car? I'd love to hear from you about it.

Can you hear my sigh of relief?

With things being like they are, I thought it best to delete my 2 previous posts. I'm kinda sorta in trouble and didn't want certain people to see what I'd written while upset. But, enjoyed the comments - nice to know someone else out there has same problems.

Been working on a long over-due design that hasn't been easy to work with. Finally have it done and am thinking about stitching it out. Hate to get started and have the power go out, though.

Stepped outside with Miss Freckles a few moments ago - wind is beginning to pick up and not another sound to be heard. No frogs croaking, no crickets cricketing, no birds chirping - nothing! More than slightly disconcerting to not hear any of these sounds. Living in the country as I do, one gets used to hearing the little critters and often don't even realize I'm listening to them. They know the weather is gonna get bad, I'm sure.

Have plenty of candles ready, battery-operated radio nearby, a good flashlight handy, and ran the dishwasher because wasn't sure when the power just might fail. Sometimes it isn't too much fun having an "all electric" home! Hope I will be able to brew some coffee for myself in the morning - gotta have coffee to get a jump start on the day.

We are being advised to not drive ANYWHERE between the hours of 6 p.m. tonight and noon tomorrow. Have no plans of leaving this house again for a while - unless it's a dire emergency. It's so peacefully quiet here - soaking it up like another skin! Of course, tomorrow I may begin complaining again about being lonesome. If I do, smite me severely about the head and shoulders with a 2 x 4, will ya?