I quit smoking…….and you can too!

Make no mistake about it. For most people, quitting smoking is not an easy thing to do. And some people shouldn’t quit smoking. Under certain circumstances, there are legitimate reasons to smoke - i.e. - already on your deathbed, too late to quit so may as well enjoy it, etc.

But nowadays, there are certainly more reasons not to smoke besides the obvious health benefits. Cigarettes are much more expensive than ever, and getting even higher. Most U.S. states, counties, and even cities now have some form of anti-smoking law(s). These restrictions range from not allowing smoking in enclosed public places to not allowing smoking anywhere except in the privacy of your own home. And besides, nobody thinks its cool anymore.

So unless you have some very compelling reasons to smoke, then you probably should quit.

I smoked for 25 years. At my peak in the 1980s, I was smoking about 2-1/2 packs a day. Camel unfiltered. Very strong. I was convinced that I’d never be able to quit. By the mid 1990s I was still smoking lots and lots. I tried everything - Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, so-called “xx-step quit smoking program”. Nothing worked. For me, smoking was as much a lifestyle as a habit, and I couldn’t imagine life without it. But, in January of 2002, I finally quit. For good. How you ask? Well, here goes. But don’t tell too many people. If this gets out and catches on, bad things might happen to Big Brother: Sharp decreases in cigarette tax revenue, healthier people who don’t need to rely so much on the system, and other such nastiness. I’m about to reveal to you my super-secret, guaranteed, ultra expensive, revolutionary, patented method for quitting smoking. Are you ready? Good.

Sit back, light up a cigarette, relax, and read this.

I guarantee that if you do this, you will quit smoking.

Okay then. Here goes. What I did to quit smoking was just that - I quit. Cold. Yep, I tossed my pack of smokes in the trash and never looked back. I had finally had enough! I was tired of having to go outside in the winter, tired of not being to stay indoors for very long at a time, etc., and tired of not being able to breathe properly. But most of all, I was tired of cheating the woman I love out of our precious time together. Taking years off my time with her. You see, she has never smoked. Highly allergic to it in fact. I never could smoke anywhere near her. Was it hard for me? I’m not going to lie - you bet it was hard. For two long months, it was hard to resist the cravings. And I was working with 2 other people who smoked. I was also combating the various secret chemicals with which modern cigarettes are laced in order to keep you hooked. And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, I also liked to smoke. I enjoyed smoking as much as most people enjoy a good back rub.

But I prevailed. I kicked its ass. And so can you.

The cravings began to get weaker and less frequent. I began not to think about smoking, and every time I thought I wanted to smoke, I reminded myself of all the reasons to quit. Sort of a self-hypnosis, I guess. The final straw for me was during a plane trip - I had to change flights in Memphis, Tennessee. As I came into the terminal building, I looked for somewhere to smoke. Smoking is only allowed there in designated areas, of which there were only 2 at the time. According to the building map, I was a good 1/3 to 1/2 mile from the nearest one, having come in at the end of the concourse. What did I do? I walked to the smoking area, smoked, and walked back. As in the classic ad, you might say that I literally walked a mile for a Camel, since Camel brand was what I smoked.

It does get easier, and eventually you don’t really want to smoke anymore, even when your family & friends do.

So you see, quitting is really the only true way to quit. Even if you use patches, gum, or whatever, you will still need to quit. You will need to make up your mind to quit the gum or the patches. So why not take control and just quit? I know you can do it.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 27th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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Twisted words………

On my way home from work one bright summer day, I decided to pleasantly surprise my lovely wife by bringing to her one of her favorite snacks. I reasoned that if the way to a man’s heart is thru his stomach, then maybe it works with girls too. Also, I was just being thoughtful because I love her :).

Anyway, I stopped at the nearest convenience store. I collected the snack (a large pepperoni stick) along with some other items and got in line at the checkout counter. I could tell right away that the young checkout clerk was new to the job because of an obvious lack of confidence, and I had never seen her before.

When my turn came, she rang everything up nicely except for the pepperoni stick. “How much is that?” she asked. “My wife” I replied. The clerk and everyone else in the room looked at me kinda funny. “How much is that?” she asked again, indicating the pepperoni stick with her finger. “My wife!” I loudly replied again, somewhat puzzled. By now, this young woman behind the counter, along with everyone else in the room, were looking at me very strangely, and a couple of them were perturbed that I was holding up the line. I couldn’t understand why this clerk would ask me such a strange question! After all, she was a complete stranger to me.

After several seconds of feverish thought, it suddenly hit me. I started laughing so hard that I almost cried. Got some giggles from the people around me too, once I explained.

You see, the young woman’s question didn’t sound to me like what she was saying at all! The local atmosphere or my silly mind must have distorted her words. Everytime she said “How much is that?”, thats not what I heard. What I heard instead was “WHO MUNCHES THAT?”. :) Pretty funny.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 20th, 2007 with no comments.
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Get free software!

A free download section has been added along with some cool and useful programs. Some of these programs are created by our own programmers, and some are obtained elsewhere. These programs are totally free and contain no malware, spyware, adware, nor any other such nonsense.

Anyway, go to the download page and help yourself if you find anything useful to you.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 8th, 2007 with no comments.
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Puppy Bowlâ„¢ - How cute is that?

For the last three years, Animal Planetâ„¢ has been airing its own version of the Superbowl: Puppy Bowl™ . For those of us who are animal lovers, and even some who may not be, this is one of the most adorable shows ever conceived. Puppy Bowl III premieres on Sunday, February 4 2007 on Animal Planet. If you miss it or want to watch the Super Bowl also, don’t fret. Puppy Bowl III is repeated throughout the day. You can also purchase Puppy Bowl III on DVD, along with previous Puppy Bowl games (Puppy Bowls I and II) here . So treat yourself to one of the cutest shows on earth!

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 4th, 2007 with no comments.
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