How are the Smokers here getting on?
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Hi Guys,
I know there are quite a few die hard nicotine addicts here, me included. Lately I found myself overdoing cigarettes. Even one is overdoing it but we all have our weaknesses.
A friend of mine, a smoker, rolls his own. I was always amused at the little ritual he went through while doing it. I often tried one of his RYO (roll your own) but did not like the 'experience' however I did like the idea as he was able cut his consumption.
Anyway, I decided to give it a bash! Bought a small cig machine also filters and tried out various blends of tobacco. I quite enjoy making them and found that the Amber Leaf blend strikes the right balance for me also I have reduced my consumption by 50%!
I now only smoke a cigarette when I feel the need not just out of habit. The RYOs also self extinguish when left in the ash tray for a couple of minutes. I imagine this is an indication that there is less (additive) chemicals in the paper at least.
I know the best thing to do is quit the Nic totally but I am afraid while the mind is willing, the flesh is weak, very weak. Still I thought I'd share this with other nicotine addicts here in the hope that they also might control their smoking a little more.
Mike
PS: RYO is over 50% cheaper here in Ireland and the UK (I think), an other reason in these uncertain economic times to look at this alternative.
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Mike what happened with the EZ smoker? (I think thats the name at least)
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I still use them occasionally but I dont get the same 'kick' from them. Are you still on the Nic?
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Yup, I gave up giving up...too stressful.
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I smoke for the smoke, Mike, not that much of the ritual. I used to play with rolling my own (when younger and thought it was cool), I even smoked pipe (which has the ritual, too) but by now I realised that it's just the nicotine.
BTW how much is a pack of cigs over there? The brand I smoke is about € 2 if I exchange the rates. But for some stupid reasons, they only put 19 in a pack (not 20 like they used to).
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I switched to these about 2 years ago and while I'm under no delusion that they are "healthy", I can say for certain that they are not addictive in the way that a marlboro is addictive. I tend to only smoke while out on the jobsite, which is daily. I can smoke 7 or 8 cigs in a day sometimes at work and then come home on a Friday and not have another cig until monday, since I don't typically smoke at home. Never once over the weekend will I crave a cigarette, unless I'm drinking alcohol. This makes me tend to believe that most of the addictive nicotine in cigs is not naturally in the tobacco, but added chemically by the manufacturer.
I feel like I can smoke because I like to smoke, and not because of the physical cravings and guilt associated with it.
Good to hear you switched to RYO Mike. I did it for a while also. The funniest is seeing a customers face when I'm twisting one up in front of them. They always think it must be the whacky tobaccy.
BTW - @ almost $7 a pack, the American Spirit Organic cigs will cut consumption on cost alone!!
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A smooker here also. And i also try to quit but as pete said it's to stressfull trying to give up. But now i just smoke my cigarretes too, the ritual of rolling is really gaining on me and for some reason, it really calms me down.
I don't know if i'm really addicted to the nicotine or rather enjoy smoking because for me, nothing beats after a great meal/dinner, a cigarrete while drinking my nespresso (can work with other coffes but it's not the same...
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Hey is smoking allowed here? I think you guys better move to a thread around the back somewhere, before you get in trouble.
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Yeah! Can't be havin' a lot of cyber-hand smoke floatin' around in here.
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After a fairly major health scare, I'm now .... and there's a problem I'm not a non smoker or an ex smoker, I'm just a smoker who no longer smokes.
Do I miss it ? - Oh yea, I'd go back tomorrow if I could;
Do I feel better (as everyone told me I would)? - not at all, in fact overall I feel slightly worse;
Do I feel fitter - not one bit....and probably worst of all I feel that I'm no longer a part that huge informal worldwide club which has brought me so much fun, pleasure and cameraderie over the years.
So good luck everyone enjoy those moments of guilty pleasure while you still can. I'll think of you as I reach for yet another mint.
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without words
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You guys need a virtual smoker's shelter http://www.informatixsoftware.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2418
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I saw a job ad the other day for a place I once worked - the ad said "we do not hire users of tobacco products."
Just curious how common this is, or is becoming?
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I started smoking when a pack out of a machine cost 50 cents, and quit when it was about $1.00 each. By then machine cigarette's were too expensive, and I bought them by the carton to keep cost down. Still, I was up to 3 packs a day. Even after awareness of the health hazard, the increase in taxes, and smoking bans came into effect, I thought about smoking, the release it provided from the addictive craving, and wounder if I would ever take another drag:-( When I think about it, I can still feel trace remnants of that craving.
Jim, when I think about the holes I burned into my drawings, even with computers, I wouldn't want to hire a smoker. Actually I couldn't, smoking is not allowed in offices here.
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@jim said:
I saw a job ad the other day for a place I once worked - the ad said "we do not hire users of tobacco products."
Just curious how common this is, or is becoming?
I dont suppose the company provides health care as part of the package? if so you can see why they would impose such a restriction. If not, id be loathed to work for them. Employers delving in to the social lives of their employees really pisses me off.
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Well get ready to have the Government do it. . ..Smoking, Big Macs, Video games . .. .
Government Health Care means Government Nanny-ism. . ..
Sorry. Didn't mean to get Political . ..too much.
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Csaba, the price of 20 cigs here is €8.45!
Adam, I've seen American Spirit on the Net but not available here. Must try them sometime, at least I would not be breathing in amounts of pesticide
Dacad, its really an addiction! More psychological than physical. The physical addiction goes fully after 3 - 4 weeks once the system is cleaned out BUT the psychological addiction takes a LOT longer, sometimes years I hear.
Cosycat, stay off them if its a case of you or them.
Charly, that old guy looks happy. Hope I get to that age. Funny thing for me is that it does not bother me if I don't have a drink for months on end! The bar pic is typical of many bars here in Ireland.
John, Many bars that had available space have built some really nice Smoking Areas, even heated! On Saturday nights there can often be as many non smokers in these areas as smokers. Hey! we must be an attractive bunch
Jim, I'm curious about the type of job that was advertised? Sounds a bit strange to me, after all smoking (nicotine) is legal AND does fatten the Government's coffers with the huge taxes!
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Golden Virginia and blue Rizlas, used to be my vice- until I quit, about three years back. Although I feel much healthier, my waist now measures 38" rather than 36" (jeans)! Smokers are treated like leapers in the UK now.
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i smoke.. switched to rollies around a year ago and went from about 25 cigs a day (at 10 bucks per pack of 20) to around 6-7 a day ($10 pouch lasts up to a week)..
bali shag light.. try it out if you're into ryo..
http://balishagloosetobacco.com/ -
I've smoked on and off for nearly 20yrs, and once was off cigs for 5yrs when i fell off the wagon.
But this thread reminds me of what happened while contracting in Boston in the 90's
Driving home after work at 4am on quiet road i was smoking when i decided to throw cig out window. It miraculously flew back in the window and on to the back seat! Where i decided in my infinite wisdom to turn and look to see where it went and ending up kind of weaving around the road. Next thing.....
Flashing blue lights
Now at the time i was, lets say over staying my welcome, in the good ol' USA and knew if this copper made enquiries i was up the swanny.
Cop: "Licence and Registration, Sir"
Dumb Irish Kid: "It's in me other car, this is the bosses car!"
Cop: "Sir, are you familiar with driving in this country"
Dumb Irish Kid: "Yes, Officer but i can explain....."
Cop: " Have you been drinkin' at all tonite Sir?"
Dumb Irish Kid: " No Officer, but i can explain............"
At this point i must explain that unfortunately cigarettes or smokes or ciggies are also called FAGS in Ireland. Now there is no malice meant in referring to cigarettes as fags it comes Fag-end, which is a rope used in sailing that had a useless frayed end.
Dumb Irish Kid: " Well Officer i was driving along and threw a fag out the window but fuc....."
Cop: "Whooah, whooah, whooah... Sir let me get this straight. You threw a fag out the window"
Dumb Irish Kid: Yes Officer"
It was at this point that 'Back-Up' was called. I was cuffed and placed in the back of the squad car! Once 'Back-Up' arrived i was told to show the Officers where about the fag was thrown.
Dumb Irish Kid: " The fuc#@$ came back in the window and landed on the back seat and i was trying to reach back to throw it out again when i drifted across the road and...."
Cop: "Whooah, whooah, whooah... "
Back-Up: "I'll go check on the victim"
At this point i realised my faux pas and explained to the Officer that the fag in question was in fact a cigarette! To this day, every xmas i get a card from Officer Jones and family, who reminds that he still gets bought drink at the bar to tell the tale of the 'Irish Kid and the Fag'
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