Smoker / Non-Smoker

[JimmyH155]

I must admit to the occasional cigar, but even that may have to stop - you see, I just got a BEAUTIFUL Lightbridge 12 inch and the thought of fag ash falling onto that lovely mirror might be too much to bear.
Mind you I always think of that great quotation by Rudyard Kipling who wrote Jungle book -
I quote.... "A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke!"

[Roger Davis]

Originally Posted by Adrian-H

do they talk back to you?

Okay, so now we're getting into a completely different area: mental health

As we know all Amateur Astronomers are crazy, so, do you talk to your telescope?

[astro_nutt]

Originally Posted by Adrian-H

do they talk back to you?

Yeah!!..they say things to you like.."Wheeeeze in and out..that's it..and again..feeling better now???..fool!"
Oh!..I don't talk to my scope as such...just the odd WOW!!

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by Roger Davis

Okay, so now we're getting into a completely different area: mental health

As we know all Amateur Astronomers are crazy, so, do you talk to your telescope?

it funny you should say that roger (no i dont talk to my scope). I am sure that the rest of thepopulation think we are crazy. we see a faint grey smear in out eyepiece and have a huge smile on our face for the rest of the night... if anyone else were to see it they'd try to rub it off...

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

It's a horrible habit that makes your clothes and hairs stink, your husband won't kiss you because your breath is like an ashtray, it drives you insane when you mislay your pack, and costs heaps of money that could be put towards an expensive accessory for your scope.
ON the other hand...
What I'll miss most is sitting by a camp fire on a cold night, with a ciggie in one hand and glass of port in the other.

[astrofiend]

Quiting smoking is bloody hard at first, but well worth it after a while. The best reason to quit is you feel better for it. There are plenty of other reasons such as health issues, but the fact is that just being alive kills you. Although I am well aware that there are lies, damn lies and then statistics, I read an interesting one the other day as follows: If you either live in the heart of the city or spend a majority of your time there, it is roughly equivalent (in terms of impact on health) to smoking about half a pack of ciggies a day, such is the pollution. I'm not suggesting a move to the country, but the point is there are many environmental factors almost as bad for your health as cigarettes.

I smoked from the age of about 15 until I was 23. From 15 until 18, it was just a couple every now and then. When I was 18, I really became a social smoker - every time I went to the pub or out with mates I'd smoke. During the week they wouldn't even cross my mind, but the instant I tasted a beer on the weekend, I'd kill for them.

In the end I just cold turkeyed it. I found if I tried to reason with myself or ration them, I inevitably ended up losing the mental battle. You just have to embed it in your mind that ciggies are a no-go, no ifs nor buts about it. I found that when it got too full-on, a pack of corn chips or something would give me something to do with my hands for about 5 mins just like a ciggie would.

It took about 5 months for me to stop loving the smell of smoke and killing for one every time I went out where there were smokers, but now (after 1 1/2 years) I hate the smell of ambient smoke. The biggest thing I've noticed since quitting is that I'm just a lot fitter now. I can happily mountain bike or swim around for hours on end while just sucking down the air - that would have been unthinkable only two years ago when I would have been reduced to a wheezing asthmatic heap in seconds.

[Adrian-H]

Originally Posted by Roger Davis

Okay, so now we're getting into a completely different area: mental health

As we know all Amateur Astronomers are crazy, so, do you talk to your telescope?

sure i am crazy too yeah but id rather talk to myself cause i know i can talk back!

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by avandonk

I smoke nearly a packet (50gm) per day of White Ox tobacco and I really enjoy it.

Bert

sheeeeeshus! a packet of that last me a week and I thought I had a habit.
Counting tally-ho's you must be spending close to $150.00 per week


I started smoking when I was hitting high school, the Moari boy's use to
make me stand guard at the dunny block doors. Where I got introduce to both
types of tabacco oh well high school seems to be where it happens.

Anyways still smoking rollies, gave them up first time just before Jake was
born in late 2000 for about 3 yrs. Then we decided to pack up and leave
the big city life, which cuased a lil stress and I took it back up. Lynne my
partner took back up after Jake arrived so they were handy and I was weak

Now we're due for our second son, I'm the only one left smoking again. So
I plan to knock it on the head "for good" before the lil one is born. I want
to see them grow and buy me beer, perve on the young ladies they bring
home... it's ok lads, you wont have to worry about any future daughters,
I'll be the mutt stuck to the rocking chair on the porch

regards,CS

Rob

[Ric]

I have weened myself down to 5 a day from 20 since January this year. I stick to my rules of....

No smoking in the house (if it's raining I don't bother).

No smokes after midnight and none before midday.

Space out my smokes to when I really wan't them and not as a automatic reaction to anything.

I think my willpower is at a point where I'm ready for the next step and I know that 5 a day will be a lot easier to give up than 20 and working in a smoke free environment is very helpfull as well.

The extra money that Ihave been saving is split 50/50 now, astro accessories and body art but that can be for another poll one day.

Cheers

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Yep, I'm a smoker, get through about 20 a day depending on whether I'm busy or thinking (thinking is the worst time).
I don't talk to my scope, well might swear at it now and then, but that's usually my fault. What the trickcyclists call projecting blame LOL

[Sgtfretsurfer]

quit last thursday, and im already getting the itch...

[Lee]

Yep I've heard of people bringing on emphysema by actually giving up (though this would just have been delayed slightly by not doing so).

I realise this is a newly bumped old thread - but I felt I had to correct this statement. It is wrong.
The only thing a smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing emphysema is to quit, sometimes quitting occurs too late though, and airways disease develops (or becomes apparent).
Quitting does not bring it on, it does help those with emphysema live longer though.
Good luck to all the smokers trying to quit.
End of lecture!

[erick (Eric)]

New life to an old thread, it seems.

OK, I had about had a dozen ciggies in the late 60s in my early teens with mates. We hid them outside so parents didn't know - in Qld tropical weather. By the time I smoked the last one it had gone rather green! Gulp! I never smoked again.

[astroron (Ron)]

I gave up 25 years ago, after a night out with a mate.
I came down in the morning with a mouth tasting like the bottom of a cockies cage , and gave the mate a full pack plus a half packet of Benson and Hedges and a very expensive lighter and said that's it.
Except for two occasions early on have not smoked since.
On arriving back from Astrofest I received a phone call telling me the mate has throat cancer so I am glad I gave it up when I did

[PCH (Paul)]

There's no doubt that giving up is the best thing to do on all scores. For myself I gave up 10 years ago - cold turkey from 20 a day and haven't touched one since. I just didn't want to set the wrong example to my three young kids. Plus my wife didn't smoke, - although (somehow) she never once nagged me to stop.

My poor old Mum gave up 25 years ago and was never a heavy smoker, but she still scored emphysema a couple of years ago and now has to have oxygen from a machine or small bottle vitually 24/7.

Also, a mate of mine died of throat cancer that he got 15 years after he'd stopped - although he said (long before he died) that he had been a heavy smoker.

So, clearly the best thing to do is not to smoke at all. But if you do, please consider giving up as soon as possible, because these things clearly don't just happen to other people.

All the best,

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Alcohol is actually worse on the eyes for observing. Even a small amount reduces the pupil size, and enough alcohol blurrs the vision.

Aha yes, I thought I had discovered several new binaries one particular night. Fun though. Till next morning.

Cheers

[ispom]

I'd given up minimum 20 times for days to months,

but than strikes it....25 years ago

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

We are trying to convince my wife's daughter to give up (she's 18). Her boyfriend (17) smokes and she reckons it is cool now because she can buy ciggies for him! She reckons "I don't smoke mum, how many times do I have to tell you". Of course you can smell it on her, although it always seems to be because she was with a group of friends who were smoking and that is where the smell comes from....I don't think we are THAT stupid!

I would think the expense of the habit alone should be good enough reason for someone who earns less than $100 a week to give up. I couldn't afford to smoke and I earn ten times what she does (and work 20 times harder). I would rather put the money toward something useful.....hmmm....like....

[Lee]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

We are trying to convince my wife's daughter to give up (she's 18)

You realise that as a teenager that she knows best don't you! Wait until she fancies a boy who doesn't smoke, and doesn't like the smell etc, she'll give it up in a heartbeat.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I've seriously got to give up.
I'd bought a packet of 50 to last me through Astrofest. I smoked the last one just before lunch yesterday (wednesday). I started with the patches this morning.