Dog3 wrote:
> I have no other choice but to stop. I've tried everything. Patches, drugs,
> you name it. I started again out of boredom and I could just kick myself
> in the ass.

I "quit" several times like most folks...halfheartedly and returned to
it each time. It was only when I wasn't lying to myself and actually
decided to quit that I did. I then saw that many so-called friends
would entice me by waving around cigarettes, especially during the most
needy moments, i.e. drinking, after meals, etc. They gave me all the
anger I needed to quit. Anger can be a good motivator. I even carried
around an unlit cigarette in my hand for several months. These
"friends" tried often to help me light it. This was a good many years
ago.

The smoking ban issue seems odd to me. The restaurant/bar industries
campaign against them, but they're really marginalizing the majority of
the population to cater to the minority. I haven't gone to bars for
years because of having to detox for several weeks thereafter. I used
to relish live music, but the only venues for much of it here, are
smoking venues. Thus, I also don't go see live music much any more.

But the doom-and-gloom spread by the "service" industry doesn't seem to
hold water. I've been to Baltimore and the restaurants seem to be in
business each time I go. Other places have bans and somehow the service
industry survives. Somehow hacking up phlegm for 5-6 days after a night
on the town seems to mar an otherwise pleasant evening. But, to each
his own. Not sure about the places where others live, but in my area in
a VERY smoking-friendly state, the "service" industry is suffering.