Summer Days | Goodbye to Cigarettes | Bubba Draws Again

 

When we last spoke it was early July–I had posted Bubba’s tutorial on drawing a Sea Anemone.

 

He’s done more and I have neglected to update you, so with a little prompting (thanks Susan!) I present you lesson #2

There are more on my YouTube channel, if you’re so inclined.

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In other news…we’re having a pretty mellow summer.  Part of that is the fact that we’re on a tight budget, but part of it really is getting a chance to unwind after a hectic school year. This is Bubba’s preferred mode

 

We painted a chalkboard in Daisy’s room

Oh, and I quit smoking about seven weeks ago!  Now I don’t smoke cigarettes at all–but I do “vape”.  Yes, I gave the electronic cigarettes a try.  Test drove a few different brands, and finally found one for which I can both get refills easily, and enjoy the taste.

 

I can’t believe I’m sharing this because there’s a part of me that is kind of embarrassed to be seen “smoking” my e-cigarette.  But really, it’s no less embarrassing than being seen smoking a real tobacco one.  It’s become an increasingly lonely endeavor over the last few years, this nasty tobacco habit.

The problem I have is that I actually like the act of smoking.  I enjoy it, and find it soothing.  Now that may be a result of it being a part of my life for damn near thirty years, but be that as it may, quitting is hard.  I should know, I’ve done it enough times…

 

I don’t like the stink factor.  Nor the health considerations.  Nor my hair getting singed or even just having it smelling all smokey.  Plus, smokers are pariahs–to everyone except other smokers, that is.  Fellow puffers look out for one another.

 

The cigarette can be a great equalizer, and is more often than not an ice-breaker and conversation starter. Throughout my life, I’ve met some really excellent people in smoking areas.  Smokers, I can see you are totally nodding your head knowingly right now.  And, unlike some reformed smokers, I am enjoying the smell of someone else’s cigarette while I puff on my “pretend” one.

 

It’s worked out pretty well.  Especially since I can breathe now, and I don’t wake up hacking in the middle of the night.  And I can actually run now and not choke because my poor lungs are rendered completely inelastic and coated with the icky tar from the smoking (that took several weeks to work through).  Yeah, so now what stops me from running very far is this little issue of being rather out of shape, instead of the fact that I’m not smoking.

 

But hooray!

 

‘Cause, I’m not smoking!