So last night, rae_vanalstine quit smoking, and asked me to wish her luck. So "luck" to you, and here are a few pointers:


1. DO NOT HANG OUT IN SMOKY BARS. Yeah, I wanted nothing more than to go pubbing (one vice for another)- but it will destroy you.

2. Save the "beer with friends" evening for a little later. You want a week or two without smokes under your belt before you do that. At *least*. Smoke and Drink go together like Fred and Ginger. Avoid.

3. Go to a thrift shop/Sally Army/Goodwill and buy several non-spendy/non kitsch-awesome but HIGHLY FRAGILE dishes. You're gonna get really nasty/irrational and flinging those breakable sumbitches is going to be highly therapeutic. Seriously. It's so helpful. Especially when you get the not-helpful "God you're crabby. Why dontcha just have a smoke?" Cue the L7 and go ape.*

4. Feel free to tell annoying ex-smokers who proclaim "IIIIII did it, youuuu can tooo" without offering ANY support to promptly go and fuck themselves. (Note, I said ANNOYING ex-smokers, which are a completely different breed apart from their supportive cousins.)

5. Get a counter. It seems stupid, but it's fun to see how much you're saving. Ok, not as fun as lighting up a a great, big smoke...but think about all the pointless shit you can buy that WON'T make your hair smell bad! Whee!

6. Write a break-up letter. See http://www.livejournal.com/users/hnos/229027.html#cutid1
Juno's right, it does help- even if only to amuse you.

7. If you screw up, it's fine. Just try again. It took me a week of allowing myself a drag here and there before I quit completely. The Human League said it best. (ducking)


(edited to add: Noss (yeah, there are two of us in OR) mentioned potential injury with Dish-Flinging. So use caution! If you're klutzy (like I am) it might be beneficial to hurl Tupperware. Just a thought.)