No bullet plate introduction tonight. Two years ago, a small group of people hanging out in the comments of a diary by a fellow Kossack who had decided to quit smoking. Rosebudear had decided to chronicle her quitting efforts and a few others decided to join her. This was the beginning of GUS (Giving Up Smoking) and the first quit date was June 15, 2009. We started with about 8-10 people quitting and now have close to 400 names on the buddy list. The development of the group was described in a recent diary Almost Two by Chocolate Chris.
In the two years that we have grown, we also have set up a nice source of information The GUS Library which has had over 5000 visits. The library is a good resource for those seeking information on quitting tobacco. It is also a repository for some of the GUSsacks memorabilia including the latest buddy list and tips on how to write a standardized GUS diary (but non-standard diarist are welcome too). Please give the library a visit if you haven't already.
Ok now, in honor of our 2nd birthday, let the rambling begin!
WARNING (SEVERELY SPRAINED METAPHORS AHEAD)
I walk a lot for exercise, meditation and relaxation. Last weekend on one of these long walks on a crushed pea gravel trail, I got a small stone in my shoe. It landed on the edge of my shoe between my sock and the top of my shoe on the outside of my ankle. This was slightly annoying but not really painful so I kept walking. As I walked that stone changed to being on the verge of being painful but then sometimes unnoticeable. Most of the time, the stone was in between the two extremes. It slowly worked it's way down to the bottom of my shoe and I decided to continue walking until I got to the next bridge where I could stop under the shade, take off my shoe and remove that bothersome stone. As I walked, the bridge seemed like it was much further away than I thought. I was never unaware of the stone in my shoe. The stone in my shoe was uncomfortable, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot and I was really looking forward to getting to that bridge.
Finally, the bridge came into sight. My entire focus became getting to that bridge. I was ignoring the sights and sounds around me. There were the songs of varied birds, colorful wild flowers, fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky and a comforting cooling breeze. None of this mattered because I wanted to get to that bridge and get the damn stone out of my shoe. My stride was no longer in rhythm but instead a jerky limp. The bridge was so slow in coming and the stone in my shoe seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. The last few yards to the bridge were a hobbled effort with a scream barely contained.
I tossed down my backpack and leaned against the railing of the bridge. Leaning down , I took off the shoe and turned it over. A tiny little stone fell out and my discomfort was over for now.
The obvious question you will have is "Why didn't you just stop and remove the tiny stone much sooner?" The obvious answer is that if I had done that there would be an entirely different diary tonight and a near perfect metaphor would have been ruined. In case you haven't guessed by now the story just told is meant to be a metaphor for addiction to cigarette smoking. Let us review how closely the stone in the shoe metaphor resembles a craving for a cigarette or cigarette addiction.
First, cigarette smoking and shoe stone removal are similar because:
1. Temporary, you are going to get another stone in your shoe on your way to the next bridge.
2. You really only enjoy smoking / shoe stone removal because it removes the short term discomfort.
3. Removing a stone from your shoe in an enclosed area can stink up the place and be offensive to people nearby.
4. Being unable to smoke or shoe stone removal can be very distracting, making you unable to concentrate and uncomfortable for long periods of time (think next air flight or time between coffee breaks at work.
5. That stone in your shoe or not being able to smoke can make you absolutely unload your irrational anger on a poor innocent friend, family member or co-worker.
Now, how does shoe stone removal differ from cigarette smoking?
1. It costs you a bunch of money to smoke, removing a stone from your shoe is free.
2. Smoking can kill you, removing a stone from your shoe is healthy mostly.
3. Removing a stone from your shoe is legal at almost any point (unless you do not want to ruin a sprained metaphor), smoking is restricted in many areas of our society.
4. Stones in shoes usually are unintentional and random. Cigarette smoking is at least at first, determined by your decision.
5. It is much easier to remove a stone from a shoe than it is to quit smoking.
6. Very few people remove more than 20 stones from their shoes in one day.
7. Removing stones from shoes does not send money to Republican hacks (hack, hack, hack)
The stone from shoe metaphor can be discussed further in the comments.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL FELLOW GUSSACKS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON TWO YEARS.
Hey now! Just look at all these lovely quitters! (and not a former Alaskan Governor in the bunch, also.)
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alexi Hershey, Alise, Alpha99, A Man Called Gloom, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, arodb, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, b barrie, bdizz, beatpanda, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, BigAlinWashSt, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, BJKay, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, BlueJessamine, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, buddabelly, burrow owl, BusyinCa, Carol in San Antonio, CathodeRay, cee4, Cen Den, ChiTownDenny, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, cinnamondog, citizenx, Cleante, Code Monkey, Coldblue Steele, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, commonmass, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, Dauber, Dauphin, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, Dickie, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dirtdude, distraught, djMikulec, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, Eclectablog, Eddie C, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, elbamash, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, FlipperWaves, flumptytail, fritzi56, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, Geiiga, Georgianna Darcy, glpaul, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, gzodik, Haole in Hawaii, HappyinNM, henlesloop, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hold tight, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indubitably, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, jmonch, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, kat herder, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, kittania, Kodiak54, Kristina40, Ksholl, LABWITCH, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, LA rupert, last starfighter, LaughingPlanet, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, marknspokane, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Micburke, michael1104, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mjbleo, MnRaindog, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nedsdag, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, one pissed off democrat, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, pager, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, racheltracks, randallt, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, regis, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, rscopes, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, Shifty18, shmuelman, shopkeeper, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snoopydawg, snorwich, SnyperKitty, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sostos, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, StateofGrace, Statusquomustgo, stiffneck, sunbro, Super Grover, tallmom, Tay, tdslf1, teknospaz, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheGeneral, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, TomP, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, UncleCharlie, Unduna, Unforgiven, ursoklevar, USArmyParatrooper, VA02 femocrat, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, Vetwife, vgranucci, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, Whimsical Rapscallion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, xopher, yet another liberal, Zotz
Thu AM: FrugalGranny
Thu PM: Open
Fri AM: flumptytail
Fri PM: Open
Sat AM: effervescent
Sat PM: ChocolateChris
Sun AM: Open
Sun PM: Open
Mon AM: Open
Mon PM: flumptytail, subbing for Vacationland
Tue AM: Open!
Tue PM: aoeu
Wed AM: LABWITCH
Help!! As you can see, lots of open slots on the schedule, especially over the weekend. If you can spare a few hours, please consider hosting. We'd love to hear from you! Not sure where to start? Go here to find out how to write a GUS diary the easy way, or just ask for help in the Butt Can (Tip Jar).