Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Lent 2011: So Let It Be Written; So Let It be Done!!

For the first time in a long time, I smiled and even laughed for an extended period on Twitter last night.

It was odd.

Usually, I have a laugh here and there, but early Monday night for a period of twenty to twenty-five minutes, I smiled and chuckled the entire time.

It was refreshing, and well, for lack of a better term, nice.

For a brief moment in time, Twitter was not filled with the “look at me”, “follow me”. “please empathize with my latest crisis” comments.

I was for a short time, talking with people who were not only having fun, but making sense as well, and…

No drama or theatrics!!

I dug it. And seriously, I have mixed feelings about Twitter. I both love it and hate it.

I enjoy talking to folks in near real time about stuff from the empirical to the existential, and the silly to the sublime provided we’re just having fun, and yet…

Twitter is also a Junior High School playground fraught with jealousy, hurt feelings, and turf wars. Yeah, that aspect makes me sick and one I constantly try to contribute to avoid.

However…

Amongst the less than adult, but more than juvenile fun I was having with some new friends last night, I was inspired…

A new found Twitter friend, Kathy, quit smoking at noon on January 15th. Beginning March 9th (Ash Wednesday) I will begin my annual Lenten struggle and refrain from smoking for 46 days.

After that, hopefully I shall never smoke again…be it Lent or not, ‘cause, well…I ain’t really Catholic.

Anyhoo…

The odds are against me.

Just as Ryno’s mom asked me what my layoff meant for HER, Schmoop asked me what my impending non-smoking meant for HER.

Obviously, all my sorrows and sacrifices will be carried solely by the Holy Baby Jeebus and me, alone or together…or whatever…or…you know what I mean.

But as much as (and I don’t know how) Charlton Heston (Dead) rebuked the advances of Anne Baxter (uber hot) in The Ten Commandments, so come March 9th shall I rebuke tobacco.

So let it be written; so let it be done.

Cheers!!

25 comments:

Dana said...

Soooo ... if Rat wouldn't have said she's give you a lip job (so to speak), would you still have chosen cigarettes??

Schmoop said...

Dana: Yeah, in addition to the hope of an Agent Rat lip lock, this sacrifice makes the most sense, yet it will be tough, which I enjoy.

Itsa gonna kill me to do this. But eh...I can do it. Cheers Dana!!

Jay said...

Just think of the money you will save! That should be pretty good motivation too.

Geeky Tai-Tai said...

As I mentioned before, please be careful about the alcohol.

You can do this.

Now, I need to convince myself I can do the same.

Schmoop said...

Jay: While I know it is best for my health, the monetary gain is my primary reason. Is that wrong? Cheers Jay!!

Geeky: I'll be fine. I know your story, and I shant reapeat it on your command. Thanks for chiming in. Cheers Diana : )!!

Mike said...

Let the rebuking begin!

Scott Oglesby said...

I’m happy for you!

Get and read Allen Carr’s The Easyway to Stop Smoking. It worked like a God damn charm for me and I’d been smoking for 17 years. And I quit cold turkey and without regret. So I think it’s worth a shot for you. Maybe you can get it from the library? Anyway, it’s a good decision, so congratulations.

Schmoop said...

MIke: Indeed. The Lord is my shpherd I shall fear no second hand temptation. Cheers Mike!!

Scott: Thanks. I did it cold tuyrkey before some 20 years ago and it went well. I forget why I started back up but I did. Cheers Scott!!

Evil Twin's Wife said...

The Evil Twin quit smoking on January 16, 2005 and that was that. If he can do it, so can you! :-)

Raquel's World said...

Yeah for you! I hope you can do it. Smoking is a hard one to beat. If you do it, I'll do it too.

No, I won't I just thought that sounded inspirational. "Matt-Man moves a mother of many to give up the smokes".

I'm keeping my smokies, for now anyway. (I only smoke 4 a day and only at night) But good luck to you!!

Schmoop said...

Evil: Thanks and I shall do my best. Have a wunnerful day and Cheers ETW!!

Raquel: Ha. Good One. I'd like to move ya alright. 4 a day? That's not bad. Sometimes if we're drinikin and woopin it up, I'll smoke 4 an hour. Cheers Hot Stuff!!

Odat said...

Hey!! You're still here????? lol.
Peace

Schmoop said...

Odat: Ha. So are you!! Hope you're doing okay Odat. Nice to "see" ya. Cheers Odat!!

Knight said...

I understand Schmoops concerns because you will probably be a huge asshole during detox and since she didn't decide to quit smoking she might be afraid that you will start making demands of her like no smoking in the house and no more nicotine seasoning in the hamburger meat.
Congrats though. It's a great decision and I hope it goes smoothly for you. You'll be rolling in extra booze money!

Schmoop said...

Knight: Yeah she worries about smoking around me, but I told her not to. When I gave up meat, I cooked burgers for her. When I gave up pasta, I'd make her spaghetti. It's no big deal.

As far as me being an asshole? She's used to that.

And yeah, the money not spent will be sweet. Cheers Knight!!

Anonymous said...

Best wishes on quiting, I hear its tough. But Least is right, money is a great motivator.

Schmoop said...

Nic: Damnn right, and it is prophetic that your name is Nic (otine). Thanks Nic and Cheers!!

MysteryChick said...

Yay!! I know you can do this and you'll be richer and healthier to boot.

Schmoop said...

Chick: It will be an interesting six weeks or so. But hopefully, as I often tell myself, I can do anything. Cheers and Thanks Hot Stuff!!

Deech said...

Here is hoping you can stick with it and quit smoking altogether! You go Matt! Make it do what it do Brotha!

Schmoop said...

Joker: Ha. Well said Joker. Thanks and Cheers to ya!!

desert rat said...

Wonderful! Pucker Up!

Schmoop said...

Rta: Woo Hoo!! My day is complete, and come Easter Morning I can't wait for the Desert Rat Bunny to leave a colorful lip egg on my face. Cheers Adorable One!!

Ken said...

good luck! very hard vice to leave behind.
EVERY other minute I had to convince myself that I would forget that I wanted a cigarette in the next minute. The first three weeks was minute by minute, then it became hour by hour.... again I say....good luck!

Schmoop said...

Micky: Thanks alot Mick. Yeah, I quit once before ages ago and it is one wicked pisser. I shall do my best. Thanks again, and Cheers Mick!!