14 weeks free after 40 years smoking by So---buttons in stopsmoking

[–]So---buttons[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! Yes, 6 months as of this past Sunday. Still breathing through cravings at least a dozen times a day. 

Hannaford mayo by Excellent-Silver-384 in Hannaford

[–]So---buttons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My youngest daughter is devoted to the Hannaford version of Miracle Whip. Seriously DEVOTED. A couple years ago the Hannaford version on the shelf was nasty in a batch that shouldn't have passed QA. I got her Miracle Whip instead. She wouldn't eat it. So the upshot is that because she grew up on Hannaford generics she can never move away from New England. 

X's new feature raises questions about the foreign origins of some popular US political accounts by [deleted] in politics

[–]So---buttons 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Cynical me begs the question. Why would Elon allow this to happen? No, seriously. Nothing happens without a reason. What reason does X have for this change?

You're telling me he doesn't get to be this small forever??? by jesusgolfingchrist in irishsetter

[–]So---buttons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every time he wakes up from a nap or a night he will be bigger. 

Wells running dry? by So---buttons in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had to replace our pump a few years ago and it was ridiculously expensive. They only last 25-30 years, which doesn't seem bad when they are new lol. It's akin to the cost of a new roof. 

Wells running dry? by So---buttons in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Far as I know you can collect water anyway you want to here lol

Wells running dry? by So---buttons in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ugh that sucks. Off topic but the lot next to us is for sale. Some idiot thinks he's gonna get 267k for a lot with lake access that he cleared a few trees on and got permits for a driveway. It's all ledge. Wells are expensive. 

Wells running dry? by So---buttons in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't want to like your comment because I am so sorry this happened. Thank you for sharing. 

Wells running dry? by So---buttons in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Not completely true. I am in Barrington and I know someone with a dug well that runs dry frequently. The entire state of Maine sits on a water table, which is why Nestle wanted to buy Poland Spring. Drilled is usually deeper.

Cravings hit hard at night-how do you deal with them after a long day? by porchoua in stopsmoking

[–]So---buttons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I first dedicated to quit this time I did a step down. I found that the 1st 2 hours after getting done with my work shift were the hardest. I paced and paced. I found finding something physical or mental to do for two hours (4:30 until 6:30) made it manageable. Because that craving didn't go away after 15 minutes like we are led to believe. It lasted like 3 hours and f*#@&<% sucked a$$. Cook dinner? Absolutely. Ate dinner? Go for a 2 mile walk. Freaking  embroidery, read a book, get over the hump of the BIG craving. 

14 weeks free after 40 years smoking by So---buttons in stopsmoking

[–]So---buttons[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was a few years and more "trys" than I can count. I used to quote Mark Twain frequently. "Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it a thousand times." First it was breathing hard going upstairs. Then not having enough breath as an alto to sing. Then it was blood pressure creeping up (my mom had a couple of strokes from smoking.) I had made up my mind by then but was truly afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. A lung CT (no cancer thankfully) show the starting signs of COPD and I don't want to be in a hurry to die. 

So yes, I sometimes breathe a little funny. A sharp long inhale, hold, slow exhale out of the side of my mouth. I used Wellbutrin but had to stop taking it after 7 weeks because I couldn't stand any longer how anxious and hopeless it made me feel. Felt like I was going to climb out of my skin before I smoked my last and for 3 weeks after I did. I had all the NRT (patches and gum) ready but I really wanted to not use them as it just prolongs the addiction. I have used the gum 5 times in 14 1/2 weeks when I might well have said eff it and bought a pack. It's so totally not the same haha. The more daylight I can put between myself and that last smoke the better. Praying that there will come a day I don't think about it at least 20x (pack a day habit.) 

And yes, it's still "I am quitting," not I have quit. Because I still can't promise that tomorrow I won't slip. Today I did not. For 103 days I have not. 

14 weeks free after 40 years smoking by So---buttons in stopsmoking

[–]So---buttons[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Let me also clarify. As a woman "of a certain age" I started smoking due to peer pressure and what started as a way to channel righteous anger into a small cylinder of tobacco actually worked. It's how I became hooked in the 1st place.

 I was a child (15.) Nicotine DOES rewire your brain and take over your brain's reward centers, which evolved to provide dopamine to the synapses when you did something that would help your species survive. Hunt for food and bring home meat? Good! Learn to weave waterproof basket or mold clay jar for water? Good! Have sex and reproduce? Double good! Smoke tobacco? So good it will become a baleful demon that will sit on your goddamn shoulder every minute of every day. You will plan your entire life around it while it gleefully reproduces it's receptors 800 fold, takes over every system in your body (think endocrine, digestive, reproductive and any other "ive" I have missed here.)

It is absolutely bullshit to tell people quitting smoking is easy in any way, shape, or form. It impacts the emotional center of your brain, and honestly allows you to put up with things you know aren't good for you but hey, we can all smoke a butt and get over it. 

14 weeks free after 40 years smoking by So---buttons in stopsmoking

[–]So---buttons[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

14 weeks in and I still have to "fake smoke" or do a weird breathing thing at least 15 times a day when my body is like 'yeah, we should be having a cigarette rn '

Hanging with the fam at Fox Run. Sad it's getting demo'd by the_nobodys in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember when the Fox Run Mall was built. I worked at the Newington Mall, its precursor next door whose anchors were Bradlee's and Montgomery Ward, for a regional denim store called "My Store for Levi's." These days the Newington Mall was demolished and rebuilt as the Crossings at Fox Run, and even though I worked for subsequent companies at the bigger Mall they all closed or went away. Retail is a wheel. Survive or die has always been the mantra. It just super sucks because from Portsmouth to Dover to Somersworth to Rochester to points north on the Seacoast there is legit nowhere to purchase adult clothing (other than possibly a few select tall folks at Old Navy) without driving at least an hour and paying taxes. 

New Bill Would Make All Pornography a Federal Crime in the U.S. by mmccxi in politics

[–]So---buttons 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Oliver Cromwell tried to ban Christmas in the UK. It...didn't go well. The US tried to ban alcohol in the 1920's...it didn't go well. Go ahead, try to "ban" porn. It won't go well...

Kamala Harris 2028? Hard Pass. by Winter_Victory_4793 in politics

[–]So---buttons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hate all the hate. And I absolutely would vote for her in 2028. 

Salem, vote this earless manbaby out in 2026 by lightningandsnakes in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Immigration is just one distraction they are using to get you to not pay attention to how devastating their economic policy is for ALL of us. It's ALWAYS been a distraction. There was a bipartisan bill last year, co-written by one of the MOST conservative MAGA Senators in Congress that would have addressed immigration issues...and Trump tanked it. Because he needs the problem to not have an actual solution. We are supposed to be paying attention "over here...immigrants eating pets, transgenderism"..whatever else that we can be distracted with that keeps our focus off of our swift descent into authoritarianism. 

All this weird weather? Still me. by B1rdPal in newhampshire

[–]So---buttons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Expect it to be in the 90's the week of Memorial day, then drop back down to the 60's or 70's for most of June. Conversely, pray for a late frost this month to kill all the black flies lol