Hello Friends,
It's been nearly 7 months now since I've had a drink or cigarette, and I'm feeling that I could probably go back to drinking now and not feel the need to smoke, but as I've said to quite a number of people, I've said that I'd take a year off drinking, so I'll stick to that.........I am looking forward to a vino or two though ;)
Before I sign off for the night, I'll make a list of the negatives and positives of both not smoking, and not drinking.
Quitting smoking:
Positives Negatives
1) Obviously the health aspects (not damaging 1) Withdrawals in the first few weeks.
my body in all the ways that we're all aware of.
2) Money saved - at $17 or more/packet, I've 2) Less breaks from work - Smoking was a reason
kept thousands of dollars in my pocket (or at least to have a break from work, and I find that I don't
I've spent it on more enjoyable things). tend to take breaks so much anymore.
3) No smokers cough - my smokers cough was the 3) Loss of the social side of smoking - there are
main reason that I wanted to give up smoking, well a large number of people that I rarely speak to
that, and to set a good example for my Mother. anymore as I don't see them in the smoking areas.
4) Eyes are less bloodshot.
5) Hands no longer shake - my hands used to shake
a lot normally, and now barely shake at all.
6) I don't stink of cigarette anymore (not that I realised
how bad it smelt before......but I certainly do now!).
7) I understand the virtue of the old addage "if at first
you don't succeed, try, try again" now.
Quitting Drinking: Positives Negatives
1) So much money saved/spent on better things. 1) I miss the process and feeling of drinking
2) No Hangovers. 2) I find myself more awkward in some social
situations than I would be if I had a few
drinks.
3) I have so much more spare time without drinking
4) I am doing a lot more with my weekends
5) I am making it to everything that I say I'm going to
go to (ie: no bailing because I'm hungover)
Ok, I think that's enough of a list for the moment, clearly the positives are far outweighing the negatives, and that is about the bulk of my news for the moment friends. I hope that life is treating you all well, and that you're enjoying the world.
Well, It's Monday, and the past couple of weeks have seen me do a work trip to Canberra, spend a weekend in Melbourne with Nicole, Casey and Jean, and then go to our Ship's Ball last Friday and finally go (briefly) to Karen's Birthday on Saturday.
The week in Canberra (the week before last), saw us drive down on Sunday, spend the week visiting various comms related agencies, and then drive home on Thursday. All in all not a bad way to spend 4 working days....certainly beats working for a living.
Sass, Buddy and I on the road to Canberra.
After a non-eventful day at work the following Friday, we boarded our plane and headed down to Melbourne.
We booked ourselves into a 2br apartment in Docklands, and based ourselves out of it for the weekend. We arrived at the apartment at about 11pm on Friday night, and after dropping off our things, we (the others) decided to go in search of booze, which saw us at a bar not too far from our apartment, which initially seemed a bit off, but we soon discovered was filled with some of the drunkest (and worst dancing) people in the world.
We spent a couple of hours there, until the bar closed in fact, entertaining ourselves by watching the drunken antics of the local fauna. We then discovered that there was a 24hr bottle ship in the city, to which we ventured before heading home for an hour or so of chatting before retiring for the night.
Saturday morning was spent getting ready, then heading to Fitzroy for a bit of breakfast (lunch), before wandering the streets and looking at the shops. We then went to the Melbourne Museum and had a look at the Tutenkamen exhibition which was on. I'd like to say that it was well worth the entry into the exhibit, as the artifacts that they had on display were so fascinating that I think (provided the hundreds of people that were also fascinated, weren't there), that I could have spent days looking at them.
Nicole, Jean and Casey as we were about to enter the Tutenkamen exhibition.
Saturday night saw us catching up with some friends in a bar in Melbourne city, but I found myself not in the mood and was home and in bed by about midnight.
Having expected to be woken up by the others buzzing the door to get in, I was a little bit surprised when I woke up at 5am and they weren't home. Then again at 6:30.
Thankfully the kids made it home an hour or so later, and were all looking worse for wear after a big night out.
We then went for a trip to South Yarra, where Chapel St let me down in my hunt for some great clothes.....or perhaps I just wasn't in good hunting form. On the up side, my credit card didn't take the beating I was expecting it to, and that's always a great thing.
Well, last week went the way of most working weeks, but ending with our Ship's Ball on Friday night. After having a few dramas with friends cancelling, I finally found a home for two of the tickets I'd bought with one of the boys from work and his girlfriend, and the night was outstanding. Casey came along, and we had a blast. It sometimes surprises me how much fun I can have even though I'm not drinking.
Casey and I at the ball.
I won't pretend that I won't enjoy drinking again come February 15 2012, but It's still been a good experience to live my life without booze for a while.
Well, Saturday was my friend Karen turn 30, and so I took myself to Paddington Bowls Club to help her celebrate, but for reasons various, only lasted about an hour and a half before I had to leave, but it was still great to be there for the beginning of her birthday festivities......I can safely say there was never any chance of me advertising my lack of physical co-ordination by playing bowls with a large group of strangers haha.
Karen and her birthday cake
It's been nearly 7 months now since I've had a drink or cigarette, and I'm feeling that I could probably go back to drinking now and not feel the need to smoke, but as I've said to quite a number of people, I've said that I'd take a year off drinking, so I'll stick to that.........I am looking forward to a vino or two though ;)
Before I sign off for the night, I'll make a list of the negatives and positives of both not smoking, and not drinking.
Quitting smoking:
Positives Negatives
1) Obviously the health aspects (not damaging 1) Withdrawals in the first few weeks.
my body in all the ways that we're all aware of.
2) Money saved - at $17 or more/packet, I've 2) Less breaks from work - Smoking was a reason
kept thousands of dollars in my pocket (or at least to have a break from work, and I find that I don't
I've spent it on more enjoyable things). tend to take breaks so much anymore.
3) No smokers cough - my smokers cough was the 3) Loss of the social side of smoking - there are
main reason that I wanted to give up smoking, well a large number of people that I rarely speak to
that, and to set a good example for my Mother. anymore as I don't see them in the smoking areas.
4) Eyes are less bloodshot.
5) Hands no longer shake - my hands used to shake
a lot normally, and now barely shake at all.
6) I don't stink of cigarette anymore (not that I realised
how bad it smelt before......but I certainly do now!).
7) I understand the virtue of the old addage "if at first
you don't succeed, try, try again" now.
Quitting Drinking: Positives Negatives
1) So much money saved/spent on better things. 1) I miss the process and feeling of drinking
2) No Hangovers. 2) I find myself more awkward in some social
situations than I would be if I had a few
drinks.
3) I have so much more spare time without drinking
4) I am doing a lot more with my weekends
5) I am making it to everything that I say I'm going to
go to (ie: no bailing because I'm hungover)
Ok, I think that's enough of a list for the moment, clearly the positives are far outweighing the negatives, and that is about the bulk of my news for the moment friends. I hope that life is treating you all well, and that you're enjoying the world.
Take care of yourselves (and your friends and family for that matter) and enjoy your week.
Howie..
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