GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting (or want to support quitters), please - join us! We kindly ask that politics be left out.
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Hey there GUS peoples! I'm just going to bang this out and hope for the best tonight. I'm on a crazy 'round the clock schedule of A) sorting and packing old house stuff, B) planning and purchasing and prepping new house stuff, and C) oh hey, there's that pesky full-time job to contend with, too. Needless to say that I'm being forced to cut a corner or two as I end my previous tenancy and get ready for life as a homeowner.
I can't really cut corners at work (dagnabbit!) so something had to give; that thing was my perfectionism surrounding the whole housing situation. No time to over-think the process; I'm all about doing what needs to be done in the moment and moving on, after a couple of stunned, post-closing days of frozen indecision about what to do next (the answer, I finally figured out, was "EVERYTHING! AND RIGHT NOW!"). Once I wrote down everything that needed to be done, I had a nice little panic attack, a few hours of crushing self-doubt, a semi-sleepless night, and finally a moment of clarity where I realized that I can't possibly do everything by myself---even those things I was convinced I could do by myself---because attempting to do so is both foolish and impossible. Who needs it? Not me.
I tend to be a go-it-alone kind of gal, in part due to temperament and also due to circumstances. I live alone and have done so for most of my adult life, so I've learned how to do things on my own...everything from troubleshooting internet connections to tackling most home repair tasks. I'm short, so certain things (lightbulb-changing, for example) are a challenge, but I usually manage okay. There's also a fiercely independent streak in me that I've had since childhood; my default setting is "...I can figure this out" (I was a hyper-competent kid who took on too much, too early) and it's hard for me to even remember that asking for help is an option.
I also suffer from "well, how hard can THAT be?" syndrome, which can be a total disaster if you're not careful. There's quite a staggering amount of DIY information at our fingertips these days, after all, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. If we were so inclined, we could get instructions on how to do just about anything on our own. But the fact that we can do it ourselves doesn't necessarily mean we should do it ourselves!
I've struggled with moving too-heavy furniture or boxes or bags and spent hours trying to work through a problem that probably could have been sorted out much more quickly by someone with more knowledge of the issue. I've suffered through more than one botched project (who knew stripping furniture using the incorrect product could go so very, very wrong?) and agonized over stuff that probably would have been solved much faster (or better) if I'd bounced it off someone else. I live in my own head a bit too much, especially when I'm stressed out. Hell, I even ended up quitting smoking on my own, and I know I would have benefited from having a place like GUS to go and let off steam or exchange quitting tips or even just be distracted by during my wall-climbing, hair-tugging, emotional roller coast moments.
And so it is with my current scenario...precious little time online, plans being streamlined (and sometimes eliminated) on the fly, too many tasks and not enough time to accomplish them in: a recipe for disaster if I hadn't realized that no, I CAN'T actually do it all alone. So I am heading into the next three chaotic weeks with new resolve: accept help that is offered, set realistic expectations, be kind to myself if I mess up, and hope for the best. Tomorrow, my kind (and very tall) brother-in-law's going to change that chirping smoke alarm batter for me, take me to Lowe's to help me pick out power tools, and deliver the truckload of paint I'm buying to the new house. I have friends who have offered to help with the painting and moving (thanks, CSM!), and---I'm hoping---with hosting GUS for the next few weeks.
I'm pretty sure I'll get through all this and come out the other side just fine, though I won't be spending much time online (including DKos, unfortunately) until this is over. Already, weekends are so busy that my Monday shift is not working for me time-wise right now. Would anyone be able to cover Monday PM for a while? I might be able to do a hit-or-miss diary here and there (I will try!) but right now, I've got too many balls in the air and I can't afford to drop the ones marked "moving" and "house" and "job"!
Who's your little buddy?
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, Actbriniel, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alise, Alpha99, A Man Called Gloom, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, angry marmot, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, arodb, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, b barrie, bdizz, beatpanda, beefydaddy18, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, BigAlinWashSt, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, BJKay, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluedust, BluejayRN, BlueJessamine, Bluerall, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, boudi08, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, Bronxist, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, buddabelly, bumbi, BusyinCA, Carol in San Antonio, CathiefromCanada, CathodeRay, CDH in Brooklyn, cee4, Cen Den, ChiTownDenny, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, ciganka, cinnamondog, citizenx, ClapClapSnap, Cleante, Code Monkey, codobus, Coldblue Steele, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, common green, commonmass, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, DarienComp, dauber, Dauphin, Dave in AZ, Dave in Northridge, deedogg, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, Dickie, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dirtdude, distraught, djMikulec, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, Dube, duckhunter, Eclectablog, Eddie C, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, elbamash, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, ezdidit, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, Friend of the court, fritzi56, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, GDbot, Geiiga, GenXangster, glpaul, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush (in memoriam), 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, Janeo, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, jmonch, Joes Steven (aka Steven), john07801, johngoes, johnny wurster, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, Kai99, kailuacaton, Kamakhya, kat herder, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, kittania, KrazyKitten, Kristina40, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, LA rupert, last starfighter, LaughingPlanet, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, Lonely Texan, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, Marjmar, Mark E Andersen (Kodiak54), marknspokane, marsanges, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Meteor Blades, Micburke, michael1104, MillieNeon, minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mjbleo, MnRaindog, mntleo2, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, Murphoney, nannyboyz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nedsdag, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, OleHippieChick, one pissed off democrat, Onomastic, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, Overseas, Over the Edge, Pager, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, paulitics, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, PowWowPollock, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, racheltracks, randallt, ray bob, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, regis, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, Rileycat, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, rscopes, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sanuk, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shesaid, Shifty18, shmuelman, shopkeeper, sidious666, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, Smoh, snoopydawg, snorwich, SnyperKitty, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sostos, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, StateOfGrace, Statusquomustgo, stiffneck, sunbro, Super Grover, Syoho, tallmom, Tay, tdslf1, teknospaz, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheGeneral, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, Tim DeLaney, tiredofcrap, TomP, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, TracieLynn, TreeFrog, triciawyse, tripodisblack, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, UncleCharlie, Unduna, Unforgiven, ursoklevar, USArmyParatrooper, VA02 femocrat, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, Vetwife, vgranucci, Village expects idiot home soon, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, Whimsical Rapscallion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, xopher, yet another liberal, Zotz
Have you had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread? Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...)
Weekly GUS Diary Schedule (regular diarists featured in bold)
Mon PM: Vacationland (You Are Here)
Tue AM: gchaucer2 (happy belated birthday!)
Tue PM: Open
Wed AM: Open (labwitchy is on the road this week)
Wed PM: FrugalGranny
Thu AM: Open
Thu PM: Open
Fri AM: flumptytail
Fri PM: SallyCat (WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)
Sat AM: Open (effervescent skipping town)
Sat PM: SallyCat (ONE MORE TIME!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)
Sun AM: bgblcklab1 (filling in for Safina - thanks!)
Sun PM: Open
Mon AM: Open
Mon PM: boudi08 (subbing for a very grateful VL)
HELP!! We can has lots of open slots in GUS this week, especially this weekend. O noes!! If you can spare a few hours, please consider hosting! 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). Seriously, it doesn't have to include specific elements or require all sorts of fabulous diary formatting skills. The regulars will make sure stuff gets carried over from diary to diary, so if you want to just tell your story or provide an open thread and host for a few hours, that's cool too.