Special offer

The Second Anniversary

By
Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

My English Cocker Spaniel, Shadow, does not like the vacuum cleaner. She's NOT one of those dogs that barks at it or tries to chase it around. When she sees us go towards the closet with the vacuum in it she immediately runs in the bedroom, jumps on the bed and makes sure she is way up top on our pillows so she can watch 'that thing' and make sure it doesn't suck her up.

What was worse than the vacuum? Second Hand smoke. We just made our Second Anniversary mark on the 13th January...the day we quit smoking. I was a 30 year + smoker (except three years I quit when I had my two children) and my dad passed away from lung cancer Feb. 25, 2004. It took both of us to do it together (it is almost impossible to quit when the other is still smoking) and we did. No cheating, no puff here and puff there. Just 10 extra pounds and clean lungs.

Yup. Shadow is smoke free now too.

 

Note: Zyban, Commit lozenges and a determination to quit.

Posted by

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2015 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's

Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

Comments(29)

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Joan: I know...it's weird...I get an inkling of a cold but never full blown anymore.

Paddy: Cold turkey and the help of lozenges and zyban was what did the trick....along with the mind set that 'it was time'.

Jim/Maria: It was worth it! We save over 3k a year ...and don't hack anymore.

Jan 15, 2009 06:25 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Fran: Yup...3k a year (don't know how much they are now...must be more!)

Lauren: I'm happy he did...sometimes it takes something to give one 'incentive'. I just turned 51 and hoping I will continue to have a good life. Working on excercise and stuff now.

Jan 15, 2009 06:27 AM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

Hi Sally:

Congrats!  Keep up the good work.

My dog hated the vacuum also...she use to grab it when I tried to vacuum...

ToulaRosebrock.com - DianeTurtonRealtors.net

Jan 15, 2009 07:31 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Sally, Congratulations, what a hard habit to quit and you did it--both of you!  I was curious what you used if anything so was glad that you added it.  Poor Shardow, vacuuming is not my dogs favoirite thing either, though they are not quite as frightened as he is.

Jan 15, 2009 08:22 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

All right Sally!!  Good for you.  It is not easy.  I started smoking when I was 12 (I know!  :-b) and quit 40 years ago, yet there are times when just for a second I feel a hint of craving.  When it happens I am always taken by surprise because I can't stand to be around smoke or smoking people any more because it irritates my sinuses and gives me a headache.  That tells me what a strong addiction smoking can be!

Jan 15, 2009 08:53 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Sally I quit smoking 35 years ago, and to this day there are still times that I still feel like having one.

By the way I am with Shadow on the vacuum cleaner :)

Jan 15, 2009 10:04 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Very cute dog and wonderful news about you being smoke free!  Good for you Sally!

Jan 15, 2009 11:29 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Oh My Sally, look how your Shadow is staring so intently at that vacuum cleaner, so cute !

Jan 16, 2009 02:26 AM
Joddie Roberts
Mountain Real Estate and Property Management - Spokane, WA
Your Spokane Realtor - Spokane, WA

Congratulations on your smoke-free lives!  Both of my parents smoked and it was difficult to watch them suffer the consequences of it. 

Jan 16, 2009 02:37 AM
Renae Bolton
Marketing 4 Realtors - Garfield Heights, OH
I'm your Professional Real Estate Marketing VA!

Congratulations to both of you for making a decision to quit and sticking with it!  My twins can relate to your dog.  Whenever they see us going for the vacuum, they get the "deer caught in the headlights" look on their faces and start looking back and forth at each other and the vacuum.  Probably trying to decide what to do since they can't get away fast enough!

~Renae

Jan 16, 2009 04:14 AM
Kathy Toth
Ann Arbor Market Center Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Experts - Kathy Toth Team

Congrats on another year of smoke free!  I'm sure your dog appreciates it, unlike the vacuum!

Kathy

Jan 16, 2009 06:01 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Toula: Hahah...my dog grabs my husbands leg when he tries to get in the shower...been an ongoing thing since she was a puppy.....almost 4.5 years ago

Carole: Believe me...we tried everything before..the patch gave me charlie horses....the lozenge alone did nothing...but all together with a husband willing..and me determined...did it!

Susan: They say smokers who quit are really sensitive to smoke moreso than ones who never smoked. I can smell it on peoples clothes from a few feet away. It is a wonderful reminder though.

Jan 16, 2009 04:50 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

George: I've heard of people still wanting one....it's been quite awhile. I guess I was just ready. I don't have that feeling but I sure love a good ice cream sundae lol.  Yes...I've gained about 10 pounds....since quitting. Try to get it off but it doesn't stay off.

Susan: I like my life not smelling lol.

Cynthia: She's keeping watch lol.

Joddie: Yup....I know what you mean.

 

Jan 16, 2009 04:54 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Renae: LOL...that's funny. My son used to love to vacuum....even when it wasn't on.

Kathy: That's for sure!

Jan 16, 2009 04:55 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Celeste:  Two years smoke free...that's awesome.  My Mom is struggling with this as we speak.  After watching my Dad die of lung cancer you'd think she'd be more motivated to quite, but those little things are the devil.  Congrats on your achievement.

Jan 17, 2009 02:13 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Sally- Ahh Shadow looks so cute watching you work, smoke-free :)  Congratulations my friend, I know how hard it is.....I have finished my 1st year :)

Jan 17, 2009 02:22 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Chris: I know it's hard...took me 3 years after my pop passed away. Good luck with mom!

Kathy: Woohoo! Look at us now!

Jan 17, 2009 02:38 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Sally- that is fantastic news!!! I am an occasional smoker - if I am out having a drink, I may have a cigarette IF the group I am with is smoking - if not, I don't really miss it - guess that I am lucky there!!!

Jan 17, 2009 09:23 AM
Jacqueline Tolstyka
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors - Cheboygan, MI
Realtor - Selling Beautiful Northern Michigan

Sally, Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary. It has been about 23 years for me. Since you've quit, don't you find yourself being the worst critic of smokers? Funny how that happens.

 

Jan 18, 2009 04:51 AM
Greg Miller
Ruoff Home Mortgage - Sarasota, FL
Florida Home Loans - Conventional,FHA,USDA,VA

Sally, great picture and great job on quiting.I've been 3 years now and have noticed our 11 year old terrier doesn't sneeze near as much

                                        Greg

Jan 18, 2009 06:54 AM