So, I'm thinking about taking up knitting again...

[moominmuppet]

Back in May, at my annual physical, I had my doctor prescribe me the Nicotrol inhaler thingee. I finally actually had the cash to cover the copay a few weeks ago. Since then, it's been floating around in my bag, and I've spent good chunks of every day being wishy-washy about "Now?" "No, not quite yet" kind of stuff. And I'm being a complete coward about it. I don't want to be a smoker, but I don't actually want to give up smoking, either. So, I've arbitrarily decided that the date for quitting is Sep 30th (next Tuesday).

Between now and then, my goal is to get some interesting yarn, and dig out my knitting needles and basic knitting instructions (I've never gotten past "knit, perl, knit, perl"), and start on a big-ass scarf or something. Large, rectangular, and plain I can probably do, and it's something I can do in more circumstances than I can do cross-stitch, which requires better light, more focus, detail, and complicated supplies.

I'm also going to make sure I have a large supply of gobstoppers. I like 'em, and they don't lacerate my mouth the way butterscotch disks and such can.

And, to make better use of my breaktimes at work (I hate having an hour of time each day to do nothing -- it feels like I'm wasting something I've earned), I'm going to the orientation for the building gym tomorrow. It's free for all employees, and once you've attended the 15-minute orientation, you can use the facilities whenever you want. It'll be a good way to use up my lunch and breaktimes, if I compact them together. And I've been wanting to start working out again for ages. Probably strength-training initially, since that's what I really like doing, but once my lungs are clearer I'll add some level of cardiovascular something, since I really should; that's where my body's weakest.

So, yeah, that's the plan. Feel free to poke at me about it.

And can anyone tell me why I've been craving hummus continuously for the past two weeks? This is just getting silly. I'm going to attempt to make some this weekend; I've finally got all the ingredients. We'll see how it turns out. It's worth it, though, because buying store-bought premade is just getting too damn pricey.

I'm really not looking forward to patient-instructing tonight. It's kind of cool and damp here, my hips and knees are hurting like a bitch, and I forgot to grab more ibuprofen before I left the house. Lithotomy position for an hour and a half is going to suck donkey balls.

Comments

[forestfire.livejournal.com]

Good luck. I'm proud of you for even trying.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks...

[jenx.livejournal.com]

Go you for quitting smoking! I've now been a nonsmoker longer than I was a smoker.

Knitting is good, and portable - make sure you have a baggie or something to carry it in.

Sugarless gum is also handy. :)

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I can't tolerate the taste of nutrasweet in anything, but it occurred to me that I love both Teaberry and Clove gum, and it's probably worthwhile to track down a source of those something this coming week...

[jenx.livejournal.com]

I don't like nutrasweet either (tastes *bitter*!) but some sugarless gums now use sugar alcohols instead.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

some sugarless gums now use sugar alcohols instead.

Oh, cool... I may have to explore that...

[jenx.livejournal.com]

Reading labels can be fun!

[boojum.livejournal.com]

I can be long-distance knitting tech support if you need it. I've been using it as a polite form of fidgeting and a concentration aid for years.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks...

I've been using it as a polite form of fidgeting and a concentration aid for years.

That's what I generally used cross-stitch for, but I can't do it in many of the circumstances when I'm likely to want to smoke. I'm hoping the knitting'll be easier (especially with a very, very basic pattern). It's helped in the past when I've wanted to cut back.

[boojum.livejournal.com]

Anecdotal evidence (my knitting, two others' cross-stitch) indicates that knitting is easier. If nothing else, it's easier to do it without looking at it. I also like having interesting rocks and things in my pockets to fiddle with, but I think that's back on the rude side of many people's ledgers.

Good luck!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

If nothing else, it's easier to do it without looking at it.

Yup, that's a lot of what I like about it...

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Pen caps and pens have done me a world of good.

I haven't been trying to quit but the money thing has given me a number of smoke free weeks lately and I'm totally hooked on chewing on my pens.

I'm almost to the point that when I'm smoking I wish I was chewing a pen.

Just make sure it's not a cheap one that spritzes ink all in your mouth. That's no fun at all. Actually, it is kind of fun but socially taboo.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is kind of fun but socially taboo.

And doesn't really taste the best, either...

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Some ink isn't too bad. I've actually caught myself sucking the ink out of a well gnawed pen after I'd been at it a while. It can be kind of fun to walk around with a black tongue though. I always imagine that I'm part chow dog when that happens. Your mileage may vary.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

It can be kind of fun to walk around with a black tongue though. I always imagine that I'm part chow dog when that happens.

See, that's thoroughly worth the funny taste, in my opinion.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Yes but you are silly.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Never. Nope. Not me.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm so proud of you for trying, and selfishly I'm happy too because of the positive implications for me/us, like I won't be allergic to you when you're wearing clothes, which though we could remedy in nonpublic places, may be problematic if while (I was visiting/you were visiting) we wanted to go out somewhere. *giggles* anyway, yes, yay!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm trying to find green yarn. I figure it's a very good reminder that me not smoking will make people I care about happier and more comfortable...

[forestfire.livejournal.com]

It'll make you better able to interact with V.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Yup. It bothers me that I didn't manage to quit before she was born.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

Well that's happifying! Glad I could be of some help even though I'm not there.

Yay!

[(Anonymous)]

Great news! Good luck.
I started knitting last fall when I found out my closest cousin was pregnant and felt compelled to make a blanket. I'd tried to learn to knit about four times previously and had never been successful. I guess upstate NY winters make knitting easier... Scarves are my favorite because they are quicker and therefore more rewarding. Of course, I won't knit in public because it would give me the "that's so cute" girly attachment which is not helpful in my career or academic department.
-JC

Re: Yay!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Of course, I won't knit in public because it would give me the "that's so cute" girly attachment

Did I tell you about my attempt to embarrass myself out of smoking by only smoking Capris? I discovered much too quickly that I have no shame. Not that this is likely a surprise to anyone else out there, but I was hoping my macho side wouldn't allow me to smoke something so... prissy... in public.

Anyway, I was just reminded of that...

[lysana.livejournal.com]

Go you!

And hummus is nummy. I wish it weren't so damn carby.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I think it's the carbs that I'm craving. For the past few weeks breads and sugars have been the primary foods I'm interested in.

quitters never win...

[(Anonymous)]

No, seriously, despite all my catch phrases about smoking cessation I wish you the best of luck with all sincerity. Still at a pack a day myself, I can't offer you any advice, but since I get a devilish thrill out of offering quitting folks cigarettes, I can promise that if I see you I won't do it to you (although by the next time I see you you'll most likely have succeeded.)
The lemur makes hummus periodically. It's orgasmically delicious, and is so much better than the store-bought stuff. It's one of the only things we use the food-processor attachment on the blender for. -- Chicago Alan

Re: quitters never win...

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

The lemur makes hummus periodically.

Would she be willing to share her recipe?

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

I always crave hummus. I mean always.

If you're making it in a blender, make sure it's either a hardcore blender or dilute it a good deal. I tried making the same thickness I do at home on my ancient blender with my dad's new fangled one and it burnt the motor out. Oops!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip... I wish we had a food processor, but I think I'm just going to have to be reasonably careful with our blender. I wonder if it'd be easier on it if I only use it to grind the chickpeas, and mix the tahini in by hand, since it's thick and sticky and gloopy.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

The garbanzos will be even more paste-like and hard on the blender. If you are using canned beans, save the water they come in and use that to dilute it. If you know your blender pretty well, you should be able to tell if it's overheating or making strange noises. If that happens, let it cool a bit and add water to thin it, until your blender seems like it will be okay.

Like I said, a lot depends on how sturdy your blender is. If you've a sturdy one, you'll be fine. If you have a cheaper one, start with a thinner than ideal mix to be safe.

Or if you just want a workout, you could do it by hand. heh. Even I'm not that DIY and I'm pretty hardcore about taking the long way in the kitchen.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Cool... thanks...

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Yeay! knitting.

http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=knitting

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks!

[lokiswings.livejournal.com]

I learned how to knit this past Sunday and I already knitted a scarf and am now working on another. Yay knitting!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I've been doing it off and on since I was eight or nine, but haven't ever gotten beyond bare bones basics; I'm a lefty, my Mom's a righty, and it was always really hard for me to translate what she was doing into what I should be doing.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Oh, no menthol anything for me... Can't stand the stuff, or nutrasweet either. I may try to find some teaberry gum, though, or some clove gum. It just occurred to me that I really like both, and there's an aspect to their flavor that might help.

I'm just trying to find some reason for it's existance, really :)

I'm definitely drawing a blank...

Something that worked for me.

[brujah.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to suggest that you purchase some stick cinnamon. It's small and can be carried or generally handled like a cigarette and is not toxic should you chew the tip a bit in frustration, which I did. Many times. ;) I have not had a cigarette in weeks, after smoking for 17 years and though the cinnamon isn't a cure-all, it's certainly helped the 'busy hands' thing. Best of luck.

Re: Something that worked for me.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[robynk.livejournal.com]

bah! i am at that same annoying point concerning the smoking issue. though i've already set and missed too many quitting deadlines.. i think when i actually do quit, it'll be cold turkey and mostly due to my jewish blood nagging me to pinch the proverbial penny.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I wish the financial argument carried more weight for me, but it never seems to. The long-term health stuff is the hot-button for me; I hate the idea of being ridiculously sick many years down the road, and feeling like an idiot because it was so damn preventable. So, basically I guess it's my fear of embarrassment...