Some Statistics and Information:

1. Current Cost of a Pack of Butts in CT apprx. $8.10
2. Smoking one(1) pack/per Day (like I do) costs:
   • Weekly: $65 {8packs ’cause there seems to always be an extra on the weekends…}
   • Monthly: $282
   • Annually: $3,380 {I could buy some sweet new G33k Gear with that every year… Geesh, where are my priorities?!?!}
   • If it takes 5-7min for me to smoke a butt and I smoke ~20/day… Then I am ‘wasting’ 100-140 minutes… So that’s two(2) hours a day {365days*2hr= 730hrs/24hrs=30.42days.. Yes, ONE MONTH} spent smoking.
   • Not to mention costing an undetermined # of years off of my lifespan
3. Smoking just plain sucks and serves no purpose other than a paid form of self-assisted suicide.
4. Did you know you can get Carbon Monoxide poisoning from smoking? And you thought you could only get that using a closed garage, running car, and a hose… (psst! See #3 point made)
5. Quitting is not an easy process! Statistics show that it will take more than once to do it for good. I guess I’m a pretty good statistic seeing as…

This is not my first time…

I have tried Zyban, it gave me an allergic reaction of hives. I quit for 1.5yrs by going cold-turky beginning with a week-long cross-country trip to Cali. Self-Medicated A LOT that week though… but when I got to Cali, where smoking was recently outlawed in public buildings, it was easy to continue my cold-turkey adventure. Then I had a life-changeing loss in the familty and the stress got the better of me. So for except for the 1.5yrs, I’ve been smoking since 17… close to 20years!

I tried Chantix when it first came out, it was working fantastic for about 2-3wks, then I had an adverse reaction… it made me manic. Couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t eat, yet I had more energy than a meth addict… scary shit, but my case was an exception, for sure. Either way, that program was very good and I liked the beginning process of cleaning up the areas you smoke in, analyzing your hot spots, and (probably mostly, hehehe) smoking for like a week after your quit date. Needless to day, that most-recent attempt (in 2007) failed. I’ve been a chimney ever since. In fact, I went from less than a pack/day to 1+ packs/day shortly after ‘the incident’… I pulled myself off the med and went to the hospital for a few days to chill out. Scary stuff. Thank-ful for Doctors, Friends, and Family. All is well and good…

Anyway for me, my ‘cold-turkey’ is no where near a light switch. I am using the patch (beginning with stage1 {21mg-24/hr}). It gives off a pretty good kick when first applied, so my morning coffee smoke is pretty easy to avoid (Nah coffee is a tough trigger to avoid, don’t kid urself!!). I personally prefer placement on the outside thigh/quad area. I just think it best o put it somewhere there is not a lot of fat, but easy access to a muscle. *Update: After 8 days, I can pretty much get to 1pm w/o any real need for a smoke. It’s now from then on that I am getting antsy, stressed and in need of my fix… but tonight I broke down and bought my first pack in a week. I opted for American Spirt’s. they are more costly, but smoke longer and claim to be additive free

Friends Helping Friends:

**Click the Images to see a full-size image.

My Progress Log:

• Being unable to stay on top of this log any further, I will end these entries with these final notes
  • I have made it through six(6) weeks of excellent progress by using the nicotine patch
  • I did need several coping mechanisms and crutches to make it this far.  It is not over.  Never is.
  • I will continue the next 14 days with usage of the Stage 3 – 7mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • No longer will I provide myself access to such crutches as hand-rolled tobacco cigg’s
• Thursday – Day 47 — 29-April-2010 – Final Log Entry.
  • Two(2) weeks left on the patch
  • Estimated Savings to Date: $380.70
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (185) out of a possible (980)

=====> I BE QUIT DUDE!!!!  How About You? <====

Archives:

• 4-March-2010 – Decided that enough is enough! Smoking just plain sucks and serves no purpose other than a paid form of self-assisted suicide.
  • I get by with a little help from my friends… Tap your support network of Friends, Family, and even Social Media sites

• 5-March-2010 – Set quit date to be Tuesday 9-March-2010
  • Need to clean/vacuum truck as that is a {hot spot} for butts
  • Morning Coffee and after meals are other {hot spots}
  • Cold-Turkey is not gonna work, need to use a cessation program, or combination of a few along with gum, candy, toothpicks, atomic fire balls…
  • Smoking apprx. one(1) pack {~20 cigg’s} / per day YUCK!

• Tuesday – Day 1 -<Week 1>- 9-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @07:19
  • Had (1) @06:40 with Coffee
  • Had (1) @17:25 (saw/smell was over-whelming…)
  • Had (1) @19:30 (24hrs, my arse! more like 12… ha!)
  • Chomped Atomic Fire Balls like crazy
  • Patch worked pretty well all day up to around 19:00; After dinner and evening relaxing {hot spot}
  • Day 1
  • Energy Level: MODERATE, not a bad first day
  • Driving: LIGHT
  • Bed: Early(8/9pm)
  • Savings: $8.10
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (3) out of a possible (20)
• Wednesday – Day 2 –10-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @07:00
  • Had (1) @06:24 with Coffee
  • Had (1) @12:19 after lunch
  • Had (1) @17:00 – long day
  • Had (1) @20:38 – bedtime relaxing
  • Woke up with no extreme urge for a butt… Too early to rejoice about that, but still pretty cool to not roll out of bed and have that as the first thing on my mind
  • Chomped Atomic Fire Balls like crazy — need more
  • Energy Level: LOW
  • Driving: LIGHT
  • Bed: Normal(11pm/12am)
  • Savings: $16.20
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (7) out of a possible (40)
• Thursday – Day 3 –11-March-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @06:40
  • Had (2) @05:40/06:30 with Coffee/Breakfast
  • Had (4) between 11:00 and 16:00 while driving… D’OH!
  • Had (1) @22:00 – late night
  • Had (1) @01:30 – bedtime
  • Woke up with that extreme urge for a butt… Chalking yesterday up as placebo-effect (or perhaps going to bed later)
  • Wow, today has been a bad day… Gonna do better tomorrow!
  • Bed late = No Good for quitting…
  • Ran out of fireballs… I can chew them now
  • Energy Level: HIGH
  • Driving: HIGH
  • Bed: Late(1:30/2:00)
  • Savings: $24.30
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (15) out of a possible (60)
• Friday – Day 4 –12-March-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:17
  • Had (1) @04:45 Woke up suddenly for some reason… kinda freaky actually, which is why I grabbed a butt… crap, now I got another {hot spot}
  • Had (1) @11:30 with/after Coffee/Breakfast *Update @11:50 OMG my mouth tastes NASTY!!! WTF have I been thinking all these years…?
  • Had (1) @13:30 after Lunch
  • Had (1) @16:10 Long, but productive day at the office
  • Had(1) @ 19:00 while Driving{ht spot}
  • Woke up with no extreme urge for a butt… But I did go to bed late and sleep in. Not to mention that surreal experience @04:30… at least I attempted to fall back asleep for 15min before getting frustrated.
  • Energy Level:FLUXUATING
  • Driving:NONE
  • Bed:Early (10pm)
  • Savings: $32.40
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (20) out of a possible (80)
• Saturday – Day X –13-March-2010 – Today is a Mulligan… Hatford, CT – St. Patty’s Day Parade – I’m not even gonna try… Pick it up tomorrow… I Promise!
  • N/A – However I estimate I smoked 1.5 packs … Not counting this day moving forward… “Sometimes we fall down, but then we need to pick ourselves back up.” Not sure who said that.

• Sunday – Day 5 — 14-March-2010 – Well tomorrow is here, not gonna put a patch on today, but I am going to try not smoke!
  • Had (1) @08:30 with Coffee
  • Had (4) more throughout the day
  • Day 5
  • Energy Level: Hnugover and in need of sleep from day/night before
  • Driving: n/a
  • Bed: napping all day and woke up to go to bed @02:30
  • Savings: $40.50
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (25) out of a possible (100)
• Monday – Day 6 –15-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:14
  • Had (1) @09:30 with Coffee
  • Had (4) more throughout the day
  • Day 6
  • Energy Level: HIGH (but slept a lot the day before)
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Late 02:30
  • Savings: $48.60
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (30) out of a possible (120)
• Tuesday – Day 7 –16-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @09:14
  • Trying a full day without butts today… You best stay outta my way… ;-P
  • Had (1) @13:00 – Getting cranky
  • Had (1) @14:30 – holy crap I just lost it… Time for a nap, I am CRANKY!!!
  • Had (2) more between 16:00-19:30 – Crazy how just that one @13:00 kinda gets the ball rolling
  • Had (1) @20:00 – After dinner
  • Had (3) @0:00 – Went out for a few beers
  • Day 7
  • Energy Level: High, but a little fidgety …
  • Driving: Moderate, but not one butt smoked in it (by me or others) I did have several pavlovian moments though. Sat in truck and almost immediately reached for my pocket to grab my pack & lighter… D’OH!
  • Bed: Late @02:30
  • Savings: $56.70
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (38) out of a possible (140) – Butt intake down by 30%

• Wednesday – Day 8 -<Week 2>-17-March-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:45
  • Full day without butts yesterday didn’t work out so well… Trying again today. This is only Day 8…
  • Had (1) @18:20 – Held out long enough, need to ease the detoxification process
  • Had (1) @21:30 – I gotta slow down… Stressed out for no reason other than I feel like I just ran a marathon… but really no cause for this stress. I think it really has to do with not haveing access to a pack like I’m used to.
  • Been trying my hardest to not smoke a whole butt during a nic-fit.
  • Energy Level: High, but a little frantic/stressed.
  • Driving: Low. Kept myself locked in the Geek Cave despite the weather being beautiful today.
  • Bed: Late @01:30
  • Savings: $64.80
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (40) out of a possible (160)

• Thursday – Day 9 –18-March-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @11:00
  • Had (1) @12:00 – After a huge brunch
  • Had (1) @15:00 – Procrastinating from Work and wanted to be outside, but too fidgety to just stand there doing ‘nothing’
  • Not smoking a whole butt during a nic-fit still
  • Energy Level: MID/HIGH, but Fidgity as SHIT! Fireballs are helping ALOT though!!! Still chopping them, though…
  • Driving: Very limited, but not butts smoked in truck (me or anyone else since 13-March)
  • Bed: Better be Earlier than last night… Nope! Too late again! Gotta stop being a night owl, but now it;s the weekend… that’s gonna be tough!
  • Savings: $72.90
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (42) out of a possible (180)
• Friday – Day 10 –19-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:30
  • Had (1) @11:45 – With Coffee after Breakfast
  • Had (1) @13:00 – After doing laundry and cleaning (CRAP! another {hot spot} that smoke after finishing a project)
  • Had (1) @17:25 – Before dinner. I know that seems backwards, but my brain’s leftside made a deal with the right and there was no convincing either side otherwise… lol!
  • Had (1) @20:55 – Before going out (same deal as before… seemed to work though)
  • Not smoking a whole butt during a nic-fit still
  • I think I am turning into mean, angry, man… I don’t feel different, but apparently I am saying some things people either don’t like or take the wrong way…
  • Energy Level: Not bad, rather High actually, but fidgety as all holy heck. I need to find something to replace those 5-7min butt breaks
  • Driving: None so far
  • Bed: Sleeping not so good these days. Gonna try to do better at that.
  • Savings: $81.00
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (46) out of a possible (200)
• Saturday – Day 11 –20-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:19
  • Had (1) @12:00 – With Coffee/Brunch
  • Had (3) more throughout the day
  • Not smoking a whole butt is working (seemly) well so far.
  • Energy Level: A little low
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: Late
  • Savings: $89.10
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (50) out of a possible (200)

• Sunday – Day 12 — 21-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @09:45
  • Had (1) @10:40 with Coffee/Breakfast
  • Had (1) @12:30 before going out for lunch
  • Had (1) @17:30 after coming home from lunch and relaxing
  • Had (1) @23:30 before going to bed
  • Had a few beers with lunch. Sure the urge was there to sneek off for a butt, however it was put out of mind. Also, definately wanted one after lunch/beers but fought off that urge too.
  • Too many smokes today!!! those beers with a big lunch KILLED me…
  • Energy Level: High, not too fidgety
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: Round Normal @midnight
  • Savings: $97.20
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (54) out of a possible (220) – - Butt intake down by 74%
• Monday – Day 13 — 22-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @08:45
  • Had (1) @10:40 with Coffee/Breakfast
  • Had (1) @12:40 after Lunch
  • Had (2) throughout day from 15:00-19:11 work breaks… GOTTA break that habit!!!
  • Man that first one right outta bed is TOUGH… been doing well with it, thanks to the patch though… at least I can hold out for a few hours after rolling out of bed… baby steps.
  • Energy Level: High, Overdrive actually… perhaps it was the techno and non-stop project work all day
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Late @ 02:00
  • Savings: $105.30
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (58) out of a possible (240)
• Tuesday – Day 14 — 23-March-2010 – Woke up late… no patch today… need to see how today goes without one, ’cause it makes me feel ‘funky’
  • Had (1) @11:00 with Coffee/Brunch
  • Had(6) more throughout the day
  • I was REALLY cranky yesterday… Not Good, but as expected… right around the 2week mark. If it wasn’t for the patch, I know I would have thrown a punch (no one in particular). Sometimes I feel like Bruce Banner (the Hulk)
  • Energy Level: Bed late, so slept in… felt good in morning, but evening was really tired and a bit ‘out of my head’
  • Driving: Minimal (but still reaching for my pocket randomly in the truck… kinda funny actually)
  • Bed: Normal @23:00
  • Savings: $113.4
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (65) out of a possible (260)
• Wednesday – Day 15 -<Week 3>- 24-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @17:45 (started getting too jittery and itchy. felt like too much nicotine, which is probably a result of wearing the patch and still having 3-6 butts throughout the day)
  • Had (2) @09:00 with Coffee
  • Had like (5) more throughout the day….
  • Energy Level: Pretty Normal
  • Driving: A few hours up to VT…. I think I subconsciously knew I would break the no-smoking rule in my truck
  • Bed: Normal 12/13:30am
  • Savings: $121.50
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (72) out of a possible (280)
• Thursday – Day 16– 25-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @17:00
  • Had (1) @10:30 with Coffee
  • Had (1) @12:00 after breakfast/brunch
  • Had (1) @15:00 after busting my butt working when I should been snowboarding…
  • Had (4) more with beers…
  • Little disappointed with myself… need to do better with social settings.
  • Energy Level: High
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Normal 12:30/1am
  • Savings: $129.60
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (79) out of a possible (300)
• Friday – Day 17– 26-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @19:00
  • Had (1/2) @9:30 with Coffee
  • Had (1/2) @4:00 after riding
  • Had (1/2) @5:30 with a beer
  • Had (1/2) @5:30 with a beer
  • Had (1) @6:30 with another beer… uh oh… patch time!!!
  • Energy Level: High (snowboarding all day, with no butts)
  • Driving: Lite
  • Bed: ?
  • Savings: $137.7
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (82) out of a possible (320)
• Saturday – Day 18– 27-March-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @19:00
  • Had (1) @9:30 with Coffee/breakfast
  • Had (3) between 16:00-19:00 after riding
  • Energy Level: High, but my anger switch is really sensitive
  • Driving: Lite
  • Bed: ?
  • Savings: $145.80
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (86) out of a possible (340)

• Sunday – Day X — 28-March-2010 – No Patch today…
  • Getting way too agitated…
  • Need to chill out
  • Bought a pack of American Spirits
• Monday – Day 19 — 29-March-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @17:00
  • That pack from yesterday is half gone
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $153.90
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (106) out of a possible (360)
• Tuesday – Day X — 30-March-2010 – Still too agitated…
  • Bought another pack of American Spirits
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (116) out of a possible (380)
• Wednesday – Day X — 31-March-2010 -No Patch today…
  • Butts Taste Bad… Butts Taste Bad…Butts Taste Bad…Butts Taste Bad…
  • Energy Level: Nutty
  • Driving: A Bunch
  • Bed: Late
  • Savings: $162.00
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (121) out of a possible (400)
• Thursday – Day X — 1-April-2010 – No Patch today…
  • Butts Taste Bad… Butts Taste Bad…Butts Taste Bad…Butts Taste Bad…
  • Pack is gone. I do not want to buy another one… EVER!
  • Energy Level: A little calmer, but still…. this is getting ridiculous!
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: Normal
  • Savings: $170.10
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (420)
• Friday – Day 20 — 2-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @09:00
  • I don’t want a butt at all today!!! And I have none… as of 1200
  • *Update* No butts as of 17:15 now…
  • Today has been a tough day!!! Not sure if it is totally due to the slippages over the past few days or not.  In any event, the detox must continue… Eight(8) more days on the Stage 1 patch an it has already been 4 weeks
  • NO BUTTS AT ALL TODAY!!!!  Yeah…..
  • Energy Level: fidgety, jittery, have a headache, tired, and just feel plain weird/like sh*t…
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: Normal
  • Savings: $178.20
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (440)
• Saturday – Day 21 — 3-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @10:00
  • Gotta keep focus now.  Hit the 3week mark, which is good.  But with the crutch of 3-6 butts/day it’s been ‘easy’.  Need a repeat to yesterday.  Maybe I’ll tune my bike up today and go for a ride.
  • I am loosing patience even with myself now… WTF!?!?! need a butt, but don’t want a butt… man that crutch was more than I though!
  • 2nd full day without a butt
  • Keeping myself in isolation still though
  • Energy Level: Funky
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Normal
  • Savings: $186.30
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (460)
• Sunday – Day 22 -<Week 4>- 4-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @12:00
  • Day three(3) of no butts at all
  • Wow, today sucked… I woke up mad and it only got worse… Attempted to go through the motions of making out for brunch, but just plain couldn’t do it… Felt like shit all day and just spent the day in bed watching OnDemand
  • Energy Level: F’d up
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: All day, up @2100 for some TV/MW2 then back to bed @2259
  • Savings: $194.40
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (480)
• Monday – Day 23 — 5-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @09:30
  • Day four(4) of no butts at all
  • Woke up feeling better than yesterday, but still not right…
  • Morning was rough, but things got better in afternoon
  • Energy Level: Jumpy and Jittery
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Late
  • Savings: $202.50
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (500)
• Tuesday – Day 24 — 6-April-2010- Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @1015
  • Day five(5) of no butts at all
  • Woke up feeling pretty good this morning, which is a refresher from the past few days of being ready to rip someone’s head off first thing in the morning.  Everyone gets angry, but there is no reason to be angry before breakfast… just throws off the whole day.
  • I still have a heavy craving for a butt though
  • Have had lots of heavy cravings for butts throughout the day.  Sorta counter-productive actually. But now it’s 2100 and I am coughing up some spew.  This was to be expected.  Thought it was gonna happen sooner, but guess that ‘crutch’ was keeping back from all the ‘fun’.  Feeling strong though. PRobably gonna just stay up late working on client projects and such to catch up on the lack of productivity during the day…
  • Energy Level: Ups and Downs, but still a little jittery and all around nutty… Nothing to worry about, ’cause still keepin’ myself isolated
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Late (most-likely)
  • Savings: $210.60
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (520)
• Wednesday – Day 25 — 7-April-2010 -Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0930
  • Day six(6) of no butts at all
  • Wow, I STILLL crave a butt… WTF!!! Must put it outta my mind.
  • Woke up ok this morning.  Not as early as I would have liked, but still rolled into the morning ok. Almost tripped over the dogg and did get a little mad, but he just really needed to pee, so I can’t really get mad at that
  • After a bit of a nicc-fit in the late morning, I have devised a new strategy.  I probably woulda been happy to hit the smoke shop for a pouch of Top and roll my own, however I KNOW I’m happy about NOT doing it.  Besides, the hacking cough and forth-coming spew is tarting to get more frequent now… G00d TYm3S!
  • Needed three(3) happy pills to get through the day with out buying a pack or chocking anyone
  • Energy Level: High, Decent, OK
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: I didn’t… Yep, that’s right… insomniac, and then just decided to stay awake
  • Savings: $218.70
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (130) out of a possible (540)
• Thursday – Day 26 — 8-April-2010 – No Patch at all today
  • Broke down and bought a pack of American Spirits…
  • Smoked six(6) throughout the day
  • Energy Level: All over the place
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: passed out around 2300.  True story… Sorta narcoleptic incident (due to lack of sleep I’m sure) but I was eating ice cream before bed, well while in bed actually… woke up at some point mid morning to a pool of butter crunch in my bed… Ha!
  • Savings: $218.70 – No savings today for Me… Man, now I gotta go back and reqork all the numbers I pre-populated..  That itself should be a motivating factor… I hate ReWork… ha!
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (136) out of a possible (560)
• Friday – Day 27 — 9-April-2010-Applied one(1) 21mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @1329
  • Had one(1/2) @1230
  • Had one(1/2) @1630
  • OK so even going ‘cold-turkey’ while on the patch makes me nutz in three(3) days and at day six(6) I lose my mind. Going back to slow and steady…
  • Not a bad ‘day’ After yesterday’s experiment in sleep depravation I slept in a bit today Woke up around 1000 only to drink some water, apply a patch, and clean up some ice cream (that’s a funny story, for another time… Ha!)
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving: None
  • Bed: Hopefully at a decent hour (sleep is important!)
  • Savings: $226.80
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (137) out of a possible (580)
• Saturday – Day 28 — 10-April-2010 -Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0929
  • I have Made it Though one (1) Month (4-seven-day-weeks/1patch/per/day) of the Stage 1 Patch…
  • Bought a pack of American Sprits today though… VT fun Tymes call for a little badness
  • Not doing any major entries for today… Snowboarding in VY
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $234.90
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (147) out of a possible (600)
• Sunday – Day 29 -<Week 5>- 11-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0929
  • On the Road and Hanging in VT today… No Notes
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $243.10
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (150) out of a possible (620)
• Monday – Day 30 — 12-April-2010 -Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0900
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $251.10
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (157) out of a possible (640)
• Tuesday – Day 31 — 13-April-2010 -Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @1030
  • Day one(1) of no butts at all
  • Sleeping a little funky, but I think I just need to get some more things organized, like TAXES and I’ll be better off.
  • Energy Level: Ups and Downs
  • Driving: Minimal
  • Bed: Normal
  • Savings: $259.20
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (157) out of a possible (660)
• Wednesday – Day 32 — 14-April-2010-Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0830
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $267.30
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (157) out of a possible (680)
• Thursday – Day 33 — 15-April-2010 -Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @1000
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $275.40
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (160) out of a possible (700)
• Friday – Day 34 — 16-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0930
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $283.50
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (163) out of a possible (720)
• Saturday – Day 35 — 17-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch @0800
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $291.60
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (163) out of a possible (740)
• Sunday – Day 36 -<Week 6>- 18-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • No Notes Today
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings: $
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (163) out of a possible (760)
• Monday – Day 37 — 19-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day eighteen(18) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (780)
• Tuesday – Day 38 — 20-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day nineteen(19) of no butts at allTBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (800)
• Wednesday – Day 39 — 21-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty(20) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (820)
• Thursday – Day 40 — 22-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty-one(21) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (840)
• Friday – Day 41 — 23-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty-two(22) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (860)
• Saturday – Day 42 — 24-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 14mg 24hr Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty-three(23) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (880)
• Sunday – Day 43 -<Week 7>- 25-April-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day twenty-four(24) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (900)
• Monday – Day 44 — 26-April-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day twenty-five(25) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (920)
• Tuesday – Day 45 — 27-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 7mg 24hr (Step3) Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty-six(26) of no butts at allTBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (940)
• Wednesday – Day 46 — 28-April-2010 – Applied one(1) 7mg 24hr (Step3) Nicotine Patch
  • Attempt at Day twenty-seven(27) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (960)
• Thursday – Day 47 — 29-April-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day twenty-eight(28) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (980)
• Friday – Day 48 — 30-April-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day twenty-nine(29) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1000)
• Saturday – Day 49 — 1-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty(30) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1020)

• Sunday – Day 50 -<Week 8>- 2-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-one(31) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1040)
• Monday – Day 51 — 3-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-two(32) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1060)
• Tuesday – Day 52 — 4-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-three(33) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1080)
• Wednesday – Day 53 — 5-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-four(34) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1100)
• Thursday – Day 54 — 6-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-five(35) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1120)
• Friday – Day 55 — 7-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-six(36) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1140)
• Saturday – Day 56 — 8-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-seven(37) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1160)
• Monday – Day 57 -<Week 9>- 9-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-eight(38) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1180)
• Tuesday – Day 58 — 10-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day thirty-nine(39) of no butts at allTBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1200)
• Wednesday – Day 59 — 11-May-2010 -
  • Attempt at Day forty(40) of no butts at all
  • TBD
  • Energy Level:
  • Driving:
  • Bed:
  • Savings:
  • Butts Since Quit Date: (X) out of a possible (1220)

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

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This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

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Before you start your next Livelink ECM project or need Qualification Services check out: WRC, LLC.)

Thinking of starting a Website? Don’t just get a Website, nVishion your Brand… nVishionDigitalMedia.com

Are you stuck with an impossible Mac/PC question? Do you need cost-effective, professional skills for your next infastructure project, or are you a Geek that lives and breaths to do both of those? Then head over to CT Geeks…. CTGeeks.com

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

/*End

Part 1 of 2:
Importance if groups for news feed and privacy purposes.

Part 2 of 2:
Social media feeds, facebook connect, public profile, pages, causes, …

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

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This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

/*End

With the economy the way it is presently, face it… It could happen to you. Your company may need to improve the bottom

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

Do you feel the need to hit Afghanistan hard as all holy F#@k? I sure do! But before you think I’m all pro-war and what-not, think again… I would like nothing more than World Peace and to end fighting everywhere.  War is serious business and should NEVER be a first response, even if attacked first.  With that said, I feel like exercising some freedom of speech and the power of the Internet after watching/listening to Obama’s address to the Nation last evening.  If you are reading this and you have comments either way, feel free to comment/respond, however please do so in as civil of a manner possible, else I may not respond (or your comment may be removed depending on how foul you decided to be).

I really liked the way Obama started his address, and I’ll paraphrase…

On 9/11 we were attacked by the Taliban, whom were based in Afghanistan… For the 1st time in history, the UN backed a full on attack in retaliation to this un-warranted attack resulting in the loss of many innocent American lives… So the USA, and other nations did attack Afghanistan, but then some stoopid fcuk with his Daddy’s agenda refocused the US forces on Iraq and pissed a lot of Nations off in the process.. Using the ‘fair and balanced’ Fox News the previous administration convinced many of our fellow Americans that we were chasing Bin Laden and the Taliban who were hiding in Iraq (we were not. it was ’cause Bush Sr. told W to go get Saddam and finish what he failed to do… oh yeah and the oil). Well, we’re getting the hell outta Iraq ASAP and gonna finish what we, with the support of the UN and its’ forces, started.

As scary is it is, do I think we should be going back into Afghanistan? Hell Yes! We, along with the other UN member forces, need to finish what we started. Furthermore, we must do it under a well-defined time-table that ends when Obama’s term ends, if not before. Why by the end of his term? Very important… So the next administration can not pull any more wool over America’s eyes and get us into another Iraq. If it wasn’t for wanting to remain on US soil to protect my family, I would be active army right now…

Peace first, but if someone needs an ass-whoopin, by all means give it to ‘em!

/*End Transmission

I read a few posts, which I gotta go back and find my notes on, but the social networking experiment is happening.

You’re either on the bus, or you’re not…

*insert social media graphic*

*embed LG and Blogger slides*

*mention Building43*

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

Notes:

Link to and cite physh article

Close with my social links and a

Embed FF room, with twitter tag

End.

• ECM Consulting - Open Text Livelink, Microsoft SharePoint, & NextDocs System Administration / ECM Business Systems Analyst Services.  We have over 10 years of experience in the Life Sciences industry and each client engagement benefits from years of experience implementing mid to large-scale Enterprise Content Management strategies and technologies
• Qualification Templates - Performing validation is a necessary process in today’s regulated environments, but you shouldn’t have to start from scratch.  WRC has been working in a regulated environment for over 10 years and understands how paperwork can sometime impede progress, innovation, and/or agile development when you don’t have a template to work with.  We offer both blank System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) templates and Installation/Operational (IQ/OQ) qualification templates to install/test Windows, Livelink, SharePoint, & NextDocs products in a controlled methodical fashion using industry best practice ‘defaults’
• Digital Media Architecture - Full Service Digital Media Branding including Web Design, Content Management, Online/Social Media Marketing, Hosting, & Domain Registration Services. WRC uses the same tools we recommend, ensuring world-class customer service
• IT “Geek” Support - We do it All!  Game Consoles, iPod/MP3 Player & Home Theater Installation/Set-up, Computer Purchase/Set-up, Virus/Spyware Removal, Forensics, Security, Backup/Recovery, & Maintenance. Both on-site and remote service available for businesses & consumers

Complete and up to date details will always be located on the WRC Current Services page.

I feel that the mix of services will keep me both challenged, engaged, and fulfilled, three things I happen to find very important when “going to work”. Many people complain about their jobs, sometimes with good reason, however others have yet to make any attempt to make it their own (or as Tom Peters would say, Their WOW Project). My suggestion is to do what you can to find your happy place both in your personal life AND your business life. Don’t become another Joe vs. the Volcano…

Stanford Engineering Everywhere offers:

• Anytime and anywhere access to complete lecture videos via streaming or downloaded media.
• Full course materials including syllabi, handouts, homework, and exams.
• Online social networking with fellow SEE students.
• Support for PCs, Macs and mobile computing devices.

I found out about the program last year when I was researching online resources for learning Java Programming.  Low and behold, SEE offers the prestigious CS106A – Introduction to Computer Science | Programming Methodology course which teaches the Java programming language using the Eclipse IDE.

This course is the largest of the introductory programming courses and is one of the largest courses at Stanford. Topics focus on the introduction to the engineering of computer applications emphasizing modern software engineering principles: object-oriented design, decomposition, encapsulation, abstraction, and testing.
Programming Methodology teaches the widely-used Java programming language along with good software engineering principles. Emphasis is on good programming style and the built-in facilities of the Java language. The course is explicitly designed to appeal to humanists and social scientists as well as hard-core techies. In fact, most Programming Methodology graduates end up majoring outside of the School of Engineering.

Prerequisites: The course requires no previous background in programming, but does require considerable dedication and hard work.

This is awesome!  There’s full lecture video’s, assignments/solutions, and more online.  Shortly after I began the course, I realize others may be doing the same so I created a Google Group for CS106A << Check it out if you’re taking the course and join in on the discussions today!

I’m using Twitter to track my progress and will be updating this post occasionally as time progresses.  Unfortunately, do to other priorities, it has been awhile since I cracked the book, watched a lecture, or worked with Eclipse.  Since my memory does fail me sometimes, I have a Friendfeed thread that I refer to in order to track my progress as relying solely on Twitter Search continues to fail me:

I am planning to continue growing my knowledge of the Open Text Livelink, Microsoft SharePoint, and NextDocs products by creating a suite of small productivity and utility applications.  While doing so, I’ll be writing about the projects as they progress and sharing some learned best practices on subjects like OScript, LAPI, .NET, C#/++, and Java as they relate to Livelink, SharePoint, & NextDocs development and integration.  I have yet to determine whether I will market/sell these apps as of yet.

I will also be working on a full suite of Qualification Templates that can be used as a ‘basic’ starting point for Windows Server (2003/2008), SharePoint, Livelink, and NextDocs installations.  My plan is to primarily work on IQ/OQ templates to install/test each product in a controlled methodical fashion using industry best practice ‘defaults’.  I will also be producing a full suite of project documentation for the previously mentioned productivity/utility apps and will therefore be creating a set of blank ‘generic’ SDLC templates (URS/FRS/DS/IQ/OQ). Both blank and basic install templates will be made available at a reasonable cost.

Being a geek, I fix a lot of computers (both PC and Mac).  I don’t know what it is, people just flock to me when it comes to anti-spyware or virus help, hard-disk defrags, PC set-up/purchase, and the list goes on… Each request usually starts off like one that I have heard before, but almost all end up with researching some oddity I have yet to see and thus increasing subject matter knowledge.  I’ll be writing about those oddities along with some best practices and tools as they relate to computer repair/maintenance.

So far, the WordPress UI rocks!  I’ll write more about my WordPress experiences as I progress, but I’ve always found it extremely intuitive and well structured.  The linkage that is available from wp.com to sites, such as this one hosted with GoDaddy, is great.  This will make for a great site hosting environment and allow for central administration of sites.  It would seem that the beginning is good.

The main purpose of this site is to showcase my company WRC, LLC. and the Professional Consulting Services that I have to offer.  I also have a deep fascination (some would say addiction) with Social Media and being a Geek… finally decided to ‘officially’ do some writing in a New Media venue.  I promise to keep my posts on “What I’m eating for lunch” to a bare minimum, if non-existent. 

EnJ0Y!

~W

This is a work-in-progress post – Merely a public placeholder

*If you’d care to collaborate on this post or share some personal experiences, please do in the comments below or e-mail me

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