TAM ~ thanks for starting our new spring thread; I just realized that officially spring is supposed to start on the 20/21st (I think) ...
Congrats on cutting down on that smoking; that's exactly what DH and I did over 9 years ago (March 20, 2003 was our official quit day).
We cut back first, making rules about where we could and couldn't smoke -- for instance, first big rule was NO SMOKING in the bathroom or bedrooms (we never smoked in our sleeping bedroom; I mean, our spare rooms like the office/PC & utility rooms). Smoking was only allowed in the kitchen/livingroom at that point.
Then DH couldn't smoke in his workshop; and eventually the car either, esp if I
was with him.
If he was alone, he had to open the windows and could only take 1-2 ciggies with him; eventually, he stopped taking any and would wait until he got home. He smoked a lot more than me so that was really good of him. BTW, we both agreed to these rules and DH set his own pace (I'm just teasing about the drill sergeant thing).
DH made me homemade substitute ciggies from dowels (I still have a jar of them as a reminder), but you can buy them now. I also chewed sugar-free gum and DH sucked on NSA candies (so we wouldn't gain weight). Plus, DH took long, long walks to help his nerves; eventually going a few times a day. This is actually how he started his "scrapping" hobby ...
Then, we started rolling our own ciggies (I mean the kind with the tubes). Some people wouldn't like to do that, but not only did that save us more money but it took more time and bother, which worked as a great delaying technique too. Just before we quit, we had our ciggie costs down to $50.00 a month for both of us, then we took the plunge and quit for good.
We really believe this gradual cessation process enabled us to be successful. We had tried all-out cold turkey without cessation before that, but DH found it too hard. The gradual process got his body more accustom to less ciggies & nicotine well ahead of time (at one point, he had been smoking 2-3 packs a day at work).
It was the best thing we ever did -- we not only have more cash at our disposal (here ciggies cost $7-$9 a pack depending on where you shop), but all DH's coughing & hacking, allergies & asthma, and breathing issues went away completely; no more pumps and trips to the hospital for oxygen.
We now ask friends & relatives not to smoke here, but they have 2 porches to smoke in, and the basement in the wintertime. To me, it is a matter of respect for people who have worked so hard to quit. I'm not trying to preach here, just sharing becuz March is STOP SMOKING MONTH for a lot of people, just like us.
GOOD LUCK to all those who "GO FOR IT" this month -- and for those who succeed and to you, TAM ...
BTW, I enjoy listening to CBC as well, esp to the music programs ...