So what? I fucking smoke. Jesus.

[izeveryboyin]

I can remember the first drag of poisonous discontent, I spat it out and crushed it harshly against the wall. "uh, God, that shit's terrible." That was... oh man, *pauses to count the years on fingers in preschool like manner* 8 years ago. Bout 6 mos later, I got my grubby paws on a box of Marlboro lights. "Eh... not so bad. Still chockes me to death though." The following year, I was introduced to Pall Mall, Newport, Virginia Slim, Camel Djarum Hali Bali, and my absolute favorite (the ones I smoke to this day) Djarum Black. My mother recently visited the shithole and sniffed the smell of nicotine laced with indian spices "for my smoking pleasure." She frowned, and made her way past dirty clothes, papers, dusty old copies of Dostoyevsky, Moliere and M. Proust over to my bed. (As I live in a studio, a very small studio, there was quiet a path of clothes, but a very distance-challened one, ergo, lots of crap in a very small space). "You do know that this place smells like your eventual death of lung cancer right? Because cigarettes cause cancer." I smirked and thought, "No mom, they don't cause cancer, just mild hospitalization and chemo... here's you sign!" I pulled a cig from out of the elegant black box and lit it up. "Are you smoking? Are you actually smoking?" I smirked and thought, "No mom, I practising my breathing excersises for when I give birth... here's you sign!". Question to all you folks: Do you smoke? If so, how'd you start smoking? If not, why? (I'll answer that one, "Because it's gross and like, causes cancer and stuff, duh") If so, what brand do you smoke, and for how long? Are you a chain-smoker, how much is you monthly smoking budget? Where do you most often find yourself smoking? Here are my answers to the aforementioned questions:
-Yes.
-I tried it myself, hated it, tried another brand, was indifferent, tried Djarum Black and liked the taste (and slo, lamely, the way it looked in my hand (sighs in shame and self defeat) and so I just kept with it.
-Djarum Black, for about 7 years now, on and off.
-I never smoke more than three a day, unless I'm stressed or find myself in a group full of smokers. *drops head down and admits defeat of self-perseverance by peers*
-My monthly budget is about $16.50. I buy a pack every two weeks.
-Outside the college after class, or where ever my mother's speaking to me

[Lightning Rod]

Now Kayla, here is a subject that I can really warm up to.

(first I have to light a Pall Mall)

I have trouble typing or playing the bass on the piano unless I have a Pall Mall between the first and second fingers of my left hand. There are scars from the burns there. I only smoke about two a day--(ok, two PACKS, I started calling them 'decks' after reading Mickey Spillane and going to prison.)

I smoke only non-filter cigarettes on the theory that if you don't believe in it, it will kill you.

I also like Sobraines and Shermans.

[izeveryboyin]

LRod! My first candidate! I have one more question to add to the list... How many times a day are you hassled about smoking, and from whom most especially. My answer: At least twice a day, from my *curse word* mother. (look, I even use the bleeps for her).

[Lightning Rod]

my usual pose. (notice I haven't lit it yet)

I don't get hassled often, because I don't stand for it.

doreen's son (who is approx. your age) came to visit for Christmas.
he asked me not to smoke around him
I said, "fine, I won't."
then I said, indicating the back door that leads to the deck, "There is this breathing section, this is the smoking section. If you don't like the smoke you can stand out in the cold and breathe."

[izeveryboyin]

I have a sign that's says "smoking section" on the front door to my studio (shoebox) apartment. My mother is the only one who requests it to be taken down. She gets ignored, and she also gets the pleasure of watching me light another cigarette. Life is grand. Thanks for making me feel young again *curse word*.
--K

P.S Nice ring. I'll trade you a picture of Mexico City for it. *wink*

[Arcadia]

three a day, well it sounds regulated.
I come from a family of ex-smokers. My father and mother stopped smoking at the same time in their fifties. My brother and I don´t smoke.
I started smoking some time ago just for curiosity but I didn´t like the smell in the hair, clothes, hands, air and the taste in the mouth when you finish a cigarette. I also noted changes in the skin and a light pesadez in the legs.
I prefer mate, coke, sweets, beer or to bite my nails.

[Marksman45]

1. "I don't smoke." (lights a cigarette)
2. I like the aesthetic of smoking more than anything. Once I found cigarettes that I enjoyed the taste of, it was inevitable
3. I have 2 favourite brands. One is the aforementioned Djarum Blacks, but I don't let myself smoke them that often. The other is Virginia Slims, the 120mm variety. I like both the look and the taste of both of these brands. The Virginia Slims especially complement my overall look, with its long hair and various hats and blazers. I've been smoking them since this past summer
4. I only chain-smoke when I've been drinking. Other than that I smoke between zero and six cigarettes a day. Lately it's been zero. My electricity was just turned off today.
5. I smoke most often at parties or in my livingroom (especially while reading)

[mousey1]

Don't hit me but......

I heard American cigarettes and American beer both suck!
Not as supremely delicious and potent as say good ol' Canadian smokes and brews! That they are very namby pamby in comparison.

Just what I heard!!!!! Wouldn't know!!!!!!

Have no vices of any kind!

[Scootertrash]

In to my second week of non-smoking. Was at two packs a day, every day- But it comes to a choice--and a decision. So, I've been a smoker 39 years--but does that mean I have to smoke my remaining years? I don't want to. And for what good reason should I continue? In all my smoking years, what had it got me? Nothing really. A cough, a lot more shit to hack up when I have colds or bronchial infections, etc., things I really didn't need, nor want.
No, I think, for me anyway, quitting is the right thing to do. And in a practical sense, why should I continue? It's just poison-expensive poison, too. My health insurance cost is higher for being "a smoker". For years I defended my right to smoke. Saying it relaxed me or didn't hurt me or I really enjoyed it. I think I was sort of lying to myself because I thought I wasn't capable of actually making the decision to quit and then standing by it.
From now on I only want to be an ex-smoker.
For me, quitting is the right thing to do, and to start again would only be a testament to my selfishness and penchant for self destructive habits of which I've had a few.
I really don't believe quitting the damn things is hard. A person makes it hard on themself by saying "Oh, I really need a cigarette," or "I tried to quit but couldn't" etc. For me, thinking it through is the key. Not only do I not need a smoke, I don't want one either.

[stilltrucking]

about five days since I bought a pack of Merit Ultra Light 100's

been smoking about fifty one years started at 13, to look grown up, why elsewould kid smoke?

lately I been thinking of it in terms of just what the fuck is my hurry, LR yeah man in hoc signos vinces,

"Let us be perfectly frank. For practically everybody, the end of the world can't come soon enough. [Cigarettes are] a fairly sure, fairly honorable form of suicide."
* * *
"In spite of chain-smoking Pall Malls since I was 14, I think my wind is still good enough for me to go chasing after happiness, something I've never really tried."

[jimboloco]

I quit smoking in a stop smoking class
started out with 22
six weeks later, the class had dwindled to two,
teacher an me.

She gave me a gold pin it said I.Q.
I QUIT.
Tho I really weaseled out of it.

I'll have a craving now an agin
but won't breathe second hand smoke
by choice.

when ya light up, enjoy it, savor it.
unless ya like th pose
i suppose it would be ok

yet i can say that if yer lungs hurt
or ya got a second haid drowing out ya neck,
aw what th heck
ya might wanna quit

smoke smoke smoke
i'd go back t rollin meself,
drum.

but i smoke pot.
2 puffs in th morning.
all right.

[izeveryboyin]

wow... I didn't expect to get so much response from this post! As writers/performers/artists/hippie-bohemians we have some unwritten rule of being attracted to nicotine. It sorta just comes with the territory, I suppose. Maybe I should read Allen Ginsberg's "Don't Smoke" poem again over and over, but I know I'd just ignore and buy another pack. *reaches into wallet and prepares to light cigarette*

[izeveryboyin]

almost forgot... mousey, I agree, most American cigarettes do suck, save for Pall Malls and maybe Marlboros.... maube, but only b/c they're the token American brand. I don't like most beer, so I can't be the judge of that. To all of you ex-smokers, I commend you, right on. I think what you're doing is an amazing thing... *opens pack and shoves it in your face* "Want one?"
--K

P.S Still, I would never have guessed you were that old! Surely you are filled with deafening wisdom and awesome poetry, but for some reason, I just didn't think so. You are *counts years of difference in head* 43 years older than me. Right? Anyone know how to subtract 21 from 64? Anyone?

[jimboloco]

St is 64, an he was 7 when I was borned.

Keep smokin an you'll grow old fast.

Young and lithe an wirey an
breathin fire.

Know any athlete poetz?

[stilltrucking]

LR

Another is “in hoc signos vinces” or “In this sign you will conquer,” coming from a story about Emperor Constantine winning a battle, ending his persecution of Christians and beginning his Christian conversion. It's also well-known for appearing on packs of Pall Mall cigarettes.

I think we were better off when ceasar was a pagan, and render under ceasar just meant give me your money not your soul


K



I also am stunned by what you write

black history month so excuse this odd ramble

I grew up between the black store front churches with the whoops of joy and tamburines
and on the other side was little Italy and St Leo's of the dreaded Nuns

it is a lucky day in a so called white man's life when it dawns on him that he has met a black person of superiour intellect,

he was a black college kid and he just blew me away with his intellgence, one of those kind of people that was so cool to hang with.
years later I had a dream about jesus, the guy in my dream never said he was jesus, but when I woke up I thought about it and that is who he reminded me of.
j