Break time

[susandennis]

I smoked cigarettes for 40 years. I was really good at it. And I enjoyed it very much until I didn't and then I quit. I missed a lot about it when I quit. Meeting new people when we were forced to go outside to smoke. Having something to put in my mouth besides food when I was dieting (which was always). And taking breaks. It took me a long time to learn how to take a non-smoke break.



One of the things I am enjoying about building this miniature room kit is that breaks are required. Until that glue dries, those walls are standing on their own steam. The next step is erecting more walls that don't stand a chance until they can count on these walls being stable.

So... it's TV time!!

And, I'd just like to mention that I'm loving hearing all the snow stories and seeing the photos. When I first moved to Seattle 25 years ago, we got snow now and again. Twice we've gotten LOTS of snow right here at my house - 10" once and 18 inches once. We had a little a couple of times last winter. We have not even come close this winter and probably won't. In the mid-80's, I lived in Rochester, MN. I was only there for 18 months but managed to spawn over two winters and it was heaven. Just wonderful beautiful snow from October to June. I did not get enough. Now I just live in a perpetual state of snow envy.

Comments

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

We haven't had any ~real~ snow here yet. We had one day of light graupel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graupel) but it melted hours later when it changed to rain.

[meathiel]

Honestly? Snow envy?
I'm happy about every winter we don't get any. I hate having to drive in snow ... and ice.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Meeting new people when we were forced to go outside to smoke.

A friend of ours used to smoke, and did a couple of stops and restarts before he finally stopped for good (a long time ago now). I remember one time he said that the smoking break was his only way to keep up with office gossip. I though at the time (and still do) that that was a really terrible reason to smoke.

Now I just live in a perpetual state of snow envy.

You wouldn't envy what Boston got this weekend: A couple of inches of "snow" that was mostly ice, and has left behind an impenetrable sheet of ice over everything.

[susandennis]

At one point, I worked directly for the guy who ran a giant software lab for IBM in California. His office had floor to ceiling windows that happened to overlook our favorite smoking spot. He was a non smoker. But, he used to tell me that he honestly felt he'd be a better leader if he could just slip a hidden mike down there beside us. I never argued with him because I think he was right!

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

1 - I went through a group called SmokeEnders created by a psychologist so she could quit. First thing you had to do was smoke every cigarette by yourself so to cut the positive social environment of the cigarette break.

2 - You are in a perfect environment for 18" of snow. You've got supplies for weeks and entertainment for months. Snow, no big deal. Losing electricity/Internet = disaster.

[susandennis]

I'd forgotten about Smoke Enders. I never knew that detail but it sounds torturous.

Yeah, electricity/internet=happy me. Not being able to leave the house for days on end? kinda also happy me!

[maju01.livejournal.com]

I enjoy our rare snowstorms a whole lot more now that we don't always lose power for hours to days when they happen.

[susandennis]

excellent point. I have Snow-With-Electricity Envy :)

[ozswede.livejournal.com]

We had quite a lot of snow fall today - none of it forecast, so it was a bit of a surprise. I'll have photos later on and more tomorrow if I get around to it.

I've never smoked myself but all nine of my siblings do and they cite social reasons as the impetus for them both starting to smoke and continuing to do so. Two of my sisters say that they tried to stop but put on weight, so went back to the ciggies.

[susandennis]

Yeah the weight thing is a thing. I put on about 80 pounds that I've now been carrying around for more than 15 years and will likely die with. It's mainly because I love to eat and hate to move BUT I eat now when I would have smoked. (She says, grabbing another piece of cheese.)

Snow pictures!!! I do love them so.

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

Your walls are giving me flashbacks to making a gingerbread house for my best friend's 40th birthday. I knew in theory about how very unstable half a rectangle is compared to a rectangle, but dealing with it in practice with gingerbread slabs glued with icing was something else. Did you have any trouble keeping yours upright until they dried?

[susandennis]

no but i had very flat edges and i waited until the glue was tacky. gingerbread would be way harder.