All true. Smoking seems much less normal once you have quit. 

Though they drank like fish on Bewitched. 

Lisa,

I got through the orchid episode and loved it! Took me 3 nights of watching a bit each night, lol. So many cool orchids that I’ve only seen at local orchid shows or the orchid society meetings I used to go to. I actually got to see in person one of the monkey orchids they mentioned at the beginning of the show. They literally look like the face of a monkey!! It’s crazy how many orchids look like animals. It’s fun to Google it at look at images.

I gasped when the policeman stepped on the orchid growing in the wild.  

I watched an orchid get auctioned for over $1K at a meeting once and was gobsmacked. I don’t know the exchange rate from the pounds mentioned in the show, but 150,000 seems quite insane! I think the most I’ve spent is $40 on one. Most I either won at raffles or were gifted. Once people knew I could keep them alive I started getting lots of donations. The flowers would die and my friends would give me the plants. It can be hard to care for a plant for a whole year in the hopes of getting flowers that may or may not show up.

Anyway, the orchid I was telling you was about to open finally opened up!! Let me see if I can figure out how to put the picture in here. 

I hope all is well with you. I can’t believe May is almost here. This past year has gone by quickly in some ways and slow in others for me. Time with my daughter has flown by. Someone told me yesterday they’d someday miss their son’s skateboard in the kitchen and I burst into tears thinking of my daughters shoes that I keep tripping over.

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

I am glad you enjoyed the Orchids from the episode !!  I thought you might.   I am not sure if a rare Orchid would sell for that much in non TV life, but the price probably goes higher when they are obtained illegally and smuggled. 

I like your Orchid !!  Thanks for sharing a pic.  I am a fan of purple too.  I guess I  have not caught on that many Orchids look like animal faces , I will google that.

 Hopefully you and Violet can have a great summer before she leaves for college.   It would break my heart if my son moved away from our area.

May is a busier month around here.  My sons birthday is early May, Mothers Day , continued PT , and much more.  I really am hoping to be done with PT the end of May, not sure if that is realistic at this time though.  

There has been a lot of family drama going on .  Also. I am still in a pain flare from my hips on down from last Thursday at PT.  I feel too stressed and want them all to leave me alone.  I am done with PT for the week and don't go back until Monday . Yay!! That witch has great vestibular knowledge but my chronic pain illness not so much.   

Anyhow, I feel like I am really being challenged by people and life right now.   I WILL NOT SMOKE.  I WILL NOT SMOKE. 

Soon you and Erika will be 4 months smoke free and I will be 3 months.  We are doing this.  Smoking has nothing to offer us except for disease and death !!!!!

                                          Lisa 

Lisa,

Apparently the most expensive flower known to be bought is an orchid that sold at auction for £160,000. Who knew? 
Some orchids look so much like animals that I’d Google whether it was true they were real, lol. One actually looks a bit like a naked man. Slightly inappropriate, but makes me laugh.

I hope you’re able to be done with PT by end of May! PT sucks so much and it sounds like yours is sucking more than the usual PT does. I’m about to start mine up again. I’ve not been looking forward to that, but need to get it going. Really hoping to get some back, hip and leg stuff happier before Europe. Good motivation.

Stress and pain are crappy combinations. I’m sorry you have extra family drama adding to things. Sometimes people suck. Broken bodies suck, too. Sheesh, I’m a ray of sunshine today, lol. 
There will be better days and we’ll be so happy we’re still not smoking. We’re doing so good!! 

That 4 and 3 months really is coming up soon! I lost my 4 month quit last year, so this’ll be a big one for me to celebrate. Or do I celebrate when I get to 5 months? Maybe I’ll just celebrate the whole month.

Jenny

Celebrate every day  you do not light up.  Four  months and three months - my gosh time sure flies.  You have both  come a long, long way and you are doing so well.  You have built solid foundations to build your smoke-free lifestyle upon. 

I used to repeat those affirmations all the time as well.  I AM A QUITTER.    

Hi Jenny,

I hope going back to PT will help improve your back, hip, and leg stuff.  Your Europe trip is a great motivator !!

Last night I had my first smoking dream since I quit.   I was so disappointed in myself in the dream.  I was happy though when I woke up briefly and realized it was just a dream .

Yes, celebrate the whole month.  Passing the amount of time you quit the last time you quit is wonderful.  My last quit (which was unfortunately 7 years ago),  was lost right about where I am right now in days (87) .  I didn't quite make it to 3 months.  I will this time , I will be victorious (cue the trumpets). 

We are having a rainy weekend.  Wednesday and Thursday was nice , low 60s and sunny.  I did a bit of light yard work Thursday and took a small walk.  

I hope you are having a good weekend.

Thanks Anne . 

Affirmations really do help me.

                                     Lisa 

Also, being a nonsmoker when you go on your trip to Europe will be so much more enjoyable for you .  Great motivator too !! 

                                              Lisa 

Hi friends!  Comin' in hot for my four months, also 1+ month clean of nicotine.  Thank god, I feel so much better, physically mentally and spiritually.  I've been staying out of the house and away from my desk and computer, trying new things out in the world.  I'm sorry I haven't been online, but I was thinking about all of you wonderful people a lot!  Glad to see everyone is still going strong.  

xoxoxox

E

Erika,  

Congratulations on 4 months of being a nonsmoker .    

That's wonderful that you are feeling so much better physically, mentally, and spiritually. ?

                                        Lisa