What's on your mind today?

[DeterminedJuliet]

Earlier, I was looking at HAF in a crowded coffee shop - the place was packed, so the patrons were in very close proximity to each other. I was surfing and writing and HAFing when these two older ladies sat down next to me. I couldn't help but notice that one of them was wearing a rather large crucifix around her neck. She settled in next to me while her friend placed their order.

Well, she started STARING at my laptop. Like, just blatantly reading everything that I was reading about our atheist heathen ways. I really thought she might say something and for a second I considered closing the browser and looking at something a little more "innocuous". But then I thought, "you know what? I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm minding my own business. This is MY laptop and I like the Happy Atheist Forum." So I ignored her and kept scrolling. And she kept staring. But she didn't say anything.
A year or two ago, I think I would have caved.

Small victories.

[xSilverPhinx]

Earlier, I was looking at HAF in a crowded coffee shop - the place was packed, so the patrons were in very close proximity to each other. I was surfing and writing and HAFing when these two older ladies sat down next to me. I couldn't help but notice that one of them was wearing a rather large crucifix around her neck. She settled in next to me while her friend placed their order.

Well, she started STARING at my laptop. Like, just blatantly reading everything that I was reading about our atheist heathen ways. I really thought she might say something and for a second I considered closing the browser and looking at something a little more "innocuous". But then I thought, "you know what? I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm minding my own business. This is MY laptop and I like the Happy Atheist Forum." So I ignored her and kept scrolling. And she kept staring. But she didn't say anything.
A year or two ago, I think I would have caved.

Small victories.

LOL

She propbaly checked out this site herself after going home

[Crow]

Brilliant stuff. That was a quick turnaround!

Keep it up and you too can learn to pity smokers instead of envying them!

Congrats!

Thanks. I kind of already do, prior to reading the book I thought it was almost impossible to stop however as you said originally it is "a state of mind", similarly to the short story 'Flatland' and it is so easy to see the difference between the two once it has been pointed out. I was about half way to what the book was trying achieve with its readers before I picked it up as I wasn't under any illusions about it being any more than a drug addiction, my main problem was breaking the illusion that smoking is actually enjoyable when it is actually far from enjoyable. Sure its only been two days since I finished the book but apart from the occasional pang and slight sensation of hunger I haven't really noticed not smoking and when I do it is quickly dealt with, while the day before hand I was like a crackhead craving for a fix (and every other attempt being the same).

[Amicale]

Earlier, I was looking at HAF in a crowded coffee shop - the place was packed, so the patrons were in very close proximity to each other. I was surfing and writing and HAFing when these two older ladies sat down next to me. I couldn't help but notice that one of them was wearing a rather large crucifix around her neck. She settled in next to me while her friend placed their order.

Well, she started STARING at my laptop. Like, just blatantly reading everything that I was reading about our atheist heathen ways. I really thought she might say something and for a second I considered closing the browser and looking at something a little more "innocuous". But then I thought, "you know what? I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm minding my own business. This is MY laptop and I like the Happy Atheist Forum." So I ignored her and kept scrolling. And she kept staring. But she didn't say anything.
A year or two ago, I think I would have caved.

Small victories.

Awesome! She was probably thinking "happy atheist?? What's that?? I didn't think those folks could be happy!"

I'd like to think or hope that in a crowded cafe, I'd also keep my laptop open when browsing HAF. I do unfortunately have to switch to a different site if an elderly family member is visiting. Sigh. Small victories are wonderful, but sometimes they're not worth the huge battles.  

[Crow]

Hey, I was just wondering. Does this book focus on smoking the cigarettes themselves, or on the nicotine addiction? Some people have a nicotine dependency even if they don't get it via cigarettes, so I was curious if this book would be of any use to those folks.

A bit of both it focuses primarily on the actual smoking of the cigarette and the perception that we associate with it but does touch on being addicted to substitutes. I would totally recommend it even if you don't plan to give up, just give it a read as its not long and you don't have anything to lose by doing so.

[Amicale]

Hey, I was just wondering. Does this book focus on smoking the cigarettes themselves, or on the nicotine addiction? Some people have a nicotine dependency even if they don't get it via cigarettes, so I was curious if this book would be of any use to those folks.

A bit of both it focuses primarily on the actual smoking of the cigarette and the perception that we associate with it but does touch on being addicted to substitutes. I would totally recommend it even if you don't plan to give up, just give it a read as its not long and you don't have anything to lose by doing so.

Thanks! I think it's $6.99 for Kindle. Worth it, it looks like.

[xSilverPhinx]

Sounds like a cool book Crow, certainly got me curious...want to take a look.

[Tank]

Earlier, I was looking at HAF in a crowded coffee shop - the place was packed, so the patrons were in very close proximity to each other. I was surfing and writing and HAFing when these two older ladies sat down next to me. I couldn't help but notice that one of them was wearing a rather large crucifix around her neck. She settled in next to me while her friend placed their order.

Well, she started STARING at my laptop. Like, just blatantly reading everything that I was reading about our atheist heathen ways. I really thought she might say something and for a second I considered closing the browser and looking at something a little more "innocuous". But then I thought, "you know what? I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm minding my own business. This is MY laptop and I like the Happy Atheist Forum." So I ignored her and kept scrolling. And she kept staring. But she didn't say anything.
A year or two ago, I think I would have caved.

Small victories.

YOU GO GIRL!!!!

You never know she might log in and have a look herself.

[Crow]

Sounds like a cool book Crow, certainly got me curious...want to take a look.

Do! its basically hypnosis and says as much in the beginning.

[Siz]

Sounds like a cool book Crow, certainly got me curious...want to take a look.

Do! its basically hypnosis and says as much in the beginning.

Yeah. I didnt actually agree with some of the stuff he said, but decided to suspend my disbelief for the greater good... and was glad I did. Most of it, however, was sane, rational and obvious once you understand it.

It's fascinating how he illuminates the whole psychology of our belief in our 'addiction' which - as it turns out - isn't that hard to overcome once you understand what's actually going on. I loved the bit about taking a cigarette NOT to make you feel better, but to actually normalise so we're not tackling our withdrawals as well as whatever else is bothering us. Feeling better after a ciggy is a fallacy, you're actually just returning to a state of reduced anxiety that a non-smoker feels all the time.

Good luck all...

[Crow]

United just drew with Everton. Come on City!

With Tevez back in the fold, I fancy their chances. United have not been convincing all season but willpower and benevolent refereeing seemed to have won the day for them.

So do I, the game this weekend will be interesting either way as the Manchester derbys are always good regardless. However even though United haven't been on form this season they are still the top of the league after trailing behind for a good half a season, they seem to be able to pull a win out or at least a draw even if they are playing bad. I just hope City comes out of this with a similar result to the 6-1 game at the start of the season.

[Ali]

Hi All,
I'm back from Miami.  Had an okay-ish time.  Rained buckets during our day when we were supposed to go to the Everglades and South Beach, so Hubby and I spent most of the day in our hotel room not talking to each other because we'd gotten into a stupid fight and were both feeling surly and peckish.    But, also had some fun at the gala dinner and reception on the other two days, so not bad over all I suppose.  Here are pictures.

The entrance to the resort:


Views from our balconey (that is the golf course)




Some turtles by the front entrance that I fell in love with:




Some...duck like creatures...that we found just walking down the side walk.  They're duck shaped and duck sized, but not like any ducks I've ever seen before.




Good to be home.  I missed T something fierce!

[Jimmy]

Snow!!! 

[Buddy]

Snow!!! 

Wow. That sucks. There was frost on my truck this morning. 

[Jimmy]

Some...duck like creatures...that we found just walking down the side walk.  They're duck shaped and duck sized, but not like any ducks I've ever seen before.

Got the bird book out, I think it's a Muscovy Duck

Glad you had a nice time, Nice pictures