Good evening GUSsacks, supporters, and survivors of the hump day.
GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us! We kindly ask that politics be set aside.
You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access the GUS Library at dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links. Check it out!
Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like your name added to the GUS Buddy List.
UPDATE: In the comments, you will find that I triple-posted the Butt Can. Listen, you all are very generous with mojo, but please feel free to not tip at your leisure. Thank you!---bsm
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UPDATE X2: ... and not only that, but I fucked up the Buddy List!!! Not the Library, which I have been tending. That one is fine, and includes all 296 new members including NearlyNormal, sunbro, and Vetwife. Apologies, folks! Most sincere thanks to ChocolateChris for both catching and correcting my mistake.
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After a month off the GUS diary beat, I'm not feeling too cohesive in my typing skills as they relate to transferring matter from the brain to the keypad. Or to put it this way: UFO sightings and Gong Show acts should be as random as this diary will be. Yep, that's future tense, as in "It's 6:40 PM in Chicago, and I'm still typing."
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The GUS Buddy List is nearing the 300-member mark. How about that, folks? As of last night, there are 296 of us have quit, are working on quitting, or have never smoked a cigarette but are here to loan support to prospective quitters.
No matter where you are at in your process as a quitter or supporter, I highly encourage you to try your hand at writing a GUS diary. Feel free to tell your story as a smoker. Or tell someone else's story. Or don't tell a story! Just copy the GUS mission statement (see above the fold), maybe add a picture, video, or witty text to your diary field,... or not! Mainly, just hit post, then stick around and host.
Composing a GUS diary can be kind of like quitting smoking. On the one hand, there is some effort involved at doing it. On the other hand and to a certain degree, it can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. I prefer complication. Though I don't endorse it. Different strokes.
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Random image, balanced by new ear jewelry:
Incidentally, there is no better place to practice your image or video copying than in the GUS community. Unless it's a pootie diary. Or a Welcome, New Users diary. OK, I 'fess... in just about any Kos community series, you will likely be given free space and pointers with which to practice your fledgling flickr/photobucket/imageshack skills.
Who knows? In doing this, your GUS image may wind up inspiring another 300 (with apologies to Sparta) to quit!
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Shameless promo. Because when your band is going to have a song played on the radio... aw c'mon, you would do it too! The station is WXRT-FM (93.1), and the name of the show is Local Anesthetic, where one of our Pet Lover tunes will be played this Sunday around 7:30 PM CST. Indeed, we are pretty excited.
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Not-so-random personal data. Or, it's not all rock and roll on this end. Work continues to keep me near sea level. My state of mind about this is still really crappy, though, and it usually winds up in one of two negative directions:
* Guilty about treating myself to anything, even if it's just a CD of my latest favorite earworm, or having regular dinner with a friend.
* Guilty over not being sufficiently grateful because what the hell, at least I'm working.
Name it, claim it, dump it. Hey, I feel a little bit better already. The financial struggle will continue until it stops. Or morale improves, whichever comes first. But at least I can sit here right now and look at those two items on my current agenda of guilt, in all its stunning uselessness.
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And finally, a heartwarming story...
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Current members of the GUS team!
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alpha99, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, bdizz, beatpanda, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, BlueJessamine, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, CathodeRay, cee4, Cen Den, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, citizenx, Cleante, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, Dauphin, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, DiegoUK, Dingodude, distraught, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, Eclectablog, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, FlipperWaves, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, Geiiga, Georgianna Darcy, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, Haole in Hawaii, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hold tight, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, Jyrinx, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Kodiak54, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, marknspokane, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Micburke, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, one pissed off democrat, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, shopkeeper, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snoopydawg, snorwich, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, Statusquomustgo, Super Grover, tallmom, Tay, ThAnswr, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, yet another liberal, Zotz
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So you've had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread?
Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...)
*Asterisks* indicate regular GUS diary time slot:
Wed PM: bsmechanic (you are here)
Thu AM: open
Thu PM: **ChocolateChris**
Fri AM: **flumptytail**
Fri PM: open
Sat AM: open
Sat PM: **FrugalGranny**
Sun AM: open (or bgblklab1, if he's free!)
Sun PM: **Safina**
Mon AM: open
Mon PM: **Vacationland**
Tue AM: open
Tue PM: **aoeu**
Wed AM: open
How to write a GUS diary on the fly and easy as pie.