"I think I'm just a social smoker."

That's exactly what I told my Mother about three years ago.

Pair that with a husband in the military (who I would rather not spend a day without, let alone seven months), on and off wedding planning for years, a good job that requires me to do more than pour you a beer (no offense to my lovely fellow bartedners), living far away from family, and turning in to a responsible house owning, bill paying, booze loving adult. Ding, ding, ding! Stress! My smoking habit is directly related to any source of stress that I have. Everyone has it, but I need a different way to manage it.

As accomplishing as it feels to have not had a cigarette since Sunday night, the urge to do it is still there. But I guess as the great Buddha once said, "Every human being is the author of his own health or disease."

Despite the mild nausea I had last night and the shaky hands on the way to work (I normally have my morning smoke on the way to the office.), I feel completely in control of this situation. Heh!

PS. Protein shakes are much more fun with a curly straw.