Because I have had several family members die from lung cancer, not to mention my father who has smoked a couple packs a day for nearly 45 years now, I am very encouraging of people who want (and try!) to quit smoking.  I don’t think less of people who DO smoke, and I understand it’s a terribly difficult addition and process to quit, but I would hate to see more people I love go thru what I watched others I loved do.

I found this timeline of what happens to your health & body when you quit smoking and I hope that those trying to quit find hope and encouragement in the positive results that occur even moments after you stop.

Within 20 Minutes
Your blood pressure will return to normal

In 8 hours
The carbon monoxide levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal

In 48 hours
Your chance of having a heart attack will begin to decline.  All nicotine will have left your body.  Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level

In 72 hour
Your bronchial tubes will relax, and your over-all energy level will rise

In 2 weeks
Your circulation will increase, and will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks

In 3 - 9 months
Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%

In 1 year
Your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped in half

In 5 years
Your risk of having a stroke returns to normal levels as that of a non-smoker

In 10 years
Your risk of lung cancer will return to that of a non-smoker

In 15 years
Your risk of heart attack will return to that of a non-smoker
Now if I can just find the same beneficial timeline for quitting caffeine, I would have a much easier time getting off my Mountain Dew addition!

So I took a test based on color choices that has been created by professionals (of what, I’m not real certain).  But it’s interesting and a scary accurate description of my personality.

Results:

1. My Existing Situation: Seeks to share a bond of understanding intimacy in an esthetic atmosphere of peace and tenderness.

2. My Stress Sources: Unfulfilled hopes have lead to uncertainty and a tense watchfulness. Insists on freedom of action and resents any form of control other than which is self-imposed. Unwilling to go without or to relinquish anything and demands security as a protection against any further setback or loss of position or prestige. Doubts that things will be any better in the future and this negative attitude leads her to exaggerate her claims and to refuse reasonable compromises.

3. My Restrained Characteristics: Trying to calm down and unwind after a period of over-agitation which has left her listless and devoid of energy. In need of peace and quiet; becomes irritable if this is denied him.

Willing to become emotionally involved and able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity, but tries to avoid conflict.

4. My Desired Objective: Seeks the determination and elasticity of will necessary to establish herself and to make herself independent despite the difficulties of her situation. Wants to overcome opposition and achieve recognition.

5. My Actual Problem: Strongly resists outside influence and any interference with her freedom to make her own decisions and plans. Works to establish and strengthen her own position.

6. My Actual Problem #2: apparently 1 problem isn’t enough for me) Disappointment and the fear that there is no point in formulating fresh goals have led to anxiety. Desires recognition and position, but is worried about her prospects. Reacts to this by protecting at any criticism and resisting any attempt to influence her. Tries to assert herself by meticulous control of detail in an effort to strengthen her position.

Take your own here: http://www.colorquiz.com/

This should surely distract me from the snow that is falling outside my window.  For now anyway. 

I wish I knew the location of this image - I found it while Stumbling and there is no information for it.  If anyone knows, please let me know so I can credit the location/photographer.

Enjoy!

(Resolution: 1680 x 1050)

Movies I’ve seen recently and a brief summary of what I think of them.

My Best Friend’s Girl - First movie to surprise me in a good way in a long time.  I almost down right loathe Dane Cook these days (his acting is terrible), but he wasn’t so bad in this movie and he looked decent.  Some of his “acting” was very similar to his stand-up jokes, so it worked well for him.  Kate Hudson was very funny and overall I thought it was really good.  There are a few scenes about 3/4 the way through the movie that were old school Dane Cook-funny and had me laughing so hard I could barely breathe.  Well done.  I would actually recommend this movie to people - and that’s saying a lot for a romantic comedy starring Dane Cook.

The Happening - WTF?!  Really?  The trees are pissed because humans are ruining this planet so they give off a toxin that makes humans commit suicide?  FOR REALS????  Did someone really think up a plot like this?  And if I ever thought in the past that Mark Wahlburg could actually ACT, I take it all back.   Absolutely terrible.  It was NOT suspenseful at all, and certainly not scary.  Predictable and kinda silly.  The little plot lines they tried to jam inside the main plot just made no sense at all - did they really need to make the main couple have marriage problems?  John Leg. was only in the movie briefly and it was so obvious when he left he was not coming back.  And I’m sorry there is NO WAY he would leave his daughter to go search for his wife.  No way as a parent is that ever happening.  DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE YOU WILL NEVER GET THOSE 2 HOURS BACK.

Madagascar 2 - Ok I really was pumped for this movie.  So pumped in fact that I went to see it WITHOUT MY CHILD.  *sigh*  Not that funny, only a few good moments.  Not enough King Julien and some stupid plot about Alexs’ father, blah blah blah.  I slept thru most of it.  Ugh.  I AM going to give it another chance and watch it again.  My son really likes these movies and if he wants to see it again, I’ll check it out.  But I highly doubt it’s going to change my opinion of the flick.

RIP Bernie Mac

BOLT - Tyler liked this one and so did Jason, but I wasn’t a huge fan at all.  Thought it was long, drawn-out and only moderately funny.  Meh.  Not much to say about this one.  Oh, the hampster was funny in parts.  The beginning was beyond cute with the dog as a puppy and I thought it was going to be very funny, but the plot of tricking a dog to think his crime-saving life is real even tho it’s just for a TV show - and the little girl who goes along with it but really loves her dog - was almost kinda cruel.  The cats did a great job of taunting the dog tho, like all cats do.

WANTED - Hands down my favorite movie this year I think.  Great mix of Fight Club and Matrix styles - ridiculous plot (duh) - great effects - great action - good acting.   Angelina Jolie.  Enough said.  I liked it a lot and have seen it several times since.  The twist at the end was a little unexpected in a good way and added some depth to the over-the-top special effects.  But it’s well worth it!  I need one of those rejuvination tanks stat.

Zach & Miri Make a Porno - Yes Yes Yes.  Hilarity like only Kevin Smith can do.  Wasn’t the BEST of his works, but definitely worth watching and seeing in a theatre.  Darrell from The Office was so damn funny and Jay (Jason Mewes) was on point.  Good stuff.  No cameos - even by Smith himself, which I was slightly disappointed in.  But Randall (jeff Anderson) showing up for a minor roll was good enough - even tho I’m a firm supporter of him being LEAD in a Smith film because Randall is my favorite of any KS movie characters.  Oh I really don’t like Miri (Elizabeth Banks - or Kim from Scrubs as I know her. ) and I’m not a super large fan of Seth Rogan, but he’s moderately funny and almost sweet in this movie, so it’s all good.  Overall, it’s one that I’m sure I’ll download and watch several more times.   OH - Justin Long’s part of the movie - I almost forgot! - worth it JUST FOR THAT.  Holy crap he was so hilarious.

Ok so it’s not as worthy as the “Here by Dragons” pic - which has made me laugh until I cried in the past, but this one is still certainly funny.  I will try to find the old one and post it here also.

My likes and dislikes, hobbies, interests and attention are constantly changing.  Most of the time I don’t think anything of it and even assume it is pretty normal.  But there are times when I feel like my interests drastically change more than most.  Not that it matters, or even means anything, it’s just one of many things I am aware of about myself.  That being said (which means nothing haha), here are things I am loving lately:

1. Dexter - LOVE this show.  Just got into it and watched Season 1 and Season 2 in 3 days.  ELEVEN hours of it in ONE DAY.  Tell me that’s not impressive? Season 1 was awesome, I’m hooked.

2. Internet Meme: Inspirational Posters - Holy crap some of these crack me up so much.  I’ve spent hours looking through them and laughing my ass off.  Great way to waste some time.

3. Facebook.   Holy crap I’ve been a myspace fan since the start.  Majority of my friends were there so I just hung out there all the time.  I’ve HAD a facebook for years, but I never really used it.  But in the span of a few weeks it has quickly become my primary method of communication with my friends.   I’ve re-connected with some old friends and I’m really thankful for Facebook right now.

4. Coheed and Cambria.  One of my new favorite bands.  Period.  This is NOT the type of music I normally listen to.  Well, it IS in a way, but I never saw myself being a fan of C&C but low and behold.  They are SO awesome and I’m obsessed with both Apollo albums.  It’s ridiculous, I’m borderline a super-fan. haha.

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