Re Kristin's link in Press. I worked for the publishers of Seventeen magazine back in the early 70s and found the touchup work amazing. The girls looked nothing like the covers. Total airbrush, and this was before computers. Guys in that department were awesome. They also had a collection on the walls of various politicians and celebs with clothes torn off that they airbrushed that cracked me up. Completely realistic. I don't know about now, but back then every single cover girl had the same color eyes. I've never worn makeup myself so it was fascinating to me in a horror show kind of way.

Smoking. Started when I was about 12. Brother and I stole dad's Belairs. Pretty much quit in early 30's after way too many loved ones died of the stuff, including dad. Have had one on occasion when trashed, but don't even remember the last time. I treasure the freedom of not needing or caring about them anymore.

Yikes! Clock just struck 12. Must be up at 6. Why won't the school district understand that people weren't meant to be up so early?

G'night.

I hate my bosses right now. 11:25 and just now leaving work.

I just love school SO MUCH. And my team mates. Oh, they are the greatest. The school experience is so much better having to work with total strangers who thrive on exercising their skills at procrastination. I'm in utter awe of their brilliance.

SO. DAMN. MUCH. FUN.

Suzi, here is the difference between sarcasm and irony as I understand it.

Irony is saying something different from your intended meaning for rhetorical effect, but allowing for a variety of shades in that meaning.

Sarcasm is always directly opposite from your intended meaning.

I'm going with sarcasm on your last post. That's my guess. Am I right?

I ain't no English major....but yeah....that... Should I translate it to SMS?

My dad worked for RJR for more than 40 years, my mom for 20, so I was brand loyal, at least to start. Winstons, then switched to Tarreytons so the roommate and I could each buy half a carton to get through the week. Back to Winstons, then More 100s, More light 100s, Benson & Hedges, and Winstons again.

I found this, which always explained the attraction of smoking for me so well:

Frasier: Oh now, Bebe, tell me. What is so wonderful about smoking?

Bebe: Everything. [with actions:] I like the way a fresh firm pack feels in my hand. I like peeling away that little piece of cellophane and seeing it twinkle in the light. I like coaxing that first sweet cylinder out of its hiding place and bringing it slowly up to my lips. [Daphne comes back with a bowl; getting more erotic:] Striking a match, watching it burst into a perfect little flame and knowing that soon that flame will be inside me. [laughs giddily] I love the first puff, pulling it into my lungs. Little fingers of smoking filling me, caressing me, feeling that warmth penetrate deeper and deeper, until I think I'm going to burst! Then - whoosh! - watching it flow out of me in a lovely, sinuous cloud, no two ever quite the same.

She's cast her spell. Everyone now has a hungry, longing look in their eyes.

Daphne: More potatoes, anyone?

I first started smoking, because I like the taste of alcohol. All kinds. There was no such thing as slow drink for me. so I smoked between drinks to slow down. Qui a long time ago. Esp after discovering that depriveing my lungs of oxygen seemed to cause hangovers. ( actually I really stopped when it started costing me money - as in I had to go into real reastaurants if I wanted to smoke , because they had a smokeing section. This was when I worked in a mall)

There was a woman in my life in my teens who smoked. I don't remember who she was...maybe someone I babysat for. She would tell me that coffee was the gateway to smoking, so never start drinking coffee.

It makes me laugh now. But, really? She was right. I like a cigarette best with coffee. Fortunately, I still like my coffee without a cigarette.

When I smoked, I smoked Virginia Slims for a while, then switched to Marlboro lights. Marlboro lights are still my ciggy of choice. But, I don't smoke anymore. Stupid asthma and wanting to be able to breathe!

----

ION, I totally cannot sleep. I have to be up in about three hours, so there is not time for more sleepy drugs. Gonna try to crawl back in bed and rest, at least, until I can't stand lying there any more.

I smoke Basic 100s. I started smoking at the age of 20, because of a family thing where I was accused of all sorts of illicit, sinful, hell-going-to behavior, but the only one I could actually figure out how to do without completely embarrassing myself with my naivete was smoke. And so I did. Stupid.

I started with menthols, the pretty-girly-kind, virginia slims extra long 120 menthol light, or some such, sometimes salem light 120s. If they had flowers on them I was a goner. My first pack of cigarettes didn't make me hack at all, and by the end I was inhaling like a pro. It was the easiest habit I've ever picked up.

I quit smoking menthols when a nurse friend told me that they're worse than regulars and were making my lungs bleed with every cigarette. Then it was Benson & Hedges for a bit, and then my brother gave me a carton of Marlboro 100s for my birthday (enabler!) and so I was loyal to Marlboro for a long time. Then, in an attempt to save money, I switched to Basics, and now I can't stand the taste of anything else.

I quit once, for myself, to feel good, blah blah, and then I broke up with my fiance of the time and went to a friend's house where they handed me a cigarette and a beer when I walked in the door (former fiance was a jailhouse minister. I was teetotal for a bit too.) I started again. Tried to get back together with the fiance, but he couldn't stand waiting for me to quit again, or dealing with the idea of his perfect bride-to-be being a smoker, or even an ex-smoker, so we parted ways. It was a huge blessing in disguise. That perfection thing sucks rocks.

I've tried to quit since, but it's been ugly every time--too much tied into my identity and my feelings of freedom vs. servitude and blah blah blah cakes. One of these days I will succeed though.

I was going to watch some bad tv to get sleepy, but I can't seem to find anything I can stand to watch.