Quitting...

I'm in the process of quitting. Not quitting life or being sarcastic or disgruntled, but quitting one of the most deadly and despicable habits known to man. Smoking.

I use the term process because it's not something I've been able to do on my own before. And it's also something I've said I would do for several years now. It just wasn't convenient for me at those times.

About a year ago, I asked my doctor for a prescription for Chantix. For many years, I had heard people rave about the efficacy of this drug. But my biggest obstacle was the list of side effects that were reported in the disclaimers for the drug. Dizziness, upset stomach, gas, bloating, nausea, constipation, vomiting and sleep problems. And these were just the "common" side effects. But I was also concerned about the less common side effects such as depression and suicidal thoughts.

I put off taking the drug all this time, but I've been on it for a week now and there's really only three side effects I've noticed. I fart more and I actually remember my dreams. The other side effect, according to my fiance, is I don't snore like I used to. I'm not a BIG snorer, but she's a light sleeper. If I just wheeze in my sleep a little, she wakes up.

Besides the increased fart frequency, I'm also kind of enjoying my "vivid, unusual, or strange dreams." I have no idea how often I dream. I rarely remember my dreams. But on Chantix, my dreams are fairly detailed AND memorable.

Last night, I dreamed I was back in college, but I was attending a class off-campus and it was being conducted in a retail strip center right next to the coolest 7-11 convenience store I've ever seen in my life! It had everything and I mean EVERYTHING! There were great smells and sounds and lighting. It was like a place you would want to hang out in all day. I don't recall what I bought in my dream, but I'm sure it was the best tasting whatever-it-was thing I'd ever had.

So, I leave my dream 7-11 and go next door to my class. I sit down next to this really "dreamy" woman, but as soon as I get settled into my chair, she starts talking really loud to me while the professor is giving his lecture. I'm amused in my dream that the professor doesn't seem to notice and he keeps giving the lecture like there's nothing going on. I finally "shush" the girl to be quiet and she stops. Next thing I know, class is over and I have no idea what the professor was talking about and I don't have any notes written down to show for it.

As I'm walking back to my car, the girl walks with me and begins talking, but, again, I have no idea what she's talking about. The next thing I know is I feel a hand on my shoulder from somebody behind me. I turn around and it's the big, football-player-looking guy asking me why I'm walking with this girl. I looked right at him and said, "I have no idea who she is and I don't know why she's talking to me."

He responds back with, "Well, she's my girlfriend and you better leave her alone."

When I attempted to explain that all I did was unsuccessfully get her to shush her mouth during class, he pulled one of those "I'm gonna pretend like I'm gonna hit you, but just to make you flinch" moves. Of course, I flinched and he got a good laugh out of it. I hated that when I was a kid and I still hate it in my dreams.

I was then awoken by the sound of footsteps in the house. I'm not sure if someone was actually walking around or if it was our resident ghost, but I wish I could've finished the dream with me getting even with that girl's boyfriend. Not really. I could care less. But I do wish I could find that 7-11 again.