Just to be clear....

Disclaimer: I don't want y'all thinking that I'm condoning smoking... even funny smoking moments... (ie, last post). I'm a born again non-smoker. I just can't help but yearn for days gone by (or days to come, depending on my will power). It's interesting how one can find something as mundane (yet, ever so important) as smoking to be an easy intro to communication. For instance, I can't even count how many times I've approached perfect strangers to "bum a smoke" or "borrow a light". It's a strange phenomenon and I know of nothing that is even remotely similar to the tobacco culture.

It's an instant friend maker, conversation starter, or even a "good Samaritan" maker. The stingiest person becomes a sultan of sharing when endowed with a pack of smokes. The shyest person becomes emboldened enough to not only approach someone, but also ask for a free cigarette. Strange, but true. Strange that something so unhealthy and well, let's face it, rather disgusting, can be so communal. Bringing people together has never been so easy.

I have a new slogan in mind: "Cancer Sticks!: Introduce some cancer to your life and make new friends!!"

Nostalgia

So I'm thinking about Louisiana and an old memory comes to mind: me, friends, bar/club, stranger with gauges, and smokes.

I step outside the bar/club (El Spanish Moon-o (also known as the best dance club in Baton Rouge on Thursday nights)) for a smoke and to cool off as I was a tid bit sweaty from excessive dancing.

There's this guy with some massive gauges and drunk as I am, I decide that it would be a great idea to light a cigarette through this guy's ear.

So I brazenly approach the poor (and much more sober than I) fellow and request that I be allowed to do so. The guy actually acquiesces to my desire....

Luckily, for him, I didn't burn the hell out of him and actually managed to get my smoke lit. Best night ever.

Louisiana.... *sigh*

For the loyal fans (all two of you), I've been ridiculously busy and haven't had a moment to write. But here goes: I'm gonna write a few posts tonight so I can catch y'all up a bit. I ruined my non-smoking business. I succumbed to the pleasures of sweet sweet tobacco.... I know, once a junkie always a junkie, right? Sometimes the pull is just to alluring. What's one girl to do against the conglomerate tobacco companies?

So, my trip to Baton Rouge was a success as far as the copious amounts of alcohol consumed. I feel like I should win some sort of award "Most Dedicated Alcoholic of the Year".... but that's a topic for another blog. A blog for each of my flaws, now there's an idea! Anyway, there is a point to the drunkenness mention, I blame my inebriation for the lack of self control. My girlfriends from the old days both smoked in my presence... that combined with the moral-ruining alcohol levels.... well, I relapsed.

Excuses, excuses... the best friends of addicts, I know, but it's true. In a sober state of mind, I wouldn't touch los cigarillos (cigarettes for all you non-Spanish-speakers...). The lazy, warmish southern nights had me reversing back to a simpler time in my life, albeit a much more smoke-filled time... the memories were awash, as it were. I was weakened by nostalgia and alcohol... Damn them.