No Smokers Allowed

Ok...so I am a smoker.

I smoke with my coffee, after a meal, when I feel stressed, after sex...I like to smoke but I do plan to quit...

Apparently, it has become the government's mission to help people like me to realize the error of my ways but scaring the shit out of me with scary pictures of the affects of smoking. I am not sure if this really works.

I read an article today that within the next three years instead of warning labels on our packs of cigarettes there will be gruesome pictures of sore infested mouths, blackend lungs and failing hearts to help push the quit smoking scare tactic. In the subway stations there is this ad with a woman who has lost most of her fingers because of the affects of smoking. When I go to work and cut out for a smoke break I have to endure the comments of co-workers..."that is a really bad habit"..."you should quit"..."that doesn't make you attractive". All of a sudden everyone has a strong opinion about my bad habit and honestly because of my very defensive and defying nature all of the ads and the labels and the taunts just make me want to do the opposite...I want to smoke more...

It really is silly. Do the non-smokers really think that we who do indulge in our nicotine habit are not aware of the horrible affects that the cigarettes have on our bodies? The warning is written on the box in a clear, bold Surgeon General Warning label basically saying that if you continue to do this on a regular basis all of the horrific crap that we have stuffed into these cancer sticks will eventually kill you.

Let me make something clear...everyone who smokes wants to quit.

We talk about it in our small smokers circles outside when we are huddled together trying to get that last puff. I have quit at least three times in the 8+ years that I have been a smoker but have always found myself back to the nasty habit after I go out for a simple beer and bum a smoke. That one cigarette leads to another and then the next thing you know you are buying a pack. And we smokers also agree that smoking is absolutely disgusting.

But quitting the habit will be my own personal triumph...without the truth commercials and the extreme warning labels and the bans and whatever else society comes up with to make smoking the plague of America.

I have set my quitting date.

I have made it my goal to cut the habit in order to live a stronger and healthier life.

But I do ask this...

To all of you out there who have a friend that smokes and you would like to encourage them to quit, do just that encourage and support...

Just saying....

To Feed or Not to Feed?

AHHHHHHH Motherhood...


It is beautiful and I do love watching mothers and their children bond.

The other day in my office, my colleagues and I stumbled upon an interesting debate about one bonding ritual in particular....BREASTFEEDING.

It seems to be a faux pas in American society to breastfeed in public which I don't agree with. I don't feel that a mother should be locked in the home with her infant until the poor child is waned off and decides that the bottle works just as well. Breastfeeding is natural and should be accepted in public, and of course, discretion is greatly appreciated. A mother pulling out her breast in the park is not my idea of a memorable moment but they should be allowed to feed their child anywhere accept in a RESTAURANT...

That is it...that is my only limit...Let me give you a scenario...

You are out to dinner with your loved one (i.e. boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife) enjoying a romantic dinner for two at a nice restaurant. The two of you are having a great conversation, can't keep your eyes off of each other, the food is amazing, the wine is divine (I like that...LOL!!!) and then at the moment when lips are expected to lock you hear the WAH, WAH, WAH of the infant child at the table next to you with the beautiful family.

Now instead of the mother and child exiting the dining room to a private corner for feeding time, mom discretely (hopefully discretely) begins feeding the baby at the table. The entire dining room stops...the impending kiss is haulted and the room is filled with the low murmur of "is she breastfeeding that baby right at the table".

Let's be honest, whether you think it is okay or not, the act of breastfeeding your child in a crowded dining room does draw attention for a variety of different reasons. During our discussion, one colleague felt that the mother had every right to feed her baby in the restaurant as it is a natural way of life and she is paying to be there as well; however another colleague and myself felt that as a diner we didn't pay to see such a display and argued that when the child dirties its diaper that is natural as well but if the mother started changing the diaper at the table (which by the way has happened at a few restaurants I have worked in) then that is natural as well...is it not?! Okay, maybe an extreme example...but you get my point.

Bottom line...this issue may never truly be resolved and in the end my colleagues and I agreed to disagree. I personally still stand by my "No Breastfeeding in Restaurants" motto but thought it was an interesting subject...

Just saying...

Punk Revolution Chinese Style

Last night I went to see an independent films with a couple of friends presented by Rooftop Films and titled Rock Heart Beijing. The film is directed by Karen Winther.

Going in my impression of this film was that I was going to get to experience the music. You know that hard, raw, emotional, angst filled quality that is Punk Rock music. Music that speaks out against the establishment and challenges political barriers and the music created by the Subs is just that but on an entire different level.

China is the country I call the fish bowl because everyone is looking in but the glass bowl is very thick and outside influences are strongly kept at a comfortable distance. The lead singer of the band, Kang Mao, utilizes her powerful voice and the raw aspect of the music to express her struggle with being an only child and not meeting the expectations that her culture has for her. The best moments of the film were with Kang Mao on her own explaining to the rest of the world just how caged in she felt. Ultimately, it made me greatly appreciate the freedom I have as an American and especially as an American woman.

In this country, we are encoraged to speak up even though most of us don't unless we are directly affected by decisions being made by our government. I mean look at the Health Care situation at the moment. Now that it is being re-examined and the results could possibly change things for some and make things a bit better for most people are literally losing their minds. For Kang Mao, the struggle is so much simpler. Lack of freedom when it comes to expressing oneself, being ridiculed for not seeking and obtaining what is considered a good job and especially not settling down with the right man.

Last night after the film it became even more important for me and hopefully for the others that were there to embrace our freedom and take advantage of it as much as possible. For Kang Mao, I say keep on rocking because your voice and your music are the key that will unlock the door to the prison that you have been caged in for so long.