Smoking

[The Mowman]

I was just wondering how many of you are smokers. I don't smoke and am wondering how anyone can do well at working with a smoking habit. Just a thought.

[bdemir]

Theres alot of smokers in the business i am not one of them and could not imagine smoking in hot weather while breaking a sweat. Smoking is not helpful when push comes to shove. Although, I have seen some good lawn foreman who smoke and they do just fine so it depends on the person i guess.

[osc]

I don't smoke myself, unless it's a cigar on a special occasion like luch or dinner.<br>Really though, the only thing I really regret about all of my employees smoking is the 50 smoke breaks they need each day.

[Mowman]

I'm a smoker, but I don't smoke on the job site. Before and after my stops. The reason is where do you throw the butt,not in a persons lawn I hope. I'd like to QUIT,maybe this winter,as I don't smoke in my home either cause my wife and son are allergic to it. Just my thoughts. Mowman

[KirbysLawn]

I don't smoke and never will. I see people on a regular basis who are disabled due to smoking. Both my parents are disabled and our EMS and hospitals systems treat people DAILY who have assorted medical problems as a direct result of smoking. <p>Funny thing, remember when Perrier water was tainted with benzene? Our government protected the public by pulling this water from store shelves and people refused to buy the water until it was safe. The funny part, ONE cigarette has over 100 times the amount benzene as a bottle of the &quot;dangerous&quot; water, yet cigarettes are still legal. <p>If you smoke and you know the risk, please accept the disabling diseases that are a side effect of your choice and be responsible for paying the medical bills associated with it. My father suffers from emphysema and the bills are amazing, I don't want to sound harsh but why should the public tax dollars pay for this treatment?.<p>Ray

[Charles]

I don't smoke either. saw this man one time. He had emphysema smoking through a hole in the bottom of his throat. saw a report on 60 minute where doctor say the leading cause of impotence in men over 40 is smoking. Smoking narrows just about every artery in your body choking off blood flow and nerve movement. Among many other deadly problems it causes. Drugs ,alcohol combined do not equal the death and illness caused by smoking. But it is a free country and you should have the right to choose the way you die,I think. Just don't blow it in my face lol.

[KirbysLawn]

Charles, I agree, but I do not think we should help pay for a self inflicted disease.

[1MajorTom]

Definitely no smokers here in the family.<p>Sorry, but smoking in my opinion is disgusting. It makes your teeth yellow, your hair and clothes stink, and your finger turns yellow from where you hold the cig. YUCK!<br>And that's not mentioning all the health risks.<p>And what about kissing? It would be like licking an ashtray...lol no thanks.<p><br>Jodi

[Scraper]

All right...enough about smoking...this a smoker bashing post? How about you dippers out there! Let's hear it for Cope! Couldn't get thru a lawn without it!

[bob]

I don't smoke. And most of my help doesn't smoke. My biggest concern with smokers is not to set any gasoline on fire. I started carrying a fire extingisher this year-long over due. The fire extingisher is mounted away from the gas cans.

[GrassRoots Lawn Care]

Smoker of what? :-)<p>----------<br>Mike Reynolds,<br>GrassRoots Lawn Care, Florida

[Stinger]

I'm with Scraper as a smokeless tobacco user. Three of my employees smoke and I only allow them to in the truck or during a break. It doesn't look very professional having a smoke while trying to cut someones yard at the same time.

[RYAN]

No tabacco of any kind for me thanks. Although I have never opposed having a few brews after the work day is over.

[geogunn]

this is a very interesting post.<p>I used to smoke cigars, and occasionally, a pipe. loved it. long before lawncare, I used to have to drive as much as 10 hours to get to the jobsite. the cigar was a crutch to stay awake at the wheel and I really enjoyed it too much.<p>and like our president, I never inhaled either. and for that matter, I never even considered the other things that he did (to an intern)with a cigar.<p>back to the story, I quit smoking in january, 1987. bought a bass boat two months later. going to the lake and not smoking was one of the hardest things I've ever done.<p>I've been smoke free since jan, '87 and I've missed the taste and smell everyday since. good thing I don't ride a nice ZTR all day cutting grass. it'd be just like the bass boat and no smoke.<p>my position on cigarettes, dip and chew. never done it and never will.<p>now excuse me while I find that pack of chewing gum and my lighter?<p>GEO

[bdemir]

Geo,<br> what did you do that you had to dirve 10 hours to get there.<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: bdemir

[Charles]

Hey chewing tobacco is just as bad. Ever seen someone with cancer in the mouth from chewing that stuff? Not a pretty site. They won't even let baseball players promote that deadly stuff anymore. What does this have to do with lawncare you might ask? Well it doesnt matter what kind of equipment you have or how many yards you have if you are laid up in the hospital or 6 feet under.

[Eric ELM]

I picked up the bad habit 42 years ago, but I'm working on quiting now. I've done it before, so I know I can do it.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://elmlawnsite.com/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>

[yardsmith]

I don't smoke, & I don't chew, & I don't go with girls that do! :)<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[KirbysLawn]

Sorry Eric, if you &quot;quit&quot; before and are still smoking you didn't quit! Good luck! I wish everyone would quit today!<p>Charles is right, smokeless is no better! I dipped during my teens and early 20's transported a man with mouth cancer and quit that day!<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: KirbysLawn

[Eric ELM]

Ray: I stopped smoking for over a year at one time. I thought that was a step in the right direction. I've gone from 2 packs a day to a 1/2 pack a day and I think that's a step in the right direction. It isn't easy, but I'm trying, you have to give me credit for that. No I haven't quit.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://elmlawnsite.com/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>

[KirbysLawn]

Eric, no doubt it's better! I have a simple philosophy, don't buy'em can't smoke'em. I quit drinking and chewing (20 years ago), it's all about YOUR will power! Which is stronger? Make up your mind and DO IT! Good luck!<p><p><font size="1">Edited by: KirbysLawn

[Lanelle]

Keep up the good effort, Eric. Sounds like you are on the road to long-term success with this. I can't help noticing how much our society's attitude toward smoking has changed. It is banned in many public places so we don't even see as many people smoking. And, no, I don't smoke.

[geogunn]

bedmir--used to work on a drill crew. had to travel in an area of about 10 states to get to the jobsite. I'm glad I'm &quot;retired&quot; from that activity.<p>GEO

[Scraper]

<p><font size="1">Edited by: Scraper

[Scraper]

I'm so glad everyone cares so much about not smoking...like politics...keep it to yourself. There are other forums to lecture about smoking/dipping. Crap, I hear about it enough at home not to hear it here too! So, rainy up here...how's the weather in your neck of the woods?<p>:)<p>This is a public service announcement from U.S. Tobacco<p>P.S. For those of you who don't smoke/dip hoooray! Don't bash unless you REALLY know how hard it is to quit! And don't give me that B.S. about &quot;will power&quot; until you've tried to quit. Nicotine is said to be more addictive than heroin and that heroin addicts have found giving up heroin easier than giving up tobacco!<p>That's all from me....PEACE!

[Charles]

Scraper, if you are hearing things in this forum. You might need to see a doctor about that too :)

[Scraper]

Charles...you crack me up!<p>:)

[Evan528]

It really anoys me too when people are talking about will power crap. I used to smoke almost a pack a day and i saw how much i was and am affected by it. WHen im working and im pulling or lifting heavy things i get short of breath really easy. I would love to stop completly but i dont think its even possible. At this point i think im doing pretty good with it. I smoke about 3 cigarrettes a week only when the cravings get so bad i just about cant funtion anymore. Plus with this line of work there are so many stresses involved im afraid if i dont smoke ill just move on and do the next thing and do it way to much.<p>Ps. how have your ability to work been affected by smoking?

[snow]

i'm a no smoker here. in health class this year we had a unit on smoking/smokeless tobacco/drugs. it showed all these old people that had smoke for like 20 or 30 years. they couldn't speak, and all this other gross stuff. the smokeless tobacco did the worse harm to people, such as mouth cancer. it's too nasty to do. there's nothing to gain by smoking, so why do it?<p>bryan

[richard2]

i mulched the marlboro man a couple years back with the patch....i still watch reefer madness as i mow

[pottstim]

I dip Wintergreen Kodiak, and go through a can about every 2 days. I really want to quit this stuff, actually I did for about 8 weeks last year. I'll put it this way, it was 8 weeks of pure hell, and I made the mistake of going back to it. The problem I have is wherever I go, whether it's at home or work, there are people dipping, and that makes it even rougher!<br>I can say that I've never smoked, and I never will. Smoking really bothers me, especially my allergies and sinus. Hopefully soon, I can kick this dipping habit.<p>Tim

[KirbysLawn]

Scraper, as I stated in the post above I did use tobacco, I quit, so I guess that makes me qualified to mention that &quot;will power crap&quot;.

[Evan528]

i try to quite about 5 times a year. After a couple of days all you can think about is having a cigarrette. A few months ago i stoped for 2 weeks. I couldn sleep, had no appitite, had a headache for the whole 2 weeks and was walking around so stressed out for no reason at all. The slightest petiest thing would set me off. At this point ive tried quittting so dam many times ive just about given up on it. I just keep it too a very low amount when i despertly need a smoke and i no it will probly get me sooner or later! I think im more conserned because its affecting my ability to do heavy work like i use to than i really care about my health. Even talking about it makes me want to go have one.... it sucks

[gene gls]

I quit smoking in 1980,quit drinking around 1990.That was easy compared to quitting eating.I gaind 50lbs in a very short time and have been dieting every sence.I am always hungry,eat very little,and struggle to stay under 200lbs.

[Jason]

Two packs a day here.

[Acute Cut]

One pack a day here as well. And a nice dip of Kodiak (Wintergreen) at night as i play on the computer being as how my landlords have a VERY strict policy as to no smoking in the house. I dont do it on the jobsite 95% of the time though.<br>BUT, thats just my two cents worth.

[turfquip]

<p><font size="1">Edited by: turfquip dot com

[thelawnguy]

I quit a 3- pack a day Lucky Strike no filter habit in 1987. Havent had a cigarette since. Maybe two or three cigars a YEAR since. I used the nicorette gum. Tastes like s#!t but worked for me. Oh yeah, and I now take three different medications a day for asthma thanks to my old smoking habit.<p>Bill

[Scraper]

:)<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Scraper

[thelawnguy]

&quot;We're all gonna die from something and I'd rather it be from my own doing than someone else's&quot;<p>The only way you are going to achieve this, is to hurry up and play frisbee on the interstate. RIGHT NOW!!<p>Its not the dying that worries me its the aggravation you may have to go thru on the way out. Would you rather some nut in an errant garbage truck jump a curb and squash you like a junebug, or wallow in a hospital bed with tubes protruding from orifices you didnt know you had, all the while in extreme pain, for weeks and weeks while the tumors slowly eat you alive from the inside out? Saw several people die this way, sure is a good incentive to control those things which you have a say in, like smoking, not to mention seatbelts, indiscriminate sex, drugs, speeding, running red lights, on and on.<p>Please dont let this turn into a morality lesson, just trying to make my point.<p>Bill

[Charles]

That is so true Bill. You can't even begin to imagine what it feels like to hear a doc tell you that you have 6 or 12 months to live until he or she actually tells you that. That old saying &quot;you have to die from something is just blowing smoke of a healthy person

[The Mowman]

I see I got a big response from this post. I am glad to see that most people do not smoke, but I am not bashing those who do. Thanks.<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: The Mowman

[Eric ELM]

The Mowman: Why are you glad to see that most people smoke? Did you mean to put a DO NOT in that sentence?<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://elmlawnsite.com/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>

[southside]

I smoke 2 packets of Lucky Strike lights a <br>day.Good smokes.Better than the crap we usually have here.Expensive habit though.<br>Thought about quitting but I'm worried about <br>weight gain as I'm already at 80kg (180lb) and I'm only 178cm (5'10&quot;).I can't really <br>afford to put too much weight on.<p>Karl<br>

[Southern Lawns]

No smoke here! Watching the effects it has had on my folks. Both are on some serious meds. and can't walk 5ft without gasping for breath. Dad quit:) but it's too late:(, lungs are shot. Those that do smoke, please reconsider. Just my $.02

[cutntrim]

I think my partner and I are the only lawn guys around here that don't smoke. I'm amazed anyone in this profession can, particularly in 100 degree temps. My dad works with us though and he's a smoker, in fact he smokes MORE now than he did when he was at his office job!?! <p>I grew up hating the smell of smoke from my parents and have never had one drag ever. I might drink 6 beers in a calendar year and I've never actually tasted coffee or tea.<p>----------<br>Dave in S.Ontario<br>www.cutntrim.com

[GroundKprs]

My dentist loves it when I quit smoking. Chocolate intake dramatically increases. Hope it is not so bad this year; last one was Jan. 10 - wasn't quite ready on the 1st.<br>Quit often in the past, for 2 wk to 6 mos, but didn't plan on the idea that you can lite up one after 6 mo and be back to where you were before you quit in a day. This time I quit forever, I hope. Started working on it seriously last summer, getting ready mentally. Good luck, Eric and others. I'm off after 35 years.<p>----------<br>Jim<br>North central Indiana

[mowerconsultant]

non smoker here !<br>both my parents are chain smokers, and always have been.<br>I used to hate going on long drives and such, people would think I was a smoker just from the stench.<br>Nothing burns me up more than being in a restaurant and someone at a table close to you lights one up.<br>Or even worse, when your at a table when someone asks if they mind if they smoke. how bout I ask if any one minds if i fart in there face !!!<p>my 5 cents worth on the subject.

[bdemir]

Mowman why are you happy to see that everyone smokes!! You mean that not everyone smokes.

[KirbysLawn]

Southern Lawns, same for me, my dad refused to visit my home when we got married back in 85' because we would not allow him to smoke in OUR home. He said, &quot;I can smoke where I want&quot; and so on, and had that thought process. Did not come over for 4 years! <br>In 89' he woke one night with extreme SOB (short of breath) with never an occurrence before! Over the next few weeks the occurrences increased, he was diagnosed with emphysema, he now can't do anything! Fishing is a chore, walking places such as parks is impossible, and he now is one of the biggest anti-smokers I know! <p>Smokers just remember: Your lungs are basically millions of small balloons, they expand when you take a breath, and collapse when you exhale. Over the years the &quot;stretching&quot; ability decreases and taking a deep breath becomes impossible so you are unable to do much of anything. It's like Russian Roulette, it may get you in 10 years or it may take 40, who knows? Is it worth it? One thing is for sure, you may gain a little weight after you quit, that's better than the weight loss you get from being dead at a early age! Good luck to all that are trying to quit, and I don't hate the smokers I hate the product and the deception of the tobacco companies. <p>Ray<p><p><font size="1">Edited by: KirbysLawn

[The Mowman]

Sorry about the post earlier. I meant, that i was gald that most people do not smoke. I have not been on the last couple of days, and I just caught my error.