Monthly Archives:

January 2007

Cricket's Thoughts

Heart Wrenching Rescue Story

My favorite picture of Hoochie shortly before she was adopted out to a good and loving family!

Anyone that knows me at all, already knows that I have a very special place in my heart for animals, especially dogs. Living with my daughter Haley, is what I would imagine it would be like to live with Maya Dolittle. Animals of all types just seem to be drawn to her.

Every animal we have ever owned has been one that we have rescued, or a stray that wandered up on our porch and then into our hearts. In the case of Jack (Chunk) and Lady Katherine, their mama, Sassy, was a stray. Today, they are members of our family.

Apparently I have been living under a rock somewhere. I honestly had no clue of the horror that goes on behind the scenes of a puppy mill.

I am embarrassed to admit that I figured that puppy mills were heavily regulated and imagined them to be similar to quality boarding. That belief came to an abrupt end today while I was reading a heart wrenching rescue story written by Veronica of FurFantasy.com about a rescue going on right now because of a puppy mill closing.

Hearing and seeing just some of the details literally made me sick to my stomach and extremely sad. How is it possible that this is happening here today in the United States of America?

Shih Tzus & Furbabies is a very special organization that goes beyond the call of duty to rescue animals and find them loving homes. Please take a moment to visit their donation page today to see if there is something that you can do to help make a difference.

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

Setting the Plan in Motion

stethoscope

Part of my plan to quit smoking included scheduling an appointment with my doctor to discuss possible options that might help me get through the process without turning into the Wicked Witch of the South. The problem is, I am one of those people that simply cannot stand going to the doctor.

Actually I don’t much like visiting anyone with an evil grin on their face that seems to derive great pleasure from stabbing me in the butt with a needle big enough to take an elephant down.

To be fair to the medical community though, I admit that I don’t make a very good patient. By the time they get done dealing my crankiness, they probably truly enjoy the very thought of inflicting pain on me.

The words that he had to tell me today, stopped me dead in my tracks.

I was trying to get some relief from his nagging lecture by telling him that I truly did understand that this was probably my last chance to finally quit smoking. He explained to me that no, I didn’t seem to understand at all.

“This isn’t about being your last chance to quit smoking. This is your last chance to live. We are no longer just fighting the addiction. We are fighting for your life. If we don’t get a handle on this right now, you won’t be around next year, let alone long enough to see your daughter graduate.”

No matter how stubborn you are, those are words that will get your attention in a hurry. I was no exception. He had my full attention. Now it is all just a matter of setting the plan in motion so that I will be around long enough to drive y’all crazy! (grin)

In addition to multiple medications to fight the chronic infection in my lungs, this time I am armed with CHANTIX and WELLBUTRIN XL to help me beat my overwhelming addiction for nicotine.

Allowing time for the medication to build up in my system, leaves me with a quit smoking date of February 5th. The night of February 4th, I will lay down my cigarettes for the last time.

I have no doubt in my mind that I will succeed.

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

The Decision To Quit Smoking

Burning Cigarette

It has been nearly 34 years since I picked up my first cigarette in the sixth grade. I remember being intrigued by the television commercials aimed at women (You’ve Come a Long Way Baby) and I truly believed that it made me look sophisticated.

By the time I graduated from high school, I was smoking a full pack of cigarettes every day.

In my twenties I decided to quit smoking. It lasted about three days, before I went back to smoking more than I did to begin with. I loved smoking, but I detested being a smoker.

Throughout my thirties, I began having trouble with chronic bronchitis. The doctors warned me repeatedly that if I did not quit smoking, I would die of emphysema at a very young age. I went through two more attempts to beat this powerful addiction. I tried patches, and nicotine gum, and at times, both at the same time.

Again, I failed and my smoking only increased.

The guilt of failure was overwhelming. I was humiliated to admit that again I had failed. I would actually hide behind the dumpsters at work to sneak a cigarette, scared to death that someone would see me.

Even my daughter looking into my eyes and begging me to quit smoking did not give me the power to beat this horrible addiction.

I hated myself.

By the time I hit forty, I was a three pack a day smoker. I was so ashamed that I would not admit it to anyone, including my doctors. Through it all, I kept to the story that I smoked about a pack a day. Zyban did nothing to help me, except make me feel like crap.

About this time, with tears streaming down my face, I got down on my knees and literally begged God to give me the strength to overcome this. I could not understand how it was possible that I had overcome every challenge I had ever faced in my life, but I could not beat my addiction for nicotine.

I am now 45 years old and breathing has become a struggle. I smoke an average of four packs daily, even though I spend hours a day coughing. I know in my heart that this is my last chance to quit, or I will not live to see my daughter graduate from high school.

Why, after all these years am I now willing to admit my utter shame and tell this story publicly? Because I want to reach out to others that might be out there, just like me. I want to tell my story.

Plans change. Decisions don’t.

I have made the DECISION to quit smoking, no matter what it takes.

By making my decision and my story public, knowing that others may be reading who might be praying (like I was) for strength, maybe I can help them believe it can be done.

I am going to blog about my journey throughout this decision often. If it helps even one person out there, it will be worth it.

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

Preparing to Quit Smoking

Is it time now?

As I record my progress through every step of this process of to quit smoking, I hope that those of you with this same overwhelming desire to quit will share your progress with me also. Together, I firmly believe that we can do this.

For me the first step was making the decision to quit smoking. I truly believe that this will be different for all of us, but at some point, something will lead to that moment when you have simply had enough. For me, that decision began about a week ago.

I was taking my daughter to school when I began coughing very badly. The asthma attack lasted several minutes, which at the time felt like hours. When it was all over, my daughter looked up at me with fear in her eyes, and in a very quiet voice, asked me if it was time now. She was referring to quitting smoking. My heart was breaking, but it was the straw the finally broke the camel’s back.

“Yes Haley. It is time.”

Now that the DECISION had been made, it was time to figure out a plan and begin preparing to quit smoking.

When I returned home, I immediately began researching everything I could find. I was especially drawn to information concerning very heavy long term smokers and the power of the addiction. I spent long hours browsing through the forums so that I could read well beyond what the research had to say. I wanted to know what the smokers had to say. This time, I am going into this armed to do battle.

Backed with enough information to actively participate in developing a plan with my doctor, I scheduled the appointment. Once I have talked with the doctor tomorrow, I will write more about the plan I have selected for me personally.

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

My Personal Focus for 2007

2007 Journal

I want to spend more of my time writing . . .

I am finding that the best way to learn to write better is by spending more time writing. I think it may help me to come up with a list of topics that I find interesting, and just start writing. Involving all of you in this project might be fun. Perhaps I could post a picture and ask people to write a short story or poem about their interpretation of the photo. What do you think?

I want to spend more of my time taking pictures . . .

The more I learn about photography, the more I realize how much I have to learn. I have been absolutely obsessed with researching ways to take pictures that truly capture the feeling that I see when I am looking at a scene. I enjoy seeing the photos that other people take, especially when they tell a little story about the picture too. I would love to see some of yours!

I want to spend more quality with my daughter . . .

Haley is growing up so fast that it is almost scary. It seems like yesterday she was just a toddler, and all of the sudden she is twelve years old, going on thirty! I have some road trips planned to discover more scenic photo opportunities. After talking with her about it, I am seeing it would be a great thing for the two of us to do together. What ways have you found to spend more quality time with your children?

I want to focus on living a healthier lifestyle . . .

One thing I have noticed about reaching my mid forties is that my body is not nearly as forgiving as it used to be. In my twenties I could eat junk and survive on just a few hours sleep a night. These days my body creaks and groans if I don’t treat it right, and gravity seems to be moving things around! Okay, I know I cannot change fortysome years of bad habits over night, but I bet I can work on things one tiny step at a time! How about you? Has this become more important to you?

Above all, I want to continue to enjoy every moment I am given!

Cricket Walker