March 31, 2006
On air! Live! It's me!
This is Annie Armin
Okay, I kept on Annie Armin's mailing list (see entry dated a really long time ago: Armin Hammer. Lo and behold, I received an email with a program that was somewhat timely: The Dangers of Psychiatric Drugs: Part 20 SSRIs and Sexual Side Effects. I sent her a response.
Annie,It's your friend Cary Bass from the blog bastique.com here. I'm sorry that much of the Anniearmenlive@aol.com email has been winding up in my spam folder and I didn't see last night's topic until today...but it looks like tonight you're doing part 20 (is that right?).
I don't know if you want me to call in tonight, but here's what I have to say.
Although you originally called me based on my email to you about Ritalin and ADHD, at some point it came out that I was taking Celexa as well. I didn't know about a lot of the stuff that you had previously aired at the time, but I did know that I had been feeling a general lack of enthusiasm about anything in my life.
Annie, a couple of months ago I stopped taking Celexa, and I want to tell you in addition to my sex drive returning--what a wonderful surprise for man who is looking at 40 down the road!--I feel as if my range of emotion has returned once more as well.
The anxiety and depression I was trying to shut away with Celexa was completely irrelevent compared to the loss of my feeling like a human being. The difference in my life is amazing. I can laugh and cry with ease. I can be angry and I can be overcome with joy. I feel like I can fall in love again too. As far as my anxiety and depression go, yes--they're back, but nothing like I thought they were. I think at some point I grew up enough to handle them with acceptance. I will be anxious from time to time and I will be depressed. But these are things that come with life conditions.
I hope I never get into a state again where my anxiety and depression overwhelm me to the point of paralysis like I believed they once did; but today I've made sure that I've got people in my life who understand my conditions. These feelings pass!
I pray that I never have to become dependant on that little white pill.
There's so much more that I can't possibly write about in one short little email. I'll probably try to call you tonight during the broadcast. But feel free to take my number: 1-954-XXX-XXXX.
Cary Bass
Well, I got an immediate response. And, well, that night, I was on her show. Me, a celebrity!
It's an hour-long show...fast forward to about the middle to get me. Click Dangers of Psychiatric Drugs Part 20 -- Aired 03/16/06 and click the "Listen" button.
Posted by Bastique at 6:05 PM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2006
Ninety days
When I woke up in the middle of the night, I had to take a shot of my inhaler before I could get back to sleep. This is but one of many reasons why I will not pick up cigarettes again.
It is not productive to live in the past. Still, if I could turn back time, I’d point out to my younger self the health issues I would be facing by twenty-five years of inhaling nicotine-heavy carbon monoxide fumes from chemically enriched tobacco products. Maybe I’d listen.
At least going forward I never have to pick up another cigarette. The weak moments will be fewer and I’ve learned from my previous attempts when the hardest parts are—after three months.
The best thing is that three months without cigarettes was my goal. I’ve done this now. I’m a non-smoker today, and I never ever ever want to be a smoker again!
Posted by Bastique at 7:21 AM | Comments (5)
March 14, 2006
Two days to go
Today is day 88 without cigarettes, and on March 16, I will finally move this goal into the “accomplished” column.
For those that have been smoking as long as I have and have done the damage to their lungs that I have: It does get better. I no longer feel I have to use my inhaler twice a day. I attended an event that required intense vocalization and I realized that I didn’t have to take a breath as often as some of the people around me. My lungs are getting better.
I also do not feel like having a cigarette very much any more. This is very much worth it.
Posted by Bastique at 8:23 AM | Comments (0)
March 9, 2006
Buy this book! I mean it!
My story "Identities" is early in the anthology, probably the third or fourth story. I'm an imaginative, innovative and talented author. I need you to encourage me.
I don't ask for money to keep you all entertained. But, I don't care if you don't like erotica—This stuff is more grown up than your typical porn-shop paperback anyway. Support my writing: Buy this book! You can purchase it by clicking the image at right or you can click it right here: Out of Control: Hot, Trashy, Man-on-man Erotica
Posted by Bastique at 2:25 PM | Comments (0)
Day 83
I have one more week until I officially declare myself an ex-smoker. On March 16, I will have 90 days without a cigarette, cigar, pipe or anything else to defile my lungs.
Granted, I started writing at 43 Things on my desire to quit smoking on September 6. Well, I picked up cigarettes again in October, but still, I haven’t given up.
I wrote a few days ago that studies show that people who keep trying, over and over again, will ultimately succeed. I remembered the Great American Smokeout was in November, and did a search and downloaded a sign for my office. I didn’t smokeout on November 17, but I did sign up at the American Cancer Society’s website and signed up with them.
A counselor called me after that, and I was brave enough to set up another quit date with them. I chose December 16, the birthday of a dear friend who chain smoked and died at 45 last February (2005) of a heart attack. It was a special date and a special way to remember him.
They called me three days before my quit date and the next day. I was grateful for the support and used the materials they sent in the mail. This picture is of a sign that’s on my office door.
7 more days to go until I hit 90-days smoke free and I’m officially an ex-smoker!
Posted by Bastique at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
March 8, 2006
Big changes are forecast
I pulled up this reading on the morning of March 8.
The question was relating to my day at work and potential changes that are coming. While I've had my own interpretation about the card reading, explaining too much about my present work situation would actually violate confidences. Let's just say that the Lovers card, while entirely appropriate, has nothing to do with a romantic involvement in this particular reading.
Posted by Bastique at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)
March 7, 2006
Failure and success
I recently heard that every time you quit smoking you increase the odds of quitting once and for all. I haven’t posted here in some time, because I was a tad ashamed that I had picked up the habit again in October. But December 16, I quit again for good.
I’m at 82 days today, almost at 90. As a reward, I promised myself a new tattoo. Well, I went in to see the artist (Damien Bart of Bruce Bart Tattooing for anyone who's interested) and in my eagerness, I jumped the gun a bit. So the tattoo is already begun.
Posted by Bastique at 6:25 PM | Comments (0)