I don't know about all the other issues for this LW, but I can tell her one thing.

That "I want to smoke more but I'm not going to become a regular smoker" is the voice of nicotine addiction talking.

It's that crazy-making part of the brain that has already decided that it really LIKES the way it feels on nicotine.

Your brain really likes that hit of wow it gets every time you take a drag.

It likes it so much that it's going to start making excuses for you as to why you can do it more often, without it actually becoming a problem for you.

Yahbut, you say. I'm not going to be a smoking fiend. I'm a social smoker. I just want to light up at a bar.

That's ALSO your nicotine loving brain, trying to psych you into doing what it wants.

I know because I said all these things to myself...and a lot more.

I smoked for more than 20 years.

I lost my mother to lung cancer a few years ago.

And now, one of my best friends also a former smoker, has lung cancer, and is going to have to have a lung removed in just a few weeks. He's in his 50s.

Smoking feels SOOOOOO good when you do it, it's so much fun -- believe me, I still think about how much I loved it, what fun it was to smoke with friends, with a drink, with a coffee, etc. -- but don't fool yourself.

If you are trying to figure out ways to smoke more, you are on your way to dependence on cigarettes, if not there already.

And seriously, there are a hell of a lot better ways to die than lung cancer...

A prayer for those voices to be heard...

Just wanted to note that despite strong opinions on both side, this thread has not disintegrated, it's simply been articulate, passionate, and intelligent...

Garrison, you clearly bring out the absolute best in everyone. No snarky backbiting here!!

Salon, please, more Garrison!!!!

A suggestion. You could start by printing out this column, and leaving it! Then every time you see something that strikes your fancy in Salon (and do check http://www.alternet.org for other great stories that will fit with your philosophy), hit Print, and store up for your next restroom visit...

When will Lieberman just fess up and make his party switch official.

He is an INSULT to the intelligence of Democrats everywhere.

Let the Repubs HAVE this heretic conservative wingnut!!!!!!

How else did you expect BratPack Demi to land herself a little piece of Ash many years her junior, as well as a cosmetics contract, without some major facial and body reconstruction? Otherwise, Ash would've dumped her faster than you can say Nicole/Paris/Brittney/Mary-Kate/Ashley...

Let's face it...Demi is the Phyllis Diller / Joan Rivers of the Brat Pack generation.

Gonna backfire on those ad execs.

I'm about to turn 45, and if she's the face of women over 40, I can tell you I'm NOT buying any Helena Rubenstein.

Helene Rubinstein should take a page from the book of the smart folks at Dove. I think their Campaign for REAL Beauty is RIGHT ON THE MONEY...

www.campaignforrealbeauty.com

And I've been using more Dove products as a result...

So Demi and Helena can stuff that in their Botox needle and inject it!

Hope your time off was restorative and relaxing!