Well Bob, I was wondering when you'd finish your first post...lol! Good that you quit!

My parents exposed me the second hand smoke for years and I do not remember a time when I didn't try desperately to avoid it. My bedroom, the cellar, outside...anywhere to get away from it. Family life was generally happy in our home but would have been much better if the folks had been more understanding about this issue. I left home before they quit, Dad because of a heart attack and dire warnings from healthcare professionals he respected, and Mom because she saw what it did to Dad, herself and others. It's weird to hear my mother express regret about smoking now, and she hates the very thought, sight, scent, and expense of it today. I realize in writing this that I'm still bitter...

There's an ongoing discussion in our local newspaper about public smoking, with input from some not very enlightened local bar staff. It's a pity that drinking, eating, and smoking are so much a combined social activity. Because of smoke we have to avoid otherwise decent restaurants, smoking "areas" being a ruse and a farse hereabouts.

Smoke has made me avoid gigging in bars too, and the risk to musicians (sometimes with their heads higher in the cloud on elevated stages) must not be discounted as an occupational hazard.

I never did figure out what made smoking cool.

Peace, Mooh.