I smoke. I'm in between the occasional smokers (those who only smoke if it's free) and the heavy smokers (those who consume a pack or two a day). I used to consume a pack every two days, but recently it's becoming one pack every three days. (Non-smokers may find this a dismal improvement; I, smoking since the 90's, regard this as major, major).

Vaguely do I remember why I liked smoking. I think it's because my grandmother who used to smoke tobacco would always ask me to light her cigar. Or maybe because my father used to smoke too. I thus associated a whiff of tobacco to my childhood days.

Recently, I've been seeing news of public and private establishments banning cigarette smoking. One of them is Jeddah International Airport.

Our office in Kuwait also ban smoking. I had to walk a distance for a fag. Recently, the management required everyone to log their time when they leave the office (that includes going out for a smoke). It's a bit over the top, but it curbed my habit. While I used to once-every-two-hours, it's now only three times a day: at 9am, at 12noon, at 3pm.

A ban, in a way, helps.

But we have to admit that like what this Seed article said, media has a stronger influence on smoking. Media, specially on film and television, should stop projecting that smoking is a cool thing. Not anymore.

Observations: in the Philippines, more adverts are into healthy living and getting into a healthy lifestyle; lesser on smoking and drinking. So there must be an ongoing fad about green living.

I hence dream of being Hope-less soon. Because I'm not getting any younger. Because it's costlier here in Kuwait (in Saudi, a pack costs SAR4, around PHP50; in Kuwait, it's 400 fils, around PHP62).

I believe my smoking days are 1234-ed. Numbered.



This photo was taken from The Design Inspiration which featured other equally creative anti-smoking ad graphics.

Some send greeting cards. Others call. I...sustain. Happy sustainability for 2011. And yes, Merry Christmas to everyone.

(my lips were sealed until at least 3pm Kuwait time and it's 9:16pm now)!

I'm battling colds nowadays. My throat started to sore last Thursday, went to the doctor last Friday, had my medicine last Saturday. In those three days I gurgled saline solution, rubbed my chest with Vicks and went to bed early. I think I've already contained the colds. My throat still itches, but I didn't cough much as I thought I will.

Confession: I'm a Vicks addict. Nightly, I rub a little just under my nostrils; sometimes in my forehead and temple. Honestly, it leaves me comfortably asleep.

I know that...(mainly based from hearsays):

- it aids tooth ache (You're supposed to put Vicks in a cotton and press the cotton on the aching tooth. I haven't tried it though).
- it sooths tick bites and deters mosquito bites.
- it sooths migraine (I say, circular motion on the temple does the trick).

It also brings back lots of memories of my childhood in Anao.

And then I read...

- that putting it under your nose is unhealthy.
- that massaging your feet with Vicks will cure colds (and, quite funny, some say will cure even toe fungi).

Imagine then my surprise when, after googling about it, I found that none of what I know and believe (about Vicks) are true, except that it brings a mild comfort to an aching head after you massage it with Vick's; and that it brings relief to colds if you rub it in your chest.  (Better yet if it's with haplos ng pagmamahal, as that Vicks commercial says).

Everyday health site stated that Vicks contain camphor which, in huge amount -- whether under the nose and most especially in your gum -- may harm the body. Too, Urban Legends and Snopes unclogged the claim about Vicks curing colds and toe fungi as untrue.

Regardless, I owe Vicks a lot.  It's one of the few things that easily brings me back to when I was young being cared by my mom during bouts of flu and colds.  Vicks' menthol-y smell conjurs up positive childhood memories for me.  But, for the record, I haven't tried it as cure for foot fungi.  (Besides, I don't have a foot fungi!).

Here's my ode to Vicks.



Sourced Hamlet character sketch from yorickhamlet.wordpress.com.