Friday, June 4, 2010

Of Glasses and Smoke.....

We never suspected a thing because she never gave us cause to. It was the school that said she needed her eyes examined. So my oldest granddaughter went in to have her eyes checked and ...... unfortunately, she has to have glasses. She has moderate Astigmatism. She will turn 8 in a couple months and I just hate it that she has to wear glasses. I was probably close to 10 or 11 when I first started wearing mine. Her mother (my daughter) was about 10 when she first had to have glasses. I remember how the teasing from the cruel kids at school would bring on tears night after night.

We have hidden our dismay from her because we don't want her to feel bad or think she's ugly because she has to wear them. I just hope the cruel kids at school don't put her through too much hell over this. She gets them tomorrow and this is pretty good timing. She will have the summer to get used to them with no kids around to tease her. And yes......we remembered to insure them!

The other day at work one of the department heads waltzed into my office with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. You know with all the cigarette bans in place, its unusual to see something like that anymore. Anyway at first I just thought he was holding it in his mouth because he was stressed or something but then I saw him take a drag and blow smoke out. Heck, he even French inhaled! I looked over my shoulder and whispered..."are you nuts?....You can't do that in here!". He laughed and took another big drag and blew the 'smoke' toward me. I noticed then that I couldn't smell it.

To get to the bottom line here......what he had was the new "e-cigarette". Ever heard of them? They look just like a regular cigarette until you touch it. Its made of plastic and its, of course, heavier than a real one. The end even lights up like its burning. The cartridge is the 'filter' part of it, which screws on. That is where the nicotine comes from. He said that one cartridge is the equivalent of about a pack of cigarettes. When the nicotine has gotten weak and used up, you screw on a new cartridge. The "smoke" is a vapor that dissipates, leaving no odor....no smoky trail. He is a heavy smoker and he said that he couldn't tell the difference in taste and/or enjoyment from a regular cigarette. They are not harmful to the environment, not harmful to others around you, including children and babies, and from what I understand....not even harmful to you. Its the tobacco and smoke that's harmful, not the nicotine...but its the nicotine that is addictive. This e-cigarette makes sure you get the nicotine in whatever strength you want....light, medium or heavy. He says the cost of cartridges equivalent to a carton is about $15. I guess that's a pretty hefty savings right there.

I used to be a smoker so I do understand. I've been smoke-free for over twenty years and never crave them anymore. They warn you not to partake of this e-cigarette if you're a non-smoker....so I can't personally tell you what they are like. Anyone out there tried one of these yet? If they are as good as my co-worker says.....than this is a wonderful invention. Smokers can have their cigarettes without fear of harming themselves or anyone around them. Nothing smells of tobacco smoke because there IS no tobacco, so no odor. No worries of burning anything....its battery operated. The only downfall I can see is that you would have to make sure you didn't misplace it. Boy, I'll tell ya.....this is like having your cake and eating it too. I sure hope this catches on. I'm working on my daughter to try them. I guess the initial cost for the starter package is around $130. About the cost of two cartons of cigarettes.....and I guess the starter kit comes with enough cartridges for 5 packs of cigarettes.

Have a great weekend.......promise?

16 comments:

Jamie said...

Okay...so I have got to try these new cigs. I have heard about them but have never heard anyone that was a smoker say anything, so thank you.

I owe you an email, and I will do it this weekend. My life seems so busy. Doing what you ask? Why, nothing dear. I work, I go to the gym, I hurt, I go to bed. Hmmm..yes, I know you want to be me.

Hugs, good friend. Lots and lots of hugs. :)

Nedine Says said...

Val, I was 9 when I first had to get glasses. I cried like a baby all the way home from the Dr's office. I wouldn't wear them for the longest time. These were the days in the late 50's and the options for glasses were pretty limited to baby blue cat eye frames. I think I had one kid tell me I looked ugly(jerk!) but other than that no one said anything. Glasses are now considered a cool accessory with so many neat frames to choose from and there are always contacts when she gets older. Have her prepare a great comeback if anyone tries to make fun of her so she isn't caught off guard. So many kids wear glasses nowadays, she will be in good company and it will help her school work if she can see the blackboard clearly.

Forsythia said...

And then there's the kid who WANTS glasses. Our daughter got teased because of her big eyes. When she was about 10, she pretended that she couldn't read the letters on the eye chart. The doctor took me aside and asked, "Why does she want glasses?" I guess she thought she could hide her big eyes behind them.

About those e-cigarettes: there's gotta be a catch somewhere.

JY69 said...

Our A had to get glasses her last year of daycare..or I guess it would be kindergarten? We were dismayed too, but luckily it wasn't elementary and the teachers at the daycare were really good at explaining to the other kids about the glasses... no one ever gave A a hard time... we were really lucky. I think A has the same problem too...the lenses are kind of thick..but they make all these pretty fashionable glasses these days... I wish the best for your granddaughter... hopefully the other kids will be a little bit more worldly and not give her a hard time...

Sarah said...

I think I was 8 or 9 when I got glasses...that's how long I've worn them, can't remember...LOL! It was back in the 80's with the HUGE frames too. I did at least get some purple ones, so that made it better. As for the e-cigarettes, they are AWESOME!!! I am dying to get one because school is driving me to smoke and drink and I figure they are the better alternative. Just as an FYI, nicotine is bad for you just not as bad as the other things. It can cause narrowing of the arteries because it causes your vessels to narrow so with continuous use...but, the upside to the e-cigarettes is that's all you're getting. I am looking for a menthol one because when I smoked, I preferred menthol! Good for you for quitting!!! :)

Betty said...

Those cigarettes sound too good to be true. I quit smoking about 25 years ago, too, and every now and then, I have a cigarette craving. So far, I haven't smoked, though.

Mikey said...

I want to try one out. But $130 is kinda steep. However, worth it....I'm going to investigate

gayle said...

Around here no one teases kids about glasses anymore. I have one first grader that wears fake ones. We always make a big deal of how pretty or handsome they look.

I would love to know more about the fake cigarettes.......for my husband and daughter.

I quit for the 3rd or 4th time about 3 years ago and still crave them. I am so worried I am going to start back again. The cravings have been bad lately!!

Cheryl said...

I remember how I felt when I found out my daughter needed glasses. I mourned the face I loved but would no longer see again the same way. As it turned out, she faked the exam. She didn't need the expensive glasses. I was so glad. I started wearing glasses all the time about 10 years ago. I love wearing glasses. I think I look much better with them than without.

I quit smoking 17 or 18 years ago. I don't crave them at all.

Respectfully Yours said...

Hey, check out my post:
http://wwwhiwit.blogspot.com/2010/04/mr-ec-and-my-friend.html

My friend bought the same thing when we were in Florida. Too funny.

Linda Medrano said...

Alex (my husband) has worn glasses since he was a child too. I really think he's even handsomer with them than he is without. I'm sure your darling GD will get used to them and be fine. Glasses today are very stylish and my daughter wore them in high school with clear lenses just for the "look".

Brad said...

Hello! - I sure hope kids have "matured" a bit and don't go in for nasty naming calling like when I was a kid - Hopefully they've learned to be more accepting then we were.

I've seen those e-ciggies sold in kiosk at the mall - I've just walked by and never realy checked it out. Now that I hear a serious smoker thinks there that good I'm gonna give it a try!

token said...

Yeah, but can they keep the emphysema away?

Where did you get that sidebar thing that shows your blogmates updates?

ethelmaepotter! said...

First, the glasses issue - are there any celebrities your granddaughter admires who wear glasses? Seems like most famous people wear them (at least) occasionally. I think even the Jonas brothers wear them sometimes. Maybe you could find book covers or backpacks or t shirts with some of these people on them for her - boosting her confidence and letting others know she's super-cool!

The e-cigarettes - as I was reading this, I became fascinated and asked my husband, sitting rigth here beside me, if he had ever heard of them. "Those fake plastic things?" he said with a snarl. "It sounds..." I began. "I AIN'T INTERESTED!" he shouted. I waited a minute, then said calmly, "I wasn't suggesting you try it, I was just..." "I TOLD YOU I AIN'T INTERESTED!" he shouted again. There was more in the same vein, but the bottom line was that I never read the entire story to him, the dogs jumped down and hid, and I am going to retreat to a warm bath.

GRRRRRRRRR......

Far Side of Fifty said...

I had glasses from around the age of eight, I loved them because I could finally see..I hope it goes well for your Grand!!

I have heard some good things about the e cigarette. I quit a year ago, I sure would like a cigarette every once in awhile..it ain't easy.. I have been thinking about trying them. I stowed away two cartons in the deep freeze when I Quit cold turkey..I suppose I should give them away to some old coughing men so it isn't so tempting:)

Anonymous said...

I did an entire video on the e-cigarettes. If I can find it, I'll send the url to you. I stopped smoking for 15 years then went through a divorce. One of the firemen at the house where I worked handed me a cigarette and I was off and running with my new friend (the cigarette) that got me through it. Then I couldn't stop. I spent a FORTUNE buying different e-cigarettes til I found the cadillac. No taste, except for a slight cigarette taste. The smoke is a vapor that has a mouth/lung feel and blowing it out is SO satisfying. Then out came the warnings that e-cigarettes have anti-freeze that causes the vapor.....kind of took the fun out of that so I went back to the stinky habit.