42 1/2 yr. HEAVY smoker, who can no longer stand the taste of cigarettes.

When I bought my 1st e-cig, I did so for ONE reason; and, that reason ONLY: I’d gotten stuck in Wal-Mart one time too many, around “19 million screaching rug-rats, not a one of who’s parents was doing ANYTHING to even TRY to control them…” I had several sets of tubes in my ears as a child; and, that high-pitched shreak that kids seem to love to make (as well as key cutting machines) feels like someone driving an ice pick into my ear drums. Also, at 60, I come from an era where parents were actually expected to either keep their kids under control in public; or, leave them with a sitter until the kid was old enough to be controllable! Having kids was seen as taking on a responsibility – rather than just a bodily function… None of this mixes well with “growing fangs” for a nicotine “fix” – something of an understatement… I’m one of those folks who lost ALL interest in even trying to quit smoking when the push to harass smokers out of existence began. Prior to that point, my (occasional; but, sole) motivation had been my not liking the idea of “being controlled” by ANYTHING. When they started trying to force folks to quit, though economics, social engineering, and restriction of places we could smoke, it just resulted in my becoming an even more adamant smoker! When they started jacking the prices up to absurd levels, my “solution” was to invest in a 440# case of unprocessed “strip tobacco.” After about a week of smoking this unprocessed tobacco, I bought a pack of the brand I’d been smoking about 2 cartons a week, for going out to a dinner with some friends. After just 2 drags, I gave that pack to my friend’s wife, went to the car, got some of my rolled cigarettes, instead. The manufactured cigs tasted like they’d been soaked in floor stripper! (Now, I know why – the 4,000+ chemicals that cigarette manufacturers add in the “paper making process” that tobacco goes through to be turned into cigarettes.) When I had to sell my house, I went back and bought 3 more cases. I literally have “a lifetime supply” of tobacco; and, my only on-going cost was about $60/yr for ground clove; and, about $100/yr. for rolling papers. I’d found a juice that was really tasty (50% orange-pineapple and 50% clove); so, I’d upgraded a step from those junk cig-a-likes; and, occasionally vaped even when it wasn’t my only option. My hands give me a lot of trouble; especially during cold weather. I keep them usable during such times by 1st cleaning them with 1 tsp. of 68% calcium hypochlorite (1 specific form of “pool shock”) dissolved into 8oz of distilled water; followed by a mix of 50% DMSO and 50% distilled water. Straighten my hands out FAST! (Warning – in case anyone decides to try this: DMSO will draw anything that’s on the skin into the bloodstream. I’ve found that pre-cleaning w/calcium hypochlorite has always been safe for me. NEVER use DMSO without pre-cleaning the area; and, ***NEVER*** use anything like hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, etc. as a pre-cleaner!!! Folks doing so was what gave DMSO an unjustified bad-rap years ago…) There was a pretty bad cold front here during Feb. 2013; and, I couldn’t find where I’d put my DMSO. To make matters worse, the roads were too bad for me to be able to get into town to buy another bottle of it. My hands were so sore that rolling cigarettes really hurt; but, I was doing it, anyway. THEN, it occurred to me to try to just get by with vaping until I could find my DMSO; or, get out to get more. I wound up vaping exclusively for about 4 days. I was able to find my DMSO, got my hands straightened out, grabbed my rolling kit, and lit the first one I got rolled. At first, I thought I must’ve rolled something that a rodent had used the bathroom on! I went out and got a fresh batch, cleaned it, and rolled it. It tasted just as bad!!! I tried for about a week to wean myself back over to my cigarettes; but, after that, I just gave up and accepted the fact that I was now “a vaper,” instead of a smoker… There are 2 factors to which I attribute this unintended switch: 1) FLAVORS and 2) the fact that I was vaping high (36mg/ml) nic juice; since, I’d bought it just for “quick fixes” in places where I couldn’t light up when I needed to… If either hadn’t been the case, I’d still be happily smoking away. It’ll soon be of June, 2014; and, I haven’t even tried to smoke since Feb. 2013. Even though I sometimes “chain vape,” I’ve slowly eased back to the point where most of my juice is in the 15 mg/ml range. (I blend most of my own juices; so, I have complete control over my mixtures.) Since it IS “strictly up to me,” I’ve been slowly working my way on down towards 0 mg/ml, at a pace that avoids my “growing fangs.” When I reach that point, maybe I’ll quit; maybe I’ll continue to vape 0 nic, just so I won’t start gaining weight… I feel like throwing something at my tv set when the “flavors attracts children” idiots come on, blathering their same, tired, garbage to the “sheeple” who refuse to think for themselves. 1) I’m 60 yrs. old; and, my taste buds still work just fine! Had it not been for the flavor difference, I’d still be smoking! 2) If parents don’t want their kids to get hooked on nicotine, they need to take responsibility for their own off-spring. If people don’t want the responsibilities associated with parenthood, they need to be more sexually responsible; or, that failing, put the resulting offspring up for adoption. Most of what I typed is probably counter-productive; since, the bottom line in this attack on vaping has nothing what-so-ever to do with “protecting” anyone except the industries who’s profits are being threatened by e-cigs; or, who want to monopolize it if they can’t kill it. Given that studies have already proven that vaping produces no harmful 2nd hand chemicals (with “2nd hand smoke being one of their primary excuses for harassing smokers); given vaping’s unparalleled results in getting people off of cigarettes; given the dangers associated with garbage like Chantix and Wellbutrin; and, given the dangers associated with the obesity that so often follows quitting smoking, any LEGITIMATE agency would do everything in their power to HELP this fledgling avenue for folks to get away from Big Tobacco’s crap. Those who brought us toxic wastes such as Aspartame and Fluoride (toxic waste) couldn’t care less what’s good for us – only what’s good for Big Pharma!