STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS
No butts
By Rik Davie/The Scugog Standard

So, it’s the New Year and I’m still smoking! Damn me!
_Now, in my own defense - cause trust me I’m the only one currently on the defense team - I’ve made a few attempts at quitting this deplorable habit that I kicked for seven years.
_For the two of you who don’t read this column every week, I started again last summer after a few furious and fast body blows from the powers of the universe. Not an excuse to be sure, simply a statement of the chain of events.
_Anyway, I’ve been under more than a little pressure from family and friends to end this curse once more and return to the world of clean lungs, mind and body ... well one out of three, at least!
_But I have a plan now. One that is in play based on the reward versus risk theory that I really should pay more attention to anyway.
_Durham Region residents who want to quit smoking in the next few months are eligible to enter the ‘Driven to Quit Challenge.’
_People who stay smoke-free for the month of March, while using the help of a nonsmoking buddy, could win a 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid. Seven $3,000 Future Shop gift cards are also on the line.
_So I may have found the key to quitting ... free stuff. The pursuit of free stuff has been somewhat of a hobby for me ever since I entered the fourth estate and discovered that reporters were the recipients of everything from free meals to free tickets to free T-shirts and even ... on one glorious occasion ... to a free trip to England and France.
_Now, in my defense, I did have to write stories about it and present some illusion that it was a working trip! But still ... free stuff!
_And as if that were not enough, I have an upcoming appointment with my cardiologist, the good Dr. Nassar Sharif and I had better be well on my way to being smoke-free before the ‘doc’ sees me. Otherwise, I have reason to believe that - to show me the effects of this habit on my internal organs - she may well remove them from me right there in the office and show them to me.
_At any rate, I’m signing up and at least making the attempt.
_And for any of you out there who still ... as I do ... suck on the nicotine syringe, this may be the time. I mean, if you don’t, you’ll still get a chance at a nice car.... It’s just that it’ll be a big black shiny Cadillac and the trip is one way!
_And this time I’m not trying the nicotine patch.... I’ve figured out how to roll them but I’ll be damned if I can keep them lit!!!!
_Driven to Quit contest registration is open until Feb. 29. For more information, call Durham Health Connection Line at 905- 668-6241 or 1-800-841-2729 or visit www.region.durham.on.ca.