Raise a little Awareness!

Feel free to use this picture on facebook, twitter, etc. Let's reach out to smokers today!

~ Momma Vape

Big Day Today

Many eyes are directed towards California today. There are many bills on the table that would be bad for vaping. I'm sure many business owners out there are holding their breath. If you are in Cali and can make it to the special session today GO! If you can't, get those phone calls made NOW, there is only a couple of hours to go before the session starts. Fax, e-mail, your representatives need to know that vaping is not smoking, we should not be lumped in with the tobacco industry. If you have family and friends who support your vaping, they should also be calling. For those of us who are not in Cali, we can help spread the word, we can be sure we are tweeting #CALeg in all our tweets. We can hope, pray, send out positive thoughts.

Good Luck Cali We're rooting for you!!!
~ Momma Vape

California or Bust

It is time to turn our attention to the special session in California, where the e-cigarette has a HUGE battle on their hands with several bills to fight. All eyes should give this situation a lookie-lou. If you are in Cali, YOU NEED TO FIGHT THIS. It is time to e-mail, fax, call, etc. Get Wednesday off of work and GO to the special session. Dress nice, and GO GO GO. Bring family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow vapers, customers by the car, van, truck, or bus load. GO GO GO. This one is HUGE folks. If you don't know what's going on, hit the web, check out your favorite advocacy group for updates, SFATA, CASAA, Notblowingsmoke, AVA, Vaping Militia and others have all been posting info. People outside of Cali, do what you can, spread the word, share facebook posts, tweet to the CA Legislature #CALeg, send a e-mail or fax if you vacation in Cali and tell them you're not coming anymore. Now is NOT the time to leave the fighting to somebody else. Now is the time to join your brothers and sisters and use your VOICE. NOW, before there isn't a "Later".

~ Momma Vape

Day 30 - Who Won The Bet?

WOW, this blog started 30 days ago because of a bet. The bet was that Momma Vape had to prove that there were easy advocacy projects a person could do and develop the habit of advocating to become a part of a person's daily routine. We did say "almost daily" because sometimes, life gets in a person's way. We defined advocacy as: advocating for vaping, raising awareness about vaping, or educating ourselves and others about vaping. The bet was to last 1 month, and we defined that as 30 days. Before we get to who won the bet, Momma Vape who said it was possible, or negative nanny who said it was not possible, we need to finish out the bet by posting our 30th project.

If Momma Vape has said it once, she has said it a thousand times... "TELL YOUR STORY". Type it up and save it to your computer so you can copy and paste it when ever it is needed. Today, Momma asks you to share your story, your "testimonial" with CASAA. They have been working for months to collect testimonials and are thousands shy of the number they hoped they would get. Click here to go to CASAA and tell your story. If you've done a previous project and saved your story, this will be a fill in the blanks, copy paste and done. If you have not created a copy of your story, now would be a good time. Momma Vape submitted her testimonial back in February 2015. (Click here to read Momma's Story). I look forward to having your story join forces with mine!!!!! A couple of short sentences is all you need.

So, who won the bet? Momma Vape or Negative Nanny??? Neither of us did, all of vaping has won!!! This blog has received 1058 page views as of 12:22 pm CST on 8/16/2015. Each post was read. Each post was acted upon. The seed has been planted for many that advocacy is easy to do and can be done in a short period of time. The crazy bet planted the seeds of an idea with the fine folks at #NOTBlowingSmoke.org and they created a handout that shops and consumers can use with ideas of ways you can advocate in 15 minutes or less a day. If at least 1 person has joined the ranks of vaping advocacy because of this blog, then all of vaping has won! Speaking of #notblowingsmoke, I think they said it the best when a person wonders if they should join the ranks of vaping advocates!!!!

Thanks for going on this adventure with me!
~ Momma Vape

Today's post is dedicated to the strong Vaping Community in Minnesota. You welcomed me with open arms and made me one of your own. It was OK when I agreed with you and it was OK when I didn't. We have supported each other, we have bounced ideas off each other, we have accepted each others march to their own drum, we have fought the fight together, we have laughed and cried together, we have bonded and become family. We are One. The dedication then spreads to vapers around the world, as we have also become family. At 56 years old, I still struggle in life finding that place where I fit in. You have all made me feel like I belong amongst you. I love you for that and I appreciate it beyond what my words can express.

Here's the road we traveled, proving we can advocate in a few minutes a day (almost) every day...

Day #1 - Vote No Day
Day #2 - Surgeon General Seeks Quit Smoking Stories
Day #3 - The Truth About Vaping Emergency Alert
Day #4 - Today is Spread Awareness Day
Day #5 - Who Can Give Me 5 On Donut Day
Day #6 - We All Have A Story To Tell
Day #7 - Try It You'll "LIKE" It
Day #8 - Is It The Nicotine?
Day #9 - Our Tax Dollars Pay For What???
Day #10 - Attainable Advocacy Tonight!
Day #11 - Learn A Little Share A Lot
Day #12 - FDA and HR2058
Day #13 - Momma Needs A No Juice Jar
Day #14 - Lend Me An Ear
Day #15 - Alabama Tweet Fest
Day #16 - Profile Picture Day
Day #17 - Be Grateful
Day #18 - Fire Up Those Pens and Keyboards
Day #19 - Where the Heck is Momma Vape?
Day #20 - Stop The Madness Right Now
Day #21 - Just A Quickie Today
Day #22 - Who is Who? Let's Talk About Togetherness
Day #23 - We ARE Family
Day #24 - How Did YOU Quit Smoking?
Day #25 - I LOVE This Website
Day #26 - CASAA CTA for FDA
Day #27 - Let's Talk About Addiction
Day #28 - Adopt / Sponsor A Smoker
Day #29 - Age To Vape - SFATA
Day #30 - Day 30 Who Won The Bet

Age to Vape - SFATA

While not all states have passed a minimum age to vape, Momma Vape encourages all shops to refuse to sell to anyone under the age of 18. Some states do have laws on the legal age to vape, and the age ranges from 18 to 21. Is the minimum age to vape post on the door of your favorite shop? If not, please tell them about the FREE Age To Vape Door Decal from SFATA (click here). I'd love to see a sign on every vape shop, tobacco shop, and gas station that sells vape gear all across the USA! Let's work together to dispel the myth that we are marketing to children and do everything in our power to spread the truth. The truth is, we are all about helping people QUIT smoking by what ever method works best for them, and then helping them to resist the urge to ever return to smoking. We do this because we believe that helping save lives is the right thing to do.

Have a great day! Don't forget to spend time with the ones you love.
~ Momma Vape

Adopt / Sponsor a Smoker

It's nice to see this message being spread across facebook and that is to sponsor or adopt a smoker. Momma Vape likes the thought so much, she is stealing the idea and making it today's project. Find someone who smokes and offer to be their cheerleader / coach and help them quit. Tell them about vaping. Give them some vape gear or help them pick out their first purchase. Help them pick the right nic level. Make sure they know how to safely operate and fill their equipment. Keep in touch, offer encouragement over the next few days or weeks. Be their mentor. HELP SAVE A LIFE!!!

I'm proud of all of you!!!!
~ Momma Vape

Let's Talk About Addiction

I grew up thinking you had to have a drink in your hand to have fun. That's how you relaxed. That is how my family lived. The work day was over when it was martini time. I started smoking at 10. By 14 I was drinking. By 16 I was experimenting with things I shouldn't have. My Uncle and his son both died of liver disease, too many years of sucking on the bottle took them both away too young. I have watched so many friends fight the fight to get on the road to recovery. Many of them made it and lead wonderful lives, too many did not. Some of them who didn't make it lead lives they are not proud of, some of them are 6 foot under and we will forever wonder why they couldn't save themselves and why we were powerless to help them.

Life is all about choices. Choosing to overcome an addiction, ANY addiction means that every day we choose NOT to do what we are addicted to. It might be alcohol, or drugs, or electronics, or sex, or even food. Some days that choice is an easy one and other days, it is a struggle to stick to that choice. Hopefully, those of us who choose to live our lives free of what we are addicted to give ourselves the tools that are needed to help us succeed. That means support and taking care of ourselves and doing what ever it takes.

As a smoker or ex-smoker, does it make you angry to read things that call you an addict? Are you one? How many times did you try to quit? How many times DID you quit, only to start smoking again down the road? I'm not even going to touch the whole scientific part of a smoking addiction, whether it is the nicotine or the chemicals, is a physical or emotional addiction. I'm just going to stop being in denial right now and admit, I am addicted to smoking.

I know this because of the choices I made as a smoker. I knew smoking was bad for me and I smoked anyways. I watched my loved ones die from heart disease and cancer and I kept smoking. I knew second had smoke was bad and I smoked around my children and grandchildren and the children of others. I knew that smoking turned everything around me yellow and yet I smoked and ruined my walls and my furniture and made my house and vehicles reek. I knew smoking was expensive and yet I smoked when that money should have been used to take care of my family. I remember how agitated I would get when I needed a smoke and couldn't have one. And yet, for 46 years, I smoked. Most days were 2 packs a day.

This morning, I read Gabby's Story (please click here). That story reached out and slapped me in the face. It has nothing to do with smoking or vaping, but has everything to do with addiction and how we treat addicts. It has a message that cries out loud and clear, people who are addicted to something need HELP. They don't need to be locked up, ignored, or forgotten. Yes, part of the journey on the road of recovery they must do on their own, but if you look at any type of recovery program for any type of addiction, you will see that no one conquers their addiction alone. We are social animals and we need the love and support of others.

Momma Vape asks you to think about addiction today. Your own and those around you. It is a great thing to tell a smoker about vaping, it is amazingly kind of you to give somebody the equipment to get started vaping, BUT helping them does not stop there! Be a mentor, a cheerleader, an ass kicker if needed, but be there for people who are working to stop their addictive behavior and change their lives. Be it drugs, booze, or smoking BE THERE. Be an ear, a voice, a shoulder. Be aware of helpful resources, be a guide. Lead by example. Sponsor them, give the hope, give them courage, have faith in there, if they fall help them stand back up. BE THERE!!!!!

Fighting to protect the right to vape is a great thing, it will save lives. Let's remember that we are fighting for those who have not yet started on the road to recovery. They need us the most.

My name is Skip, and I am an addict. Until I read Gabby's story I never accepted the fact that throughout my life I have abused many things and have become addicted to many things. Today my heart is full of hope and gratitude. Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Love to you all!
~ Momma Vape

Dedicated to my Mom. Yesterday would have been her 76th Birthday... Smoking related diseases and mental illness took her away from us years ago. But I can close my eyes and remember the Mom of my youth, my hero, my world. In her day, the good years, she was an amazing woman. A survivor. A really cool Mom. May I always hold onto the goodness that she had in her, may I nurture it and grow it, may I plant the seeds of the goodness everywhere I go and spread that goodness to share with others. She was always proud of my goodness. Today I hold on to that.