I cheated today. I smoked a cigarette while watching the penultimate episode of "Mad Men". And then another one afterwards.

I guess it figures. This is the show that got me into smoking tobacco, and it makes sense that it would also be the one that gets me to finally stop.

Without resorting to spoilers, suffice to say that this episode prominently features the storyline of a main character who finds out she has lung cancer of the terminal variety.

I always wondered why some people are more driven to addictions than others. Sometimes I think that some of us are simply more ill-equipped to deal with inner turmoil without the aid of various crutches. Other times I call bullshit on myself and resolve to be a stronger person from now on.

But what do I know? I'm just a guy with a book to his name. If I keep on it at this rate I may eventually surpass Kilgore Trout, but don't bet on it. I might get lung cancer long before that.

Alex