Smoke

That billowy, cloud-like, grayish/white stuff that floats out of chimneys and is a byproduct of fire? Yeah - that also comes out of people's facial orifices as well. Smoke is a pretty interesting thing, but I've never really been a fan of the smell (besides that godly fragrance that is meat on a grill). The taste of smoked beef jerky or charcoal cooked steak? YUM. 

I've never smoked weed (pot/cannabis... just clarifying), nor do I intend to even though it's becoming legal now. My nose picks up on that lovely stench that is fresh as air from a skunks rear, and instantly I decide I would rather not smell like a cuddly black/white cat who could use a bath every once in a while. Cigars? I don't know much about you, but I'm guessing they stink just as much as cigarettes. Hookah? Now that's not too bad - I have had this before, and it doesn't smell bad. In fact, to me it smells like green tea and the smoke is fun to play with - something I would do again if I was with some friends. But cigarettes? I believe they smell the worst.

I don't care if you smoke, I just prefer not to smell it. One of the offices I work at, the Air Conditioner is currently broken in the server room (servers heat up the room like crazy!) where I happen to work. In order to keep the room cool enough to keep the computers running and me from turning into a puddle, we keep the window and door open for a nice cross breeze. Unfortunately, half the time the wind decides to blow the direction to the open window where a handful of people smoke - a place where they aren't supposed to smoke. It STINKS. To me at least. And I sit there in frantic attempt to find a Haz-Mask in order to breath, while my lungs are inhaling copious (okay, yes exaggerating maybe a little) amounts of putrid air particles that is known as second-hand smoke.

What I dislike the most though, are the cases when I'm walking on my way to class and someone decides to light a cigarette and walk in front of me - I always seem to end up down wind. It would be nice if they decided to sit on the sidelines to smoke so I can walk with little to no interruption in air quality, but alas there are no rules outside of personal views to control the situation. 

And even though I dislike the smell of smoke to the utmost extent, I am not a fan of other side effects as well - the most outstanding being macular degeneration. Although smoking does not directly cause AMD, it does increase the chances of it, and I have two examples of where it has taken it's toll. 

1) My mother used to smoke VERY early on (dino era...) whenever (I actually don't know when she smoked, but she did). Apparently she was a very polite smoker, and you could never tell that she actually smoked - smell was definitely not a factor. But she did smoke, and she did quit. But now her eyesight is REALLY bad, though not blind. But it's in the +4 something in eyesight O.o Part of it was probably due to her genes (just like me, though I'm only +/-? 0.5... nearsighted) but I have no doubt that some of it was because she smoked.

2) My grandfather used to be a mechanic, and a damn good one at that. But he also smoked, and now to this day, has very bad sight. Again, I can't prove, but I have a feeling that a bit of that was due to smoking. My dad (his son) has never smoked and has no inclination to start - he is far sighted and has pretty decent close ranged sight, but wears glasses just to help. Overall though, I have noticed that many people who cannot see too well used to smoke as well.

So that's my two cents. I don't smoke mainly because of the smell, but I like my sight as well. Hell, if you could puff out those epic ships of smoke like Gandalf, I would probably smoke too because it's cool. But I don't see any benefit as of now, so I don't think I'll join in to make my own clouds.

Another thing you learned about me:

- I dislike the smell of smoke... My nose is rather sensitive (seriously, according to my parents it's super powerful... like a dog!)

Disclaimer: If somehow I have offended you, I'm sorry you get offended easily. I write like I think. If you do get offended, may I suggest to take a puff of a cigar? I hear they have a nice kick :D