Just to go off the beaten path for a little bit in regards to the type of content that is usually posted here on this blog, I just wanted to vent a little bit and ask the simple question, "what in the world would ever cause a person to have the desire to smoke a cigarette?"

I realize I'm probably going to alienate some people with that question. I know there are a lot of people out there who like to partake in the "cancer sticks" from time to time, and it's entirely possible a couple of you might read this blog. To those of you out there I would say this, I am asking a serious question here. I'm not judging, and certainly I don't want anyone to think I am infringing on their right to smoke. It's simply a legitimate curiosity to me.

I have a boss who smokes, like a freight train, and my Dad does as well. My Dad had a triple bypass about 9 years ago, quit smoking for 4, started back, and now smokes more than he probably ever did. To tie this back to one of the regular subjects discussed here, I was his partner in a round of golf yesterday and was seriously concerned with how he would labor in his breathing after hitting a simple golf shot. I don't think I'm exaggerating that he's bordering on emphazema.

I have to keep a bottle of Febreze on my desk at work to follow the path of smoke that my boss leaves in his wake. Not to mention constantly following behind him, cleaning ashes from the floor. Of course he has us to do his dirty work for him at the office, but I would imagine with the amount of smoking he does that he must have a film of smoke on every piece of furniture in his house.

So I guess my question is, what's the big deal? Exactly what buttons in the brain's pleasure center can smoking be pushing... to the point of being willing to deal with all the obvious inconveniences, health and otherwise?

This inquiring mind wants to know.