Patch Editor Takes Smoke-Free Mission to TV

If you see the subject of this video smoking, you have this writer's full permission to "tsk, tsk" him into smoke-free submission.

Tuesday morning, I appeared on the CBS Early Show program during its medical segment, as part of a feature piece on Chantix, the medication many use to quit smoking, and recent reports of increased health risks from its use. The interview portion of the segment was filmed at Lewis Morris Park, in Morris Township.

While I have not used Chantix in a few years, I still consider it in the available arsenal of possible ways to quit smoking. Obviously, I should not take anything off the table–nothing has worked enough that I have quit for good.

It has improved significantly in the past several months; I have intermittently smoked. When I have smoked regularly, it's usually between 7-10 cigarettes a day, which is far less than the pack-a-day I smoked when this website launched nearly a year ago.

Quitting smoking is also one of the big, big hurdles I am looking to overcome this summer and my mission to as part of the inaugural

Special thanks must be given to Pam Garretson, public relations manager over at . The day after we had a conversation about how hard it has been for me to stay a "non-smoker," she received a call from CBS about the story. You cannot help but love the timing.

To check out the video from the CBS Early Show, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg5MFIAOGRg. The video can also be viewed at the CBS Early Show website.

And again, remember: You have this writer's permission to make him feel guilty if you happen to see him with a cigarette in his hand. Unless, it's an electronic cigarette.