I guess everybody has their deal-breakers. You know, those things that will put a definite end to a budding or potential relationship. One of mine showed up recently and I realized it really is a huge deal for me.

I’ve always maintained that if I see a good-looking guy who subsequently lights up a cigarette, his glow wears off and he no longer seems as great to me. So what happens when someone I know and have been talking to then turns out to smoke? (funny it never came up before) Shortest trip to the could-have-been pile.

I can’t help it:

• I hate the smell (in the air, on the clothes, in the hair, on the fingers)
• I hate the taste (kissing is like licking out an ashtray)
• I hate the smoke (makes my eyes water, my nose itch, my chest wheeze)
• I hate the look (”human chimneys”, the stupid look as they try to look cool)
• I hate the addiction (to be controlled by a substance is dumb)
• I hate the death thing (tar-filled lungs just not for me)

Now in my defense, I am not just talking. One ex started smoking while we were together - that precipitated probably one of the biggest fights we ever had. Our relationship was saved by the fact that we were both leaving the country and doing the long-distance thing so I wasn’t around for the smoking.

I then actually tried dating someone who smokes once. The rules and conditions:

• No smoking indoors
• No smoking around me
• Toothpaste breath only

Of course, in my mind this was never gonna be more than a short-term arrangement. But the thing is, I don’t even tolerate it well in my friends. I don’t allow smoking in my house. I don’t buy cigarettes for people. I won’t even stop for people to buy cigarettes.

Now the way I see it, I figure I should have no trouble finding a good-looking guy my age, who’s single, with no kids, decent job, some ambition, etc etc (see the wishlist posts i, ii, iii) who for God’s sake DOES NOT SMOKE!!!