Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

[wonderworld]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

oh no, not weird at all WIP. I know exactly what you mean by that "calculation". For me it's like - how long am I good for? and where and when will the next "dose" be administered (!). And, must make sure that I'm home and out of harm's way before the "load" gets too unruly. Oh yes. Much calculating.

Well sister, here's ANOTHER kind of calculation: You just hit the double digits! 10 days! NICE !!!


and hey - new Mac owner here! It's been about 3 months since I took the leap. I'm still learning some too, but I sure love it. How DO you do your cut and paste? I've been highlighting and then going up to edit. Is there a better way? When I got the new computer I signed up for a deal where for $100 for the year, I can go to the Apple store any time and get lessons or ask my questions in person. I want to do that soon. I'm sure I'm still WAY behind the curve.

BECK! That story gave me chills. Seriously, that is wild! A blessing? An affirmation from the Universe? A pure coincidence? who knows ?!?!? But I like it!

Yes Liv - it's making the energy shift, all this cleaning and processing inside and out. I had a feeling you might relate to that story. And I have much more to do. But I am SO on the case. And thankfully have you and everyone to help me keep walking. I'm very enthusiastic about my AF future , and it feels good.


see you a little later!

WW xox

[A Work in Progress]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

OK WW here's the deal: there is no "right click" on the button below the touch pad. So if you are using the touch pad, first you highlight the text as usual, then put two fingers on the touchpad, THEN click the clicker button, and you get the usual "right click" menu, including cut, copy, paste... ! It is a bit awkward to learn but it works. Even better is to get a mouse, and it works as usual with a PC.

wip

[Beck]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

WIP - Pretty safe to say that we all get the calculation...I used to spend so much time with that struff....how much have I had? If I am doing x then I will need how much more? where will it come from and who will notice??? Life sure is less complicated and more spontaneous now!!! Congrats on your 10 days.

WW - The older I get the less I believe in coincidences. I just took it as a sign that I am on the right path. (and perhaps as a gentle reminder that I wasn't fooling my kids)

Liv and WW, I'm so with you on the energy shift. I have much work to do but I'm just going to keep plugging along AF knowing things will get better. One of the things that kept me from attempting moderation is that I know where that path leads for me - back to a place I have already been. My AF path can lead me to new places and I find that exciting.

Okay, off to do my work

[livingfree]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Beck;373150 wrote: of the things that kept me from attempting moderation is that I know where that path leads for me - back to a place I have already been. My AF path can lead me to new places and I find that exciting.

Wow Beck - I LOVE this!! Thanks!!

[mwo2]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

The AF path of new and exciting things! so well put Beck!

The calculations were always going, uuugghhh. Then the worst one, if I really need something else I can alway walk to the little store. Thank goodness no one ever saw me, or did they...and I just don't know. Never going to calculate again! iicckk

Going to go find the vine and weed story , I missed it. Your words on it were inspiring, Living.

[livingfree]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Hi Buzz (aka mwo2) - I like the Avatar!!

Just a quick congrats to LVT on her 60 days!! Awesome girlie!!

Looks like the drama boards started again. I find it so interesting that this thread stays drama free. I love that.

Ok - have a great weekend all!!

[Thankful]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Hello all! Wow, we went days without anyone posting and boom, I take a few weeks off and all kinds of lively discussions breakout. I am so sorry I missed it. I really would have loved to contributed more than I am about to. I really miss the intelligent discussions of why we are all really here! I can’t even tell you how long it took to read all that I missed! Lol Whew!

Believe ~

I would submit that if you're looking at your af time in terms of when you can drink again, its probably not a good idea. IMO (and this is really is just my take, I'm no expert or anything) successful modding and af living look a lot alike. If your focus is on being af with al popping in from time to time (and yeah, hangovers truly suck) you might be ok. If your focus is actually on drinking, you got work 2do.

Amazing advice. This is so true. If you are wondering about drinking and not sure if you can Mod then you are not ready. A decision to Mod has to come with the confidence of knowing that you can. That’s just my .02 though.

And the whole chemical balance - 90 days Abs posts are listed in February if anyone wants to look them up. I have read them so much I should know the exact days, but I don’t. See my brain is still trying to heal! Lol But I have to point out that these articles REALLY helped my stay sober. They offer an education like I have never had regarding AL. These articles were my saving grace when making the decision to Mod or stay AF. I highly recommend everyone read them. I wish they were required reading for joining the site, lol.


WW ~ Funny thing - I think I can have a relationship with AL were I can think of it as butter. I really do. But then the thinking of “why bother putting even a small amount of the poison in my body anyway” kicks in. And this all boils down to those articles you posted back in Feb. Realizing just how poisonous that AL is really is what keeps me straight. I don’t entertain the thoughts of “ I can’t” anymore. I “choose” not to. And that is sooo liberating. Thank you for posting them. They may not seem like much to some people, but they changed my life all because you tool the time to look it up for me. Love you so much!!

And cutting the weeds back and letting in the light….yeah, great metaphor if you ask me. Brilliant!

Kate ~ Liv

Quote by Kate

I so enjoyed our chat yesterday! I love our ability to be frank and honest with each other! This is so far from the world of "Everything is fine ", even when it is not! At times it can be a slippery slope to not say what we are really thinking! After yesterday's chat, I realize that I am not alone in the things that I have been thinking about and sharing it with you guys really got the monkey off my back! I feel light again, centered! You are all so terrific!!

Quote by Liv
It was AWESOME to chat and even more awesome to get some things off my chest!! I am going to be more "frank" from now on. Sorry I was a bit on the potty mouth last night. It's just not like me

Oh, ladies, I couldn’t agree with you more! I find it so infuriating to not really say what’s on my mind sometimes because it might cause an issue. I really dislike the double standard on the boards that we all are entitled to our opinions when that clearly is not true. Seems people are ONLY entitled to their opinion if the majority of people agree with them! Say something that goes against the masses and heaven forbid you even had the nerve to have an opinion! Lol What really gets me is people who go around requesting other peoples threads be closed or not bumped up again. WTF??? Don’t like it - Don’t continue to read it! Really friggin simple if you ask me. It's like being at a book burning and someone telling me I’m not allowed to read a certain book because they don’t like the content! Lol

And LIV, I totally understand what you mean by real relationships with your friends. I try to hold conversations in my real life (ones like we have here) and it seems no one is interested. I don’t know if it’s boring or scary to them, but this is who I AM now. So why can’t I talk about what I want once in a while? I really never realized how self centered people who drink really are until recently. Another reason to stay sober! Lol


LVT ~ It was nice that you joined the chat. I know you came late and everyone else left, but you paid us all a very sweet compliment by saying that we were a group of people that you would really like to hang with. That was very nice of you to say. Welcome, my friend.

LVT & Ready2change ~ Hmmm…I never smoked, but I can see where you are coming from because my parents did smoke and every one of my sibs still smoke. I have no idea how I even avoided that habit actually, but am very thankful that I did. But that’s not why I post to you.

My mother was a heavy smoker and drinker for years. She didn’t do one without the other. If she didn’t have money for cigs then she didn’t drink that night and vice versa. When my mother decided to quit smoking (she had cancer of the uterus - nothing to do with smoking) she did so because she was already afraid of the cancer she had. BUT she never had intentions to quit drinking. She tried drinking, determined not to have the cigs and discovered she couldn’t do it. So she just gave up drinking too. Both cold turkey. I guess I just don't understand the connection and have always wondered about it. My dad still drinks but one day woke up and decided he didn’t want to smoke anymore. This was over 30 yrs ago and a 2-3 pack a day habit. He didn’t try to quit, he never gave it a thought. Just one day decided he didn’t want it. I am lucky in a sense that I have that genetic make too I guess. I am predisposed to have the addictive personality to AL but am blessed to be able to “go cold turkey” as I did with drinking.

Do you find that if you are out of cigs, you don’t drink for that night? (or vise versa) And just stock up the next day? I really find this interesting. Perhaps I should start a new thread on this.


Det ~ I love your analogy on the “electro-chemical wiring problem”. Once I am done laughing at the humor, the absolute truth is there. It makes a lot of sense.

It just occurred to me that you would make a great teacher! You are so funny and young at heart. You could really make kids learn in a fun and cool way! See, I just found you a new career and you would have summers off for shooting and flashlight shopping! And garlic!! Oh, yes, I see now that I have opened a whole to world to you. You can thank me later. Hehehe


Beck ~ So glad your vacation was great! I would love starting everyday on a kayak alone! It must have been so peaceful. Loved that story of the left over letters! Wow! It seems you kids are really appreciating a sober mommy. I am so proud of you!!


A Work in Progress ~ great job on your AF time. I appreciate what you are saying. AF has it’s good days and it’s bad. Why?…because that is life and it happens to us all. It’s just easier to deal with life’s problems sober than drunk or hung over. But you know that and you are doing fantastic! It sounds like you are dealing with the little “triggers” life throws at us once in a while. Just recognize them and move on. Keep up the great work! The fog will lift, I promise!


CS ~ Yes, it is all about baby steps! You will be surprised how they add up. And getting those little mundane chores done will really start to feel good after awhile. Besides, they are a great way to keep your hands and mind busy! Hang in there! You will get there.


MWO2 ~ Congrats on your month of sobriety! It’s great isn’t it??? Keep it up!

Love to all! I have to have a nap now after all that typing!! lol

Love, Me
:l:h:l

[Beck]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

WOW Thankful...Welcome back!!!

I'm not sure if it is just the drinkers who are superficial. It often occurs to me that most of the people I talk to are just complaining. Bugs me, so I get out of those conversations as quickly as possible.

I had one of my tough evenings with one of my (former) drinking buddies. Was a nice night and I did not drink - but it was hard for me. I just have to accept that some times I will sail through challenges and sometimes I will struggle through. The important thing for me is that I get through them AF.

Husb is gone for two days and my girls are gone for 2 weeks. This will be my vacation - more like I wil do some fun stuff for me and get a lot of work done that I have been putting off.

Continued success everyone,

[mwo2]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Thankful, that was a great summary post that you did. Thanks - sometimes I get so confused on everybody, I think it is the reading too fast and not retaining issue that I have... need to work on that.

People and complaining - Yes there are things that we can change and should change i.e. having al problems.... but when people (not here per se) complain about things like "oh it is too hot, oh now it is raining too much..." or things that just are.
I say " IT IS WHAT IT IS." and move on. sometimes in my head sometimes out loud.
This was something my others sisters and I came up with when our little sister died suddenly and tragically a few years ago. and we would be around people who knew and some who didnt and we would listen to them complain about little stuff and just wanted to tell them to take a reality check.
It is still a mantra for me and my sisters for all things in life that need to be compared to the major bad things that really happpen in life.

Life is good! AF is great. Some stuff is simply what it is Movin on.

[livingfree]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Wow Thankful -- I am so glad you are back. I was going to send out my smoke signal from way out here!!!! Great thoughts and contributions!! You ALWAYS have something great to add. Thankful for you!!

I will catch up more later - but hubbie and son and wanting to go out for Pizza. It's so HOT here .... YA HOO I LOVE THAT! (you thought I was going to complain didn't you??!!) It can stay summer forever. Why am I living out here in a state where it is winter for 9 months?????????? I must plan a longer winter vacation next year!!

Love you all

[Determinator]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

word for the day: "Intoxcineration"

An injury that takes place when an inebriated person attempts to consume a flaming drink.

[Determinator]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

[ame=

]YouTube - flaming drink 2[/ame]

[Determinator]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

[ame=

]YouTube - Flaming Shot Gone Wrong MUST WATCH[/ame]

[KateH1]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Well, Det, we can always count on you to warn us of the dangers of AL consumption that we have never even thought of!! LOL

Thankful....So great to have you back...sometimes we all need some time away....

Liv, WW, your wise words always build me up!

Becks...hope you are enjoying your "Free Time"!

Everyone....sorry if I am somewhat forgetful....but know that your posts are appreciated!

mwo2, I understand what you are saying, so often conversations can seem shallow and the complaining about those things that seem unimportant can be annoying! But, sometimes, I think it is just making conversation. People talk about everything here...tragedy and light heartedness. It is a lot of different people in different places in time.

I too have to learn not to get so annoyed! I am annoyed by so much talk of Modding. When in fact, by the guidelines that RJ mentions in her book, the modding mentioned is not modding at all. I get annoyed by people who tell new members that being on this board will make them sober. In general, I get annoyed, that the very thing that brought us here, and that has worked for so many of us, that being the book MY WAY OUT, is all too often, completely ignored! Yep....I feel bad for all the newbies, not getting the best information! Oh...well, all we can do is stay AF ourselves, and try to help when we can!!

Love you all!
xxx Kate

[maxman]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

gday!