~cattleman cafe~ & another 24...

[Ginger999]

Jude, that seems extremely high for one tooth. Cyrus has bad gums and has already had to have his teeth cleaned and 4 pulled. It was 1,100. Maybe you should come out west with kitty! Have you heard of care credit? It might take the sting out a little. It's an interest free credit card for things just like this. www.carecredit.com

Waves to all! I see window washing in my future. I'll take another day of freedom!

[Jude58]

Ginger, thanks for the info on care credit. I've heard of them before, but never thought I'd need to use it.

Things are pretty dry around here as well so hopefully we will get some much needed rain soon.

How did you make out on your hunt with Adam yesterday cowboy? Hopefully you got some more meat for the freezer.

It's way to early for cowboy's famous breakfasts, so I guess that I'll just have to settle for a bagel.

24 more please...

[Rava]

Good morning Cafe. Today is a day of reflection for me. I am struggling again and wanting to drink. Will review the tool box and play the tape forward. I can tell when my mind starts getting weak and that is whats happening. I would expect this to someday go away but it never, ever does. Any words of wisdom are appreciated at this point. I will not drink but I also have to cut these thoughts. 24 more for me please and thank you.

[abcowboy]

5:17am in Alberta, 24 for me and everyone else who needs them please, and thanks...

In the last 24 hours, these friends have joined in for 24 hours of wellness:
Jude58 dill Rava Ginger999

Today is going to be a darn good day not to drink!

[abcowboy]

It's time for some breakfast

[dill]

Hang in there, Rava. You'll be glad you did. Would it help to talk with the lady friend of yours that shares the problem with drink?

It's spitting rain but not much accumulation. Still, it feels good to get a break from the dry weather.

24 more for all of us here, please and thank you.

[abcowboy]

It was an enjoyable day hunting yesterday. We saw a few moose, lots of mule deer, but not one white tail deer was to be seen. We did see lots of scrapes in one area that we know usually has more white tail than mule deer so we'll put our efforts on hunting that area next weekend.

Reading through the toolbox and playing it forward are great ideas Rava, and maybe ask yourself why you want to drink? Are you bored, angry, etc? Do you feel something is missing from your life? That was an exercise my counsellor had me do, when I wanted to drink I was supposed to write down why at that moment I wanted to drink. Then do something about the situation other than drinking over it.

[Ginger999]

ABC, that's a great exercise. I'll remember that for future fights with the AL demon. Great brekkie.

Rava, I feel ya! I was so strong in my resolve back home but when we got down here, I could feel the desire creeping back in. For me, I'm home sick for my littles. I miss them and it feels stupid to be away from them when I don't have to be. I want to numb that feeling. Anywho, that's just me. I'm falling asleep listening to an audio book about abstaining from alcohol. It seems to help.

Waves to all! I'll take another day of freedom

[Jude58]

Rava, remember that these urges to drink are just thoughts and nothing more. Whenever I feel the need to drink I think of all the things in my life that I'm grateful for. If I went back to drinking, many of these things would be lost, most importantly, my freedom. Drinking used to be a way that I could temporarily shut out the problems in my life, but in the end booze only added to my problems, not solved them. Think of all the good aspects of your life, and how much you could potentially lose. Your life is worth it!

24 more for all of us please...

[dill]

Jude, that was very well said. It was very heartfelt and affirming. Your resolve is contagious.

Cowboy, that is an interesting exercise and very useful. I wonder if there were times though that you couldn't identify a reason. Sometimes it just feels like compulsion. I guess if you identify it as that, then you still can make a plan about how to defeat it... The toolbox is a great place to go. Thanks for the reminder.

Ginger, I am sorry the change in environment is messing with you. I can see how that would definitely affect the desire to drink. Boredom and loneliness are often at the root. I hope you get over the hump. How is Cyrus doing with the transition? (If I messed up on your kitty's name, I do apologize.)

We got a whole inch of rain yesterday and today we are in for more. Not complaining, although Lily is a bit frustrated by it. We had a break in the rain yesterday, so I took her on a "ranger run". We drive out into the pasture and woods, and she runs alongside or in front, clearing my path. She chases deer when we come across them and feels like she is saving me from danger. She loves to run full tilt and can cover so much ground, it's amazing! You guys would love watching her.

24 more for all of us here, please and thank you.

[abcowboy]

5:17am in Alberta, another 24 please, and thanks...

In the last 24 hours, these friends have joined in for 24 hours of wellness:
Jude58 Rava dill Ginger999

Today is going to be a darn good day not to drink!

[Rava]

Good morning and thanks for yesterday’s breakfast Cowboy. Thanks for your solid ideas about abstaining. Yesterday I read about 8 pages from the toolbox and today I will read some more. Ginger, it may also be change of environment. Booze is so easy to get here. Just grocery shopping requires strength as it’s sold in the grocery stores here. So many retirees drinking that “one” glass of something at the pool. It makes me sad that I am not like the others. I definitely dont want to be the wife that sneaks and hides her bottles. That is not what I want. I am already stressing about Thanksgiving at the neighbors house where drinking will be everywhere. I need a strong backbone for that day. I on the other hand don’t want to say no and stay home. I will miss too much of life hiding from abstaining from alcohol or hiding to drink alcohol. Dill, my friend admitted to me a few weeks ago that she is drinking again. So she is my friend but not a resource at this time. Jude, you are so right that booze only adds to the problem. My mantra yesterday getting thru the day was. I DONT DRINK. I will continue with that today. Thanks everyone. You would think after all these years, life would get easier. Not so. 24 more please and thank you.

[abcowboy]

That was very well put Jude, we lose so much when we get lost in the booze.

It would have been great to see Lily on her Ranger run dill, and I'll bet she loved getting out for the exercise.

I think there's many reasons why we all drink, and just as many if not more reasons why we should quit. Even now there's the odd time that I wouldn't mind the taste of a cold refreshing beer, and I never used to drink for the taste, I drank to get drunk.

[Ginger999]

Well said, Jude, well said. I'm fortunate that the people we hang with aren't too much for drinking. I'm just punky but I'll get over it.

I'll take another day of freedom!

[Jude58]

Dill, I can just picture Lily as she runs through the fields having a great time. She's one lucky dog!

Rava, I also worry about upcoming events where there will be lots of booze. I think that most of us need to start "living in the day" instead of fretting about the future. Try to think about all of the times in the past, when you had to make a choice whether or not to drink and you said no. You made it through those events, as you will on Thanksgiving this year.

Very windy, rainy and cold this morning with a few flurries tonight. I guess that winter isn't too far away after all.

24 more for all of us please...