Operation October - week four

[sooty]

Operation October - week four

Hi everyone, had an early start this morning and only just managed to get on to computer.
Sorry to hear that some of us have been struggling and have to confess that I'm one of them. The last couple of nights I have given in and had wine - feel quite depressed about it now even though I havent had a hangover and I am scared that I'll get back into regular drinking so thought I'd better fess up.
I think I'm suffering from a bit of melancholy, cos the cravings weren't even that strong, it was just something to do.
I've been trying to buck myself up by making perky comments on here - they were designed more to trick myself into thinking things are ok rather than an attempt to deceive any of you, but I haven't really been feeling very upbeat.
I'm hoping its just a blip and that I'll start feeling more cheerful really soon. I have just done one positive thing - I e mailed my friend about joining her women only choir on thursday evening. I can't sing but she assures me there won't be an audition and singing is good for lifting the mood apparently. And you never know I might enjoy it.
Well done Lav and Dill on your strength last night hope you'll soon feel better Dill
Red and Sparkle, sorry you're in the same boat as me.
Take care everyone, I'll be back later
love sooty

[ladybirdheart]

Operation October - week four

I just wanted to say you are cool, Red, Sooty, and Sparkle, even though you don?t feel that way right now. We are each in the middle of a really hard place to be. What I am figuring out as that while learning how not to drink is the bottom line, there is some secondary fallout that is priceless as we change ourselves and our lives to make this possible. It is sort of like stress management, we can do three things. We can avoid the stressor altogether and while this would be nice it is very often not possible such as with work, family etc. We can change the stressor by attempting alter our relationships, working conditions, etc., and sometimes this is effective, sometimes it falls flat. Last we can change ourselves, how we respond to things, who we are. That process is very cool, therapeutic, liberating and we can?t go back to where we were when we started this (remember what Dill said a couple of days ago?) we have changed ourselves and continue to do so. Drinking is not the same as it was before the lights came on. Love, Ladybird.

[Peanut]

Operation October - week four

Here here, LBH!!! Well said!
xoxoxo

[scrubbly]

Operation October - week four

Hello near-Halloween-ers! Oh my, did I just call everyone Weiners? I think I did!

:blush:

Ok, enough hilarity, but the bus was feeling like it had sunk into a bit of a bog today and I thought we could all use it.


LBH and Sooty are right...we spent a lot of time using AL to help us through stressful times...and it may take a while to figure out how to stop using AL when the going is tough now. But the only true failure that we have is when we give up completely. The fact that we are all still here, being honest, and still posting, is a testament to our commitment to do things differently.

We will find our way out! :groupluv:

[mica]

Operation October - week four

Happy Halloween!

I just came home from my mom's place, after getting her and step-dad settled... yes he's home. He's such a crab-bucket that it makes it hard to do anything for him, because he is just a real creep.... And my own father (to whom my mom was married for 52 years, god bless them) was such a gentleman.... oh, well.

Anyway, I read all the posts, and we have certainly had a rough October, haven't we? Ladybird, you know my heart aches for you, because you know we share the love of our pets... oh I am so sorry.

Is it the gloomy days of the dwindling light that is getting to us, allowing us to indulge in a glass or two of wine? I'd like to suggest that we not beat ourselves up too much over a glass or two, and that we know NOvember is coming, and give ourselves a hug (here's a big one from me :l:l:l)

So, light your jack, (my original two had to go to the trash can in the sky, so I'll carve a new one tonight) and don your costume (here's mine, I get first dibs :alf::alf and start the Halloween party!

Love you guys! Happy October! Don't let the gloomies get you!

[mica]

Operation October - week four

Show me what your costume is!

[redhibiscus]

Operation October - week four

Thanks so much Dill, lavande, peanut, lbh, sooty, lilmea, findingmyself for your words of comfort and wisdom. I feel ok today, not really that down, because I have only had drinks one night in October and only three times since the end of August. Also, I did not overdo it, so I am not hungover. I am back on the AF lifestyle that I truly like so much better.

The habit of not drinking, more and more is becoming part of my life. I like to remember my evenings, sleep peacefully, and wake up 110%.

[scrubbly]

Operation October - week four

Ooo Oooo Ooooo Mica I like your idea....

Here is my costume....

:anon:

It's cheap and if I get tired of it I can always take it off and hide a bottle of wine in it. JUST KIDDING, OF COURSE! I was thinking of the guy coming out of the gas station with that one...

Sunday starts NOvember, I think we are primed and ready for a good one. Here's to a peaceful start to the next month!!!

[redhibiscus]

Operation October - week four

Good morning all. I am soooo glad it is the weekend. I have nothing planned except to hand out Halloween candy and watch football. Maybe rake leaves tomorrow. And pack for a trip we are taking the end of the week. A family member is getting married next Saturday at a place not close to where I live, so on the plane we go.

It was easy to stay AF last night - it is more of a habit now than drinking for me. Plus I do not want all the crap that goes along with drinking. I really don't. Just know I realized that last Halloween I drank wine and handed out candy. Wow. That is sick. I feel ashamed thinking about it. I would never do that now so that means I have changed my thinking about alcohol and what is right and wrong. I do not mean I was drunk or effected anyone in any way, just the fact that I had to or wanted to drink wine while handing out candy. Any thoughts on this? Let me have it.

[dill]

Operation October - week four

Greetings!

Red, that sounds like par for the course for me in the Old Days. I did just about everything with my buddy. I am glad to be getting past that. Celebrations, even the simple ones like Halloween, are much more pleasant and well remembered without wine!

Sooty, :l, I'm so glad you are here with us. We'll beat this thing!

Scrubbly, did you call me a 'weiner'?!:H

Hi Mica!

LBH, your post was well stated. I am going to reread it later today.

Hey, Pnutty! Thanks for the explanation about Cold FX. Maybe I'll try it next time!

Nothing going on here today, which is how I like it! We'll be doing chores and resting her in Soggy Southern Ohio.I'll check in later. Strenth to all!

[lilmea]

Operation October - week four

Happy Halloween everyone!

I'm going to be visiting my oldest daughter next week so I'll be spending today doing laundry and packing. I'll check in later to caught up with everyone.

[Lavande]

Operation October - week four

Good last morning of October

I hope everyone is well! I need to figure out why my dogs are taking turns wanting to go out at 4:30 am..............they just don't understand that I don't want to be disturbed!!!

Greetings to Mica, red, scrubbly, Ms Sooty, Pnut, Lil, Dill & anyone else who checks in today
The weather is typical, overcast, slightly foggy & damp. There are no trick or treaters out in these parts but I do have fond memories from the old neighborhood! I don't ever remember drinking wine while handing out candy - hope I didn't anyway.

Dill & everyone else, hope you are feeling better today. I woke up with a slighly sore throat today - oh oh!!

Have a great day, one & all!
Lav

[sparkleAZ]

Operation October - week four

Ladybirdheart, great thoughts and insight! It is a process of learning how not to drink, I never thought of it that way but the longer that I am trying to stay AF the more I realize that it is a choice now. As before I had no choice, I just had to drink.

I did have 2 wines last night, we went to a birthday party and I had decided to have 2 before I went so it is ok. So I have mod the last 2 nights, tonight I will be AF, there is a Halloween party tonight so I think I'll stay sober and watch all the drunks, might be fun.

[sooty]

Operation October - week four

Hi gang, I just wrote a long reply and lost it. I can't remember everything I said so I'll just give a little summary.
I'm sorry I've been down and gloomy but I think I'm on the way up now and I'm so grateful to you all for hanging on in there with me. I am working on getting back my positive attitude - Lav please send me a bucketload of Lav-attitude as soon as possible.
Anyway baby steps - one day at a time and all that.
Dill and Lav hope you both feel better soon.
Lil have a good trip with your daughter
Scrubbly thanks for pointing out the importance of coming on here and keeping on trying.
Pnut, Red, Mica take care of yourselves cos you're all an important part of my secret weapon.
Sparkle enjoy watching the drunks make fools of themselves tonight.
Happy Halloween everyone,we don't make so much fuss over here but I've got some sweets in just in case the little children who live nearby come a calling. I hope they do cos I don't want to have to eat them myself ...the sweets I mean not the kids!
Thanks for your friendship all of you
Sooty

[lilmea]

Operation October - week four

Happy Halloween everyone,we don't make so much fuss over here but I've got some sweets in just in case the little children who live nearby come a calling. I hope they do cos I don't want to have to eat them myself ...the sweets I mean not the kids!

:H:H:H Soots-Nice to see you getting your sense of humor back!