November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

[lodestar]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Oops, I meant "mg" not "MT"...I'll get better at this, I swear Sorry

[dill]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

mg, You are about my age! I am 57 and have been drinking daily for about 25 years. My daily wine before and with dinner gradually increased over time to where it was VERY unhealthy and beginning to affect my marriage as well. So, here I am!

I wonder if those friends last week really cared if you drank or not, or if you were just being overly sensitive? I know for myself that I never cared if others were drinking or not, as long as I was!
Well done on staying AF in a social situation!! Hope you can do a repeat tonight. I'm sure you can.

As far as advice, I haven't any for you except to tell you that I want the same thing as you described, to drink in moderation. But I don't seem to be able to accomplish it. I did 30 days AF, but as soon as I tried to moderate, it started creeping right back up on me...the old habits. I guess I would suggest you read a few of our posts from today regarding "powerlessness". And spend time reading on this website in general. It can help you feel your way through some of this decision-making process. I hope you keep posting. I like hearing of your progress. 17 days is awesome!

Perhaps others here will have some advice/suggestions.

[mountaingirl]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

HELLO Dill, Lode, Lady, Red, Lil, Sooty, Lav, Mg72, Finding, Pnut and anyone else I might have missed

Just a quick stop in to say Happy Friday! very busy at work today, plan to read more later.
It is beautiful and sunny here today

~Mountaingirl

[Lavande]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Good evening E.v.e.r.y.o.n.e.,

I seem to be dragging my tail the past two days, too lazy to address you all by name - forgive me!
Think I may be fighting off something viral......eeewww!

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with members of my extended family, it's beginning to wear on me. My three brothers, their wives & adult children are all fighting with each other on Facebook of all damn things!! It seems they have suddenly noticed that they don't agree on religious & political topics. None of them bother to pick up the phone or even send an email. We all live far apart & I am beginning to think maybe that's a good idea! I miss seeing them but right now, because of all their BS on Facebook, I don't even want to see them........... Oh well, life goes on I suppose

Mg, you are doing great! Try to not worry too much about the future, focus on today, one day at a time. I really wanted to learn to moderate too but it became very clear to me when I hit my 30 days........that just wasn't going to happen. You have to wait, see how you feel when the time comes, make your decision then.

Well, the chill is here. The woodstove is heating the lower level of the house & I'm thinking about lighting a fire up here
Stay warm everyone & have a great AF night!

Lav

[RejuvenateBodyMindandSpirit]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

AF day 2

Hi Dill, Lav, Finding, mountaingirl, my song, Pnut, Sooty, Scrubs, Pam, Cyn, Annie

:new:
Been bouncing around on a few forums?posted a time or two in the nest. Enjoyed reading your posts from today. Completed Day 2 AF?used a couple extra doses of L-Glut for a couple of strong craving s that reared their ugly heads. Had a little of brain fog going on?probably due to the Topamax, but otherwise it was an OK couple of days?still working on finding a replacement beverage?had grapefruit juice ,diet tonic with lime?plain water lot of it?water with lemon slice?can?t decide. I?ve always been a big water drinker anyway. Hubby brewed us up some black cherry tea?really enjoyed the first ? glass?not sure It?ll pass as a long term option for me anyway.
This morning was pretty much like most mornings, as I have never been plagued much by hangovers, fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it. My biggest motivation for moderating is to be able get some weight off. Awful hard to lose weight?or not to gain weight truth be told if you are consuming 5 or 6 quarts of wine plus a week (White Zin, my 1st drug of choice)! The plus being my other drug of choice which is a liqueur?or going out for Presidente & Nachos at our local Chili?s. Second , third and fourth motivating factors are( there are probably other I haven?t thought of yet), in no particular order is to get rid of my GERD, lousy sleep patterns and take back my evenings. Like a lot of folks on these boards we try to limit our drinking & driving?so that has kind of limited our evening activities to coach potatoing!

Looking forwarding to getting to know ing more about you & your journeys.

Rejuve

[ladybirdheart]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Goodnight sweeties. It has been hard as Lord Bird Heart flew off for San Francisco today and I did not go and also won?t go again in a couple of weeks to another nice destination where a favorite martini or wine bar might beckon. You might recall what happened last month in a trip to New York City (and in a trip the month before?) so I am here on my own just finding my way out. It is OK. Love Ladybird.

[FindingMyself]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Hi lodestar, there is something about the word powerless I don?t care for either. I guess I associate the word more with other situations in my life, like you mentioned, and I am out of those situations now and don?t want to go back. Same can be said of my drinking habits though, I don?t want to go back there either. After reading responses here I can certainly see the validity of using the word powerless in relation to my drinking. Guess I?ve tried to think of drinking more in terms of choice. It?s my choice to drink, waste my life, feel like crap, and it?s my choice not to go down that road, to grow up and take care of myself and to take responsibility. That?s a tall-enough order and hard to do sometimes! Being cognizant of what words mean to us ? be they triggers or words of empowerment ? is important.

I?ve learned a lot from reading other?s responses here. Glad ideas were shared.

Thanks also Lil, LadyBird, and Dill for your take on a ?higher power.? That is a phrase I?ve always had a hard time with (probably more to do with my upbringing than anything). Dill, this really resonated with me:

dill;751673 wrote: But I think it illogical to not believe there is a power higher than what we currently understand, given the complexity and the beauty of this world.

Thank you!

Mg72 ? 17 days is excellent!!! I have tried to stop drinking so many times and never succeeded until I joined this site and really became part of a group. It has helped me immeasurably! I was so afraid I would be boring too, but actually found that I can laugh and have fun without the alcohol. That was a real revelation for me! I guess most people have that question ? what to do after 30 days. ??? It?s up to you. I know what I did and I didn?t feel to hot afterwards. As others here have told me, and I quote, ?It?s a challenge :H? (Love you guys!)

Lav, sorry about the family dilemas ? ugh! Stay toasty warm.

Hello mountaingirl!

Rejuve, I turned to tea. Never thought I would, but it?s my habit of choice these chilly evenings.

What is everyone reading? I finished Frankenstein ? loved it! Finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - loved it! In fact, the later is a rather interesting analogy of addiction.

I miss me Pam, Peanut and Cyn ? hope you are doing well! Hello to everyone navigating November. LadyBird :l - take good care!

[lilmea]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Good Morning Mates,

Just a quick fly bye this morning. My daughter doesn't have to work today so we will finially get some good Mother daughter time.

Finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - loved it! In fact, the later is a rather interesting analogy of addiction.

I definiatly became Mr. Hyde when I was drinking. Now I'm just a meek and mild af pussy cat!

Got to go. Everyone have a great af Saturday!!!

[Lavande]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Good morning Navigators!

Definitely a frost on everything this morning - Brr!

Hi Lil, LBH, Finding, Rejuve, mountain girl, lodestar, Dill & everyone to come
Hope everyone has something fun planned for today! Dill, enjoy your day with Matt!

For me - well, I have to go out & do some detective work...........find out who or what is stealing eggs from the chicken coop! I have a feeling there is an uninvited guest showing up for lunch every day, leaving empty shells as a clue. I think setting a rat trap or two may help, eeeewwww!

After I get that job done then I WILL find something fun to do

Have a great AF Saturday everyone.
Lav

[cyntree]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Ahoy maties! Wow - I was out of town for the week, and look, 13 pages! I need to find a way to keep in contact when I'm away -- I'm looking at a laptop -- I needed to be communicating with you. Long story short - I made my 30 days. Then what did I do? Drink on day 31 -- here's what I have to say about it: if you want to be AF - DON'T DO IT!! No amount of that poisonous liquid is worth anything...I must be pretty well 'cleaned out' because a couple of drinks made me totally sick - with a horrible wasted day the next day. So, there, I said it. I was trying to figure out how to sidestep it with the group, but Honesty is the most important thing here, and so I am breaking a long-standing habit of secrecy. Only because of this great group!

Thanks Dill, Sooty, everyone, for the ability to board this wonderful November ship -- I'm standing right on the bow, feeling the wonderful cleansing breezes, and armed with all of your tools and wisdom.
(I'm loving the dolphins cavorting along with us!)

[sooty]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Hi Cyn, welcome back me hearty! Lovely to see you and good advice on remaining AF!
I'm a bit battered cos had H1N1 injection yesterday but I can still steer the ship and we're on course for the Bahamas.
Have a lovely Saturday everyone, keep warm and dry
love sooty

[ladybirdheart]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Welcome home to our Cyn. You are on a ship with a number of people who tested the water after thirty days and hated it. It is all part of finding our way out. Things needed to lose their mystery, their appeal for me; I can?t recapture that first drink. A new life has begun ready or not. Love, Ladybird.

[dill]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Welcome home, Cyn! We missed you! I appreciated your sharing about your trial on day 31! Been there, done that, but my problem was, that once I did that, the old habits krept back up on me. Don't be surprised if you feel an extra pull to drink for the next week.

LBH, how did Lord Birdheart react to your declining the trip, if I may be so forward as to ask? If I am being too forward, just ignore me! But, if you are going to answer my question, could you also tell me if you gave Lord Birdheart your reason for staying home? I keep much of my struggle to myself. I don't share the intricacies with Mr. Dill, although he is a very loving and supportive spouse. This is one of the reasons why sharing on MWO is so critical for me.

Soots, the Bahamas sound marvelous! I was wondering if we could set a course for South Africa after that? It sounds kind of exciting and challenging. Might be a wonderful distraction!

Lav, I had to chuckle when you described your family using Facebook to carry on their Family feud!:H I have some nieces that have wildly different political views from mine, and sometimes they post some inflamatory statements. I never take the bait. Not worth it! I love them dearly, even if they are misguided in their thinking!:H Good luck on your sleuthing work today. We used to have hens. One time I had to spy on the coup to see what was eating the eggs and leaving shell and mess in the nest. I caught a murderess! Yes, a hen gone wild!! I looked pretty funny doing my surveillance work, but it paid off. "Off with her head" was the cry, and we never had anymore problems!

Now I'm just a meek and mild af pussy cat!

Lil, somehow I doubt this statement! A girl with as much determination and grit as you have has got to be a high-spirited pussy cat!

Finding, I have not got anything I'm reading just now. I am going to see if I can get Dr. J and Mr. H on audio book because I have never read that and it is a classic, after all. You have piqued my interest by comparing it to addiction. If you are looking for a good book, I can heartily recommend Nineteen Minutes or Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult. If you are looking for an easier, more light-hearted read, I can recommend Lottery by Patrica Wood. I have read each of those and really liked them.

:welcome: Rejuve, Are you planning on doing 30 days at least before you moderate? There are many good reasons to get control of our drinking, and I pretty much share your list. But moderating is not possible for me at this point. If ever. I tell you, though, good sleep has been the best side effect for me on being AF. I can't say that I've lost any weight. I tend to eat more when my stomach isn't flummoxed by the alc.!

Have a great day, Mates!

[lodestar]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

Hi all,

A week, Cyn? I'm away for 24 hours and can't keep up with all that is going on! Thanks for telling about your experience on day 31 also. Good to know.

Finding, thanks for your response to my earlier question re: powerlessness/power and I know what you mean about not wanting to go back "there."

Just a quickie hello (sorry). I have to redouble my efforts on work, since making so much "me" time this past week to stay AF. Best decision ever, but I don't want it to have consequences on my performance.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Saturday! :l

[ladybirdheart]

November Navigators ~ AF -Week 1

No problem with the question, Dill. I have no immediate family, Lord Bird Heart is it, and the art of having a collaborative relationship with him is always a priority. I did tell him the facts but did not share the degree of desperation that can be attached. As he has a very long recovery (more than twenty years) from his own alcohol addiction and a very bad heart in spite of no risk factors other than the biggie, genetics, he is detached from my drinking, lending support if asked and otherwise quietly taking care of things actually in his control. I have never been much for drama so he figures I?ll do this or not without much overt attention. He is wise and free and just about everybody adores him.

Finding, I am reading Divisadero by Ondaatje, the fellow who wrote The English Patient and Skin of the Lion. I am loving it. Hello Red, Cyn, Pam, Lav (happy hunting), Lil (you pussycat), Pea, flu proof Sooty, mountaingirl, Emmy, lodestar et. al. Love, Ladybird.