November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

[dill]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Lil, That is wonderful!

I would not have been able to pull things together for a surprise visit if I were still drinking the way I was a year ago. It just wouldn't have been possible.

This gives hope and meaning to all of us in this struggle.

[lodestar]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Hi friends,

Unfortunately, YES! 11 hours is a typical day. Today was short (just 9 or so) because I have to pack tonight and clean the house and get ready to leave for the weekend. I'll be working the whole holiday weekend too, but at least I'll get a change of scenery. My boss was a royal PITA today, sneering at everyone and ripping heads off left and right. I've never been treated so unprofessionally.

Sorry I'm not more chipper tonight. I couldn't get here fast enough to read about everyone's day though. Thanks for the posts on work and that "unwind" feeling. I definitely have that going on and am learning a new way to unwind.

More soon, forgive my brevity. xxx

[mighty mouse]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Hi all, I got a chance to check in. Lil, That is such great news! Enjoy your family

MM

[ladybirdheart]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Goodnight Navigators. Lil, you have the heart of Thanksgiving wrapped up at your house. Beautiful photo, Dill, I hope you are right there.:l Walk with me in the dry spots, MM, let?s not get swept away; remember how Lil reminded us to ?fast forward? to the whole truth that accompanies that first drink. SD you are doing so well; I love thinking of you enjoying these sweet times with your young son. Thank you for keeping the focus on honesty, Red, I need to even when it is a lonely hard task, we won?t get out of here without it. Lav, you are always welcome at my window but I would prefer it if you came inside by the fire, my 'bossy but level headed & fair' (I had not noticed:H) comrade. Hope you are able to be close to us in your work travels, Lodestar, and that you find peaceful ways to unwind and have what my mother used to say in French, ?good pink dreams?. I am not sure where this phrase came from but it always made me feel dreamy. Hi Sooty, Finding, Peanut, Scrubs and anyone coming by. Until tomorrow. Love, Ladybird.

[sooty]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

morning all, lovely to read what you've all been up to and your plans for Thanksgiving. Lil I am so pleased to hear your good news - I guess we've all got a lot to be thankful for if we look at where we were this time last year!
Only showers forecast for today for my region - the wind is very fierce so hopefully will allow the ground to dry out a bit.
Well I got another busy day, must do some much needed cleaning. Daughter and bf are coming round tomorrow evening as its her birthday, we're celebrating properly with a meal out with friends on Sunday - looks like its party time for us all!
Have a lovely day all of you,Hey I just realised what day it is - 1,2,3 all together now - happy Humpday!!!! :H
I think we'll arrive at Alaska tomorrow Dill - the boat is making good progress!
Love Sooty

[redhibiscus]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Good morning. Had a really difficult day at work yesterday and even though I peeked on our thread, I just didn't have the heart to post. I am working with someone who wants to destroy me professionally and personally. It is just unbelievable. And this person puts on this facade of being compassionate and loving, then says and does horrible things. Whew, I have to figure out a way to manage her.

I was so upset yesterday that guess what I thought of..you're right, drinking to make the pain go away. I kept having thoughts all afternoon...and after work forced myself to go home and eat first. When I walked in the house, I acutally left my coat on for a few minutes, debating as to whether I should go back out to get wine. Then I thought it out to waking up feeling like crap, dragging myself to bed, having a sleepless, restless, anxiety filled night, feeling like a little piece of hungover whatever, and I managed to NOT DRINK!!! Yay for me. I got through this battle. Now this morning, although still stressed, I can face this day not hungover. I did ask my boss if I could leave early today and I can, so I will be able to prepare for my Thanksgiving this afternoon. Oh, can I mention that if I would have had wine in the house it would have been all over for me. So, a word of warning to all...get all booze out of the house because in your week moments it makes it to easy to drink. You all probably know this but I came so close yesterday, so close, and I really really want to have an AF holiday, rest of November, life.

Anyway, I was so happy to read that so many of us are preparing for our holidays, looking forward to seeing our loved ones, and doing it AF. Good for us. We can and must keep trying.

Lil, how absolutely wonderful to have your daughter and her boyfriend for Thanksgiving. Life can be full of such wonderful surprises. SDP, MM, LBH, Lavande, Dill, Lodestar, be good to yourselves today and check in if and when you need to. I know I will.:h:l:h

[dill]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Red, good job on getting through yesterday. It sounds like you were mightily tempted but you overcame! Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing. I'm sorry you have someone giving you so much grief at work. Sailors are known for going ashore and getting into brawls. Do you need us to back you up!:H

LBH, the oak tree is on my route to work. I happened to have my camera with me one morning and thought to capture it. I love it. I took that out the window of my car as I sat at the stop sign. Your Thanksgiving sounds like it will be wonderful. Ten people is quite a lot! I wish I could be a fly on the wall at your place that day.

Sooty girl, I wish I could send you some dry weather. With all the rain you've been having, it's a good thing we chose a boat theme for this month!

Lav, my Lav inspired crockpot veggie/beef soup was really good last night. Thanks for the accidental suggestion! Are you busy with your embroidery for the holidays?

Mighty, SD, Lil, Lodestar, anyone else who pops in, I wish you all a wonderful, sober day!

[Lavande]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Good morning November friends,

Overcast & lots of fog out there today & plenty of mud from yesterday's rain! My hens are up to their 'knees' in mud. I need to toss some more hay in their yard today

Sooty, so glad you are OK! Hope the winds dry up your wet areas!

Dill, I love having that soup in the fridge - pull some out each day for lunch, yum
My business is picking up a little for the Holidays. It's been tough the past 2 years..........I'm not exactly recession proof. Had an interesting conversation with my haircutter last week........no one has given up getting haircuts yet

LBH, I'm sure your Thanksgiving meal will be spectacular! We are going to our son's house for dinner and we are bringing a fully roasted turkey & stuffing!!! I'm just hoping he can put together a few side dishes, ha ha. His firehouse cooking skills are quite interesting!!! Today is his 29th birthday - the baby has grown up

Red, I'm wishing you strength to find & keep the peace in your heart! I'm so happy to not have to deal with difficult coworkers anymore. Please help yourself to a huge helping of Lavan-itude today!!

Greetings to Lil, MM, Lodestar & everyone to stops in today!

Quick - everyone run through your house - make sure AL didn't sneak in!!!!!!

Lav

[sdlovespackers]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

WOW!!!
Everyone sounds AMAZING!!!! Even struggling with co-workers, AL, and rain....everyone is beating these obstacles AF this week!!! That's great!!!! We DO have so much to be thankful for!! One theme I seem to be reading about is how most of us are going to be surrounded by family this week/end....I think being srrounded by loved ones makes this journey all the more worth it...because I think the holidays are just different this time for many of us...I know it is for me....I'm sad to admit but there are parts of Christmas I'm pretty sure I don't remember.....I don't want ANY holiday to EVER be that way again!!!

Strength, love and happiness to you all!!!
SD:l

[lodestar]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Morning one and all! Looking forward to a good day. I will surely check in this weekend.

LBH -- I love the "pink dreams" reference. This is one that will stick with me throughout my life -- thank you. Do you know how to say it in french?

Dill -- love the new pic!

Red -- Good job and thanks for sharing that!

Nice to see you Sooty and Lav and wishing everyone who pops in a great AF holiday. Plan! Plan! Plan!

[lodestar]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Morning SD -- crosspost! You are so right!

[FindingMyself]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Morning everyone,

I've been doing well, just making a habit of curling up with a movie or book, and tea these nights after work.

Red, that co-worker of yours sounds pretty awful! So sorry you are dealing with that, but congrats on getting through the evening AF.

Lav, I've been wondering what recipes have been filling your crock-pot these days.

Ladybird, your Thanksgiving-day meal sounds absolutely wonderful!

Lil, so glad that your daughter and her BF will be able to visit for the holidays. You sound jazzed!

Just a short note to check in and say hi and let you all know how good it is to read your posts.
:l

[lilmea]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

have what my mother used to say in French, “good pink dreams”.
LHB-I love that! Much better to have 'pink dreams' than to see 'pink elephants' hehe!

Sailors are known for going ashore and getting into brawls. Do you need us to back you up!

Red- Just echoing Dill. When my girls were teen-agers and dating, all the BFs knew I talked softly and carried a big ball bat. I'm sure I still have it in the closet somewhere.

Lav-No Al in this house! I have the 'booze' alarm set and any Al trying to sneak in will set off lots of cow bells and the sprinkler system!

SD, Sooty, Lodster and anyone else to follow-Happy Humpday!!!!

Now, back to the kitchen and the deviled eggs!!

[lilmea]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Finding :l I was just thinking of you. How are your holidays going? cross-post

[mighty mouse]

November Navigators ~ AF Week Four

Morning to all, Red, Iam so happy for you...you over came quite a temptation. I have been there many times with my coat on. pacing back and forth. you played the tape to the end and thats what I am going to practice doing..I am going to finish out november af.

I have my cranberry juice and sparkling water all ready.

quick hello to all, before my childrens prying eyes come around again to see what I'm doing.

Hugs,,MM