December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Incredible stuff, everyone - thank you. I don't even have time enought to fully read everything, but will later on today - I have a long one ahead of me. Just wanted to post my AF promise for the day - these days it seems more like one hour at a time, instead of one day, but I'm plugging away.
Take care all -

[ladybirdheart]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Looks like a lot of lives and drama have been attributed to our poet but it seems he was a regular American fellow who had a wife and kids and ran a small successful newspaper which his wife carried on after his death. His poem took off like a shot as it certainly rings true. We can each find ourselves in it.

Went to a glorious holiday light exhibit last night and my eyes are still sparkly. Freezing, we then went with friends to a restaurant which was very noisy and when it was noted I was not having a cocktail, I screamed without a second thought over the din of the crowd ?I QUIT DRINKING?. I don?t know if it was my imagination but it seemed I could have heard a pin drop for a split second, heads snapped around, forks froze in midair :H. Then it was over, the world started up again. Today I am sending off over a hundred Christmas cards and not a single person is one with whom I could discuss this. I would be depressed but thanks to not drinking and Lav and her Amoryn I am cured for now. Love, Ladybird.

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

I screamed without a second thought over the din of the crowd “I QUIT DRINKING”. I don’t know if it was my imagination but it seemed I could have heard a pin drop for a split second, heads snapped around, forks froze in midair . Then it was over, the world started up again.

LBH, I do wish I had been there to see that little scene! You must be growing ever stronger and confident in your conviction to be AF. Good for you!

SD, I am glad you are feeling better.

Mighty and Davie, you both have me hankering for a big pot of home made popcorn. I think I know what I will be having this weekend!

Lav, Here's the recipe for the apples. It's always a hit.

• 3 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• dash of fresh grated nutmeg, optional
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter, cut in small pieces
Preparation:
Place apple slices in the slow cooker/Crock Pot; stir in remaining ingredients and dot with the butter. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours, or until apples are tender but not mushy. Stir about halfway through cooking.
Makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups.

I mix the sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch together before adding them to the crock.

Hi Pamina, Cyntree, Lil, Red, Lodestar and Chillgirl!

I'm so tired! It's been a long day full excited 3,4 and 5 year olds having Christmas parties and treats. I am so glad to be home and in the quiet. Peace and strength to all.

[mighty mouse]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good night to all. Such a busy day. I think as this holiday approaches it is going to be difficult to check in as before. Hope all are having a good night and staying AF.

Dill, thanks for the recipe. I am hosting xmas and newyears eve. I will make it for one if not both. I own a few crock pots. What size crock did you use?

LBH, Cyn and SD and anyone else to come in. :l MM

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good evening friends,

Wow, LBH - I wish I had been there too to hear your announcement - AWESOME! Good for you! And I'm glad the Amoryn has helped you along...........I think I'm staying on it forever

Dill, thanks so much for the recipe! I will make the apples Christmas Eve to go along with the ham, etc. Sounds delicious

MM, you're staying close to the threads - that's good.......it's always helped me!!!

Greetings & good night to everyone! I'm tired - I baked my brains out today, ha ha.
See you all first thing in the morning!

Lav

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Mighty, I made it in my 2.5 quart pot.

[redhibiscus]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good morning all.

The challenge to stay AF starts for me on Fridays, so I vow to be AF today.

Dill, I wrote down the recipe for Crock-Pot Apples, sounds delicious.

LBH, you told the world your intent. Wonderful. Interesting that you don't want to talk to anyone about the drinking thing, you know the people you send out Christmas cards to. I don't talk about my drinking either, it is a private matter. A shameful secret for me. Only my husband knows, and I have talked to my daughter to an extent, I will never drink to excess with her again. Things are changing for all of us, because once you come to MWO, your drinking is never the same.


Working today, then tomorrow shopping with a friend who called last night. I thought, good, if I go shopping with her early in the morning, there is no way I can drink tonght, because I would feel like a hungover piece of ****whatever. So, the plan is to take it easy tonight and then shop, shop, shop, and wrap, wrap, wrap. Whew, I am exhausted just thinking about it.

Lavande, glad to hear you're getting things done. It has to be a relief to get the baking accomplished, what a gift to your loved ones.

MM, it is good to hear from you. You are doing an awesome job AF.

Cyntree, sometimes it does feel like an hour to hour struggle. We are here for you.

SD, good to hear you are coming back from your illness.

To everyone else, have a successful AF day today. :h:l:h

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Don't give up before the miracle happens.
--unknown

I don't talk about my drinking either, it is a private matter. A shameful secret for me. Only my husband knows, and I have talked to my daughter to an extent, I will never drink to excess with her again. Things are changing for all of us, because once you come to MWO, your drinking is never the same.

Red, it is almost the same for me, except that I have a girlfriend with whom I have shared just a little and it is my son, not my daughter, with whom I have shared just a bit. I am concerned about both my children following my same path and he shows significant signs. The fact that he had a rough time in Iraq and does not talk about it to anyone as far as I know also worries me.

All the preschool Christmas parties are behind me now and today looks to be very low key at work. I have paperwork to do this morning and then we have our Christmas luncheon and knock off early for a holiday bonus. I may try to get in a little shopping then, but if it is too busy, I'll just head home. I need to exercise today so I'm hoping for some sunshine so I can get out and walk.

Enough about me!!!! Strength to all!

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good morning Dill, Red & everyone!

Frosty here this morning, snow on the way later!
Think I'll play it smart & head out to gather necessities. So good to know I won't be wasting any $$ on smokes & wine - no longer necessities I think my shopping is completed, now I just hope that UPS brings everything on time..........yes, I'm an online shopper! The stores are just too far away & I hate crowds anyway I'll probably only share this with you guys - the day after Christmas will be 9 months AF for me. Of course that's provided I don't put on the idiot show I did last Christmas Eve!!!! I have absolutely no plans to repeat that performance - ever!!!!!

Wishing everyone a terrific AF Friday, I'll check in later

Lav

[Davie Souter]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Lovely snowy day here in Ireland!!!

[sooty]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Hello folks, couldn't get on yesterday cos I was busy and when I got home late last night I was just too bushed!
I must tell you I went out for an early evening meal with old work friends yesterday and they were talking about their office parties which are all today. They will have started drinking at 11.30 this morning and will carry on till the early hours of tomorrow - more than 12 hours of drinking. they were all saying that they weren't looking forward to it, that they would be wrecked on Saturday and probably Sunday and when I turned down their invitations to join them they looked at me as if I was crazy!!!
I am so so glad not to be part of that scene anymore and so thankful that I was up early this morning for my last sortee into town and I did it AF, no hangover etc.
I hope you are all enjoying this last Friday before the festivities.
Its very cold here, the wind is coming from Russia apparently - its bitter. Keep warm everybody
love Sooty

[sdlovespackers]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good Morning!
Ohhh I'd love to see Ireland right now...I bet it's BEAUTIFUL!!!! Never been there, but would love to go there some day!!

Lav-I broke down and ordered stuff online...there was no way around it...never going to get all my shopping done any other way!! So far everything has made it here!! Whew!!!

Dill--Holiday bonus??!! What kind of district do you work for?!?!:H We work all the way up until Christmas EVE!!!! You mentioned your son is in Iraq...I'm guessing in the service then? That would be very difficult (and scary as a parent) I would think! You two sound very close...I hope Brayden and I always remain as close as we are!! I fear he'll wake up one day and resent me or hate me...maybe that's a fear all mom's have, I don't know?!

MM, Red, Sooty, LBH, Cyn, Lil, Chops, and everyone else who pops into today....wishing you a fantastic Friday!!!!! Not sure how much I'll be able to check in this weekend as my dad and his wife will be here:wahh: which will undoubtably be very stressful!!!! Which brings me to me next confession....I very knowingly went to the store, bought my 'on sale' wine and drank last night. I say knowingly because I know exactly why I did it...having my dad and his wife here are such a HUGE trigger for me, one that I'm continuing to work on and continue to battle....my anxiety runs high anyway but just thinking about those two here in my house criticizing me and judging me...and then adding AL to my alcoholic father ull yeah so....spent last night just running around frantically cleaning and wrapping presents....didn't get out of hand or anything but thought I should 'come clean'. Sorry. What's kind of funny about the whole situation is I won't drink when he's here (cuz we don't do well if we both drink together)...but I feel like I 'need' to have a drink before and probably after (depending on how it goes) they leave! Sorry to ramble on.....Anyway...have a great weekend if I don't get make it back online!!!
SD:l

[mighty mouse]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good afternoon all determinators, Missed alot already. wow.

Home from a hair cut and trying to catch up. My 2 other children are coming home tomorrow and I don't think I'll have much availability to post.

LBH what is Aroryn?
Red, Great shopping plan. My AL too is a shameful secret. Hubby is aware and kids have seen an occasional slip up. I do share some with them and will share more in the future. Sharing my knowledge and struggles at the right times is being a Mom and we always want the best for our kids. Who knows, maybe our struggles were meant to occur for a grander purpose...Getting deep now, sorry.

Lav, I was checking my calendar just yesterday to see if xmas was the 9month day for you. Day after, still great!! You will do it. It is all of our xmas wish for you. I'd do anything to make sure you get there. Lots of Love for you.

SD, Lots of love for you too. I am the same way with certain relatives. It is my last and most difficult trigger to figure out what to do with. I know a solution has something to do with the fact that they are not worth it and that on the inside we are far superior to them that they need us to use AL just to get us closer to their level...Something like that? We'll keep working on it and will get it right soon. :l

Sooty, Davie, Cyn, Dill and all else. Have a good Friday, will be thinking of everyone, MM

[lilmea]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good Evening Everyone,

The last of my out of town company has left. It has been a long, hectic week so I intend to spend the week-end just resting. Popcorn is sounding really good right now. I think I will pop up some, get comfy and watch a movie.

I wish everyone a peaceful, af evening.

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good evening all! I never did get my exercise in, exept for loading the wood box!:H I guess we will get some snow tonight. I got the last of my Christmas shopping done after our luncheon today. Peace and strength.