December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

[redhibiscus]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Yesterday I shopped till I dropped. A friend and I drove to a little town during a time of snow and went browsing into all kinds of shops. There are alot of Amish in their buggies, so it was so pretty, snow, clopping of horses, Christmas music, food samples, and a perfect day. Then a nice lunch in a restaurant converted from an old 19th century house, again decorated for the holidays.

Then home, meeting up with hubby to go to the mall and buy each other gifts - another three hours. I was so tired last night, soup and sandwiches when we came home. Today, wrapping, food buying, and more shopping. Truly, Christmas is stressful. I am trying to have a positive attitude, but I don't like to shop anyway, and this marathon shopping is over the top. Still, I am thankful that I have the money and time to get my loved ones gifts. And, my husband is always so helpful, he likes to shop and wrap. I am lucky.

Lavande, congratulations on your lifechanging sobriety. YOu are amazing. I wish I was doing as well.

Dill, it is so humbling to see your children possibly following your path. My daughter is so wonderful, but for a time, had a boyfriend who was alcoholic, and she followed his lead, having the genetic piece and the parents who had partied her whole life. She and I discuss moderate drinking, and she is now with someone who hates drunkeness and will not have it. I am now concerned with my son, and have begun discussion with him about being careful, etc. I am happy your son made it back safely from Iraq.

Greetings to lilmea, sooty, SD, MM, and all our DD members. Enjoy the snow and warm up with a cup of something hot and AF.

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Lil, thanks for the song! I'm listening as I type. Lovely. We got the same weather here in Ohio as you did. In fact most of what we got melted because our temp got up to 40 at one point yesterday!

Red, It is important to have those talks with our kids. I warned them each several years ago that alcoholism runs in my family and that they need to be careful. However, that is easy to say and hard to do...For now, I think each of my kids are in a good place and doing OK as far as alc is concerned. Fingers crossed.

Lav, I hope you are getting dug out and that the snow has stopped. I also hope you don't have a power outage!

My day will be cleaning, getting ready for my family coming in, wrapping presents, etc. I don't think I'll step foot out of the house today unless it is to take walk in the woods.

Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water's calm.
--Malaysian Proverb

Be vigilant!

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Morning all - thanks for the song, Lil! I continued on down the list and found 'Baby it's cold outside', one of my all-time favorites...No, we get no snow here in the desert - you might be surprised at how much you would miss it around the holidays...
Lav - hope you didn't have to cook for your Bday!
MM - good luck today with your party - you can do it -
LBH - one of my favorite quotes about the winter sun is that it is like "a man shaking your hand whose mind is on other things". Good luck to kitty finding the beam...
Wishing all a terrific AF Sunday - will check in later. I'm off to wrap packages at a Borders Bookstore for my animal rescue charity; I'm taking the dogs - they will be stars!

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Cross post, Dill and Red! Dill - I echo MM and all who have said thanks to your son for his service, and best of luck for his future. Thanks for the 'be vigilant' - a great reminder.

Red - for the last few years we have opted out of the 'shopping' scene. We give our holiday money to several charities in the name of the whole family. Then I get a ton of 'gag' gifts to fill stockings with so that we have a big laugh when it comes time for presents. We do bigger gifts for Birthdays throughout the year so people don't feel cheated! Your story of the little town and the Amish sounded great, though - take care of yourslef today, you sound worn out!

Okay, I really have to go now! Bye!

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good morning all!

It stopped snowing & the sun is out - yay! I think we ended up with about 17" of snow - enough!

Nice song Lil, thanks!

Red, you sound very good, I'm happy for you! Talking to our kids is difficult but important, how could we not be sure they understand the possibilities. I'm pretty sure my kids are OK too.

No power outages so far Dill! We have our trusty generator just in case..........
I'm going to be a total weenie about shoveling snow from now on. I've been very concerned about lifting a lot of weight, falling or doing anything that could possibly cause a fracture. The Dexa Scan I had done recently showed a 30% boine loss in my lumber vertebrae - significant!!!! Don't want to end up on the disabled list.........

Wishing everyone a terrific AF Sunday! My determination is as strong as ever

Lav

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Hi cyn - cross post!
Had a pizza birthday dinner

[sooty]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Hi everyone - hope you're all coping in the snow. Its cold here too but no snow altho some parts of the country have some.
I'm out tonight with 2 girl friends so may not get back on here - I'm doing ok, wishing christmas had come and gone (bah humbug).
Going food shopping in the morning and that's it then.
Every year I vow that I will volunteer at a day centre for the elderly or homeless and never get it organised - this is going to be my resolution for next year.
Have a really good sunday everyone I'm so glad you're all out there.
See you tomorrow
love Sooty

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Hey Soots, Did you know anyone that got stuck in the Chunnel the other day? That was an absolute nightmare!!!! It sounds like they were down there for hours with no light or food or heat. I don't think I'd ever be able to set foot back on one of those trains after something like that. Yiiikes!

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Evening friends,

Frosty & chilly here for sure! I'm parked right in front of the fireplace

Dill, I've been on several trains in Europe but never the Chunnel train. It would freak me out to be stuck in there like those poor people.....think I'm a bit too claustrophobic! I had great experiences on trains in France & Germany. You have to be a bit open-minded when a passenger gets on a train in Germany & you find yourself sitting next to his Dog!!!

I hear the roads are in pretty good shape - I'd love to get out for a few hours tomorrow. Don't want to end up cooped up like the hens......poor girls.

Wishing everyone a warm & cozy night!

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Long, long day today for me, and tomorrow I have a work assignment out of town so it is a 5am alarm. I am so glad that I have been making it through without drinking; this time of year throws so many emotions and memories around and while sometimes I grow weary of being persistently, almost tediously, aware and present, I do not want to live in the dark and private doom of addiction. So I won?t . I?ll catch up with each of you on Tuesday but will stop by tomorrow for greetings. Keep your feet dry and warm. Love, Ladybird.

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good Night, (morning) to all - I have been doing some reading on the Winter Solstice (tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on where you are in the world). I love the thoughts associated with tis time, that we are seeing the shift from the dark to the light, that we can be present through the longest night, and tomorrow will see the growth of a new, lighter world. That's really what we're doing here, isn't it, building the light up in ourselves to show us the path to freedom...so I wish one and all a wonderful night, and will greet you tomorrow with the strengthening light. I lift a glass of tea to toast our New Creations - ourselves, AF.:l

[redhibiscus]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good morning. I was again so busy yesterday that I did not get a chance to check in. I am on track for all my Christmas plans, so all the hard work was worth it.

I was touched that so many commented about talking to their children about problem drinking. I feel that our generation is more open about it, to an extent, and that will be helpful for all involved. Part of the way we continue to drink to excess is isolation and secrecy. Get it out in the open, and there is a greater chance that if a problem starts, it can be addressed at an earlier stage.

Hope everyone has a great AF day. This is the week with the temptations more often and almost to be expected. Kind of worried about Christmas Eve. We have plans to go to midnight mass so to drink is out of the question. I would never be able to stay up. I have lots of pop, nonalcohol fizzy juice, and lots of food. Lots of food. I will probably have to wear jogging pants next week, till I can eat normally again. I am just kidding, I will be watching it very carefully. The alcohol is my concern, not the food. What are others plans this week to stay AF? Asking for suggestions.:thanks:

[lilmea]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good Monday Morning DD's.

Red-You day of shopping and then lunch at a 19th century house sounded nice. although I am with on not liking to shop much and do as much of mine on line as possible.

Cyn-How many dogs and what kind do you have? Our animal shelter moved last summer so the address I found for ours is the old one. I plan on checking it out as soon as the holidays are over.

Sooty-How cold does it get where you live? I get cold air from the Great Lakes but I don't imagine it's as cold as air from Russia.

Dill-It's nice you will be having your whole family together for Christmas. It's been a long time since I've had both my girls home for the holidays. It's very hard when children live so far away.

LHB-"I don't want to live in the dark and private doom of addiction. So I won't" This will be my first sober Christmas in many years. Isn't it great to be out of the dark and living in the light?

Lav-Did you manage to make a path to the hen house? How much snow did you get? We only got a couple of inches. Just enough to have a White Christmas.

Hello to all the other Determinators to follow.

As soon as I got back from the funeral, my Mother asked me to do her Christmas shopping for her so I guess I will be doing a little of Red's 'marathon' shopping today. (sigh) I am glad that I can do it for her though. She looks forward to Christmas so much.

Everyone have a safe and AF day.

[lilmea]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

Good morning Red-cross post!

[Chillgirl]

December Determination ~ AF ~Week 3

I have been doing some reading on the Winter Solstice (tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on where you are in the world). I love the thoughts associated with tis time, that we are seeing the shift from the dark to the light, that we can be present through the longest night, and tomorrow will see the growth of a new, lighter world. That's really what we're doing here, isn't it, building the light up in ourselves to show us the path to freedom...so I wish one and all a wonderful night, and will greet you tomorrow with the strengthening light. I lift a glass of tea to toast our New Creations - ourselves

Thank you for these beautiful words!
I look forward to that lighter world.....