Newbies Nest Roll Call

[ALpro]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

Dat, dat dat datta dat dat dat dahhhhhhh (trumpets signifying a big announcement)

Will Ginger please follow the Red Carpet to the throne?
It is with great plez-zha that we award this prize to Ging-ga.
:crowned:

90 days is huge! May your reign be long and happy!!!! Great job!!

PP

[KENSHO]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3

[allankay]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701

[rooniferd]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

Holy cow, AllanKay!! I remember when you just started this journey! You are such an inspiration!

:disco:

[RedJib]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

Roll Callers,
AllanKay continues to be on fire!!!
nfire:

Wow! 701! Did you ever think this would happen? Those first few days are so painfully slow, but then they just click by! We are so proud and happy for you! Here's to the next 701 and beyond!!!! Well done (fire joke).

PP

[Eloise]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)

[peppersnow]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)
Pepper - Day 133

[briseus]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)
Pepper - Day 133
Bri - 172 days

[peppersnow]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

Happy weekend, fellow Nesters! Am painting a bedroom and waiting for the first coat to dry, and thought I'd check in, as I was thinking about you all...this is the first time I've painted any room in my house while sober in about 15 years. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't look MUCH better than any of my previous paint jobs!

Does anyone remember reading, as kids, "The Tripods" series of books? These tripod machines came to earth and once a year, on capping day, would install caps on the heads of every 14 year old and their minds would become controlled by the aliens inside the tripods. These teenaged kids become part of the resistance movement, and in one of the books, they try to get caught, so they could become servants of these "Masters" (but really the kids were spies) which are aliens that look like green monsters. I remember this one scene where the Masters are either smoking or drinking some stuff and get high, and the boys notice that they get silly, lose their concentration, lose their sense of balance...and ultimately they take advantage of them later in the book when they're in this stoned/high state. I was about 12 years old when I read these books, and I distinctly remember wondering, why would anyone - human or monster -- want to get stoned/high like that? What could possibly be the draw? I remember asking my brother about that, too. What could possibly be fun about being so high you lose your ability to speak, move and function well?

Fast forward about 35 years, and needless to say I figured out the answer to that question a long time ago. Those books came into my mind last night, when I was at our family cabin and stopped by the bonfire to say hi to the relatives (our family owns an old resort so there are like 40 relatives around in the summer), and they were drinking, which is normal. Two of them were slurring pretty badly, and thought things were funny that were just stupid. It didn't bother me at all, but that same thought from when I was 10 popped into my head..."Why in the world would you want to put so much of that into your body so that you get drunk? And slur and act stupid? What in the world is the draw?"

Of course I get it - I know what the draw is for me, or what it used to be. But this stray thought from my 12 year old self passing through my mind was quietly thrilling. I'll hit 5 months AF in a few weeks and can honestly say that I have no desire for alcohol at all right now. I get occasional cravings from out of nowhere, but they're usually triggered by me doing something I used to do when drinking (like painting a room). But they're not bad cravings at all. And when I'm with people who are drinking, most of the time I totally don't want any. I get just a little bit bummed out when there's a special event and everyone is having a glass of fine wine to toast the occasion, and I wish I could drink normally. But then I say to myself, "You can't drink normally, so grow the f*** up and quit the pity party." And honestly when others are drinking, I don't care the vast majority of the time - I'm not missing out on anything other than my own destruction.

I just wanted to mention this for all of you who are in the first week and struggling. In my first few weeks, I never could have imagined that I'd eventually think drinking is stupid and have no desire to join in. In a few months, you're going to realize that the fear of what others think is ridiculous, and you're not going to believe that you ever could have worried about that. You're going to look back and realize that all those thoughts from this time early in your quit were thoughts controlled by an addicted brain that was screaming for it's fix, telling you lies about how you might hurt the feelings of your family members if you don't have just one glass of wine with them....or lose your friends...or not get the promotion because you're not drinking....those are LIES that your addicted brain is concocting. I used to read posts like this and think, "Yeah, but for me, it's different because..." Well, it's NOT different, for me or for any of you. Some folks might be bummed out to lose their drinking buddy, but they'll figure out a way to drink without you, I guarantee. Those who move onto other friends weren't your true friends to begin with. Regardless of their choices, you'll go to bed and wake up sober, in control and have your self-respect and dignity intact. And for me, that's been worth "missing" out on a few toasts. Have a great AF weekend, all!

[frances]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)
Pepper - Day 133
Bri - 172 days
Frances - Day 158

[Pavati]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)
Pepper - Day 133
Bri - 172 days
Frances - Day 158
Pavati - 8 Months! Way to go, Ginger! Hi, Everyone!

[daisy45]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

August 2nd 2014

Bran New Day - 26 Days
Londoner - 28 days
Pie - Day 23
Daevid - Day 13
Ginger - 90 days (Look at you guys racking up the days!! Way to go!!)
rooniferd - Day 13
AlPro - Day 29
Kensho - Day 3
AllanKay - Day 701
RedJib - Day 20
Eloise 77 ( good for you Allan Kay! Thanks for posting, your accomplishments gives me hope to really put drinking behind me!)
Pepper - Day 133
Bri - 172 days
Frances - Day 158
Pavati - 8 Months! Way to go, Ginger! Hi, Everyone!
Daisy - day 82

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest Roll Call

Roll Callers!
Pavati is checking in with 8 months too!!
:crazymonkey:

I bet you feel like a new person without that monkey on your back!!! Words cannot express how happy and proud we are of you. Your work in the NN is very much appreciated, there is no telling how many people you have pulled out of the pit with your kind and thoughtful posts. You took strength when you needed it, and you have certainly given it back. Keep up your fine work! Whatever you are doing is working!!! Great job!!!

PP