Fresh Start!!!!!

[Starfish1]

Fresh Start!!!!!

So proud for you, gardener! You sound great! Keep up the good work. You inspire me!

[Gardener]

Fresh Start!!!!!

That made me happy Starfish, all of you Daisies are inspiring to me.

[Kailey]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Hooray, it's the witching hour and I'm not the least bit tempted! Thankful for small mercies! It's really busy here today, so good to see everyone getting (or staying!) on track!

[Cocoflo]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Sounds like a bunch of us on day three - and in good spirits!

Gardner, I'm impressed. I need to get fall cleanup done by Saturday since we will be out of town next week. Hopefully that will keep me busy & distracted.

K9 - I hear ya on the sweaty, twisted sheets!!! Good to hear you are feeling better.

Good night all.

[scottish lass]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Hi all - hoped I could check in earlier today, but interviews and meetings kept me on the go. My usual commute is 75 miles each way, lots of time to think about buying wine. Also had a pretty intense conversation with my 15yo girl that I was not ready for this morning - and knew I needed to follow up this evening. Lots of great excuses to drink, and would usually have grabbed each one - but got home without wine! Had a tough discussion with aforementioned 15yo - and really want a drink now - but today is a week, so not going to blow it.....this time round anyway!
Well done to all hanging in - too selfish tonight to greet everyone individually - ready for bedtime so I can go and have a good long weep...
Quick PS - the depressive effect of wine is the biggest factor putting me off drinking just now - I was just chatting with another struggler who was taken aback as to how low she felt when she chose to drink the other night. My last couple slips left me so low, and I have enough to do that without any extra help!

[Kailey]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Congratulations, SL. Learning not to turn to alcohol when we feel vulnerable is huge! Having 7 days under your belt is fantastic. I'm sorry about whatever is going on with your daughter. I hope tomorrow brings a resolution for you.

I used to commute 75 miles each way myself for years. I remember at the time kind of enjoying it. A lot of time on my own to think and whatnot. It was a really pretty drive so that helped.

[Starfish1]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Daisies,

I am so impressed and inspired by each of you. S.L., I am so proud of your seven days. You are showing all of us to stand up to this beast in the face of all odds. You are showing so much strength.
I love all the positive attitudes here. Girls, I think we are on the right track.
You know, my husband was acting very grumpy this morning, and really sort of upset me. I could easily have decided that this would be a day to drink and drown my emotions, but I am looking at all of you and following your great example. Keep up the great work, loves!

[Gardener]

Fresh Start!!!!!

GM Daisies,

WTG SL on 7 days :goodjob:. Particularly while dealing with a 15 yr old daughter. Been there and it is tough. Long commute is a bear too, admire your strength in resisting, very well done.

SF, my hubby can tick me off from out of town, good for you not going for the drink, and you are so right, it is inspiring to have the support we have found here.

Coco, Kailey, Katty and K9, have a great day, look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Made my goals yesterday, setting new goal for the day, inspirational quote today, "Light tomorrow with today". Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Ps, read 13 pages from the toolbox last night, go to page 8, post by Eva, 3.27.10, and to page 13, post by Choochie 11.19.10, Holiday Parties. Very inspirational reading.

[NoSugar]

Fresh Start!!!!!

4thekids;1587912 wrote: Compounding matters is the fact that I have to go to a charity wine tasting for my daughter's school this wknd. No real way around it as I have been helping coordinate many aspects of it. I will really have to psyche myself up for this one!! Any advice from some long term abstainers would be appreciated. I will keep checking in and posting here but will need everyone's encouragement!

Hi, 4thekids.

Aren't you supposed to spit it out anyway :H?

Attending a wine-tasting is a tough thing to have to do so early in your quit but if there is no way to avoid it, perhaps set it up as a special challenge that once done, will give you extra courage and confidence for future wine-laden events.

Decide before you go that you will not participate. Keep a mint or lifesaver under your tongue to remind you. Plus, wine would taste awful on top of that.

Since you're one of the coordinators, think of yourself as one of the "designated drivers" for the event -- you'll be in great shape to handle any problems that come up.

Amuse yourself by listening to how people talk about the wine like it is some sort of rare and special elixir. Wine-talk really is a lot of BS.

Think about how if you can resist wine here, you can do it anywhere and anytime! After you've accomplished staying AF that night, you'll have less fear about upcoming events.

This could be very empowering!! :h NS

Edited to add this link about wine-tastings: Wine tasting is bullshit. Here's why. Just ignore the part at the end about having a beer instead!!

[Starfish1]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Gardener;1588252 wrote:



Ps, read 13 pages from the toolbox last night, go to page 8, post by Eva, 3.27.10, and to page 13, post by Choochie 11.19.10, Holiday Parties. Very inspirational reading.

Those are really good, Gardener! Thanks for suggesting them. I will definitely use these!

[K9Lover]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Hi Daisies!

WOW I felt so nauseated this morning...I think my antibiotic for my sinus infection caused it. I took it on an empty stomach. My co-worker gave me a protein bar and I feel much better now. I think I will take that pill at night from now on (if I take it at all...I don't even notice it working). Well...there's my complaint for the day (for now. LOL)

How is everyone doing? You all sound good. We are really doing this AF thing huh? It does get easier, I promise! Hang in there everyone.

I had another sweaty night in my sheets...I put new sheets on last night and they are the fuzzy kind, nice...but a little TOO warm! Plus I had to close the dog door because I saw a possum in my backyard and the last thing I need is that critter in the house trying to eat the dog food (I've had that happen before). So the dog was antsy all night and I'm sure there is a "suprise" for me somewhere in the house...but I'd rather pick up a mess than chase a possum around the house. LOL

[Dottie Belle]

Fresh Start!!!!!

K9 a possum got locked in our garage, also after the dog food and it was a real mess cleaning up possum poop...gloves were not enough....gag....
A raccoon too same deal..bleh....we left the garage door open a few inches for the stray cat we were feeding...what a mess...no good deed goes unpunished...

[K9Lover]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Yeah Dottie...I figured I'd rather pick up cocker spaniel poop than chase around a potentially rabid creature. I must say that I thought the possum was very cute and I felt bad that it was out in the rain. But I must draw the line somewhere. LOL

[4thekids]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Hi All: A number of us are now on to Day 4 which can be a witching day. So far so good for me. I have kept busy all day and just finished running which usually empowers me. Just need to get through dinner and the day is done. I will be on to the weekend.

As for the wine event, I have already offered to sit at the front and sell tickets. That should burn a good hour to hour and a half I figure. By then I am hoping that a few of my friends will already be into their wine...so they won't really pay any attention to what I am or am not drinking. It will be my little game. I intend to "lose my glass" a few times over the course of the night. Sometimes, Gardner, I find that too my explanations end up getting me tongue twisted. I am going to just try to be incredibly deceptive

How is everyone feeling this afternoon. Strong, tired, depressed, comfortable or dreading the evening?? I don't think we have any day drinkers on this thread, do we? If not...it is the evening that triggers the AL for us. Stay strong and post away....

[Starfish1]

Fresh Start!!!!!

Hi 4,
You sound really good. I love your plan for avoiding the wine tasting during the charity event. That's brilliant! Good luck. I bet you will be amused (sort of) watching all the others' behavior go downhill as they drink more and more of that wine.

Dottie and K9, I am an animal lover too! Have been feeding a couple of extra stray cats for a couple months now and really want to bring them inside now that the weather is getting cold. Gee, now y'all have me wondering what else I feed every night. I know we have racoons, 'possums and armadillos in our neighborhood...not to mention deer....I'm likely to have a whole zoo out there every night and not even realize it!