Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

[Sunbeam]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hi all,
Pretty quiet here today. I mostly cleaned, went out to get some deer protective netting over my shrubs, then cooked two butternut squash from my garden, which had bee stored out in the garage. Yum!

Zed, is your family anywhere near the attacks in Mumbai? I just heard 87 dead, 185 wounded, many tourists still being held hostage in this terrorist attack.

On the eve of our national holiday of gratitude, I give thanks for all of you, and all we have collectively accomplished in our battle against alcohol.

[j-vo]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hey modders,
Well, it's Turkey Eve, and a little vacation ahead of me. I really look forward to the weekends and little vaca. like never before. I used to waste my time away drinking, feeling like total shit the next day, wasting away the day, but now what I'm looking forward to this break is rest and family time. It feels so wonderful and warm. It's amazing what a little catch up rest can do for one!

I was reading some other threads last night - one about easily brusing. I used to have that problem. It was kinda scary reading about it and its relation to the liver. I knew when I was drinking that it was related, but I need to remember those kinds of things in my sobriety. My FIL died of liver cancer and had cirrrohsis of the liver. He was in and out of the hospital for many years. It's a condition that will creep up on anyone. So let's be good to our livers!

Deebs - yes, the school year is quite different for us. We start the school year at the end of August and go until the beginning of June. Off June, July, and August, our summer months. Although we have off in the summertime, the year seems like it'll never end around the end of January! I have off in the summer as well, since I teach, so it's an excellent job perk! We do have off 5 days at Thanksgiving then Christmas week until after the first of the year. So we have built in shorter vacations, so I won't complain, especially if any anti-teachers are lurking around.... Someone's always bitching about "us teachers" and the easy jobs we've got because we have more time off. Oh well. We make less money too!!! These days, it's not about transferring content from me to the children. It's a little of that, and being a mother, father, counselor, and behavior therapist! I work with lots of children that come from low-income families and difficult environments, so it ain't easy, regardless of the time we have off.

Zed, I feel your energy! I was reading about terror attacks in Mumbai. That sounds pretty awful. Is that close to where you grew up or where your parents and family live? Is everyone ok?

Eve, wherever you are, I hope you're ok.

Peri - I never want to go back to that dark place we all were in. Never want to go back to the hangovers. I even want to learn to take my modding to a new and different level. I'll be revisiting my goals in the next few days to see how I needto make some changes. I'm glad to hear you're doing so well.

Let's see - Vlad, Deebs, Zed, Eve, Sun, Vera, One2many, ducky, Peri, St. John, Lila, Starting, and Limers - have a super day!

[periwinkle]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hi everyone,

I am saddened to see what a scary and violent world we live in. I hope that our friends and family members on the squad here are all safe. Zed, please let us know about your family when you can.

*********
On the lighter side of life. I am also taking the 4-day holiday weekend off. Days off are rare for me so I am really looking forward to it. I will still be checking in here though. Hubby got the pies made today... two pumpkin (for him and tradition) and a mixed berry for me yummy. I still need to tidy up the house a bit so that tomorrow I can relax.

Ducky, I love pecan pie. I tried to make it once. Did something terribly wrong though because it didn't stiffen up. It wasn't runny, but just not gelled up like it should be. I never tried it again after that. Sounds great though.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Whether you live here or somewhere else... be thankful. And eat pie.

periwinkle :lilflower:

[Sarasmiles]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hi Modders,

So, I haven't been posting here, because every time I look at this thread I feel a little overwhelmed...There seem to be so many people, who know so much about each other. I feel like I'm at a party where I don't know anyone...Where's the wine? (LOL)

Nevertheless, you seem like a great group, and I'd like to ease my way in if I can. To that end, I've decided not to try and get caught up on everyone and figure out who everyone is all at once, but just to say hello. I started a parenting thread, so if that takes off, maybe I'll see some of you there.

I've been thinking about having a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner, and I imagine I will. But if I feel stressed out about things, I need to abstain. I need to avoid ever drinking for the purpose of overcoming tension or anxiety. As we all know, it only makes those problems worse in the long run. So , if I feel at ease and cheerful as we sit down to the dinner I've prepared tomorrow night, I will enjoy one glass of wine. If I'm still in good spirits after dinner, perhaps I'll have a second by the fire. But that is all. And if I'm tense and crabby and the turkey looks dry or the gravy is lumpy...I will stick to seltzer and cranberry. So that's my plan, and I'm stickin' to it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...Sara

[Delta Moon]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

I received a pm from Eve that she wants me to let you know - she and hubby last minute changed plans and flew to Bali so she out of harms way in Bangkok..
Blessings
ST.J

[zed]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hi there all.

St. John, thanks for the update from Eve, that's good to know. Yes I think both of Bangkok's airports are out of action for the time-being (due to sit-ins) so it'd be taking a big chance to fly in/ out of there for now. I have a friend whose dad is stuck at the airport as I write this.

The Middle Kingdom - that is the classical name of China. "Zhonghuo" pronounced "Jung-guo" is what the Chinese call China (China in Chinese..), which literally means, the Middle Kingdom. This name comes from Chinese classical, ancient texts.. and is based on that fact that the Chinese (Han) people thought of themselves as sandwiched between the 'northerners', i.e. the Mongols (Genghis Khan and his folks) who used to invade from the north (and the reason the Great Wall of China was built..), and the southern countries, Vietnam and beyond... So they were the "Middle Kingdom." St. John, I live and work in Beijing these days, therefore that's what my location says... ok now you're up to speed!

Thanks Sun, Peri and everyone else who asked about my family. Actually yes, I am from Bombay (Mumbai), my hometown, where I was born and grew up.... so it is home. And most of my family and friends are there. Last night was not pleasant, watching the news on TV and getting text messages from friends in Mumbai through the night... it's an alarming situation... and it's still not over. As I write this there are hostages holed up in certain locations... it's still VERY tense.

All the places where the attacks have taken place are old, familiar haunts of mine. The Taj Hotel.. I know it like the back of my hand. The Oberoi hotel... the Railway Station... spent hours and days of time at all these places... one of the attacks too place right next to my High School... not even 200 meters away. So it's a bit surreal...

Anyway the good news is that it seems that everyone I know is safe and fine.

Take care all. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate. We all have a lot to be thankful for, that's for damn sure.

Bye for now. Zed

[Lila]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

hi everyone
My goodness! Things are so shocking and sad, all that is going on in India and Thailand. I am very glad that Eve is not stuck in any drama.
Thank you all so much for your kind and understanding words. I have not had much time to be online, a few 'stolen moments', ha ha! I guess I was just 'in my stuff' - and maybe stilll am a little. But doing better. Sitting in front of a lightbox every morning helps, and yesterday I took a long walk so that was good too.
Zed, yes, I saw the headlines last night on Yahoo. I don't know what to say. I just hope things settle down. Take care.
Peri, I LOVE pecan pie, maybe I will try to make one sometime. So you were raised in a critical environment? Thanks for sharing that. It is nice not to be around that, and when I am around family - well, I am glad I am all grown up now and not around it!
Hi Ducky and Gettting Better - glad you are here. Sara, I know it is intimidating, and there is a list of people and all. Just jump in and check in with us. Say anything! For me it can be a bit intimidating if I just have a few seconds and feel like there are pages to catch up on, but you don't have to do that if you don't want to.
J-vo, I REALLY admire teachers. Classrooms are so crowded and chaotic sometimes, and then there are those parents I sometimes see on Meet THe Teacher night...well, my kids have always had wonderful teachers, and I have really grown to appreciate them a lot.
St John, are you liking Yoga? I have thought of doing that, and still may. THanks for the update on Eve.
Sunbeam, I too am thankful for this group! I have missed you all over these last few days. I am especially grateful for the encouragement and helpful words when I am in a bad place.
Ah! Time for my second cup of coffee. Happy Thanksgiving all!
Lila

[startingover]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Hi All, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today.
Have a wonderful time x

[DeeBee]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We have so much to be grateful for and tonight my little family will be celbrating Thanksgiving SA style -- boerewors on the braai lol!

There is a huge storm brewing and strong winds and hail is predicted AGAIN so I'm going to unplug everything soon so as not to get zapped by the lightening.

Zed, special thoughts to you and your family -- I hope that everyone is safe and this madness ends soon.

I am so pleased to hear that Eve is safe and in Bali -- I'm doubly green with envy now:-)

Have a great Thanksgiving all!

[vlad]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Boerewors on the braai???

Shto?

Ya ne panimayu.

[DeeBee]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Damn Oney, That is one HUGE turkey!
BTW I Lurve what you've done with your hair :H

[DeeBee]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

vlad;478925 wrote: Boerewors on the braai???
.

A bit like your sausage on the barbeque?!

[ducky]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

Great pix One! Glad to hear your friends and family are safe Zed and hope that continues to be the case. So sad. Lila, sounds as though you are doing better. Enjoy your company. DeeBee, please explain! Hi Vlad and the rest of the modders. Off to start cooking all the Thanksgiving food. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Getting better, just jump in!

[DeeBee]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

What you wanna know Ducky?
My boerewors?? or boerie as it's fondly called here. It's really just one big fat sausage with lots of yummy spices and best cooked on the braai (or barbeque/fire) lovely stuff I tell you.

[zed]

Mod Squad Weekly Thread 24th Nov

So Modders, I'm going to not talk about what's been going on in my head, coz it's not good. Generally in shock I think. Quite numb right now. But by the Grace of the Universe, my family is well.

So, that's the last from me on the topic... Moving on.

I just updated my Drink Tracker, and pretty fricking proud to see that, coming to the end of Month 1, I have already done 20 AF days! That's a first since I was... 17?

Bloody hell. Anyway, still a couple of days to go. Def AF today and tomorrow.. Friday, let's see. And then Sat I have a big dinner party with a bunch of friends, so I won't be AF, but I must stay respectable, so I think it'll be a 2-3 drink Max night. And then Sunday & Monday are designated AF days, bringing me around to Month 2...

Pretty fricking happy about that. Month 2... well... lots of travel... Would like to do another 20 AF days at least. That would be nice. Might...or might not, be possible. Everything these days, is touch & go. Let's see what happens.

In any case, I feel mostly in control... except for all those times when I mostly do not. LOL!

Cheers kids.