October Mod Squad

[crocus]

October Mod Squad

Hi Everyone.
Checking in here. Trying to get in the right place to chat with everyone. I had been in Mod Hatters, but then Noname girl invited me here, and I hope I can get back here again without it taking me an hour! Anyone see my post? Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome. I want to learn how to do the chat, so that when I'm up so late I will be with a pal instead of with my glass.

[nonamegirl]

October Mod Squad

HI, crocus! Welcome! I love your name... crocuses are the first little hint that spring might be coming, sometimes poking through the snow here in Montana. Long time until that happens again but now I am enjoying the early dark, my candles and fireplace and such.

I just went to DrinkTracker and saw that both EmmyLou and TMH are posting there, so I guess if you two can be brave, so can I. I really need to get back on the modding program. My husband's new job has me in a tizzy. BUT, with your support, I am happy to be taking that step in the right direction.

Love you all!:h

[Emmy Lou]

October Mod Squad

I don't know why but the drink tracker really has me hooked. Perhaps because it's incentive. A couple of times I planned an AF night, then got the urge to hop out and get something from the bottle shop, then I thought about how good I'd feel putting another zero up on the tracker.
Also, if my work is out of control, I get to bed really late, like tonight. It's too hard to navigate threads and to try and write something but if I record my drinks, I feel like I've at least done something positive.
Go for it NNG!
X
Em

[nonamegirl]

October Mod Squad

Thanks, Emmy Lou! Here it goes ... feel free to check on me, everyone.
Have a super Friday, everyone. When I was working at a job that I hated, I used to call Thursday "Friday Eve" as in Christmas Eve.... just to make it seem like the weekend was coming soon.

[crocus]

October Mod Squad

Friday Eve

Dear Noname and That's funny! I always do that "Friday eve" thing too.

So, yesterday was a happy AF day for me. Busy, long walk in the fall sunshine, and slept well. Now, it's Friday eve, and I had a good day at work. On my way home I decided to have some ' some wine tonight. I had two glasses. One before, and one with my dinner. I did NOT drink any more once I was finished eating. That has long been a bad habit for me, and I am trying to break it. So, I'm going to bed to read, and hope to sleep well.

ToMyHealth, I see a few pals on Friday mornings at the Dunkin Donuts, since we all go to an early church service on that day. I love my religious conversations with them because they help me to focus on what's important. Maybe like your Bible study group. They are all tea-totalers though and I often start thinking I must be the only one in church on Sunday who has ever had too much to drink. I know that's unrealistic, I'm Irish Catholic, and 75% of the parish is Irish too), but I think maybe our coffee hour serves to keep me more moderate with how much I drink. It's not guilt, but rather, a sort of increasing awareness.

Here comes the weekend. Hoping we all do well.

[nonamegirl]

October Mod Squad

Hiya, Crocus, Emmy Lou, TMH, Lasha, Stewarts, Eve and everyone else who is checking in once in awhile!

Happy Friday and happy weekend.

I spent a lovely day yesterday finishing the first stage of my downstairs remodel plan... as you know one corner at a time. I LOVE the color, and can't wait for the paint to dry enough to start moving stuff in to the new space. And then, after the work was over, I celebrated by having a big glass of diet tonic. Hurray!

Today I am going to our local Festival of the Book, which is a big deal in this mountain town that seems to breed national authors. I am very excited about it, and look forward to the walk back home in the autumn leaves and lowering light of late afternoon.

Unfortunately, my husband has to work until 8:30 tonight. Fridays have always been our "date night" with candles, good music, and such.... I kind of hate his new job. I am not, however, going to voice my frustration by drinking. Just what that sweet guy doesn't need is to come home after a long stressful day to find me in the bag.

I love coming here to you all. I am so grateful for your support and your kind words and your friendship. Have a lovely weekend!

[Stewarts]

October Mod Squad

NNG, you too...you too and I agree...the support is great. I know I have no one to talk to about this stuff. The only one in my office I can talk to about it is a colleague who's full blown AA...and that doesn't help me...we don't have those types of issues, but they always try and turn it around, even if it's subtle that you do.

I have four weeks until the NYC marathon. After that, I have a lot of life thinking to do...hope all is well, and NNG don't get in the bag before your hubby gets home, I'm sure you'll find things to do when he gets back... :-)


j.

[nonamegirl]

October Mod Squad

A lovely Saturday!

Hey, all.
Well, happily, my husband's schedule changed and he was able to come home at 6:30 instead of 8:30.... so, I had a nice dinner ready, and because of his VERY stressful day, we had a drink before hand. I had a second glass of wine after dinner, and that's all for the night. It was a very good evening.

And the walk home from the bookfest was just as I had hoped. I had heard such good poetry, gotten such good books, that I walked most of the way home with my face in a book, choosing first one book, then the other. Ahhh.... a lovely fall day.

I have a 5k race this morning, happy to be doing it without a wine-head. Then more book festival in the afternoon. And then, hurray! Evening with my guy. He is so frustrated with this new job that it may not last long. Retirement may be closer than he thinks!:h

Have a great weekend, all.
(Stewarts, always glad to read your news. You are much in my thoughts getting ready for the NYC Marathon.... such excitement!)

[Texas40]

October Mod Squad

Happy Saturday all! I am waking up refreshed today after having my first AF Friday in who knows how long! Something has definitely changed in me....I know it has only been a few months that I have been going AF during the week, but it really has become a new normal. With my husband out of town, it was actually easy for me to enjoy a weekend night with no beer. Took my kids out to dinner and came home and watched a movie with them. Great night. I used to use my husband being away as an excuse to really tear one on....usually by myself. Actually, I think I used every excuse in the world to have a six pack!

Friday Eve! I have used that too! And Sunday Funday! Anything to make the weekend longer!

NNG...you did great last night! We should not beat ourselves up every time we decide to have a drink....especially when we keep them within normal limits like you did with your husband last night!

So great to have people to talk to about this. Most people in my life think I am crazy when I talk about moderating my drinking....I think most people in my life think I drink moderately (compared to them!). I don't think I would have ever made this much progress without reading this board! So thankful to all of you here!

Hope you ALL have a GREAT weekend!

[crocus]

October Mod Squad

Happy Saturday, NN and Stewarts! I too had a very good Friday. I split a bottle of red with my husband before dinner, and while we ate. I tried something new that worked. I knew we would be watching a movie which often gets me to drink more than I want over the hours of dinner and movie. So I out the red that I wanted to have into a container and mixed up a batch of sangria with cider, juice, fizzy water, and lemon. It was a warm evening here, and I had gone to church in the morning, worked a while, and finished a 3 mile walk with my ipod. If I had had a beer, I worry that I would have had 5, but the sangria was perfect. Lasted through the evening, tasted great, and gave me just the relaxed, cheerful mood I wanted. Slept well, and am going about my beautiful Saturday with...as you say...no wine head.

I hope all goes well for everyone. I think I need to spend a bit more time on staying AWARE. I have a party personality, and it sometimes causes me to throw caution to the wind. My son gets married next Saturday - weddings are never a problem for me...I'm having too much fun!...All three of my kids got married this year. One more to go. Can't wait.

Happy Saturday! I think I will do the sangria tonight; no hard stuff, and no opening a second bottle of anything!

[crocus]

October Mod Squad

Texas and NN

I agree! No beating up! It does NOT help. Notice how we only do that to ourselves? Better is ALWAYS better.
I seem moderate to many of my pals too. But I know the truth. I have to watch it if I don't want to have to quit entirely. NN, Texas, and Stewarts, we seem in similar places. My social life (thin though it is) is the only area of my life in which I am not a type A planner becaase I'm always afraid I'm going to screw something up big time. I think my drinking habits have been my release from that aspect of myself. My kids are all grown and doing well. Youngest is 30. They are fantastic, and all adore me and each other. So I must have done something right. If I do say so, I was born to be a Mom (I taught high school before I taught college), and empty nest was pretty hard for me. I drank too much!!!!!

Better, however, is ALWAYS better, and I am much happier now. My husband, a two time stage 4 cancer survivor, was home for a year (twice!) on a feeding tube and morphine, and he too deserves better than a wife who is in the bag.

We all walk that lonesome valley one way or another. As the song goes.."Ain't nobody here, can walk it for you; You got to walk that lonesome valley all by yourself. SO...love to all of you! Go get 'em!

[Texas40]

October Mod Squad

I love that! Better is always better! I know I am nowhere near what I used to be. So much of what I did was so much out of habit....same thing with smoking. I quit smoking in July and it seems so ridiculous to me now that I used to go outside in the Texas heat in the middle of the summer to smoke....and get eaten alive by mosquitoes! I never thought I would be able to break that habit, but three months later I do not even think about it anymore!

I am not ready to give up my beer completely though. I figure if I allow myself to have some beers two nights a week than I am not doing too bad. Better than what I was doing 7 nights a week! We should all feel proud that we have recognized we needed to make changes and WE ARE!!!

Happy modding all!

[crocus]

October Mod Squad

Good Morning All.
I'm here on Monday morning assessing the weekend. I'm a little disappointed in myself because I drifted off my plan. Patriots football here yesterday, with the "Tailgating" starting around noon. Everyone was drinking bloody Marys, but I didn't have one, and just enjoyed cooking and having my two newly wed kids over. I sipped on my red wine, and between then and 8p.m. my husband and I finished off a bottle and 3/4. I didn't become drunk or anything, but I did drink more than I had wanted to. I awoke in the night feeling very guilty. I broke one of my rules. I kept drinking after I was finished eating. That is what gets me. I broke my new rule. It's Monday, so that is always an AF day for me. I'll regroup.
I realize that the actual amount I drank over those 8 hours is not that bad, but I broke the rule that had been working and keeping me happy and well. I started feeling caught up in the festivities and began to feel entitled! Not good, that entitled thing. On the other hand, I did NOT go open a beer after everyone left. I did go right to bed like a normal person. SO...two steps forward, one step back is still better than no steps forward.

Well, going forward into a new week with fresh chances to be better. Going to say my prayers, and include you all in them, do my work, go for a walk, and thank the good Lord for all my blessings. Wishing you all a great day.

P.S Tom Brady threw the winning TD in the last 5 seconds. What a game!

[ToMyHealth]

October Mod Squad

Hey, Crocus, I am having your same sentiments this Mon a.m. Drank every night during weekend. Played golf both Sat & Sun & did not drink during day. Went out to dinner with friends Fri nite. Met in bar, we all ordered 1. Then at dinner dh & I shared a carafe (2 gl each). Everyone else either ordered 1 more drink or a beer or glass of wine. We ended up sipping wine after having finished our dinner. Seemed unnecessary.

I don't feel hungover, but do not feel energetic either. When I don't drink I feel tired because I don't sleep well and know that would eventually turn around. When I drink I sleep like a log but still feel constantly tired. Vicious circle.

Texas- great job on AF during week & esp Friday. You can be proud!

How did everyone else do over weekend? Or should we concentrate on making this a better day, a better week.

TMH

[nonamegirl]

October Mod Squad

Hey, All, and Happy Monday!
Crocus, I also love your saying "Better is always better." And yes, two steps forward one step back is still progress in the right direction. (Is there progress in the wrong direction? Guess not - sorry.) I also disappointed myself last night. I had my glass and a half of wine while my husband had his one glass of scotch. But I wanted more, and there was no more wine, so I had a hit off his scotch. Dang! I hate it when I do that... and obviously it is the alcohol that makes it seem as if that is an option. If I was listening to my good-decision-making brain, I wouldn't do that. IF I want to keep moderating, and I do, this is a habit that I really have to break. I am going to lean on all of you to get that goal accomplished.

Texas, congratulations on giving up smoking! That is a really big accomplishment! :goodjob: We need to really pat ourselves on the back for the steps we have made, not beat ourselves up, just as you say. I am so proud of you for kicking that habit! Woohoo!

Crocus, really? Three weddings in one year? Wow! That is a lot to accomplish, too. How marvelous for you! Though I am not a mother, I can appreciate your statement about how being a teacher kind of mimics motherhood. And your statement about how your drinking is your release from your type-A personality hits home, too. I have looked for some other way to get that "Whew! I really deserve to relax! Happy Friday!" kind of feeling, and so far nothing else really does it.

But I am delaying my first glass, won't drink alone anymore, and trying - though not always succeeding - to keep it to just two glasses of wine.

Step by step in the right direction.

My 5k race was lots of fun, though very cold. It was a lovely Saturday but an even better Sunday, since my husband was home and we did chores together. Love that!

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone, and a great week. You are marvelous!:l:h:l