BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Well, another summer's day here - thunder & lightning and lashing rain! Bits of sunshine, then another quick cloudburst. I keep getting soaked! Must dig out an umbrella...

Hannah: I hope your challenging week is going OK (even fun!). You sound very strong, but it IS tough being around big boozers, especially if they keep trying to get you to drink too. (The cheerleaders are with you in spirit, back from their mini vacation!)

Pamina: I couldn't believe yesterday was the three-year anniversary of the bombings. It still seems so recent. A very surreal day, as you say.

Teardrop: nice pix of your son!

Louise: I hate those cheap deals on booze! One bar I used to drink in had a list of spirits that they'd made up tongue-twister names for, and if you were (still) capable of saying the name you could carry on having three shots for the price of one. The only name I remember (wonder why??) is "rumbustious rum". So if you could ask for a "rumbustious rum" without slurring so badly that the bartender couldn't understand you, you could have more!! Crazy.

Have a great BOOZE BUSTIN day all!

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG: cross posting. Good news that your dad's more stable. That must be a big relief for you and your mum.
Yep, I think you're right about the booze health issues - but I've gotta get back to work! Back later

[Cinders]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG and all BBers to come,

OK - now an effort to bring things back on topic in fairness to all Booze Busters. I was thinking during my drive time yesterday that so often we recovering alchies tend to think selfishly, and in a short sighted way. We want a fix of alcohol, and we're pouty sometimes when we can't have it. We spend time being angry because we "can't drink." We spend tons of time contemplating every little thing there is to contemplate surrounding drinking. The one monumental thing that I don't think we post enough about is the horrifying health risks associated with years of heavy drinking. I know the subject comes up sometimes. There was a thread recently where a new poster talked about having pain and being scared about liver problems. We've read posts from our friend Janice whose mother suffered bad health consequences following years of excessive drinking.

But somehow I think, on average and in general as a community, we're not scared enough about those health consequences happening to us. At least I don't think I'm scared enough. Of course I had drinking thoughts yesterday with the unexpected stress. I'm sad that somehow in my brain, AL was seen by my "thoughts" as something positive - a way to relax and ease the stress, etc. rather than something that is poison, and could put me right in the same bad place that my Dad is in - in the hospital suffering horribly. (my Dad's problems are not AL related - in fact it seems unfair as he has led an active and healthy life from what I can tell...but the AL highway leads to the same hospital)

First off, I want to say that DG has hit upon two incredibly important topics for us alkies.

1. Selfishness. While actively drinking, we are some of the most incredibly selfish people in the world. Our whole existence revolves around when we can drink, how much can we drink, where will we get our next drink. Not doing anything useful like paying the bills, taking care of our family, cooking meals, etc. Just, when is the next drink, d@mn it!! At least that is the case for me. It is a horrible way to lead our lives. It leads to our guilt and shame and remorse, that of course, makes us want to drink even more.

Breaking out of that cycle is amazing. And then, yes, we are selfish because we know we must work at being sober over everything else. If we don't, we won't be sober and we are back at square one. However, there is a slight difference. We do have time to think about the other things, and do the other things and actually LIVE life. It is so much better.

2. Health awareness. I have seen it in my daughter and I saw it on a thread yesterday. Denial. My daughter was so sick she lost 20+ lbs (on a very small frame) and was brusing, losing hair (even had a couple bald patches) but still was drinking. Broke this mama's heart just to watch. Now that she is sober, her hair is coming back in force, her skin is beautiful again, her eyes are bright and clear. She has regain 10 lbs.

All the while, she kept saying it wasn't "fair." Others drank as much as she did and didn't get sick.

Nope. Life is not fair. That we know for sure.

Alcohol destroys our health. It is insidious because when we take those first couple of drinks, we feel immediately better. Better than at any other time. It is a lie. A horrid, evil lie. That 20 minutes of feeling really good leads to a lifetime of disease.

I am with you, DG, every bottle should have the skull and cross bones on it.

Love,
Cindi

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Cindi, your description of the selfishness we display is well put - you should copyright that and we need to make it a sticky.

I know you have mentioned your daughters drinking problems, but I somehow missed those very bad symptoms you described. (please accept my apologies!) I am very glad to hear she is on the mend. I hope this situations scared her sober for good.

Here's to putting more effort into seeing alcohol - always - as the poison it is.

DG

[happydog]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Hi Again to All Booze Busters,

I have to agree very well said cindi on selfishness so true. DG I'm glad to hear that your dad is stable. The british weather is not looking to good here, i wish we could have some sun. DG i dont get nervous but i do worry about my son going out even if he goes to the market your not safe no more, youths carrying knifes or guns with them. I cant wrap him up in cotton wool.(his growing his wings)
Why is it they have warning signs on packs of cigaretts, but no poision signs on AL i to agree with you DG.

Take care everyone.

Love
Teardrop.x

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Good morning all. DG, so glad to hear the antibiotics brought the fever down quickly. Hope they are able to figure out what caused the infection and that he is better soon. Cindi, very glad to hear your daughter is getting better. Hope she is soon past the "it's not fair" place. Yes some people handle large quantities better than others but that does not mean it is not impacting their health. Mame, sorry you were down but glad to hear you are feeling better. Hope you are not sore from sleeping on ... well actually I have no idea what a squab is but hope it was ok and that you get a bed soon.

Recently read something about how successful people focus on positive outcomes, even if discomfort is involved in getting there, while less successful people focus on immediate positive feelings. Seems to apply to problems with drinking, either immediately enhancing our positive feelings or drowning our negative feelings rather than looking at the long term health (and other) consequences. Not fun to think about how selfish it is but does help in staying committed to being sober.

Pamina, yes it must have been surreal to be in the midst of the confusion. Our thoughts were with you all. I know on 9/11 the whole country was glued to the news all day and it just got worse and worse. Someone forwarded me an email sent to the by a friend in New York who had walked out of the area across the Brooklyn bridge with thousands of others and described the scene and peoples reactions, bravery and helping each other. At the end he wrote, "I have never been prouder of my country." I'm sure you felt similiarly at how London took it in stride.

I'm feeling better today. Yesterday just felt tired all day. Thought it might be a reaction to the 5htp I started taking, but it was cloudy yesterday as well. I'm fine today, so maybe just barometric pressure and clouds.

Hi to all BoozeBusters. Hope you have a good day.

Hi Teardrop, we were cross posting. I do hope you get some sun. Nice summer weather does help the spirit. I am coming there in a week and do not want rain everyday!

[sothankful]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Hello All,

DG, I hope your dad is feeling better and I hope he is getting some rest.
as for your topic of the effects of Al I do agree. I have told my husband I wish they didn't have all the Ads they do on TV. I mean they make it all look so enticing. Just a lie. Kids see that also and think wow, I can be cool and sexy if I drink the pretty drink on television. they banned smoking ads years ago. I think poison is a great idea. in the long run if we keep abusing Al We Will end up a early or painful death. Sorry to be so graphic but I think DG is right we or at least I don't feel scared enough. I think sometimes we feel nothing can really hurt us. But it can.

Day 4

God bless everyone here hope you are having a great AF Tuesday.

[Miss Behaving]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Very quick this morning - I slept in!! (forgot to bring the alarm downstairs!) (and a squab is a hunk of foam rubber - surprisingly comfortable!!)

Totally agree with all the health stuff and is something I feel strongly about - I have had a sister die from alcohol-related causes and a brother who has basically lost a huge amount of brain function.

Better head off and do some work - another morning missed exercise - not doing too well this week....... but I will leave the car at home and walk everywhere now that the rain has stopped for a day!

[Ibelieve]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG

i'm new (day #4) and have found your posts inspriational. my thoughts are with you and your family. stay strong and excercise your body!

Your comments about the health (mental and phyical) effect of AL can not be overstated. it will be s good for me to remeber the POISON skull and cross symbol.

i am going to take your advice and think of AL as POISON from now on. Who in their right mind would ever consider consuming poison!

best, Diane

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Oops - sorry I missed your post Marshy. Thanks for your kind thoughts! And thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes in this thread to my Dad.

Teardrop, I suppose a parent never stops worrying about their children no matter what their age. LOL, my mother in law sure worries about Mr. Doggy. Have to be careful what mundane things you mention to her. i.e. "We had a tree come down in the storm and Gary is cleaning that up." MIL: "IS HE USING A CHAINSAW????? IS HE WEARING HIS SAFETY GOGGLES??????" LOL - TD please don't do that to your son when his is well into his 40-teen years!!!!

louise, I'm interested in hearing more about how you like the 5htp. Glad you are feeling more rested today in any case. I've been thinking about a couple offers I've had in the last few days to come clean various people's closets or bathrooms, etc. and the offers on the table so far just weren't good enough. (sorry Pamina - not even your stew!!) BUT....if you take me with you on your trip to the UK I will clean every closet in your house and your neighbor's house too. Deal????

sothankful, congrats on Day 4!!! Yes it's amazing how much more "socially acceptable" AL is, and therefore more advertising in more places than nicotine. The statistics I've seen re: the number of people who experiment with smoking, then become addicted are over 99%. Does anyone know what the % is of people who experiment with drinking then go on to someday be addicted? I'm sure that's a tougher number to establish since the process of becoming addicted - at least for a hefty % happens over a much MUCH longer time than addiction to nicotine. But once we are addicted, IMO they are equally poisonous.

Mame - sleeping in sounds awesome!! Can't wait for that to happen to me someday!!
Did you wake up feeling stroppy after a night on the sqab?? (HEY!! I'm learning a new language!! - note to self - better start a cheat sheet so you don't forget all this good stuff!) :b&d: I'm comin' after you about that exercise girlie girl!!

Hello again Ibelieve and congratulations on Day 4!! You and so thankful should join forces and Bust the Booze Beast together! Thanks again for your positive thoughts.

Dad is primarily dealing with cellulitis as a result of a foot sore as a result of Diabetes problems. What an ugly disease is Diabetes. The docs do believe that all the crazy symptoms are related to the one thing, so once they can get rid of this infection the other stuff like the swelling, incoherent babbling, etc. should clear up. This is serious, but we were all worried that there was more than 1 things going on. Fingers are crossed for continued reasonable news tomorrow.

Mean time, AF beer makes me burp. No more of THAT tonight! Off to a conference call and very glad to be sober.

DG
Wrappin' it up on Day 48 HFAF

[gelgit]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

tough day yesterday, Dear DG, do you know yet what kind of infection your dad has? If it's MRSA I'll go on. Marshy, I used to get a free drink by tying a knot in a maraschino cherry stem using teeth and tongue: no hands. Can I still do it?????????? There's an older medica book that lists like 4 pages, small print, of all the problems that AL causes the human body. If I can ever find it again I'll post it. Fascinating/horrifying. The good news is just how much abuse our miraculous bodies can endure and even recover from!! I watched a documentary about Iraq last night. One chapter was the Sadrists patrolling the marketplace and beating all the stall keepers selling AL. I listened to a translation of a sermon talking about all the evils that are coming from the West. It was scary, but I did get their point about booze. Good night all and may tomorrow be wonderful!! xxx g.

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Gelgit, I'm not sure exactly what kind of infection this is, but I will try to find out when I go there today. What does MRSA stand for?? (or does that matter..probably not if it's just huge words! I'm sure the meaning is more important..)

I know how serious these infections can be - Dad has already had to have a toe amputated several years ago and I realize that feet and legs can go too. I hope they get this cleared up where there is no infection creeping into the bones.

Believe it or not, up until a couple of months ago they had really good luck keeping the feet sores under control using raw, local honey as part of the treatment (Mom had a whole routine and I'm not sure of the rest of the details). Our friend they were getting honey from ran out - I didn't know that. Our honey isn't ready for harvest yet but Mr. Doggy has a friend in a town about 1/2 way between here and Mom & Dad's who is also a bee keeper. Mr. Doggy was there yesterday afternoon seeing one of our clients, so he picked up more honey because this guy still had some. Where did I hear that the amazing healing properties of honey are the best when you use raw honey that was developed within 60 miles of where you live? Something about having the same bacteria, etc. in the area. Hopefully once they get Dad back home they will be able to get the same good results again.

OK - enough of that ramble. Gelgit, I'll let you know later if I can find out the exact type of infection.

How is all the Booze Bustin' today? I had 3 AF beers last night but I don't want to get into that habit!! It's AF, but more carbs / sugars than I need to be consuming. And I'd rather be getting my calories from higher quality, nutrient dense food items!! BUT....it is good in a pinch. I tried a German imported beer and it was good - but heavier. I'm actually OK with the lighter Sharp's, and that's easier on the budget too! I really don't want to exchange the $$ I was spening on AL on Non-AL. The liquor store I drove past on the way home from the hospital where I got the German beer had 12 packs of Sharps on sale for like $5.99 or something. (it's a big NASCAR race weekend coming up) Funny - the lady who ended up in line right behind me was buying one of those 12 packs - drinking AF beer must be getting way more popular! YEAH that I didn't even crave AL while in the middle of that store. I was really AOK thinking how good the cold Non-AL would taste. I hope I'm not on a slippery slope. But if I am, I will get off it without falling off the wagon!

Gelgit, that is VERY interesting about the speech you listened too. I can certainly understand why a culture would declare AL completely evil. RIP Grandma - an original prohibition supporter (figuratively anyway!) - I understand her better now. She was SO adamant about having no booze around it makes me wonder what might have happened in her family history that led her to that place. (that's not the sort of thing that ever would have been talked about!!)

Have a happy, crave free, Booze Bustin' Day everyone!! Hey - this is funny. Tomorrow I will be 50 days HFAF, and 500 Days Nicotine free, I think. funny numbers.

DG
49 Days HFAF
:award: + *******************

[Ibelieve]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

weekend coming

hello to all

i am day #5-
its not too bad but a big change from auto pilot of always drinking

its only wednesday morning but i'm already worried about the weekend.

i have chosen not to disclose i have stopped drinking AL to anyone (even my husband -who has been after me for years to stop). We been together for 32 of my 56 years -& he has seen me up and down

i would prefer not to talk about it to anyone out of this forum yet

i will be in situations that will be familar drinking situations in the past and am worried i won't make it through the weekend

any advice from my new friends

diane

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Hi Diane. I'm so glad you posted your concerns - you will get LOTS of great tips from the Booze Busters so you can have a great plan for NOT drinking this weekend.

I've posted about this a few times now, so I'm sorry if you've already read this!! I read something that REALLY hit home to me on the quit smoking forum that helped me get and stay quit from cigarettes. When someone posted that they ended up lighting up a cigarette very unexpectedly after I think it was a few months of being quit, Kevin the board owner had something like this to say. "We don't relapse by accident out of nowhere. Usually we have subconsciously planned the relapse, and we are just carrying out the plan. Think back on what led up to the relapse, and you will see how you planned it."

Here are some things that stood out to me in your description of the upcoming weekend that MIGHT be your mind planning a relapse in advance.

its only wednesday morning but i'm already worried about the weekend.

The part of your brain that is addicted to alcohol, WANTS A FIX badly and is subconsicoudly telling you that you will fail at this, and you will fail this weekend. It is up to YOU to realize that nobody is going to tie you up and force liquor down your throat. YOU are in charge of your choice to drink or not. YOU CAN say NO regardless of how badly the addicted part of your brain wants a fix.

Of course only you can decide when the right time is to talk to your spouse and/or other friends / family about your decision to quit. I WILL share my opinion about this. I think it's just reality that as long as we stay silent about the decision to quit alcohol in our 3D life, we are leaving the option open to very easily decide to drink. If your spouse and/or other close people who are surely aware you have a problem don't know you are working to stop, they cannot be disappointed in you if you decide to drink. So IMO by doing this, you are leaving yourself an easy out to drink without consequences from others - whatever other justifications you want to put behind that decision. Just some food for thought.

If you get past those considerations and find that you really DO want to stay AF through the weekend, then there are plenty of steps you can take to have a good plan. What WILL you drink? (if you are going somewhere that you can BYO that is GREAT! - if not, figure out what your options are and decide in advance) How long will you stay? (I've found that time limits in tempting situations help...)

Anyway...I had a long phone call happen between the start and end of this post! Hope this helps you sort out your plan.

DG

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Morning BoozeBusters!
Still holding positive thoughts for your dad DG. That is interesting about the honey. Mame, I’m so glad you are beating AL so you don’t end up like your sister and brother. That is very sad.
Congrats on day 5 I believe and Sothankful. Diane, I too think that thinking positively about the weekend and planning how NOT to drink, even if that means limiting activities or avoiding them all together is more constructive than worrying at this point. And if you don’t tell your husband, you may end up with a surprise like I did when I decided to quit (again) but did not tell DH and he ordered wine for me out of habit. I have now told him that I am not drinking because 1) It had become a problem for me again and 2) I needed to lose weight and get healthier. These were both totally true and obvious! I did not tell him I would never ever drink again but made it clear that I would not be doing so for a long time. He now supports (does not drink much around me, asks me if it is going to bother me if he orders a glass of wine with dinner out) me instead of unknowingly sabotaging me.
Gelgit, glad you are hanging in there despite being cooped up with the fires. It sounds like it is getting a bit better in some places, but worse in others. Hope you are in an area it is getting better. How is the spring cleaning going?
Hannah, Marshy, Teardrop, Sheep, Pamina and all other BoozeBusters yet to check in, have a great day!
It is cooler today, so weeding is on my agenda after water aerobics.