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

[Miss Behaving]

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

Eksil,

its about 2 hours since you posted this, so you have hopefully answered your own question!

I dont think there are any right or wrong answers ..... you have to figure it out for yourself.

But I really really wish that I could get to your 45 days!!!! I would feel magic if I could do that!!

mame

[Miss Behaving]

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

Oh boy, what a weekend!! Very full on ..... not time for even thinking about drinking!!! While I am very much in favour of encouraging the 10-year old to cook, he is still at the stage of needing lots of help with quantities (we got 23 pancakes this morning for 3 of us!!) and he hasn't quite worked out the meaning of "cleaning up after yourself". I thought I might have to set DG onto him to kick his butt .....:H:H:H but thankfully Uncle Mame had his wireless blood pressure monitor could see my rising irritation and took things in hand. I dispensed with our household concern with too much water use and global warming in favour of the dish washer!

Spent this afternoon and early evening with my "other mum" who is deteriorating fast. I have a couple of days of looking in on her morning and night, before her daughter arrives from out of town on Wednesday. It is hard - she is in a lot of pain, but unable to take painkillers because of the interaction with other drugs, and the need to get a clear indication of her metabolism before she starts chemo this week. She has another lots of blood tests that I am taking her to first thing tomorrow, then hopefully they can give her something a bit stronger.

And the office move is this week -- DG thanks for asking! It will happen while I am at a conference as a speaker .... so everything is half packed up and the rest to be done by Wednesday evening. Things being what they are, I have moved all the essential stuff I need to get me through the next 2 weeks to the home office. I can not wait to be settled again!!! I have a couple of days holiday booked for end August and I am counting down the days.

One of the highlights of the weekend however was "Get Smart" on Friday night .... if you want a great belly-full of laugh that is one to see!

DG - I continue to take heart from the stories of your journey. Thinking that you started out here a year ago, and managed all that you did, had a few slips along the way, and are helping to manage the cheeerleaders is great motivation!!!

Diane - you got through your first week - :goodjob:. A Dr that says that it is all about "mind over matter" does not understand this issue. That doesn't mean she/he isn't a good dr though ....... but if you are looking for other support it is here rather than there!!! I keep hoping for my cravings to disappear and they dont, so good on you for taking the Camporal ..... I'm going to be asking my Dr for it as soon as I get a chance to get to her! (think I need to book a half-day appointment with all the things I need to talk to her about!!!!!!)

Sheepish and so thankful ......... great that you are back on board. We've all been there I think. At some point, I think you either "get with the programme" or keep 'fessing up. For me, I cant be 100% sure that I'll never wear that green suit again, but I sure am sick of it and looking forward to it being dry-cleaned!

I'm still not counting, but I think I am about half way to 30 days ...... 2 weekends and a very ugly couple of days the most challenging bits behind me. Somehow I will get through this week!! I may not get to the boards much, but I have seen how much everyone's thoughts are with those who aren't here in print and i am very grateful for it!

mame

[Miss Behaving]

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

and i totally forgot to say hello to everyone else!! Hi Marshy, Louise, Cindi, Hannah, Gelgit ...... feels like I have this thread to myself of this time of day while everyone else is doing things in other time zones!

hope youa re all having a great Sunday!

[Doggygirl]

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

Good Day Booze Busters!! I think I said yesterday was Day 53 but it was actually 52 - today is 53. LOL - it's probably a positive that I lost count along the way!! I'm quite the counter as you can tell.

Ibelieve, thank you for sharing about yourself here. I can relate to so much of what you say - in general just becoming a problem drinker at some point, but a functional one with a good career. Lots of the drinking acceleration years involved mandatory social stuff at work with some BIG drinkers. (I'm not blaming them - I just chose to become one of them) Anyway, I do believe that a component of breaking addiction is being strong minded about it, however I think people who have never dealt with an addiction themselves have a very difficult time understanding how challenging it really is. It is NOT easy that is for sure. I know first hand that it's difficult with cigarettes as well as booze, and I suspect it's equally difficult with drugs or who knows what else that can be addictive. I hope you did OK with your dinner party last night. But you will be much wiser than I was if you come RIGHT back here if it was not successful on the AF front.

sheepish and sothankful, don't you dare leave. I admire you both for that very reason - you want sobriety bad enough to keep coming back. The times that I fell, I disappeared for long periods (which = NO AF days any more) and made excuses about starting later, or after X event, etc. etc. We CAN do this but only if we keep trying each and every day. The newly dry cleaned fugly suit looks pretty funny with the both of you in it though. DON'T GIVE UP. ITA with louise about taking a moment to appreciate your positive steps forward - don't just dwell on the *F* ups.

It seems that for most of us, social events where alcohol is being served is one of the biggest challenges. We eventually all need to have strategies that work to stay AF at these events, and carry on with life. But in the early days, I think it's critical to make your sobriety your absolute #1 over everything else. For me, that includes minimizing and eliminating social events that will be difficult to handle. There will always be more parties when I'm ready to handle them AF. My strategy is to eliminate the ones I can right now, and have a good plan to get through the ones I can't. I CAN handle a lot more right now than I could a year ago, and even a month ago.

evielou - good to see you!! And this place really is the life line for me.

eksil, the decision of what do you next after a stretch of AF is one that only you can make. You will either find that you can successfully moderate now, or that you can't. Or you may decide that you don't want booze in your life any more enough to find out if you can or can't moderate. I couldn't, and I'm not going to bang my head against that particular wall any more. Best wishes whatever you decide(d).

Mame, YOU CAN DO THIS and feel the magic of 45 days AF!! Congratulations on being around the halfway to 30 point. LOL on 23 pancakes and a messed up kitchen!! Good thing Uncle Mame was plugged in to your blood pressure. What are you speaking about at the conference this week? That sounds exciting. I used to do quite a bit of speaking in my previous career life and I LOVED it. Maybe someday I will be speaking out about AL related problems / solutions. Gotta earn my stripes first. I am also sorry to hear the update about your friend. That is so sad that she has to suffer with pain right now do to the status of medical things that you mentioned. Seeing my Dad like he is....oh I can relate and it is so heart breaking.

So what are you planning for your end of August holiday? Can I go with you since mean ol' louise won't take me with her???

:upset: louise, I cannot believe you don't have room in your suitcase for me!! If you go again next year, I will pester you again because I'm determined to lose this weight. I'm SURE I will fit into your small suitcase by then!! Seriously...how cool that you can enjoy the benefits so to speak of hubby's business trip. Again...I am so sorry about your Dad - I can't even imagine. I hope Beatle is OK - I haven't looked yet today to see if anyone has heard from her.

The situation with my Dad is so heart breaking. Yesterday was his 76th birthday and he said to me "If I live 4 months and 4 days more, I will have reached the average life expectancy for men." I nearly :upset:. He thinks they are moving him to the re-hab type place today, but there were only the younger care takers as the hospital by the time I got there, so no one was around that I could ask, who would probably know the facts. We're going to a dog show today just to watch and see old friends, but I'll be calling in. His one leg is SO bad I am afraid of the amputation possibility. He already lost a toe but this would be much much more traumatic obviously. This is hard.

Day 53 AF is a good day. AF beer has helped me this week and I will be taking some along today. However if it is to stay in my life, it's going to have to get contained to the weekends. It's still extra calories that carry little to no nutritional value...so having even one or two on a daily basis doesn't fit with my desired lifestyle and health goals. But...for today I'm going to try to relax and have fun seeing all the people I haven't seen in so long.

Have a great AF Sunday everyone!!

DG
:award: + ***********************

[Miss Behaving]

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

DG - good luck with the dogs and thinking about you with your dad. Our dad's are very special, and you need to enjoy every moment with him - even if it breaks hospital rules (i hope he enjoyed the "breaking the rules" food you took to him for his birthday!!) It sounds like you are being a great daughter - stick with it!!

am yawning and off to bed! hope you all have had or are having a good Sunday !

[greeneyes]

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

Happy Bastille Day! Going to the nursing home to visit my dad for a bit today and meet visit with a GF whose Bday was yesterday. Seems my dad decided he wants to drink again. Is that not just too much??? He had not touched a drop since his stroke nearly 2 years ago (even though the nursing home permits it). I tell him about going to Lenair and that I will never drink again. So he has me bring scotch over the night before I leave to share my last drink. Now I don't drink and he decides the HE wants to. He wants two mini bottles a dayof Johnny Walker Black. I am to bring him a case at my earliest convenience. I have got to convince them a glass is OK. I think it is against the law to drink Johnny Walker from a tiny plastic cup. It's a crime one way or the other :H

DG sorry about your daddy. I understand how hard it is. His stroke was a big life lesson for me in understanding that I cannot fix everything and I should stop trying so hard. Big lesson in guilt and manipulation too. I have learned a lot the past 2 years. A slow process, but looking back, some important lessons were learned. More to come, I am sure.

Sheepish and sothankful, as long as you're crammed into one frugly suit, you may as well share my big girl pants. I don't need them today, so they are only on loan. :H

Stay good, be strong!

[Marshy]

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

Sheepish & sothankful: We've all been there a thousand times. That fugly green suit has had a lot of occupants. Thank god it's finally been dry cleaned. I agree with DG that I had to make sobriety my number one priority in the early days even if it meant turning down invitations, avoiding some regular haunts, even avoiding certain grocery shops because they meant "buy beer" to me. And I certainly couldn't have any alcohol in the house. And, yes, it's sometimes annoying and sometimes I feel I'm missing out but I had reached the point in my drinking where I either had to make drastic changes or face a very bleak future. That's just me, though. We each have to do our own thing.

Louise, it sounds as though you NEED a holiday. And the weather's picking up ready for your arrival! It's gorgeous here today

DG: I hope your dad continues to improve. It must be tough for him to not be allowed home yet but he's in the best place to get stronger. I agree with you on the AF beer. I've been having a bit too much lately, and it is empty calories and 'connects' me to alcohol in way that I don't think is good for the sneaky, addicted side of me. Gotta cut back on the AF stuff :H

Aunty Mame: great to hear you're staying AF despite the pressures of life.

Diane: good for you for a week AF! Hope things worked out well last night...

:wavin: to everyone else. Gotta post this before I lose it again. Grrrr. I have two windows open so I can scroll back on one to read, and post on the other, and when I get them mixed up BAM!

Have a great AF day all! Day 97 AF for me today! Unbelievable!!

[Ibelieve]

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

happy

hi

i am very happy to report i made it through my first dreaded social event without a dirnk. however, i don't think i ever ate so much in life !!!! Although i feel a little distressed physically from over eating it sure is great not to have to wait to mid afternoon to be able to function.

i know this site helped so so much with last night. i read and reread the weeks posts to see some of my habits that otherr have again and again during theday yesterday and it was so comforting to know i was not alone. all these years i knew i was not alone in my problem but never knew there were so many common habits, traits and remosre associated with AL.

i am also cautious there is a newbie enthusiam and euphoria. for me AF for 9 days is a feat. but the proof is is in duration. 30 days and i will say OK- congrats - do you wantto try another 30 or try moderation.

DG- elderly parents is a real challenge and also exhausting. try to get info and support from Social services at the hosptial and nursing home / rehab. they are pros in delaing with elderly and what is best. Parents are our only unconditional lovers out there and it is difficult to see them age and deterioriate. it also makes us know we are not immortal. i have to run but but will be back. part of my cpa/attorney work is with estate planning, wills etc. so i see a lot of elder care issues and will give my viewpoint and hope its helpful.

warm regards to all

diane

[Marshy]

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

:goodjob: Diane!

[maasai]

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

TO EVERYONE IN MWO

:lits with great joy and happiness that i say thank you to you all out there, i made it to 1yr and three days sober, and how far i have come is becouse of this site, i have meet all of you there when i was lost and desparate and since the first convesation i felt like i belong somewhere, i felt encouraged and loved by so many special people out there,
so many times i almost tripped on my way to sobriety but i have always found someone i can talk to and i feel better.
i am happy and sober too today not becouse of my only dedication to my sobriety but becouse i have found lots of friends and good people who happened to understand my situation without laughing or looking down upon me but you all held my hand.
when i look back to where i was 1yrs ago, i feel it was destiny at some point since i have learned alot since i stopped picking the first drink, and i have a testimony to newcomers to this site, its not easy and MWO is a channel to cross the river of alcohol to link us to abetter life, BUT only if your put dedication and open mind by yourself.
thanks everybody, special one to croft, lookingforhope22, cindi, teardrops hundi, bambi, and all of you thank you soo much.:l:l:l:thanks::thanks:

[Evie.Lou]

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

Its an honor to be here with you wonderful people.Greenie my dear...i sent an angel to sit on your shoulder to day and to remind you how wonderful you are.

[louise]

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

DG, I'm so sorry to hear that your dad's leg is still very bad! His comment would have sent me reeling. You tell him we expect much more than average from him! You must have gotten your fighting spirit from someone and I suspect it is him. Well the reason you won't fit in the suitcase is that I am going too have to take a winter, spring and early summer wardrobe. Predicted highs in Scotland next week are low 60's. I have got to get them to give me my old medication before I go or I will be a wreck by the time I get home.

Mame, your life sounds so busy right now! You are doing great with resisting old AL with all that going on!
Greenie, I can't believe your dad now wants you to bring him alcohol! Oh dear. Can someone else do that? I see you are having a sense of humor about it but...
Marshy!!! Wow 97 days! That is great. Thanks for weather update and I hope it lasts. DH says yes, we will go to the EYE.
Diane, so glad you made it through the dinner.
Masai, thank you so much for stopping by and telling us your fantastic news!!! You sound very happy and we appreciate your inspiration.

Hi Evie, Cindi, Pamina, Sheepish, Hannah (let us know how it went, we are missing you), Gelgit (we are still waiting on report of sober cherry stem tying) and all others.

[Doggygirl]

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

Hi everyone! maasai, thank you so much for sharing your testimonial. Congratulations on over 1 year sober! You inspire us all and let us know WE CAN DO THIS!!

evielou it's always nice to see your colorful posts!

Greenie...do you have a 30 day bash coming up soon???????? Dirty Old Ladies oops I mean Inquiring Minds want to know (when the cheerleaders will be showing up again). Yikes - that is scary about your Dad. I'm really struggling with the family dynamics right now in addition to worrying over my Dad's health. So I will take any and all advice offered.

Marshy, am I CRSing again, or did you sneak a 90 day milestone past us (and deprive us all of cheerleader peeping)????? Congrats on 97 days!! I agree on the seeming + and - of the AF beer especially after today. It saved my BUTT today. But I also came away from this good day with more resolve than ever to NOT allow AF's to become a daily placeholder where booze used to be. (But I'm grateful to be sober and I think AFs will have a place in that sober future!)

louise you are going to have so much fun on your trip!! The only thing that could make it MORE fun would be taking me with you!! :nutso: Packing clothes for all seasons seems like a pain but I'm sure once you leave your house with suitcase in hand all will be fine. The only thing I know you WON'T be wearing is the Fugly Gree Suit. My Mom and Dad are both tough hombres in their own ways so I'm really not sure which of my genes came from who.

Ibelieve!!! :cheering: I am so happy you made it through the dinner party. On the food front what the heck. You have more excuse right now than you ever will again in your life to EAT CHOCOLATE!!! (actually lots of sugar can be a bad thing for AL cravings...but you know what I mean!! Bring on the pizza or something!!) I would appreciate any insights you have in terms of dealing with my elderly parents. I am overloading myself with guilt for every moment I'm NOT there. At the same time I feel somewhat angry (and hence, more guilt) about the drain on *me.* I feel angry with my brothers who live farther away - especially my brother who only comes to visit once a year regardless of what is going on - and you'd think the Pope was coming to town at that. (very VERY busy with so many appointments with all of his adoring fans.....) But he wants to tell me "how it is" or "how I can handle Mom / Dad better" every time I turn around. None of these feelings towards family members or resentment about the situation at large are healthy or helpful. They just keeps me at the edge of stress all day long is what I'm figuring out. I have to find a way to make peace with the circumstances and the family members in my heart, do what I can to support my Mom and Dad, and not feel guilty about....everything. (oops - ibelieve I'm certainly not asking YOU to answer all that meaning of life stuff!!! I would just value your opinion and also other opinions as I know many here are going through or have gone through the deterioration and/or loss of parents...)

The good news, at least for me, is that Not Drinking is a whole lot easier than figuring out my emotions, etc. related to this situation. And Mr. Doggy and I sure agree that feeding addictions right now would NOT make anything better and WOULD make everything worse.

Mame, I wanna give you a big ol' hug because I know you've been through so much lately. I hope your friend gets some pain relief soon. The dog show was fun today because we didn't show our dogs!! We just went to watch and visit old friends and that sort of thing. Mr. Doggy's trial a couple weeks ago was the nerve wracking one!

I really feel like a took a good step forward in my AFHF life today. We got to the show around 9AM right when things were getting started. The "boys" were already drinking beer on the porch - it's what they do during the "foo foo dog shows." They really do cook up some good food and the host club sells the food and it helps make some $$. Around 11AM I had a Not Beer and took a couple of Not Beers to the cooking porch and asked if they could put them in the cooler for me. (side note....why in the old days did I think I needed to drink like the boys anyway????) Around 1PM I had lunch like everyone else there and it was a really nice day so far. BUT...once lunch was over I could tell that the boys (the cooks) who had indulged so much so early were fading really fast. I was SO GLAD to not be like them - and boy I know those feelings well - where the euphoric part of the day is gone...and now you just want a nap. I felt great!!

I also had a good chance to head the offer of marguritas off at the pass with a woman I adore, and who I used to drink with at these events (although I started WAY earlier in the day than her). I had a Not Beer in my hand and got a funny look (beer was never my poison). I held up the Sharp's and said "my problem with drinking is that I don't want one, I want ALL of them so I don't drink any more." This is the second time I've used that line, and it works really well for me. I guess it's :nutso: enough for my style. Anyway, another guy was sitting right there who is now sober too. He's been AF since I've known him about 4 years, but I heard horror stories about his drinking days. He laughed with me and said he had that problem too. It was a light hearted moment but later...when my friend got out her jug of marguaritas, she didn't offer me one and it worked out really well. I had peach / papaya diet lipton white tea instead.

On the way home Mr. Doggy and I talked, and just reviewed how wonderful it is for me to be sober.

I'm so glad we went to the dog show too, because it got us away from our other challenges and busy-ness in life for the day. We weren't home for 30 mintues when the phone rang that my Dad did NOT move to the rehab facility today he was in the midst of being moved to intensive care with internal stomach bleeding. So the circle starts again. I'm trying not to whine but please pass the cheese.

This will be OK - I think you all for listening and for your friendship.

I love you guys - sorry for another Novel. Will my Pulitzer come in the mail, or do I have to pick it up somewhere?

DG
Grateful to be AFHF 53 days.

[Sheepish]

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

Doggy
you are so great.:l
what an amazing thing to say to someone- about the 'one drink and I want them all'. You really are on your way to an AF life. I am so impressed.
-Sheep

[ready2change]

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

Doggygirl...please understand that all of us at THAT age are dealing with parental issues. Not to lessen yours...but it is at this point in life where WE become the parents and take care of those who took care of us before. I have the same sibling issues that you have...and a father that has paralysis and major pain issues...but I deal with it as best I can. I am going down next week to go to the doctors with him and my stepmom to discuss options....they are old and dont' understand them all. It is the least I can do..for all he has done for me all my life. Hang in there my friend. you will feel better for it...I promise...don't worry bout your siblings...just guard your sobriety and do the best you can for your parents...and life is good. Huggsss to you my friend...R2C