BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Hi again!!

WIP - I've been wanting to bring some cooking wine back into the house but don't want the temptation. I shall be thinking of your Salt Trick if a recipe calling for wine really calls for wine!! (so far I've just been subbing broth) Funny you should mention grilling, something I have never learned how to do. Even in my single days (many years) I would only grill with friends over where there were always "guys" to do it. LOL - our current grill is on it's last leg - should have been thrown out long ago. Mr. Doggy keeps it limping, but it's not in the condition for a beginner like me to learn on!! We were hoping to buy a new one yesterday at Sam's, but they were all out for the season. I hope we can find something at Sears or somewhere! We use it all winter.

Greenie - YUCKYUCKYUCK on the marriage stuff, paperwork, etc. I hope you find something FUN to do to balance out the not so fun stuff you are dealing with. Even if it's just baby steps for now - something that involves physical activity aka exercise IMO, will really help. It's helping me stay sober and is one of my cornerstones now for building a healthy lifestyle. Helps me keep a clear head, etc. I think you will like it!! AL will NOT make anything better, that's for sure. But Root Beer might.

kriger congratulations on Day 18!!! WHEEE!!!! The mountain hike sounds like a wonderful idea. I would be so THERE with the camera if I could! I hope your neighbor is available and decides to go. That's a great foundation for a weekend without AL!

mwo2, congrats on Day 55!!!!!! :cheering: You sound terrific like you are REALLY enjoying your family right now. That is awesome. And for the rooftop garden...(this was when I first planted everything - these pots are overflowing now!!)





I "harvest" cherry tomatoes nearly every day out of that hanging pot. Nice to have that right outside my office!! Next year I want a "real" garden on the ground level in addition to some roof top fun. And I'll be sober in the spring so it's a real possibility!!

I'm going to tackle the filing and recording of dinky little paper reciepts for our business. I'm tired of procrastinating that one!!

Happy Friday (again)

DG

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Hi all,

My immediate plan is to eat this slice of cheesecake in front of me.

Kriger, the mountains sound lovely. I always feel better surrounded by nature too. God knows why I'm living in a dirty big city.

Pamina: excellent on 100 days! Triple digits is a big milestone. You should be especially proud of yourself for staying sober while dealing with all the stress you're going through.

Aunty Mame: AF and saving the planet! What more could we ask?

This moving forward business has been bugging me on and off since about 60 days AF. Before that I was just gritting my teeth and trying to get through it. But then I started to think "OK, I've stopped drinking, why hasn't my life magically transformed and become perfect overnight?"

I definitely went into counselling with the attitude of "Tell me what's wrong with me and tell me how to fix it now!!" I think my counsellor is helping me to chill out a bit and see what I'm doing as a process that's not going to happen overnight. (I still sometimes ask him "but what am I supposed to DO about XYZ??" I think I might drive him nuts over the next six months.)

I wonder if it's because we got immediate "results" from drinking that we expect immediate results in other areas? Dunno. The whole subject is something I'm pondering - and trying to be patient with myself while I'm doing it.

Have a happy Friday everyone

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Hey, all you are sounding great.

My own plans got way, way undone when my mother arrived at my house early this morning, angry, demanding, psychotic, and violent. The whole day has been spent getting her into one hospital, and then another one... then, working on getting her house back in order (she had changed the locks without telling anyone and nobody could find the new key), cleaning up the kitchen, washing clothes to take her some stuff to the hospital, searching her house for the bills she has apparently been throwing away... paperwork... Feeling angry, more than anything else. I know it isn't her "fault" in many ways. But I am feeling angry, anyhow, about the whole thing.

Not drinking, not going to drink.

wip

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

WIP, I am so sorry. I just can't imagine. I would feel very very angry too. Not her fault in some ways, yet yes her fault because she can pull it together when she needs to and keeps firing people who can help. And refuses to go into any kind of assisted care. I'll post more tomorrow about me, but just wanted you to know I care.

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Thanks, Louise. You're right. That's what pisses me off... it makes it seem as if she is CAPABLE of making rational decisions but REFUSES to do so. I am not sure how accurate that is, but it SEEMS that way and when I look at it that way, I get angry.

Marsh, I think you've got it right:

I wonder if it's because we got immediate "results" from drinking that we expect immediate results in other areas? Dunno.

I think that learning to tolerate discomfort, and learning to "wait for" results, and to plan for and build long-term habits that get us where we want to go, are some of the major learning tasks of long-term recovery.

wip

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Good morning Booze Busters.

WIP, I am so sorry to read about your day with Mom yesterday. That must have been incredibly stressful. She knows how to stir things up doesn't she. (or at times doesn't know...) I hope things go more smoothly today. Let us know... Congratulations on staying sober. I know that's for the best (handling tough situations) but I also fully know Al's voice in the darkness while stressful situations go on, too.

Marshy, I can't believe you didn't share your cheesecake. I think you are onto something with the "immediate results" thing - we sure DID get that from drinking and it only makes sense that our brains are still looking for that sort of immediate result from something. Great food for thought.

Hi louise and also all the other Booze Busters.

I am worried this morning. I am SO glad I was not drinking like the old days yesterday because Mr. Doggy woke me up sometimes between 9 & 10PM. Our dog Kimba couldn't use her back legs. Mr. D was outside burning some yard rubbish and the two females were playing run and chase games. All of a sudden Kimba started crying and Mr. D saw her trying to drag herself towards the house. He carried her in - she clearly hit her head - probably ran into a tree at high speed. She has a big bump over one eye, and she was bleeding from one nostril - and not able to use the back legs.

We called the vet who was kind enough to call us back and meet us at his office rather than send us straight to the emergency hospital among strange vets. We were SO relieved when he tested all along her spine and also tested in a way we didn't know to do her back legs. He believe she has feeling in them (i.e. no broken back or anything). Maybe just some trauma to the nerves from the head bang. It was very strange - at first he SWORE she was hit by a car, which is not the case. I guess the vets this close to the city aren't used to seeing many dogs who CAN get running fast enough in their fenced in yard to hit a tree at high speed. Anyway.... She got two different steroid shots - one fast acting and one longer acting. That is to prevent any further swelling that might be going on somewhere inside that might be pressing on nerves causing this problem. Doc felt that she would be OK overnight and we'll assess again this morning.

Mr. Doggy set her up on a dog bed in the kitchen and also set himself up on the floor in there so he could stay with her all night. (we got home around midnight) From the equipment. Mr. D is alseep - Kimba woke up when I went in the kitchen. She didn't get up but she DID move one of the back legs up in the air briefly so I could scratch here tummy. I hope this is a good sign. We go back to the vet for a 7:45 appt.

Sorry to give so much detail - we love our dogs like kids and it's hard to believe something like this happened. Please send Kimba some good healing vibes, OK?

In the old days I would have been passed out drunk and completely useless to help with the situation - much less handle it myself if circumstances required that. Having the ability to deal with unexpected emergencies is a HUGE HUGE reason for all of us to get and stay sober. There are certainly more "fun" benefits to think about, but this is a "sobering" one when you consider that most of us have partners or pets or kids or parents or or or who need to depend on us. No matter how much planning we put behind the drinking, these are situations that cannot be planned for in terms of timing.

Please send Kimba a good vibe, OK?

Love you guys and thanks for being here for me!!

DG
Day 94 AFHF Thank Goodness

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Oh, damn, DG, do keep us posted, I will be thinking about you and Kimba all day. I know how hard this is.

wip

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Well, the "P" word (paralysis) was used this morning out loud. We are hoping it is temporary - trauma to a nerve or something - and will resolve. She is showing feeling on the left rear leg. She can't use it to push herself up, but if you pick up her hind end, she can sort of balance on it. We are just hoping against hope that there is improvement in at least one rear leg over the next couple of days.

Thank you wip. Keep those vibes comin'. The one guy I truly can't stand in our dog training group is coming today. (lately he hasn't shown up much, thankfully) He better not touch a nerve today.

DG

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Sending very positive vibes your way DG. What a scary time. Hopefully she'll continue to improve and it's just taking a while because she obviously had one helluva bang on the head. Keep us posted.

Wip, I hope things are improving with you too. Stay strong.

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

DG, I'm so sorry to hear about Kimba. You and Kimba will be in my prayers.

[greeneyes]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

DG, The same sort of thing happened to my golden. confined to a small crate for three weeks. It was a couple weeks before she stood up and then a few more days at a step at a time. When I took her home, I had to carry her up and down steps, but she was OK. I am hoping the same for Kimba. :l

[Miss Behaving]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

DG - thinking of you, hope things are being resolved. Healing vibes being sent from here .....

mame xx

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

Good Day Booze Busters. I hope that everyone is following their AF plans and having a fun weekend. I thank all of you for sending Kimba such good vibes. Today I have lots and lots of hope.

She has gone through some difficult things medically in her life - some painful stuff - and has always had lots of heart about it. She goes through life with a cheerful attitude even in the worst of times. This situation is not different - she brings a tear to my eye with her "smile." One leg is still useless, but she is not able to get herself small distances on the better back leg. This is good because Mr. Doggy was carrying her everywhere before. I could pick her up if I had to, but I have had back surgery so not a real good idea if I can avoid it. Now we can get in and out of the house together - I just have to help her over things like the door jams and a couple of steps. She has peed and pooped so it's good that all that is "working" too. While it is very sad to see her dragging the one leg behind her, dogs can live with 3 legs. There is still hope it will improve - the other back leg has certainly improved (while not 100%).

Greenie, I appreciate you telling me about your Golden who (yikes!) had something similar happen and recovered. That is very encouraging.

I think I mentioned yesterday how grateful I was to be sober on Friday night and hence "there" for Mr. D and Kimba and the situation. I was grateful again to be sober after dog training yesterday as Mr. D and I needed to talk about how far we are willing to go with this if she DIDN'T improve. I don't like those conversations, and hopefully it won't become an issue. But we needed to make sure we were on the same page before the possibility of ciritical treatment decisions came up. NEVER EVER could we have had that conversation following dog training day while I was still drinking. Never. For those who might still be struggling but are reading this, all I can say is that the value of sobriety during difficult times is priceless.

WIP, I was able to read some of your posts yesterday at some point to see just how horrible Friday was with your Mom. I don't even know what to say. I can't imagine how mixed up your feelings must be. You are a very strong woman, and I admire you for doing your best for your Mom. I hope she is doing as well as possible under difficult circumstances.

Mame and Louise and Marshy, take care. Marshy I thought of you and our joking around about the Michael Phelps Swimming Extravaganza Oops I Mean Olympics when I heard last night that he will be featured somehow from London in the closing ceremonies. Just when you thought it was over..... If you ever find out that the "jaws" commercial shows up on Youtube please let me know!

I am going to a SMART Recovery face to face meeting this morning. I have never been to a meeting of theirs or anybody's before (no AA or anything). Should be interesting. I'm looking forward to it. I also talked to Mr. D about that yesterday too. I hadn't told him yet that I planned to go, but didn't want to go without telling him. I was worried he would be over the top paranoid about me running into a client or something. He wasn't, which was awesome. He is proud of me for quitting AL and he also recognizing how serious the addiction problem is, and realizes how many people suffer in silence with it. It was a cool conversation. Amazing how little positive things like that can happen in the midst of a crisis of sorts.

I also should go visit my Dad today....don't know if I will be able to get to that...I need an extra day this weekend.

Keep kickin Booze Beast Ass. IT IS WORTH IT.

DG
Day 95??? AFHF (I think)

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

DG, I am SO glad that Kimba is doing better. I hope, hope, hope that the other leg recovers function. Please keep us posted.

I'll be looking forward to hearing about how the SMART meeting goes. They don't have any of those near me (except some at the VA hospital that are closed to non-VA patients). I do think I need face-to-face meetings (and a program with an AF model) and will likely be shopping around various AA groups during this coming week. The AA group I went to, years ago, was very open in many ways (except of course as to dogma), but it apparently has disbanded, it no longer shows up in the big list. I hope to find a group that allows people to participate and benefit even if their views about alcoholism and recovery are not totally out of the Big Book...

wip

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

DG, I'm so glad to hear Kimba is doing a bit better. I will keep positive thoughts for a full recovery. It is good to know that is possible Greenie! So much doggie love here.

WIP, I'm so sorry about what happened with your mom. Having had experience with family members being involuntarily committed to psych hospitals, I know that it is very hard to go against their wishes but also know there is not much choice when they are being a danger to themselves and others. You are being a far more loving daughter than I think I would be given your family history and circumstances. I might have cut the ties some time ago, but if not I know I would be very angry and would not be demonstrating the patience you are.

Mame, I hope you are enjoying (enjoyed? Is it over?) a wonderful holiday. Pamina, I hope your dad’s infection is under control. Greenie, best wishes in the job hunt. Kriger, I hope you had a great hike in the woods. MWO2, you sound so busy and happy. I’m assuming the lockers assigned are for going back to school? Marshy, it sounds like you are putting a lot into your counseling and will get a lot out of it.

I’m feeling a need to take a bit of time off from 30 days abs threads and ponder. On Friday, we went out to dinner and had wine. Yes, it was a very long stressful week but nothing like what many of you are dealing with. I didn’t slip, I just decided I wanted to drink a bottle of wine with dinner. So given all the discussion about commitment and helping others with our commitment, I feel I need to step back a bit and see where I am with this. I did 30 days in June with relative ease, another 15 in the first ? of July, but 10 in a row is my max since then. I will be checking in to say hi and reading. I’ll be back, just want to do it when I can really contribute to the group effort and commitment.