AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

[Marshy]

Hello ab fabbers,

How's everyone doing?

I've got a day off work, and really ought to get to the gym even though I've got an eye infection and look as though I've been punched in the eye. Doc has banned me from swimming for a week. Boo, hiss!

I had an odd experience yesterday. A friend of mine (who I told ages ago that I had a drink problem and had given up) was telling me about her brother, who is going downhill with his alcohol problem - can't hold down a job or house, has moved back in with their parents at the age of 40 etc. I said I could recommend a couple of recovery forums for him to have a look at, and told her to give him my e-mail address if she thought it might help and I could talk to him about it. And she was amazed, and said she didn't realise I had a big problem, and how long had I been like that, and had I had a hard time giving up etc. All the questions she didn't ask me when I first told her!

I find it weird coz I can always tell when someone has a drink problem and assume everyone else can too. But I guess not. Maybe it "takes one to know one".

Have a good, sober day everyone!

[Gold]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Hello Marshy,

It is strange isn't it. I assumed that people were talking about me and felt so ashamed I withdrew from most things, not that I did anything especially noteworthy, I just think I was so sensitive to what I was doing to myself that I was sure everyone else saw what I saw. I have no idea what people actually thought, the important thing is that it no longer concerns me.

I think it probably does take one to know one.

Anyway I joined this site on 21st of July, did three days and then for some inexplicable reason drank on the fourth, less than usual which I felt quite pleased about (at the time), the following morning was dreadful and the effects far worse as a result of the initial three AF days.

It's three days again as of yesterday. I count myself very lucky that it was "only" wine in the evenings. I can see that much of the journey I have been on over many years, the work I have done to understand myself and my circumstance, and the things that have taken place have all been a part of the healing to this point. Despite the continued drinking I am in no way the person I was even a year ago.

I know that something has changed in my head, the culmination of many things perhaps, I can feel it and I know there has been a change (if I didn't I wouldn't dare to write this and tempt fate!). I'm taking the L-glut and Kudzu and I listen to a hypnosis CD (one I already had) each night and I am sure that helps.

There are still challenges and one of the largest is how to get my life moving again, and I will.

[greeneyes]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Morning abbers!

Thanks Marshy! Doing fine here. That is odd about your friend. Some of my friends knew, some didn't. Some didn't want to know.

Hi gold! Someone else just mentioned about their head changing with supps, CDs and maybe topamax? Maybe it's your energy getting unstuck and your life WILL start moving!

Not much to say here. Just getting things done and trying to not worry over them as it's like predicting a negative outcome or playing "what if". Pointless, wasted angst. If I'm going to have some angst it really ought to be for good cause I think.

I am going to a workshop this weekend and then vistitng rubywillow in the mountains with my flyrod and waders! I'm excited about that. The woods and moving water "do something" for me. Soothe and recharge at the same time.

I'm going to weedeat real quick before the hole. My mowed weeds look almost like grass when they're all the same height!

Hope everyone has a good day!

[dill]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Hi Marshy, Gold, Greenie and all to follow!

Marshy, that was interesting about your friend. I guess since al has become a problem "for her" because of her sibling, that she is more aware of what it means to have a problem with drink. It's become more personal, so her curiosity has increased. Good for you offering to help!!!

Admitting a drinking problem is not easily done. I truly believe that alc was a large factor in my brother's death, but no one talks about it. I haven't talked about my drinking with my siblings. I don't even know if they know. (We all live far apart.) I actually would like to ask my younger brother what made him quit many, many years back, but I never have. It's an obvious problem in my family, but talking about it seems taboo.

Gold, I know what you mean about something 'changing in your head'. That is the change that must take place in order to take on this journey to quit. I think for some the change comes profoundly and they make a sudden change in their life-style. For others, like me, the change is more of a gradual "dawning" and I have to keep working at "getting it".

Greenie, I want to come too! That sounds like an awesome time! I have never worn waders or held a flyrod in my hands. I'll bet it is fun. Is rubywillow a friend from before MWO, or did you meet her here? Just curious. You don't have to answer.

Yesterday was a productive day. We picked the last of the green beans. Not enough to can, but enough for a few meals. We picked loads of sweet corn. I bought a little tool for cutting the kernels off. We froze several containers. We got approximately 2 and 1/2 -3 cups of corn from 6 ears.

Have a great day, Abbers!

[Cinders]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Good Morning AFers,

I, too, haven't much to say today except that I am sober today.

It is amazing, isn't it, how days pile up into weeks and weeks into months. I guess I was doing that drunk before, now I am doing it sober. I like sober a whole lot better.

Hope all have a wonderful day.

Love,
Cindi

[greeneyes]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Dill, I met rubywillow here and we have never met face to face.

Next week's thread: "ruby and greenie go flyfishing" :H

Little doggie barked at me from the other side of the fence while watching me eat figs. so I gave her one. Whoa boy!!! 2 figlets!

[Accountable for Me]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Good morning!

Just a very quick one for me. It was so hot yesterday that I didn't fall asleep until after 11pm, which is late and, I get up at 5am. It is suppose to be hotter today and then moreso tomorrow. No complaints other than the shit-sleeps.

I have to go and make lunches, shower, and get going here.

Much love to all!

Have a great day! xoxo

[dill]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Greenie, if you like to watch movie, you ought to rent "A River Runs Through It" (1992). Do you remember that movie? Robert Redford was in it and a whole lot of fly-fishing! It's an oldie but a goodie.

Hi Cinders and AFM! You both sound great! Cind, wasn't that youtube video of the brain of a cocain addict on baclofen fascinating? (was posted yesterday by Billy P in the meds section)

[greeneyes]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

I saw that movie dill! I don't quite have shadowcasting down though The addiction component was interesting as well. (It was Brad Pitt, actually)

I watched the youtube brain and baclofen clip. I hope baclofen really takes off in the addiction arena.

[Determinator]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Happy Tuesday ABenators far and wide!!!

typing from my hotel room on the north CA coast, foggy morning looks like San Fran even though I'm WAY further north near the OR border. Drove through the infamous 'redwood highway' yesterday afternoon which was gorgeous.

drinking while traveling was always such a challenge for me, I'm soooo glad to be doing this with a clear head. Now instead of dreading I can enjoy the 'now' moments of such adventures.

I forgot to tell you all my funny embarrassing story: on sat I went through the car wash with my drivers side window rolled down! LOL! of course I rolled it up after I started getting soaked with skanky water. Never realized how slow those windows move!

be well everyone

[Cinders]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Det,

So much for a "clear head!!" :H:H

It just shows that we can be quite absentminded sober, too.

Glad you made it safely on your trip.

Cindi

[My New Beginning]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Hi All..may I join you? I always check in on the ODAT thread and I would also like to be part of this one. On day 11 here and I can hardly believe it. If it weren't for this site and my determination I would be sunk. In a much better place now. It's so great to wake up without hangovers.
I don't have much to add except I'm just so thankful.
Everyone have a great day!

[Lavande]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Good afternoon all,

Hope your day is going well

Marshy, sorry to hear about your eye infection, hope that clears soon for you.
Gold, one foot in front of the other.........you're making progress.
Greenie, enjoy your visit with Ruby, sounds like fun. A nice healthy dose of the outdoors is always good for the soul.
Dill, talk about drinking families. I have 3 brothers, 2 of them are very heavy drinkers, the 3rd not so much. I haven't seen any of them for quite some time, we live far apart. I think at this point it's just better that way.

Hi to Cindi & AFM.
Deter, your drive up the CA coast sounds lovely. We've done it twice, so beautiful!

Have a great day everyone.

[Doggygirl]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Hello all! Happy Tuesday!

:welcome: My New Beginning! I like that screen name. :yougo: Congratulations on 11 Days sober!:yougo: You are more than welcome to join our happy band of AFers. Tell us more about yourself!

Gold, good to see you again too. This is quite a journey of highs and lows and ebbs and flows. Whatever we each have to go through to achieve sobriety seems very worth it to me. Good for you getting right back on the wagon.

Greenie, all I can say is that I want PICTURES of you and Ruby's adventures!

Deter, that drive must have been awesome. I love your reminder about stopping to enjoy the moments, especially now that AL is not constantly in the way with incessent (sp) nagging.

Cinders, I like sober better too. I guess that's the bottom line. Thanks for putting it so simply!

AFM - better to have the shit-sleeps than the sleep-shits I guess.....

Dill, interesting observation about families who don't talk about stuff. In my family, not much discussion goes on at all about topics that IMO have the most significance. I have mentioned to one of my brothers and both of my parents that I don't drink anymore and attend AA. Not much was said. In fact nothing of any importance was said. I felt good just getting the fact out on the table - I felt I needed to say it as part of my need/desire to be honest with myself and certain others about my alcoholism. I don't feel bad about it though as this is just how my family is and it's not going to change. Acceptance.

Lavande how often do you see your family? Sometimes I'm glad I live close to Mom and Dad and other times........

Marshy, thank you for starting us off today, and with a thought provoking topic - what "normies" notice / don't notice about other people and drinking. Your post made me think about when I first quit drinking and the worry of "what will people THINK if I say "no" to a drink??????" Normies aren't thinking about alcohol 24X7 and IMO, generally speaking anyway, just don't pay that much attention unless of course we are completely inappropriately drunk (which I have been many times). I remember in July 2007 when I quit the first time, the ONLY person on dog training day who noticed I wasn't drinking alcohol was one of the guys who admits to having a drinking problem himself. Interesting stuff......

A (not so) strange thing happened at my morning leads group meeting. It's a chamber of commerce affiliated thing, so the guy from the chamber always does a quick update with the schedule of upcoming chamber events. There is a "young professionals" group within the chamber and they have a monthly activity. Tonight they have an outing to a Cubs game (by bus). The guy from the chamber mentioned that last year they went to the Sox game and it starting pouring right when they pulled in the parking lot - game cancelled. There is some rain possibility in todays forecast, so he said the group is hoping that the same thing doesn't happen this year. Even after over a year sober, my mind IMMEDIATELY thought "well that's no big deal if it rains because there will be plenty of booze in the coolers on the bus." IMMEDIATELY my mind went there.

This just goes to show how warped my thinking is when it comes to AL. AL was always the main attraction for me with everything else - including the Big Event coming second or lower on the list. As long as the drinking could go on without a problem, I was just fine with whatever else did or didn't happen.

That's why I can't drink.

DG

[greeneyes]

AF daily - Tuesday, July 28th

Det, I just have one little question. I want to know if what passed before my mind's eye is true. Did you get b**ch slapped by one of those big black hanging straps?