January: Just Do It! Week 3

[redhibiscus]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

What up!

Dill, chill, it is great to sleep through the night, or if you do wake up, it's not because of alcohol. The anxiety during withdrawal is not fun. It is a gift to be free of it.

Lil, happy anniversary. So happy you are in a different place a year later.

I had a decent Monday, till the end of the day. I wish the economy would get better so I could get another job. I was too busy to work on my resume and in reality know that there is not much out there. It is good to be home, handling my stress AF.

It's true, the daily reading. We have to think things through to the bitter end. The waking up in the middle of the night, sweating, anxious, freaking out....it is just not worth it. The regrets of not being yourself, being a fool, inconsiderate, rude, sloppy. The best part of sobriety is finding out that the real you is so much better than the drunk you.

Have a peaceful, loving evening friends.:h

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hi chill - welcome & congrats on your 18 AF days!!

Lil, congrats on your anniversary! I'll bet all of us are feeling a lot better now than we did last January - thank God!

Sooty, take a little Lavan-itude with you when you go watch the 5 year old - bless you for being a good friend

Hi lode, dill, LBH - how are you?

Shelley, I'm beginning to think we both kinda dislike winter..... always thought I could do just fine without it

Red, hang in there with your job until something better turns up - it's always possible! Keep handling that stress in healthy ways!

I'm getting tired but not ready to sleep yet. I'm concerned a bit by the old friends we visited today. Their house looked kind of dirty & disorganized. The Mrs looked kind of disheveled too. These are fairly typical findings.....people get older & less able to care for themselves, but it is hard to watch. They have a son who lives not too far away but I don't really think he is really tuned into things. I'll continue to keep an eye on them, just be a good friend.

Well, I hope everyone has a terrific AF night!
Take care,
Lav

[cyntree]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Happy Monday evening, all. Lil - Happy anniversary! You're journey has brought so much to us all - thanks, and congrats. Welcome Chill - great job on 18 days. Long day today, too tired to say much except that I'm grateful for you all. Lav - great job checking in on your senior friends. That's another thing that we don't have any choice about - growing old - and I see so many people in tough situations. It's wonderful when neighbors take time to check in, good for you.

Take care everyone; wishing you a happy AF Tuesday.

[lodestar]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hey lovelies and welcome aboard Chillgirl! Way to go on your new journey! I've had a busy day preparing for class tomorrow. So much good stuff going on in here. Hell no I never want to experience those early morning wake ups and terrible anxiety again! I could leave that forever. Soots, glad you can be there for your friend. xoxo the rest of you ~ you know who you are :l

[openheart]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

A quick check in to say hi. Really liked the daily reading. Lav, what a big heart you have--looking in on your neighbors. I'm sure you brightened their day, just like you brighten ours here.
Hi ya Chillgirl--welcome aboard and way to go on 18 af days!
Red--funny you should mention picking up a 2nd job--I was actually thinking about looking into doing a little census work--not only for extra cash, but to fill in some of the time that I used to fill w/ alc.
It's late so gonna call it a night--have a strong Tuesday everyone!
Open

[mandalay]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hi to everyone

Hope all is well with everyone this morning - as it is for you. It's Tuesday night here, and I am about to make my nighttime cup of chamomile tea and think about bed. I'm not having such a great week - nothing whatsoever to do with alcohol. Struggling with a few physical issues with my health and it's sent me a bit down. I would previously have headed off to my room with the wine, but now of course I am not doing that so that's why I think I've been down. Not that I took solace in the bottle as much as the fact that it put me to sleep - no amount of melatonin or valerian is going to do that at the moment but I have to just get on with it! We all have some kind of aches and pains after all! Sorry to whinge!

Hope everyone has a great AF day!

Mandalay

[redhibiscus]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hey Mandalay,
Sorry to hear you are not feeling so well. I too am suffering from aches and pains early this morning (time difference) and it is hard to deal with. I notice that after about a week AF I start to feel depressed, dealing with life issues without alcohol. It is never easy. You are not whining, just sharing and looking for support. Sometimes, listening to the relaxation CDs have helped me to relax and get to sleep. Just a suggestion.

[mandalay]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hi Red

Sorry to hear you have aches and pains. Hopefully you will feel a bit better as the day wears on. Yes, you are right - it is sometimes a challenge to deal with things without the support of our good friend (NOT!) Mr AL. I was very irritable for a couple of weeks... at first I put it down to the effects of being suddenly alcohol free but then I realised it is actually just the fact that before I gave up drinking I would have grabbed a bottle of wine and drunk my cares away (till the morning!) but now I have to deal with them head on. I am getting there, and feel so good that I would never choose to go back.

My disability is one that has highs and lows, sometimes I am absolutely fine but other times I hurt myself badly by falling or twisting (dislocating joints) and it can take months to get right. My doctor is not just useless when it comes to helping with alcohol issues, but also with pain management. I can see how those two shortcomings might go hand in hand - maybe thinks that the answer to everything is to pull oneself together! I was told ten years ago that I would end up in a wheelchair - I've defied them up to now,but when I start feeling sorry for myself, I wonder if maybe they weren't actually right after all! But hey! This is the year when I start taking control of my own health! So I can do it, I just have to shut up about it and be patient! The good thing is that I'm coping AF and I just praise the Lord for that!

Take care, Red, and all you others out there today just starting your Tuesdays!

Mandalay

[dill]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

We are not living just to be sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to love.

Greetings JJDI's!

Mandalay, I am so sorry to hear you are in pain. I think you should try a different doctor! Do they have any sort of pain management clinics where you are like we have in the States? If so, please look into it. I left my physician to find one that was willing to work with me and was glad when the new one understood the reality of my issues with Al and was willing to try things and to listen. We worked together on it.

Red, these are truly such hard economic times! I know things look bleak but I hope you finish your resume and continue your search, because one never knows unless they try! Something may just come your way!

Open, how are you doing? You sound good and strong.

Hi Lodestar! Such a busy life you have! I remember long long ago my time as a grad student. There was almost no time for anything but classes, work, study. That was 35 years ago! I think it's even harder now adays! Geez, I just realized, I was a grad student about the time you were born!

Cyn, You are so right that growing old is something that we don't have a choice about. I think about it more and more consciously these days as it is just around the corner. Time seems to be moving so much faster as I get older, too. I am really grateful to be living this af life now. The down side of growing older could only be exacerbated by alcohol abuse. Instead of being an elder with wisdom to impart, one would be a sloppy old fool! Yiikes.

Sped, I am going to be torn when the Vikings play the Saints. I would generally root for the Saints. But this will be tricky because I really like both of those Quarterbacks. I'll probably root for the Saints as that is my daughter and SIL's favorite.

Lav, are your friends living very near to you? It sounds like they may need a bit of a guardian angel. Do you have Meals on Wheels in the area? A Council on Aging or some other such organization that might provide some supports?

Must go to work now. Peace and strength to all!

Well, time to get ready for another day.

[lilmea]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

It's true, the daily reading. We have to think things through to the bitter end. The waking up in the middle of the night, sweating, anxious, freaking out....it is just not worth it. The regrets of not being yourself, being a fool, inconsiderate, rude, sloppy. The best part of sobriety is finding out that the real you is so much better than the drunk you.

Red-You sure said it all right there. Thinking things through to the bitter end. Tough but so necessary. Finding out that the real you is so much beter that the drunk you. Not only that, but finding out I like the sober me has been a bit of a surprise.

Dill-Thank you for the great quote. I copied it off and added it to my old MWO notebook.

Sooty-Thanks for the link. I actually took the test last night and was found to be in the normal range. Surprised me as there were a few times I didn't hear all the numbers. It was kind of fun to do.

Chil-Congrats on 18 days. Hang in there. It does get better.

Open-The census job sounds like a good part time job. It might even be fun.

Hello to everyone else. As Lods said, you know.

Have a peaceful, aff day.

[lilmea]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hi Dill-cross post!

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Morning friends!

Posting right after Dill & Lil.....good morning to both of you!

I'm heading out for a blood pressure check shortly - it's been better but I am on 2 meds. Quitting drinking & smoking didn't help a bit - go figure.

Yeah, my elderly friends are still on my mind this morning. They are VERY proud & stubborn people, it's not easy suggesting change to them. Meals on Wheels is always a nice idea but they are both Diabetic, really watch their diet carefully. The Mrs had a total knee replacement last year which improved her mobility but she still has a lot of other arthritic issues. The Mr still heads out to work most days of the week. He turned their plumbing business over to his son but is reluctant to totally let go....... They live about 45 min. away now.

I'm grateful to be fully available for my elderly friends & family when they need me. This time last year I can't say that I was
Wishing everyone a great Tuesday, I'll be back later!
Lav

[sooty]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Good afternooon JJDIs hope everyone is having a good Tuesday. I went out to another town this morning with Mr S (aka Sweep) and we split up cos he needed to get his haircut and then we failed to meet at the appointed time and as he is a stubborn idiot who refuses to have a mobile phone we spent the next half hour waiting for each other in different places so I was thoroughly cross and cold!
I could cheerfully smack him one at the moment but of course I won't because I am an extremely mature and sensible lady!
Anyway back home now and thawing out ..
Lil glad the test was useful - good to know you're normal :H
Lav your friends are lucky to have you - keep on keeping an eye. Hope the bp test was ok.
Mandalay sorry to hear that you're struggling at the moment, hope you managed to get some sleep.
Hi to Lode, Red, Sped, Open,Chill,Cyn and anyone I've forgotten.
Evening class tonight so I'll see you all later
Sooty

[lodestar]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Good morning friends! A great unhung Tuesday to you all!

Mandalay, so sorry to hear of the aches and pains. You are doing just terrific dealing with it all. Dill, you crack me up!

Quick one for me, lovelies...the day awaits. Sending love to you!

[FindingMyself]

January: Just Do It! Week 3

Hi everyone,

Back online this afternoon after a power outage this morning right in the middle of my post!

Mandalay, I agree with Dill, find a new dr., someone empathetic to what you are experiencing, someone who understands about pain management. I'm sorry you're in pain.

Sooty, I took that hearing test also - I'M NORMAL! I took an eye test to renew my driver's license a while back. I was nervous because I know I need glasses, but breezed through it. I was standing there feeling all cocky when the clerk said, "Well, close enough."

Lil, congrats on being in a much better place now than you were this time last year! Wishing you continued success.

Hi Chill and congrats to you on day 18!

Lav, bummer not to get a low blood pressure benefit out of quitting both. I know high bp runs on my mom's side of the family, I know I need to cut out the smokes.

Everyone, have a nice evening!