January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

[lilmea]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Overcoming - Stages of Grief and Loss One at a Time

Hello all,

I found this article on the stages of grief when giving up AL. Sometimes we forget that we do go through a grieving process. Denial, bargianing, anger, depression, acceptence.

Sky-I haven't had a chance to welcome you yet. There is a lot of support on this thread.

Red-I don't know why we sometimes become so self distructive. It is a real fight to break free from the gripes of AL.

Soots-Hop back up on the sober bus with us. We need our driver.

Open-We have a small petting zoo at our town park. I go almost every day to feed and watch the baby goats. They bounce around like they have springs on their feet.

Chilly-What is the weather like in Portugal? I just love this site offers contact with so many people from all over the world.

Cyn-I also tried the labyinth. I want to go back and explore that site more. It just seems like such a restful site.

Finding-Where are you going on your vacation? Some place warm and sunny I hope.

Lav, LHB, Dill-Sorry I had to jump off chat. Sometimes my computer won't let me access the internet. If I turn it off and then go back later it will. I don't have a clue about what causes it. I guess I need to update HB's computer for emergencys.

Hello to everyone who follows. Wishing everyone a great, af day.

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good morning all,

Lots & lots of rain coming down here - about to inflate the life rafts!
Definitely nothing nice about this Monday morning except that I'm her & hangover free

Good to see so many checking in - wondering where everyone was yesterday!
Pnut, good to see you! Know you're busy, hope all is OK.
Finding, a vacation sounds very nice right about now - enjoy!
open, my neighbors have 2 goats & 2 sheep. They claim they are leftovers from their kid's 4H projects - not so sure about that considering those kids are both in their 20's now! They do make the oddest noises!
Sky, Happy Australia Day tomorrow! I heard about that on another thread
LBH, hope you are feeling better!
Dill & Lil, hope to chat with you again next weekend!
Sooty - the party is over - back to the business of driving our bus!

Red, I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so much. You can quit drinking when you commit yourself! You have to want to quit More than you want to drink........
Sit down & examine the reason why you continue to drink. Obviously you need to make some important changes, I pray that you do very soon.

Must get my day going. Wishing a terrific (as possible) Monday to everyone!
Lav

[spedteach]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good morning everybody,
I did kind of space out chat, thinking it was next weekend. Will be there on the 31st.
I had an ok weekend. Talked before about how much I have been thinking about where I was a year ago. January was bad a year ago but Super Bowl Sunday involved a suicide threat, the ER, paramedics, the police. As comfortable as I feel on this site, it is still really hard to write about where I was a year ago. The anxiety, shame, guilt, all those fun things people like us get to feel on a regular basis, are still very much with me and were lurking about much of the weekend. And it's not even Super Bowl yet!!!

Red, honey, I so feel your pain. Just hang in there with us. Maybe it will happen like it did with me and one day you say never again and it actually happens. Have you thought about Antabuse?

Dill, I've done something like your note writing to remind me in the light of day, how bad things had been. It did sometimes backfire though. The note would make me feel so bad that I would have to drink to get over it!

Open, maybe you are an animalholic! How many animals do you have? I have spent many a Sunday afternoon entertaining the critters at the pound, wishing I could rescue them all. And I love baby goats.

Lav, Sunday was very quiet on this site. I'm loving your travel agent idea. Tell me about the mushroom capital of the world. Do you live near Valley Forge?

Lil, I have found it to be true that I have gone through the grieving process in my breakup with al. Do believe I am at a point of acceptance which is a lot more comfortable than all those other stages.

LBH, I love your words! Embrace that virus. My Buddhist dharma teacher talked yesterday about accepting your problems and moving through them as opposed to fighting them. And I want you to know that I used to be a nurse and am an expert eye dropper administrator!

I have the morning off. Am waiting for the carpet man to come and measure my rooms for new carpet.
The thought of moving everything out of those 2 rooms leaves me feeling stunned. And chosing a new carpet ....should I go with cashew, string, willow, or aged herbs. Think I want a job naming carpet nd paint colors.

Sooty, Cyn, Sky, P'nut, Finding, all of y'all. Happy Monday.

Go Saints.

Shelley

[Chillgirl]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi Everyone,
Another glorious sunny day here in Portugal! Lilm we have very hot summers and mild winters, Portugal is one of the best climates in Europe, hence my move here from my original home is cold Scotland!

Wanted to wish you all a happy and AF monday.

Red sending you lots of love and strength, it sounds like you are where i was nov/dec when i just couldnt imagine a way out. There never is any logic to why we repeatedly pour down our throats what continues to make us miserable but for me i eventually saw the madness of it and SO badly wanted to be free. Being here was probably the biggest help for me so keep checking in and you will get there.

Heres to a sucessful week for us all in our diverse corners of the world.....

[sooty]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Toot toot the sober bus is coming to town and Sooty's driving - where shall we go this week gang? I'm still wanting somewhere warm cos its cold again here and I think we'll play the Beach Boys as they always remind me of summer!
Good to see us all on here, all at different stages of our journey, some of us taking little detours but always returning to get back on the road .... flipping heck I'm getting all poetic!
I've had a good day, been rather lazy after the business of the weekend - I hope Monday has been kind to us all.
See you all tomorrow
Sooty

[Chillgirl]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hey Sooty
You are all welcome down here in Portugal!
Here's something to get you all in the mood........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--cqAI3IUI[/video]]YouTube - The Beach Boys - Wouldn't it be nice

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hey friends,

Had a very unusual day.....my DIL has just met her birth mother for the first time this weekend. This woman & her sister are visiting in the area for a few days, I went out to lunch with all of them today. It was a very, very strange feeling for me I think primarily because of the age of the mother - she's very young & was very quiet. Well, my DIL seems happy, that's what counts

Shelley, you are in such a better place now than you were one year ago! I do understand your anxiety as Superbowl Day approaches but know that you have all of us with you now, we have your back! And you know a little 'Lavan-itude' goes a long, long way
I live in Chester County, PA home of Kennet Square, the Mushroom Capital of the World and Valley Forge (made famous by G. Washington & troops)! Heres a link just for you:

Kennett Square, PA - Historic Kennett Square

I love having access to the mushroom growers - super fresh mushrooms really, really cheap ($4 for a 3 lb. box - yum) Soup, stuffed mushrooms, sauteed mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms

Chill, I see now why you like your location so much! How do you do with the language? Does anyone speak English there?

Sooty, glad you are back at the wheel my friend! I don't care where you take us - just so we keep moving forward

Well, our rain has pretty much stopped, had a lot of wind too - it actually went up to 60 degrees today - felt warm. But the cold air will be back soon enough.

Wishing everyone a terrific AF evening!

[redhibiscus]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Thanks everyone for your so kind messages. I have to admit, it was hard to get back onto the site, but you are all the greatest group of people, really understanding where I have been and the anguish that accompanies screwing up over and over again.

Spedtech, thanks for sharing your hardest time. I wish you well on your one year anniversary of what sounds like the night you changed your life.

Dill, I love the idea of writing down the during the throes of feeling bad exactly what I am going through so I can clearly remember. It is so weird, I know what will happen, it has happened hundreds of times, yet I do it over and over again.

Lavande, you are right, I have to really really want it and make sincere changes. I have so much to think about.

Thanks everyone for being there and being so supportive.

[ladybirdheart]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

I am so glad you are here, Red, you know that your story is mine/ours. My cold and I went to work today and sorry that I don?t have much to report of our drive, Dill. I was aware that the pavement was hard and dry; the mountains in another world altogether were snow covered; I managed to avoid a wayward coyote; somebody was playing a banjo; and the oblique sun came through my truck window to reveal just another pale mouth breathing drooler in fine tweed and a string of pearls. Next time. Shelley, thank you also for sharing about some of the events you endured a year ago. Helps me very much. This new bench mark, like our Lav?s at Christmas, is likely to be sweet and gentle. Super. I love the names of your potential carpets, they definitely are evocative! There is a clothing catalog I get that has hilariously pretentious descriptions, things rather like ?be ready in this tiny thought of a dress, the color of sun drenched Tuscan soap bubbles in May, the hint of ruffle kissing the breeze with memories of Hemingway?.?. What a silly hoot. Please let us know what you will be walking on. Hi Soots, Sky, Mandalay, Lil, Pea, SD, Red, Finding, Cyn, Open, Lode, Chill, MM, and I sure hope I didn?t miss anybody. Sorry! We thankfully are a big group trying to get out of this darn mess (nobody gets left behind!) and I am not concentrating very well. Viruses make me really (really) stupid, but my heart is in the right place. Love, Ladybird.

[spedteach]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

I think somebody has 6 months tomorrow!?! I think I'm a couple weeks behind that somebody.

Night all. Sweet dreamlets!

Shelley

[openheart]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi everyone--
Kicking back tonight--trying to replicate the feeling I seek when I drink. So far I've only made it off the couch to heat up some leftovers--it's been helpful for me to really try to tease out what it is I'm trying to feel and see if there is any other way to get there besides drink.

Good for you, Red, for coming back to the site--I know how hard it is to do that when you just feel like running away. Remember we're stronger in the broken places--you will get there, just keep going--one step at a time. Hope and strength to you!:l

LBH--I got such a kick out of the descriptions from your magazine--it would be fun to write some of those! Maybe we could write some of those for MWO--"where we bask in the glow of the flickering hearts that surround us with the hint of peachy acapella tones lavishing us in soft light......::giggle:

Hey Sooty--how's about taking us on the sober bus to visit to see Chillgirl in Portugal? Got my passport and ready to hit the road!

Hiya Sped--hugs to you. We have a coupla horses, goats, dogs, and one cat. There may be a baby goat that needs a home and to be bottlefed that's only 5 days old--would love to bring him home! I'm not sure how that would go over at work, though.

Have a restful night everyone and a strong Tuesday.
:hOpen

[cyntree]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Happy Australia Day, Man and Sky! Good morning Chill!

I've had a long one today, so am logging in/out just about when you all on the other side of the world are getting up and at 'em.

Finding - sounds like you've got a plan for your time away, enjoy yourself, and hope you can pop in here.
LBH - thought about you today, hope that your work went well.
Red - keep on the path, never give up, each time you recommit, it goes deeper, I think.
Sped - what a heartbreaking account of last year, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. January is the anniversary month of a really scary public scene for me, a couple of years ago. Still gives me chills. I'm so glad you're here sharing your story and giving us strength.
Sooty - glad to have you driving again.

Dill. Lav, Lil, Pnut, and everybody else (Mighty? SD?) have a terrific Tuesday - will try to check in sooner tomorrow -

[sooty]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Happy Australia Day too - is it a National Holiday? Hope you have lots of fun.
Chill the bus is ready to leave for Portugal straight away - we should be with you in a day or two!
I had a good night's sleep and am raring to go - its 7.15 a.m. here, guess most of you are tucked up and hopefully dreaming nice things.
Have a good day when it dawns - I'll see you all later
Sooty

[dill]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Greetings JJDI's!

Cyn, I like the labyrinth better when I'm being carried through. I will return to it on a regular basis. Thanks!

Lil, I appreciated the link to the stages of grief. I am still stuck in the depression stage. I have not yet achieved the acceptance stage, although I am working at it.

Soots, I'm on board for Portugal! Turn up the music, please!

Chill, Mandalay, Happy Australia Day! Are there fireworks? I looked at the World Clock and I think you are 14 hours ahead of me here in Ohio. If we do chat at 4:00 EST on the 31st, I think it would be 6:00am Feb. 1st for you. If I'm correct, You could have your morning coffee with us!

Sped, we'll be with you on Super Bowl Sunday. Would chat help?

Lav I am sorely tempted to ask Sooty to drive us to Kennet Square sometime this summer!

Open, I think that is an interesting strategy, trying to replicate the good feeling you get from drink without actually drinking. I am going to try that exercise.

LBH, we'll have other trips together. The pearls were lovely.

Peace and strength to all, and never, ever give up.

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Morning friends,

The sun is here today - Yay! Yesterday's monsoon was quite enough for me!

Sooty, I'm on the bus to Portugal - could use some of that sun & fun
Dill, we will have Sooty turn the bus this way in a few months......lots of things to see in this area & lots of mushrooms to eat!!!!!! Getting past that depression thing was real big for me Dill! I swear by the Amoryn, plan to stay on it too

Wishing our Aussie friends a Happy AF Day!

Really need to get to work - running behind here!
Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav