AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

[rustop61]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Hi everyone

Chill - negativity is toxic for us alcoholics. You have the right attitide, you go girl.

Lav - Hot, hot, hot. It's a beautiful spring morning here but none of that kind of heat.

Amelia - Enjoy your outdoorsey activity.

Sooty, Doggy, LBH, Cyn, Doggy, Raven, Dill and everyone else big hello. Am getting very little computer time at the moment. Have visitors for another few days. Remaining AF even though hubby and SIL are having wine every night. Bit of a challenge but getting through it.

Rustop

[AMELIA]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Rustop,
Good for you for remaining AF with guests around. It is a challenge, but you ALWAYS wake up glad that you didn't partake! They may have hangovers, but your head will be crystal clear!!

[Stargazerlily]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Good morning to all. The weather is always a good topic of conversation in the Midwest. 80 degrees one day, storms and snow predicted as a possiblity tonight. No wonder I have a headache. But, we have had the most beautiful spring with lots of flowers, budding trees, intensely green grass. Sooty asked how do you handle this weather? Keep clothes for all seasons in your closet right now, you will need all of them. :

Marriage is different AF. Mostly good for me as we figure out new ways to spend our time. Other things are hard and you can't just drink when you get annoyed. So, it is a challenge.

Lavande, I gained weight too when I quit smoking, and never lost it. But it is so great to not smoke and be free of that constant burden. Both my grandmother and mother gained weight at my age and never lost it till the end of their lives. So part of this weight gain may be genetic. Plus, I am one heck of a great cook, and I bet you are too!!

Tonight, I am going to put out applications, resumes, etc, for new jobs. I just decided that it is worth it to look. I am putting this situation in the hands of my higher power. I have to have a good paying job as my other half's job situation has never been the same since the Great Recession. So, send positive thoughts my way. Certain things at my job are just untenable, and I feel that I have learned so much, done what I've needed to do, and have no where else to go in the company. Plus, with pay cut and longer hours, what do I have to lose? I know, benefits, and they are worth alot. So, I will start looking and ask that I find the right job to use all my talents and abilities, good pay, and people who I respect and who respect me. Whew!!! It is out there, I just know it.

Chillgirl, my heart goes out to you. Change is so hard and when other have to be nasty and unpleasant, it makes it worse. AF, you have strength and wisdom, and can use these gifts to overlook unnecessary negativity. I loved your quote about having the choice to come from a place of love or fear. LOVE is the place to come from. I too feel that AF I have the strength to make changes, but know it will be challenging. If I was drinking, I would not be able to consider change as I just kind of struggled to get through the misery of the ups and down of drinking. We are here for you and want to know about your struggles, you are not alone.:l

LBH, as usual you make the mundane sound beautiful and elegant. I love the way you celebrate daily life and make it special. Books on tape sound like a great idea, I am pleased that it is working for you.

I have a busy day ahead of me, but tomorrow is Friday, Yay!!! Have a great AF day.

[sooty]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Good morning all, it is the most beautiful day here, spring sunshine and everything looking so green after all the rain. So I have done my chores and made tomato soup today cos I had loads of tomatoes owing to Mr S and I both buying them on the same day and I'll be having some of that for lunch with some salad.
And I'm going to go out for a walk - I was going to garden but I can do that on a cloudy day and today I want to be out on the cliffs.
I don't have the know-how to post photos and stuff but if any of you are on facebook and you enter "gower" into the search box you'll find that someone has thoughtfully posted photos of my area on there.
Have a wonderful day gang - see you later
love sooty

[dill]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

"In to every life, a little rain must fall."

I think that is the saying, anyway. The problem is, sometimes along with the rain comes high wind and lightning. When the lightning strikes the tree next to your home and jumps to the electric wire that runs the power through your home and blows out several electrical appliances and modems.....well, you get my drift. One moment Mr. D and I were happily viewing the TV show "24". The next moment there was a very loud sound and we were sitting in the pitch darkness. Lucky for us, Mr. D had a generator installed a couple of years ago. In less than a minute, it kicked on and we had basic electricity. But it has taken some time to restore the computer modems and routers and cable TV is still out.

But, we are fine.

I haven't had time to read the posts yet, but will do so later. I am back at work this week after a lovely Easter break and I am having a very hard time adjusting. Ah well. Deep breaths. It'll be alright. We are past hump day, after all!!

I am where I am. Have a great AF day all!

[Lavande]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Good morning April friends,

Dill, glad to see you back & unharmed!
Lightning strikes, power surges of any sort freak me out!!!! We are right by your side this week - be well

Amelia, I can 'feel' your smile ~ it's powerful!

chill, staying positive is always the way to go! I know how dreadful life can be when you allow negativity to rule. You just keep moving forward, you won't be sorry

Rustop, congrats to you for sticking to your plan despite others drinking around you. It was a hard thing at first but you will find it does get easier, honestly!

Red, all I really want to do is lose enough to get rid of this 'overstuffed' feeling, you know?!
Good luck in your job search, hopefully the right one is waiting for you.

Sooty, enjoy your walk on the cliffs - watch your step
I have very fond memories of taking a similar walk (sober) with my husband & son 7 years ago on Inishmore - Beautiful!!

OK, My customers are interupting me with phone calls, better get to work.
Have a fabulous AF Thursday!

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Hello! Keep smiling, Amelia, I loved your experience of getting ?hooked? on sobriety, we can see it as we once did booze as something we need to reach for everyday, something we actively seek, something we are willing to put other things aside and go out of our way for, something to help us relax, something to celebrate with, something to help us with pain, something we can?t live without. Chill, it makes me bristle to think of somebody being mean to you, you are such a sweetheart. Thank for the wonderful quote, I need to remember to ?return to love? over and over and over (and over). To Red, Lav, Dill, Shelley, Cyn, Sooty and everybody who is feeling the effects of sobriety in their marriage, I join in. I have a really fine sober husband who appreciates a sober wife, particularly me, and in my case I am a loner by nature and now have at least the illusion of lost privacy. Where is that dark cave I used to enter at the end of the day, I am always so darn conscious and aware:H. Getting used to it. Sorry you had such a bad lightening strike, Dill, it can really scare me. I remember once sitting on the floor in the half basement of this very tall narrow tower of a house in a high mountain meadow holding a fire extinguisher and feeling like a very inconsequential, soon to be grilled, sausage; another time diving off a horse and into a ditch after I realized my hair was standing on end from the static. I am glad you are OK:l Enjoy your cliffs and your tomatoes, Sooty. Here's to you looking for new work, Red, it is right up there with the ability to love in terms of giving value to our daily life. Hi Raven, glad you are well and happy. Hi Rusty, I love how you are finding your sober spot when there is sauce flowing all around you, it really is kind of a cool secret. Hi there, Doggy. Hi all. Love, Ladybird.

[cyntree]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Morning all -
Sooty, please take me along in your pocket for your walk on the cliffs - how fabulous that sounds!
Chill, fantabulozish quote, and just what I needed to hear today. I forget how Fear creates negativity, and stops the 'in the moment' place; thank you. (and good job steering clear of that nutcase - you are cut from too fine a cloth to be pulled at by coarse hands).
Rusty - what strength you are showing!
Red - sending good energy your way for all your applications.
Dill - eeek, glad that you're OK.
LBH - 'the illusion of lost privacy'. That's it, in the perfectly turned phrase. Let me know when you figure that out....it is the horizon of growth for me. (And oddly enough, not only privacy from him, but from myself.?.) And RE: lightening, did the horse survive the electricity, and did you survive the dive off of its back?

Cheers to all for this AF day -

[IAD]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

It's Spring....Let's tip toe through the Tulips ! Ha! IAD AF Free !

[Raven.joy]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Nice to read about all your ups and downs. Feel better for knowing others going through same journey with me. Not much to say as usual, tired from work and up at 5 tomorrow so going to bed.

[sooty]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Just logging in to say goodnight. Nearly 10pm here and I'm thinking of hot chocolate, bed and book!
Hope we've all had a good day and not been too hot.
See you all tomorrow
love Sooty

[Lavande]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Thanks for the Tiny Tim reminder IAD - what a bizarre person he was.............

Raven, hope you're not working too hard!!

Sooty, it's near 10 pm here now & the rain has started. Looking forward to normal Spring temps tomorrow

Wishing everyone a good night!
Lav

[Chillgirl]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Wishing you all a fantabulous AF Friday!

Thank you all SO much for your words of encouragement, it means so much to me...
I knew that getting divorced and moving countries might not be the easiest task to take on but hey.. i feel so inspired now im AF I cant keep myself down!

Red - I wish you great sucess in the job front, you will be amazing now you are AF, I feel like a grew a brain :H

We are all so much more powerful than we believe and I love this quote by Michelangelo which I declare our weekend affirmation!

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

Oh and did I mention I have my flight booked to go to the States to visit my MWO friend!!!! :h

[rustop61]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

Good morning everyone

Chill - Wow, you really are turning your life around since becoming AF. I'm sure its empowering. You are in charge again. We all have been slaves to Al for too long.

Sooty - Hope you enjoyed your early night and cliff walk yesterday. I am looking forward to a 10 pm bed time when my visitors leave, its been 1 am most nights this week.

Star - Good luck on the job front

Dill - Glad you are over your power out, you are lucky to have a generator for the basics. Our water was turned off yesterday. With guests in the house not very nice and with teenagers OMG as they say. I had to bring the 17 year to a friends house for a shower as she was going out and could not be seen like that!! Major drama.

Lav - Know the over-stuffed feeling very well. Going to try and do a 6 week diet/healthy eating plan before the summer.

Amelia - I liked your comments about getting 'hooked on sobriety'. It's so true. I'm feeling very smug this morning. We were out last night and SIL had about 4 or more of those little bottles of wine! Very interesting to watch and I know this morning that while I'm up bright eyed and enjoying my cup of tea and MWO, she will be feeling far from bright.

IAD, Raven, Red, Dill, LBH and anyone else, big hello and happy Friday.

Rustop

[Stargazerlily]

AF APRIL 2010 ~ WEEK TWO

I am up early as usual, after a good night's sleep.

Dill, good that you have a generator. Spring storms in the Midwest can be brutal. I do love the soft rains we have been having, though. And the green grass and buds on the trees are so beautiful and peaceful looking.

Chill, thanks for the encouragement....I feel like I have grown a brain too!! I am so grateful to be able to think clearly, have less anxiety, and feel so strong. Being AF is a powerful feeling. It is good to focus on all positive feelings and add to them.

I am looking forward to the weekend, some selfcare, putting in more applications, having a visit from family. Love, joy and peace. Fruits of the spirit. Impossible when actively drinking, becoming more and more often AF. Wishing everyone here a great AF Friday.