July Jamboree ~ Week 4

[ladybirdheart]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good Day or Evening. Last year we were August All Stars, I liked it and it was the first time I made thirty days so I have fond associations. I also like AF August or August AF. Keeps it uncluttered. Welcome home Sooty and for everybody taking off, enjoy! I hope you feel more settled today, Lav, I know how one can get internally thrown around. I tend to have a bit a background anxiety much of the time albeit for different reasons. I laughed when folks talked about messing things up while sober. People throughout my life have at times (and not with obvious sarcasm) described me bewilderingly as ?graceful?, but while stone sober I am quite capable of (gracefully perhaps) falling off a ledge, out of a boat, out of tree, off a horse, and down a flight of stairs. I think I fell down less when drinking as I tended to stay put more. Hope you each find a fine day or evening out there. Love, Ladybird.

[sooty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

I remember being August All Stars - almost unbelievable that a year has gone since then ....I'm sure time goes faster as I get older, there are definitely less hours in the day

I'm happy with whatever we choose - I like August AF as well, nice and simple!

I've had a busy day and am off out to choir in a minute so will catch you all tomorrow - have a good day
love sooty

[Rusty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good Afternoon July Amigos/Amis/Friends,

Sooty-You're in a choir? You can sing...I wish I could. Even my friends say that I can't carry a tune.

How about Awesome August or August AF? I like both.

Lav, Dill, Star-I know what it's like to go back home after you're away....then come home, broke and defeated, or struggling and defeated. I did, with a master's degree in hand. I didn't have a decent paying job until I was 32. And, I was very grateful that my parents helped me out. I know your children appreciate you....even if they don't say it. It is humbling when people are struggling financially, especially men. It's so hard on their egos.

A cheery hello to Sped, Rustop, Rebirth, Ladybird, Gaia and Cyntree!

It's a beautiful day here in Wisconsin and I plan to enjoy it (sober) once I am done with my business paperwork.

Have a great AF everyone!

Love,

Rusty

[rebirth]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

ladybirdheart;922049 wrote: I think I fell down less when drinking as I tended to stay put more. Love, Ladybird.

:H You are possibly right

[rustop61]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good morning everyone

Just read this and thought I would share. Lots of animal lovers on this thread and I am sure lots of you remember what it was like living with teenagers!!

"I just realized that while children are dogs -- loyal and affectionate -- teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knees and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.
"Then around age 13 your adorable little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen to turn up its nose up at whatever you're serving.
"When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings.
"Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps the counter. The more you go toward it wringing your hands, the more it moves away.
"Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you have to learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and affection too. Sit still and it will come, seeking the warm, comfortable lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it. One day, your grown up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you."
"Then you will realize your cat is a dog again." [author unknown}

Still have my visitors so another busy day ahead. I am really looking forward to a break. Have a great week-end everyone.

Rustop

[Stargazerlily]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Rustop61, I loved the description of teens like cats. It was funny but right on target. I wish you had a good fable or parable regarding young adults moving home!!

Dill, Lav and Rusty, thanks again for discussing the young adults and their struggles. It helps me to gain perspective. I also talked to a friend last night whose son had moved home, actually at one point all her kids had moved home, FOR A SHORT TIME, and she survived. Dill, I am touched by your understanding of your son's struggles to earn a decent living. It is hard to survive, no impossible with wages so low compared to cost of living. Especially rents. You would think they'd be more in line with wages, but no. Anyway, I feel the more you process something, some issue, the easier it becomes to accept it. I am going through the stages of grief: denial, anger, depression, bargaining, acceptance, and then right back. I don't want to get stuck in anger or depression. So thanks for your support.

Rusty, sometimes is takes time to find the right job that is a good fit. I know I had a few jobs before I found the right one. Good to know your parents were there for you, supporting you through a tough time. Thanks for sharing. We risk when we share our difficult experiences, but I always grow and learn from everyones posts.

I had a lovely evening last night. A friend stopped by and we sat outside and talked. It was cooler than it's been and soothing to spend time with a friend. Then another pal called me and we talked till the time my husband came home from work. So, it was busy busy. And AF.

This week flew by for me, I am of course happy it is Friday, my favorite day of the week. I am going to have a cookout for just the two of us. Next week I'll be gone and then it will be the three of us. Am I being dramatic?

Will hopefully check in later today.

[Chillgirl]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Happy AF Friday Jammers!

Rustop - Perfect analogy on teens being cats!
Star maybe young adults are the best of both dogs and cats :fingers:

Your son is probably apprehensive about the move back too and probably realizes its a big change for you all. I would try to see it as a lesson on tolerance and acceptance, if you can be a peace with it hopefully your son will refect the same back to you and maybe its a great opportunity to really get to know him as an adult.

LBH - your comments about moving around when drinking made me think how I was always scared to wear highheels when i was going out socially as I knew Id end up drunk and being unable to balance on them, im going to a wedding tomorrow and I will wear my heels with grace and dignity!

Everyone seems happy to keep our August title simple so shall we settle on AF August?

[Rusty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good Friday Morning Friends,

Rebirth, I know how you feel about food. I have the same problem and I was a bad girl this week. I will work out today....I will I will! My mother SHAMED me into not giving into my weaknesses: potato chips (crisps), french fries and big, fat hamburgers. She is disgusted with me. Yes, I've lost weight but I put some back on. GRRRR.

Rustop, I loved your analogy of the cats. It is so true!

Star, I am so glad you had a lovely evening last night. You so deserve it after your guests and the challenge with your son. I sent you another PM, too. I think it's really nice that you and your husband are having a cook-out for just the two of you. Can I crash your party? I reread your post yesterday: "I need to join something, but what? In the past, a church I joined proved to be a source of fellowship, and eventually, made some good friends there. It seemed that through shared experiences, we formed a bond. But at that time I worked part-time. Now my life seems to be consumed by my work and long hours. Maybe I am making excuses." Star, I have your same problem. I have been looking to make new friends because I live in a small town and it is sooo hard. Part of my problem is that I'm single and have no significant other and married couples don't like associating with unattached women. I've made a couple friends at the gym but that's about it. I may see if I can volunteer through my church. Like you, I work a gazillion hours, and travel a lot. It's hard to form new relationships when you're not around. If we lived in the same town, we'd be great friends!

I warm hello to Lav, Sooty, Ladybird, Shelley, Dill, Cyn, Gaia, Bear, and anyone else that I've missed.

I'll check in later.

Love,

Rusty

[dill]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good morning Jammers,

Well, I just spent a half hour writing a long hearfelt post and got kicked off the site and it got lost. I'm going to try again later, but I am too disheartened to try it again now. So, I hope you'll understand. I'll check in later!

[Rusty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Dill,

That happened to me several times yesterday....I must have spent two hours trying to respond to people's posts.

Sending you warm thoughts,

Rusty

[Rusty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Hi Chill,

Cross post. I love AF August.

xoxo

Rusty

[spedteach]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Hey everybody,
Coming uo on my one year sobriety date has kind of put me into a tail spin. Have been thinking about drinking for days. Part of it is summer and not working. Doing projects around the house, that was always a reason to drink.
Headed up to the mountains today to spend the weekend with my sister.
Glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Hard to post the blues on such a positive thread, plus this seems to be such a recurrent theme of mine.

[Rusty]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Hi Sped

You will make it to your one year anniversary, and we will all be here to celebrate with you. I know what you mean about thoughts about drinking....I have the same issues as you. It's summer, and I've had time off from work....which I am not used to. I am always having to keep my mind and body occupied so I don't pick up that first glass.

This is not a recurring theme with you. How is the marathon training coming?

Enjoy the weekend in the mountains with your sister,

Love,

Rusty

[Lavande]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good morning kids!

I had a half decent night's sleep - I'm grateful
I was kind of dragging yesterday in need of rest.

Rustop - your story is so true, loved it!

Red, while reading your post I've realized something. The reason I never minded my kids returning home was because I really like the adults that they've become AND they kept me company where my husband never did!!!! Trying refocusing - it will probably make you feel better about your situation.

Greetings to Dill, Rusty, rebirth, chill & everyone else attempting to check in today

Have a wonderful AF Friday!
Lav

[rebirth]

July Jamboree ~ Week 4

Good morning everyone.
AF August sounds great cause that's what I intend to be!

Front pages of todays local paper was a story of an 18 year old man who beat a 63 year old man to death and robbed him of his money and mobile phone. They were drinking partners in a pub! The teenager was traced by CCTV cameras...he said he could not remember doing the deed because he was so drunk. He pleaded insanity due to alcohol abuse but still got 18 years for it. His family were well to do and too ashamed to attend court.

Another wake up call as to why I have to stop thinking that alcohol is good for me!

Anyway, I am travelling to india tomorrow for a few weeks and will try to log on when possible. I am nervous as I wont have my support system with me...
wish me luck...celebrating 60 days in India. OH MAN what a high!!! x