AF August - Week 1

[dill]

AF August - Week 1

Sooty, so glad to see you. I have been wondering where you got off to. Did your daughter have fun in Thailand? My daughter and SIL honeymooned there.

Lav, so sorry you had a bad night on the night before last. I have been having trouble unwinding at night lately and my sleep is very fitful and marked with bad dreams. Alcohol was a big theme in last night’s dreams and it was very agitating. I wonder if there is something in the air?

LBH, thanks for the lovely pictures. Your abalone shells are beautiful. I remember I had one when I was a girl. I wonder whatever became of it. Your pond is lovely too. Was that a golden orfe in the bottom right corner? I tried to use drink tracker a couple of times, but it wouldn’t let me log in. Too bad, because I do think it is another positive tool.

Red, has your son arrived? You mentioned the other day that he was not big on school when he was younger. Perhaps he is more ready now to apply himself. My son was not ready for post secondary education just after high school. We packed him off to a technical school in hopes that he would get caught up in it, but he limped through the year and never went back. He enlisted instead and spent 4 years in the army. Now he’s enrolled himself in a degree program at a local college and is enjoying his studies. I am so surprised and happy to hear him talk enthusiastically about his classes. (Not all of them, but some.) He has an appreciation for learning now that he didn’t have just out of high school.

Rusty, I am so glad you are AF and having time with your Mom that you will be able to remember! I miss my parents.

Chill, your Mom sounds resourceful and resilient. You come from good stock. Did your Mom drink? Did she know of your drinking? My parents both drank, but Mom never seemed to drink to excess. They knew I drank but drinking was the norm in our culture and they never knew how my drinking progressed. I’m glad of that.

Paguy, the sleeping is one of the best gifts of being AF, I agree. The remembering things I did the night before is yet another gift I cherish.

SPED?

Let’s have an AF Tuesday and an unhung Wednesday!

[Pride before Fall]

AF August - Week 1

Let’s have an AF Tuesday and an unhung Wednesday! >>

I'll second that!

Pride (feelin' groovy)

[Chillgirl]

AF August - Week 1

Dill - My Mum is not a drinker, neither is my Father but they got 3 daughters that drank enough for both of them! My Mum is very supportive that I have stopped but I have never gone into detail with her, having lived abroad for 9 years I managed to hide a lot about my life and dont see the need to confess as she will just worry in retrospect.

I can echo so much of what you are all saying about sleep, when I was drinking Id be out cold for the 1st 2/3 hours then Id wake up and toss & turn for the rest of the night. Since being AF I sleep every night for a straight 7 hours rarely waking up. Just another wonderful benefit of being AF

[Lavande]

AF August - Week 1

Good morning kids!

Sometime during the night night, after a vividly bad dream, I awoke hearing myself yelling a loud F word..........:H
But I was able to go right back to sleep so I do feel rested today :H
I suppose this stage will go on for a while. Afterall, how quickly can you rid yourself of 37 years of BS?

I'm hoping my daughter is available later to accompany me on a trip to the Outlet stores for a little therapeutic shopping. I love to have the company & I can buy her lunch & some little things to put away for the baby

I am so grateful to be clear headed & totally present. My sense of freedom grows a little more each day. Of course, unloading a lot of dead weight doesn't hurt either

Wishing everyone a terrific AF Tuesday!
Lav

SPED - check in, please!

[Rusty]

AF August - Week 1

Good Morning Lav,

You have been so on my mind and in my step today. Those dreams are so common-I know I always dream about people I've had conflict with-ex-beaus and ex-bosses, nasty co-workers...I think it's because the conflict with these people in my mind has been unresolved. I think anger, sadness and dreams are part of the healing process. 37 years is a lot of baggage to unload. Maybe you can think about the good times so you're not as angry? My mom did that with my dad, after 57 years....he finally had an epiphany and realized that he had taken his wife and 5 children for granted. It changed him. Maybe Mr Lav. will have his epiphany now.

How wonderful that you can spend time shopping at the Outlet Mall with your daughter, picking out cute things for the baby! I think your new life is just so exciting....and we will all be PRESENT for you, and not just here (as in existing....under the veil of AL)

Have a great day, Lav. You are the leader of our wonderful thread!

[dill]

AF August - Week 1

Hi Pride, nice to have you join us.

[Rusty]

AF August - Week 1

A Warm Welcome, Pride, :welcome:

I have been reading your posts in the Abbercizers' Forum. You inspire me as I am also 5'3' and just a little older than you are, and I've started running again. Trying to shed the AL weight I've put on the last 4 years. Great to see you here!!

Rusty

[Lavande]

AF August - Week 1

Back again!

Welcome Pride - jump on Sooty's Sober Bus & ride along with us

Had a great day!!
Picked up my daughter at 10:30 am then went straight to the outlets. Did some shopping, had some lunch & enjoyed each other's company. We picked up a few extra things & listed them on ebay already Fun stuff!

I just finished peeling, pitting & slicing 10 lbs. of peaches which I will make into jam in the morning. I have 2 peach trees that are just loaded. Pears & apples will be next. If anyone want some................

Getting ready to turn in!
Thanks Rusty for thinking about me, I appreciate it - makes me feel good

Wishing everyone a peaceful night without nasty dreams.
Lav

[sooty]

AF August - Week 1

Morning everyone and a very happy humpday. My daughter had a fabulous time in Thailand thanks Dill but back to earth with a bang now as she's doing a 3 week stint on a play scheme for disabled children!

Lav I hope you are feeling better and the sage sticks have done their job.

Welcome Pride - I'm the driver of this bus and I welcome all passengers on board ...you can pick the music for this trip.

Chill good to see you

and everyone else that I've missed - I'm up early cos I woke early and now have to rush to take other daughter to work.
Have a good day everybody
love Sooty

[Stargazerlily]

AF August - Week 1

Again I am amazed at all the interesting posts.

Rusty, your support helps alot. Sorry I gave you credit for a great idea when it really belonged to another. Rusty, you will always be grateful, no regrets, for being there for your mom. I know that I made every extra effort for my mother and have no regrets. It is so difficult to see someone you love decompensate as their life force takes its natural course.

Chill, how meaningful for your to have that conversation with your mother. Again, being AF means we can have real relationships with our loved ones.

Lav, having your daughter in the area is truly a blessing. Glad your able to spend fun time with her. She is really lucky to have you.

Dill, I am going out to drive back with my son, he is across country. It will be a road trip, with lots of time to talk and possibly hash things out. He has recently come out and is dealing with that, in addition to not having, IMO, insight into his gifts. He always compares himself to others, wants to be someone else, and, frankly, is just not that good at school. He has average intelligence, but, like his father, has deficits in writing and grammar, which really limit his choices. He was in a profession that he was good at, but did not give it enough of a chance, then let things lapse. In therapy for years and years, including family therapy, and it got us through, but now as an adult, he has to figure it out for himself. It is so complicated, as so many of our situations are. But again, truly, AF is the only way I will be able to get through this situation.

Had a rough day at work yesterday, hope today is better. I was up again really early, but fell asleep at 8:00 so that is no surprise. It is a support to me to be able to spend some time on this site. So appreciative you are all here. Sending you strength and hope.

[Rusty]

AF August - Week 1

These posts are a lifesaver for me....my only little group in my own private world, celebrating with me when I'm happy and crying with me when I am sad-it's amazing.

Star-my heart is breaking for you. Your son has so much to deal with since he has just come out-conflict-low self-esteem-feeling like he's disappointed his parents-that poor boy has so much on his plate. Plus he probably feels like a failure for having to move back home. I am so proud of you that you are AF and you are so supportive of him. He is really a lucky young man to have you as his mother. I have a feeling that road trip will be a turning point for both of you and by the time you get home, some of your angst may be relieved. You are way too complimentary of me, Star. In December, 2007, when I found out my mother had Stage 3 colon cancer that was overlooked by 2 doctors the previous year, I jumped into a bottle of Scotch and didn't come out, I was so despondent. I wasn't a whole lot of good to anyone, frankly.

Lav-I can only imagine the orchard you have-10 pounds of peaches-YUM! Do you ever run out of energy? When do you sleep ;=)

Sooty-I have never been to Thailand but would love to go. For right now, I shall live vicariously through you.

Pride-well, I did get to the gym last night. I nixed running outside in the 86 degree heat knowing I would get chewed alive by mosquitoes. (sp?)

Well, I am back working with my clients today. I have enjoyed this time off. I am in a very chipper mood as I reconnected with one of my former clients yesterday who wants to do business with me again and I am very excited. The reason I am so thrilled about this is that I worked with them right after my mom's cancer diagnosis. I drove there, to Iowa, on a Monday morning, and I was so hungover and I must have reeked! I am just so relieved that they still think highly of me. Yesterday after she signed a contract with me for 2 years, I cried with joy!

Good morning to Chill, LBH, Dill, Sped, Paguy, Patrice, Papmon and Cyntree, and all to come, have a great AF day!!!!

Love,

Rusty

[spuddleduck]

AF August - Week 1

happy hump day everyone. im really tired as im having rotten sleep due to a bad back. i have really been enjoying my new found sober sleep so this is annoying the hell outa me. ive got an appointment with on osteopath tomorrow and the docs next week so hope i get some relief. ive been struggling a bit lately with drinking thoughts, probably because im tired. every time i have a little bit of upset, such as a small arguement with mr spuds, or any other little upset i think 'o sod it ill have a drink' fortunately i havent acted on these urges but its very unsettling as i know it could be moments away. i know a drink will not help and just end up feeling awful. anyway im gonna storm through wednesday and if im tired ill have a nap

[Pride before Fall]

AF August - Week 1

Welcome Pride - I'm the driver of this bus and I welcome all passengers on board ...you can pick the music for this trip. >>

Definitely not "Tequila Sunrise"! Off to work--have a great AF day, fellow travelers,

Pride

[Rusty]

AF August - Week 1

Hi Spuddle,

Gosh, I hope the docs can help your back! Back injuries can be so hard to treat, too-then what do the docs want to do? Put someone on pain medication. No wonder you can't sleep. I know the feeling about wanting a drink when you're tired-the same has happened to me. Good for you for resisting.

Hope you feel better soon!

[paguy]

AF August - Week 1

Good morning everyone! Just checking in before I prepare to head out to the office. Expecting a stressful day as we are planning our 2011 budget and are being tasked with cuts. The suckiest part of being in a management position is deciding who on your staff will be next to stand in the unemployment line. I HATE it. Normally, I'd be looking forward to returning home, pouring my first drink, and escaping from my feelings. Not today, though. I will look forward to dealing with this in a less destructive way - if it's not too warm this evening, I'll be weeding my garden!

Have a GREAT AF day everyone!