AF Daily - THursday October 14

[Gaia]

Hi Abbies,

Quiet here, even a little dull. Well not that dull. How's everyone's mood this morning?

Just wishing everyone a great day!

[LVT25]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Hi Gaia, thanks for starting us off. It's a little late, where is everyone??

Dull can be good, it beats drama, huh?

Remember last week when hubby was giving me the cold shoulder? I finally figured out why, it shouldn't have been too hard. This was the night I went to the city council meeting where one of the local bar owners was requesting to stay open until 2 am. One of my fellow "Prevention Coalition" members was going to give some facts and go on record as being opposed to this so I went with her for moral support. I guess I didn't give much thought to the consequences. This is a really small town, and they love their drinking--it goes with almost every event imaginable. So anyway, hubby was pissy because I went to this meeting. I know so because he came home last night and told me the bar owner didn't have much to say to him. Ohhhhhh, light bulb moment! I said "So you're worried that Justin will not like you anymore because I went to that meeting?" He says, Sorta.
Who knows if Justin is holding a grudge or not, it's possible I guess. He is only trying to make a living. He does offer rides home, and he doesn't drink himself, and he has never had issues as far as serving minors or bar fights.....
The only thing I said at the meeting was commending Justin for offering the designated driving service and said I wished that was available everywhere, but my concern was how many people drove drunk even though the service is available. I know I used to. I know most people I hung around with did. Do they really need that extra hour to get drunker? Is he going to make lots of extra money in that hour? Is it worth the risk?
I'd like to hear your opinion on this subject. The city council hasn't decided anything on this, but since several of the councilmen are friends with Justin, I think it will pass.

Tell me what you think. Thanks and have a great sober day.:h

[Gaia]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Wow LV, that's a hard one. First of all, yes dullness beats drama any day, in my book!

Politics is corruptive, without a doubt, and you are right if the city council is cozy with Justin they will probably scratch his back. Who knows how many stories Justin has to tell about the behavior of city council members and their friends/families in his bar! Never know who has dirt on whom.

I would look at the economics of the decision on the area as a whole. Will the city be prepared to pay for more police/ambulance availibility at the later hour? Because certainly with more drinking activity going later the law and rescue organizations will have to be on alert. Will the additional cost of the coverage for the community be offset by additional tax revenues from Justin's sales in that extra hour? If it is profitable for the city, they should go ahead. If it will create a burden, they should not.

Elementary, my dear Watson!

[Pride before Fall]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Pride

[Pride before Fall]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

LVT,

As chance would have it, I just wrote a newsbrief about this very issue (yes, I'm an alcoholic who writes and edits about drug and alcohol research and policy).

Here's a link an article about it: Fights down as pubs shut early - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

Even an hour made a huge difference (and look how late the bars are open in NZ...).

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

LV, my condolences on having to deal with small-town politics. Bars here can stay open that late. If they closed an hour earlier, I doubt it would make much of a difference. "Drunk rush" would come an hour earlier, but as to how many people are how drunk and how driving, I doubt it would matter.

Pride, my scale is usually kind. The one at my doc's office is always a complete A*hole.

AF for today. Hope everyone has a good one.

[Lavande]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Good afternoon Abbers on this chilly & damp Thursday. I just broke down & turned the heating system on - Brrr!!

I could just throw up thinking about small town politics - seriously! YB spent 30 years working for the PD & even more time in the FD. It's true, the one who does the best palm-greasing gets what he wants regardless of the effect on the rest of the community. Good luck with that LVT.

Well, EB should be here any minute so I'd better run.
Wishing everyone a good AF Thursday!
Lav

[Doggygirl]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Hello Fabbies! Another zoom zoomer today. Many appointments plus getting mentally ready for lasik tomorrow morning. Gaia, thanks for getting us started today. I totally would rather have dullness than drama in my sober life! I used to thrive on drama as it gave me an endless array of excuses to drink. "GEEZ!! If YOU had MY life YOU would drink TOO!!!"

LVT25;981290 wrote: Tell me what you think. Thanks and have a great sober day.:h
I think the facts speak for themselves as far as the issue goes. When I was active in my addictions (smoking AND drinking) I off course was extremely defensive of "my rights" without regard to others. Selfishness is a cornerstone of addiction - at least it was for me. When I was an active alcoholic, I would support bars being open 24X7 for my own convenience. I wasn't thinking about more accidents/deaths, bar fights, etc. I would have also been concerned about my friendships with my favorite bar owners/tenders and not with the problems caused by drunks like me.

As far as hubby goes, I think you can respectfully hold your own opinion which may not be in agreement with his. It does not sound like you did anything "disagreeable" in your expression of your disagreement with him. The City Council's reaction to the presentation and expressions of concern is outside of your control. It sounds to me like you did "the next right thing" as you see it, and that's all we can do.

(oops - forgot sandwich warning! :H)

Pride before Fall;981299 wrote: Oh well. If the plate's full, it's kind of stupid to stop chewing, right? (food metaphor not an accident)

Pride, I absolutely LOVE that!!! Sounds like you are doing a good job working though a high stress time and doing it soberly. I take inspiration from that!!!! If you think it's strange for you to be an alcoholic who writes about alcoholism, you should have met the psychology majors I went to college with.

Hi Topsy! Good for you on another AF day. My scale was kind to me today. Funny how that works - if I eat like an A*hole then my scale acts like an A*hole. Maybe all I need is a different scale???? :H

Council for Working Women lunch is next. Then volunteering at the Mission Family Center. Then Curves then doctor appointment which is schedule just in time to be stuck in rush hour traffic.

One thing is for sure.....there will be no AL for me today, and also no deviations from my eating plan. So there. Hello to all fabbies far and wide! I love traveling with all of you.

DG

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Morning!

LVT, I think it is completely unnecessary for bars and pubs to be open any later than they are. It only invites a ton of headaches/heartbreaks in the long run! UGH. I feel for ya. I am sure that hubby will be OK. You are standing up for something you believe in.

Well, I took the little one to school and have come home to fill my face full of food and do nothing. Seriously, NOTHING. I haven't had a day to myself for months.... the days I do have off, I am usually on route to visit with my dad. I am completely exhausted! After yesterday's fiasco with my sister, him and his wife, I am completely emotionally unavailable today. (or at least while child is in school). Since June I have been dealing with my father's impending death. All of the emotional turmoil of unresolved feelings. Family members; and my eldest daughter's selfishness - in which she moved out a week ago to spend some time with her dad. I am done. I need to take care of me. Even if it is just for today. I need to recharge, and relax! I've also noticed that I have gained 10lbs since June. Not good. I am glad though that I had only a minor slip up with the alcohol over a week ago. I don't know what or how I would feel about everything if I were still drinking!

So, everyone have a fantastic day! I am going to go and flop out on the couch with my cat for a couple of hours and watch mindless TV! YEEE HAAAAW! The Young and The Restless is coming on right now. Yippee.

talk to ya all later!

[bear73]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Good day all - just finished 14.5 hours at work - long stressful day - made more annoying by my manager. Really labouring the point over a piece of work I could have done better on. Can't change it so not gonna sweat it - I can only do my best.

Really tired but a bit wired - think may need to annoint myself in essential oil tonight before bed. In at normal time tomorrow and I'm meant to be finishing early so am really hoping that happens - didn't happen today was meant to take a break inbetween end of day and before evening meeting. Plan to cycle tomorrow - need to move - in car/sat all day and never got my mini trampoline break I had planned.

I have 2 days out of office Monday/Tuesday on a residential course.
Hope all had a good day sorry too tired to really catch up - realy happy to be af and cigarette free.

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Doggygirl;981417 wrote: My scale was kind to me today. Funny how that works - if I eat like an A*hole then my scale acts like an A*hole. Maybe all I need is a different scale???? :H

I've even tried putting mine on the carpet instead of the tile. I thought it if had softer, cushier surface, it would be even more kind. It so backfired! I was thinking that the carpet would soak up some of the weight. I'm not a physicist, obviously. :huh:

Accountable, I hope you enjoyed your 'couch tato day. As James Herriot said, "Time spent with cats is never wasted."

[Guitarista]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Pride before Fall;981299 wrote: Pride

[Guitarista]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Topsy-Turvy-Tracy;981864 wrote: I've even tried putting mine on the carpet instead of the tile. I thought it if had softer, cushier surface, it would be even more kind. It so backfired! I was thinking that the carpet would soak up some of the weight. I'm not a physicist, obviously. :huh:

Accountable, I hope you enjoyed your 'couch tato day. As James Herriot said, "Time spent with cats is never wasted."

:H

G'day Tracy.

[Determinator]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Happy AF greetings from a hotelroom in north CA Aberooooos!

AFM, glad your with us, dunno what would be going through my head if I were still drinking either. something unpleasant I can assure you.

LVT, my two cents is that I firmly believe that gov regulation/rules etc has very little to do with changing peoples behavior. look at prohibition and also our current 'war on drugs' as examples. More education, less regulation. hows that for a catchy line? I should run for mayor! hmmm bad idea.

well, gotta couple more work emails then it's off to chat

be well everyone

[Doggygirl]

AF Daily - THursday October 14

Deter, I don't think running for mayor would be a bad idea. This involvement in community leadership school is saying loudly to me that I need to get involved and take action if I have an opinion that really matters to me. Sitting around bitching about stuff sure doesn't change anything! :H (now if only Mr. Doggy would get on board with that!) Anyway...one of my AA acquaintances is thinking about running for mayor. There is a very good change that he will be "outed" as an AA member if he does. He is long term sober and I believe could handle that with dignity and maybe even help a few folks better understand things. Anyway....the most important reason you should run for mayor is that garlic solves everything, and it's time we stopped keeping that a big huge secret!! DETER FOR MAYOR!!! :soapbox2:

AFM, I hope you enjoyed your day on the sofa - well deserved after all you have been going through. Sounds like a surreal nightmare that you had yesterday. :l

G-Man, good to see you as always. Your post made me wonder what it would be like to wander the streets of New Orleans (or maybe somewhere else with better music and less drunks) and listen to the music sober. It's a really nice thought. I hope someday I get a chance to try it.

Tracy I haven't tried the scale on the carpet yet. I can't believe I haven't thought of that! :H

Bear, I am just SO PROUD OF YOU!!! You are handling your life soberly. (and without Nic too) You are doing so well. Keep going one day at a time. Did you decide on a book?

Hello Lav - we cross posted. When is D-Day? I truly hope YB has a spiritual awakening.

My blood calcium is at the tippy top of the normal range, and up from my last blood test six months ago. That is not good. Might be another parathyroid tumor. Doc wanted me to go for an ultrasound as the next step, but I just can't see doing that without a Parathyroid hormone test to confirm things. So I'll be giving a little vial of blood next week. It's scary but things could be a whole lot worse. These things are hardly ever malignant. People can function just fine with only 1 parathyroid gland, and I've still got 3. I am going to say the serenity prayer, and think of the wonderful example sister and so many others have set for me when facing much more serious potential health problems than this potential problem. And the operative word right now is "potential." Hopefully there is no problem. No sense getting worked up until I know.

Thank you for listening. It helped me a lot to just type that.

Lasik is still on for tomorrow. Thyroid doc is not bad looking, and at least this way I will be able to see him very well without glasses if it comes to that.

One thing is for sure....

DG