Jaunty July - Week 3

[Chillgirl]

Jaunty July - Week 3

A quick lunchtime hi from me

I had a drinking dream last night it was only a glass of champagne and I spilt half of it. I seemed to be aware in the dream I shouldnt be drinking it but it tasted so good and I wanted more but it was one of those dreams where you could never quite do what you were trying to and I never got any more.

Had a wonderful time last night and we have a wonderful weekend planned. Mr B is cooking friday and taking me to a very posh restaurant on saturday. Yes, im being completely spoiled and it feels wonderful! I keep expecting to wake up....

Rusty - psst... Mr G is actually my friend on facebook!

Loving that we are comfortable in our own skin, I have been having a few drinking thoughts recently, only because i have been in drinking environments more than usual, and I keep reminding myself how good I feel. The biggest part being the self respect I have which I didnt before. Self loathing is not a way of life, we have to love ourselves and our sober selves are sooo much more lovable, dont you think? :h

[Lavande]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Good morning all from a very steamy cow country :H

Really, my windows are all steam up ~ so hot & humid outside but nice & cool inside
Seriously grateful for the AC!

Rusty, Maxie has captured many, many escaped chickens for me but she seems to know to not hurt them. It's freaky seeing her walking around with a full grown chicken in her mouth but I guess I should be grateful about that as well :H

Greetings to each & everyone here today & still wishing the missing kids would check in......
My goal today is to not melt in the 100 degree weather predicted - yuck

Lav

[papmom3]

Jaunty July - Week 3

hey Chill-you are so right!! I will add that as we get more comfortable in our skins and have tackled some or all of the issues that may have led to our abusing alchohol, there is one thing most if not all of us have to remember: Alchohol is a chemical-plain and simple and as such, our brains react to that chemical in a much more disaterous way than "normies". Our brains do not have an off switch. No matter how much self esteem and self love we have developed, once that chemical gets in our bloodstream its all over. If we weren't like that, we would never have gotten to a point in our lives where we had to find our way out and we wouldn't be here. So whenever I start to have drinking thoughts and start thinking that I've come far enough that I can probably have a glass of wine at my sis's or this weekend at the party, I immediately play the scene in my head where I'm OK with that one, maybe 2 drinks over many hours and then I'm done with no regrets and no cravings for me. Unfortunately I never get that scene right-I totally see myself having 3 then 4 because I don't want to stop and then BANG! I'm gone over the edge and have stopped counting. That is the scene that constantly replays in my mind and that is why I can't give in to the drinking desires.
I am not a normie when it comes to AL. It is poison to me just as sure as Gluten is poison to people with Celiacs Disease.

Have a great time at your dinners with Mr. B chill! I'm living vicariously through you :H

Ah Lav-stay cool. These next 2 days are going to be the pits.

Rusty-wow-a trip to CA and playing at the beach too? You deserve it girl! Enjoy the free time.

Rustop-I'll trade 99 and 90% humidity for your cold and rainy summer. But the first nice day that comes round again, i'm giving it back to you :H

Hey SD-did you get the place EX worthy in time? I totally get it. Sometimes I invite people over just so I HAVE to clean house

I have an interesting story to share from yesterday. You may remember that last month I applied for a loan mod from my lender and promptly was turned down. Then in the mail I got a letter that said there would be a "Prevent Foreclosure" Expo yesterday fairly close to me. I gathered all my things together because I figured it would be a great opp to appeal the decision. Well, it didn't go well. Didn't like the looks or the aura of the rep from my lender even before I sat down with her. She was smug and of no help. She basically said I make too much money and there was nothing she could do. It was totally Fannie Mae's guidelines they had to follow. I tried to make my case and show her that my net pay after I paid the mortgage didn't leave me enough to make ends meet. She didn't care. They kept asking if I had been delinquent in payments and I kept trying to explain that this was what I was trying to avoid!! Finally I threw the "so is that what it's going to take? I stop paying?" I asked what my options were and she said to call my congressman and complain!! Needless to say I left in tears. I went out to my car and had the hardest cry I've had in a year. Oh you can bet I thought about driving to the nearest packie because that will show them right? Then I got angry. Then I started looking through the packet of material I was given at registration and pulled myself together. I marched back in and asked the people at the reg desk if I could speak with a housing counselor. They were all so nice and I was led to one immediately. She was awesome!! We talked for about 30 min and she told me there were some refi programs out there that wouldn't require a downpayment and with minimal closing costs. Even if the closing costs were a couple of thousand dollars they would be rolled into the new loan and I wouldn't even noticed the extra $3 a month. She felt I could get my interest rate down by at least a point. I felt so much better when I left there. I'm hoping to hear from her today after she's had some time to do a little research for me.
I'm very proud of how I was able to look past the humiliation and disappointment and seek out other assistance. Pre being AF, I would have ranted and raved, blamed the system and gotten myself good and drunk just cuz. And I probably wouldn't be at work today.
Yes Chill, our sober lives ARE much more lovable AND livable!!
:h :l

[Chillgirl]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Papmom - Im so proud of you :l Our previous AL mind used to look for excuses to throw a drown-your-sorrows party and this is a brilliant example of the new us, allowing the frustration and the tears then picking ourselves up and facing these life issues, what a great story!

[Lavande]

Jaunty July - Week 3

papmom, there was a piece on the local news tonight about the housing counselors being available to help people deal with their banks & mortgage companies! Glad you got to talk to one.

It was still 88 degrees at 8 pm ~ ugh!
Gearing up for another hot one tomorrow

[papmom3]

Jaunty July - Week 3

thanks Chill!
Lav-me too. I've got a lead on a state sponsored refi program so I'll be checking that out tomorrow.
Even with 2 ACs running the house is still muggy. Ugh.

[papmom3]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Soo........... I heard from job #2a FINALLY!! I do believe what I got was a job offer minus the salary . She says they haven't nailed it down yet but she has a meeting with HR tomorrow and will call me afterwards. Possibly a title change and most likely not the salary I want. I'll have to see if I can work with it. Certainly advancement opps are much more likely there than where I am now (I think). She also told me that she interviewed 2 other candidates, one was internal, and that all the candidates had great strenghs and that she was lucky there wasn't a bad one in the bunch. Now either she just feels wicked comfy confiding in me already or she as trying to tell me that it won't matter to her if I take the job or not, she's got acceptable backup. Jeez. So, I'll let you guys know as soon as I know tomorrow.

Got my hair chopped tonite. Much shorter than I have worn it in years although I've been wearing it shorter than normal for the past 4 months. This just takes it to a higher level of shortness :H. My hairdresser has a very similar cut (of course she's 15 year younger and about 70 lbs lighter!) AND she put a streak of purple in her bangs!! I love it! Tomorrow I'm hitting Wally World and looking for semipermanent, wait for it...... Pink color!! Yep! Gonna do it! It will be subtle tho, I promise!!

[rustop61]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Good morning Jaunters

Papmom - what can I say, you are amazing. You should be so proud of yourself. Reading your posts this morning made me so thankful to have found this site and you amazing people to share the journey with. As Chill said we have all had the pity parties and drowned our sorrows so it is wonderful to see others in the group now deal with challenging circumstances in such a mature, kick ass manner. Crossing fingers, toes etc. that everything you wish for comes true, you deserve it. Good luck with the hair. Dont think I would be brave enough for the pink but you go girl.

I am off to have my colour done this morning. The next few weeks are so hectic, I wont get in and I look like a badger with my white stripe if I dont have it done every 5/6 weeks. I have a 9 am appointment for a quick colour and will have the cut etc. done in about 2 weeks. Can live with the length not without the colour. After than I have to bring my daughter to wash and get the pony ready. Another show tomorrow. It's local so at least there is no travelling.

Have a great day everyone.

Rustop

[Chillgirl]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Good morning my dear Jaunters!

All is good in Chillworld, up at dawn and been dog walking, to the gym, had my porridge and stood on my head, now shower and work....

Papmom - you and i would be a right pair! I used to buy pink food coloring and steak it through my hair on weekends, it washes straight out and I loved it!! You go girl.....

I've been hearing here on the news of the US's extreme heat and wish I could sent you some Scottish weather to cool you down. I have a whole wardrobe here of summer clothes I never get to wear. Although Mr B has just booked us a weekend in Southern France in August, more on that later.....

Wishing you all a wonderful friday......

[Dewdrop]

Jaunty July - Week 3

I left a post last night and it has disappeared? Nothing exciting I was in bed by 8pm and I slept through until 7am this morning but the previous night I was awake all night I eventually got up at 1am and read a book until 6am then got up and on with the day, no wonder I slept so long last night. I am having a morning of admin at home today and then the afternoon off, however as you can see I am on here! I am really tired these days especially by the end of the week, I think I might just work mornings next week and try and conserve some energy.

Well it?s raining again this morning and it?s quite cool, I too have unpacked my summer clothes however they are still hanging in the wardrobe waiting to come out, I?m keeping my fingers crossed for a good August and September. August in the South of France ? can?t wait to hear the news

P3 good on you for finding the housing counsellor I don?t think we have these in the UK but what a great idea, I wonder if that is a business opportunity?? I contacted a FA I use occasionally and I have had a ?258 monthly reduction in my mortgage payments as I came off a fixed rate recently and onto a tracker, I?m going to continue the overpayment but if you can release some extra cash to use all the better for you. Keep hanging in there on the job front, if this one isn?t for you the next one will be. Have you thought about looking outwith the area you have experience in, contacting recruitment agencies to see what else is available out there? I say this as I have contacted a few agencies over the years and they often come up with jobs I would never have thought of applying for because your skills and knowledge are very often transferrable. Just a thought.

Guess I?d better get on with some work

Dewdrop :h

[Lavande]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Moving like a S L U G in 100 degree weather this morning :H :H

I really do not like this weather one bit! Getting ready to take some ice out for my broiing hens - poor things

papmom, I sat in the haircutters chair on Wednesday & she asked - 'what are we doing today'? I said FRIZZ CONTROL :H She said 'I understand' & just cut & clipped away.....
I thought of you yesterday as I was paging thru a catalog from HomeDecorators.com
They have all kinds of pink rugs!!!

Good morning Rustop & Chill!
I spent a couple of days in Nice, France with my daughter's high school French class -nice!!!

Dewdrop, I was up last night more than I slept! Twice it was because of one of my dogs but mostly it was just me
I'm glad you were able to catch up on some sleep! You need decent sleep to help in your healing

OK, let me go take care of my feathered friends!
Way too hot to think about AL today - yuck!

[sdlovespackers]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Afternoon!!
Well my son's baseball game the other night was awesome...they finally won and he did fantastic!! His dad actually took him back to his house/town with him for the weekend, so I'm boyless for 4 days!! My parents also left for Spain today so they aren't around either!! My sister and her husband left for Seattle on Wednesday...I'm all alone...they left me to water the flowers and gardens!! I managed to get my yard finally mowed yesterday, as the heat broke!! Lav--it must be now hanging over your part of the US!! NASTY isn't it?!?!? So my perfectionist neighbor must have gotten annoyed with the fact that I hadn't mowed my lawn, so he actually mowed a stripe in it to show me just how long it was....RUDE!!!!! I keep a SIPER nice yard, BTW...it was just too damn hot to be out mowing!! Done now!!:H

Chill--south of France huh....I love the way you all talk of the places so casually...the places we over here dream about going...or think of going as magical, romantic getaways only seen in the movies!!! It's so awesome!!

Pap3-I thought when that gal told you of all the candidates with great strengths, she was giving you a compliment....saying although everyone was really good, you were the best, therefore were offered the job!! I think that's great!!:goodjob: As for pink hair, I've always wanted to do something like that...but I'm afraid in this small minded, conservative town..the school counselor showing up with pink hair might get me sent home:H We really do live in a bubble where I live...it's sad, honestly.

Dew--I hate to even admit this but I've been sleeping more than I ever have...and I don't know it's that I'm actually sleeping better ir I'm just SUPER lazy and don't want to get up!!!:H It might have something to do with the fact I'm staying up until like 3AM watching stupid TV shows...and then sleeping until 11 or even 12 today!!!! I don't think I really know what to do with myself when my son isn't here...which is sad I know. All I think of doing is cleaning, laundry, going shopping (which I don't want to spend $) or I could finish painting my front room (boring)...I NEED a LIFE!!!

Rusty--Now Cali?!?!? Are you sure your company doesn't need a counselor...a traveling counselor that is??? LOL!!! You talked about being comfortable being alone. This time that I have by myself I used to hate...I actually enjoy the quiet and alone time now. I sometimes feel guilty that I don't want to do anything at all but just sit in the quiet of my house...like it makes me depressed or lazy or something. (Like my mom just called and asked what I was doing and when I told her she said how I had the perfect opportunity to get that painting done. I said, "Eh..." She replied,"yeah, you don't sound to motivated.") My life is never quiet...whats wrong with enjoying the sound of quiet and doing nothing...I guess there must be something?

Lav-You had the word slug in your post...which reminded me of the nasty freakin bug-like things that are going wild around here...just wondering if you have them where you live....Earwigs??? The most NASTY looking things (next to spiders) in the world!! AND...AND....I've found several :yuk:in my house!! (GAG, BARF, PUKE)!!!! Anyway, just curious! LOL!
Better go get ready for the day...see if I can be 'productive'!!! I'm productive August through May...leave me alone June and July....hey, I'm gonna make that my bumper sticker!! HAHAHAHA!!!!
SD

[Lavande]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Aw SD -
We have every freakin bug & SNAKE immaginable around here
The spiders are bad.......they leave spider pooh all over the siding on our houses :H
I pay an exterminator to spray around the outside of the house a few times per year (can't deal with any chemicals inside).
One of my dogs eats BEES & the chickens (God bless them) eat anything they can get a hold of :H

No grass cutting around here this week - really, it's been silent out there this week.
I like your bumper sticker idea

I need a life too but don't think I'll find one anytime soon

[sdlovespackers]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Lav--
You have so many spiders you can actually SEE their CRAP!!!!!!!!!:eeew:

I'm not sure I could live where you live...I'm TERRIFIED of spiders....not to keen of snakes either!!!! But spiders.....NOOOOOOO WAY!!!!!!!! I thought Earwigs were bad....last night I saw a big spider (well it may have been tiny...but in my spider description size it was large) go scampering across my KITCHEN floor (GGGGGGross!!!!)...I picked up my dogs kennel and slammed it down on the spider...pretty sure I got it!!:H Needless to say I've been on spider look out all day!!! If there is one...there is another somewhere!!!
SD

[rustop61]

Jaunty July - Week 3

Good morning everyone

Off to a show with my daughter so a busy day ahead. The sun seems to be out for a change. Would'nt you know it, we will have our summer the few days I am travel to get some sun. Oh well such is life.

Probably wont get to check in for the next week so wish all you Jaunters a happy last week of July and looking forward to catching up with all of you in August.

Rustop