Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

[spedteach]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Morning everyone,
Lav, those people in Nawlns were drinking at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Cyn, happy sobriety birthday. SD, six months is coming up for us.

Blonde, I never drank with my mother. We had our separate but equal addictions going on. Your mother is so young. 70 something doesn't seem very old to me anymore.

We are in Austin, Texas this morning. Such a funky, funny town. They take so much pride in being unlike the rest of Texas. Staying at Hotel Austin, advertised as unincorporated since 1938. True to Austin's quirkiness, every room at this place has a different theme. We are in the oceanside room (mural of the beach on the wall, sea shells on the bedspreads) having turned down the poka dot room for being too busy. The place is clean as a whistle and the hosts as proud and gracious as can be.

Is it Tuesday? Headed for the Texas Hill Country.

Morning Chill, Rusties, LBH, Pap, all to come. Stay warm. It is humid and foggy this morning in Texas, 58 degrees before sunrise.

[cyntree]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Woke up this morning with an old american carol ringing in my ears, the chorus of which has these words; Star in the East, the Horizon adorning/Dawn on our Darkness and Lend us thine Aid. Such a great reminder that there is always light out there somewhere...

Wishing all a great day -- Chill, so sorry about your weather...gale winds and rain would just put me over the edge, Good Luck!!

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning Dazzlers!

Sunny, a bit chilly but seasonable I think

It looks like I actually have time to myself today so I plan on getting gifts wrapped & some cookies baked :yay:

Blondie, hope your luncheon goes well ~ I'm sure it will

Chill & rustop - stay warm today!!!

Shelley, the thought of booze at 8 am is enough to gag me - yuck!
I've never been to Texas but I have fond memories of watching 'Austin City Limits' on TV & enjoying the music! Enjoy your stay!

cyn, I hope you know how happy we are for you!
My inner strength grew much stronger with each & every AF holiday & AF anniversary ~ I wouldn't have it any other way

OK, wishing everyone a fabulous AF Tuesday!
Lav

[Dewdrop]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hi all from a very windy and sleety Scotland, think I?ve lost a few tiles off the roof but I hope that?s all the damage I?ll find in the morning. My tv has packed in so I hope that?s just the digital aerial that?s been moved and not a new telly I need, and the lights have been flickering all evening along with my wifi cutting out. Yesterday I was further north at Pitlochry where they?ve had a bit of snow and there were warnings of black ice on the roads, I was driving slowly through a small hamlet and turned into a street and the back wheels of my car just slid away with a life of their own and I ended up in someone?s garden! Fortunately there was very little damage and the guy came out and pushed me off his grass, he?d been looking out his window with his morning cuppa coffee. I don?t know who got the biggest fright but my heart was thumping and there was nothing I could do.

I?m weary tonight; need an early night I think to recharge the batteries and face the world tomorrow, jeeeez 2 days of work and all the good relaxation and enjoyment from the weekend has gone. Do you know I think this job just saps my soul, well to be honest not the job but the Manager and I am learning such a lot from him about how to manage people badly! Okay enough moaning I?m off for a soak in the bath and an early night. Peace and happy dreams to you all.

Dewdrop :h

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hi Dewdrop,
Sorry to here about your skid, thank God you weren't hurt or your car damaged. It's been a filthy day here in Troon with gale force winds and sleet. I was glad to get home after the round trip to my folks to pick up Elle. My car was getting blown about on the motorway and the rain so heavy visibility was dreadful. It's really howling outside and I'm hoping it won't keep me awake.

Blondie - I hope your party is going well and that your coping being with drinkers.

Cyn - your MWO name should be Lady of the Light.

Sped - how I crave your temperatures! On Facebook today friends are sitting outside in Portugal watching a tennis tournament, albeit wearing fleeces but with clear skies above. Oh how I miss that sky!

It's my office Christmas Party on Friday and I'm already thinking up excuses why I can't go. It's in a pretty run down hotel in town with a disco starting at 10pm after dinner. Sounds like my idea of hell! The food will be awful and by 10pm I'd rather be cosy in bed with my book. I know it's not going to go down well with my colleagues but these are the kinds of evenings that we're only doable when I could drink enough not to notice how bad they were. Then I'd end up dancing on the table, kissing the mail boy and spending the rest of the weekend dreading facing everyone on Monday!

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

I sure hope the weather improves soon for you dew & Chill!
It really is scarey when your car slides like that - I've had that happen too

Well, I did wrap gifts today, glad that's done. Never got around to any baking but i can wait.
Decided to do a bit of work tonight so I can get stuff shipped in the AM. With the way the Post Office is whining - you never know if things are going to arrive on time.

Have a great night one & all!
Hey papmom - where are you lady??

[FlyAway]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

spedteach;1224523 wrote: Morning everyone,
Breezed through New Orleans. Ate gumbo and fried oyster po'boys, chicory coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde. That town has so many memories for me. Going there as a little girl with my father. Having all my Mississippi aunts tell me how sinful New Orleans was, sending my first born to college here over 10 years ago. I jogged down St. Charles between street cars.
I was amazed at the alcohol consumption. Bars stay open all night and have customers at 5 in the morning, people are encouraged to get drinks "to go" so they are wandering around on the streets with a wine or beer in hand. Made me sad for all those still out there struggling. I got through it crave free.

Chill, sending you white light, good vibes, positive energy. Have you ever heard of the practice of tonglen. I use it everytime I meditate. It's like breathing in the pain of others, breathing out white light for them. Hang in there. Take your Vitamin D.

Off to Austin, Texas today. Love to all,

I was in New Orleans for JazzFest this past year. You're so right about the alcohol consumption. Some of the people I travelled with had never been to NO before and they wanted to see Bourbon Street. I find it sad. I saw an elderly man just fall to the sidewalk from being so drunk, drink still in hand. Nothing glamorous or fun about that.

[papmom3]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

hey Lav i'm herre but exhausted and just checking in quick.

Dew-whew! so glad your spin out wasn't any more serious! time to get going on that francise of yours I think!

Chill-don't go to the party. Maybe the weather will still be bad enough to make that your excuse but you can always fall back on the old migrane/not feeling well thing. Always works!!
I am so lucky that we don't have xmas parties at the University. Well we do but they are during office hours and there is lots of food and coffee so that's OK. I've only been to one office party ever and that was where I was working part time years ago. Never again!!

Sped-interesting story about your trip to NO. Hope texas is better!

Blonde-good luck tomorrow with your mom's party. I'm sure it will be wonderful!!

Star-you're doing better than me-I can't bear to turn on the carols yet.

Meech-did I see you here earlier? Still fighting the good fight friend? You're sounding good!!

Rusty-have a blast in Ontario!! Sounds like you really like it there. Safe travels! Funny story about the nativity scene LOL!!


hey Rustop, LBH, Dill, Jolie and anyone else lurking!

Getting a tad nervous that I won't get my shopping done on time. I have so little time to do it! I've gotten one gift so far.

No decorations and no cards this year. I feel like a scrooge.

heading to bed in a few. so tired!! But, here's the good part: I'm pretty much off all sleep aids except my RLS med!! I'm finally falling asleep naturally and I couldn't be happy. Sleeping through the nite for the most part too!

Those of you who were here last summer/fall know how I struggled with the sleep issue espec during those first 3 or 4 months of being AF. Horrible isomnia and had to go on Ambien for a while. Then it was a year of alternating Benedryl with Ambien. I finally broke through!! Hooray!!

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning guys

Papmom - that's great that you are sleeping well, sleep is so healing. When I was drinking I'd wake up every night around 3am and with the wearing off of the AL, the hangover would be starting together with the anxiety. When I quit I almost didn't sleep at all for about 6 weeks straight and since then sleep has been a real pleasure for me.

I'm this years ultimate scrooge, I have a pile of unopened Christmas cards with not one displayed and there will be no decorations in my house. I can't even bring myself to play Christmas songs which I usually love. I feel completely joyless.... I have this clock ticking in my head. By Feb 7th I have to renew the lease on my rental or terminate it, which will mean being out by April 7th. I don't want to move but I don't think I can afford to stay. The house in Portugal is rented till May after tht I won't have the rental income to pay my own. I have a lot of big decisions to make and quite honestly I can't cope with them right now and want to stick my head in the sand in the hope they will go away.

Re the Christmas Party, I probably live the closest and it's only 5 mins drive but I shouldn't go, I'd only sit there all night wondering when it would be polite enough to leave. I wish ours was a lunch or something with just coffee. ( you should see me after 2 expressos! I might still be dancing on the tables )

Lav - good luck with the post office, I was there the other day and the queue was out the door.

Happy humpback day guys........

[rustop59]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning everyone

We had snow here yesterday and our walk yesterday was like walking through a blizzard as the forest we walk in is very high up. The JR was not impressed. Fortunately it did not stick and it forced me to go out and spend 2 hours doing all sorts of bits and pieces in case we had a few weeks of it. We have a slate down and need to get in a roofer. Sorry about your skid Dew, black ice is really scary.

Chill - I say dont go if you dont want to, life is too short and nothing wrong about sticking your head in the sand for a while. You made major changes last year, got through it and you can do it again. Recharge your batteries.

I felt I should ring one of my outlaws before Christmas but really dont want to. Thought about it and decided NO why should I. It is so liberating being 50!! Well done Star, you too did the same regarding your daughter. Maybe it is our age or being AF but it is nice to put ourselves first for a change.

Pap - so glad you are sleeping better. I am lucky I have always been able to sleep, drunk or sober. The only time it is interupted is when I am really upset about something. Remember when the girls were little though. I could not function properly without my sleep.

Blond - good luck with the lunch today.

Everyone else happy hump day.

Rustop

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning all & Happy Humpday!

Chill, I'd skip that party. You know my Lavan-ittude........screw them
Who the hell needs to sit in some dumpy bar anyway?
Try to focus on today, give your heart & head a break.

rustop, I gave myself permission to do/not certain things when I turned 50 as well.
One of the not great things I chose to do was pickle myself almost daily because of the severe emotional pain my husband dumped on me & our marriage that year BUT I'm here now & AF & enjoying myself as much as possible.

Guess I am sleeping better these days as well - for the most part. I've taken to setting the alarm clock on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays to be sure I get out to Curves at a decent time

Wishing everyone a fabulous AF Wednesday!
Lav

[cyntree]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hello Dazzlers -

Good luck with the weather Dew and Chill - frightening. Chill, do take good care of yourself; maybe an extra big helping of Lav-anitude? (I did love the report from past parties, though. Kissing the mailboy, sounds like something out of Desk Set, one of my fav Xmas movies.) It sounds like you need an indoor doggy day care there where you are. I also need one here in CT: a warm, safe place for pups to congregate, mingle, and generally enjoy themselves without getting drenched or frozen. In AZ there were many to choose from, probably because in the summer there is absolutely no way to be outside. I actually have thought a few times about trying to open a center here, my pups could use some doggy fellowship.

Blonde - will be sending you extra good vibes for your party today. You are a good girl to do such a nice party for your Mom.

Rusty - what a great story about the Nativity set. I could actually hear my own mother's voice saying "Well, you used to know how to ___(fill in the blank). My own mother's latest complaint when she was here: "well, you used to know how to comb your hair!". Gotta love it.

Cheers for a happy hump-day - Hello Sooty!

[ladybirdheart]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Heavens Rusty, what a sweet story. I have always imagined you to be such an imp as a child, I am surprised you did not hide the Baby Jesus in the sugar bowl. And heavens also Chill, that office party sounds as if it could be shaping to be deadly dull. I have one myself this weekend courtesy of Lord Bird Heart (the only thing more potentially awful than one?s own office soiree is one belonging to somebody else...). I was (I think) rather where you are with not opening the mail, not answering the phone, no decorations etc. a few years ago. I actually ended up having in my quiet withdrawal what was for unenlightened atheist me, a spiritual experience. In brief, I had a sense that I was not alone even though I clearly was. I didn?t tell anybody as I feared being thought psychotically depressed, can you imagine ?there are almost invisible beings all over my house and yard?:H. If I was crazy, it certainly was a benign and warm kind of madness and I still like to remember it. Love and stay warm, all you December troops, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Busy day!!!!
Did some baking & just received a bunch of orders for Christmas gifts!

cyn, when you open your doggy day care I'll send my piggy swissy :H
Don't forget to look at your 1 year AF party thread

LBH, you certainly are not any crazier than the rest of us
I like being a bit 'different' from the crowd anyway!

I'm getting some minor but annoying aches & pains ~ I think it's going to rain tomorrow, oh well.

Hope Blondie's BD party went well today.

Sooty, Dill & any other lurkers.......drop in, will ya??

[FlyAway]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

I'm a lurker, just dropping in. Hiya! :wavin: