Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

[NoSugar]

We'd love to have a gentleman such as yourself posting here regularly, ABCowboy (as long as you aren't embarrassed by booby talk and the like )!

Thanks for telling us about your uncle. He is the kind of example we need to keep in our minds and hearts. I think our perspective is a little skewed here on MWO because we don't have people who have been sober for 10, 20, and 50 (!) years posting. We only have a couple with 5 behind them. So people here who seem like "long-termers" are actually in the early days of a life-long commitment. I love hearing about people like your uncle

DB, good luck with your house. I have many things from the 2 generations before me that I know the next generation doesn't want. (I didn't either and so much is in the attic!). I'm working on finding homes for them so that my kids aren't faced with the burden and so that things that someone would love aren't just dumped. Less really is more! I always encourage my kids to acquire and keep only what they truly need and/or love. Makes everything so much simpler!

[roxane]

beautiful cake cowboy.

[scottish lass]

Just coming in to say hello life has been overwhelming for me and no time to stop and smell the roses. Also sleep is elusive - thinking of you Narilly as I broke down and bought new pillows for my bed (hoping that may help the sand man shut me off??)
Coming up to 8 months and in spite of life, staying the course.
Good to see the Loamers hanging in and making it work - read here from time to time, you make me smile and that is a great thing so thank you!

[peppersnow]

Scottish Lass - A few months ago, I went through several weeks of horse sh** sleep. The MWO site recommended GABA early in a quit due to its effect of calming the nervous system, and I did take it the first month. I don't know if it actually helped with calming my mind and the jitters down or not, but in my head I felt better. Even if it was just psychosomatic, the reassurance was nice.

Anyway, fast-forward 4 months and I had insomnia, so I added GABA back in, and it did make me drowsy just before bed. But sleep quality wasn't good. A few weeks ago I added melatonin just before bed as a lozenge - I think 3 mg - and BAM -- my sleep quality improved immediately. I've had 2 weeks of uninterrupted sleep, although I could do without the dreams. I keep drinking in them! So in case you are someone open to supplements and haven't tried GABA or Melatonin yet, that's the cocktail that is currrently working super well for me. Regardless, I hope your sleep resolves!

By the way, for anyone interested in the MWO dosage schedule, here's the link to it, just because I haven't seen it posted in awhile..http://www.mywayout.org/supps/update.pdf

Cheers!

[narilly]

SL, new pillows, yay! I can't wait to come to your place for a big sleep over!
Glad to see your post.

Pav, The Thanksgiving Massacre, such a funny name it makes me laugh but I know it is a painful memory for you. I went to an AA meeting today and the door was locked, rhere were three of us waiting outside and no one was around so we all went home. On my walk home I thought, 'ya, it wasn't that bad when I was drinking, I'm going to have wine tonight, why not?'
WTF! It is so easy to do that. We have to take it off the table, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have a problem. It's so easy to forget the crap. I have some stories written down about my last few benders, I will have to read them.

Ava, so sorry about yor friend, I hope your week goes better.

Pepper, this might sound wierd but sour cherries are supposed to help with sleep. My friend eats them for her gout and one of the other effects is helping with sleep. They have to be tart or sour though.

Cowboy, thank you for being here. I am glad you were able to go with a meeting...ok, you call your wife Bubba? Seriously! That cracked me up!

Anyway, I will not drink tonight.
Xo

[abcowboy]

Bubba?? What's wrong with Bubba? I know, I know, the first picture that comes to mind is some obese woman, kerchief in hair, worn cotton dress, tattered old slippers, front tooth missing..... But in reality, she is 5'4", 110lbs of the most kindest, loving, forgiving, woman I have ever known!! And someday I'll share the story of how I gave her that nickname...

Have a great AF Saturday evening fellow gloamers!!

[Pavati]

Happy Saturday, All:

We went out last night with my cousin and her husband who was not drinking either. Someone asked him if it was forever, and he said "I guess, but that's a long time" or something like that - an answer I usually give. Then later when we were just standing there waiting for the band to start, my husband and his wife left to get a drink and he just said (knowing I haven't been drinking for a while), "So, Pavati (interesting how he knows my MWO alabi), did you do some sort of 12 step program?" I was sort of stunned silent as no one has been that direct with me yet, so he said, "that is, if you don't mind my asking." NO! I don't mind, as it turns out. It felt very good to talk to someone who I have known and respected for a long time about BEING AN ALCOHOLIC. I dance around it so much when I talk to people in real life (other than DH and a few friends). I believe I am inching closer to getting my arse to an meeting or in-person sober group. We'll see. Hearing your story helped, Cowboy. Thanks for sharing. I would be awfully old if I make it to my 50th sober birthday, but if I don't make it, I'll certainly die trying, too.

Pepper - I have been thinking about cooking as it is getting colder and stew season. That three bottle recipe cracked me up. I made a pot roast last weekend and used broth instead of wine - it was good but definitely left something to be desired. My husband still drinks, so I am used to having alcohol around, but that cooking/wine (some for the pot, some for me) connection is pretty strong so I haven't ventured there. Maybe this winter I'll pour what I need and have DH take the rest away...

Dot - Sorry about your house. That must be hard.

SL - Sorry your life has been so hectic. Remember to take some time for yourself. Have you tried meditation for sleep? It helps me tune out my crazy brain sometimes. I also read before bed, pretty much until I can't keep my eyes open, and also helps my brain focus on something other than my life. Sometimes that backfires as I get so involved with the book.

Ava - Sorry for Robert, and happy he has you.

Went out stand up paddle boarding today - a lovely morning on the water and exercise to boot. Still oddly warm here in NoCal, so I'll take advantage of that...

Hope you are all well. Happy Sober Saturday.

Pav

[NoSugar]

Once you got past the shock, I bet that was a really cool experience, Pav. Because my over-drinking was so private, my recovery has been, also. In some ways I'm glad about that but not in others. You're starting to be in a strong position to help others in your 3-D life, just as you've been doing here in 2 dimensions!

I empathize with all the poor sleepers out there! That is one of my few complaints that did not resolve when I became AF. I can fall asleep easily but still awaken ~ 3 a.m. I guess old habits die hard (but at least I'm no longer plagued by a spinning head, queasy stomach, horrible breath, regrets, fear, and a rush of promises to myself that deep down, I know even then that I won't keep).

Hope the upcoming week is a good one!

[little beagle]

The more the merrier Cowboy. Funny name for your lady wife. I can't wait to hear that story.
I have a lot to be grateful for. The beautiful fall weather which I have been enjoying is responsible for my erratic posting this weekend. October is our picture perfect, poster child of the best southern Louisiana weather. Ahhhh.
My husband has been really working on his sobriety. He's actually listening to this stuff instead of just in one ear and out the other. In his own words.
Ava I'm really sorry about your friend Robert. Big hugs to you both.
Pav I think it's wonderful you are sharing what you've learned with someone in 3D. As time passes and I am so proud of my achievement of stayinf AF. And all the knowledge I've gained regarding the subject I find myself talking to people I never though I would talk about it to. Strangers on the street.... not really, but I am loosing that shame of being an addict.
Dottie i hope taking care of the house now will give you peace of mind.

I have been thinking about something the past week or so. About how sadness and anger, disapointment, frustration, well basically all the negative emotions are part of our lives. Listening to the bubble hour today. About recovery. How everyone is recovering from something in their lives. We as alcoholics drank and so probably never really recovered from past tramas. I know personally that I never fully recovered from a really tramatic childhood. Now thats just one example. But I was so busy drinking for so many years that at times I still have to sort through feelings about things that happened years ago. Like old forgotten things stored in a closet. Finally they fall out or come to light when searching for that elusive purse. (Hopefully that makes sense.) I think these feelings should be given their time. Lately I've given myself time to really feel anger when it is justified, sadness when it is warrented, frustration.....And then it really seems to pass of quicker then if I tried to push it aside and negate the feeling.
I'm still thinking on this so I might be adding more to it later.
Jane I am secretly enjoying your saga of the duct work and the mold. Sorry. It's just so colorful.
SL sleep has been elusive for me almost all of my life. Still is.

[narilly]

Goodnight everyone, that is one thing I can do well is sleep. I feel bad for you guys / gals who can't sleep.
Well, back to work tomorrow, after an awesome week off. I am SO rested. Electricity is back on downtown.

Goodnight.

[Pavati]

Good night, all.

LB - Beautiful post and I totally get the closet analogy. When we go to clean our closets, too, we have a big old mess in the middle of the room as we start to put things away when they're gone.

I'm off to bed now. Great weekend, but too much ice cream. Must. Stop. Scooping.

xo
Pav

[narilly]

mmmm...Ice Cream...love it.
A beautiful Monday here is Calgary, temperature going up to 75F/22C today. Beautiful for October.

Waking up with no Hangover, love it!
I listened to the Rehab podcast from the Bubble hour on the way in. It was interesting.

Have an amazing day!

[peppersnow]

Beautiful Monday here, too! I left home at 6:30 so was able to watch the sunrise over a lake this morning during my drive and it was gorgeous.

I listened to 3 bubble hour shows during a long car-ride yesterday, and this morning began listening to one that addresses the warning signs of relapse. I know that relapse begins long before the first drink, but I don't think I've ever heard described before the specific pre-relapse behaviors, patterns of thinking and phases that come before the first drink. It was fascinating to me, because as I was listening I could identify so many of those behaviors, feelings and thought processes in myself that I went through prior to my relapse at 60 days during my first quit.

I've become a bit of a health nut since my quit, but I've got a super seriously obsessive craving today that has totally overtaken my thinking: I want Movie popcorn with the really bad-for-you "butter". I seriously can't stop thinking about it, and so talked a co-worker into checking out Gone Girl with me after work. Or maybe the Judge. And now I can hardly work I'm so excited for that first bite of popcorn. 7 months ago it would have been for a gin and tonic, so I'm giving myself that damn popcorn this afternoon!

[scottish lass]

Thanks Peppersnow - I tried melatonin, but have not tried GABA. I tried calms forte this weekend, from teh old bag of tricks, and dreampt up a storm! Tossed and turned all night and woke exhausted. I appreciate the idea...

[NoSugar]

LB, I've been cleaning literal and figurative closets lately and have found some similar things:
Projects that I started and never finished - with effort some can be made into something of value. But I'm not going to rush and try to finish them all at once. Others just need to be thrown away - crafts/relationships I shouldn't have started in the first place.
Things that I don't remember getting, have no idea what they mean, and can't see how they would fit into my life now. I'm letting them go.
Treasures I forgot I had and am so glad to have found again.
Lots of dust bunnies that aren't really causing big problems but it's nice to get things clean again.

Pepper, I've learned a lot from those BH podcasts. They raise things that are so good to be aware of and plan for. Hope you enjoy the movie and especially the popcorn.

How was it to go back to work, Nar? I hope you aren't too far behind schedule!

Sleep well tonight, SL.