Booze Busters Week of 6/30 Absolutely Fabulous Hangover Free 30 Day Challenge!

[louise]

Gelgit, so glad to hear you are safe. It sounds just awful and of course you don't want to leave because then you would worry even more. Glad things are less windy. I will keep praying for rain. We had a torrential downpour Sun. and the roof of the movie theater we were in started leaking! So I missed a few minutes of "Get Smart" as we changed seats.

DG- so happy for you and Fergie and Mr. Doggie. Mr. Doggie looks so happy and Ferguson looks very proud of himself.

Welcome Mickeyshell. I think the trick to weekends is planning other kinds of rewards. Once you get through a couple they get way easier. Sheepish, good for you getting right back up. At least you seem to have a sense of humor about the whole thing. And it could have been much worse – a least you were drinking slowly. Congrats on day 2 sothankful and good going at the gym. Yes, I think learning not to drink is like learning a new habit, just like I originally learned the habit of drinking.

Marshy, I’m sure all that practice saying “no thank you” will come in handy. That is a pretty funny picture you painted of your dad asking over and over. Maybe he is happiest with a drink in hand and wants to make sure you are happy too. You handled it so well. I’m afraid I would have started screaming.

Teardrop, you must get the prom pictures! I still have mine from highschool. I’m sure he will be very handsome.

Mame, that thought about the hypno was very interesting. Yes, anything that helps at all even if not a magic panacea is useful.

Thanks for dropping in Amelia. Glad things are going well for you.

Happy Canada Day Hannah. Hope the fireworks are good. Sounds like you and hubby have a nice week planned. Sorry you are so stiff from car riding. Do you need new shocks? Hve you tried tonic and lots of lime? It tastes almost like a real gin and tonic. And I haven’t tried the cranberry cocktail, but it sounds good but might also be acidic. Decaf iced coffee?? I look forward to other suggestions. We went out for dinner the other night and I was very aware thre was no af beer or wine or anything! I just had water, but when you aren’t eating anything that is kind of boring in a social situation.

Day 32 for me. Have been feeling depressed as relationship issues have not magically disappeared, but getting on and saying hi to all helps. Hope I did not miss anyone who posted. Hi to all to come.

[Hannah]

Hi Louise! Sorry you are feeling down - it does help to share. Hope your relationship issues improve.

Stiffness is just from me, the truck is not a problem. Just sitting still for so very long stiffens me up. But much better today. I am a person who needs to move around! Thanks for the drinks suggestions - I do love tonic and lime, but it's surprising how many places don't carry tonic water! Or decaf coffee. Guess we nondrinkers are a decided minority. I thought of something that I could try - packing along those single serving tubes of cyrstal light, or something - they are not my faves either, but are a little more "special" than plain old water. That would work. Take care, Louise, and have a good day.

[Aunty Mame]

Originally Posted by Pamina

Namely, the situations in which we drink. Sounds to me like there's lots of fertile ground over there in NZ for the drinking thoughts, and actions, to take root. Partner's unemployment, illness in close friends, lots of moving, dark moods... Circumstances which make us feel vulnerable or overwhelmed. Precisely when AL becomes such a good friend for blotting it all out for a while. Now suppose if instead, you could stay calm and relaxed in the face of adversity, retain your faculties and ability to consider options, remain emotionally present... Would AL seem quite so attractive any more? I agree, the hypno guy is not abstaining for you, you're doing that yourself. Maybe he can help in bringing the most centred, calmest 'you' to the fore. Come to think of it, I probably need a hypno guy of my own!!

Pamina, this is right on the button!! Even though I've been underwhelmed, I also absolutely know that there is no way I would normally be this calm! I'm making some good and healthy choices. Mainly about not drinking, but as a result I'm also in a much better space to react appropriately to all the things going on around me - instead of spinning out, or getting uncontrollably upset or whatever. "Emotionally present" is a very good phrase to use.

[louise]

Hey Pamina, sorry I missed you - composed in word and saved, then copied and you got on somewhere in the process. Glad you are having some sun. Mice are very good climbers. We remodeled our kitchen last Dec and somehow ended up with a bunch of mice. They were running around right in front of me and the dog! (Who ignored them, which told me he is really getting old) I got the sonic thing. It did not work so we got live traps and let them go in the park. Good luck!

[sothankful]

Hi All. Just wanted to do a quick check in tonight. Will write more tomorrow.
Doing pretty good today very very hot here. 109 today. went to the gym this morning. did some shopping. That was it for me. I am out of gas. the heat really takes a toll. thank you all for you post. I am learning from everyone. day 3 I am off to bed with air conditioner on and fans a blazing

[Teardrop]

Hannah... i love firework sound like you had a good time. its funny when yo mention judy and richard we have a shoe in the uk call judy and richard for a split second i though you knew them/
Pamina.. i love reading your stories puts a smile on my face we get field mices where we are and sometimes rats as well, keep all my doors closes.
Louise...it funny i never had a prom all i remember was the flour and egg fights.lol im sorry your feeling down. hope thinks get better.
DG... son prom this thursday then afterward going to party not coming home i hope the suit will be in one pieces because its been hired. WOW just love the picture excellent you can see how well trained he (fergie is and also mr doggy.) is very close to his owner, i do feel like going back to my dog training now. i stop in january time i think it was just the way i was feeling at the time with AL coming of it and back on my mind didn't seem right.
Gelgit...glad the weather condition are good makes a differents.
Sothankful...well done 3days af... WOW it is hot where you are we need some sun here today a bit cloudy here.

Need to make a move off to my group sessions did not go last week because i couldn't face the music, felt so bad in myself. but today i feel good in myself. The good thing about this group sesssions no one is allowed to come in drunk. We also can give each other advice. sometimes it does remind me of here. I think only one time a lady come in drunk but she was so bad coming of the drugs was hard enough let only the AL as well she needed to be section, she was close to being on the edgy. see poeple like that makes me feel im lucky.

Take Care All booze Busters and the ones i missed ot a big hello to yous.x

Love
Teardrop.x

[Doggygirl]

Good Day Booze Busters!!! It's Day 42 AFHF here, and I am very happy about that! Business is slow this week which is a nail biter, but not unexpected with the 4th of July holiday on Friday. Lots of people will be on vacation this week and next. I need to make a much longer, and more formalized Honey-do List for Mr. Doggy. He goofed off a lot yesteray which is OK - he was very busy the latter half of June, but now it's time to get last falls leaves off the deck and stuff like that. (I'm sort of kidding - lord knows I good off a LOT! But I'm sort of not kidding too) We are supposed to get some severe storms today. I hope we don't get high winds - the kind that take our trees down.

Gelgit - it's great to hear the 400 more people are helping. I hope your weather holds and the fires are out soon - and especially I hope the smoke is clearing. I'll have to look up English Bulldogs. (I'm not an expert on all the different breeds!) We recently had a guy with 3 American Bulldogs start training with us. He is involved in weight pulling (these dogs are really strong!) and wants to get into something called Iron Dog competition which I also know nothing about. I guess that sport involved protection work, and he says the folks he trains with in the "Iron Dog" community don't know what they are doing in the training - and that can be really dangerous when it comes to protection work. So even though we train for Schutzhund, he wants to work on the protection part with our training who is very experienced and knows what he's doing. (sorry for long story!) Do you miss showing dogs? That's a whole world unto itself, isn't it.

Hannah, how was the patio party and fireworks?? Hope you had fun. It's hard to believe so many restaurants and bars seem to NOT have Tonic in your part of the world. Do they all have Club Soda or some type of sparkling water? I often drink club soda with a couple of lemon wedges squeezed in. You could add a little sugar or artificial sweetner if the soda alone isn't to your liking being "not sweet." Or you could order club soda with a splash of juice such as cranberry or orange or whatever - that wouldn't be nearly as sweet as straight juice. (I'm getting thirsty thinking about a glass of 1/2 and 1/2 club soda and cranberry juice! - that would look pretty served in a wine glass with a couple of ice cubes and a lemon twist.....)

Pamina I am laughing at my vision of you and the mouse!!!! We use those sonic repeller things during the winter in our camper. Winter before last we had mice move into the camper and believe me they made a horrible mess. We're lucky they didn't cause more actual damage. But last winter those sonic things must have worked - NO evidence of mice this spring at all during cleanup. Keep us posted - hopefully your visitor is gone by now!

louise - congratulations on Day 32!!!! I'm sorry to hear that you are bummed over relationship things. I hope you can work it out. We ALL deserve to be happy in addition to being sober. I too wish some things were "magic." Hang in there!! Keep working on "you" and I really believe the other stuff will eventually come to the table to be dealt with in the right timing.

sothankful - 109 degrees??????? GEEZ that's hot. That would take the energy right out of me. I hope you have a powerful air conditioner and a good book!! Congratulations on 3 AF days!! Keep plugging along - WE CAN DO THIS!

Teardrop, I'm so glad you feel "good in yourself" this week. That is wonderful news. I hope the group sessions go well for you and make you feel even stronger!! Hope you get some pictures of your son before he heads off to prom so you can share.

I didn't get my quarter end accounting done yesterday (shame!!!) so I MUST finish that up today and get it off to the accountant. Especially since bad weather is predicted, I will work out early!! In fact I think I'll get ready to go very soon and be done with it.

Have a great Booze Bustin' Day everyone!! No drinkin' for me...that's for sure.

DG
+ ************

[gelgit]

Hi everyone and thanks for your thoughts... the fire is 40% contained today. We still have some smoke but we also have sunshine! DG, trial?? English bulldogs are most associated with Winston Churchill! The breed has much changed in the past 40 years. RAIN! I can't even imagine anything so wonderful. I had an intense dream this morning about everyone here, and I thought "what fun" to post it, and now it's totally gone. Gotta run, but just wanted to check in, send thanks and see what's going on. xxxx g.

[Aunty Mame]

Hi everyone

Gelgit, will try and send the rain troll (this one is definitely not a fairy!!) your way .... we are getting a bit fed up with it here!

Teardrop - glad you are feeling a bit better in yourself. So great to have a 007-looking son!! I'm a big 007 fan - have all the books, most of the movies and an aspiration to own an Aston Martin!! Although I have to laugh - I currently own a Ford Ka (red!), which is a piece of junk, but Ford have paid some astronomical amount of money to have the Ka be the Bond car in the next movie! (which has got a green/sustainability theme apparently - the evil enemy tries to steal the worlds water!) Ian Fleming must be rolling in his grave!!

Actually I'm into spy things generally, so Louise I'm jealous of you seeing Max Smart even if you had to change seats! Hasn't been released here yet - think it must be ext week though.

DG - forever grateful for this thread! Thanks!!

I was interested the other day - inspired by Hannah's story last week (or was it the week before?) about ringing up the restaurant and checking out whether they had AF wine, I rang up the place where I am hosting a small-ish (work-related) function next Thursday. It is 5-7pm and I had already ordered the nibbles, but I decided to ring them up and ask about drinks. They offered to send me the wine list, to which I replied that as it was a work-related meeting, that probably most people wouldn't be drinking (and of course they will be, but I figure that as its my function and I'm paying, I can throw my weight around at least a little!!), and what did they have to offer in the way of non-alcoholic drinks that weren't juice! She named a few options, which were fine, and I thanked her, but then mentioned one particular new brand (a NZ one) which is fizzy water with juice and no added sugar . And she rang me back yesterday to say that they had decided to stock it, and it was partly because more people were asking for non-alcoholic drinks now. (I think this is a growing trend here - the number of people with drinking problems has grown so large that it has now been identified as a public health issue).

I'm feeling quite stroppy today (in a good way!!). Must be because of the "sleep through the night" sleep that I had last night. I cant remember when I last had one of those, and I just about wept when I woke up and realised that I had had 7 hours of straight sleep. It is a real sign to me that my body is starting to heal itself.

And a thought from my hypno for all you americans - celebrate the 4th of July as a day of independence from alcohol!!!

I'd better go and churn through some work!! Have great day all!!

mame

[kaddy]

morning everyone hope everyone is doing ok
sorry not been on for few days been so busy,, l never seem to stop
going to see my son today so that is 4 hours drive
hope you all have a good weekend

118 days af