BOOZE BUSTERS-Week of 8/18 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree Challenge

[Aunty Mame]

Ditto from me to DG (on the 90 days) and to Wild Rose (for the welcome!). And to everyone else for the start of the week waves!!

My broadband still really slow at home and didn't have time today to get onto MWO at work. So I will just keep doing quick check ins when I can! I keep having thoughts that I want to post, but am still a but busy .... have been working my butt off over the past week and caught up on a few things. Is a great relief as next week I am having a week off, and I was thinking I might have to take some work with me! (and actually I will anyway, but it is something I am looking forward to doing so it doesn't count!!)

Yesterday I woke up with advanced Monday-itis and decided to have a spontaneous day off because I was feeling so blah! Was a very good thing to do and by 2pm I was sick of myself and ready to get back to work! Today I was up and at the gym very early and made up for yesterday in both quality and quantity!

Marshy - keen to hear your reflections on the counseling when you have a chance to reflect.

[Doggygirl]

GOOD DAY BOOZE BUSTERS!!!!!! I will have a permanent smile on my face today because it's Day 90, and YOU guys help make me feel really good about that. I'm smiling and it's about 5:10AM here. Back in the drinking days, being awake was not possible at this hour, much less being awake, smiling, already have a load of laundry and some accounting work underway. AF LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Thank you thank you for all the nice 90 Day messages!!!

louise, congratulations on Day 9!! How are you hanging in with work, and also helping your sister? You still sound a bit drained - I hope you are doing OK. Good to be AF - alcohol would not help and would actually drag you down in the end. I did hear from Hannah and she said she was just very very busy. She reads to catch up and then runs out of time to post! I think we've all felt that way sometimes. Better to just skip to the end and say hi rather than try to read everything and respond to everyone personally when short on time!! So Hannah if you are reading, just post and say hi!!

Marshy, you crack me up. I bet rowing machines the world over are in hiding right now. It sounds like your counseling sessions are really ramping up to the serious stuff. I hope you are finding them beneficial. You are making me hungry with that curry talk!

Wild Rose, I'm glad you are spending lots of time reading here at MWO. That's such a good idea - will help you formulate your own strategy. I hope you have a good day today!!

Mame - next week is the vacation for you and Uncle Mame, right? I think I have cob webs in my head. It's nice to know that my forgetfulness is not due to AL - it's just due to......me. Age. Whatever. I like your advanced Monday-itis solution. I can't wait to tell Mr. Doggy one of these days that I have Advanced Monday-itis and the only solution is to take the day off!!! Tell us (again, I'm sure) where you are going next week. Is spring coming finally in your neck of the woods?

I've got a busy morning as usual - I will start out at Curves, then to the Chamber of Commerce meeting, then a WHOLE bunch of errands. I hope to be back to the office by 10:30 or so, but that will be pushing it. I got some packages in the mail last night of stuff I ordered. Can't wait to try it all on and hope it fits!!!

Thanks again for making this day a special one for me. I still can't believe after so many years of daily drinking, I have gotten this far. I do feel a bit like my sobriety needs a much stronger foundation under it. I'm exploring some different tools and programs that might help me in that area. I think I have a lot of self exploration to do - figuring out what "Phase Next" of my life will be. I want more purpose in my life. I can't believe how much time I have wasted cozying up with AL.

LET'S KICK SOME BOOZE BEAST A$$ TODAY!!!! We CAN do it.

DG
+ +

[A Work in Progress]

DG, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have worked so hard, given so much, and gotten so much out of this! I am grateful to know you. I know I am one of the many, many people whose lives have been, are being, incredibly enriched by your presence and encouragement and support. You are tops!

Thank you!!!

wip

[on my way]

Congrats!! Way to go Doggie 90 days is an impressive milestone.

Good morning and happy Af day to all.

omw

[greeneyes]

Ditto to WIP! I can tell you feel absolutely wonderful! You have always been such a great cheerleader..... speaking of........

[Wally22]

th_chip90.gif
Way to go!!!! Congratulations!!!!

[Pamina]

CONGRATS DG!!!

I'm glad I happened to log on today. I agree with everyone, your energy is so infectious. WAY TO GO on 90!!

And I also agree that this 3-month mark is just the beginning. Of something. Not sure what. I feel the same way.

Well, I'll take your advice and do a quick post that's all me-me-me. I'll do a longer proper one eventually in the parents thread. Lots going on. I'm visiting my Dad who has motoneurone disease (nasty, progressive, incurable, deadly).

I've been mulling over my own attitude and prospective actions all summer. Already thought in June that I should spend more time with him, but thought that would require taking a year's unpaid leave of absence from my job. Have subsequently found another way. I've asked our office for an initial 3 months on a reduced contract. Then I'll re-evaluate in December. Though I do want to be with my Dad, I've been terrified at the thought of moving to another country on no income. This arrangement reduces the panic. And last week I felt relieved to have finally made a decision. Was trying to tell you guys all about it but then lost my post.

Fast forward to my arrival on Friday. The doctor comes by tomorrow so we don't have an official diagnosis yet. But basically he had just come down with a cold or flu or bronchitis. Given his problems, that could kill him. He spent an hour Saturday morning sounding like he's going to drown in mucus. He's got care workers coming in multiple times a day, but I've still been staying with him about 18 hours a day, partly because it's very bureaucratic about who does what. The only times when it's safe to leave him is in the afternoons b/w meals with other people around. If this doesn't let up, he may need to go into hospital to ride it out. I'm conscious of my own limits. I can't do this much forever and certainly not for the entire fall. I was prepared to start building the jigsaw puzzle that will be my life for the next 4 months. I wasn't quite prepared to be parachuted into a hot zone with the emergency services number implanted in my brain.

I'm SOOOO glad to be AF!!! I can't begin to stress that enough. Day 98. In other words, 98 days of practice in taking better care of myself. Healthy foods, daily walks, seeking out supportive people, venting on here. All that practice being put to good use, every day, in the hot zone. WIP, I've added the meditation - thanks for your thread!

Gotta run. Take care everybody, it may be a while before I'm caught up with all your news.

[A Work in Progress]

Oh, Pamina, I can sort of imagine what you are going through, because of my own recent (and ongoing) "sick elderly mother stuff." It is just all-consuming, it takes away any fond ideas we may have had about what is "my life," and WHERE THE HELL DID MY LIFE GO? becomes the question. If we even have time for that, which it sounds like you really do not. I'm glad your work has provided a sort of compromise option for you. And I'm glad you have a meditation practice. That can be really helpful.

best wishes,

wip

[louise]

Congratulations DG! (tried to put this in big letters and pretty colors but I need lessons!)

You are such an inspiration daily to so many on this site. You have had a big influence on me and I really appreciate all you do for this site.

Way to go!

[Doggygirl]

louise, WIP, OMW, Greenie, Wally and Pamina, thank you so much for your help celebrating this day!! I'm going to celebrate with some tomato canning!! How's that for an AF party?

To anyone who is still struggling and reading this, please stick your nose to the grindstone, and fight for your life to stay AF. It DOES get easier. I used to drink (a lot) EVERY DAY of my life. And more than 1/2 the time, the drinking was starting as early as 6 or 7 AM. And the other half it started no later than noon - and usually long before that. If I can get free of this beast, I truly believe that all of us can.

Pamina, I am so sorry about the dire circumstances with your Dad. You are a wonderful daughter to be doing what you are doing - everything possible. I'm glad to hear that there was a milder solution available with your job. I hope the current emergency passes and you can have some peaceful time. HUGE congratulations on 98 days sober. I bet you really do treasure a clear head and healthier lifestyle right about now. Dealing with your Dad has got to be draining - grab all the healthy stuff you can to recharge your batteries.

Have a great rest of the Booze Bustin' Day!!

DG