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

[Doggygirl]

Amelia, thank you so much for you post and your PM!! This one means a lot to me.

Marshy, I absolutely CRINGE when I think of the way I drank my way through absolutely everything. The morning drinking being the most cringeworthy, and MAN I did a lot of that. I can relate to you "stocking up" in the morning hours on your way home (while trying hard NOT to look like you were ready to crack open the bottle before you got out of the store) then drinking through those "just got home" chores. There is a store call Sam's Club here in the US. It's a big BIG warhouse / discount type place. The prices are good but you can only buy thing in large quantities. Wow. THAT was convenient. The liquor section sold huge bottles of Smirnoff for the cheapest price in town.

You have to be a member of Sam's to shop there, and if you have a business you can be a business member. Business members get to shop from 7AM until the official opening at 9 or 10AM for all members. I can't tell you the number of times I was there at 7AM to buy Vodka. Then I would go buy some other stuff so it didn't look like I went there at 7AM because I needed a fix.

GEEZ I'm glad I'm not doing that crapola any more. Sobriety ROCKS.

DG

[Marshy]

DG - there's a novel called Paradise by A L Kennedy (Scottish writer) about a woman who's an alcoholic. In one scene she wakes up in the morning wanting a drink and goes to the local shop but thinks to herself that she can't just buy some cans of beer because it's only 10am and the shop assistant will think she's an alcoholic. So she buys some cans of beer PLUS a box of matches because that equals SHOPPING.

[Aunty Mame]

these comments hit a raw nerve!!! Ouch! Throwing out milk because tomorrow is the "best before" date ..... but it was really about having an excuse to go to the supermarket in the morning.

Speaking of doing things sober for the first time - we are on holiday next week, but it suddenly struck me today that it will be the first AF one I have had for a long time (20 years??). It is "safe" - long way from any retail outlets of any kind! But I am also caught myself mentally checking out where the nearest supplies were. My head is still in a spin over that, but I keep going back to the fact that our destination is in the wop-wops (is this a culturally translatable term??!) and that I would have to be pretty determined to drive 40 minutes to buy a bottle of wine. And I've even got to the point where my concern about carbon emissions would take priority over my desire for wine which is a pretty big step for me!!

[A Work in Progress]

I've even got to the point where my concern about carbon emissions would take priority over my desire for wine which is a pretty big step for me!!

I LOVE that!!! What a wonderful thing to see your that your mind/brain has actually begun to shift her priorities and values!

wip

[Resolute]

DG,
Thanks for the insight/food for thought. Obviously, my state of 'trying' isn't working. My habit pattern while away for work needs some serious adjusting. Months ago, when I first found this site, I immediately joined up and read through the book, ordered the cd's, and began taking Kudzu. I have always exercised regularly, however interestingly, never while away from home. In any case, I felt it necessary to begin on Antabuse. I did so several days before leaving for a couple of weeks, and wouldn't you know, despite some minor unpleasantness 'drank through' the Antabuse. I stopped taking it after that. I'll spare you all my explanations.
Now, in my new effort, I've begun taking it again. Until I can figure out what it is I need to do while 'on the road,' I find it the most effective way around this. I've doubled the dosage (took 500mg before logging on this morning) and know that that'll do it. I know what drinking on 250mg feels like. So, this is me trying...
I'll be honest. I was tempted to start drinking this morning before I took it; but, logged on instead. I read through the previous days' posts and was re-invigorated to make this work. So, thanks to all. I owe you all a very big thank you. Know that you certainly helped me today. I hope to return the favor in kind...

Auntie,
Enjoy that hangover free vacation!!

[A Work in Progress]

Good for you, Res! I am struck by your choice of names: RESOLUTE! That says it all. And as you note, and as DG pointed out so well, "trying" is kind of a weasel word that reflects a mental state that is not anywhere near the same as "Resolute." I am glad you are using the Antabuse. That can give you the gift of enough AF time to begin to get the whole set of drinking habits to begin changing, get your brain/body totally free of alcohol, and let you begin to develop new patterns of thinking and behaving. Good for you!

wip

[Doggygirl]

Marshy - LOL on the Booze + Matches (I assume those might be free near the cash register as they often are here in the US?? or used to be anyway??) = shopping. Boy when I look back on some of the crazy crap I did to make sure I could drink - well - it's so pathetic I HAVE to laugh otherwise I would cry. Onward and forward!! Oh - I added that book to my list I'm keeping....

Mame - well, you already know I can relate to the "any excuse will do" method of justifying booze shopping. I've never heard of "wop wops" but I'm wondering if that term is like "boonies" in the US. A place that is in the middle of nowhere - far away from town / stores / etc. At any rate, it's good that you are planning NOW for the AFness and HFness (yay!) of the excursion. And I love your thinking - considering the "green" aspect more than the potential drinking aspect of that 40 mile trip!!!!!! We are making progress!!!

WIP I just put 2 and 2 together. So long as neither of us caves - and I sure don't plan to and I know you don't either - we will be forever connected with a monthly anniversary on the 22nd of each month. Life DOES suck some days, doesn't it!! hee hee. I'm not REALLY stalking you. REALLY I'm not!

Resolute, I LOVE your post!! The tone of this one sounds like a person determined to succeed at this. I'm ALL FOR using every tool available to get quit. So congratulations on deciding to use Antabuse to help you, and for being honest about what dose might be required given your previous experience. You came here instead of drink. This is GOOD STUFF. Do it FOR YOU.

I attended a SMART chat meeting on-line this morning and a good reminder came up.

Think about how much time and effort you put into drinking (acquiring booze, planning when/where to drink, working at hiding how drunk you really are, etc. etc.). Put AT LEAST that much time and effort into quitting drinking if you want to succeed.

That just makes complete sense to me.

Hello to all Booze Busters yet to come!!! Let's KICK SOME AL ASS today!!

DG
Day 92 AFHF
3 X + **

[A Work in Progress]

Think about how much time and effort you put into drinking (acquiring booze, planning when/where to drink, working at hiding how drunk you really are, etc. etc.). Put AT LEAST that much time and effort into quitting drinking if you want to succeed.

That's a great quote/reminder, DG. I will stick that in my brain along with some other motivators. And, yes, such synchronicity, we are sisters of the 22nd!!!

wip

[Pamina]

Well hello sisters, congrats on your multiples of 30 (!!!!) and congrats to all others for being so RESOLUTE. This thread is sounding very determined!

I LOVE the concern for carbon emissions, Mame. Way to go! Stay AF and save the planet!!

I'm curious, DG, about the other bits you're exploring to support your sobriety. Thoughts on any and all sandbags are gratefully accepted in my current situation. That goes for your recent discoveries too, Marshy.

Having said that, I DO give myself credit. The last time I visited my Dad in May, I had about 10 days AF under my belt and felt much more overwhelmed by everything than I do now even though the circumstances are more challenging. Knock on wood. I hope I can keep that up. I hear you, WIP, about the 'what happened to my life' question. I have time to myself every afternoon, and I make sure I do something every day to build up a life for myself here. Today I went to get a library card. But it takes some doing to keep the me-focus in my conscious mind.

The doctor finally came to visit yesterday, the nurse took blood samples today, and hopefully by tomorrow we'll have medication for my Dad's infection. Meanwhile he's still under the weather and uncomfortable. He woke me up at 2am to help him deal with another coughing fit. It's scary to be the one with responsibility for judging whether an ambulance is needed. On the other hand, the longer I observe his daily problems, the better I understand what he can and can't cope with at this point in time. His physio came by today, and she's wonderful. Very down to earth and gave me good tips on how to help him. Professional support is my latest coping tool. Lots of well meaning people are already involved in my Dad's care, I just need to figure out how they can help me with the bits I'm doing to help him.

Hi Louise, Sothankful, July, Wild Rose and any Boozebuster I may have missed. Hope you're well.

Oh, and today is Day 100!! In conditions of hardship. But I'm determined to Booze Bust this obstacle course. So there!

[A Work in Progress]

Pamina, GOOD FOR YOU!!!! 100 days!!!!

That is just fantastic, and I know how hard it is right now...

wip