Thursday 23rd July

[Janice]

Morning everyone.........today is beautiful here in the south east of England. Hopefully at last we are getting some "summer". Just had my swim and feel great.......it's my "therapy" and I feel so much better those days I do swim compared to when I don't. Have stayed AF this week but will share a bottle of wine with hubby on Saturday to celebrate my birthday. Staying positive is a "must" for me with the way things are at the moment and I know the exercise will help.

More housework this morning followed by a trip out with my hubby to one of my favourite garden centres this afternoon - might fit a cream tea in! Now, how English is that!!!

Have a great day, will check back later.

love Janicexxx

[Cinders]

Good Morning Janice and all to come,

It is so good to see you back, Janice. We have all missed you.

I am hanging in there AF and trying to stay calm until Lenair. Getting excited.

Love to all to come!!

Cindi

[Gyco]

hi janice glad all is goin well,posts like yours always make my day,life can get betterthankyoupositive thinkin

[Gyco]

hi cindi

[charlee]

Morning all
Leave tomorrow afternoon for Italy, lots of last minute stuff (gotta go buy a new suitcase, somehow popped the zipper!!).....My son and his new wife are coming, so at least I have someone to talk to...hubby can babble away in Italian to all his family and friends and at least I won't feel left out. Touring Rome, Florence Venice, then on to the Naples area to hubbys hometown.

Just realized August will be a year since joining MWO and I will be 9 months AF on 8/4......where does the time go?......

My wish is continued success in reaching/maintaining your goals, and look forward to hearing lots of positive "stuff" when I get back.........don't forget me guys!!!

[Doggygirl]

CHARLEE!!! Have a really fun vacation. I am so jealous!! Bring home some pics for sharing with us here!!! Congratulations on your 9 months Aug 4. That is awesome. I'm somewhere behind you on the path and glad to be here!

Hi Janice - glad to hear you guys are getting some great weather!! Early Happy Birthday to you as well. Hope you and hubby have a wonderful weekend.

Hi Gyco!

Cindi I know that "last hoorah" feeling all too well. Just be careful and safe and take it one step at a time until Lenair. I bet you are getting really excited!

Cowgal - you sound excited too about scheduling for Lenair. I hope it works for both of you in the excellent way it has worked for so many others!!

Today is Day 64 AF and I'm just glad to be here. Yesterday I found out that I got a GREAT "volunteer" job at the Chamber of Commerce golf outing. I'm not a golfer, and it's expensive to sign up to actually participate. It's "free" to volunteer and if you get the right "job" you get to interact with all the local business people anyway. WHEE!! I get to ride around in my own golf cart and take the pictures of each foursome!! I couldn't have asked for a better "volunteer" job to get around and talk to everyone. I'm sure the beer cart will be tempting...but not NEARLY as tempting and frankly, impossible as it would have been in my drinking days. Because I won't drink AL - no way. In the old days, I would have started "sneaking" drinks by noon for sure, and embarrassed myself by the end of the day. (no matter how much control I would have thought I had...) That is August 4. I can't believe July is almost over already!

Have a great day everyone..

DG

[CXD863]

Good Thursday to everyone. I wish everyone a good close to the week.

I wanted to say that I think it is a really good idea, Janice, to plan what you drink far in advance and only in celebration. I don't know if that is how you operate your moderation but if so or if anyone mods that way I would like your thoughts on the subject. Thank you

[retteacher]

Charlee: Congratulations in advance on the 8 month mark. That's very big. Both my husb & I are of Italian heritage & have visited his family (in Sicily) twice. It was truly memorable & hope your trip will be too.

Everyone: I'm doing well AF. It feels good to be concentrating on other things than drinking. I forgot how much time & energy the drinking ritual took...especially obssessive because I did it alone. Now, however, I concentrate on reaching out of my comfort zone & exploring areas of myself that I kept muffled by AL.

I feel especially grateful today, because my g-sons just called from their vacation cottage at the Cape. They miss us. I realize that I could NEVER have the relationship w/them that I have if I was drinking heavily. Their other set of g-parents are great people but are functional alcoholics. There is very little room in their lives for anything other than staying home & drinking.

If there are any of you out there that are struggling (old or new members), please do not give up hope. Keep coming here. You'll be ready to reach your goal (mod/abs) at some point.

Mary

[DogLvr]

Good morning all -sounds like everyone is doing great. Am on business in Connecticut today - effectively stayed away from the casino and drinking last night by hitting the spa - got me through my craving hour!

Charlee - have a great time in Italy - I am so jealous.
CXD: I wish I had planned my celebration drink. I had my birthday and June and had no intention of drinking that night - was day 50 AF for me. But I ended up with 2 glasses of wine - and then the following weekend fell back to some of my old habits - evern though I wasn't drinking as much as before. I have been struggling to get back on the AF wagon - but feel like I am mentally there again - am on day 4 AF again - looking forward to catching up to where many of you already are!

[retteacher]

DogLvr: I've had a similar experience. I didn't quite go back to the old ways but would have if I had let myself. Thank God for MWO. Coming here reaffirms my committment. I don't plan on drinking...it just happens. My plan now is to stay sober. It's the best path for me. Mary