I don't want to be totally AF......,

[blue1]

Thank you Frances....I will!
You seem like a normal drinker to me.

I made it....I'm actually 50 years old....a half a century!!!! Thank You Jesus!!!!!

Have a successful day guys!!!!

[blue1]

TMH- I'm not a early morning person any more....I use to when my children were little...but I really enjoy getting up whenever now. You did good with the water with dinner!

[frances]

Happy Birthday Blue! :happy2:

Hope you have a great day!!

[frances]

Hey all - just checking in - having a great day - thankful for so many things. I love the gratitude is an attitude thread here that helps me think of all the things I'm grateful for - there are so many and it's good to be reminded of that daily.

I was at lunch with a colleague yesterday. We've had lunch with wine before so this time I wasn't having any and I commented that I've really cut back - he seemed surprised and I said that I just felt like I needed to. He said that he'd never seen me drunk and I said it's not that, just that I drank too frequently (of course I frequently got drunk too but he doesn't need to know everything!) - and he said he had the opposite problem - he doesn't drink too frequently but when he does it's too much. I don't know if I gave him any reason to think twice now, but I told him that I hardly ever drink now. It's the first open conversation I've had about it with anyone other than my husband. My family (mother and brothers) all knows but we are not the kind to discuss things much, so although I know it's been noticed, it hasn't been discussed.

Anyway that felt pretty good! I was looking at my 'numbers' today - if you take vacation out (January and July this year), my average #drinks per occasion is 1.3 and the average # days in between occasions is 23. I'm really happy about that. Vacations skew the numbers but even then I only had one drink, but it was one drink a night for a few nights in a row. And I don't feel badly about that either, since it was not out of control. I feel about as close to a 'normal' drinker as one can be! Fingers crossed I can keep this up! I'm tremendously grateful and happy about it.

I'm curious - what does everyone here really want to do? Is it just cut back, or is it moderate according to the definition, or what - what are your goals, if you have them? I know Blue wants to drink only on weekends eventually - anyone else have particular goals?

[ToMyHealth]

Aw, sorry, Blue but have to admit I felt a bit of guilt as got handed a drink & thought oh no, did not pour out. Dh came home from long visit in dentist chair. I wasn't in kitchen when he mixed the drinks. Told him I meant to be AF. Too late. Not much harm done as there was something on 6:00 news I wanted to catch, and then we had dinner. Dinner with water. Watched a couple episodes of Dallas.

Hi Stewart. Sorry things are feeling a bit rough for you. Sounds like you have some caring people to help, that's a good thing.

Played golf today but stopped at 9 holes. Have other things I need to get done since tomorrow is a day totally out & about. Only have 4-6 weeks left working at hospital on Wed afternoon. Snowbird will be back & more than likely will want her regular shift. Hospital,wants me to pick a morning 8-12 shift.i know they need the help, but I am seriously considering stopping the volunteer work. #1 I detest early morning tee times, find it difficult to be 1 mile down the road much before 9:00 so having to leave for hospital looking good at 7:20a isn't too appealing. #2. I absolutely freeze there. I wear 3 layers & shiver. And I boycott high AC places. It took us a long time to find a church home as you could hang meat in all that we visited. The one we chose is a bit cool but a light sweater suffices.
#3 i promised myself I would give it a year. Started Labor Day week last year.

Feel kind of guilty. Things could change. I did throw out doing a 6 hr shift, like 9-3 but was not met with much enthusiasm. Hey, work with me here. LOL

Have a terrific Tuesday!

[blue1]

Hey Stew! So sorry to hear about that ugly voice you hear. YOU DESERVE TO BE HAPPY!!!!! Stick around here a little more so you can get the support you need! We are here for you!

Well...my AF day fell through yesterday. It wasn't by accident...I just decided to start celebrating my birthday early....

Hope everyone is having a successful day!

[Stewarts]

Hi, I've been a little absent...just busy with school and work stuff... I'll admit, I've been indulging a little bit. I need to watch it, because things are going well and this is when some voice or force inside tries to derail everything. Last week I stopped for a glass of wine inbetween meetings and ended up chatting it up with a Albanian hostess at some high-end steak place. She gave me her number, all I know is bad things can come of this. I went out some more before meeting my gf for dinner Downtown. We had a nice time, but I kept telling her these scenarios, kidding, of how much her family would not like me... she laughed, but thought it was weird, which it was... I know this game... its all fun and mischievous, then it will get really dark at some point. It's like theirs an inner being inside me that doesn't want me to be happy. I actually ended up telling my gf about this, which I was nervous about. She was actually very supportive and asked what she could do. I told her, not much, I just should probably not drink, or drink very little for awhile, it tends to be the trigger. She said, ok. I went away that weekend. Did some fishing, Saturday, again, indulged a little, not just with AL, but with food and desert, which I never do. Good thing, my mom said to me, "you look tired, you had a long day, whey don't you go down to the boat and go to sleep." I agreed, I was exhausted. I had a little night anxiety, but then I was fine. My mom asked how I felt, my parents know about my issues... I told her I was fine, which was true.. she told me she asked because that was the most she seen me drink in awhile... I told her it was, which was sort of true... truth be told, I felt more bloated and out of shape from all the summer time fun.. all and all, everything is good. I have to lose weight yet again...

I will be ok. I do need to watch this demon voice inside me that is convinced I don't deserve to be happy.

j.

[blue1]

One more day.....50....here I come!

AF Monday for me!

Have a successful day!

[frances]

Thanks blue. And to be honest, at this point, the wine doesn't even taste good to me now.

Your plan sounds good I hope it works for you - let us know if you need help!

[blue1]

TMH-Some of my family and friends are meeting me at a seafood buffet that I love! (can you imagine all you can eat crab legs??? Plus chicken dishes....beef dishes....etc.
It's called Hokkaido. I'm sooo excited!!! 2 more days and I'll be 50....I can't believe it! I've waited for this for so long!

Frances- you are doing an awesome job!!!! You keep me encouraged! My plan for the moment is to be AF on Mondays and Tuesdays for 4 weeks then add in AF Wednesdays for 4weeks....ans so on and so forth.....until I'm only drinking on the weekends.

Hope everyone is having a successful Sunday!

[frances]

That sounds fun blue - I hope you have a great birthday and a great time at the zoo! I turn 50 in October so we are very close in age.

Hope you have a great Sunday!

Things are good here - had a glass of wine last weekend on Saturday and another on Sunday while I was away for the weekend with my family. Nothing 2 weeks before that and nothing since. No 'plans', and I pretty much don't plan to drink but if there is an occasion that arises I will consider it. This is what works for me...anyhing more regular does not because I just wind up drinking too much every day.

[ToMyHealth]

Nice evening. Did join in with some wine. We had a good time. Lots of leftover grilled steak & veggies.
Sure, Blue, I'll join you for Mon & Tues. Where is the birthday celebration? 50 yrs young! Are you feeling better?

[blue1]

TMH-Glad they downgraded Erica!

Whatever you choose to do will be fine....don't be so hard on yourself....I will be AF on Monday and maybe Tuesday...care to join me? Wednesday is my birthday....I'll be turning 50! So...I know I'm going to drink....but I'm going to try to take it easy...cause I plan on getting up early on Thursday so I can go to the zoo....I've never been to the zoo....ain't that crazy? lol

Everybody have a successful Saturday!!!

[ToMyHealth]

Quite relieved Erica has been downgraded. Sure we will get plenty of wind & rain.

Entertaining tonight. Attitude Adjustment Hour starts at 5p. I am seriously thinking of not partaking. May enjoy it more as in the past I have found as the evening wears on I find myself getting cranky and thinking enough is enough. It would be great to enjoy myself & wake up Sunday feeling great, go to church, play a little golf before more rain hits.

Will let you know tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

TMH

[blue1]

Frances- sorry...I didn't answer you about what time my daughter got home....she got here around 9am.....said she had gotten on the bus and realized she had left her wallet (with her bus pass in it) at work and had to get off and walk back to get it....and she couldn't call me cause her phone is broke from the baby getting slober in it.

I feel a bit of depression trying to creep in...I'm going to have to do something that makes me happy....hmmmmm wonder what?