July Jamboree - week 1

[cyntree]

July Jamboree - week 1

Good morning all! Chill, thanks for posting about liking being alone....I really feel for you, with so much (and complicated) guest activity right now....take good care of yourself. It sounds like many of us have a sense that the 'too-much-ness' of modern life can be a problem. I know it is for me, in fact I am looking at it as one of my biggest triggers. I often drank to get through situations that I had to engage in, but that on some level I felt were more than I wanted to handle. That may never change for me, and perhaps it is a way of honoring myself to simply admit it and not feel that I am somehow lacking in something. Maybe our modern society is the thing that is lacking something....

RedStar - I have been thinking about you and your 'quest'; maybe writing, or something. Did I ever mention the book The Artist's Way to you? Sorry if I'm repeating. I love the book for 2 things: everyday writing as a meditative practice, and a scheduled 'Artist's Date' once a week to fill the well. Check it out!

Anyway, happy peaceful Sunday to you all, and Happy 4th, fireworks watchers!

[rustop61]

July Jamboree - week 1

Happy 4th July everyone in US.

Star - the name of the book is Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom.

Rustop

[spedteach]

July Jamboree - week 1

Hey everybody,
I finally, finally have a calm place to post. Through my son's iphone I am able to get on my laptop. He's a technological wizard. We're in Indiana, feeling kind of like we're in Oz. The humidity is pretty amazing. Running this morning, 5 minutes in and I'm drenched. Think my son is in shock, missing his girl friend plus moving from LA to the middle of Indiana, who wouldn't be in shock. Plus we are in a condo overlooking Main Street and ground zero for the 4th of July festivities. Last night "God Bless America" forever.

Cyn, it's so good to hear from you. That desert heat, don't know what's worse, that or humidity. Some things here I can appreciate..cardinals (none in NM) and lightening bugs, tail gate bugs!
I too love The Song of the Lark, in fact all of Willa Cather. My Antonnia, so romantic!

Red, this is going back a few days but you were talking about "settling". I'm almost 60 and I don't want to "settle". For me that would mean staying in an unhappy relationship, one I know contributed to my drinking. In fact these days I feel very unsettled but that's okay. Change can be hard. Had a decent talk with my husband this morning. He knows changes are on the way.

Chill, I saw a friend of mine from high school in Michigan. Saw her a year ago and she had just gotten out of rehab and looked great. This time she was drinking straight vodka at 10:30 in the morning. Face puffy, abdomen distended. Did she give up? What terrible things alcohol does to the human body.

Rustop, drinking at home alone, that was my major problem although at the end I was drinking all the time, everywhere. My friend in Chicago is loving hearing about Dingle.

Rebirth, I'm so with you on complicated people. Since I've been traveling, I've been like a social butterfly, flitting from person to person. Sometimes I just want to get in my car and drive, alone.
I must say though, spending time with my son is wonderful. Very easy going, funny. And he's still my baby.

Lav, I hope you have a good barbeque, what's on the menu? Dill, did you ever name that boat?

Where is our LBH????

[sooty]

July Jamboree - week 1

hello gang, I'm back. Had a great holiday - the weather was nice and Mr S and I went on lots of long walks and did lots of touristy things. I did sample the local cider and am quite happy with my behaviour so everything good.
Had an extra nights holiday cos when we got to daughters we found we didn't have enough room in the car for all her stuff and passengers so I stayed overnight and came back by train with her today and we had a lovely girlie night, meal and sex and the city at the cinema - load of rubbish but great fun!
I haven't had chance to catch up with all your posts yet - but so happy to be back with you
love sooty

[marriedgirl29]

July Jamboree - week 1

Can I join the Jamboree?

Hello all-

I have read thru the July posts so far and everyone seems to be really reflecting a lot and trying to take some time out for themselves which is cool. I have 13 days AF today and I am keeping at the AA program pretty hard.
God bless!
MG29:thanks:

[Chillgirl]

July Jamboree - week 1

Sooty - welcome back, glad you had a good holiday.
Hop back in the drivers seat & take us somewhere nice & peaceful, it's starting to fill up here with tourists which is another good reason for me to stay home!

MG29 - lovely to have you aboard, congrats on day 13 AF, would be great if you can share your journey with us.

My guests leave tomorrow & I have a lot of food for thought which I look forward to sharing with you.

[ladybirdheart]

July Jamboree - week 1

It is a beautiful day here and I am finally coming around from the gloomy spirit that has held me fast since Monday. I have spent the last six days cleaning out and cutting off everything I can reach that was downed by the intense hailstorm, and this afternoon I am out of my hard leg cast and wearing just an elastic brace around the house. And (drum roll), in the last couple of days, I can actually SEE normally for the first time in many years. My little expensive hard contact is now doing its thing in my left eye, and I actually read a magazine for the first time since March and drove with abandon for the first time in three years. My thoughts are getting sweeter again and even though I seem to be getting a cold (horrors), it does not seem to be a really BAD cold such as the kind one gets after an eighteen hour plane ride to Singapore. A few days ago my positive thinking consisted of things like ?at least it looks like I will be dead before my state retirement pension runs out of money:H? and the rest was limited to combinations and permutations of the ?F? word. I shall start catching up tomorrow with posts, but in the meantime welcome back Cyn and congratulations Chill and Rebirth with your milestones! And welcome home Sooty, I have deeply missed you and your shining example of yes-you-too-can-survive-a-really-bad-ankle-injury-without-falling-into-a-vat-of-gin. I shall try and make a different post of pictures of my garden before the hail. Nature is as usual very discretionary (and cool) with her priorities. I have blooming water lilies today on plants with no leaves and blooming roses at the end of stripped bare and broken stems. We are even having a surviving Jimmy Nardelo sweet pepper with our holiday dinner. Tomorrow, I shall take a picture of Moses for you my Dill. Love, Ladybird.

[ladybirdheart]

July Jamboree - week 1

Not sure if this will work but "before the hail". With love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

July Jamboree - week 1

LBH your garden was lovely - so sorry it was damaged by the storm.
Wonderful to hear that your vision has improved so much - and your leg as well!

Welcome home Ms Sooty, glad your trip was pleasant

I had a nice day with the family, BBQ, etc. Mr Lav was here, seemed to enjoy himself. I asked him to stay after the kids left so we could talk a little. That was a mistake. In less than 10 minutes he had me so angry I told him to get out & slammed the door after him. Think I'm done with him. His behavior, his thinking is more screwed up than ever!

I'm going to plug in my new meditation CD now & forget about him.
Wishing everyone a good night!

[cyntree]

July Jamboree - week 1

Welcome, MG and congrats on your 13 days - a great accomplishment! Yeah, LBH so great to hear from you - I still haven't quite caught up on the June posts to know what exactly happened to your ankle, but I so glad to hear that it's mending, and that your eyesight is improving. What a thrill it must be. Thanks for the pics of your garden - I'm sure your plants will quickly grow back into that gorgeous abandon soon.

Sped - great to hear how you are doing. Poor son - sounds like he really will be in shock for a while. Hope the 4th serenaders aren't keeping you up. Earplugs, anyone?

Lav - so sorry about the end of your evening....but maybe the waters have finally overcome the dyke and will wash away encumbrances.

Great to check in with everyone - sleep tight (or happy morning, Chill and Islanders)

PS - Can someone advise me; why does this site never 'remember me' when I check that box? And do I really have to sign out and close the site down and then bring it back up to see if any new posts have happened? It's getting a little tiresome....yours in un-geek-ness, Cyntree

[rustop61]

July Jamboree - week 1

Good morning everyone

Welcome back Sooty, you sound as if you had a lovely time.

Lav - Sorry last night did not end the way you hoped. Cyn's comment about the waters overcoming the dyke made a lot of sense.

Cyn - Cant help re password. I dont leave myself logged in as teenagers use this computer and dont want them nosing!!

Welcome MG and congratulations on your 13 days. Please share your journey with us.

LBH - So glad your leg and eye are so much better. Thanks for the lovely photos of your garden. I'm sure it will be back to all its former glory in no time.

Star, Dill, Rebirth and anyone else I missed big hello. Off to walk the doggies, catch you all later.

Rustop

[rebirth]

July Jamboree - week 1

Hi marriedgirl29!
Welcome! How are you feeling with 13 days AF? That's fantastic! I got my first one month AA medal last friday. I cried like a baby. I still get emotional now. I still think it's fantastic that I have not had a drink in 31 days! ARGGHHH. Loving it! The more emotional tests I pass, the stronger I feel and the more hope I have in believing that there is a fulfilling, meaningful life without drink. And that's saying something from an alcoholic!

Hi spedteach. I smiled reading your message about your son. Mine is 6 years old but I guess I will always see him as my little baby. Even when he is 6ft tall and over 40. He is my world...

Stargazerlily. I was thinking the same about my weight. Ugh. Since I have stopped drinking I have a craving for sweet stuff. I swear that it has become worse. Yesterday I devoured a bag of fudge, then ate a pile or meringues later one....three slices of cake for breakfast....oh dear. Keep telling myself that I will exercise but I am just so tired.

[dill]

July Jamboree - week 1

:welcome: MG29! Glad to have you join us! You're off to an awesome start!
Welcome back, Soots! We sure missed you. I know Lav will be happy to turn the wheel back over to you!
LBH, I look forward to meeting Moses. Did you upload those photos from Photobucket? Your garden was lovely, and it will be restored.
Lav, I am sorry that things went badly at the end of your day. Mr. L seems to be a lost cause at the moment. Peace and strength to you.
Cyn, I don't know why the remember me box doesn't seem to make the site remember me, either. As far as logging out and in again to see new posts: have you ever tried "refresh view"? You go up to your menu bar and click on View. Then click on Refresh. It updates whatever page you are viewing and new posts appear.
Redstar, I have been trying to lose a few pounds too and it just seems to get harder as I get older. I think exercise in the morning works for me. I feel like it kick starts what little metabolism I have left. I usually take a brisk walk for 40-60 minutes before the heat of the day. This only works in the summer when the days are long! When I have to work, I try to take a 20 minute walk at lunch time and another in the evening. Anyway, the exercise and of course cutting calories is ever so slowly making the scale go in the right direction.
Chill, I am a loner for the most part. I sometimes worry that I am becoming too much a recluse and I force myself to reach out and spend time with a friend.
Rebirth, you are such an inspiration. I love reading your positive posts. I'm very glad you are part of our little thread.
Rustop, hope you and your doggies enjoyed your morning walk.
Spedteach, you and your son arrived just as the humidity arrived! We actually had been having spectacular weather last week with low humidity and nice temps. Don't worry, it's not always hot and humid!
Rusty, Spuddle, and all who check in, have a lovely AF Monday!

[Stargazerlily]

July Jamboree - week 1

I am recommitting to being AF and today is day one for me. Also, NF, I have a patch on. I have just lost my way and this summer has been rough. Due to my choices and nothing else. I am off today and on my own, so I am rereading the MWO book and going to get more vitamins and supplements. I went through my old posts back to the very beginning and realized that I have been playing this game for three years. I have done well for months at a time, and then, for no good reason, drink. This is stopping here and I will post daily.

I have vacation next week and want it to be AF and it will be. I am making a list of the pros and cons, will take vitamins, and get rid of any temptations in my home. I know that I have a good life AF, more fun, respect myself, etc., yet for some reason, that I know you all know, go back. So, now is the time to be honest with you and myself. This is the only way to go. July 5, 2010, the absolute beginning. ODAT too. So, I will post and post and read and read, just like I did in the beginning. I did not get drunk last night but I am just sick of the whole scene and will never be healthy or lose weight till I get AF.

How are others AF journeys going at the current time?

Spedtech, the weather is ugly right now, but I the fall weather is absolutely the best in the world. It makes it all worthwhile. My son also lives with very little, and it is good for him as he has organizational issues. (OK, he is a slob). It is amazing how little we really need to be happy.

Chill, are your guests gone and are you back on your own?
LBH, you plants look beautiful, everything will probably come back better.
Dill, do you get lonely being on your own alot? I do, I need more friends.
Lav, sounds like you are sick of your hubby's games and with good reason. My heart goes out to you, because you love him. Life gives us so many challenges.

[Lavande]

July Jamboree - week 1

Good morning Jammers,

MG29, I forgot to welcome you yesterday, sorry! Congrats on your AF time, I'm sure you are feeling better at this point. It really is worth the effort

Rebirth, you sound so happy - I'm happy for you!

I woke up to an email apology this morning. I won't bore you all with the details but it is painfully obvious that Mr Lav is a victim of some disturbed thinking - very hurtful indeed.

Not sure what to do today so I guess I'll just let it happen. An afternoon nap may be in order, we'll see!
Wishing everyone a wonderful AF Monday.

Get back to work Sooty