AF Daily Sunday November 21

[Lavande]

Good morning Abbers!

Bright & sunny here today but a bit chilly

I have a whole day ahead with no special plans so I'll just see what happens. Most likely more online Christmas shopping since there are no stores in cow country!

Wishing a fabulous AF Sunday to all!
Lav

[Brigitte Bardot]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Morning Lav and everyone!

It's a cold one here today, and we're still going to be working on cement. So I except I will be nothing but frozen bits and just crumble later on.

Got to get going, but have a fabulous day everyone!

Like DG says..one thing is for sure..

[greeneyes]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Morning Lav & all to come!

I have a busy day. I am a busy person. I am one of those that find it hard to sit still and I have to make an conscious effort to engage in "do nothing time". Even though I realize it's importance, it doesn't come naturally to me. I'll be glad to be away thanksgiving. I'm not so busy in someone else's house.

The dinner party was lots of fun. GF had just gotten her stovetop smoker like mine and wowed everyone with salmon. The west african peanut soup was a big hit. Seems backyard fire pits are really the thing. We spent the whole night out there including eating dinner! I'm a little new to this group of people. The host is an award winning beer maker and there was plenty of wine... and my oj and cranberry. The "no alcohol for me, thanks" was pretty easily navigated. I still feel like I'm in a spotlight for that moment and it's a little strange. I guess I'm wondering what people are thinking (ego is alive and well :H) which in reality, is probably nothing. Maybe it's because I make it a blanket statement, not a "not just tonight" thing. I know newbies sometimes struggle over what to say and maybe being an "oldie" makes it easier to cut to the chase. Next time, it won't come up because if they remember, I didn't not drink just that night, I don't drink at all. I guess this is a bigger deal than normal for me because it came up at the art crawl the other night too and I felt the same way when I said it. I need to think on this some more.

Gia, your combo of cold outside home addition work and warm cozy inside with savory aromas floating around sounds delightful. Sounds like you're in a good space. Did you have your date?

I wonder if cindi comes home Thanksgiving. Her birthday is in a couple days too. I hope she is doing well.

Shout out to everyone else.... gotta run. One thing is for sure!

[LVT25]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Hello friends,

Greenie, it is still awkward when someone offers me a drink. I guess those that were around me in my drinking days are pretty shocked when they hear I've given it up. It doesn't happen very often, and my family and close friends I think are used to it by now. Regardless, I'm glad I don't drink anymore and that is the main thing.

I gotta tell you, the stress and uncertainty I've been feeling lately sure cause me to consider having a drink and a smoke to make myself feel better. Fortunately I've educated myself enough and have you guys so I know that that simply isn't logical. It would only make me feel worse, not better. Besides, my #1 son is the one dealing with the brunt of this and if I would use those things to deal with stress, what would that be teaching him?

Things really snowballed on him this last week and after a couple of altercations with one of the coaches he is no longer a part of the cast of the One Act play. Not a good situation, and I guess some lessons we just have to learn the hard way. I'm incredibly sad about this, and I feel bad for everyone involved, but there is also a sense of relief. It was just too much for him and it was affecting his school work, and that has to come first.

I don't have big plans today. Teaching Sunday school, and after church we are having a Thanksgiving dinner--yum! After that I will probably need a nap. I do need to get some stuff done though, because tomorrow will be a busy day--yearly female exams and then school stuff and some catching up at work.

Lav--I told my family last night I wasn't doing any Christmas shopping this year since I don't have much income to speak of right now. This came after hubby's comment about the binoculars I picked up for him--said Merry Christmas--I used his credit card.

Have a happy sober Sunday all.:h

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

GM!

I must have a pretty boring life because I don't seem to have much to write about these days.

We didn't get as much snow as the areas around us. We are in the middle of Victoria and Nanaimo. Victoria had 13cm... and Nanaimo had 24+ cms by yesterday morning. Our roads are pretty crappy though; our Island goes for crap when it snows. You wouldn't believe how many accidents happen. We don't get that powdery white stuff. We get that wet, heavy, snow. Makes for a decent snow man; but driving is dangerous!

I did manage to go and buy groceries yesterday. After rotting on the couch all day, I started to feel a bit of cabin fever by supper time.

Today, I would typically be heading out to my private client's place. But received an email after 9pm last night saying the roads were horrid and icy where they live. They live near Nanaimo; out in the bush.... so, I guess I won't be going there today. Temps aren't getting warmer than 1 as a high.... oh well. Another day rotting on the couch. Well, actually maybe I will do some cleaning.

Ok, now that I have bored you all to death about the weather and my uneventful life.... I guess I will get Little AFM some breakfast.

That soup sounds awesome, Greenie!! Sounds like you had fun last night!

BB - way to go for buying rum and sending him on his way! The early days of being AF are tough. Especially this time of year. I had drinking thoughts yesterday. The snow and being housebound was a thought trigger.

Hello to everyone else!! Have a fantastic day!!

[Choochie]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Greenie, I think telling people you don't drink is a wonderful thing. I did it for the first time recently and I think people were actually really impressed. I think lots of people wish they could say that and struggle with alcohol. You just can't tell by looking at them!

Out and about today with errands.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

:lChoochie

[papmom3]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Crap-damn pop up blocker!! Lost my whole huge post!! Arrgghhh!!

Oh, sorry. Good afternoon everyone!! It's cold but sunny here in central MA and I'm being very lazy. I'm with Lav-no real plans-just doing what I feel like. So far just some easy chores and installing a new antivirus program on my laptop. It found 4 trojan viruses and cleaned them. Now I think I'm pretty protected. Jeez, sounds like I'm talking about stds!!
Spent the nite at my sister's until 12 midnite. Our plan was to prevent the boys from having and impromptu bash while she and my BIL were out of town for the nite celebrating her birthday. Aimee Mann concert then up to Stockbridge for luxory at the Red Lion Inn. Sigh. Anyway, our plan worked. These boys have no clue what their up against!! :H My 13 yo niece and I watched Planet Green (I so miss cable!!). The first show was a documentary called "Supersize Me!" Super Size Me (2004) - IMDb I can almost guarantee I will never set foot in another fast food joint and I'm the Queen of Junkfood!! Well worth watching if you can find the full version. The second show was another documentary called "No Impact Man". Very interesting but a little over the top. No TP? Really? No Impact Man: The Documentary (2009) - IMDb and his blog- No Impact Man. I think my niece actually absorbed some of what she saw and heard so it was a very nice night. Once my 2nd nephew was home safe and sound I took off. I assume my 1st neph was out and about at college.

BTC-would you PLEASE tell us what the H**L is on the back of that biker rider in your avatar? It really creeps me out for some reason and maybe if I knew what it was it wouldn't. I know, my problem but inquiring minds want to know. I do have to check out that link for the tea. I love tea!!

BB-good luck with the continuing concrete work in the cold. You are one hearty lady!!

Greenie-you definitely win the Queen of Busy as well as Universe. Glad you had such a good time last nite.

As far as telling people, maybe I'm naive or stupid but I haven't made a secret of it. On thursday one of the dept secretaries came down and asked for a report. It was really busy and it took me a while to get it for her and I was obviously frazzled. She said she'd buy me a jug of wine as a thanks for all the work. I just looked at her and said "well, since I don't drink anymore, that won't help. However, I'm quite partial to Whoopie Pies these days". It got a laugh and if she wondered why I don't drink anymore, she kept it to herself. I've been pretty open without actually volunteering the info if it doesn't get brought up first. I mean, I haven't taken an ad out in the school newspaper or my local rag announcing my AFness to the world. Yet. But, I'm really opposed to the stigma that is attached to experiencing problems with this drug by society. Just judging by the number of members here at MWO and the other forums that are out there plus AA, it's obvious this legal drug causes more people problems than it doesn't. Why can't alcoholics be treated like people addicted to smoking? You don't hear people asking if they should let friends/family know they don't smoke anymore. They get applauded. I dream of the day this happens to a newly recovering alcoholic. I also think we should call recovering smokers smokeaholics. Sugaraholics. Shopaholics. Sexaholics. Help! Someone get me off of here!!
:soapbox:

Hey AFM-yep, life does get boring sometimes but at least you'll remember the boring times now!! :H

Hearty and warm hello to all others that come by today!!

:l

[Marshy]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Hello abbers!

Thank you for all the good wishes about my lump the other day. I didn't get another chance to log back in until today - busy too! Now got a bit of time at home, cleaning up and have to dismantle my bed because my new one is being delivered tomorrow morning. I've got the early morning delivery slot so need to create room today rather than waiting until 7am tomorrow.

I don't have any problem telling people I don't drink now but recently has a new variation on it when I was invited round to a friend of XNGF's for the first time. She was pouring wine for everyone and offered me a glass. I said "No thanks, I don't drink." And she offered me some apple juice, so I said yes to that. But then she said "Do you want it in a wine glass?" And I was a bit stumped by that. I didn't really want it in a wine glass because that (to me) is like having fake wine and I'm over that but she had wine glasses out so I spent far too long going "ummmm" and feeling as though I was being "difficult" :H. Anyway, like a good hostess, she obviously realised I had a problem with that and went into the kitchen to get a normal glass for me. And I'm sure she didn't think twice about it, it was just me feeling a bit awkward.

Papmom - good job on the gym! Exercise was a huge help to me in getting and staying sober.

Hi Lav, BB, LVT, AFM, Choochie, Greenie. Better go and tackle the bed - it's not going to do it by itself.

[peacenik]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

hi guys and gals...cold wintery but oddly not snowy day here...still not used to it since it came so late this year.

was away yesterday with my husbnad and kid. had fun shopping and eating out (something we can't do where we live!).

will find out tomorrow what is up with my body, and tuesday my beagle goes in to get an x-ray and needle aspirate of his lymph nodes. lymphoma has been suggested, but i'm not going to fret until i really find out.

i better get the dogs out for a walk before the sun goes lower and it gets even colder!

peace

[breaking_the_cycle]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

Papmom, love, it's a live goat on his back!

[Lavande]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

A goat btc? THat's a crazy picture :H

The strangest thing just happened.........
I was out checking on my flock of chicks when I heard the sound of a horse galloping on the road - sure enough there was a beautiful black horse all saddled up with no rider charging right down the road. I watched him & when he got to the corner he turned left & just kept going :H I hope his rider is OK wherever he/she is!!!

Who said nothing exciting ever happens on a Sunday?? :H

[ItsJustMe]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

What?s up peoples?.

Been running around all day ? not getting a lot accomplished. I did make it to the gym today. Ran 1.6 miles for about 20 minutes and finished it off with 10 minutes in the sauna and a long hot shower. Made a grocery run and got some steaks for tonight.

Anyway, I?m with P3, Cooch and Marshy. I actually don?t feel uncomfortable at all with I am asked if I would like a drink. I was with some clients at a really fancy restaurant recently. Everyone at the table started with cocktails ? I had a diet coke. For dinner, they passed around a really expensive bottle of wine ? I don?t know dodo about wine but I did have to pick up the bill ? it was about $100/bottle. I had tea. There was nothing uncomfortable at all with the situation for me or my clients.

My family does not drink at all except for me and my brother. My mom always gets my brother a bottle of Jack D. and me Bacardi when we go home for Christmas. I will be telling mom not to get the Bacardi this year.

BTC, knowing it is a goat still creeps me out. You ever see a picture of something you didn?t want to look at but you kept staring at. I think I?m trying to read more into the picture than is there! Like how he got the goat there, does he ride that way often, is there a close personal relationship with the goat and the rider?..

Hope everyone had a great weekend and are ready to grab next week by the horns!

And as usual, here is todays words of wisdom from IJM: What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

Take care all,

[papmom3]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

IJM-whatever happens, you cannot leave this forum!! You are my shot in the arm of humor every day and now I'm looking for the humor in lots of situations!! Love ya!! don't tell your wife!
Thank god I'm not the only creeped out by the goat pic!! Those were my questions exactly! I could add one more but it's morbid and I don't want to be morbid right now!! What color do they put on the licenses of bald men?

Peace-I'm working real hard to send good vibes to you and your beagle. But no matter what, just remember AL won't solve it.

Lav-....and in cow country? :H Did you ever go look to see if anyone was lying in the road?

Really hate that it gets dark so early now.I think I have to spend the summers in NE and the winters in Aussieland from now on. Oh MR Geeee!!

OK off to let the pooches out. Not feeling like a walk tonite but I might force myself. It's cold!!

[Lavande]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

I did look for a fallen rider papmom but didn't see anyone.
That horse could have come from anywhere - so many people have horses here in cow country :H

[greeneyes]

AF Daily Sunday November 21

breaking_the_cycle;1008437 wrote: Papmom, love, it's a live goat on his back!

heh.... that's better than what I was thinking. I thought it looked like some sort of satanic beast with unusual headgear. :H

Re the not drinking. I normally don't feel funny. It was just those two situations and I've not decided what it was about them that was peculiar.

On a road trip today my spark plug came out of the engine! the Highway partol sent a department of trans truck to me and he put it back in saying it was really odd and had no idea how it happened or if it would happen again. Instead of proceeding to my destination I turned around and came home. I'm taking the opportunity to be not busy and I'm already in jammies. Took that cue from you, M3!