AF Daily - 1-6

[daylight]

Good morning everyone. Well its day six I went for a swim this morning so feeling good. I just took a quick look thru yesterdays posts and we all seem to be trying some mix of exercise/eating healthy to feel better. But I guess staying off the booze will be the main one.. Im a porridge convert - starts the day off for me. Mixed with things like cinnamon, fruit or yougurt. When Im doing that I know Im half way there. Whats other peoples health tips/markers?
I saw people talking about money problems too. Thats another of mine too I'm a mature student and have no funding left. I'm relying on an assistance fund from the college - another reason to stay of booze. Its either that or food..
Hope to hear from you all today and that I'll start to remember who said what. Glad I found this place :thanks:

[papmom3]

AF Daily - 1-6

Morning Daylight!! Thanks for starting us off!! You put most of us to shame with your eye opening swim!!
Money problems are plaguing a lot of us-you're absolutely right. I'm trying to figure out how I will pay for the next delivery of oil this year which should be right around the corner. it's been so cold here in New England-I tried keeping the thermostat at 60 but it was really wearing me down. Now I just take the chill off in the morning and nite and then put it back down but still, I'm using more than normal and it's so expensive!! I also owe the oil company $250 for the yearly protection plan, fighting the insurance company about $1000 in bills they didn't pay, owe $250 for an ER visit and my car will need about $500 worth of work very soon. Sigh. I've cut down all I can on food, clothing, internet, dog toys/food, hair cuts etc and still it isn't enough. Now I find out that my $20 a month contract raise will be negated by a $36/month increase in federal taxes plus I've had to put more into my FSA in order to cover medical issues so I'm worse off in take home pay than when I started 3 years ago even tho my yearly salary is $3K more!! WTF????
As far as health tips, I'm just trying to watch what I put in my mouth and portion size and I started my running program again yesterday.
We will get through all our trials and tribulations no matter how immense they seem. The most important thing to keep in mind is that AL in no shape or form will make us feel better in the long run nor will it solve any of these problems. In fact, it could mask the solution!!
Have a great day-check in often and keep positive and grateful thoughts in front of you.
:l

[EnglishWriter77]

AF Daily - 1-6

Hi Daylight and Pap - Hope you're both doing OK.

Pap - I am with you on the finances - I think everyone I know is struggling at the moment, which doesn't make it any easier for yourself sadly, but it does show that generally speaking people are finding it hard to pay their bills and hopefully you can therefore buy more time from the people you owe money to.

Well done on the running though! Does you good to beat the stress by pounding the pavement!

[universal]

AF Daily - 1-6

Morning everyone.

Well yesterday is over - phew. Another day. Hey, does anyone here live in the Florida keys? If so, pm me, I have to make a jaunt that way asap.

I finally got in touch with employment insurance (woke up early so I would be one of the first calls in). They said my claim should be finalized by next Friday which means I should get payment the week after. So 2 more weeks of poverty but then I should get back payment. I can live with that.

I have to call my employer today as well as they called yesterday regarding my long term claim so I am waiting until it is an appropriate time to call them back. Then off to a meeting and running around to get things organized for my trip tomorrow. The insanity!!!

One thing is for sure though - I have been craving a bit lately - I think just from the stress and the realization that I will be in Florida. I will take my L-Glut with me and remember H.A.L.T. No way I am going back to that life after almost 6 months of sobriety.

zooming now - check in later.

[AAthlete]

AF Daily - 1-6

Morning all, and happy Thursday to everyone!

One thing I've noticed for those that are having money troubles is how positive your approaches are in that you appear to be tackling them head on instead of running and hiding from them. God, I know when I was drinking and some challenge like that came up, all I wanted to do was bury myself in a couple bottles of vodka and worry about it some other day. In no way am I trying to minimize anyone's struggles - I am just impressed with how level-headed people are about it.

Was reading an excerpt from Eckhart Tolle's new book, and found this little nugget in there (which is similar in concept to the AA Serenity Prayer)..

“How “spiritual” you are has nothing to do with what you believe but everything to do with your state of consciousness.” No matter how challenging life gets, we always have a choice about our personal consciousness and course of action. “If there is nothing you can do,” Tolle advises, “face what is and say, ‘Well, right now, this is how it is. I can either accept it, or make myself miserable.’ The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is.”

Anyway, take it for what it is worth, and hope everyone makes the best of today.

[Lavande]

AF Daily - 1-6

Good morning daylight, papmom, EW, Uni & AA!

Happy Thursday to one & all

On the topic of finances I contunually look for ways to decrease monthly expenses. I am in the process of refinancing my home loan, just signed up with a 'cheaper' electric company & registered for a shopping program with my cable provider to reduce my monthly bill. Not bad so far, but I will keep looking for ways to save

I need to get some work done so I'd better get moving!
Wishing everyone a terrific AF Thursday.

Lav

[greeneyes]

AF Daily - 1-6

AA, and as Shakespeare said in Hamlet, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily - 1-6

Morning all!

Yep - financially I am screwed at the moment as well. Seeing I barely worked while dad was sick; I am now $600 behind in January's rent, car insurance bounced, and seeing my eldest daughter moved in with her dad, I no longer receive the child tax benefit for her.... which is to be expected, but because they paid me for her Nov. and Dec. I get NO child tax this month for the little one! UGH! My electricity bill is behind now two months. UGH! Talk about anxiety! I didn't even spend dick all at Christmas time. Poor child had a 'dollar store' Christmas and thankfully she is too young to give a shit.

Whew! OK....

My schooling has been put on hold until September now. Not enough students for the program. That sucks too, because I was hoping that the Student Loans could bail me out a bit of this debt.

BUT, the good thing is that I am sober. I will remain sober. I will fight my way out of this horrid financial situation. Even if I have to get a shit job in the interim....

It is definitely a tough time for a lot of people right now. We all just have to try to think positive and do the best we can. So on that note, I am going to shower, and start revamping my resume.

[daylight]

AF Daily - 1-6

great to see everyone. Ive got two issues at the moment - one I seem to be developing a chest infection so I'll have to try and knock the ciggs aswell.. yikes.. And been invited to a party tomorrow night. What to do? Some heavy drinkers present and one none drinker plus a possible abstainer (dont know if theyve fallen of the wagon so to speak). I'm trying to decide wheither to go or not. Financially it makes sense cause I cant afford to go to pubs to socialize (this is Ireland - if you go out to meet people its inthe pub!) hmmm

[Brigitte Bardot]

AF Daily - 1-6

The motor on my car has offically died. I'm checking to see if I'm still covered by Warranty or not, first I need to find it. The luck I have, I wont be. It probably ran out like 2-3 months ago. But, I'm sober! I have no car at all, I'll rely on my parents right now to take me places.

AFM - They took away my Child Tax credit as well this month and till this stupid Pension screw up is fixed. So pretty much by the time it's fixed the 'debt' will be paid off and I'll have my Income Tax filed for 2010. I'm broke as well, fun times!

It's cold but sunny here so I did manage to some cleaning done in my shed and slowly organized. I need more shelving and totes and things for storage. I really don't like not having things in there clean and organized and labelled..I think that's the OCD in me showing it's lovely organzied colours! LOL.

Keep warm everyone!

[universal]

AF Daily - 1-6

Daylight - personally if I were you I wouldn't go. In early sobriety it's best to avoid dangerous people, places and things and that party would definitly qualify.

Do the last minute "I've come down with an awful cold and need to sleep" excuse if necessary.

Just my 2 cents! Congrats on 5 days!

[daylight]

AF Daily - 1-6

thanks universal - I'm kinda leaning that way thought wise myself. i just needed to hear someone say it
BB - tell me about organising ive been sorting things out the last few day I actually know where things are.. - I like it

[chartreuse_lily]

AF Daily - 1-6

Sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time BB. I really hope things get better for you but if nothing else it's good that you're not drinking and are trying to take some positive action by cleaning instead of dwelling on your problems (which is what I tend to do).

I can't believe it's almost a week into the New Year. I'm still Alcohol Free, today however is going to be a hard day. I work at an Independent Living Facility for senior citizens and every other Thursday I have to confront the Beast (so to speak) in the form of Happy Hour. It runs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and as the Activities Director leaves at 5:00 p.m. it falls to me to clean everything up. Needless to say being in an empty room surrounded by half full wine glasses and bottles is not a fun experience. I've done it a couple of times in the past since I got sober, so I know I can do it again tonight but it takes a lot of energy. It's one of the few times I find myself really white-knuckling (for the most part, the supplements I take have done a good job getting my cravings under control thank goodness).

[chartreuse_lily]

AF Daily - 1-6

I made it through Happy Hour with my sobriety intact! It wasn't even that bad (it probably helps that I did visualizations of NOT breaking down and drinking the whole way to work this afternoon).

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily - 1-6

WTG lily! Well done!