July's Jolly Journey - week 1

[rustop59]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Good morning

Dont have much time but just wanted to give Papmom :l:l:l:l you do deserve a break. Please dont stay away, this thread is for venting during the bad times as well as support and congrats during the good times. Rusty and Chill to name but two have been through some trying times and they both have come out the other end so hang in there.

Very busy morning ahead, flying out early tomorrow so I will be MIA for the rest of the week. Thinking of you all though.

Rustop

[Jolie]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Morning all,

Papmom - really sorry to hear you going thru some rough stuff right now. Sounds like you work for a somewhat larger company and believe me - I know how the politics can be at these places. Hang in there - we are all pulling for you! Hope you get the job in IT. Please remember we have big shoulders here and that's definitely how I've gotten thru some rough patches - relying on all of you to listen to my problems. :l:l:l - I'll be thinking of you today!

Lav - not sure how bad the storms were for you - we were hit hard. 2nd weekend in a row that we were without power for 30+ hours. Only difference was this weekend was a lot hotter! Had trees hanging on lines, lines on the ground - all right in front of our house. I should have been more grateful that we got our power back at all! I'm hearing lots in the mid atlantic are still without power and won't have it back until the weekend!

Dill - I'm with you - I'm definitely too old to be out lugging branches around in 99 degree heat - made me realize how really out of shape I am - walking every day just doesn't seem to be cutting it! Hope the cleanup goes well and the storms stay away for a while.

LBH - what a sweet soul you are for tending to the eldrly like that and making them feel special. I bet they appreciated it far more than you know!

Rustop - Helsinki!! Sounds like fun - what are you going to be doing?

SD - glad you had a good time at the lake - always nice to get away.

Rusty - thanks for always caring about me - even when I'm not here every day. Means a lot to me.

Chill - CONGRATS! on your 2 1/2 years! Huge goal - be interesting to hear how different your life is now without the AL.

Took this week off from work - just kind of schlopping around - doing some cleaning/cooking - a little shopping Taking my mom out to lunch on Thursday. Saw some great fireworks right off our back deck last night - there is a camp on the property next to ours (thru the woods - can't really see it) and they put on a great show every year! Never have to trek into town and fight the crowds which I hate.

Check in later - have a great day everyone and for those of us in the mid-atlantic - KEEP COOL!!

[Chillgirl]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Good Morning Guys

Rustop - have a wonderful trip! Im guessing in Helsinki at this time of year it will be daylight most of the time.

Papmom - Im sending you so much love too. You work so hard and I understand how difficult it is to continuously be treading water. It seems just when one issue is over another comes along. I have been facing some extremely challenging times of late and some days I dont want to go on but I repeat to myself "and this too shall pass". I got a great message from Neale Donald Walsch the other day which helped lift my spirits:-

"Nothing is fearful lest thinking make it so. I can honestly say that probably 95% of the things I was afraid of, it turned out I had no reason to be. And even if the thing you fear happens...so what? Again, 95% of the time your world is not going to fall apart, your life will not be in danger. So drop fear by the wayside.Just... let it go. Then make way for a surprising tomorrow."

Please please please dont stay away from us when you feel down, thats when its most important you check in, we are a team, remember the Geese, we cant solve your troubles but we can offer you support and love, I personally care about you very much and wish I could give you more than a virtual hug, I have been told I give great hugs :l

Lav - Lets share some jolly-ness I have been reading about Emotional Contagion and we really can effect how others feel. Thanks for reposting Cyn's mesg, boy Cyn you are having your share of tribulations too. I wasnt clear what is going on, are you just out of your rental on a temporary basis or moving permanantly?

Dill - What havoc from the storms! All we ever get here in the UK is rain and more rain :upset:

LBH - You are already spreading your positivity, how lovely to treat the gentlemen. If you can flirt with merry you can do jolly

Nothing new for me to report I hit the gym every morning then spend the day on my studies and stay home every night. I have run through my savings quicker than expected and Im not sure if i can continue here till September which was my plan. I am working hard at telling myself it will all work out which of course it will, one way or another.

I have practising Wayne Dyer's "I AM" paradigm and fall alseep every night repeating things like "I am strong" "I am lovable" "I am able to provide for myself" "I am deserving of good things" "I am a devine part of God" etc

I have a post it on my computer taken from Star's website which says "what am I thinking?, Is this thinking productive and do I want to keep thinking this?"

[Chillgirl]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Jolie - x posts.

Wish I could send you some cool rain in exchange for some of your heat! Enjoy your week off.

My life AF is unrecognisable. I would say that every aspect of what I think and do has changed,
its a learning process and I am growing into my new skin. I love feeling so healthy and having a clear head.
Bit by bit being the new me is becoming more comfortable.

[Rusty]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Good Morning Jolly Journeyers,

Papmom-:lI wish I could do something to make you feel more jolly or to help you in your job search. I am so sorry you didn't get that promotion you so wanted and deserved. I was astonished when I read that you were not even allowed to ask why you were passed over for this position. :excuseme: You have had one serious obstacle after another and it's times like these when I think God has some explaining to do. Despite all the odds stacked against you, you always have time to congratulate, offer support, and extend thoughtful words to others. You amaze me, woman.:l You took the time (when I know you really didn't have it) to write down the Photobucket instructions for me. I am this week going to look at them and then post the picture of the double rainbow I saw back in May. I googled Double Rainbows and apparently, they are quite the phenomenon, and it seems as though after I saw that rainbow, my bad luck seemed to change. I hope it does the same for you. You said I was just glowing....well, you are very sweet but believe me, I have moments when I lose confidence in myself. I went from having a fully booked calendar of work for the next year to having October, 2012 and into 2013 being wide open (meaning no assigned work).

Lav-thank you for posting Cyn's message. I hope your chickens are staying cool. I am really sorry about your brother's worsening condition. I am also sorry you have two brothers who do not show their love for you. My very dearest friend has brothers just like yours, and I can't mention my family to her too much because it makes her sad. She has no nieces and nephews and despite being married to a fabulous guy, she so wishes she could feel the joy of grandchildren or even nieces or nephews. She will never have that joy and I feel badly for her.

Cyn:lYou have Lyme's disease?:upset: At 105 lbs. you must be a shadow of a person. I'm so glad you're still AF and I hope the rest of the move isn't too taxing on your poor little body. Sending you lots of strength.

Chill-this quote is so pertinent for me:"

Nothing is fearful lest thinking make it so. I can honestly say that probably 95% of the things I was afraid of, it turned out I had no reason to be. And even if the thing you fear happens...so what? Again, 95% of the time your world is not going to fall apart, your life will not be in danger. So drop fear by the wayside.Just... let it go. Then make way for a surprising tomorrow."

I can remember so many opportunities I missed out of an abnormal fear. Abnormal fear also kept me from going to the doctor for way too long and I caused massive problems for myself. I must always remind myself of this quote. I am so thrilled for you that you love your AF life.

Jolie-how cool to be able to watch the fireworks from your deck. I'm glad you enjoyed a special time with your mom.

Rustop-enjoy your vacation in Helsinki.:-)

Star-I am thinking of you as it is now raining after days of nonstop sun and 95 plus heat....and I am sitting here watching "The Help" on Showtime. I must get the book.

LBH-your story of taking your elderly souls tomatoes made me smile.

Dill-I hope you are feeling better after enduring the loss of a family member.

I have a few business things to take care of so I will sign off for now. Have a terrific AF Tuesday.

[dill]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Hello Jolly (and not-so-Jolly) Friends,

Pmom, I am so sorry you feel so down, but completely can relate. I go through times like that as well. Just try to take a moment or two throughout your day and think of something that is positive or a happy memory.:l

Cyn, I have been wondering where you had got off to! Thanks for checking in and I look forward to you posting again. I wish I could throttle that landlady!

Rusty, you are so positive and uplifting. Your posts have a completely different "feel" to them than they did when we first met. You have so much more confidence and positivity and it shines through your posts. So great!:h

Chill, I hope you can find a way to stretch your savings. You have completely changed your life these past 2.5 years. I think in many ways your transformation is much more significant that some of some of the rest of us. You describe yourself as having started drinking at a very early age. It has been a huge part of your identity. You have faced many fears along this road and have conquered them.

Jolie, enjoy your week off!

Rustop, have fun in Helsinki!

Lav, Thanks for finding and posting Cyn's post. More heat and possible storms for today.:upset: As for this old farm, I am definitely cutting back on what I see as important/needs to be done. It just gets to be too daunting at times. I used to want everything done, done fast and look perfect. Not any more.:no: I pace myself and know things will eventually get done.

LBH, thank you for thinking of my poor, decrepit back. Yes, I have been moving slowly and being very careful. I am only doing a little at a time and then resting. How goes the early morning gardening? I love to imagine being there with you and Moses.

True Story:

I was getting together with some girlfriends last night but decided to have a drink to calm myself beforehand ~ you know, "take the edge off". STUPID, I know. I did not stop at one and I was short on time so I slammed down several. I felt ok and went off to meet my girlfriends. As soon as I got to my destination, the wine hit like a tsunami and I was so drunk I could not stand. Suddenly, Mr. Dill was there helping me up and steadying me. He must have followed me. He knew I was drunk but he didn't say a word about it in front of my friends. Adrenalin rushed through me because of the fear of looking a complete, pathetic fool in front of my friends. I was able to stand and carry on as usual. I pretended to be ok but kept wondering if anyone "noticed". I don't remember anything after that until I woke in the middle of the night, feeling disgusted and miserable.

I got up to use the bathroom and was surprised and relieved as I gradually came to realize that it had all been a dream and that I was completely AF.

Did that scare any of you as much as it scared me?!!! LOL! Let's have an af Tuesday!

[Rusty]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Dill-:no!: NOT FUNNY! Scared? SCARED??????? Not even close....my heart was beating so fast, I thought.....the last time my heart beat this fast was when I found out I flunked the exam. Had that dream ever happened to you in real life? Cut me off if I'm being too nosy. Thank you for your kind words about the positive changes in my personality. As far as feeling confident, yes, I guess I was very needy when I first came here. I hope I didn't drag you down in the process, Dill.:l Funny how some of us think or used to think that holding a drink in our hands made us feel more confident/popular, etc. Now I know that without a drink in my hand, I can still be confident/popular and happy, and remember all of it!

Ok, I must stop procrastinating and finish these mundane business tasks. Um, as soon as Hawaii Five-O (the original with Jack Lord) is over.:H

[Lavande]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

DILL,
I THINK I JUST WET MY PANTS READING YOUR POST :H :H
It's not nice to scare me like that
Wow, I sometimes think dreams are 'sent' to us as warnings, premonitions if you will......
Learning to listen to the message & read between the lines is what we need to do!!!

I thing it is time for a great big group hug here :l

Papmom, please don't let the non-genius people you work for get you down! We are all well aware of your big, kind heart & many talents & will ask the universe to send you something wonderful, asap!

Jolie, I know you have had more storm damage in your area. YB resides in Northeast & he said Elkton got hit pretty hard. I hope your power remains on because I know we are not done with these storms yet, stay cool!

Dill, do it the granny-way.....a little clean up work then back in the AC before you overheat!

My son has been dealing with the heat, storm damage & no power in DC area. He reportedly has not been a happy camper at work. Can't say I blame him either!

rustop, have a great trip. I'm just a little jealous.

chill, send cooler air....please.

LBH, I checked last evening & found a bunch of tiny green tomatoes in my garden. If you have extras - please send them

Rusty, procrastination comes so easily when you work from home......believe me, I know!!!

cyn, I want to wish you quick healing, sending yuo lots of love & strength.

The work I was going to do today is going to have to wait until Thursday (for several different reasons). So I just may schedule in a granny nap this afternoon

[ladybirdheart]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!! Dill, I too was falling all over myself with anxiety, I had no idea it was a DREAM. Once a woman who worked for me told me she had ?slapped? her secretary, and I was so rattled (what to do, what to do, what to do) I never heard her get to the part that it was a DREAM. Don't you people know I can?t take this stress:H:H.

Sending you love and strength, Pappy. Please stay close when you are sad and discouraged; I have to force myself to do it but I have never been sorry. We shall be there with you now and when you get to the other side. As you know, the ?solution? is often not where we are looking or in what we think we need to solve our problems. My sympathies also to all working through the hardships of storm damage, it can be so exhausting and demoralizing. Most of my life I have lived alone and I remember years ago when for a time it seemed as though everything was going wrong at once--work, finances, house, relationships, you know the drill, the whole personal catastrophe. After a fierce storm on top of it all, your Ladybird, never having been before or since a door slammer, in abject frustration slammed a door. The bathroom ceiling fell down. The look on my face must have been hilarious:H. Although it was yet another problem, something about the absurdity of it broke the spell and melted the knot in my chest. When I look back on that time of adversity, I love the way it worked out, the way I worked out, piece by piece, but at the time I had no idea of it, not a clue. Remind me of that when next I am lost. Love, Ladybird.

[sdlovespackers]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

mg DILL!!! You had my heart just pounding...i was scared for you that you were driving but then I felt so sad for you because I knew you were going to be so sad and upset with yourself in the morning! I just remember that feeling so well and feel so horrible thinking of people feeling that way about themselves!! I was so HAPPY and RELIEVED that you were dreaming!! I've had those drinking dreams too...where I wake up and realize I'm AF or didn't drink the night before! What still freaks me out is when someone asks me something and says don't you remember we talked about that last week...and my first thought is....why don't I remember..I know I didn't drink!!! Just takes me a second....it comes to me!!:H

PAp3--so glad you checked in...and am sooooo sorry you are going through a tough time~~as everyone told me (pretty much the entire school year) we're here for you...good times and bad!! We all have them...and we all help each other through them!! Big HUGS, GIRL!!!:l

I have to run my son up to the doctors to get his allergy shots...I just had to quick check in...after my almost heart attack after reading Dill's post!!! :H I'll be back later today hopefully to catch up with the rest of you!!! You weren't forgotten....
SD

[Chillgirl]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

OMG Dill! I was holding my breath reading that, you are naughty to scare us but yes I have had drinking dreams although not for a very long time. I remember vividly one a few months after I quit, the feelings of regret and remorse were so strong I have never felt so sad and disappointed in myself, I even woke up feeling hungover!

[dill]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Greetings and Happy 4th of July to all the U.S.A. bunch!

That dream was awful but it was SO nice when I woke up and realized it was simply a nightmare.
Rusty, I have never done anything like that that I recall, but each element in the dream was true in and of itself, if that makes any sense. I never would drink several drinks then get in the car to go meet my friends. That part of the dream would never happen.

We are celebrating the 4th with a good old-fashioned barbecue. My son and a couple of our friends will be over. It will be too hot to enjoy the outdoors, so we'll probably send some poor soul out to do the cooking, then all retreat to the indoors to eat. This blasted heat!!!

[Stargazerlily]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

Good morning to all...

Pap, sorry to hear you are having a rough time. Please come and talk to us about it, any time. There is something in talking about things that at times makes it easier, better, because it is out, and discussed. Wish there was something I could do.

Dill, it takes time to recover after a trip, I like to have a full day to be around the house andget my stuff and myself back to normal.

Rusty, with my new job I have taken it week by week, not projecting the future, as I have no control over my scheduling, and it seem that it all comes together, so have faith.

Chill, money goes fast, doesn't it. Have you been looking for work there or hoping to finish your course and start employment in that field? I have been reading about macrobiotic eating, and have been dabbling in it, it is very satisfying. The only problem is I can't find seaweed or other exotic veggies at my grocery store and the closes Asian market is a trip, about 20 minutes away, I need to plan it. I find that when I eat brown rice and veggies, I can go for a long time without feeling hunger, my blood sugar seems to be stable. However, today is 4th of July and I am going to a picnic and my contribution will be deviled eggs, so to the store I go soon.

No fireworks, they are banned for the first time ever in our county as it is so dry. I am already watering and will continue to do so. Happy 4th to all.

LBH, how sweet of you to share your bounty with the gentlemen. Nothing better than fresh tomatoes!!! Why do they call them nightshade veggies? I need to make friends with someone who has a garden and wants to share their produce. We do have farmer's markets around so I will make the effort to buy some. Oh, our sweet corn has just begun and it is delectable, a real treat. A firend told me about wrapping a cob in saran wrap, with a little water inside,and nuking it for 3 minutes...a perfect corn on the cob.

Cyn, take care of your self, moving and lyme disease sounds like a difficult time. Do you have someone to help you out? I hope so.

Jolie, how nice to have the entire week off...I should have done that. We all need time away from work to feel refreshed. Sorry your storms were so severe. We had a few, with lots of trees down, but not in our neck of the woods. It is so hot I cannot imagine no air...ughhhhhh

Rustop, have fun on your trip and take care.

Hey Lav, greetings.

To all, have a great 4th of July.

[Stargazerlily]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

OK, I guess I missed a bunch of posts. Dill, you are naughty, that dream was HORRIBLE, so glad it was not true.

SD, greetings, stay cool and a happy holiday.

[Chillgirl]

July's Jolly Journey - week 1

HAPPY 4th OF JULY MY FRIENDS!



Star - There are a zillion eating plans out there and lots of good ones but I really believe if we just stick to what we know is healthy and nutritious it works the best. Im a lover of brown rice and veg with lots of beans or salmon. I eat that most nights. For breakfast I have a huge bowl of oatmeal with soya milk and a ton of blueberries which is a great slow release meal which keeps me from snacking till lunch. I cant believe how good my energy levels are these days although I have to work on drinking more water.

This morning I finished assignment 9 which means Im half way through my course. :yay:
The rain has stopped momentarily so I will dash to the park to walk Elle. Hope you are all having a wonderful day!