Daring December

[Snoopy56]

Good morning all...

Hope the new name is OK, I figured we need to be bold in this month with all we have to manage in our lives!

So, I had a great day at work then my boss gives me negative feedback, and I was upset all day yesterday, not enough to get fired or anything, but here I am, working really hard, and I am not even sure what it is about. What about all the extra time I put in, get my work done immediately, open to new things to do, etc. No more, I am going to just tone it down and make sure to not do anything extra. Darn, I am just going to keep moving forward and let go of the negativity. At over 100 days AF I will not let this bring me down.

Lav, hope YB gets home today, and is healing the way he should. I agree, just take care of you and YB this week, everything else can wait.

Cyn, sounds like you had a good day, hope you feel better. I like to keep up with all my work to, if I start to fall behind it is time to buckle down and get it done.

Pauly, our adult children have to figure it out like we did, and it is sure hard to watch and go through with them. Hope Michelle is safe and is able to make good choices for herself.

Have a good one, AF all the way.

[treegirl]

Morning all - thanks for the startup Star! Perfect name, I feel like every day lately requires some daring to get through.

Star, so sorry to hear about the work drama. Is your boss threatened by all your activities? Makes no sense, but so many people seem on edge right now, who knows what's going on... Wishing you some peace there today -- and GREAT JOB maintaining your AFness. "No Way, No How".

Lav, that's good news about YB, I hope he continues on a good path. I always knew instinctively that anesthesia was really rough on people, but I didn't know about the lung part... It really pays to try to keep healthy, right? I wish you clear skies for driving today.

Pauly - sorry that Michelle is making a really round-about journey as she matures. That must be tough, but you sound strong. Wishing you a solid and beautiful AF day today.

I worked all evening on a project for a client, then read the end of a thriller spy novel - sheesh what was I thinking? I was up late because of that and a HUGE storm that passed through - winds, gobs of rain, even thunder and lightening . I though the doors would fly off their hinges, but no trees came down, thank goodness! Sunny today here, so going to try to finish up a few outside tasks while getting some cooking done.. Off to NYC for the weekend, so I'll be doing the dog prep today. Wishing all well ---

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, thanks for the kick off Star you say Michelle will figure it out like we did,did I? I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up haha,the shop I work at now is fine but it won't be there forever, the owner is pretty old,not sure what happens if something happens to him,I'll be forced to work for a paycheck aaaah! Was just thinking about her this morning, I had her at 17,Kell at 18,LB at 20,Brady at 24,maybe she grew up feeling neglected cuz I had so much on my plate, then the drinking started and I neglected everyone, meh,Cyn,I take it sleep was disturbed from the crime novel and storm? At least today is sunny Lav,praying for YB to get out of the hospital with a clean bill of health, I never knew that about anesthesia, kinda crazy,I hope we all have a wonderful AF Thursday

[Lavande]

HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE

Thanks for the kick off to a brand new month Star & the final one of 2016! I can't believe this year is coming to a close!!!

The good news is I brought YB home around 3 this afternoon. I am not so sure how to go about rehabbing this stubborn individual but I'll figure it out I'm sure, ha ha!!
He has absolutely no appetite & damaged taste buds after all the meds & stuff. He ended up eating one scrambled egg & most of a piece of toast for dinner. He's eating like a bird!!!!
I'm sure he will come around in time. It's been one long & hectic week, that's for sure!

Star, sometimes the boss inadvertently allows personal BS to infiltrate the work environment. Maybe you shouldn't take it as a personal insult. They are subject to moods, just like the rest of us. Just keep yourself happy & on that forward path!

Cyn, I heard some wind & very hard rain last night, not sure if we ever had the thunder. It was bright & sunny this morning but the wind picked up later in the afternoon & now it's getting cold again. I just heard possible snow flakes on Monday, ha ha. I'm sure it won't be much

Pauly, please don't dwell on the past & the what ifs......
It's all history, we can't change what we did or did not do. What matters most is what we are doing right now. You can show your daughter how good life can be when you get your priorities & practice good self-care.

My daughter has started a brand new girl scout troop where she lives so the little ones can have the fun in scouts that we all had & cherish. She has done a ton of work dotting all the I's & crossing all the T's preparing for this while she has be recuperating from her foot injury. I am proud of her & I know the dozen little girls, including my granddaughter will be having a ball. First meeting is tonight.

Wishing everyone peace & comfort tonight!
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Good morning all...

Glad you like the name for December, I can't believe it is the last month of 2016 either.

Cyn, sounds like you had a productive day and now get to have a fun filled weekend. Lucky you!!! Hope the weather holds up for you. We are supposed to get snow on Sunday, then rain. That's winter!

Pauly, it is taking me forever to figure things out! I earned my degrees in my 40s, finally started to work on AF issues too, so I figure better late than never. Our kids have their paths too, some to do with us, some just their own stuff. To be AF is to find joy every day, just by being aware and feeling good. I woke up this morning and felt so grateful to be not hungover, remembering how sick I would feel. Yuck. Having said that I have had a tough week at work, so there you go. But, being AF, I am better able to manage my feelings. Still not easy.

Lav, you are right, sometimes bosses have their own stuff going on and can be rude ad abrupt, and I got to be the receiver of the negativity, and it really hurt my feelings and as the day went on, pissed me off. However, boss gone for the next few days and hopefully things will be back to normal next week. Hope so. I am thrilled that your daughter is helping with the girl scouts, are they called Daisy girl scouts? My daughter, myself and my mom were all girl scouts and it was wonderful. Your daughter is doing a great job! Good to hear YB is home, having been so sick,it will take him a little while to gain his strength, he is lucky having the best nurse around.

Yay, it is Friday, planning an AF weekend for sure.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Star,I was a brownie but lost interest once I could be an actual girl scout haha,I dabbled in it but never really got into it,I just hope Michelle makes it through this life with no arrests, overdoses,un-needed preganacies,physical abuse, etc,my wild child, goodness I wish they were all like Brady, he thinks drugs,al and cigarettes are gross and he's had plenty of oppurtunities to use but just doesn't I feel like I go on with myself so much in my posts, I'm sorry for that I'm just a Threadhog I guess,Lav,I was happy to hear YB is home, they say the least time in the hospital the better, Cyn,did it storm again? I swear it looked like snow clouds last night here,ya know how they look heavy and have a pinkish hint to them? Kell and I will probably do lunch, I have to go to the dollar store, you guys last week I went with a list of 4 things........I spent $63! Just kept throwing things in the cart.I have issues, wishing everyone a peaceful AF Friday

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Finally got myself out to Curves for the first time this week, geez! Funny how you miss your usual routines

Star, I try to take a moment each day & send my thanks to the Universe for finally finding the will to pull my head out of my a$$ & kicking AL to the cub. Life has certainly not been perfect but it has been healthier & happier, less anxious & more. I am most grateful for the relationships that I have built with my grandkids

Pauly, Dollar stores don't interest me much but I do like to walk thru Five Below once in a while. Do you have them out your way?
I still hope & pray that I have taught my kids enough to help them get thru life's trials & tribulations with the least discomfort. None of us want to see our kids suffer. Don't tell anyone but my daughter is turning 40 next month & here I am still concerned

Cyn, you are probably heading to the city for the weekend. Hope it goes well!

I am still having a hard time finding something for YB to eat. He doesn't want any of the usual stuff, his taste is just off. He has a few more days left on the antibiotic then hopefully he can start enjoying food again. It's perfectly OK if he loses a few pounds, ha ha!

Wishing everyone a peaceful night!
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Good morning...

Pauly, what you want for your daughter are all good things, I feel the same about my two, but at times they have made some poor choices, as they suffered so did I. Isn't it strange how our kids can be so different, mine sure are. Regarding shopping, I have been filling this house with too much stuff, when I moved two years ago I purged my life of so much, now I have been getting new things. It is fun, I still have a minimalist look. I was thinking of all the things I want to do today and realized how easy it is not hungover, I am so grateful to be feeling good. Got a big craving on the way home last night, thought it through and realized I would be SO UPSET and it would be so not worth it and the feeling passed. Oh, and when I arrived at home I immediately ate and drank something, helping the craving to pass even further. I think sometimes after work is the worst time cause we are tired and hungry. Automatic response is DRINK, but slowing down, havng your plan in place and following it gets you through.

Lav, so great to know things are returning to normal slowly but surely. Love your idea of stopping and thanking the Universe for being AF, I am going to do that too! I am so grateful as each day goes on. I have to start thinking about shopping for Christmas and it is such a pain in the neck, the only part about it I don't like! I bought a few things online and I like that, it is so easy.

Shout out to Cyn on her busy weekend.

Have a good one.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Lav no 5 below here but the dollar store that I go to isn't a typical el cheapo bunch of junk,they have brand name stuff most of the time,yesterday I bought a box of super cute Christmas cards,scotch tape, wrapping paper and a maybelline eyeliner, I controlled myself haha,YB will get his appetite back eventually, does he sleep a lot? His body has been through a lot,defo ordering the kit you got,I'm starting to feel that I'm sensitive to more things than I think, Cyn,wishing you safe travels Star,yep the after work cravings hit outta nowhere, mine are bad sometimes if I've had a bunch of assholes all day,get through with one and the next few are like that too,it's exhausting and that's why I totally believe in the full moon effect I don't care what science says! This time of the month too brings out the yuckos cuz they get their check, I think I'm practically done with the Christmas shopping all the big stuff anyways, dunno if I should buy Michelle much or just send her some money, wishing us all an easy AF Saturday

[treegirl]

Hello all -
Lav, such good news that YB is home. Good luck with the care and feeding! That's such good news about your daughter and GS start-up, how great. She'll bring a great dimension to all of their lives.

Pauly, I think all our early lives had some crazy stuff! i love reading all that you post here - please don't apologize, and keep writing!

Star, great job surfing those urges and powering through! You are winning the reward -health and happiness. Glad that you are having fun decorating.

Well, it seemed to be awfully hard to get out of town yesterday morning. I worked on things late the night before, but even so I was still behind, plus the Worry Monster had me up in the night. I worked with my client yesterday, and got really cold (and hungry!) on the way to the apartment, so I crashed once I arrived. Today I cleaned for HB while he was at work and now will go to this friend's bday party. Home tomorrow - I will be ready!
Wishing all a lovely AF night....

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Making a tiny bit of progress here with my patient. Of course I would like to see more BUT I have to remind myself that he is a full year older than I am & he has a very low pain tolerance, ha ha!
Daughter & her family came for a visit, I think that helped perk him up a little.
I ordered a case of girl scout cookies & paid for them already. I was pleasantly surprised to find they have 5 vegan varieties these days, yay!! The cookie sale doesn't begin until the second half of January in this part of the country

Star, good job sending that craving on it's way!!!
The cravings become thoughts & the thoughts become fewer & far between, thank goodness.
I am a huge fan of Amazon primarily because there are no decent stores where I live. The closest mall is in a neighboring state & I hate it because it's huge & overwhelming (not a fan of crowds).

Pauly, why don't you think about getting Michelle an Amazon gift card? That way she can pick out something personal, just for her to enjoy.
Some days at work it just seems like everyone you encounter is an a$$hole, ha ha! The holidays bring them out in droves too!!!

Cyn, you are working way too hard woman!
I would love to hear you tell us a story about someone doing something for you for a change. Please take care & don't wear yourself out :hug:

Wishing everyone a peaceful night!
Lav

Cyn,

[Snoopy56]

Good morning...

Had a quiet Saturday, cleaned, laundry, grocery shop, cook and rest! Next weekend will be the final Christmas shop, I hope. Then wrap and cards. Going to my daughter's today and will discuss Christmas plans, where we will spend the days and menus. We are supposed to get a little snow then rain today, so getting ready for that cold damp weather.

Lav, vegan GS cookies, cool! Nice your daughter and family stopped over, hope your husband continues to heal quickly. I agree that the cravings are few and farther between, and having made up my mind and becoming secure in my plan, it is definitely better, but I am always on guard. I know that one drink could lead to months/years of drinking again, and the question, do I have another quit in me or will it lead to illness and death. That is how serious it is.

Pauly, you are so lucky to have most of your shopping done. I am trying to really limit the gift buying this year, we all have so much. Shopping with my son next weekend, he always loves to get new clothes, and that is fun. Yeah, I think it helps to know that after work is our weak time and to have a plan, which for me starts with drinking and eating something relatively healthy, that usually squashes the craving.

Cyn, good you took a nap, it helps to get recharged and ready for the next activity. Hope you had fun last night at the birthday party. I hate lots of traffic, when I left work Friday night there was heavy traffic and I found out later a big event in the city so that explained it. Health and happiness are the rewards of being AF, and I am enjoying being peaceful and taking care of myself.

Have a great AF Sunday.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends,Star,i like our Christmas to be big and overindulged,i keep birthdays and other holidays small on gifts so on christmas i can go hog wild haha,I hate the mall too! Weird cuz before the drinking started we'd take the kids and just walk around the mall on Sundays, it was our favorite outing and it used to bring me peace,now it feels crowded,overpriced, too hot,etc I do want to go to the mall on the strip..Fashion Show mall,its always so beautifully decorated at Christmas, when LB gets here I'll probably make her and Kell go(they hate malls too) just posted on the daily that I'm thinking about activating Kells old phone and sending it to Michelle but I'm worried about the guy letting her have it, I can't believe this situation I'm just sad that I'm not hearing from her except once and awhile when his mom's home,Lav, I hope YB isn't a crabby patient Cyn,you do a lot,get some rest,my other phone is acting weird and mwo looks weird but its hard to see on this one cuz the screen looks little even though its bigger if that makes sense haha,so my posts might look weird til I figure it out,wishing us all a peaceful, easy ,AF Sunday

[treegirl]

Evening all!

I'm home, thank goodness.

Sounds like all is chugging along for everyone. Lav, glad that your daughter and family were able to come; hopefully took a little pressure off you!
Pauly, you sound like xmas is a big event - I bet your tree is overflowing with presents under it. Star, good luck finding the balance in 'consuming' this season. It's not so easy!

All went well in NYC, but it is a hard city to handle for me. Popping in and out is probably best. Friday we did go to Greenwich Village for dinner, and then walked through Washington Square, which I've always wanted to do... But then froze walking to the nearest subway (which was not so near!) the party Saturday was LOUD. Why would you need an amplified band in a small space? Ughhhh! we lasted as long as we could so we could be polite, but then left long before anyone else, whew.

Got home today about 2:30, and knowing that snow is on the way motivated me to finish up a bunch of jobs outside. I worked for a couple of hours, then made a big pot of Giada's winter minestrone, yum. So I'm going to have a quiet evening, if I can stay awake!

Wishing all good things and an AF night to all.

[Lavande]

Good evening friends,

I have been wanting to take a nap all day but didn't have the time for a nap, ha ha!

Star, I am cutting back on gift buying too. Our incomes are not going to get any larger & I think we need to look out for ourselves at this point. I have ordered stuff for the grandkids & nothing for the adults yet, oh well.
I am not interested in testing out the 'do I have another quit in me' theory. I am 99.9% sure that I do not. It would really basically be an exercise in self-harm & I am not going there!

Pauly, learn to bake a lot of interesting cookies & get people interested in food gifts - that's what I do & this year they are getting batches of my fabulous homemade dairy free granola too, LOL
Some years I do caramel popcorn with peanuts, some years the old fashioned Chex mix baked up nice & spicy. They all like that stuff
Have you thought about calling the police department where Michelle is & letting them know about your concerns? They will go to the home & do what they call a 'welfare check' - just talk to her & the boyfriend & the homeowner to make sure everything is OK! I wouldn't hesitate if I was concerned about my daughter......think about it, OK?

Cyn, I seem to be more & more of an introvert as I get older. I cannot stand crowds, noise & all that. But, NYC at Christmas time is awesome. Just glad I don't live there, ha ha! We are expecting a very light snow/rain mix tomorrow morning & what sounds like just rain the rets of the week. I think my young chickens are going to be surprised. Hope you get a good sleep tonight!

I think YB looks better today, even attempted to do a few things outside. He seems to want to baby himself a bit & I don't go for that, ha ha! He seems to forget that I had two C-Sections & I know what it feels like to have large incisions. He only had Laproscopic surgery for Pete's sake. I do not offer pity very easily, ha ha!
Wishing everyone a peaceful night.

Lav