Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery

[kimber45]

90 days and holding Been invited to a few New Year's partys but I don't think DH will feel up to it.

[Jake 48]

Dec 29, 2011 11:22:18 GMT -5 kimber45 said:

90 days and holding Been invited to a few New Year's partys but I don't think DH will feel up to it.

[roygrip]

Dec 29, 2011 11:22:18 GMT -5 kimber45 said:

90 days and holding Been invited to a few New Year's partys but I don't think DH will feel up to it.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[suek1958]

HI Roy, I've been lurking, and i enjoy your posts. I esp. like this:
"When I turned myself over to God, I took my life out of the hands of an idiot."



I started a new thread in mental health. Please check it out!

[roygrip]

Dec 29, 2011 22:03:44 GMT -5 suek1958 said:

HI Roy, I've been lurking, and i enjoy your posts. I esp. like this:
"When I turned myself over to God, I took my life out of the hands of an idiot."



I started a new thread in mental health. Please check it out!

Why thank you, I will! ;D

[roygrip]

Dec 30, 2011 6:19:21 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

Good morning Jake, Roy and Sue!

Hiya Kimber! <<waves>>

New Years Eve is coming up and I am already planning how to crawl into bed as soon as that darn balls drops.

You know Daphne, I have 3,677 days sober (give or take 1or 2) 10 yrs, 11 months and about 3 days. What's happen for us, is now New Years eve is just another day. It's not a Holiday we really celebrate (because of all the drinking) I'm cooking a ribeye roast, my outside activities will be done by 3 pm and I'll watch TV, be asleep by 9pm as usual (I get up early) My wife will stay up, watch the ball drop, maybe wake me, maybe not, but she's up late. I just don't give the day anymore power than any other that way I don't think of it in terms of a "drinking day". New Years day is spent with a traditional hike to the "Hollywood Sign" with a bunch of Highschool alumni, and football.

[Jake 48]

Good morning all!!
Daphne, who or what are you crawling into bed with, just wondering

I quit drinking on New Years Eve, went to a party w/ all my drinking buddies and they were WTF. What they didn't know was my EX had given me an ultimatum. It turns out she was having a fling and was looking for an excuse. fast forward, it s been 16 years without a drink, my Ex calls me every year to wish a "another happy year of sobriety" So NYE has a little something special but like RG said it is just another day, I will be in bed early since I am working the next day

[roygrip]

Dec 30, 2011 10:46:51 GMT -5 Jake 48 said:

Good morning all!!
Daphne, who or what are you crawling into bed with, just wondering

I quit drinking on New Years Eve, went to a party w/ all my drinking buddies and they were WTF. What they didn't know was my EX had given me an ultimatum. It turns out she was having a fling and was looking for an excuse. fast forward, it s been 16 years without a drink, my Ex calls me every year to wish a "another happy year of sobriety" So NYE has a little something special but like RG said it is just another day, I will be in bed early since I am working the next day

;D

[Jake 48]

Hey Daphne, what happened?

[Jake 48]

I'm sure your not the only one, you would think the mother would have the common courtesy to take the kid outside, was she a regular or did she need the time "signed off " for the courts? Hang in there,

[roygrip]

Dec 30, 2011 21:32:22 GMT -5 Jake 48 said:

I'm sure your not the only one, you would think the mother would have the common courtesy to take the kid outside, was she a regular or did she need the time "signed off " for the courts? Hang in there,

UUUGGGHHH! Hate that here in LA, we just toss 'em, hand back the court card! Can't put up with that!

Glad Billy is home!

Yep, the message, not the messanger, sometimes!

[Jake 48]

Daphne,

[roygrip]

Happy (And Sober) New Year!

If you want to celebrate New Year's Eve without drinking (or climbing into bed before midnight), leave the partying to the amateurs and try one of these sober alternatives.


If you’re sober, the epic New Year’s Eve parties where you woke up in a ditch with your pants around your ankles are probably a thing of the past. But even your normie friends will likely have a glass of champagne when the ball drops and watching the free flow of booze simply isn’t an option for some people in recovery. So leave those regretful New Years Days to the rest of ‘em and consider trying one of these:

Go to an Alcathon Meeting

AA members are fully aware of the fact that New Year’s Eve can be a challenge, so meeting schedules are often upped significantly. Many groups—such as this one in San Francisco, this one in Baltimore and this one in Phoenix—offer Alcathons (otherwise known as “marathon meetings”) where meetings are held on the hour, every hour well into the early morning. Contact your local central office and find out what they’re offering or, if you’re not the in-person meeting sort, log onto Sober Recovery and spend some time in their chat rooms, which will probably be full throughout the night. (Alternatively, to fortify yourself for a night out, consider logging onto the video meeting on the In The Rooms site, which will happen at 5 pm EST).


The old you surely wouldn’t have ever known that you could get your high naturally, let alone that you could do it on December 31st.

Bowl All Night

Your days of splits don’t have to end with that better forgotten one-time experience with a go-go pole. The overwhelming majority of bowling alleys (like this one in Brooklawn, New Jersey, this one in San Diego and this one in Allentown, Pennsylvania) have all-night bowling events to ring in the New Year—and the cost is a lot cheaper than a night on the town. Besides, drinking probably won’t seem nearly as appealing when you see the scores of the inebriated group next to you plummet faster than the stock exchange as the night wears on.

Hit a Sober Dance Party

Whether you live in LA or Brattleboro, it’s almost a guarantee that there will be a sober dance party in your town to ring in the New Year—a fun, low-pressure way to be around like-minded people while engaging in the same activities you enjoyed in your drinking days (without having to regret dirty dancing with the person you’d normally cross a street to avoid). Once 2012 begins, check out No Lights No Lycra, an organization with chapters across the globe that hold drug and alcohol free dance parties.

Volunteer as a Sober Driver

Being of service is one of the keys to any successful recovery program, so why not consider doing your part to help prevent drunk diving fatalities by volunteering as a sober driver? So you never considered yourself a taxi driver; so what? Most safe ride programs are volunteer-driven and need extra drivers on this holiday—such as this one in Colorado Springs and this one in Vancouver, BC. Although these services are generally free, it’s customary to tip the driver, so you may well pick up a bit of extra cash while potentially eavesdropping on conversations often reserved for an episode of Taxicab Confessions. If there isn’t a safe ride program in your neighborhood, you can always keep it simple and offer to be the designated driver for your friends.

Enter a New Year’s Eve Race

The old you surely wouldn’t have ever known that you could get your high naturally, let alone that you could do it on December 31st. But whether you’re a first-timer or a hardcore athlete, you can start the New Year off on the right foot—literally—with a late night and early morning run. The New Year’s race that provides the biggest spectacle for US runners—with a combination of music and fireworks throughout—is held, perhaps unsurprisingly, in New York City. What addict doesn’t dream of a fireworks celebration in their honor?

Win a Prize at an Underground Rebel Bingo Club

AA meetings aren’t the only place where chips are a valuable commodity. Just ask the hipsters who have taken bingo out of your grandmother’s church and given it an edgy twist. Already a bit of a cult sensation around the world, Underground Rebel Bingo manages to take what’s fun about bingo (winning!) and make it as sexy and hilarious as possible (be sure to check out their site for information about future games). Although drinks are served, the emphasis here is on the bingo and not the booze.

Create an Event Around the Fireworks

Nothing says New Year’s in America like blowing shit up, which means there’s bound to be a fireworks celebration at midnight either in your hometown or within a short drive. Bring a group of friends, pack some sparkling cider and delicious snacks, and find a perfect spot to take in the views.

Hit a Stand-Up Comedy Show

Almost every comedy club in the country will have a midnight show on New Year’s Eve and while these venues do serve alcohol, it’s hardly the reason why people show up. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to find a sober comic performing in your town that night.

Get Zen at a Yoga or Meditation Class

If being surrounded by the chaos of New Year’s Eve is too much to handle, get in a more relaxing setting with an all-night yoga and meditation event (like this one in NYC, this one in Santa Monica or this one in Chicago. Partygoers are either encouraged to bring food or it’s included in the entry fee, making this an affordable way to start 2012 in a healthy state of mind.

Throw Your Own Party at Home

You simply may not be ready to venture out of the house on New Year’s Eve, or you’re really just a homebody. Either way, throwing your own party is a guaranteed way to keep it an alcohol free night—and to avoid obnoxious douchebags screaming on the street when the ball drops. Heidi, a 46-year-old technical writer from York, Maine, will be celebrating her third sober New Year’s Eve this year, and said that taking the emphasis off good alcohol and replacing it with good food always makes the night a delight. “I stayed home with my family one year and made luxurious food with the New England seafood around here—lobster Mac and Cheese and lobster ravioli,” she said. “If I want to go crazy, I’ll make a mocktail and put it in a pretty glass so it doesn’t feel like I’m missing out.”

[roygrip]

Dec 31, 2011 4:56:47 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

She's here just about every week. think she's just looking for something to do on a Friday night.... There's another mom who bring her kid, too (but this one isn't so bad). It's starting to feel like a daycare. I'll probably start looking for a new meeting to go to.

BTW -- I did my 2012 budget and for the first time ever there is line for AA meetings! Priorities. If I budget it, I will go.

Around here Daph, we're lucky, theres lots of choices of meetings, so if I don't like a certainj one, (and I don't) then I caqn go to others, some small towns, not so easy. You can also do online meets, like InTheRooms.com, great site!

[roygrip]

Life's circumstances are not always what you might wish them to be.The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan.Beyond any understanding , you may at times be led in different directions that you never imagined , dreamed,or designed.Yet if you have never put any effort into choosing a path , or tried to carry out your dream , then perhaps you would have no direction at all.
Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken , accept the fact that there is a path before you now.Shake off the ''why's'' and ''what if's'' ,and rid yourself of confusion.Whatever was- is in the past.Whatever is - is what's important.The past is a brief reflection.The future is yet to be realized.Today is here.
Walk your path one step at a time - with courage , faith , and determination.Keep your head up , and cast your dreams to the stars.Soon your steps will become firm and your footing will be solid again.A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow.
Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey.You will find it magnificent , spectacular , and beyond your wildest imaginings

[roygrip]

"Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to
find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and
direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal
consequences may be." Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 79


REAL LIFE!

Yep, still got till mon before I go back to work, I'm ready, the wife and I are gonna kill each other.

[Deleted]

[roygrip]

Hi HEART! ;D

[roygrip]

Jan 3, 2012 12:57:58 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

I kinda blew off working this morning....
And I am still sitting here in front of my laptop....

Uh oh!

Uh oh!



















shhhhh! I won't tell! ;D

[roygrip]

"God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your
morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still
sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But
obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it
that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come
to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us."
Alcoholics Anonymous, A Vision For You, pg. 164~

[roygrip]

What stops us from getting the most out of life? Not the fear of success, who wouldn’t want that? I’m not certain its the fear of failure either; we’ve handled plenty of defeat. I am convinced it is fear of the unknown; of what we really want, what we’re capable of, and what our resources are. Once we know something of these things, we can move forward, toward what matters most, despite our uncertainty. ~

[kimber45]

90 days and holding

[roygrip]

;D You go Kimber! ;D

[kimber45]

Thanks Roy and Daphne . I thought it would be easy for me since I never was too much of a drinker (always the DD for my DH). But boy there are sure times when I could really go for a malibu .

DH is having a tougher time, he mentions it almost daily (how good it would taste, how I should buy some, etc) , I told him yesterday that I would NEVER buy it for him again, I will no longer be an enabler.

[roygrip]

Jan 5, 2012 10:42:59 GMT -5 kimber45 said:

Thanks Roy and Daphne . I thought it would be easy for me since I never was too much of a drinker (always the DD for my DH). But boy there are sure times when I could really go for a malibu .

DH is having a tougher time, he mentions it almost daily (how good it would taste, how I should buy some, etc) , I told him yesterday that I would NEVER buy it for him again, I will no longer be an enabler.

Kimber, I'm wishing you two all the best. If it gets rougher for him, just keep in mind that meetings, support of recovery groups are outhere. For both of you. Doing it on your own can be tough, particularly at this point when he's having a rough time. It doesn't need to be 12 step, infact you can find help, free online, I'm just saying continue to use erverything available to you two. Godspeed and blessings, I'm prayin' for ya two ;D

[roygrip]

Jan 6, 2012 6:58:36 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

Kimber. It's tough. Just remember, you only need to not pick up a drink today.

I'm anxious about my meeting tonight. If that kid shrieks again I am just going to leave. I can always find another meeting!

That's true Daphne! There are other meets. Saw your worries about 'da judge! I spent many a day inside a courtroom, in my case clearing the wreckage of my past (I was the bad boy back then the one momma told you about) Tell the truth, look him in the eye, and most judges are fair. One of my favorite's (in my case true) " I've done da crime, now I'm doin' da time! It will work out and it's in God's hands

[roygrip]

Choose your thoughts or your thoughts will choose you.

1. Look at life as a journey and enjoy the ride. Get the most out of the detours and realize they're sometimes necessary.
2. Do your best, but if what you're doing has caused you discouragement, try a different approach. Be passionate about the process, but don't be so attached to the outcome.
3. Wish the best for everyone, with no personal strings attached. Applaud someone else's win as much as you would your own.
4. Trust that there's a divine plan, that we don't always know what's best for us. A disappointment now could mean a victory later, so don't be disappointed. There is usually a reason.
5. Ask no more of yourself than the best that you can do, and be satisfied with that. Be compassionate towards yourself as well as others. Know your calling, your gift, and do it well.
6. Don't worry about something after it's done; it's out of your hands then, too late, over! Learn the lesson and move on.
7. Have the attitude that no one, except you, owes you anything. Give without expecting a thank-you in return. But when someone does something for you, be appreciative of even the smallest gesture.
8. Choose your thoughts or your thoughts will choose you; they will free you or keep you bound. Educate your spirit and give it authority over your feelings.
9. Judge no one, and disappointment and forgiveness won't be an issue. No one can let you down if you're not leaning on them. People can't hurt you unless you allow them to.
10. Love anyway. . . for no reason. . . and give. . . just because.
By Donna Fargo

[Jake 48]

Way to go Daphne,

[roygrip]

Jan 6, 2012 21:11:33 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

Best. Meeting. Ever!

Or at least in a very long time. No kids, great energy, and I talked to other people. One even "challenged" me (although he claims it's only a "suggestion") to finally get myself a sponsor. He even suggested one in particular. She was busy tonight (it's her Blackjack anniversary -- 21years), so maybe next week....

I really need to start doing this thing right. Challenge (hopefully) accepted!

I suggest it Daphne. I went around the block, in and out, for along time. I sponsor, I have a sponsor, he has a sponsor. The tools I learned, the coping skills, the things I learned about myself, were so freeing. Give it a go. I think you'll be incredibly surprised! Good luck!

[roygrip]

Jan 7, 2012 7:44:10 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

Phew! I even slept last night. I could feel my anxiety getting less and less just as I entered the room. And the meeting was good, a great story was told. The Big Book story was good, and the discussion was also good stuff.

I might go to another meeting tonight....

You go girl!!