I love seeing this kind of thing. Y'all helping each other is what this board is all about if you ask me.

Hi Ya'll, Just want to welcome all these "newbie's" I see. Just my 2 cents. Read over as many posts as you can. They help a great deal. I "lurked" around for quite some time gathering my nuts for the winter. Was encouraged & inspired by the many wonderful souls on this board.
I'm in for good. And however long it takes. Taking a pill is easy. Piece of cake. I am just struggling with a demon called fear. Brought on by thoughts of Al. Everyday tho, I do think less & less about it. Waiting for the day I can look all booze at it for what it is, call it an exteremly "foul" name and tell it to ....-OFF! What glory! What victory!!
Anyway, as I've mentioned, I will be away from the 30th of Sept to the 12th of Oct. I am bringing a notebook to write down my daily feelings & confrontations with the demon. Hope to have really encouraging news upon return.
Love, JANE
PS 'Newbies" HANG IN THERE & HANG AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN. WHEN YOU FEEL DOWN COME HERE. SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO CHEER YOU ON!
MY BEST TO ALL

Hi Jane, good luck on your trip.

One of my most successful times since being on NAL was, believe it or not, in Vegas. One of my problems of where I got to with my drinking is that my husband and I drink together and he's a big guy and drinks a lot.

Back in May my brother celebrated his 40th birthday in Vegas and I went on my own. Hung out with my brother and his wife, my sister and her boyfriend. The first night we all kind of drank a lot cause everyone was taking turns buying rounds and we stayed up late, but the next two nights we didn't. I found myself keeping pace with them (which is A LOT slower than my husband's pace) and not worrying about it at all or obsessing about getting the next drink - and part of the time was while playing blackjack with free drinks everywhere. One night I only had 2 drinks and I really surprised myself!

Good luck and have a good time.

Ill

Thanks Illumni, I will like I said, keep a log daily during my trip to Vegas & Florida. I hope to report more progress. Vegas is a tough place to try to remain in control. My husband is by no means a big guy. 5'9" & relatively average wt.. He just knows when to say when when I do not. Rich was born with cerebral palsy, not bad, but nontheless. He has done well brain-wise & is very good at financial stuff. I remember when we 1st. met he took me to Hyannis, in Cape Cod Ma.. What a wonderful time we had! Until we went to what was called a "disco" back then. The bouncer wouln't let us in as he mistook Rich for drunk when we got there. It was only that he has limited control of his rt. side & visibly shook. It was frustrating. Anyway, I'm getting off track. Will keep all informed of my progress as best I can during the trip. In mean time, feel free to PM me or whatever if you want to talk. As you may have gathered I'm a Gemini & we tend to talk a lot. sorry.
Thanks,
JANE

LOL - I'm a Gemini too Jane. Wonder if there's a gemini link to AL.
Have a great trip.

Kiwi.

Possibility, Kwickchick! My Brother is a Gemini & has some problems in that area too. I am May 27 & he is May 28 only 2yrs. & 2mins apart. I was born 2mins. before midnight 2 yrs after him. That might be a factor but I believe there was a lot more going on in our chilhood that we probably both "buried" away. I have come to terms with some stuff however I do not think He will ever admit that it was LESS than perfect. Oh well. You & I know we have a least ONE thing in common. However, I bet we share a mountain of good qualities too.
I will be bringing back some documentations when I return. My very best to you. And feel free to PM me to talk or whatever,
ALWAYS JANE

Hi Jane,

Hope all goes well on your trip. I'm a newbee- in second week and guess what......a Gemini born on the 27th May!

Enjoying reading about your progress, keep it up.

Hi Susie! Sorry I took so long to respond. I couldn't find my own thread. Maybe there is a Gemini link. Anyone else out there with split personalities? don't be shy now, speak up?? And the 27th ha?
My Vegas trip went better than expected. Got out of hand a few times but didn't make the uaual "asshole" out of myself. Still having trouble with beating myself up next day. It really brings on guilt & self-loathing for me, anyway. Keeping track is kind of difficult, but I do have a very good idea how much I consume & it is getting lower & the cravings only seem to rear their ugly heads when I am in that "certain" environment. Thing is, I hate to cook, good in one way because Rick loves to go out for dinner. BANG!! My trigger. I associate that with our talking relationship. He seems to open up a little better after a few. But he can say stop, & I cannot. It's like if I do cook & we stay in, he has his beers & his ballgames & I feel totally neglected. After about 10mins. he is snoring & I might as well be alone. Good thing my little dogs listen to me.
Sorry, I'm drifting. Anyhoo, there is a significant change going on. Al tastes the same, but I think in my case habit has a lot to do with it. So I just take my pill when I feel there's a possibility I might pop one, & that's all I need to do.
Thanks for listening all
MY Best Jane

JAne, if drinkng while going out to eat is a trigger, then I say, by all means, drink when you are out for dinner. I've become a believer in the idea that we not only need to extinguish the AL cravings, but we need to extinguish the triggers themselves. No reason to beat yourself up either. Drinking is part of the treament. You're doing great!

Thanks Joe. But the only thing about these triggers is it does more than just trigger for more AL it triggers an unhealthy appetite for massive amounts of carbs & whatever I can get my hands on. I do really well when not drinking I can control things pretty well. Anyway thanks for the kind words. And I am doing really great.
ALWAYS JANE