Meaning their progress towards getting cured? Yeah, as a long time beer drinker, wine has too much kick for me also...and goes down too fast. I'm determined to get back to my "beer roots" and fly right. I will try some of that Sam Adams Lager, and have read that their light beer is the most highly rated. Thanks for the details. That's great you can still enjoy your brew, and know when to stop! I really enjoy the first one...somewhat less the second...after that, it's just wasted calories, but knowing that doesn't always get me to quit...still addicted, a bit. However, last night, I DID pour out the last third bottle of beer#3, progress!

Say, Sticky...we're hangin' out in your thread, hoping you'll stop by and see what all the commotion is about

Hey everyone

Well the beer drinking only didn't happen. I'm not much of a beer fan. I drank a lot while in Sydney, but it all went well. Hubby wants to know why I didn't go crazy like I have been at home lately. He said sometimes my eyes get "that mad look" after only 1 or 2 drinks, but it didn't happen while we were away. My only thought is that it was a different environment and "sort of" a holiday. I have always loved travelling and have missed going overseas since I left Air NZ.

The funeral was very sad, but also a celebration of our friend's life. People got up and told some funny stories and there was a great DVD of photos at the end that we got a copy of to take home. The couple we were staying with who also came from NZ probably overdid it more than me and it was good to not be the one being talked about the next day! We caught up with some old friends and met some lovely people. 3 nights of full on boozing.

Yes, NZ is also down under. No offense taken - it's where we are on the globe.

One of our cats has had a hard time of it lately. She had stitches for a bleeding mouth while we were away. She may have got hit by a car as her tail is also dislocated and she has to have it amputated. Poor Checkers!

I took the boys on a Segway tour today. We loved it. The beautiful day helped. Our autumn weather has been better than the wet summer and we are making the most of it.

Will see how some of you have been going. Got some duty free spirits and am enjoying a Baileys.

Cheers
Sticky

Week 1: 1,8,AF,3,AF,AF,3.5 total 15.5,3AF Week 2: AF,8,8,AF,AF,4,8 total 28, 3AF
Week 3: 4,8,AF,8,AF,5,AF total 25, 3AF Week 4: 16,AF,8,7,AF,10,AF total 41, 3AF
Week 5: 7,12,8,AF,8,AF,8 total 43, 3AF Week 6: AF,5,12,AF,AF,8,AF total 25, 4AF
Week 7: AF,14,AF,6,AF,5,AF total 25, 4AF Week 8: 8, AF, 12, 12, AF, 1.5, 1.5 total 35, 2AF
Week 9: 12, AF, 10, 2,AF, 10, AF total 32, 3AF Week 10: 9, AF, 10, AF,1.5, 6.5, AF total 27, 3AF
Week 11: 12, AF, 14, 3.5, 1, AF, 7.5 total 38, 2AF Week 12: AF, 8 AF, 9, 2, AF, AF total 19, 4AF
Week 13: 8.5, AF, 9, AF, 12, AF, 14 total 43.5, 3AF Week 14: 7.5, AF, 8, AF, AF, 9, 9 total 33.5, 3AF
Wek 15: AF, 9, AF, 9, AF, 9, 10 total 37, 3AF Week 16: total 34, 2AF
Week 17: total 32, 3AF Week 18: total 34, 4AF
Week 19: total 33, 3AF Week 20: 32, 3AF
Week 21: total 38, 3AF Week 22: 29.5, 4AF
Week 23: 34.5, 3AF Week 24: 36, 4AF
Week 25: 30.5, 3AF Week 26: 29, 3AF
Week 27: 22, 4AF Week 28: 33, 2AF
Week 29: 24, 4AF Week 30: 23, 4AF
Week 31: 19, 5AF Week 32: 29, 4AF
Week 33: 29.5, 3AF Week 34: 20, 3AF
Week 35: 35, 2AF Week 36: 20.5, 3AF
Week 37: 30, 3AF Week 38: 16, 5AF
Week 39: 32, 2AF Week 40: 23, 3AF
Week 41: 27, 3AF Week 42: 24, 4AF
Week 43: 37, 2AF Week 44: 29, 3AF
Week 45: 24, 3AF Week 46: 25, 3AF
Week 47: 29, 3AF Week 48: 25, 3AF
Week 49: 26, 2AF Week 50: 26, 1AF
Week 51: 20, 3AF Week 52: 25.5, 3AF
Week 53: 23.5, 4AF Weeks 54 - 56: 25, 3AF
Week 57: 30, 2AF, Week 58: 35, 1AF
Week 59: 16, 5AF, Week 60: 20, 4AF
Week 61: 25, 2AF, Week 62: 25, 3AF
Week 63: 20, 4AF, Week 64: 15, 4AF
Week 65: 25, 3AF, Week 66: ??
Week 67: 15, 5AF, Week 68: 19, 5AF
Week 69: 22.5, 4AF Week 70: 19, 4AF
Week 71: 30, 3AF

Sticky, I'm glad to get your newsy post. It sounds like life is doing its usual "some good, some bad" routine for you, and TSM is just part of that. Yeah, it used to be weddings were the "get togethers" for family and friends and now it's more funerals that serve that purpose - draw people together.

I'm glad you read Katie's report...isn't that cool? Then another inspiring post I read this weekend for some reason was on the Cured list, "Seeking 1" - her post from...February 9, I think it was. She stayed at TSM for almost 2 years, and then - after a LONG plateau, burst through to the other side, CURED. I know, 2 years! Still, when a person gets there, it probably no longer matters HOW long it took. So...you just never know when that break through is going to occur. I look forward to your posts, so keep 'em coming.

Thanks for checking in, Stick.

I second the message to be had from Seeking's experience. Some folks have no choice but to take the scenic route to their goal. Seems like you are one. But you CAN get there!

All best wishes,

Hi Sticky - keep it up. As Tiller says, you may be taking the scenic route, but in the end it will be that much more worth it. You're a model of determination for those of us that will likely be in treatment for awhile, so thank you for sticking with us.

Even your poor cat sounds like a trooper!

-H

Just catching up with your thread Sticky. It sounds like you're kind of treading water but almost in a ... good? way. If you know what I mean. Nothing too dramatic on the drinking front. I hear you about not being able to stick for beer. That's impossible for me. I tried to stick to wine after my last three disaterous binges and that lasted TWO DAYS.
Hope all is well "down under"

Hi everyone

Thanks for your support, as always. This week was OK drinking wise, but I did overdo it Tuesday night. Wed was a public holiday and hubby went out fishing for the night - so I let loose, stayed up way too late and felt like crap yesterday. Oh well... At least there haven't been any disastrous consequences lately.

School holidays are over, so apart from yesterday we are back into the usual routine. Work is busy, but cashflow is still an issue. Our kids are doing well at school and enjoying getting back into winter sports.

Tomorrow hubby is going out again, so I will try hard not to overdo it.

Isn't it great to hear that Ketch has posted on the "cured list"?

Take care all of you
Sticky

Week 1: 1,8,AF,3,AF,AF,3.5 total 15.5,3AF Week 2: AF,8,8,AF,AF,4,8 total 28, 3AF
Week 3: 4,8,AF,8,AF,5,AF total 25, 3AF Week 4: 16,AF,8,7,AF,10,AF total 41, 3AF
Week 5: 7,12,8,AF,8,AF,8 total 43, 3AF Week 6: AF,5,12,AF,AF,8,AF total 25, 4AF
Week 7: AF,14,AF,6,AF,5,AF total 25, 4AF Week 8: 8, AF, 12, 12, AF, 1.5, 1.5 total 35, 2AF
Week 9: 12, AF, 10, 2,AF, 10, AF total 32, 3AF Week 10: 9, AF, 10, AF,1.5, 6.5, AF total 27, 3AF
Week 11: 12, AF, 14, 3.5, 1, AF, 7.5 total 38, 2AF Week 12: AF, 8 AF, 9, 2, AF, AF total 19, 4AF
Week 13: 8.5, AF, 9, AF, 12, AF, 14 total 43.5, 3AF Week 14: 7.5, AF, 8, AF, AF, 9, 9 total 33.5, 3AF
Wek 15: AF, 9, AF, 9, AF, 9, 10 total 37, 3AF Week 16: total 34, 2AF
Week 17: total 32, 3AF Week 18: total 34, 4AF
Week 19: total 33, 3AF Week 20: 32, 3AF
Week 21: total 38, 3AF Week 22: 29.5, 4AF
Week 23: 34.5, 3AF Week 24: 36, 4AF
Week 25: 30.5, 3AF Week 26: 29, 3AF
Week 27: 22, 4AF Week 28: 33, 2AF
Week 29: 24, 4AF Week 30: 23, 4AF
Week 31: 19, 5AF Week 32: 29, 4AF
Week 33: 29.5, 3AF Week 34: 20, 3AF
Week 35: 35, 2AF Week 36: 20.5, 3AF
Week 37: 30, 3AF Week 38: 16, 5AF
Week 39: 32, 2AF Week 40: 23, 3AF
Week 41: 27, 3AF Week 42: 24, 4AF
Week 43: 37, 2AF Week 44: 29, 3AF
Week 45: 24, 3AF Week 46: 25, 3AF
Week 47: 29, 3AF Week 48: 25, 3AF
Week 49: 26, 2AF Week 50: 26, 1AF
Week 51: 20, 3AF Week 52: 25.5, 3AF
Week 53: 23.5, 4AF Weeks 54 - 56: 25, 3AF
Week 57: 30, 2AF, Week 58: 35, 1AF
Week 59: 16, 5AF, Week 60: 20, 4AF
Week 61: 25, 2AF, Week 62: 25, 3AF
Week 63: 20, 4AF, Week 64: 15, 4AF
Week 65: 25, 3AF, Week 66: ??
Week 67: 15, 5AF, Week 68: 19, 5AF
Week 69: 22.5, 4AF Week 70: 19, 4AF
Week 71: 30, 3AF Week 72: 23, 3AF

Sticky, your numbers have really come down, good job! Aren't you glad you've taken the trouble to track all that??? It all adds up to GOOD.

Hi Sticky, good to hear you've had a good week and that your figures from the last 6 weeks are bordering on moderate/almost safe drinking levels. It was great to see Ketch on the cured list. I believe YOU will get there too. I salute you for your perseverance. I think i mentioned to you once that the extinguishing effect of naltrexone on the alcohol super highways continues to get stronger for 3 years, not that I'm suggesting you wait that long! I personally feel more controlled now than I did when I declared myself regained control (average 5-10 beers a week). Stick to the path and you too will see the "light" that Ketch mentioned. All the best Sticky.

Hi everyone

Unfortunately I'm one of the unlucky ones and TSM hasn't worked for me. Over the past couple of months I've been bingeing often and the past couple of weeks have reverted to old "bag lady" behaviours - disappearing for days on end, sleeping in my car, etc. I've been very down and my marriage has been on the line. A friend who is a psych nurse has arranged an appointment on Friday with a colleague of hers who is in the drug and alcohol field. Am hoping that will help. Meanwhile it will be getting back to being honest in AA. Fun! (Not.)

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me here and I wish you all the best with your TSM journeys. When I'm feeling more up to it I'll check up and see how some of you are going.

Don't give up -it seems to work for most people.

Take care
Sticky