Sorry to hear about the blah feelings, but isn't that so much better than having such an awesome time that you'd want to drink more often! Here's to the blahs!!! Cheers. Thank you for your posts... I too am surrounded by light and non drinkers, so hopefully I will succeed at this as well as you have. Keep posting.. Keek

I think that blah experience was helpful. Our sailing club had its big kick-off night last night, which always involves lots of drinking. I was not interested in drinking at all, so I didn't even bother taking a Naltrexone beforehand. Last year, I believe I chugged a 1/2 pint of vodka, drove there, had multiple beers, then multiple liquor drinks, then drove home. Last night, the weather was beautiful, the band was good, the Diet Dr. Pepper from the soda fountain actually tasted good (normally, it's nasty) and I didn't feel deprived at all. I did the trick where I try to emulate a non-drinking celebrity and act like they would act -- so, I was smiling, waving, good conversationalist, charming, etc... There was a group of six (sober) teens all dressed up for prom that stopped by at the party. They saw my wife and I (we're friends with some of their parents) and came up and all talked to us -- I was thinking, "Wow, I'm glad I'm sober right now."

Anyway, nice night, interesting week, zero drinks!

I like this very much, yeah a great tip for anyone out there with social events to attend. Does take some practice but I find being charming, whitty, confident and funny (even if it's put on) whilst NOT drinking at a drinking event gives a very big self-satisfaction feeling. Definitely recommend doing this.

I just finished re-reading Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." In the book, he's quite the host but never touches alcohol, while those around him revel in their drunkeness. I can't wait for the movie to come out. (I'm now reading Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," one of the most booze-filled books ever written -- those guys could seriously drink).

I had a good "freedom" experience tonight. My kids were in the pizza place next to "my" liquor store. I stopped by and chatted for awhile with the clerk whom I've known for years -- I used to go in there up to 4 times a night, a little drunker each time -- we just talked about jobs and kids and stuff. It felt awesome to be free from alcohol -- I might as well have been in a ladies' shoe store; that's how uninterested I was in the product they were selling. That was pretty amazing to me. Holla!

I can connect a little bit here. A little different situation, however, a few days ago I was thinking about how long it has been since I stopped in one of my vodka pint stores. I had 3 or 4 of them, that I would rotate on the way home, so I wouldn't be seen as daily regular.

I started rotating stores ever since a guy working at a store I was going to daily, asked, "No Popov today?" when I was stopping by for gas/soda mid-day. Have not bought vodka in 6 weeks.

Yes, I actually had 4 stores I rotated at -- I had a mental inventory of when I had last bought at each place. This one was closest to my house, though, so would often serve as "round 2" or 3 or 4.

I am a store rotator as well. I have 4 or 5 stores that I rotate around during the week. I'd like to think that I am keeping track and fooling everyone, but I am sure that they know. It seems that all of the liquor stores in my town are owned by people from Syria. Not sure why that is? I'm guessing that Syria is a good place to be from at the moment. I usually make only one visit per day, and a few stores I might hit more than once in the week. On more than one occasion I have had the clerk call out what I came in to buy. That is embarrassing and maybe I'm not that clever. I'm looking forward to the day where I don't have a desire to go into those stores.

I used to avoid the same one because in this country they can refuse to serve you if they think you are too drunk - either the volume they know you've bought or just by looking or smelling you. I also had a list of places I knew were open at various times so if I wanted I could guy alcohol 24 hours, but not on a day involving Sunday or Bank Holidays.

Hey Barry, I have a question about your signature. Does every day off mean that on the days you weren't working you drank? I read some of your posts and it looks like you have been quite successful with TSM. Congrats and thanks for sticking around to lend your support. I can relate to the store rotation: when I was a daily wine drinker, I would go to different grocery stores. I knew I was busted when I started getting ads for discounted alcohol in the mail. Now I use the local liquor store because I try to stay away from wine and they have the Club vodka martini. Since taking the Nal, I can tell the friendly clerk that I don't want the two goldshlager chasers !! I guess the Nal is working....yay.

I'm also curious as to how soon you started racking up AF days and when you first noticed that you really didn't want a drink? I ask these questions because of the TSMers who say its better to drink with the Nal than to white knuckle a string of AF days. Just looking for the quickest way to a "cure". So happy to read about your successes and lively sober occasions. Nal on! Keek