Yes, I think I am, thanks. Being able to order a normal drink yesterday with friends and still enjoy my time was helpful I think. Tomorrow is my 45th birthday though and will be celebrating with friends on the boat so might take half the nal instead of a quarter.... I'll try to focus on the chit chat, music and talk about how gross the bay looks - should be ok.

You're right, no one knows what I'm up to except for 2 other people - and the Internet - so I'm with you there. For a variety of reasons I would never discuss with people at work - not any of their business and I think it would my position so better them not know.

Yes, all my girlfriends look for strength, humor, success and happiness in a guy - can't get by good-looks of course - that's the window into all the other traits.... we won't get into any other traits here.

Glad to here you are above-board when you meet that long-term gal, nobody wants secrets in a long-term relationship.

Are you ready for the weekend? You are still on that honey-moon with nal and I hope it continues - you're doing so well!

Looking at a Youtube vid of Baumeister - might not be able to get any work done today! Thanks.

M

[this post deleted by author]

[this post deleted by author]

Yeah, maybe I'm pushing it but I figure I've got a workout apt in the am, take the nal following and we're going out early probably 11 or so and just for a long lunch. I'm surprised at how well the nal has been working on me this week so I think I'll be ok. Thanks for the valid concern though.

I'm just so happy it's not feeling like white knuckling sobriety - what a horrible 34 days that was for me. I feel empowered somehow.

This is your thread but thanks for the advice!

As far as the stress goes, you give someone the power to get you stressed - try and take that power back by not engaging where you can... that's my unprofessional advice.

Oh and I'm not into bugs so gardening is out but I am going to a childs birthday party on Sunday - pony's and all - so I think it'll be easy to resist anything with all the cuteness endorphens following.

PS I wish there was spell check on this thing! ugh.

[this post deleted by author]

Hey BV:

Belated welcome to the group. Enjoy reading your posts. I'm also from the Midwest so I appreciated your story about flying from Holman Field.

You may know this but one thing that's worked for others is to ditch the hard stuff and go with beer or wine. A beer diet, especially light beer, seems to be more effective than hooch because it's harder to drink past the "indifference" point.

Now all I have to do is follow the same advice! But I'm working on it.

Best,

[this post deleted by author]

[this post deleted by author]

BV, happy aviation day!

Something that dawned on me when reading your latest post is that in the past I have brought in pilots from a group called 'afterburner' to speak and motivate my employees. What afterburner does is they regroup after certain flights, strip off their ranks and honestly discuss what did or did not go right or wrong on the latest missions. My team was around 35 strong diverse intelligent analysts and these proved to be quite benefitial. I think I'm going to try and do the same with me, myself and I. This last weekend proved to be a complete fail and when I get some time today I plan on doing an afterburner of my own. I also like your idea of keeping a list, I'm a list kinda girl in the workplace and it works, who knows. Thanks for your ideas and keep sharing - I think it's helping more than me despite my epic fail over the last 2 days which I'm paying for with every breath and blink I take.

Anyway, welcome to Monday and hope it proves to be successful.

M.

[this post deleted by author]