I think so. I know that I am always really happy when all of you are doing well. Even the people who seem to have had it relatively easy, I am thrilled for them while at the same time wishing it was me. But then again, I do believe that things happen for a reason so here I am. After all, if I had responded in a week like some, I would never have met Steven or heard about Soft Kitty, wouldn't know jaba or deena, and the list goes on...........

Have a good night, all. It's almost 6 p.m. here and trying to be AF tonight.......palms starting to sweat. Wondering if I should go ahead and pop the nal before I leave the office. I can be such a wimp!! Will report later. xoxo Newlife

Rather looking forward to you doing something with noodles. If not, pardon my hands. I have rather overly large sausage-like fingers and have to make concious effort when holding hands not to over squeeze. In some pics I look like I'm wearing Hulk hands.

Ha!! No, I made it. I was cranky for a bit, but at least I won't have to do the wet noodle thing. xoxo Newlife

I too think that we really do have a team spirit here - I feel really supported and cared for by you all .....

Hugs, Maggie xxxx

And so you are!! Hugs back to you Newlife

It's a hard question to answer. My guess is that I would probably have followed right in my fathers footsteps as when I look at it now that's exactly what I have done. He was a functional alcoholic all his life, a happy drunk for the most part, though now in his mid 70's it has gotten really really bad. In fact he and my mom are coming for a visit this weekend and I am seriously considering introducing or at least talking about TSM with him.

But anyway. I've always been able to hold a job through it all. I think of it as a parasitic relationship. As the host I have to stay alive so that my parasite can live and thrive within me, he helps me along taking just enough to not kill but to control me and let me live as long as possible before finally draining the life out of me and moving on. At first it's a symbiotic relationship helping me through those awkward adolescent years when it's hard to talk to girls, providing me a surge in creative writing and music, enriching a deep and spiritual experience with nature and so much more until the time has come when the wool is pulled from over my eyes and I see the damage done.

I was functional but pretty bad 12 weeks ago when I started TSM. Pretty much blackout drunk every night except for those I abstained. And yes I could have been a killer, a murderer as my parasite and I chose to drive during black outs. I guess my motto of a successful alcoholic was always live to drink another day.

You have to love sci-fy! I love this, for that is truly the way I feel!

Jaba

Oh, Ocean. You have such a wonderful way of getting to the heart of it, the very core. Thank you.