Jaba, we are having a superb weekend. We do not close our pool until after Halloween. There is a hot tub attached to it that is heavenly to use when the weather cools down and the skies are clear in the fall. One year we had a huge snowstorm a few days before Halloween (I live 30 miles outside of Boston) and we were out closing the pool in the snow when we lost power. We can laugh about it now but then it was tough!

Week 14 under my belt and I had 18 drinks and one alcohol free day. I am pretty proud of that, but I feel that my lower consumption might be tied more to me working on it and the support I am getting here, than on the nal. When I have a drink, I still want to continue to drink. Yesterday my husband, daughter, and her boyfriend and I picnicked at a vineyard. We had a glass of wine with lunch and then did a tasting. When we got back to the house and sat by the pool, I wanted more to drink. Everyone else was satisfied. I waited and had another glass of wine with dinner, but I am sad that the desire is still there.

Speaking of the nal, I am a little concerned that the nal I get from All Day Chemist has no markings on it! Is that normal? I thought all pills were marked. It is from Intas Pharmaceuticals.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Deena - ALL the pills that I have got from my Doc have been marked - that is a tad odd that yours are not and I do not blame you for being concerned.

Sorry that the desire is still there but I still think that you did well that day - sounded good - I think I would have been like you and wanted more when everyone else was fine .... we will beat this !!!

Hugs, Maggie x

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Jaba, you should definitely accompany your husband to Boston. It is a great city and if you like history it is the place to go. As we plan to retire we are struggling with where to go. I would love to be someplace warmer as the winters can be brutal, but I cannot imagine not living in New England.

I researched the pills and others have commented on the pills from Intas Pharmaceuticals not having markings but still working. I think it is because they are manufactured out of the country, as you said.

I have had some control in the past, but not much. I have always been able to control myself when I have been a business gatherings with my husband or had to be social with people he works with. I would then get to the hotel room (I had to have a bottle of wine waiting for me there) or home and continue to drink after my husband went to bed. Parties with friends, I often overdid it. I am looking forward to the day that I can have a drink and not want to keep on going. If I can't, then maybe I just need to totally give it up, as well.

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Jaba, where do you live in Ohio? I grew up in Cincinnati.

I do not like TX at all, especially the weather and the bugs. My husband's daughter lives in Austin and it is a fun place, but I would not want to live there.
think TN is nice. I used to spend time at Dale Hollow Lake when I was in my 20's. It is a beautiful spot.

I don't think we want to maintain two homes, either. We love our house but it is way too big for the two of us and expensive to keep up, especially with high property taxes. Plus, the winter we just had is etched into my mind, which makes me want someplace a little warmer. We are thinking about visiting Charleston and Savannah this fall. We have been to both spots and liked them and they might be good year round spots.

I know what you mean about wanting a life outside of being a grandmother, but you will be surprised the draw grandkids are when they come around. They are all the fun of having kids without all the work. My stepdaughter has a 19 month old who is such a joy to be around. They are in TX, though, so we don't get to see him as much as we like. Fortunately, we fly for free so often we go for the day. We leave our driveway at 5:00am, catch a flight to Austin, spend the day, and then take an evening flight home and arrive back in our driveway at midnight. It is a looong day, but worth it.

The nal I am taking doesn't seem to be too hard. If I don't get the water down fast enough I can feel it start to dissolve in my mouth. That is not a good tasting pill!

I know what you mean about being A/F being easier than drinking. When I make a pledge when I do a cleanse it is easy for me not to drink. As soon as the cleanse is over, though, it is hard for me to limit my drinking. I think that the nal is going to change all that. Fingers crossed.

I woke up feeling a little down today, wishing that I was a fast reactor and I was in a totally different place with drinking. Then I thought about Newlife and Maggie and their wonderful attitudes, and I adjusted my attitude accordingly.

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Deena: I did check my naltima from All Day Chemist and you are right, the pills are not marked. I wondered before on this forum whether these pills were ok and was quickly assured that they are. Hope it's true!! Newlife

I grew up in Anderson Township and my brother and sister still live in that area. I don't get back that often.

It sounds like you are making good progress, too, Jaba. It is the little things like not being hyper vigilant about how much wine is in your bottle that lets you know that something is happening. Your husband must have been so proud.

Newlife, from what I gather online, the pills are fine. Markings are not required in Inda.

Thanks for info about All Day Chemist, Deena. Good that we have each other to check with. xoxo Newlife