Still vectoring down, still looking good, Reboot! Rock on!

Nope! That never did cross my mind, for I figured if you had a bender you would have owned up to it...

I have tried to read things online with my phone and with my age it isn't worth the hassle, so I do get why you stayed unplugged. I actually think it's a good thing to unplug for a couple of weeks, and I am glad you had that opportunity. I just wished my husband felt the same way, for he cannot be anywhere without the internet. His work has set it up that if too many emails sit in his inbox for to long his computer will lockup and I.T. has to unlock it...and then his work claims they want them to have family time...really!

Reboot I am glad you had a good time, and it does sound like you are gaining control. Taking that pill when you know you need to is the biggest part of this process and that can be the hardest thing for some, and taking a booster when you know you need to is even harder, for once you get into the flow of things our brains tend to conveniently forget. Those little things are not that little, for that is our brain letting go, and it sounds like your brain is slowly letting go! Give yourself credit for not forgetting and sticking to that golden rule!

Thanks for checking in and I am glad all is well.

Jaba

keep it up, reboot. sounds like things are clicking along. I too sometimes need a break from the online world. Nal on!

Thanks for your concern Jaba and your confidence in me spilling my guts if I screw up! I often say that if I could go back to the days of rotary phones and no internet I would in a second. That is until I forget the name of something or need to fix something and I head for google.

I really feel I am over the hump in the day to day drinking. I was explaining to Maggie that I have no doubt that my day to day alcoholism is gone for good. And I have you and the rest of the angels of this site and TSM to thank for that. Your awesome support and wisdom really helps when I started out and all along the way.

I am a little upset with myself for not being able to get on the site more often and offer the same support to others who are starting out or struggling. I feel I am not paying back my debt. In fact, I have not even found the time to read through the active posts in over 2 weeks. But I have found that I am so busy now that I am not sitting home drinking everyday that it is hard to find the time. But that is really no excuse for not helping out where I can.

Now as far as my "bingeing" goes - that is still an issue. Although I have managed to control myself enough that I do not drink enough to black out - or even really get out of control - the intake on some of the week-ends or special events it still a concern. I hope that as I move into a 2nd of many years of TSM that I will do a better job of cutting down my intake during those special events. It is not unusual for me to go way over 10 units on some long days of fishing.

All in all though I can't complain. Nor will I ever drink without the following the golden rule.

Reboot - I am so happy to read of your success - and I actually laughed at the bit where you said about being so busy, now that you are not drinking - like you, I wonder now how on earth I managed to fit drinking in! I agree re the - what you call - bingeing. But as you also said, that is not a lot when it is spread over a long days fishing - maybe ! Yes you are right - I do actually think that 10 units is a lot - but I cannot imagine drinking TWO units now let alone 10. If it is only now and then and when you are on a day out fishing, then it isn't that bad - but if it is a concern to you, then yes, it is a problem. But at least you are aware of it and want to try and sort it.

Hugs, Maggie x

How has the "booster dose" method gone for you on the long drinking days?

BTW, are you taking any other meds?

Ugh - lost another response to the internet. But the short version is this
Joe - I do not take any other meds as I am lucky enough to be pretty healthy even after all the AL abuse. I do still take the booster on days/nights that I have been drinking to long. I feel it helps but not sure - as just by the nature of drinking all day it is a bad TSM day.

BTW it is week 44 and it was a 13 unit week with 5 AF days. two days of drinking vino with wife at dinner and after adds up quick when using the unit method. But 13 in a week is a far cry from the 13 a day in the past!

Nice work, Reboot! Sounds like TSM is just what the doctor ordered!

Been awhile since I checked in. Still lurking here when I can find the time. Life is hectic and I spend a lot less time looking at the computer in general now that I am not drinking every night after dinner. I still have some bad days and nights - mostly on long beach/fishing days. But lots of lots of AF days and am very thankful for that. I di have one bad "cinco de crazy" night where I refused tequila shots - but like a fool - drank three margaritas instead. The old me came out and that is not a pretty sight! But since then - everything has settled back down and I feel that I am on cruise control. Of course, I should not be feeling that way - I should be trying to work on those 8-10 unit days on the week-end but do not seem to find the drive to do so.

Coming up on a year in June. I have a week long work conference in June where I have been known to be a fool - and therefore attract a lot of other "fools" that have a problem with AL. This conference is what drove me to look for a way to stop drinking last year. Big test. Can I stay away from my old habits and go to bed before the sun comes up - I hope so! I think so! But as person who has made too many promises to himself in the past that he could not keep - I am concerned.

Plan is to hook up with some of my non-drinking friends and go to dinner (not sure if I ever had dinner before at this conference - always a liquid diet from start to finish) instead of going to the bar after the sessions are over. Come back to hotel and head to room to watch a movie. Going out of town for 10 days now - but not a trip I have to worry about over doing it. Although it will be a good time to get in the habit of watching movies at night.

On a bad note - I have stopped tracking - being lazy. But I would say I average two or three days where I have drinks - but usually 5 beers or 3-4 wines with wife. The rest are AF days. So somewhere around 20-30 units.

You seem to be getting there, Reboot! As I recall, Benji also had to deal with the convention scene, so you might look him up to see if he has any tricks to help.

If you were to make a dent in the long weekends, where do you think the soft spot in the habit is likely to show up? Still, it sounds like you're making headway there too, earlier in the thread you mentioned a 51 day in the Keys! So 8-10 ain't so shabby, eh?