Less Alcohol - January 2019 - One Day at a Time
Replies
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@MonkeyMel21 - wow, fantastic weight loss! Congrats!
Thank you! I'm just so pleased with myself for sticking to it this time. But I am starting to worry about February. There's a lot more events and my brain is picking at my willpower, lol.2 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »@MonkeyMel21 - wow, fantastic weight loss! Congrats!
Thank you! I'm just so pleased with myself for sticking to it this time. But I am starting to worry about February. There's a lot more events and my brain is picking at my willpower, lol.
I am worried about February as well, reason being I also have events, dinners in Feb that I know I will want to drink. I am setting myself up for success as Super Bowl Sunday will be my first drink. I will only have two glasses of wine. I am not getting back into my daily habit! I want to also hit my weight target. After Sunday I will not drink for 7-10 days just to continue to create good habits.2 -
Glad to hear everyone is doing well as we near the end of the month! I'm on day 30 AF over here and feeling great. I finished This Naked Mind last night and it really re-shaped how I view my relationship with alcohol. I don't know how I want to proceed in February, but trying to moderate seems exhausting. To constantly be in my head about how much to have and how to resist that next glass, and how much is too much, etc.
Like I said, I don't know how I'm going to proceed in February, but I'm giving it a lot of thought which is much better than I can say for previous years.4 -
Aim: 4-5 AF per week - so 20 AF minimum in 31 days
January 1st - AF
January 2nd - AF
January 3rd - AF
January 4th - 3 drinks Friday night. I actually had 4, but then threw up lol. This is the reason that I never have more than 3 if I choose to have drinks. Good reminder. Yes, I can never be "drunk" because I can't have more than 3.
January 5th - AF So curious that each and every day that I have drinks I am down 2 pounds the following day. I think that I read somewhere on this post that it dehydrates you. It comes back the next day of course : - )
I don't log my AF or not AF until the following morning for the night before.
January 6th - AF - 5 days out of 6. Very busy week, so more AF days to come.
January 7th - AF - 6 days out of 7 for the month
January 8th - AF - 7 days our of 8 for the month so far
January 9th - AF - 8 days out of 9
January 10th - 1 champagne, later on 3 drinks
January 11th - 2 drinks - 8 out of 11 AF. I am pleased with that.
January 12th - 3 drinks - 8 out of 12 AF. Going to rack up some more AF days.
January 13th - AF - 9 days out of 13
January 14th - AF - 10 days out of 14. Began logging at night before bed instead of waiting until the next morning. No danger of sleep drinking I don't think : - )
January 15th - AF - 11 days out of 15.
January 16th - AF - 12 days out of 16
January 17th - AF - 13 days out of 17 - I took December 31st out of the count.
January 18th - 3 drinks - 13 AF days out of 18, definitely ahead of where I was in December.
January 19th - 2 drinks
January 20th - AF - 14 AF days out of 20
January 21st - AF - 15 out of 21
January 22nd - AF - 16 out of 22 - I believe that I had 16 AF days total in December
January 23rd - AF - 17 out of 23.
I am going away for 5 days, birthday parties, concerts, get togethers with friends, lavish dinners. We will see how I do. I have had dismal weight loss this month even though my calories have been less, worked out more, drank way less alcohol. I don't want to blow the slight progress that I have made. Having said that, I definitely don't want to annoy my friends with calorie counting and trying to squeeze in workouts. I think being moderate with the booze won't be a problem, they are not heavy drinkers. I do usually imbibe when I am there. Maybe time to change that habit.
January 24th - AF 18 out of 24 - 1st day away, not tempted
January 25th - AF 19 out of 25 - offered drinks but stuck to water.
January 26th - 1/2 bloody Mary at a birthday celebration, glass cab out at a show, Cointreau night-cap
January 27th - 750ml bottle of wine over the course of dinner and a night
January 28th - 3 drinks
January 29th - AF - Back home. 20 AF days out of 29.
January 30th - AF - 21 AF out of 30
January 31st2 -
You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
January accountability ~30 days so far
No Alcohol: 19 days
Alcohol: 11 days (26 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per monthTo view the weekly count toward 4 ... AF Mon Dec 31!
Jan 1 - AF
Jan 2 - Dinner out with hubby after challenging day at work transitioning my role. Looks like it will take weeks to ramp them up. Didn't leave chair for 9 hrs. (excuses) - limited myself to 1 glass of wine
Jan 3 - Bunco - limit 1 glass wine. Slipped up and had 2-3 (I call it 12 oz 3 if light pour / 2 if heavy pour) What happen to my resolve to drink water after 1 glass?
Jan 4 - Traveling with my mom & sister 7 hrs today for a funeral Saturday. Plans to limit to 1 glass of wine was blown. I lacked the willpower which I need to work on. 1 margarita at mexican restaurant, 1 glass of wine in hotel suite everyone gathered at after dinner.
Jan 5 - AF Driving 7 hours return trip
Jan 6 - AF
*This past week Monday thru Sunday I hit my 4 days of AF by reigning it in Sat and Sun! No social challenges next week. It will be just me and my own willpower to bank AF days for the month to offset challenging weeks ahead.
Jan 7 - AF
Jan 8 - AF
Jan 9 - AF
Jan 10 - AF - Driving 6 hours this evening
*Last 3 nights I skipped the beer and bourbon & did not join DH in drinking. Patting myself on the back for the resolve to stick to 4 nights AF this week M-Th. Planning for wine with dinner Fri & Sat but I'm feeling so much more in control these days with this resolve.
Jan 11 - 4 glasses (2 red, 2 white) Opened 2 bottles of wine with DH should have limited myself to 1 glass from each; almost doubled my number of drinks for the month in one night sitting outside with neighbors looking out over the water and grilling steaks.
Jan 12 - Used 3/4 cup of the 1 bottle of white for cooking the Risotto. 2 smaller glasses. Success in that everyone else had 1 drink before I started pouring wine for myself and DH with dinner.
Jan 13 - AF - proud that I did not just join the crowd this evening
*5 AF days this week!
Jan 14 - AF - ding ding ding DH & I had steak without red wine!
Jan 15 - AF
Jan 16 - Bookclub - intention was to limit 1 glass wine but after rough day at work had 2; splitting a bottle with my daughter
Jan 17 - AF
Jan 18 - 2 glasses of wine with dinner
Jan 19 - AF - Party, friend’s fully stocked tiki bar, drank 2 bottles of water instead of everything offered. Designated driver 50+ miles from home though DH did not drink but 1.
Jan 20 - AF, company w/ steak & roasted veggies dinner for all, Saints game … no alcohol for 6 of us … my sister brought orange cosmos but she was the only one that drank it.
Beat my goal ... 5 AF days this week!
This week I have three scheduled challenges with a plan to limit my consumption. The other 4 days I need to stick to my AF plan. Slipped 1 day this week. Goal is to hold to the rest of the plan! I just need one more day to meet my 16 AF goal for the month! I can do this!
Jan 21 - Bookclub - limit 1 glass wine; finally lived up to my plan to not have a second glass in a social situation!
Jan 22 - AF
Jan 23 - Unplanned. Frustrating day brother/sister inlaws ended with DH & I out for Italian & wine. 2 glasses
Jan 24 - AF
Jan 25 - Planned dinner out to begin celebrating my early retirement next week. Didn’t stick to the plan to limit 2. gasses of wine. 1 drink before and after dinner @ bars + 3 glasses of wine with dinner. Total 5.
Jan 26 - Hiking with my son & his Fiancée then they want to go to a brewery. Plan: Limit 1 beer Well limited myself to 1 beer in the afternoon at the brewery. But then 2 margaritas in the evening.
Jan 27 - AF (while everyone else drank wine I had water).
Achieved my monthly goal!!! Now to stretch my weekly goal of 4 AF days per week into February.
Jan 28 - AF
Jan 29 - AF ! Yeah me! Dining Out group.
Jan 30 - AF
Jan 31 - Retiring from company after 30 years - plan to celebrate but limit 2 glasses
Feb 1 -
Feb 2 -
Feb 3 -
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Delighted to report only had planned drinks for celebration so had 29/31 alcohol days free. Planning the same for February. So pleased evening cravings for a glass of wine or G&T have diminished. Which has helped me lose 8lbs and more importantly feeling a lot happier & healthy which is my main goal.4
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@dawnbgethealthy that is a beautiful picture of you and your St. Bernard friend. ( big dog fan here).
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Guess I am hosting a Super Bowl gathering Sunday night.
We have tons of parking at our place, most places up here right now are limited on parking because of the snow being in heaps. So we said people could come to our home to cheer on our team. Made it clear everyone has to BYOB and TYBH (take your booze home). I do not want a variety of alcohol left over to stare me down.
Going to be a long day Sunday because there is a pre-Super Bowl party in town from 12:00-4:00, then back here to get ready for the game that will last until about 10:30pm.
My plan~~~ is a dry Super Bowl Day. I did it dry last year too and still had fun (even though we lost last year).
Happy last day of January to each and everyone of you. Just being here (lurking or not) makes you all winners.
My accountability: 31 days dry in January 20194 -
Day 31 AF for me begins. This morning's email from the Dry January people had a link to an interesting page with tips on "what's next." It gives a number of options, such as "I want to stay dry beyond January" and "I want to drink less but not stop completely." I'm going to go back to drinking wine starting tomorrow, but the drink less option has some good ideas such as figuring out how many "units" you were drinking before and how many you want to drink now. You can keep track on the app. I think that's going to be a good plan for me - deciding units per week.
I'm down five pounds and have been faithful about going to the gym. I'm finding that keeping my commitment to be AF in January has made me better at keeping other commitments to myself (like going to gym, or staying on the treadmill X number of minutes or stopping with the SUGAR ALREADY!). I am worried about sustaining it all, though, because I've fallen off the food and drink wagon many times before. Last summer was a disaster on both accounts. I have WL goals for the next few months and feel pretty committed right now, though. Pondering my drinking goal now.
Hope everybody's doing well and would love to know what your plans are going forward.5 -
Day 31 AF for me begins.
I'm down five pounds and have been faithful about going to the gym. I'm finding that keeping my commitment to be AF in January has made me better at keeping other commitments to myself (like going to gym, or staying on the treadmill X number of minutes or stopping with the SUGAR ALREADY!). I am worried about sustaining it all, though, because I've fallen off the food and drink wagon many times before. Last summer was a disaster on both accounts. I have WL goals for the next few months and feel pretty committed right now, though. Pondering my drinking goal now.
Hope everybody's doing well and would love to know what your plans are going forward.
Congrats @kittybenn!!!
I'm down 6 lbs this month and loving the downward trend as well. My going forward plan is to stretch my weekly goal of 4 AF days per week into February. Setting the goal to 16 days AF again even though there is a big difference between January's 31 days and February's 28 days LOL.
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Day 6 AF - Slept pretty good for the first time last night. Only woke maybe 3 or 4 times - no vivid dreams either. Felt refreshed this morning. The dull headaches are gone as well!
Progress!10 -
Happy Jan. 31, everyone! I made it the whole month and feel pretty darn good about that. Dry January sent an e-mail suggesting we write down all the ways we feel better after taking some time off from alcohol, and that was a super helpful activity for me.
I have a date night with my husband tomorrow, dinner with my family Saturday and then a work trip next week. I was planning on drinking in moderation, but I feel so good, that I want to keep my AF streak going. This next week will by far be the biggest struggle for me as I usually cope with flight anxiety with alcohol. If I can make it through this upcoming trip AF, that will be a tremendous victory!9 -
@Lilylady3k - congrats on your success! Looks like we're on same path. After last year's DJ I did four AF days per week. I like the idea of stretching that a bit. I guess if I were gonna do that I'd add Sunday, so I'd be AF Sun-Thurs. Still pondering. Right now, I'm just excited about having a glass or two of wine tomorrow. We're going to a nice place for dinner on Sat. night too, so prob more wine. I guess right now my plan is to just not get crazy this weekend!4
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@Lilylady3k - congrats on your success! Looks like we're on same path. After last year's DJ I did four AF days per week. I like the idea of stretching that a bit. I guess if I were gonna do that I'd add Sunday, so I'd be AF Sun-Thurs. Still pondering. Right now, I'm just excited about having a glass or two of wine tomorrow. We're going to a nice place for dinner on Sat. night too, so prob more wine. I guess right now my plan is to just not get crazy this weekend!
@kittybenn Congrats on working in your mind a plan. I know that I have plans to have wine or champagne soon ... to celebrate my retirement!!! It is nice to plan the indulgences!
I tend to set my goals to things I believe might be reasonable and then celebrate if I beat them (without food or alcohol). LOL Got to start somewhere and feel like I'm accomplishing something because I know later this year (summertime) I need to have a mindset that this is just what I do ... not a challenge but a habit. My challenge for the rest of the year will need to include not overdoing it when I plan 1 or 2 glasses and not let them slip into 3-5 glasses in the evening.
I really like the accountability of checking in here each day. My week journaling is Mon-Sun with plans to be AF Mon-Thurs. Sundays are usually family time including wine ... we are getting better. I found that many times for me Sunday was a make up day for a slip earlier in the week (even when others in the household were drinking) ... but then more often than not it ended up being my 5th AF day of the week. It really worked for me this past month to trade-out a weekday slip or plan (book club, bunco, etc) as not a problem but just another tradeoff and give up a weekend evening of drinking. Learning my capabilities and feeling stronger for being able to recognize it as a balance ... just like this losing weight deal. It is a choice and not a punishment.
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It's officially February here in Oz, and I'm so proud that I only had a single glass of wine for the entire month of January! Compared to December where I easily would have drank 8+ bottles
Onward and upward! (except on the scales 
) 5 -
You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
January accountability ~31 days so far
No Alcohol: 19 days
Alcohol: 12 days (27 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per monthTo view the weekly count toward 4 ... AF Mon Dec 31!
Jan 1 - AF
Jan 2 - Dinner out with hubby after challenging day at work transitioning my role. Looks like it will take weeks to ramp them up. Didn't leave chair for 9 hrs. (excuses) - limited myself to 1 glass of wine
Jan 3 - Bunco - limit 1 glass wine. Slipped up and had 2-3 (I call it 12 oz 3 if light pour / 2 if heavy pour) What happen to my resolve to drink water after 1 glass?
Jan 4 - Traveling with my mom & sister 7 hrs today for a funeral Saturday. Plans to limit to 1 glass of wine was blown. I lacked the willpower which I need to work on. 1 margarita at mexican restaurant, 1 glass of wine in hotel suite everyone gathered at after dinner.
Jan 5 - AF Driving 7 hours return trip
Jan 6 - AF
*This past week Monday thru Sunday I hit my 4 days of AF by reigning it in Sat and Sun! No social challenges next week. It will be just me and my own willpower to bank AF days for the month to offset challenging weeks ahead.
Jan 7 - AF
Jan 8 - AF
Jan 9 - AF
Jan 10 - AF - Driving 6 hours this evening
*Last 3 nights I skipped the beer and bourbon & did not join DH in drinking. Patting myself on the back for the resolve to stick to 4 nights AF this week M-Th. Planning for wine with dinner Fri & Sat but I'm feeling so much more in control these days with this resolve.
Jan 11 - 4 glasses (2 red, 2 white) Opened 2 bottles of wine with DH should have limited myself to 1 glass from each; almost doubled my number of drinks for the month in one night sitting outside with neighbors looking out over the water and grilling steaks.
Jan 12 - Used 3/4 cup of the 1 bottle of white for cooking the Risotto. 2 smaller glasses. Success in that everyone else had 1 drink before I started pouring wine for myself and DH with dinner.
Jan 13 - AF - proud that I did not just join the crowd this evening
*5 AF days this week!
Jan 14 - AF - ding ding ding DH & I had steak without red wine!
Jan 15 - AF
Jan 16 - Bookclub - intention was to limit 1 glass wine but after rough day at work had 2; splitting a bottle with my daughter
Jan 17 - AF
Jan 18 - 2 glasses of wine with dinner
Jan 19 - AF - Party, friend’s fully stocked tiki bar, drank 2 bottles of water instead of everything offered. Designated driver 50+ miles from home though DH did not drink but 1.
Jan 20 - AF, company w/ steak & roasted veggies dinner for all, Saints game … no alcohol for 6 of us … my sister brought orange cosmos but she was the only one that drank it.
Beat my goal ... 5 AF days this week!
This week I have three scheduled challenges with a plan to limit my consumption. The other 4 days I need to stick to my AF plan. Slipped 1 day this week. Goal is to hold to the rest of the plan! I just need one more day to meet my 16 AF goal for the month! I can do this!
Jan 21 - Bookclub - limit 1 glass wine; finally lived up to my plan to not have a second glass in a social situation!
Jan 22 - AF
Jan 23 - Unplanned. Frustrating day brother/sister inlaws ended with DH & I out for Italian & wine. 2 glasses
Jan 24 - AF
Jan 25 - Planned dinner out to begin celebrating my early retirement next week. Didn’t stick to the plan to limit 2. gasses of wine. 1 drink before and after dinner @ bars + 3 glasses of wine with dinner. Total 5.
Jan 26 - Hiking with my son & his Fiancée then they want to go to a brewery. Plan: Limit 1 beer Well limited myself to 1 beer in the afternoon at the brewery. But then 2 margaritas in the evening.
Jan 27 - AF (while everyone else drank wine I had water).
Achieved my monthly goal!!! Now to stretch my weekly goal of 4 AF days per week into February.
Jan 28 - AF
Jan 29 - AF ! Yeah me! Dining Out group.
Jan 30 - AF
Jan 31 - Planned 2 but kept to 1 glass wine! Retiring from company after 30 years
4 -
Lilylady3k wrote: »You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
January accountability ~31 days so far
No Alcohol: 19 days
Alcohol: 12 days (27 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per monthTo view the weekly count toward 4 ... AF Mon Dec 31!
Jan 1 - AF
Jan 2 - Dinner out with hubby after challenging day at work transitioning my role. Looks like it will take weeks to ramp them up. Didn't leave chair for 9 hrs. (excuses) - limited myself to 1 glass of wine
Jan 3 - Bunco - limit 1 glass wine. Slipped up and had 2-3 (I call it 12 oz 3 if light pour / 2 if heavy pour) What happen to my resolve to drink water after 1 glass?
Jan 4 - Traveling with my mom & sister 7 hrs today for a funeral Saturday. Plans to limit to 1 glass of wine was blown. I lacked the willpower which I need to work on. 1 margarita at mexican restaurant, 1 glass of wine in hotel suite everyone gathered at after dinner.
Jan 5 - AF Driving 7 hours return trip
Jan 6 - AF
*This past week Monday thru Sunday I hit my 4 days of AF by reigning it in Sat and Sun! No social challenges next week. It will be just me and my own willpower to bank AF days for the month to offset challenging weeks ahead.
Jan 7 - AF
Jan 8 - AF
Jan 9 - AF
Jan 10 - AF - Driving 6 hours this evening
*Last 3 nights I skipped the beer and bourbon & did not join DH in drinking. Patting myself on the back for the resolve to stick to 4 nights AF this week M-Th. Planning for wine with dinner Fri & Sat but I'm feeling so much more in control these days with this resolve.
Jan 11 - 4 glasses (2 red, 2 white) Opened 2 bottles of wine with DH should have limited myself to 1 glass from each; almost doubled my number of drinks for the month in one night sitting outside with neighbors looking out over the water and grilling steaks.
Jan 12 - Used 3/4 cup of the 1 bottle of white for cooking the Risotto. 2 smaller glasses. Success in that everyone else had 1 drink before I started pouring wine for myself and DH with dinner.
Jan 13 - AF - proud that I did not just join the crowd this evening
*5 AF days this week!
Jan 14 - AF - ding ding ding DH & I had steak without red wine!
Jan 15 - AF
Jan 16 - Bookclub - intention was to limit 1 glass wine but after rough day at work had 2; splitting a bottle with my daughter
Jan 17 - AF
Jan 18 - 2 glasses of wine with dinner
Jan 19 - AF - Party, friend’s fully stocked tiki bar, drank 2 bottles of water instead of everything offered. Designated driver 50+ miles from home though DH did not drink but 1.
Jan 20 - AF, company w/ steak & roasted veggies dinner for all, Saints game … no alcohol for 6 of us … my sister brought orange cosmos but she was the only one that drank it.
Beat my goal ... 5 AF days this week!
This week I have three scheduled challenges with a plan to limit my consumption. The other 4 days I need to stick to my AF plan. Slipped 1 day this week. Goal is to hold to the rest of the plan! I just need one more day to meet my 16 AF goal for the month! I can do this!
Jan 21 - Bookclub - limit 1 glass wine; finally lived up to my plan to not have a second glass in a social situation!
Jan 22 - AF
Jan 23 - Unplanned. Frustrating day brother/sister inlaws ended with DH & I out for Italian & wine. 2 glasses
Jan 24 - AF
Jan 25 - Planned dinner out to begin celebrating my early retirement next week. Didn’t stick to the plan to limit 2. gasses of wine. 1 drink before and after dinner @ bars + 3 glasses of wine with dinner. Total 5.
Jan 26 - Hiking with my son & his Fiancée then they want to go to a brewery. Plan: Limit 1 beer Well limited myself to 1 beer in the afternoon at the brewery. But then 2 margaritas in the evening.
Jan 27 - AF (while everyone else drank wine I had water).
Achieved my monthly goal!!! Now to stretch my weekly goal of 4 AF days per week into February.
Jan 28 - AF
Jan 29 - AF ! Yeah me! Dining Out group.
Jan 30 - AF
Jan 31 - Planned 2 but kept to 1 glass wine! Retiring from company after 30 years
Congrats on retirement - what a huge accomplishment and way to stick to, even exceed, your plan!4 -
@WinoGelato Thank you!
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Seeing a lot of success here - congrats to all! I was thrilled and proud of myself to wake up this morning and realize I'd made it through the month. I'm not even dying for a glass of wine. @Lilylady3k - thanks for great ideas. We are on the same wavelength. I'm planning on my first glasses of wine tonight. Have them logged in and accounted for, but am reminded about the empty calories and all the space they can take up in a 1,400 cal/day plan. I'm still not sure what I'm doing in Feb., but it'll be easy to go back to the default of only drinking Fri-Sun. I do like the idea of waiting for special occasions thought. Also still thinking about limiting the wine to a set # of units per week.4
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@Lilylady3k how is your first day of retirement going? Congratulations and enjoy.3
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@Lilylady3k Congratulations!! Such an exciting time. And great job on keeping it to 1 glass!1
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Congratulations @Ladylily3K! I hear retirement is a beautiful thing.
Congratulations @Ed_Zilla on your AF streak so far! Your sleeping will continue to improve.
I’m so inspired by everyone’s stories. Are we all hopping over to the new February thread or staying here?
I drank more often this week than I had all month- almost every night there was something going on. Two different book clubs back to back did not help, and I over drank then and felt terrible the next day. Last night only one glass of wine at dinner with another couple- and she was doing Dey January!
Alcohol is weird- once I broke the daily habit, it was pretty easy to stay away from it all week. But now that I’ve had it every day this week, going AF seems daunting again! Inertia is a powerful thing.
Happy February!2 -
Well the one who you are looking for is in Dollars I convert here So you need to also try out this.1
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I went off the rails last night.... Back on track. Geez! So many more positives for me of not drinking!2
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I have switched to Feb string! Yea! Happy to report Dry Jan and Feb besides for Super Bowl! Back on track!2
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