LESS Alcohol ~ MARCH 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

@dawnbgethealthy You are so logical and grounded. Can I come live with you for a month?

Only one glass of wine tonight, and crushed my goals with eating and exercise!!! Hubby made delicious salmon with green beans, and I didn’t snack on crackers like I normally would. Hope the scale comes down soon- just gotta keep up with making good choices.

I guess I should pop in and at least say hi, give a quick update.

Wednesday morning, Bentley let me know it was time. Wednesday evening, we said goodbye.

I've been drinking a lot, more than I should, and using a little. I will get back right, but not tonight, probably not tomorrow either. My sister is in town to visit for a few days, and a good friend from NOLA drove over today, so we have some support and distraction. Har-dog is missing B, and I'm struggling with watching him grieve almost as much as with grieving myself. It has been a really hard six weeks or so and I've felt so very alone and overwhelmed and now one stress is done and I'm on to a new one and I don't really know anymore, I'm just trying to get through and process everything. I'm not good at this stuff.

I tried to catch up with the thread but it's a lot of comments here now in just the few days I've been out. I guess I'll just put it this way: I hope everybody is doing okay, and if you're not, my thoughts are with you.

On a positive note, I found some time to pick up a guitar and blast through some Amon Amarth, Type O and In Flames tonight. I'm out of shape, but not so far gone that I couldn't pull it off. There's some catharsis in playing.

I'll be around more as things settle back into a more normal routine.

-m

@Womona Yas girl, go get it! Wise decisions will make you see a difference! I hope you have a great weekend!

@mfowler883 Virtually wrapping you in a big hug. These are tough days. I’m glad you’re seeing friends. We are here if you need us!

Hi all! I love that I came across this post. I have cut down drinking by TONS over the last year or two. I might have a drink every other month at a birthday party or some big celebration. Would love to have new friends. Feel free to add!

@mfowler883 great to see
you back here although I’m saddened to hear of your loss of Bentley. Losing a beloved pet is the hardest experiences ever and they do seem to tell us when it’s time to go over the rainbow bridge. I have lost two dogs myself and know it takes time to heal. Be kind to yourself during this time.

I am Dawn, I live in South Eastern British Columbia.
I joined this thread in November of 2018, a daily drinker at the time
My primary goal with drinking less is weight loss.

My usual goal is 16-20 AF days for the month,
I had 16AF days for the shortened month of February.

I do this diary style, I normally post the next morning.

Wednesday March 08 - 2 1/4 drinks. 2 would have been fine. Planned AF now until Saturday.
Thursday March 09 - AF - Working late nights trying to catch up on the jobs that I couldn't get to during my bout with Covid. A cocktail or two would have been nice, but I have a long Friday ahead so didn't.
Friday March 09 - 2 drinks. It wasn't a planned A day, but when I finally crawled home at 10:00 I tucked into a couple, it was nice. Going out for drinks before the Modern Ballet tonight.


Rolling total: 5AF day out of 10 days.

@mfowler883 My heart goes out to you. It is heartbreaking to lose our pets.

@mfowler883 I was just catching up and saw your post. I am so sorry for your loss, Bentley gave it his best and so did you. Huge hug to you and your family

My A days and AF days are running neck in neck. While I watch my weight go up and up. My sister and BIL will be here next week for our mothers 89th B/D. I am looking forward to this.

We are having our home inspected next week then the week after meet with our realtor. I am hoping we find a new forever home sooner rather than later, but at the same time I don't want to compromise.

will try and pop back in soon

Today was a total "oopsy" day.
St, Patrick's Day Parade that I planned to follow on EMS scanner for the drunken idiocy, but since it was snowy & icy, I didn't . Not willing to learn of any sad outcomes, just fogedaboudit.

Instead, made crab egg rolls for the freezer. Underestimated the amount of filling needed for the amount of wrappers. Thought that I could have wrappers left over for "pumpkin ravioli" . Well, only 2 wraps left , so, forget that...whip up some cream cheese-crab filling for 8 won tons. Again, a miss.
The large amount of cream cheese /crab filling left over was enough for a large sandwich...grab some 12 grain bread out of the freezer...oops...that was pumpernickle....Never mind...Rather nice...

Some of the Icelandic chocolate that I ordered this week was for MD. She is crazy about raspberry & dark chocolate.
It was not guaranteed gluten free so I was insecure...I offered her a small taste but she grabbed a larger chunk...then, snatched the whole chocolate bar ...and consumed it within 2 days...Embarrassed, she would not discuss the aftermath for a week.
Basically, if it was possible to bathe in that chocolate, she would be first in line...with a snorkle ...I haven't told her that I have another raspberry bar tucked away in my house.
I haven't had anything more than a nibble of any of the chocolate except a bit of that raspberry bar from the 10 different varieties delivered at the same time . Hoping to trade chocolate for wine in the very near future.

The pretty inspirational future that we imagine for ourselves is so different from the actual reality. Sniffing the Malbec in the glass placed next to our pasta starter, just a sip or two to accompany our friends during the meal, toasting George's promotion, a little bit more with the entree. What is that honey sweet beverage in the tiny glass served with dessert ?? N'ere mind..it's all good ...

Peace, Love & Happiness...{Skipper Chuck - Miami]

@lmlmrn Dont settle. My parents moved from a house to a condo this fall. (The whole process was kind of hell on earth but they are in their 70s.) They let condo after condo slip through their fingers due to not being quick enough with an offer. They finally got one that was beautiful, had a good inspection and a decent move in date. They aren’t happy with the layout now and have had to replace the furnace/AC and washer and dryer. I’m not sure they would be happy anywhere because their old house had plenty of space and a beautiful huge yard and lots of wildlife and trees. A condo community is not that. They couldn’t stay in the old house, it was too much for them but they regret the one they are in now.

You don’t seem like a person that would settle but if there is something you don’t like, walk away or be prepared to fix it. Or live with it. Just my 2 cents.

@joans1976 I'm so glad you have a break this weekend.

@mfowler883 So sorry about Bentley. Thanks for letting us know.

Sunday - 3/12
I am reading a lot of honestly in the posts this morning. Maybe we’ve overdone it for one reason or other, but I also am learning that we can get back on track with each new day to meet our personal goals for March.

Each of you is a big part of helping me reach my goals for LESS. Thank you! I was a daily drinker for the past 20+ years until February 1 and frankly it was just getting old. My anxiety fueled my drinking wine at night then drinking fueled my anxiety in the day. I had been wanting to find a way to stop that negative cycle in my life and also lose 10 lbs. Then, I found this wonderful supportive group of people on MFP!

March accountability: 20-23 AF days
AF - 8
A - 3
No more than two glasses per A day
I try to post each morning from the PST zone.
.
No A planned until next weekend. Looking for a decent AF beer for St. Patty’s day. Doesn’t have to be dark. I think I will check out the choices at Total Wine this week.