my quest for sobriety has not been 100%. it was for maybe the first 50 days or so. since then, I have drank on very infrequent occasions. I have NOT gotten shitfaced drunk or wasted any complete days due to hangovers. when I have drank, I’ve been very conscious to “pace myself” and stop before I reach the “point of no return.”
I have not been perfect but I know I have made a positive change and I’m happy with myself. whether my future is as a total abstainer or a “responsible” drinker, time will tell...
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Philly I & II, 16
Denver 22
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
my quest for sobriety has not been 100%. it was for maybe the first 50 days or so. since then, I have drank on very infrequent occasions. I have NOT gotten shitfaced drunk or wasted any complete days due to hangovers. when I have drank, I’ve been very conscious to “pace myself” and stop before I reach the “point of no return.”
I have not been perfect but I know I have made a positive change and I’m happy with myself. whether my future is as a total abstainer or a “responsible” drinker, time will tell...
whats important here is you recognized where alcohol has been a problem for you and sought to address it. if that means a significant break to stop the habitual nature of when and how you drink then its a success. just be aware when it may bleed back into your old "normal" and that awareness may occur after the fact.
if you find you have slipped back into frequency/quanity it may show you should probably abstain.
in either case your presence is still welcome here to help keep you on the more social end of partaking......
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
^^^^ You are spot on. it was the habitual/frequecy/quantity that had to change....and it has.
as the mantra goes, “one day at a time.”
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
brixton 93
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
I will suggest if you cant get to any support meetings such as AA in person, you explore that online. For real. Immensely helpful to me.
Just do not be turned off by god talk. 99 times out of 100 its not religious in intent. you get to chose your own conception of what "god" means for you.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Friday's i go to a meeting but it seems to be full of people still using and from what i see are not even trying. Its not AA. But a place called spectrum. I like wobbie wasn't in any trouble from drink or drinking volumes. But it was a habit and too frequent. I will continue like this see what happens. There is no way i could do AA. I have no god or even a concept of any higher being whatsoever. I do have a strong will and what i have learned already is drink is poison i want to be free of any poison.
brixton 93
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
Friday's i go to a meeting but it seems to be full of people still using and from what i see are not even trying. Its not AA. But a place called spectrum. I like wobbie wasn't in any trouble from drink or drinking volumes. But it was a habit and too frequent. I will continue like this see what happens. There is no way i could do AA. I have no god or even a concept of any higher being whatsoever. I do have a strong will and what i have learned already is drink is poison i want to be free of any poison.
and you dont have to have a godlike higher power. the group or the program can be that in itself.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Friday's i go to a meeting but it seems to be full of people still using and from what i see are not even trying. Its not AA. But a place called spectrum. I like wobbie wasn't in any trouble from drink or drinking volumes. But it was a habit and too frequent. I will continue like this see what happens. There is no way i could do AA. I have no god or even a concept of any higher being whatsoever. I do have a strong will and what i have learned already is drink is poison i want to be free of any poison.
I don’t want to push you into something you don’t want to do, but could you consider Nature your higher power? You’ve posted about your allotment many times - it seems like it’s a source of strength and comfort for you.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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hedonist
standing on the edge of forever Posts: 24,524
Last week, I went to a smallish family gathering. Everyone was drinking wine, no big deal for me. Woohoo!
(I did have an edible beforehand.)
During the evening, my mom came up to me with a glass of red in her hand, and leaned in to say something.
I got a whiff of that wine - so distinctive! - and it brought back such a flood of memories and associations. It continually surprises and amazes me, how powerful the olfactory sense is on the mind and recollections. It was just this...whoosh of emotions. And it was alright.
Rob, congratulations on over a month (?) now without alcohol.
And Wob, best of luck tomorrow. I told my husband that Super Bowl Sunday must be the largest annual ingestion of beer
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hedonist
standing on the edge of forever Posts: 24,524
My husband's getting ready for work and there's an old Seinfeld on - "The Red Dot". Jerry goes into talking about being on and off the wagon, and we decided that whether off or on, that goddamn wagon is always there.
You may be like the dog in Vacation, tied to it and dragged along, or keep huffing away to keep up with it. But you're still bound to it.
the drummer of the Tea Party does this thing every year, a cleanse, the 90 day sobriety challenge. he usually does this leading up to a tour, so he can get in shape. He usually adds a running regimen along with it. I decided to hop on the train, so I'm at day 5. No big deal, right? well yesterday I found out my 13 year old daughter has a boyfriend and they were texting about pornhub.
JFC. I sure could have used a few Crown Royals last night. MFer.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
Options
mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
Options
mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
If your local intergroups or meetings haven't made arrangements to keep holding meeting someway, look into https://myrecovery.com, https://intheroom.com both are hosting online video meetings.
Keep in touch with your local support network. Look after your older members, or even go OLD SCHOOL early days AA and have small in home meetings!!!!!
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
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hedonist
standing on the edge of forever Posts: 24,524
I haven't been to another meeting since the one last year, but it's good to know there are options for those who may need it.
Somewhat related, we just watched a documentary film on youtube about Missio. They were one of the bands whose lyrics about sobriety really helped me (Middle Fingers, Rad Drugz). Well, one member, supposedly clean for a while now, confessed he couldn't remember the last time he was sober. He's been getting fucked up regularly all this time, and no one knew - not even his musical partner/brother.
It so disappointed me (and coincidentally or not, I became extremely nauseous after that part), and made me feel for the weight of his guilt in lying to so many, including those like me who have taken comfort and inspiration from them.
Then again, the music itself helped me; that doesn't change, thankfully.
0
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
Options
mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
Options
mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,938
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Comments
um....well.....er.....uh.....
my quest for sobriety has not been 100%. it was for maybe the first 50 days or so. since then, I have drank on very infrequent occasions. I have NOT gotten shitfaced drunk or wasted any complete days due to hangovers. when I have drank, I’ve been very conscious to “pace myself” and stop before I reach the “point of no return.”
I have not been perfect but I know I have made a positive change and I’m happy with myself. whether my future is as a total abstainer or a “responsible” drinker, time will tell...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
as the mantra goes, “one day at a time.”
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
I like wobbie wasn't in any trouble from drink or drinking volumes.
But it was a habit and too frequent.
I will continue like this see what happens.
There is no way i could do AA. I have no god or even a concept of any higher being whatsoever.
I do have a strong will and what i have learned already is drink is poison i want to be free of any poison.
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Approach, principles, and methods:
https://www.smartrecovery.org/about-us/
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
(I did have an edible beforehand.)
During the evening, my mom came up to me with a glass of red in her hand, and leaned in to say something.
I got a whiff of that wine - so distinctive! - and it brought back such a flood of memories and associations. It continually surprises and amazes me, how powerful the olfactory sense is on the mind and recollections. It was just this...whoosh of emotions. And it was alright.
Rob, congratulations on over a month (?) now without alcohol.
And Wob, best of luck tomorrow. I told my husband that Super Bowl Sunday must be the largest annual ingestion of beer
You may be like the dog in Vacation, tied to it and dragged along, or keep huffing away to keep up with it. But you're still bound to it.
For life.
Thank goodness we can laugh about this shit.
JFC. I sure could have used a few Crown Royals last night. MFer.
www.headstonesband.com
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Somewhat related, we just watched a documentary film on youtube about Missio. They were one of the bands whose lyrics about sobriety really helped me (Middle Fingers, Rad Drugz). Well, one member, supposedly clean for a while now, confessed he couldn't remember the last time he was sober. He's been getting fucked up regularly all this time, and no one knew - not even his musical partner/brother.
It so disappointed me (and coincidentally or not, I became extremely nauseous after that part), and made me feel for the weight of his guilt in lying to so many, including those like me who have taken comfort and inspiration from them.
Then again, the music itself helped me; that doesn't change, thankfully.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
And kudos to all who've been able to abstain during one of the world's shakiest times.