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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Dec 25, 2010 - 12:27am PT
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I committed the dreadful faux pas of offering Largo a beer at the FaceLift a year ago. Just being sociable, not knowing any better, thinking it was polite to offer speakers something to drink. He was quite nice about it, and ended up with orange juice in one of the FaceLift glasses.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Dec 25, 2010 - 02:46am PT
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. I was out with Largo, Dwight and friends one evening a while back, and while we tossed back Black and Tans, John had a diet coke. I could tell he was mildly uncomforatble, but he was tough.
----
I was mildly uncomfortable but it had nothing to with folks drinking around me. It doesn't bother me at all and I have no more temptation to drink than I have to jump off the visor on Half Dome - which would amount to the same thing. My compulsion to drink is over, but I know it can come back if I don't work a program. But it's a falacy that all of us lushes just sit around pining over the drink we cannot have. I rarely if ever even think about drinking. It got real bad for me at the end, including drinking in the morning and even when I woke up at night. I'd wake up thinking about the next drink. Can't go back there, ever.
JL
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Plaidman
Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Dec 25, 2010 - 11:29am PT
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Totally with you Largo. I got tired of paying consequences. I tried to quit without working a program and all it did was get me to a point where mentally the bottom dropped out. Literally had a psychic break. Scared the hell out of me. I ended up in the hospital. I worked the program to get that psychic rearrangement. It's been 25 yrs now. I don't miss it either. I never want to go back. EVER!! It is God that stands between me and that drink. I just don't do anything stupid like take that first drink and do the next right thing. I am at peace with myself and the world. I try not to take myself to seriously and am my own best friend. I even laugh at my own jokes. Merry Christmas!
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Dec 25, 2010 - 12:24pm PT
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Sobriety needs you.
Damn. I wish I could drink Diet Cokes like Largo. I love the flavor but I'd be up all night twitching.
A tumbler with a bubbling water and a twist and I look like I'm sucking down a gin and tonic or some such. Makes me look sophisticated. Plus it lets me yuck it up with those around me who can drink like normal people. Those normal people fcukers can drink half a beer and leave the half empty bottle on the bar. What's up with that?
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Robb
Social climber
The other "Magic City on the Plains"
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Dec 25, 2010 - 01:53pm PT
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Good thread-very practical and close to home for many of us here. In the event that any of you need further convinsing to quit we buried my older brother this year (cancer). This was due directly to his relapse (w/ alcohol and then smoking) after he had been sober for many years. Quit now-don't look back.
A day at a time guys, one day at a time.
Robb
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Dec 25, 2010 - 02:24pm PT
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"Those normal people fcukers can drink half a beer and leave the half empty bottle on the bar. What's up with that?"
It's not normal.....
....for us alcoholics!
I'm so grateful that, like some above, the desire to have a drink has been eliminated. In 14 years, 4 months, I have never had so much as a glimmer.
Drunk dreams, where I realize(in the dream) that I have been drinking/smoking pot all along and for some reason hadn't made the connection that I was not sober - I'[ve sure had those. I remember the awful feelings I had waking up the first time, at maybe 6 months clean. What a relief to go over - painstakingly - in my morning-befuddled head, to account for my last several hours and come up....clean. But they sure are confusing dreams when you're in the middle of them!
I'm also grateful, as also mentioned above, that I don't believe I am immune to a relapse, and that one *intentional drink can(and probably will) deposit me right where I left off(well, worse, actually, since I had a profession that would support me, even in drinking, when I quit. Not so, today - my life DEPENDS on sobriety!
* I highlight the word "intentional" because it is sometimes an issue that comes up for those new to sober living. Having someone hand you, accidentally or on purpose, a drink with alcohol - taking a sip, or even a few drinks, and realizing "GAHHHH! Booze!" and putting it down is NOT a relapse. Having the realization, and continuing to drink it... unfortunately has been the mode of relapse to many. Unfair perhaps, but there it is. The lucky ones will wake up soon after and make a new run for life without the alcohol. So many are unlucky, though, and the suffering continues.
Happy HOlidays Everyone - Remember to HAVE FUN - and Keep It Clean!
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Dec 25, 2010 - 08:28pm PT
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i got clean hands.
you see.
my mind though, is incredibly dirty.
for my twisted and incredulous realities
iron out the straight road as prescribed by my sister's religions
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H
Mountain climber
there and back again
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Dec 25, 2010 - 09:50pm PT
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This is a tricky time of year for some folk. My partner drinks and my son really drinks and smokes. But I am powerless over alcohol not just mine but others too. My hat is off to anyone working with it. All the best to all of us doing something about a life threatening problem.
Jaybro, right-on for putting it out there. Let me know if I can be there for you. Looks like we have even more in common than I thought. Happy and sober holidays.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 25, 2010 - 10:52pm PT
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Thanks for all the profiles in courage, here.
My friends, I hope the very best for you as the days grow longer and sunnier, one day at a time.
Rick
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Plaidman
Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Dec 26, 2010 - 01:18am PT
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Those normal people fcukers can drink half a beer and leave the half empty bottle on the bar. What's up with that?
No, it's really f&%#ed up! I can't leave half of anything on a counter. Snickers bar or bag a chips. If it's open, it needs to be gone. Working on that one too. That's what made me such a good drunk. I was a human garbage can. If it got me f@#$ed up I would indulged to the nth degree. If I didn't get something to stand in the gap for me, I would have been screwed. I thank my God every day for a new lease on life. I ain't so religious, just tapped the great spirit of the universe. It works good, so I don't question much anymore.
Drunk dreams,
Had a few of those too. Really scary. But the worst one I had recently wasn't about drinking. After getting blown off The Nose this fall I dreamt that I left The Valley and left all my gear on purpose. I arrived home and was explaining to my wife where all my gear was. I woke up in the middle of that shaking. It really freaked me out.
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joe boy
Trad climber
california
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Dec 28, 2010 - 09:58am PT
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I like this thread, I've been sober for 11 years. Wake up every morning, thanking my higher power for another morning not wanting a drink
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Dec 28, 2010 - 11:30am PT
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I had a drunk and climbing dream last night. Scary shiz thinking I actually would have once thought the dream might have been a real adventure for the ages.
I woke up grateful and looking forward to the 8-12" of new snow forecast for the local hill and looking forward to the local crags melting and the MTB trails drying out.
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Mark Not-circlehead
climber
Martinez, CA
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Dec 28, 2010 - 12:58pm PT
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This coming April will be my 11th year of sobriety (and almost two years of not smoking).
When I was living in and hanging around the valley in the early 90's, I spent more time at the deli than i did climbing.....alll because of booze.
These days i dream of what I could do if i had that kind of time available to me again. I kick myself now for squandering it.
For those recently sober: Keep it up, no matter what you have to do. It definitly gets easier, and life gets better!!
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Dec 28, 2010 - 01:13pm PT
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Great thread here. Congradulations to all who weathered the holiday, sober.
I turned 26 on the 20th of this month, and at 51 years young, it is all too important to stay that way. Awoke this morning a blank slate, did my 11th work, and so far so good. What a life, some climbing this morning with my regular free partner, and be of service when the opportunity arises.
I was able to call my prospective partner for an upcoming winter walling trip, and be totaly honest with him. If he cannot follow any faster, that it just isn't a good idea to procede. That and the fact that Zion is so wet, still. I was so looking forward to a couple of nice lines too.
My wife and son played a pretty funny joke on my eldest daughter, concerning my sobriety, she has never seen me drunk, and cannot fathom me doing anything to jepordize my sobriety. With "medical Marijuana" such the rage here, they were able to convince her that her "Dad" was out in the garage medicating, all legal and all. I was smoking a roll yer own ciggarette, so the photo they tested just convinced her more. She actually got really pissed off that her brother was able to partake with dad, before she did. The youngest daughter laughed and discredited the scam on my oldest daughters Facebook today though. Too bad, I have been laughing about it for two days now. I know, that's over the sick sense of humor line, but hey, there is a step for that, too.
I hope those seeking relief find their way.
Burly Bob
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Johnny K.
Mountain climber
Southern,California
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Jan 23, 2011 - 11:46am PT
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Congrats Hank!Keep it strong!
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Bequita
climber
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Feb 24, 2011 - 10:32am PT
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Nice work Hankster, keep it up!!
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Feb 24, 2011 - 11:40am PT
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BANG! Good work.
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Feb 24, 2011 - 12:03pm PT
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Nice Hankster, keep it up!
Burly Bob
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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Feb 24, 2011 - 12:06pm PT
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Good luck, Hank, I'm rooting for you.
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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Feb 24, 2011 - 12:52pm PT
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Nice job, Hank! I hit eight months next Tuesday.
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