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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Nov 21, 2011 - 03:43am PT
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I'm at about the 3.5 year mark now. It took me about 5 years of off and on to finally make it work. One thing I remember when trying to quit was the fear that life always sober would be a little boring or without color. That's not true at all, after finally sobering up I found a lot of satisfactions in things that I was just never getting around to when I was drinking.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Nov 21, 2011 - 05:43am PT
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Good job Mark! the one year is a bit tricky but hang in there is keeps getting easier as time goes by...
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Nov 21, 2011 - 05:54am PT
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hey jaybro,
im always goofing here.
for the being time i need no assistance
keeping on track.
i know where to go if i need help:
out my front door, left turn to the front range.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Nov 21, 2011 - 01:22pm PT
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I know you are, just checking.
Always waiting for your verse.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Nov 25, 2011 - 02:39pm PT
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Day after Turkey Day...anyone working off what they hope will be their last hangover?
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Nov 25, 2011 - 02:51pm PT
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made it thru T day,
next stop - xmas
then new years
49 ers playing christmas eve , life is semi cool.
remember, you can take Salem out of the country but...
you can't take the country out of Salem.
oh crap, i got post # 502.
watch your back.
the cops have no power unless you do something wrong.
keep them powerless.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Dec 24, 2011 - 04:02pm PT
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Brandon Bump(inside Taco joke)!
xmas eve - Be careful out there! Some suggestions for the newly sober(even if today is day 1, hour 1, minute 1)
If you will be around alcohol or people who cause stress(good or bad!):
 Be sure to eat - do NOT go to a party thinking you can hold off. Better to have food in you than to get there and have to fight the line for what ends up being a bowl full of chips and the dregs of some too-long-sitting dip!
Have some sweets stashed, in case you have cravings. A couple bite-sized candy bars or an apple can do wonders to stop the craving in it's tracks.
keep your non-alcoholic drink safely in sight. Don't put it down and come back. Like luggage in an airport, all little plastic cups look the same...
when someone asks if you'll have a drink, the correct answer may be "Yes, thank you! Do you have cranberry and seltzer?" A "drink" doesn't have to mean there is booze involved!
If you have a sober friend or two - have their numbers handy. Sneak a "Oh my f-ing god I cannot take another second of this" call in the bathroom if it gets difficult to stay straight.
To destress if the party is getting to be too much - You can always offer to give the dog a walk if you need to get out. Harried hosts will really appreciate that, as they probably know damned well Fido needs it, but cannot seem to get the time to do it. OR just go for a walk around the block! "Getting fresh air is COMPLETELY acceptable. If you need a rationale, you can say you are feeling drowsy and want to perk up.
It is OK to walk away. You have to know when to hold up, fold up, walk away - RUN. If everyone is getting plowed, get the hell out of dodge. You would be surprised how wonderful a piece of hot apple pie ala mode at the diner on a holiday can be. As they say in AA - the miracle can be found at the bottom of the coffee cup. They often refer to the ones at AA, or the diner with other AA's after a meeting, but I have the feeling it can be found at the bottom of the coffee cup that was poured by the waitress at the diner, working the holiday and maybe REALLY gald to have YOUR company....
AA IS there for you. You don't have to take it whole hog to take advantage. You can use it in a pinch. You can just "check a meeting out, just this once." You can even go to online meetings! Link: http://www.aaonline.net/
Best Wishes for a day Sober - Today - to all!
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Dec 24, 2011 - 04:14pm PT
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thanks for the bump happie!
If the craveings get too much go for the ice cream! serously a big part of the craveing is your body is used to a lot of sugar from the booze so ice cream works like a charm :)
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T2
climber
Cardiff by the sea
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Dec 24, 2011 - 04:29pm PT
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Seven years sober for me today.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Dec 24, 2011 - 04:32pm PT
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WOOT!
Both for 7 year annivirthday (I'm bicoastal, CA'ian AA's have birtdhays, east coasters anniversarys - hahaha)
And for ICE CREAM! mmmmmm
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kc
Trad climber
the cats
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:42am PT
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Did we lose Brandon?
Hang in there, buddy.
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Dec 25, 2011 - 11:13am PT
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Just celebrated 27 years on the 20th, by working hard all day. Wahooo.
Burly Bob
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:07pm PT
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Just returned from an AA Meditation meeting. Great to be sober.
Congrats to all my bros and sisters out there working the steps! W/out you I'm hosed.
JL
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:10pm PT
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Yay, T2! :-)
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:36pm PT
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Made it. Whew. SO wanted to get loaded.
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T2
climber
Cardiff by the sea
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:38pm PT
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Thanks Mellisa and Happiegrrrl :)
Nice work bvb I know the felling brother.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Dec 25, 2011 - 12:56pm PT
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XMas is always one of my toughest times.
I'm so grateful for sobriety today, here's to being sober tomorrow!
Thanks for the experience, strength and hope of others on this thread, some of whom may be heroes, but are really just alcoholics like me, who are just working to stay clean as well.
In six months it'll be 20 years for me. Who woulda thunk it?
There's some good sobriety here!
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Dec 25, 2011 - 07:10pm PT
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Coming home from a wonderful christmas with my sister and her inlaws I got to see two exteems. On one end A great family dynamic on a dairy farm where most everyone except gramps has their act pretty well together and everyone has a safe place to live. On the other end of the spectrum I stopped for gas driveing home and around the corner on the sidewalk of a closed store was a shitfaced homeless person smokeing a cigerete with nothing but a few plastic bags, a radio and a dirty blanket. It is full blown winter. Temps were in the teens and snowing. I bought him a cup of coffe mixed with hot cocco, and a cheeseburger. I also gave him my bag of christmas cookies.
There but for the grace of god go I.....
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Dec 25, 2011 - 07:21pm PT
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I;m sitting in the JT Saloon right now - drinking COFFEE!
I am so grateful to be one of the lucky ones. I haven't had any real craving for a drink since I went from saying(at meetings) "I'm Terrie and I'm an alcoholic, but I'm not sure I'm ready to quit yet" to "I'm Terrie and I'm an alcoholic." That was somewhere in the first 3 weeks, but I have no idea when! hahah
In these years, it has only occurred to me "I could drink" when I am hurting with a broken heart(and right now it is pretty hurting), but I have been aware that it is with a sort of an "And THEN they'll see!" mindset. Thank the Universe that my mind is clear enough to know....they won't see. They won't even think about it. I'll be back drinking, and they'll still be gone.
Still, I am aware - it is one day at a time, and all it takes is momentary lapse and - the drink is down and I'm no longer sober.
Best wishes for all those living a sober life, and also a spiritual hand outreached for those who are ready to put down the drink. We are here; join us!
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Dec 25, 2011 - 08:08pm PT
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You guys are awesome.
Thanks all for the kind and insightful words.
Christmas can be rough, it is for me this year.
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