The hardest time to be sober? Not at all.

31Dec08

Will it be hard for me, newly sober, not to drink on New Year’s Eve? Nope. My friends have asked me, and I’ve told them that.
It’s just one night of celebrations, which many people think is silly and overrated anyway.  Thankfully, there are now plenty of organized alternatives to getting blottoed. For example, lots of [...]

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Tags: AA, AA meeting, AA sponsor, alcohol abuse, alcohol-free New Year's, alcoholic, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, celebrating without alcohol, First Night, getting sober, New Year's Eve, newly sober, not drinking on New Year's Eve, recovery, sobriety, staying sober

Sobriety Haiku (Sobraiku) #1

30Dec08

almost Times Square time

fizzy drinks without ferment

my first fresh new year

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Tags: alcohol abuse, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, haiku, New Year's Eve, not drinking, not drinking on New Year's, recovery, sober on New Year's, sobriety

A gift that’s meant to be regifted.

25Dec08

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
It made me happy to stay up late wrapping presents, setting out Santa’s cookies and carrots for his reindeer.
It had me waking up early, hangover-free, and ready to face a crisp, cool Christmas day.
It’s brought me some nice new friends, a new appreciation for my old ones, and a [...]

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Tags: AA, alcohol abuse, Alcoholics Anonymouse, alcoholism, Christmas gift, first AA meeting, getting sober, New Year's resolutions, recovery, regifting, sobriety

A designated gift.

24Dec08

When I think of all the times in my alcoholic career that I drove while buzzed or flat-out drunk, I am ashamed — and amazed. Thank God/heavens/My Higher Power that nothing more horrible than a dented Volvo ever came of those wild rides. Now that I’m sober, I feel I have an opportunity to [...]

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Tags: AA, alcohol abuse, alcoholic, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, designated driver, drunk driving, drunk driving arrests, gift

AA chips: Collect them all!

18Dec08

On Tuesday, I went to an AA meeting and collected this chip to mark my second month of sobriety — 60 days of not drinking.
When I type that, the length of time seems so…short…minor…insignificant. Yet it also seems huge, and like an eternity.
At this particular AA group (one of several I attend), each person who [...]

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Tags: AA, AA 2-month chip, AA birthday, AA chips, AA meeting, alcohol-free, alcoholics, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, milestone, not drinking, recovery, sobriety, sobriety birthday, sobriety date

“The Office”: alcoholism = funny!

14Dec08

I love NBC’s “The Office.” And this Thursday’s show had me laughing out loud.
If you’re not a fan, I won’t try to defend the show to you. You either get it, or you don’t. For the writers, no subject is too taboo for source material: Homosexuality. Racism. Sexual discrimination. Cancer. Obesity. Even alcoholism, which just [...]

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Tags: alcohol humor, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, alcoholism is funny, card-carrying alcoholic, chocoholic, Dunder Mifflin, Dunder Mifflin Christmas party, Dunder Mifflin shotglasses, getting drunk, getting drunk during office parties, getting sober, humor, intervention, Meredith, Moroccan Christmas, NBC comedy, office humor, office parties, recovery, sobriety, The Office, The Office Christmas party

What’s yer poison?

12Dec08

I have a dear friend who discovered she had celiac disease about two years ago. If you’re not familiar with the disease, those who have it can’t eat anything that contains gluten — a protein in wheat, barley and rye.
Their bodies can’t process the protein and have an abnormal immune reaction, and this can lead to [...]

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Tags: AA, alcohol-free, alcoholic, alcoholics, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, avoiding alcohol, celiac disease, first days of sobriety, gluten-free, not drinking, recovery, sobriety

Bubbly for baby?

08Dec08

Today I was listening to an interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Wall Street Journal “Tastings” columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, a husband-and-wife team of oenophiles.
It was interesting listening, especially for a gal who loves — make that used to love — her wine.
As the story turned to a discussion of holiday bubbly, [...]

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Tags: adult children of alcholics, alcohol, alcoholism, bubbly, celebrating with alcohol, celebrations, champagne, children of alcoholics, drinking, French traditions, holidays, not drinking, oenophiles, recovery, sobriety, wine lovers, wine tasting

Booze, regifted.

07Dec08

Behold the contents of my gift bag from our tv commercial production company: A big-ass bottle of vodka, a fancy bottle of wine, snacks and magazines.
Each of the four people from our agency found the same thing waiting for them at the hotel concierge desk on Monday.
Not to look a gift horse in the [...]

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Tags: AA, advertising, alcoholic, alcoholics, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, booze, drinking, gift bag, hotel stays, not drinking, recovery, regifting, sober travel, sobriety, traveling while sober, tv commercial production

Thoughts on boats and Frank.

03Dec08

Last night, prior to going to dinner with our production company, I took a good walk along the marina and over to the community center where I wanted to attend a 6:45 AA meeting this morning. When I got back to the hotel, I rested out by the water for a bit, breathing in [...]

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Tags: AA, AA meeting, alcoholic, alcoholics, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, dealing, drinking triggers, getting sober, recovery, serenity prayer, sober travel, sobriety, staying sober, travel