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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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AMA: I haven't had any alcohol in 31 days.
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:35 PM
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I stopped drinking a few days before new years day. I think. I may not have had any alcohol even before that. Even if I did, it may have only been a beer or two. I didn't drink much in December. With no other symptoms, I got it into my head my liver was swelling up, but it turns out I think it was just how I was slumped over on the couch watching TV.
The first week not drinking and I was consciously thinking about not drinking, I was bored out of my mind. I still kinda am, but now I just watch a lot of dumb movies and apply for jobs, so that kills some time.
Never had any cravings for alcohol, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it--I enjoy drinking. I was a little anxious the first week or so I think. But I don't miss the hangovers. And it's not like now I'm getting up on Saturdays at 7 am and doing anything productive; its been cold and rainy every weekend except this weekend since Late Dec/Early Jan. I'm still sleeping until 10 and then sitting around watching TV for a while; I just don't feel bad while doing it.
Since I went cold turkey, one oddity I didn't expect is that my once Swiss clock like precision BM's have shifted now to "maybe today, and if not today, maybe tomorrow sometime between 12 Am and 12 PM". Which is weird. I also haven't lost one ounce of weight that I can tell.
I sleep a little better, so that's been a positive. But I just go to bed earlier because I'm bored out of my mind, so that may not have anything to do with alcohol at all. I can sleep on command for as long as I have time available, so I can't really count this as a win.
This is probably the 20th time I've quit drinking in my life, ranging from 3 weeks to about 8 months. I'm 31 days in this time, and for the 20th time, I don't notice any feeling of how much better I feel, or how great life is, or much weight I've lost, or how much money I've saved...or anything. My mood is probably more constant--constantly bad, because I hate winter and now have non-distracted time to sit around and think about it. I think I have seasonal depression.
I think I've saved some money because I'm not Ubering anywhere, but I'll bedamned if I can see it in my bank account. All I can figure is that the people who quit drinking and noticed all that stuff like that they say happens must have really had a drinking problem, and mine wasn't as bad as I thought.
Also, I learned "alcoholism" as a term is now apparently verboten, and replaced with "alcohol use disorder", and it's on a binary scale. If you drink anything--you have it, and there are 3 degrees to having it. And everything bad in life is caused by it--if you drink anything. I guess for whatever reason people are trying to de-normalize drinking, which for some I guess is a good thing. For others, it's just calling them names that don't really fit.
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All-In [27154]
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I'd reflect on the benefits to your liver and cutting alcohol-related cancer
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:38 PM
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risks. I will miss those late night drunk dong pics. But...proud of ya buddy.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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I can still send you some if you like.
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:41 PM
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We're all gonna die from something.
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All-TigerNet [11211]
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Good on ya, mate.
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:46 PM
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I was on the wagon for most of January…til frickin’ Mardi Gras season hit. First ball, we were all standing around in white tie and tails and I was the only dork without a drank in my hand, plus the music sucked. I caved.
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Oculus Spirit [97764]
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I grew up hearing the term "functional alcoholic".
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:51 PM
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I may be one of these. I drink probably 5 days a week, maybe 6. BUT, I only have one or two drinks, never more. Two will usually get me a slight buzz. But not drunk by any means. Never drink enough for hangovers. Sleep like a baby most nights, although I tend to wake up every night somewhere between 1am and 3am. Usually go back to sleep within 30 minutes. My "drinks" are a standard 1.5oz, so that's 3oz on a good night, or I guess a top of 15oz a week. That's roughly 2 gallons a year, or so.
Not sure what this makes me. But I do enjoy the relaxation it affords, without getting drunk or having hangovers. Never understood how people could drink 4, 5, 6 drinks a night every night. Hope I never get to that level, but anyway. I've had periods of many months without drinking. Also did not notice any major improvements, although I did lose some weight I guess.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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You have mild alcohol use disorder.
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:01 PM
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Congrats!
But you'd have that if you had one drink every 2 weeks, too.
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Orange Blooded [4616]
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Same here - I started collecting bourbon last year, got about 40 bottles
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:27 PM
[ in reply to I grew up hearing the term "functional alcoholic". ] |
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probably 30 of them open - so, I try to drink one 1.5oz pour every night so as not to waste them, haha. Only time I drink more is if I'm out with other people...
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Heisman Winner [138011]
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That's kinda my strategy. I have 40 or 50 opens, but it's a rarity
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:32 PM
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to have more than 2 pours on a weeknight.
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CU Medallion [53289]
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Lot o points [155984]
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Good job (I guess? Sounds like it's due to choice and not issues anyway)
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Jan 29, 2024, 3:57 PM
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I quit for a year and my liver enzymes spiked to a number my doc didn't like. I told him I had quit altogether and he said I should resume drinking in moderation (like I had before---I wasn't 7spots/Levon or anything). Magically, my liver numbers got back in the healthy range. I'll never quit again.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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Thanks
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:06 PM
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Yeah, it was 100% by choice. I mean I didn't go to the doctor, so I guess it was.
I say that every time I quit drinking because I realize 2 weeks into not drinking that apparently I'm not as bad as what I believe whatever I read/saw that made me think I need to stop to begin with.
The big saying now is "No level of alcohol consumption is safe when it comes to human health" (at least according to a WHO statement released in January, 2023). I'm not sure how or why we got here, but comparatively, there is also no safe bicycle ride, or drive to the store, or walk in my hallway to get to my couch, either. There is a definite, non-zero chance anything will kill me. And at some point, something will.
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Oculus Spirit [93703]
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That's a good start.
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:23 PM
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I believe if you can drink a beer or two, months apart with longing for it in between you've kicked beer's butt.
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Heisman Winner [138011]
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Quitter. Haha, just kiddin. But in all seriousness,
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:24 PM
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quitter.
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Lot o points [181042]
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I quit for eight and a half years once.
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:32 PM
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It was groce.
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Lot o points [163012]
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Just curious, how many times after drinking would you have a hangover?
Jan 29, 2024, 4:40 PM
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I picked that up as at least one thing positive you have from not drinking.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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Once every couple weeks I guess?***
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:49 PM
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Heisman Winner [138011]
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I made it to just over 70 days without drinking.
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:55 PM
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Not in a row or anything, but still, that's pretty good.
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Lot o points [155984]
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Mitch?***
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:01 PM
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Heisman Winner [138011]
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I don't remember, but definitely Junge-recycled material.***
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:30 PM
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All-In [40353]
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congarts and welcome to the "dark" side
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Jan 29, 2024, 4:55 PM
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the boredom fades so does the thinking about not drinking do you weigh yourself? better sleep is a huge perk money is being saved. Those couple/few beers at Shelter add up. Buying for home consumption does as well
I find all of the terms a little silly. Like, I had some health issues and had to hang it up. Alocholic? By every metric, but that has a bad connotation. For me personally, I don't choose to use the word sober. I don't drink, but I feel like sober has a weird connotation as well. I don't want my whole identity to be based on not drinking. I'm just a dude that chooses to not participate. I don't judge, I don't hate, I don't really care what others do in terms of drinking so long as it's not illegal and/or dangerous.
I've said it numerous times, it's only awkward to drink around me if YOU make it awkward
I raise a Cherry Coke to you, Mr I haven't drank in 31 or more days!
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CU Medallion [56106]
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Re: AMA: I haven't had any alcohol in 31 days.
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:05 PM
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Lot o points [181042]
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Found your beer.
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:20 PM
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All-In [40941]
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Good for you. I stopped
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:07 PM
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12,650 days ago, and I still remember day 30.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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I dunno if I'll stop forever.
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:59 PM
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I can't tell much difference right now. If I can't find a good reason to continue to avoid doing something I really enjoy, I probably won't stop.
I feel like I've just taken away another part of life that I really enjoyed. Honestly, it kinda reminds me when I went all Dave Ramsey and sold everything, including my boat, to get out of debt. So there I was, wondering why i was working a job I wasn't in love with, so I could just not have debt. So then i started thinking about how I could just get a bartending gig to pay the rent and whatever I needed to eat, and then, even how much time I'd have to do that. I was about 29, and had zero plan because I was out of debt.
I often wonder what would have happened if I had not continued in my career and just started back bartending again at 30.
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Oculus Spirit [76361]
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Have you been to a meeting?
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:16 PM
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I’m not some meeting advocate but it can help with this dry drunk phase.
Or F meetings and who needs them? All paths to recovery
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Lot o points [181042]
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Certainly some interesting characters at them.***
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:22 PM
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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No man...I'm not going to any meetings.
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:54 PM
[ in reply to Have you been to a meeting? ] |
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I'm not sure why I would go to one. Listening to someone's story about how they effed their life up by drinking too much won't help me. I've effed my life up by being way to conservative for most of it, and doing all the boring stiff stuff people said someone should do.
Got any support groups for people who effed their life up by staying at one job too long, and not saying eff it all and moving to the Keys, or ex patting it in the Bahamas? That one I might be interested in.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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I had to look up "dry drunk"
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Jan 29, 2024, 8:05 PM
[ in reply to Have you been to a meeting? ] |
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Here's what google says that means:
"Sobriety is different than recovery. Dry drunk syndrome is also referred to as "white-knuckling." If you're not drinking but you're still on edge or craving alcohol but not getting treatment, you may be experiencing this. You may still be struggling with the emotional and psychological issues that led you to drink.
If you're in sobriety but not recovery, you may be at risk for developing another addiction. If you haven't dealt with your underlying issues, you may substitute one addiction for another. Dry drunk syndrome may also be part of post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), which is when withdrawal symptoms last longer than expected. This is also known as protracted withdrawal. "
I'm not sure that really describes me; I'm not craving alcohol. I never really have. This seems to go along the same lines as the "Alcohol use disorder" description I mentioned that basically says if you drink anything...you have a problem. I'm not sure I believe that.
I think everybody has issues, diagnosed or not. Alcohol might exasperate them, or it might not. I'm not sure how I feel about being called a "dry drunk". I gotta think on that for a bit.
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Heisman Winner [119769]
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You probably dont wanna hear this, but
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Jan 29, 2024, 5:29 PM
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Moderation in All Things 😎
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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Moderation in everything...even moderation***
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Jan 29, 2024, 7:50 PM
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Asst Coach [701]
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Re: Moderation in everything...even moderation***
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Jan 29, 2024, 10:54 PM
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Sounds like this thread is a good substitute for a "Meeting" of social drinkers. Sooooo, I was only a beer drinker for many years and didn't really drink anything more potent. Also a jogger/runner so i told myself a little (or lot) of beer was ok. About 8 years ago i got hooked up with a few bourbon/gin/vodka drinking guys on quarterly golf trips and switched to their favorite beverages to fit in. Problem is i started drinking up to 8-12 ounces most nights at home too. So far the only downside is a fatty liver which can lead to worse conditions of course. Or maybe i would have a fatty liver anyway. I usually cut back for awhile before seeing the doc for liver and other tests but don't think he's fooled at all. Anyway, i've only had a couple stiff drinks in January and and even bought some beer as a substitute but don't really care for it anymore. It may expire in my fridge. I think i'll just buy the good stuff for golf trips and not keep it around home. I just turned 75 so i'm not gonna worry about it too much. But the absolute worst habit i ever kicked was smoking. Started 1970 Quit 1976 No doubt would have been been dead by now. Started running and quit cigarettes over several months. My last CARTON cost $4.00. Good luck to ya'll.
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Oculus Spirit [81078]
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If I was 75, I'd prob be talking about all the additional drugs I'm doing
Jan 30, 2024, 9:12 AM
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that I never did, because what am I waiting for? Thats kinda my plan.
But if you're trying to cut back from drinking, I hope you do and that works best for you.
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CU Guru [1514]
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Re: AMA: I haven't had any alcohol in 31 days.
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Jan 29, 2024, 10:11 PM
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I am happy for you. I lost a very dear friend, since childhood, to alcoholism. You say you're not really an alcoholic, but when drinking becomes an addiction bad things are sure to happen.
As to weight loss and feeling better, I quit dipping in November after many years. Quitting saw me gain weight and the promised better sleep hasn't materialized, I noticed just last week that my sense of smell has improved. Almost 3 months in and my daily fits are fewer and farther apart. They are also not as intense. All to say, don't give up, the benefits will be realized.
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110%er [6402]
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Re: AMA: I haven't had any alcohol in 31 days.
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Jan 29, 2024, 11:05 PM
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I ain't disparaging a few days of self-flagellating sobriety here and there, but wine-sippin' Christ on a martini stirrer! A couple pints of good brew a night never hurt nobody weren't gonna hurt themselves anyway. Plus, it affords a little break from this bound-for-dust, paint-by-numbers life we live.
Makes for good sleeping too.
Prost!
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Orange Blooded [3720]
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No alcohol since Saturday for me
Jan 30, 2024, 9:20 AM
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but that's every week. I just almost never drink on weekdays, need a clear head. That being said, on the weekends (usually only one of the two days), I drink really a lot. Is that bad? Drink to get hammered then back off the booze for another week
Props to you for 31 days, to each their own, and I hope whichever amount of alcohol you choose, it makes you happy
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