April Fools Weekender 31st March - 2nd April
saoutchik
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 16,187
April Fools Weekender 31st March - 2nd April
Not drinking or taking drugs over the weekend. What kind of spoilsport thinks this is a good idea? We may well have been working hard all week but now it is time to let our hair down, to socialise, to be more confident with the opposite (or maybe the same) sex. to PARTY!
On the face of it that sounds perfectly reasonable and I expect that once upon a time that was the reality for us. Some decades ago it was even true of me.
The thing is, if you are reading this post, I doubt that scenario is accurate any more. In my case my addiction had progressed to the point where most of my drinking was done at home, alone. If I did go out on a Friday evening for example it would be with drinking buddies only and I would drink a lot of beer. Then I would go home, break out the scotch whiskey and the serious drinking would start.
I would black out, sometimes on the sofa, sometimes in bed, almost always fully clothed. Frequently I would break things like pairs of glasses, TV remotes or crockery by rolling on them. Sometimes I would hurt myself. A few hours later I would wake up in pain and hating myself.
If I was still drinking I am by no means certain that I would still be alive. Assuming that I was then this Saturday I would be "waking up" (I use the term loosely) on April Fools Day which is apt.
If your weekends ever bore a passing resemblance to mine then there really is nothing to lose anymore, it is all positives.
Giving up is hard, obviously. Few of us succeed at the very first attempt but if we don't try then we really are April Fools.
On the face of it that sounds perfectly reasonable and I expect that once upon a time that was the reality for us. Some decades ago it was even true of me.
The thing is, if you are reading this post, I doubt that scenario is accurate any more. In my case my addiction had progressed to the point where most of my drinking was done at home, alone. If I did go out on a Friday evening for example it would be with drinking buddies only and I would drink a lot of beer. Then I would go home, break out the scotch whiskey and the serious drinking would start.
I would black out, sometimes on the sofa, sometimes in bed, almost always fully clothed. Frequently I would break things like pairs of glasses, TV remotes or crockery by rolling on them. Sometimes I would hurt myself. A few hours later I would wake up in pain and hating myself.
If I was still drinking I am by no means certain that I would still be alive. Assuming that I was then this Saturday I would be "waking up" (I use the term loosely) on April Fools Day which is apt.
If your weekends ever bore a passing resemblance to mine then there really is nothing to lose anymore, it is all positives.
Giving up is hard, obviously. Few of us succeed at the very first attempt but if we don't try then we really are April Fools.
Mini Novel Post Writer
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,649
Sorry, had to get that posted before embarking on one of my short novels that would have made me miss it. 
Thanks for the starter post Sao and a gentle reminder of what life was also like for me. I had stated in the last weekender thread that my party is now my quiet mornings with coffee and it's better than any of my late nights being an a&%, most of which I never even remembered. I don't miss any of it. The inner grinding all week long waiting to get to that drink. The more more more feeling once I took that first sip. The aftermath of whatever my actions during my blackout caused. Waking up in the morning and feeling that dull roar in my head, my heart pounding ninety miles an hour, and my stomach turning. Wow, what fun. I am so grateful those days are over and I never have to worry about it again.
Well, here is spring and the snow is melting. Oops, wait a minute, in this state anything is possible. Looks like a whole lot of snow forecasted for Friday night into Saturday. Possibly over 10 inches. YUCK. Some think it's an April Fools joke. In consulting the National Weather Service site looks like it's true.
April the giraffe is still pregnant but word is the calf should be born at any given time now.
I am in for the weekender and looking forward to a productive, hangover free weekend with all you fine people
Thanks for the starter post Sao and a gentle reminder of what life was also like for me. I had stated in the last weekender thread that my party is now my quiet mornings with coffee and it's better than any of my late nights being an a&%, most of which I never even remembered. I don't miss any of it. The inner grinding all week long waiting to get to that drink. The more more more feeling once I took that first sip. The aftermath of whatever my actions during my blackout caused. Waking up in the morning and feeling that dull roar in my head, my heart pounding ninety miles an hour, and my stomach turning. Wow, what fun. I am so grateful those days are over and I never have to worry about it again.
Well, here is spring and the snow is melting. Oops, wait a minute, in this state anything is possible. Looks like a whole lot of snow forecasted for Friday night into Saturday. Possibly over 10 inches. YUCK. Some think it's an April Fools joke. In consulting the National Weather Service site looks like it's true.
April the giraffe is still pregnant but word is the calf should be born at any given time now.
I am in for the weekender and looking forward to a productive, hangover free weekend with all you fine people
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Reality
Posts: 491
Day ten here and I am in and trying to survive the weekend.
I have a plan no great but I can add on. Im struggling with jealousy. Some people will be promoted at work and I won't. That's I trigger for me, all the things I want but cannot get. Very uncomfortable and I need to watch out and remove myself of the situation because this will get me drinking in a second. I already have cravings just writing about it at 7 in the morning ahhh.
Talk soon weekenders off to work.
I have a plan no great but I can add on. Im struggling with jealousy. Some people will be promoted at work and I won't. That's I trigger for me, all the things I want but cannot get. Very uncomfortable and I need to watch out and remove myself of the situation because this will get me drinking in a second. I already have cravings just writing about it at 7 in the morning ahhh.
Talk soon weekenders off to work.
Sober since October
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In the world in my eyes...Somewhere I've never been before...
Posts: 7,355
I am in!
Thank you, Sao, for another profound intro.
I replayed this scenario way too often.
Overindulging on Friday. Falling asleep with my clothes on. Waking up in the middle of the night feeling like crap and anxious. TV and lights on. Empty bottle of wine on the floor beside my bed.
No, thanks.
There are so many things to do on Friday night - they are just hidden beneath the drinking fog.
Have a great day, weekenders.
Thank you, Sao, for another profound intro.
I replayed this scenario way too often.
Overindulging on Friday. Falling asleep with my clothes on. Waking up in the middle of the night feeling like crap and anxious. TV and lights on. Empty bottle of wine on the floor beside my bed.
No, thanks.
There are so many things to do on Friday night - they are just hidden beneath the drinking fog.
Have a great day, weekenders.
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Originally Posted by Solarion 
Still alive, though, so there's still hope!
Brief Rant:
Because I was sober I was able to open my own business about 23 months ago. (Tax prep and financial planning.) I kept my day job though. A lifeline to a well-paying job in case my business didn't make it.
Well, my business is making it. It's looking like I am going to be profitable this year. I had 300% growth since the first year. If I can get 50-100% growth next year I am sitting pretty.
Where's the rant, you ask? I am exhausted! I have cranked out 88 tax returns so far this year, with 40 more in the queue due by April 18. (And my phone just keeps ringing!) That's in my spare time around a 40-hour/week day job. I am essentially working all of my waking hours.
I told Mrs. Nons there is no way I am doing this again next tax season. I must quit my day job before then. Projecting a mid-November departure to full time at my own biz. Stressful and glorious all at the same time.
Real life really happening for real.
SR!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Ohio
Posts: 420
Morning, everyone! So happy spring is here. I planted a willow tree last summer and didn't think it was going to make it, but it is covered in flowers - makes me happy!
Need something to do with the kids today. They are off school for spring break.
Need something to do with the kids today. They are off school for spring break.
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,808
I'm in!
I'm not making a fool of myself this weekend with drinking, because I don't drink anymore.
Sao, your description of your drunken Friday evenings really struck a chord with me. I get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think back to how things used to be. I never ever want to go back there. Ever. Nothing good there for me.
I'm not making a fool of myself this weekend with drinking, because I don't drink anymore.
Sao, your description of your drunken Friday evenings really struck a chord with me. I get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think back to how things used to be. I never ever want to go back there. Ever. Nothing good there for me.
saoutchik
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 16,187
Nonsensical, thank you for a great post. I do remember when your business was in its first year. I am really pleased that it is going so well. You and your business (mostly you) are a great example of sobriety.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 292
Originally Posted by saoutchik
In my case my addiction had progressed to the point where most of my drinking was done at home, alone. If I did go out on a Friday evening for example it would be with drinking buddies only and I would drink a lot of beer. Then I would go home, break out the scotch whiskey and the serious drinking would start...I would black out, sometimes on the sofa, sometimes in bed, almost always fully clothed. Frequently I would break things like pairs of glasses, TV remotes or crockery by rolling on them. Sometimes I would hurt myself. A few hours later I would wake up in pain and hating myself.
I woke up on the floor Saturday morning many times, fully clothed with even my shoes on, TV on and blaring, balcony door open with air-conditioner blowing like mad, all the lights on. Oven on, "preheating" for 7 hours while a frozen pizza I had *intended* to cook & eat sits, fully thawed, on the counter.
So glad that routine isn't part of my life anymore. I don't necessarily love reminiscing about my tomfoolery, but remembering the insanity of what my life used to be -- and contrasting it with how much better my life is now in every way -- has been a pillar of my recovery.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
