JC, sounds like a hectic weekend! Enjoy the concert. When we went to see the Falls, we did it as part of a driving tour of that area ( originally we had intended to cross into Canada to drive back to the east coast, but had visa issues and were warned we might not get back! ) So, although we saw and enjoyed the falls, we didn't spent much time in the area. Trip advisor is good for side trips though.
Have a wonderful time.

The Canadian side of the Falls has most of the attractions. The US side is somewhat of an industrial wasteland. Skip by Buffalo, not much to see there. Enjoy your vacation!

Niagara Falls is extremely commercial, it's more an amusement park than a city but the falls are still very impressive!

If you have 100$, you could try a helicopter tour...that must be amazing!

http://i.imgur.com/n2ImopH.jpg

Have a fantastic trip JCNY!

http://i.imgur.com/qCfw9jx.jpg

Thanks guys. My wife booked the trip and wants to surprise me with the activities, but I know we're staying on the Canadian side. She asked me my weight and later ask me if I know why. I said maybe for a zip line and that the last time somebody asked me my weight is when I took a helicopter tour of the Grand Canynon. She then gave it away although I wasn't thinking helicopter at all. Should be fun!

Oh wow! I would have loved to do that, we did the maid of the mist boat trip which was awesome.

I was just there last month. Honestly just standing at the railing overlooking the falls is magnificent. If you want to go to a number of different venues you can buy a 24 hour hop on hop off bus pass for a few dollars. Then parking isn't an issue. Have fun :)

Good morning folks.

I'm sitting here enjoying the early summer morning looking out on my back yard from my sunroom with a coffee, a candle and all the furbabies. My daughter and granddaughter are still asleep and they head home this morning but we have had a wonderful visit this week. At almost nine months sober I was just reflecting on how much I enjoy my mornings spent just like this, and how rare that was when I was drinking because I would be too hungover to appreciate my surroundings. My life is so much more enjoyable as a non drinker, especially the simple pleasures. I just wish I would have figured that out years sooner. There's no point in wasting precious time on regrets; instead I feel a determination to make the most of whatever life still has in store for me.

Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday :)

Hi Helen, I've had the same feelings and thoughts about the peacefulness and simple pleasures of life I'm now capable of experiencing. I'm older and also beginning to experience deep regret for the years thrown away. I'm just dam grateful my drinking didn't lead me down darker holes. I have a family that helped keep me somewhat grounded but I was basically a zombie all those years while my kids grew up. I didn't bother to hold onto precious memories, it was more important to me to get home from the school plays and music recitals to start drinking than it was to be in the moment.

Wonderful and so true :) :) :)

Great Post Helen!

JCNY- I have been to both sides of the falls and it sure is beautiful!! Enjoy your vacation. I went to Shoshone falls this week. I will post a picture if I can.

Barbs- I am sure you will find the perfect puppy when the time is right. :)

Helen & STDragon - I am so glad you both are embracing and enjoying sobriety!! That turning of the corner is so crucial in staying sober for the long haul![IMG]s357.photobucket.com/user/middy1981/media/IMG_0159_zpscva6fh9f.jpg.html[/IMG]

Okay here is the picture of Shoshone Falls in Idaho. :)

JCNY - I've been to Niagara Falls 3 times now. Spent my honeymoon there. My husband and I are talking about returning for another trip in September to celebrate our 30th anniversary but haven't made any concrete plans yet. We always loved the Canadian side. So much going on and great views of the falls, but we did find some beautiful quiet spots in NY too.

Midwest - I'm trying to be patient about a puppy. I don't know how long I can wait. My husband is in need of a lift that only Lulu could provide :(
Shoshone Falls looks beautiful!

Helen - I'm glad your visit with your daughter and granddaughter was wonderful. Early mornings have always been my favorite time of the day. It's so wonderful to be up and feeling good to enjoy them these days :)

Thanks Midwest & Barbs. I'm not familiar with Shoshone Falls, but that picture is beautiful.

I just accidentally got a little grease from the barbecue on the comforter, I'm in the doghouse now! I hope everybody has a great day and week :)

Wonderful photo Mid, beautiful falls.

Barb, here we have something called 'Borrow my Doggy' so for people who can't have a dog for some reason, ( or aren't yet ready to invest the time and emotion on a new one) you can join an online site where you can put your name down as either walker or minder or holiday relief or any combination. You meet up with the owner and the dog first, see how you all get along, then if everyone is happy you become a part career in that dogs life. It's a great idea, I would imagine there is a similar thing there?

JC I am a klutz and was forever on the receiving end of a huff for whatever I'd done. But more and more, when hubby does something wrong ( like spilling a glass of red wine all over my ( fortunately red) sofa, I just tell him 'it's okay it was an accident. Accidents happen, let's just get it cleaned up.' The more I do that, the less I now get it in the neck when I make mistakes. It's also much better for my blood pressure not to get wound up over the little things. And let's face it, if grease on the comforter is the worst thing happening in your world right now? How lucky are you! If you aren't out the dog house soon, go visit Barb for a few treats!!! :lmao:

toots, "Borrow my Doggy" sounds wonderful. I will check out programs in my area. My husband's anxiety is creeping into deep depression, Lulu was his therapy.

Sounds like he needs another focus. Does he work? If not there are plenty of volunteer jobs going at rescue kennels etc. It would give him an outward focus and animal interaction.

toots, my husband is a life long workaholic . At the age of 57, I have finally been able to convince him to slow down a bit but he still works a good 70 hours a week. I have looked for programs like "borrow my dog" in my area but there are none to be found. I think I will try to convince him to stop in at the local animal shelter with me.

Sounds like a good idea Barbs - have a great weekend everyone :)

D

Hi everyone!

Barbs, where I live our local Humane Society will post online their pets available for adoption, like on Twitter, etc. Not sure if you've gone that route already, but it could give you an idea with photos and general info on the animals. Just a suggestion :)

I love those pictures! I've never given myself the chance to travel, being attached to that ball-and-chain for so many years.....I, too, am now a morning person which I NEVER thought would happen. It's pretty freaking awesome! :D

I hope everyone has a great, sober weekend!

I ditto that SG

Barb, you could maybe put an ad on Craigslist offering pet sitting/ walking?

Good morning folks.

Barbs I love that idea of volunteering at the Humane Society for your husband. Also, if you think he is settling into a deep depression, a doctor's visit may be in order.

I just got home from a week camping trip at a provincial park. It was hot and muggy with lots of mosquitos but we had a good time.

I was making a coffee in my kitchen tent yesterday morning and it was already hot in there when I was hit by the distant memory of waking up in a really hot tent with a massive hangover and the shame of having made a drunken a$$ out of myself the night before. This particular memory comes from maybe 35 years ago!

In all my years of drinking I would feel guilty not only when I had acted foolishly but again when remembering those times because I still drank and still acted foolishly. I had done nothing to change my behaviour moving forward.

As I sipped on my coffee yesterday looking around at the nearby campsites I felt proud that I could greet any of my neighbours with no need for shame or embarassment over my behaviour. Then I realized I was finally ready to forgive 20yo me and move on. This has to be one of the biggest gifts sobriety has given me.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Helen forgiveness is a huge step forward in recovery. We wake up clear headed in sobriety, with our shame and memories and regrets. It takes time to let go of all that. I firmly believe that, while I wished I hadn't spent so much of my time drunk, it has helped me to be understanding and non judgemental of others. So I must accept that though my past days days were not entirely productive, I no longer consider them wasted. I also accept that I made mistakes and have regrets, but even in my sobriety, I have made mistakes and have regrets.
I am not perfect. I will continue to make mistakes. It makes it easier, if I can forgive myself those mistakes, learn from them and move forward, to forgive others when they genuinely apologise.

Well put Toots. I am by no means where I want to be yet, I just like to think of myself as the new improved version 2.0! lol I have also been working on understanding and forgiveness of others, it's just taken me awhile to aim that at myself.

Puppy update - I didn't convince hubby to go to the local animal shelter but he did decide to check out local beagle breeders. It's a start.

Helen - I've been pushing him to go see the doctor for a physical (long past due) but our long time primary care physician, and dear friend, was just diagnosed with cancer and therefore has retired :( We will have to go to his associate which will be tough for hubby, he hates change.

Forgiveness - very well put Helen and toots! Thank you.

Self forgiveness is very difficult to wrap one's head around, especially drinking as many decades as I did. Helen, I love your 2.0 analogy. I think that describes us perfectly.

Taking a little break guys for a couple of days - just a little vacay :)

catch you on the flip side

D

Enjoy your time away Dee :)

Enjoy your vacation Dee!