Originally Posted by Gilmer
(Post 3828953)
But with the microbrew gang I can't stay, because the whole conversation is about glorifying the alcohol. But I am not going to become one of those folks that have seen the light and will try to drag everyone I suspect of having a problem to it. But as I am finding out here I am not alone in the particular area of alcoholism, I don't doubt for a second that someone I know from the scene is seeing the light. |
Originally Posted by 0percentABV
(Post 3828926)
Seems a new brewery is applying for a license every day. What was a some what tight knit community of beer geeks is now a metropolis of beer dorks. Seemed to happen overnight. I stop for 4 months and all of the sudden time passes and I was on the outside looking in. Granted I was a mess prior to that so I was probably oblivious to the fact that these are not my friends and I have no status. I am not a brewer, nor an an employee or anything besides a dude who loves beer and then when I really look back, I was a beer groupie. WTF? I should really just drop them. No offense but our common bond is no more. However, obsessing about the industry (complaining about it or otherwise) is an example of how you're hanging on to it. You have to let it go - the hardest thing for me - because you're just not going to participate anymore. It's over. Don't look at new crafters, don't worry about the bar that's replacing the old abandoned building in the renovated Mill District. Don't get frustrated that the hipsters are catching on to the fad....WIPE IT OFF YOUR CONCERNS! You no longer have the choice about whether or not to give a rat's ass. The craft beer industry needs to be pushed out of your interests. File it under worrying about the new ferret craze in Singapore - it's just not something to be concerned with or complain about. Good luck! |
"Craft beer" is a great cover. Crafting something sounds so...clever...so superior. What a perfect facade: The fine "art" of drinking. How very highbrow. LOL Personally I find the whole thing very pretentious. I just said this on another thread, but it applies here as well. Lipstick on a pig. Alcohol is alcohol and drinking is not a hobby. 0% I think it's very highly likely that many of the people you know from the industry drink like you did. |
Originally Posted by bigsombrero
(Post 3829290)
I am from Minneapolis, and live in Chicago. I know what you're talking about. However, obsessing about the industry (complaining about it or otherwise) is an example of how you're hanging on to it. You have to let it go - the hardest thing for me - because you're just not going to participate anymore. It's over. Don't look at new crafters, don't worry about the bar that's replacing the old abandoned building in the renovated Mill District. Don't get frustrated that the hipsters are catching on to the fad....WIPE IT OFF YOUR CONCERNS! You no longer have the choice about whether or not to give a rat's ass. The craft beer industry needs to be pushed out of your interests. File it under worrying about the new ferret craze in Singapore - it's just not something to be concerned with or complain about. Good luck! |
Hello & welcome (my fellow Minnesotan)! Thank you so much for being so open & sharing your story! Congrats on 16 days, something to be proud of! Keep coming back, keeps posting, keep sober! ~Peace, Jules |
Welcome. The closest thing I got to high alcohol percentage "beer" was finding out about "High Gravity" Old English. Ick. |
:welcome to the familly! :grouphug: |
Right now my motto is stay away, be friendly, but stay away and eventually time will pass and I will make new friends and life will go on for everyone. |
[QUOTE="0percentABV;3828779"] I am an alcoholic and no matter how much time passes I will always drink like that because that's how I drink. I crossed a line where I can't turn back. The good old days are over. /QUOTE] Wow. Your story really hit home. So many similarities to my own. Thanks for sharing. |
We're entertaining this weekend. My husband bought a big case of craft beer for everybody to drink (he doesn't drink out of solidarity to me). Furthermore, a couple is coming with two of those big jugs (I realize they have a proper name, but I don't remember it) of their home brewed beer. Fortunately, I'm really behind with my classwork, so I'll just go upstairs during the imbibing and conversing. I don't usually get ticked off or bitter anymore that I can't join in (But I'm feeling a little sour about it today). Aside from the fact that my preference would be for everybody to converse and guzzle till we were all bombed, I miss the "civilized old days," when I could tipple and chit-chat with the group. I stopped being civilized long ago, though. Please pray for me that I'd just grow a backbone and ignore it all and do my schoolwork in peace. |
You are right on many things and it looks like you're in a good spot to start. Be friendly, stay away, the 'good ol' days' are over. I just sold my last cool craft beer sign that was hanging in my apt this morning on craigslist, and gave away all my wine/martini glasses last week. For now it's all about untying myself from drink. Oh, and the 'good ol' days' aren't over. I am betting your years without alcohol will replace them in no time, you'll be happy to see how good the days are on this side of the fence. |
Originally Posted by 0percentABV
(Post 3829489)
Right now my motto is stay away, be friendly, but stay away and eventually time will pass and I will make new friends and life will go on for everyone. |
Originally Posted by bigsombrero
(Post 3830863)
I wish more people "new to the game" would read this and also start their quest for sobriety with this mantra. First things first, keeping it simple, etc. You are spot on! |
Originally Posted by Gilmer
(Post 3830785)
We're entertaining this weekend. My husband bought a big case of craft beer for everybody to drink (he doesn't drink out of solidarity to me). Furthermore, a couple is coming with two of those big jugs (I realize they have a proper name, but I don't remember it) of their home brewed beer. Fortunately, I'm really behind with my classwork, so I'll just go upstairs during the imbibing and conversing. I don't usually get ticked off or bitter anymore that I can't join in (But I'm feeling a little sour about it today). Aside from the fact that my preference would be for everybody to converse and guzzle till we were all bombed, I miss the "civilized old days," when I could tipple and chit-chat with the group. I stopped being civilized long ago, though. Please pray for me that I'd just grow a backbone and ignore it all and do my schoolwork in peace. And the word you are looking fir is "growlers." But thanks for playing "Name the Beer Geek Vessel" and we'll see you next time on Alcoholic Jeopardy. |
True. |
I wasn't a "beer snob" (mostly Miller products), but my life certainly revolved around it. I drank 12-18 beers a day, EVERY day (even more than that on the weekends) for 10 years and was a 2-3 times a week binger for the 20 years before that. Quitting was the best thing I've ever done. Living sober is SO MUCH better. I wish you well. |
And the word you are looking fir is "growlers." |
That's a new one--I'm sure my two teenage boys would love to hear it! |
Glad that you are here, you will get great support here. |
BOOM! One month down. Still, my record is 4 months but that's when I was just "taking a break" and "reevaluating myself" and "I'll be back." bigsombrero said something a few posts up about leaving the scene behind and he is right in many ways. For me not only the beer scene that I was involved in but also my relationship with alcohol. Those 4 months I had sober last year was in some ways a dry drunk. I was still immersed in that life and I was still mentally reliving my 20 year relationship with alcohol, mostly the good times because when you are newly sober and not fully committed and you feel good, you think about "celebrating." I was chomping at the bit to drink. I told myself 1 year sober. I lasted 4 months and after that it all spiraled quickly, mentally more than anything though I did have some epic drinking moments. Once you crack the proverbial seal of alcoholism, the flood gates are open and everything comes rushing out. This time however there is something different. And that is acceptance. And not just acceptance in my alcoholism but acceptance in what I need to do to close that chapter in my life and move forward. Last year I wanted desperately to turn back the clock to a time when beer and I were buddies. And when I wasn't drinking it was like beer was out of town for a while and I was just waiting for him to come back. But once you learn you can't control and then you start to hide it because you don't want people to see it that's when things get ugly. For me during those days I would control physically 7 out of 10 times but after the first sip I would get the burning desire to just sit there and drink over and over and over and 3 out of those 10 times I would and it would devastate me. Those final months were hard because I knew what I had to do and I did not want to do it. I did not want to lose my friend, my coping mechanism, my social life, and worse of all I didn't know a life without it. At first, I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking, I could never live without it by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking, how it did me wrong. And I grew strong and now I'm learning how to get along. Today I have a chance to live life fully, clearly without the weight on my shoulders. I know I can't drink anymore and I am perfectly comfortable with it. I want to move on with my life alcohol free. I want to spend the next 20 years absorbing everything around me and process it sober. Completely sober. The effects of alcohol last a lot longer than people expect, especially when you're a drunk. Heck I'm only a month in, I'm F stoked to see what the next month, year and beyond will bring. I know a few sober people out there and I am so jealous of them, hell I was jealous of them when I was drinking, pining of a day when I can experience their clarity. Well, here it is. I got it and I am not going to let go of it. Thanks for listening. |
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:41 AM. |