applewakesup

Sorry to hear about your brother. I am a scientist at the national institute on aging and our lab studies Alzheimer's disease (among other neurodegenerative diseases). Not sure if you know this or not, but I found it really interesting - It is nearly 100% of Down's syndrome patients that develop Alzheimer's disease, and the reason is that the APP gene, which produces the protein that ends up making Amyloid beta plaques (a diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's) is on chromosome 21 - the chromosome that Downs patients have 3 instead of 2.

It is believed that all modern Downs patients will develop Alzheimer's if they live long enough. It used to be that a lower percentage developed it because so many died younger before the critical heart surgery was routinely performed.

I hope this doesn't sound cold as far as your brother is concerned. I very much understand the devastation of that disease both professionally and personally. I just thought you might be interested in that information. Or maybe you already knew.

Anyway, here's hoping better treatments are available soon. By the way, the most reliable treatment we have seen in the lab (with mice) is exercise. Same has been seen in humans.

BrendaChenowyth

I found it interesting. I used to take care of people with Alzheimer's and did my pediatric nursing rotation in a place for people with developmental disabilities, some with Down's. I am planning to work there when I graduate.

I took care of a woman with Alzheimer's in her home, and got to know her entire extended family (circus), and they had a very strong tendency to dementia and MR, and also alcoholism, depression, ocd..

Always find it interesting how some people just wind up with all those cards and others don't.

Gilmer

I'm very sorry about your brother, Nons. Dementia is very difficult.

I'm glad, though, that you'll soon be spending time with your son.

Dee74

Thanks for the new thread Sao.

I like plans

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ery-plans.html

I'm sorry to hear about your brother Nons. Best wishes to him, to you and all your family.

D

Purplrks3647

Hugs, Nonsensical ~ for you and your brother

Thanks Sao for another weekend thread. I will need to stay close ~ I was doing okay, then was saddened by the news of Chester Bennington. Idk why I take it so hard when a rock star dies ~ it's not like I know these people....I avoided the bar after work; somehow I went to the gym instead.

I'm off Sunday from my part time job and I'm signed up for goat yoga that day. I'm looking forward to it

BrendaChenowyth

Tiny goats? I want a tiny goat!

BixBees505

Who has tiny goats?? Sign me up, too!

I have had a devil of a time this afternoon. I know for a fact I would have had a drink if there had been anything in the house. I don't know what is wrong with me lately, but I've been "off". Im OK now, and my partner is home. I am shocked at how very weak I was, and still feel weak. Giving it a lot of thought.

I'll be sticking very close to you Weekenders.

BixBees505

Purplrks...goat yoga? Now I'm really confused.

BrendaChenowyth

I want to get people who I can call on the phone whenever I have an alcohol craving.. or even if it's not to that point and I just feel like I need to vent..

Gilmer

Isn't that where a goat walks on your back?

DesertTraveler

I'm in too.

Really liked everyone's posts. I can definitely relate to what one of you said about the spontaneity and freedom that we experience not being slaves to the booze. In other words, we can do pretty much anything at any hour of the day, within reason (we may have jobs, limited income, etc.). If I want to go to Walgreens at 10 pm on a Tuesday night I can. Many people would take that for granted. But not us.

When I was still drinking, right before I quit, it was getting so bad I had to start drinking in the afternoon, every day, or I would get the shakes and my heart/chest would get really tight and I would get really anxious. By 10 pm I would usually be wasted and would just stay at home. I would never drink and drive, but instead would ask my wife to go out and pick up this or that, which wasn't right or fair to her at all. Looking back, I am ashamed of a lot of what I did/said over the last 10 years or so I've been drinking heavily.

It is nice to be free again and I am looking forward to being a better husband and father. It will be 6 weeks on Sunday.

BixBees505

Hi DesertTraveler, six weeks is so great!!! Congrats...this is exactly how we get over the shame and regret. By literally being better people in our lives now. I don't know any other way.

BixBees505

Well, I am packing in my strange confusing day and going to bed early. I will see you all again, wherever you be, when it is Friday where I be.

So glad SR is here.

BrendaChenowyth

Aaand this another one of those times I feel like I've stuck my foot in my mouth.

JulySeaCoast

Unless I missed something, it doesn't seem like you said anything wrong!

Time2Rise

I'm in for another sober weekend.

saoutchik

Morning everyone, it is a glorious morning here.

Welcome to Weekenders DesertTraveler and JulySeaCoast. Congratulations on 6 weeks.

Today is our annual stock take at work. If previous years are anything to go by something strange will turn up.

Purplrks3647

Here is a little about goat yoga if anyone is interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HgyPmuAll4

LadyBlue0527

I'm in!

Thanks for the opener Saou and congrats on shotgun Lunar!

Nonsensical, I'm sorry to hear about your brother

Last weekend in the mountains was beautiful. So much positive and to stray from being negative I'll just say there will be some changes made when we go next year. Part of it was staying 6 miles offsite. I'm grateful we were given the chance to stay in a condo free of charge. However, the first night we were there it began to really fog in and rain. The road was, well, what you would expect in a winding mountain road. Driving it was one thing but you get locals behind you who know the road well and ride your butt when you do the speed limit. I was apprehensive about driving back to the condo. Still, what a gorgeous weekend and so many activities. It's always good to be home though.

As for telling people I don't drink here's something I ponder when I think about it.

My husband, who has absolutely no issue with alcohol quit 4 years ago in May. He simply came home one night from his friends with a good glow, woke up the next morning with the cobwebs, and decided after spending a day feeling like that it just wasn't worth it anymore. I asked him if it bothered him to tell people he doesn't drink anymore. He said "Are you kidding? I see it as a badge of courage. Not drinking isn't a weakness, it's a strength!".

Wear your badge of courage proudly this weekend!

LBrain

I would also get rid of it. Your statement about 'safely out of view' reminds me that I would 'forget' my wallet when we got to the car so I could back inside and get it, and also have a "safe" opportunity to take a big pull on the bottle of vodka I had stashed in the garage.

If it isn't there, you won't be tempted.