goblazers_6's Official Sobriety Thread

[Automan2164]

If this was my old MJ, I'd drink too. :cheers:

 

 

X 50.

 

Rob L. :(

[glundblad]

Wow! What a topic.

 

Nearly five years ago I rolled a 99 Wrangler down an embankment, must have went over six or seven times. Yup I was drunk.

Did I stop drinking? Hell no! I was like you, thought about it, tried to stay sober for a while.......Then on my birthday, I went

barhopping for my free birthday shots. Got a felony DUI.

 

Don't know how many of you know that I am a single parent.

 

The hardest thing that Iv'e ever had to do is tell my daughter that I messed up (she was eight at that time). I had to tell her that I was going to have to go away for a while (jail).

Then I had to tell her that It is quite possible that her and I wouldn't be living with each other ever again...... That the home that I put together for us would probably be no more.

 

I had to resign my job, made $82k the last full year that I worked there.

My employer wouldn't hold my job for me for when I got back.

 

Then I spent a month in county jails,

another month in a 23hr a day lock-down cell at Montana State Prison.

 

Anybody who doesn't mind the pee smell in a bar, this shouldn't bother them.....

Then I got to spend the next six months in a state sponsored treatment program, if I didn't want to stay in the program,

checking out was always an option. Check out straight to MSP.

 

I cried the first time I seen my daughter from behind glass, couldn't hold her, hug her, show her that I loved her.....

 

I met a lot of decent people in treatment, people who just like me "only thought about drinking or not drinking".

A lot of people who's lives were ruined. A lot of people who thought it can't or won't happen to them.(cause a fatality)

I think the people who affected me the most, were the ones who through their drinking, had caused a fatality.

They thought It wouldn't happen to them. Tell that to a dead persons mother, wife or children.

Imagine if your wife or your child was killed due to alcohol.

 

I hated that program,

The clinical supervisor said over and over "Just don't drink!" "no matter what, no matter what, no matter what!"

 

If not having to go back to a jailcell that smells like pee (especially MSP), means not drinking.

 

Then I had enough!

 

March will be five full years without a drink.

 

Imagine me working in the C store , the only one in town. Seeing my old co workers who still make

mega becks. Talk about humble.

 

I'm fortunate, I could have continued to drink as so many have. But I couldn't do that to my daughter again.

I got up dusted myself off and kept trying.

 

Today I'm in my second year of college, 4.0 GPA. I managed to keep my home and my Harley.

But most importantly I managed to put things back together for my daughter and I.

I think every day that I could lose it all very easily, with just one drink.

 

Do I do the AA thing? No

I'm Native American my sobriety lies in practicing my native spiritual ways.

 

Did I cast a vote? Absolutely not!

Ultimately were talking about a man, his family and their lives. What are we voting on?

whether he lives or dies?

Why not make it more interesting and vote on how soon his wife divorces him?

Or how soon he gets a DUI or worse (fatality, his or someone close to him)

 

Shame.

 

Spirituality is the key that keeps me sober.

 

I hope and pray that everybody who reads this doesn't ever have to walk the road that I did.

It was filled with a lot of hurt, pain and anguish.

I thank the Creator every day that I didn't kill someone.

Especially my beautiful daughter.

 

Not too often do I type with tears in my eyes.....

 

If anybody would care to talk about this in a good way, PM me, well set up a phone call.

 

PS: That is truly a beautiful baby Brenda.

 

Peace

 

Dang Dude. :bowdown:

[64 Cheyenne]

I do have to say that I don't regret and am not ashamed of what has happened to me any more.

 

Actually it makes me more grateful for the life I have today.

 

If by my posting my story, someone thinks about their drinking and changes their life;

 

then the telling of my story was worth it.

[kyleag89]

Hey at least that person stripped all the good parts before sending it to the crusher.

[Automan2164]

Hey at least that person stripped all the good parts before sending it to the crusher.

 

Do you not see the black interior?

 

Rob L.

[Darren]

Two weeks.

 

Been spending most of my time on my XJ. Its coming along quite nicely, especially since without drinking I can stay productive well into the evening.

[Darren]

Three weeks.

[WahooSteeler]

You're a crazy dude Darren, and there is always the possibility you are pulling our chain. But, if you are not, congrats and keep it up. Should only get easier. How's your little bundle of motivation doing? Gettin big?

[Darren]

Four weeks without even a sip.

[Pete M]

and how do you feel these days?

[MancheKid86]

you know what man?

i say good on you :clapping: it takes a real man to see where to draw the line,

and when its your family, they always come first,

my family are big drinkers and i seen alot of problems that drinking carries along with it,

so i rarley drink, my father has been sober for about 19 years now as well,

so keep up the good work being sober :thumbsup:

[dunl]

Well, time to wade in on this discussion.

 

Some of you may remember how un-fond I am of some of Darren's posts, and how I have posted for all to see how it might be better if he just went away from the forum.

 

Post-lady of the night? You bet he is.

 

Attention getter? You nailed it.

 

Someone who possibly needs help and support? No clue.

 

But I'm going to give it to him and the benefit of the doubt, because the other option (not giving it to him, have him fall off the wagon, and ruin someone's life whether it be his daughter's, wive's, his own....)..... I can't quite live with that fact.

 

Darren, addictions can be hard to deal with. I know because....I actually don't have a problem with them. But I do realize from friends that I'm some kind of an anomaly. I used to smoke 2 1/2 packs a day....quit cold turkey, no problems. Sometimes I like a smoke every now and then....by that I mean the time period in between is 6 months, 1 year, sometimes 3 years.....been 5 years now for me. No urges, no wants....nothing. I have one if I feel like it.

 

I know of no one like this....that is to say, all of my friends find it very hard to kick habits. They struggle. Being Catholic, if I want to give something up for Lent....it is no problem.

 

But that doesn't make me better that anyone out there who struggles with things like this. In fact, I consider myself weaker.

 

I've never had to fight the fight that others have had. And if I did, I don't know if I could do it.

 

Four weeks....excellent accomplishment. That's an incredible time period.....nothing you should throw away. Consider the previous poster's mention of joining AA...why not? You're past the first steps already.

 

Keep it up...like also previously mentioned, if you want it enough, you can work towards a great freedom here. And further, who wants to tell their friends that Dad is an alcoholic?

 

I'm not going to worry about whether this is a joke or not, because if it is you've already received your punishment.

 

My best and sincerest wishes of good luck to you.

[Darren]

Pete, I've been feeling great these days. Its amazing how productive I've become. I used to get home from work open the fridge grab a beer then plant my @$$ on the couch. Going to bed drunk a few hours later. Not to mention I'm saving about $50-$100 a week. Boy that adds up.

 

Dunl, thanks for your kind words. Especially from a self proclaimed Darren-hater. Things are looking up for you too, with me being sober you can expect 50% fewer dumbass, sarcastic, and a-hole posts from yours truly.

[HOrnbrod]

Things are looking up for you too, with me being sober you can expect 50% fewer dumbass, sarcastic, and a-hole posts from yours truly.

 

Why don't you make it 100% fewer?

[freakjeep93]

becasue then it wouldnt be darren lol

[Darren]

becasue then it wouldnt be darren lol

 

That's exactly what I was going to say. Except I was going to use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

[WahooSteeler]

becasue then it wouldnt be darren lol

 

That's exactly what I was going to say. Except I was going to use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

 

I'm sorry to whoever disagrees, but that little exchange is just effing brilliant. Holy crap that's funny! :jump:

[JeepcoMJ]

becasue then it wouldnt be darren lol

 

That's exactly what I was going to say. Except I was going to use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

 

I'm sorry to whoever disagrees, but that little exchange is just effing brilliant. Holy crap that's funny! :jump:

 

 

thank you, Darren, for that.

 

 

you have made my day.

[dunl]

Ok, I needed that. :jump:

[freakjeep93]

hey even i found that funny lol

[dunl]

Well, how goes the battle?

[WahooSteeler]

Well, how goes the battle?

 

fortunately, it doesn't sound like it's been a big "battle" for him.

[Darren]

Well, how goes the battle?

 

 

:oops:

 

So the poll didn't work, but for those of you who would have picked Halloween, you'd be correct.

 

I hate admitting that, I'd actually become kind of proud of what I was doing. It had changed my, and my families life quite a bit. Why did I break my streak? I don't know, I guess I just wanted to hangout with my friends that night, and guess what they were doing, drinking. I need new friends. I haven't fallen back into "my old ways", I hope I never will. This was something that I started as a joke, and quickly became very serious. When I posted it that morning, I was at work and had plans to hangout (read: get drunk) with my friends later that night. When I got home I read a post from 64 Cheyenne that really hit home. It was over a month before I had another drink. I'm not going to try and act like 5 weeks is super impressive, but it has changed almost every aspect of my life. There are a couple events coming up where I do plan on drinking, but I'm not going back to getting drunk everyday. I almost wish I would have never started this thread, but then, I probably wouldn't have changed.

 

I'd like to thank Ed (64 Cheyenne), and everyone else for the advice, personal experience, and encouragement.

 

Okay, now let the flaming begin...........

[WahooSteeler]

Darren, at the very least it sounds like you got what you needed out of it. There's nothing wrong with having a few pops with your friends if you want, but you've realized it doesn't have to be every night and that even if you do have a few, it can be just that....just a few. I still commend you for making the most of it. :thumbsup:

[dunl]

5 weeks is super impressive.

 

But also realize that if you eel you need to drink to hang out with your friends you:

a) need new friends, especially if THEY need you to drink to hang out with them, and

B) there's lot's of ways to have fun with friends without drinking.

 

If you're like me and just like the taste of it, grab some non-alcoholic beer. Otherwise, bring along a case of Pepsi/Coke.