This site is great, isn't it? It has so many tools to help. My blog has been interesting for me -- I don't have time to write in it every day (I usually don't even have time to read and post on the forums unless I get up at 4:30am). I really wanted to keep track of my own progress -- or lack of -- as I tried moderation, and it was so hard for me to go back and find my posts in different threads each time. So about a month after I started here, I went through the forums just once and transferred all of my own posts to my blog, along with the date of the post. It has been hugely valuable to me, so see my own struggles over the past year. I usually update the blog only once every couple of weeks, but I do the same thing. I make sure to include the date of each individual post, because the blog itself will just use the date you are blogging. I also usually don't include my forum references to other members, so it's just my personal struggle. I'm glad it has been helpful to you, Siobhan, and I'm thrilled that you are doing your own. I can't tell you how helpful it's been for me -- it really is my personal diary.
So, a couple of months ago, I met a new friend at an event close by. She didn't live in town, but was planning to move here by the end of summer. Our daughters loved each other, and she and I had a great time over a bottle of wine. Because of that, we exchanged phone numbers, and I told her to contact me when she got settled here. So now she is, and she just did. Yesterday over the phone, she invited me and my daughter over for dinner, telling me she had a nice bottle of wine for us. This was so, so very hard, since it brought back the memories of our fun time, and I really wanted the wine. Also I hardly know her, so to tell her about my drinking problem? Really?!?!?! But I took a deep breath and just said that I've quit drinking for awhile, because I had found myself drinking too much lately. It was so hard!!!!!! Her response? "Okay, well I have juice and soda..." In other words, she could have cared less. It was no big deal to her at all, and we both had soda. And we and our daughters all had a great time. What a way to put all of this in perspective....
That's okay, though. Your posts are great to read, and everyone once in awhile, I'll see a comment from someone I've never heard before, along the lines of, "I never post even though I read all the forums every day, but this time I just had to say that the posting by so-and-so really made a difference for me." Some people are just a lot wordier than others! I also go through cycles with writing and lurking. Generally I have posted when I'm feeling successful, and generally I've lurked (although not always) when I feel miserable.
