I'm super busy this week, so my presence on LJ and elsewhere on the internets will be scarce. :(

This past Saturday, I had seven of my tattoos touched up, in preparation for my back piece, which will be started in a month-ish. I spent two and a half hours under the gun, and everything on my right arm is brighter and more colorful now. It makes me happy.

I also now swear by this balm for healing tattoos. It kicks A&D Ointment's ass in SO many ways. It smells awesome, it absorbs better, it doesn't dry out as quickly, it's not greasy, not to mention, it's organic!! I currently have the patchouli lime and the orange lavender varieties, and my artist gave me his blessing to use it on fresh, healing tattoos. (It's also pretty slick for brightening old tattoos.)

Thanks for the responses to yesterdays post. I'm thinking what I need to do is not so much an intervention as a very serious, concerned discussion, but I'll post more on that in a friends-locked entry later this week. (Hopefully.)

There are several other posts that I've meaning to be write, but at this point, they'll have to continue to wait, my new hires are back from break.

Hope you're all doing swell. Love yas.

Have any of you ever organized, participated in, or been the subject of-an intervention for drug/alcohol addiction?

Are you willing to share your experience with me?

Comments screened for your privacy, but if you don't mind them unscreened, please make that clear in your comment.

It has been 18 days since I have consumed a caffeinated beverage.

I guess I don't need Diet Coke to survive. Who knew?

Masturbating (well, actual sex is preferable, when possible and practical) is a great way to start the day. :D

My new sex toy order was on my desk when I arrived at work. (I order them through someone who works here.) I would have prefered she stuck the bag in one of my drawers, rather than just plop it on my desk, but at least it's in a stapled-shut bag, I guess. I bought something just for Ryan. (I'd link to the item, but I'm at work, and the page is blocked. Apparently sex toys are "adult content". Pssh.) I hope he likes it. *fingers crossed*

I'm down to 1 can of Diet Coke a day, from 3 or 4. When I did the raw foods cleanse last week, I was surprised that I didn't experience much trouble with the lack of caffiene. No headaches, no fatigue, nada. I decided to phase it out all together, and I think it'll be easier than I thought. (Not that this means I'll never again consume a caffienated beverage, just that I won't depend on it every day.)

My mom called to ask how the transition to veganism is going. That was very thoughtful of her. I appreciate how supportive she is of my decision. I was nervous about sharing it with her, as she and my step-dad make their living off the dairy industry. (The business end of it, not the agricultural end.) She concluded that I am entitled to my thoughts and opinions, and that she's proud to have raised a daughter who lives by her morals, even if she doesn't share them. My mom rocks.

Mangoes are my new favorite fruit. They are a little nibble of heaven!

Since you are no longer drinking alcohol on a daily basis, your tolerance has decreased dramatically.

6 drinks in one night is no longer "a good start". It's too much. Far, far too much.

Remember this.

Its kind of ironic that I was planning on making a post about how well I'm doing with cutting down on intoxicants. I'm doing really, really well with cutting WAY back on alcohol, and on not smoking pot too! But here I am...drunk.

This is precisely why I've been avoiding going to Ry's gigs ever since I started Project Clean Up. When I go to gigs, people buy me drinks. LOTS of drinks. Sometimes its people who know me, sometimes its random people who either know I'm Ryan's wife, or just maybe think I'm a little cute or something. I don't know why I think its rude to refuse a gifted drink, but I do. So I accept them. And swill them with glee. I'm weak!!

For what it's worth, I had a lot of fun tonight, even though I never wanted to go in the first place. I finally discovered ONE sexy thing that I can do that my sister can't do. (My sister is the "pretty" sister.) The ghetto booty shake. Janelle has the ghetto-ist booty of all, but she can't do the shake. Her friend and I were trying to teach her, but she clenches. You can't clench. You must embrace the jiggle. I received many compliments from passersby on my own booty shake, as I demonstrated to Janelle, over, and over, and over, and over again. I tried to tell her, start with the knees. Just do the knees, and let it work its way up to the booty. Hilarity ensued.

Shortly after the booty shaking lesson, a nice, round, young man beckoned me to dance. At first I shook my head NO. But then immediately gave in and danced with the guy. I made eye contact with Ryan a lot while dancing to make sure it was fine, and it was.

I drunk dialed Lance when I got home. He didn't answer. Probably asleep. I'm sure he'll enjoy my message (Hi Lancccce, thish ish Shoellaaaa, I luuffff you soooo much....) in the morning.

I really AM doing well with not drinking. I went a little overboard tonight, I admit it. But I won't beat myself up over it. Tomorrow's a new day. A fresh start. Maybe Janelle will get the booty shake down.

As I write this, I have not had an alcholic beverage since August 20. I've got to get this posted today, because I'll be temporarily hopping off the wagon this weekend. (Moderation-I promise.) With nearly two weeks of sobriety under my belt, I've noticed some things.
( Read more... )

Yesterday was Emily and Dave's 5 year wedding anniversary. They called from New Mexico to check on how their critters are doing, and they are having an amazing time. Yesterday, Emily got to take a tour of Georgia O'Keefe's house. (Georgia is Emily's favorite artist.) Apparently they have left it exactly as it was; Emily said the view from her bedroom is incredible. What an experience for her!

I reassured her that her dog (Leesha) and cat (Sophie) are doing well, despite missing their mommy and daddy very much. Leesha gets so excited when she sees me with the leash. She does what I've termed the "Leesha Leash Dance". She turns two circles, runs to the fence and back, turns two circles, runs to the fence and back, then sits still for me to attach the leash to her collar. She prances like a little princess on her walks.

I'm excited to see all their pictures when they get back. They lived in New Mexico for a couple years a while back. I had gone to visit them over the 1999 New Year. (The last time I flew anywhere.) They're re-visiting many of the places they had taken me, and hearing about them again made me wish I was there! She insists that Ryan and I MUST go along the next time they go back. Twist my arm!

I'm afraid I might be developing one of the most uncomfortable and unpleasant side effects a woman can encounter while on antibiotics. See, the problem with antibiotics is that in addition to killing BAD bacteria, they kill GOOD bacteria too. Women have very important good bacteria in their womanly parts that keep things, well, how they should be. Blech. I stop drinking, and my body falls apart. I'm trying to convince myself one has nothing to do with the other.

I'm probably the only one keeping track, but I've been alcohol free for 5 straight days. (Incidentally, I've been orgasm free for equally as long, UTIs make sex and masturbation very uncomfortable!) Other than a persistent head ache (and of course a cold bug, UTI, and possibly some more yuckity-yuck-yuck-yuck) all is well. I'm tossing around the idea of having a drink or two on ONE of the nights this weekend, we'll see.

Joellacritter doesn't feel good.

*joellacritter pouts*

Why do irritating little illnesses always come on when I'm entirely too busy for them? Argh. I wouldn't be complaining (much) if I didn't have to train the rest of the week. I have a sore throat, and I have to spend the next four days talking for 8 hours straight. I'm betting I lose my voice by noon on Wednesday. I ALWAYS lose my voice when I have to train with a sore throat. :(

As soon as I felt it coming on (yesterday) I starting taking Vitamin C and Echinacea and Cold-Eeze drops, and drinking lots of water. It wasn't enough. I'm sick.

I'm lucky, my hubby takes good care of me the first day of any illness (after that, I'm on my own). He made me grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner, went and fetched me orange juice, honey, and cough drops (frozen orange juice-icles are freezing as we speak).

I made some progress on Lance's Birthday gift. I'm now confident that I'll have it done in time. *phew*

Tomorrow through next Monday, I have to get up early and go over and take Emily & Dave's dog Leesha for a walk before I go to work. They are in New Mexico for a week celebrating their 5 year anniversary, and I'm one of their 3 dog sitters. (Why did I volunteer for the MORNING shift???)

Okay. Enough wining. Oh, Day Two sans-alcohol, and I'm not missing it yet. The sore throat has dramatically decreased my smoking-it HUUUUUURTS!!!

So far, so good on project "Clean Up Joellacritter".

So many things to post on, so few slack off moments at work.

First, some exciting news! I have an appointment on Saturday at 2:00 for my Birthday tattoo. I will be adding another butterfly to my growing collection, this one on the front part of my left shoulder, to balance out the one on the front of my right shoulder. There will be pictures.

On lifestyle changes: Its becoming clearer and clearer that now is the time to make some changes. I did something I hate yesterday. Math. I figured out a guesstimate of how much we spend in an average month on mind-altering substances (including alcohol). My possibly quite conservative guess is $300-$400.

( *pauses for you to pick your jaw up off the floor* )

Well my first, and probably not last taste of LJ drama has played itself out. I think.

I've just returned home to my lovely husband from my lovely sweetie's place. He is so proud of his X-Ray. I got to put my nursing skills (not that I have any) to practice. He was going a bit stir-crazy cooped up in his house, so I took him out for dinner and then to the mall for like 10 minutes. (where I walked too fast for his medicated ass. oops. I can't help it. I hate the mall.) Then back to his place and we just sat in the dark in his room and talked. He's a bit woozy from the pain meds, but still great company, of course.

I think he's really starting to realize how much I genuinely, deeply care about him, and I'm starting to get the idea that the feeling is mutual. He actually told me tonight that he feels much closer to me than he does to Ryan, and we discussed how much we value OUR relationship, apart from the relationships we each have with Ryan, and the dynamics between the three of us.

I got to meet Lance's roommate for the first time, and it turns out he knows my mom and step-dad. I guess it may be time to fill my mom in a bit on this whole thing (at least the basics) as I'd hate to have her hear something from someone else and get the wrong idea. We'll see. I have a feeling I'll chicken out many times before it actually comes up.

Well, I didn't smoke at all last night, and I lived to tell about it. I haven't smoked at all tonight, and I'm still alive. I kept my drinking very moderate this evening. Ryan and I talked after I went off-line last night, and we both agree its time for some lifestyle changes. We're working out the whens and hows, but its a start. I'm feeling fine tonight, I'm not freaking out like I was last night. (Of course, the euphoria that always comes with spending time with both my sweetie and my hubby in one night may ease that.)

I could go on and on, but I'm going to wrap it up here for tonight and go get myself some ass.

I'm really crabby and irritated, and the main reason why I'm really crabby and irritated makes me feel quite idiotic and weak.

( What's The Reason? )