Angel From Montgomery

Hey everybody!! What a great feeling to open up my diary and see all of those lovely posts!! Thanks soooo much!!

Well Diary...

Thanksgiving is winding down thank God. I'm full and probably gained another 10 lbs - 😀 Managed to catch a cold to boot! P is upset b/c surgery date is very close now and if I am sick will need to be postponed.. Have the next few days off so will take a page out of Shiny's book and find a good read and try to chillax. I'm up and down with the urges. Gambling is sh it and I know it. Will continue to fight. Am sad to hear that some folks out there are struggling but, please whatever you do -- DO NOT GIVE UP! I am 52 and managed to kick both cigarettes and booze in my lifetime. Right now, I struggle with food my first love and that bas tard devil gamling. We all have slips. I am hearing other folks say, that coming straight back to the group is a sign of progress and I believe that with all of my heart. If we could all just remember what it was like when we were babies just learning how to walk. We didnt give up b/c we slipped and fell a few times. Oh well, crossing off another gamble free day on my calendar. Staying strong and hoping with all my heart that everyone else does too! KEEP GOING!!!! 😀 - joan

hey Joan

Crashed yesterday but am back now...are you still looking at a kitchen of leftover Turkey sandwiches...??..

Glad to see you in good spirits and also can see a few more of your compatriots?,..is that the word? ...oh well people from the US who have started diaries too...

Word must be out about internationally about how great GC is...lol

You going to Flaggs GClive event??...cheap flights?

R and D xxx

Joan.

Glad to see you had a good thanks giving,I myself have embarked on my annual turkey run LOL by the time xmas day comes about I want beans on toast!!!!

Keep crossing those days off!!

Well done today you did something amazing.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Thanks Rach and Duncs... Yesterday was the last of the turkey.. I suspect ol' tom turkey will be making a comeback come Christmas day. I'm with you Duncs -- by then hotdogs and beans will sound like ambrosia. LOL. Rach, have actually toyed with the idea of popping over the pond. If not for Flagg's get together perhaps when my partner goes over for a conference next year???.. hmmm..

So, back to the diary.. yes, another gamble free day to cross off on my calendar. Will be laying low for the next few days. Like Duncs I caught a terrible cold. I'm affraid myupper lip and nose seemed to have fused together. I am soooo tempted to send a pic of myself right now! lol. Purrrrr... ha ha well.. back to my blanket. I really do not want to show up to work on Thursday with this shiny red nose-lip.. 😀 - joan xxxxx (wearing a mask)

HI Joan,

I hope you feel better soon and that red nose goes just as quick if not you could always double as rudolph with santa lol.. Joking apart hope your feeling better, and fantastic to see you and that calender still working the magic.

Take care, wrap up warm and rest up.

Blondie x

Hi Joan,

Bloody Blondie beat me to it, couldn't wait to shout out about Rudolph!

You really have become a very important part of the gamcare community.

The difference in your posts from the begining till now is so heartwarming and a must read for all new members.

Look after yourself.

Sue xxx

hi Joan

No Rudolph jokes ...lol....promise...

Sending hugs your way and I totally agree with our Womble Sue that you are very important person on this site..

I have read that J Seagull book many moons ago ...and it is coming back to me ...it was a bit like the ugly duckling story right?..about not fitting in and flying higher and spiritual enlightenment ..i must dig it out again.

Inspired there Joan and from what i remember it was a very short book wasnt it?,.not loads of pages...

Keep strong lovely lady...am off to get dry as just taken Dots out in the wet....all this Rain...dear.....geddit?..well I said I wouldnt make a joke about Rudolph....not reindeers generally...lol xxx'

R and D xx

Morning Joan,

Glad to hear thanksgiving went well but sorry to hear you have been poorly but hopefully on the mend now 🙂

Your posts appear so much more relaxed now and that great sense of humour is shining through!

Long may it continue and thanks as always for your post on mine

Keep Strong

Lucy xxxx

just thinking of you Joan xxx

sending hugs and love

R and D xxxx

Hey Rach, thanks for checking in. When I am not writing I am still reading... Lucy it was soo great hearing from you as well. Blondie always soo steady and strong. Sue!!! It's great to see you back on the diaries and Duncs well, you will always be a hero to me!!! Shout out and a respectful curtsey to the Shiny one and a wave to Mr. Flagg...

Hi Diary... It has been a wild ride this past few days. I got pretty sick with some kind of upper respiratory "thing" and with the stress of "needing to get to work or don't get paid" and surgery coming up on Monday I have been just straight out... No gambling although I have had some pretty strong urges. I am not going to waste any of my hard earned money on those bas tard games. If I don't gamble I win. I will probably check in on Flagg's thread early on Sunday b/c will be off to the hospital insanely early on Monday morning. Well, that's really it for me. I am hanging on tight. All of you lovely people seem to be doing just great and I am sending out positve thoughts your way. Am wondering where JP theassiam have been. I'm sending positive thoughts to you fellas as well. Pink crosses on the calendar and money in my pockets. Life is good no, great without gambling in it. Stay strong and I will too. joanxxx

Hi Joan,

Sounds like you have had a real hard time with your health......good luck for monday...will be thinking of you (need to convert hours)

Read a post of yours to Rach...got real excited cos I had read the book (not really a reader!).....am in with the in-crowd!!!!!!!!!!!

Tra la la...j seagul...about the swallow....loved it!

Happy womble now cos I read a book our smart forum members have read!

Hugs and all that Joan!

Sue x

Hey Diary,

Just a flyer. Sitting up still takes it out of me a little. I am happy to have this neck surgery behind me now. Will try to get back to reading and writing but, just wanting to take a page out of Lucy's book and yell HELLO WORLD! Judy's back!! 😀 Must admit that I have not been 100% perfect. I did have a slip just before going into the hospital. In a moment of weakness I broke through the blocks on my computer and signed on to a gambling site. The good news is that I lost and the whole experience sucked! I did not lose my bank account over it but, it was wrong and I needed to own up to it. Blocks are back up and I am ready to continue the battle. Starting to ramble so will sign off for now but promise to stay strong. -joanxx

Hi Joan,

Come back with a bang!

Love your honesty........you have got it sussed hun.

I have every faith that you have learned your lesson!

Glad you are on the mend lovely lady!

Hugs Sue xxxxxxx

Hi Joan,

Thank u 4 ur support and kind words on my diary. It means a lot 🙂

It was gr8 2 hear from u again, I am glad u r feeling better and u r on the mend!

Stay strong Joan xxxxxxxx

Dear Diary,

I got a call from Chicago yesterday. My brother Ed was found dead in his apartment. This obscene truth exploded into my brain, yesterday afternoon while I was watching the terrible news about a shooting rampage in Connecticut. I dont know where to begin. My mind is spinning and my heart is breaking.. Ed was 54 my older brother. He was a son, a father and and grandfather. He was wildly funny and terribly rude at times. He was mean and sensitive, vile and charming. He was a talented and tortured musician. I loved him.... and he knew this and he promised me that he would take better care of himself. He had freckles and a beard. Deep dark eyes and he was sad, and angry, and tortured, and in alot of physical pain from the abuse his body took over the years as an auto mechanic. Back in the day we would drink until we puked or passed out. I got clean but, he never could. He wanted to and tried many times. I guess he could'nt face another holiday season alone. This morning as I write I cry out loud so that the angels know that this tortured man was loved as duncs and rach would say, unconditionally, warts and all. I loved him!! I think he knew that. I knew I couldnt save him and I knew that someday if he didnt get clean that this would happen... I just wanted to shout out to the world that a great guy has left this earth and that I will miss him so. That is all I can write for now. I hope for anyone reading this it hasnt brought you down. I wish you could have known him. He was hilarious, and sensitive, too sensitive, too human and he is no longer in pain any more. Ed wherever you are know that I love you and will always love you and will take you with me wherever I go for as long as I live. -joan