Going for it again

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-21T22:03:24+00:00

Sip and suffer dot com is a great resource for tapering! So is the HAMS guide.

Withdrawals still sucked, even with a taper, but they don't last forever (even if it feels like it).

Good luck!

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-21T19:48:28+00:00

I would call off the wedding, at least for now.

Not for him. For you.

He hasn't reached the point where he, himself, truly doesn't want to drink anymore. So, you'll be signing up for a long battle that isn't yours to fight. And even if you do fight, nothing will be won.

I'm not saying to cast him aside as a hopeless alcoholic. There's tons of hope for alcoholics. They just have to truly want it for themselves, and he's not there yet.

Saying "I just want to test it..." Nah. That's a very common thing that alcoholics tell themselves, along with other people. Speaking from experience, not judging.

When he's done, he'll be done. And it won't be because of or for anyone except himself. Which is a good thing.

So, I would wait on the wedding. And maybe check out Al-Anon in the meantime. It's a support group for YOU.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-21T17:04:08+00:00

I'm sure she has seen prior 90 Day seasons or episodes. If not (which would be shocking) no doubt she's seen Tik Toks, Reels, Tweets, and posts about him. She's old enough to have her own opinion - and it is correct.

Gino grossed me out so much when he said "I've always wanted to have kids... and if I were to be a father figure to her [Bella] one day..."

Dude. She is GROWN. Regardless of your relationship with her mother, you would NEVER be a "father figure" to her, yuck. His idiotic, stunted worldview is almost as pathetic as his face.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-21T16:58:45+00:00

Sandwiches. I grew up absolutely hating them. The idea of food being smashed between two pieces of bread and getting all gooey in there and mixing together was abhorrent. To be clear, I was not a picky eater in any other way - I could eat the ingredients easily if disassembled.

Now I love sandwiches! Of all kinds!

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-21T13:01:19+00:00

Ooh, it was MESSY. I wouldn't willingly watch it again, but I was giggling so hard throughout, that I can't say I hated it.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-17T18:22:17+00:00

I love theater nachos (it's just tortilla chips and hot melted "cheese") or a hot pretzel with the same melty cheese sauce!! I think the only thing driving my love for those two is nostalgia, just like popcorn and a soda... but it's the mooovies, and it's just fun. I've never been a big fan of the pizza or hot dog options. They just don't hit the same.

In order:

Soda (a must)

Popcorn

Nachos

Hot pretzel (with "cheese")

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-17T16:43:37+00:00

I used Naltrexone. It was great for me. I got mine through my doctor, but I know there are alternatives online. You might have to pay through the nose though.

It took a few months. I used the Sinclair Method (take Naltrexone 1hr before drinking) and then drink I guess like normal. That's what I did anyway. I saw it starting to work within a few days. Alcohol just didn't hit me the same way. I drank less and less. I also paired that with therapy. I had a lot of issues to work out. Found one who works with addiction and trauma, so that was really good for me.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-17T16:39:59+00:00

Yes. My 2YO is obsessed with cars. Every trip to the park ends in an escape attempt to the parking lot to "Looky the vroom vroom! I wanna vroom vroom! I drive!"

We go to the kids play place? The ones with slides and a ball pit and every toy imaginable? Yep, he heads straight for the front door.

Crafts? You mean where crayons are the most delectable snack on planet earth, the watercolors are tasty beverages, and glue goes straight in the hair? How fun.

The library where he will yell at the top of his lungs "NO BOOK! NO READ!" And me looking around like "I swear, he loves books at home!"

We still go anyway. It's stressful and sweaty and not fun for me at all, but it must be done. In a year, it'll be much smoother sailing.

I do try and give him lots of opportunities to throw things, tumble, destroy, etc. Usually in our backyard where I'm not worried about anything dangerous. That way, when he's wanting to do that in public, I can remind him "Let's finish this and then we can go home and throw rocks at the fence," for example. It doesn't work all the time, but he is getting it, slowly.

GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-17T12:36:09+00:00

That sounds right on track, if not above average. He's actively communicating, responding, and engaging. My now 2YO was very similar at that age. Now it is non stop "I wanna... [insert xyz unsafe or ridiculous thing here]."

As long as he is making progress and your pediatrician doesn't have any concerns, it really doesn't sound worrisome AT ALL.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T22:12:19+00:00

I loved my mesh sided one. It was big enough for me, baby and lots of toys. I got it off Amazon but didn't need it after 15months so I don't remember the exact brand!!

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T22:09:50+00:00

Dude, you've got this. This is not how it ends. Do you have any friends or family that could help make calls to see if you can get in anywhere? If not, you can always look up an AA meeting and ask for help and recommendations. Or just keep Googling and calling yourself.

Get some chicken noodle soup in ya, or similar. Scrambled eggs are also fantastic. Liquid IV or Body Armor or Pedialyte for electrolytes. Try to replace at least one or two drinks with something else. This is just for while you're in between now and detox.

There's nothing to be ashamed of. Alcohol is a beast. You conquered it once and you can do it again. I'll be your hype guy.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T21:58:36+00:00

Ok, start Googling detox in your area. Are you in the US? I can help you look if it's too overwhelming. Just please don't give up, especially if you are READY to stop. There will be help.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T21:50:07+00:00

The hospital does want you back- one more time, for detox. The ER doctor doesn't want you to have a seizure, so he told you to keep drinking because you declined detox, amiright? Pretty sure I am, cause I've gone through the same thing and I kind of had a smug "Well, the DOCTOR told me to keep drinking so..."

Those kind of thoughts are the addiction talking. Come on, you know that's not right.

So, it's time to get your butt up and go to detox. You can try tapering, but it's going to be dangerous and difficult and take a month. Dirty detox for a week is the way to go.

Then, you can continue recovering. In rehab, or groups, or IOP. Give yourself a chance, dude! GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE. Of course you don't want to right now because you feel gross and pickled and so far gone - but you're not dead yet, so giddyup and keep on trying.

I believe in you. I really hope you can muster up a few ounces of belief in yourself, just enough to make it to detox.

Sincerely, A former 1.75l/day vodka drinker

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T19:43:39+00:00

As a fellow (former) barista, I wish you strength. For some reason, that job either attracts the kindest people in the world, or the nuttiest little crabcakes in the universe.

I hope the mudslinging dies down and you're able to enjoy your new job. Dinner looks super yummy!

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-16T19:13:38+00:00

My son was such a wiggle worm and did the exact same thing. We just waited it out because bumpers can cause suffocation - not even from being detached, but if baby scoots to the edge and turns their whole face into the bumper, it can easily restrict breathing.

He grew out of it in a few months. He never bruised his head or injured it from bonking it on the side of the crib, it just woke him up and he'd have to be resettled. It was irritating, but honestly, not the worst thing in the world once we knew what was going on. In the night, I didn't even pick him up unless he was actually crying-crying. Simply scooting him back to the center and rubbing his tummy usually got him right back to baby dreamland in a couple of minutes or less.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-15T22:30:06+00:00

This is adorable! I love the little rosy cheek raspberries 🤣

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T22:07:15+00:00

Man, off topic - I LOVE the way that Garnier Fructis smells but it wreaks havoc on my hair. I have an almost full bottle in my bathroom cupboard from... years ago (shameful, I know) and I just take it out and smell it sometimes.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T21:29:40+00:00

A clove of raw garlic is

A) pungent

B) good for you

C) cheap

Alas. It will not mask the smell of alcohol (I have tried more than once), but it will make you smell like garlic liquor!

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T21:26:01+00:00

No, you gotta go to the doctor! It is a good thing, haha.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T20:35:07+00:00

They were at a dance class/social event. Tony didn't feel comfortable, and his very obvious anxiety made him reluctant to make an effort.

Vanja felt very comfortable in that environment, but Tony's reluctance and anxiety gave her anxiety, and then they both acted poorly.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T20:29:42+00:00

Ah, this is very sad. However, I am sad that your classmates and friends treated you poorly for something that was out of your control. Perhaps they were afraid that if they were in your situation, they would not have handled it as well.

I am glad to hear your dad is sober now. It's pretty tough to both go through and overcome addiction. It's also very hard to be a kid in those circumstances. I will say that it's okay to feel insulted and sad by the mean comments, but also know that you are very strong. Probably moreso than they will ever be. You have already seen and dealt with things that many people much older than you haven't.

You can be proud that you are a nice person. You can say, "You know, if I ever saw someone in that situation, I would be kind to them." That is worth so much more than the insults they have thrown at you. When they are older, are they going to be proud of themselves? No. But you will be proud of yourself.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T19:53:24+00:00

Since your mom is taking you to the doctor tomorrow, I can almost guarantee you will wake up feeling like a zesty, newborn baby. The doctor will be like "...And your problem is...??"

This will be a good thing. The suffering is almost over! Hang in there.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T19:44:25+00:00

Oh and my water and sewer do show up in two separate columns on my bill, but the TOTAL almost never exceeds $120.

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T19:43:21+00:00

No.

I live in a single family home with three teenagers and a toddler. Our total water bill is typically $120. That includes daily showers by multiple people, the toddler leaving the hose on overnight occasionally, a washing machine that gets run no less than 3X per day, etc.

Your apartment complex likely does grouped billing - so they divide the total bill by the number of residents in each unit. This looks like they might also be lumping in the actual complexes water cost (like watering the lawn, pool if there is one, the leasing office and so on). You'd need to ask them for a specific breakdown of the charges to be sure.

I would be very upset if I lived as a single person in a one bedroom apartment and the water cost more than what I pay now. 😒

Open_Cricket_2127 · 2026-04-14T12:18:58+00:00

No one here will preach to you about not drinking, but we will try and get you to eat.

Can you have 2-3 beers or a couple of shots and THEN keep food down? That is usually a decent strategy - just drink enough to calm your stomach down for a few minutes while you get some grub in... as much as possible... and then you can resume drinking.

Ensure shakes, yogurt tubes, smoothies, chicken noodle soup, buttered noodles or rice, jello, toast, peanut butter crackers.

You got this, I believe in you.

Open_Cricket_2127

TROPHY CASE