Dry April/May 2025

I did another “Dry January” although it was more like a dry April into May. No real journal on this one but I’ll write some random notes down. Let me say that it was my choosing, again, and I did so without force or temptation. It wasn’t a problem for me to give it up cold turkey and no cravings.

• I didn’t repeat the same mistakes I made from the Dry January 2024. I didn’t just switch to soda. I mostly stuck with mocktails, tea, water, or towards the end, non-alcoholic beer. I still feel bad for having non-alcoholic beer as I feel like it’s cheating since it does contain some trace alcohol.
• I’ve actually lost weight this time! I think it’s because of EMS and all the yoga I’m doing. I’m also eating better and less. The last time I did it I remember eating more. This time I feel like I’m not substituting alcohol for more food.
• I’m not sleeping well. At least the last few weeks. Difficult to get to sleep and I wake up during the night at least once or twice. Every morning I feel like I wake up with a hangover. I don’t understand. I thought that was one of the perks of NOT drinking… no hangover? Seems I had this problem the last time too. What is it?
• There definitely were some difficulties but nothing I couldn’t handle and nothing I almost broke down on… maybe a few but I never did…
  • Sam’s birthday with everyone trying to get me to drink
  • Mexican Train nights are difficult especially with so many fun drinking buddies around like Jaque, Viv, and Larry
  • First happy hours on Thursdays are actually easy since Glenn hasn’t been drinking either
  • The first Saturday with our Pinochle group… Marlene brought Sangria… damn it
  • When all the power in Portugal went out all I wanted was a beer on my balcony; I did settle for non-alcoholic beer but it didn’t do the trick if you know what I mean
  • Not cheersing at Tivoli happy hours and not ordering anything from there
  • Not cheersing period (except with non-alcoholic or mocktails)
  • Ugh, the festival… All that craft beer that I didn’t get to taste… that was tough
  • After my eye exam I really wanted a beer
  • After the Portuguese placement test I REALLY wanted a beer
  • Denying Brandon at the store… damn me
  • Looking in my fridge and instead of grabbing a beer I had to settle for water
  • Not having a beer with Sam and her sister
  • Not having a beer or wine on our game night even though it was easy since Jay doesn’t drink and Petra can’t drink
  • Seeing Shawn have a beer and not being able to grab one from the fridge and drink with him
  • Watching shows and movies where people drink to cope or forget or whatever… like that is my thing
• I hate having to explain to people why I’m not drinking.
• I feel like I’m going to cut back when I continue. I definitely need to take it slow whenever I start again.
• Speaking of “starting again” I may go another week. I want to see if I actually do lose weight this time and it’s not a fluke.
• If I do go another week, this was the right time to do it. Michael is away and he’s been one of my drinking buddies so that’s one temptation not there. Plus Rene is MIA at the moment.
• It is difficult not having alcohol with Sam. I feel awful when she asks, “are you doing one more?” and I say no… I mean I can because it’s non-alcoholic but still. Shit is expensive.
• The Marina Bar upped its happy hour prices. This may effect my drinking when I continue.
• I do like the recycling bin being not full of empty beer cans and bottles.
• Given all the reasons above, I’m proud that I didn’t give into temptations. I also may do this once or twice a year to give my body a cleanse.