Hello

I am NewOldMember. I kind of remind myself of another driver on here who got banned. From reading over all of his posts, I would have to assume that he had a severe drinking problem at some point in his life, but I think that he only drank while he was at home, never while driving his truck or his POV. That would probably explain a lot of his rude and ill mannered posts.

Me myself, I have not consumed so much as a drop of alcohol since March of this year, 2010, and Thanksgiving is Thursday. I am thankful that I don't have to spend any money on alcohol. I am thankful that most have said that my temperament has improved. I am thankful that I did lose around 15 pounds, but sadly, I am starting to gain it back. I am thankful that my overall health is improving. I am thankful that my 20 month old son will most likely not remember my excessive drinking. My 5 month old son never saw me take a drink, and I am thankful for that. I hope that my 6 year old forgets that daddy almost always used to have a beer in his hand.

I am thankful that I can go out and drive at any time of the day or night, not having to worry about whether or not I had too much to drink. I am thankful that I can attend any function, not worrying that it will mess with my drinking schedule. I am now the odd one at gatherings who does not drink. I am thankful that I do not have to empty the trash as often. My wife is happier, because she does not have to go out and get me more beer, stop at the liquor store on the way home, or be designated Denise.

It has been very tough at times, but I just don't drink any alcohol anymore. Not any, not even a sip. I am by no means condemning anyone who does, I did it for many, many years, and I am not about to preach to anyone. Most people can control their drinking. I cannot, or at least have not been able in the past. In my case, there is no such thing as just a beer or two. It always leads to around 15 or so. I am a former alcoholic, but am no more (I hope I don't make too many folks at the AA meetings mad by saying this). Sometimes I think that I have to start drinking again, but so far I have managed not to. I keep wanting to try just one beer, but I don't think it wise; Nor do I believe that in all likelihood that I would be able to consume just one.

Unfortunately, I have picked up a new bad habit, at least for me: compulsive gambling. I play the lottery constantly. At this point in time, I am behind by $287 for the year, and $164 for the month, assuming that my records are correct. I don't know what possessed me to buy that first scratch-off ticket back in September, but ever since then, it has been non stop. I can't quit.

Rationally, I know that I am just throwing away money, and I should probably quit playing altogether, or at least cut back dramatically. I keep on playing mainly for two reasons: I love to dream big, and I keep hoping for the big win (I won $100 on a $1 ticket once, and I won Cash 3, three Sundays in a row), and I also love the thrill of it. I find it very exhilarating. I have heard folks recommend keeping the money you were going to spend on the lottery in a jar, and you will be amazed at how fast it will pile up. I have not been able to do that, even though it makes good sense. I guess that I just need to be addicted to something. I wonder if there is a cure for someone as myself. Yes, we are members of our church, and attend regularly now. I try and pray some.

Anyone have any suggestions on either :
A)How to win at scratch-offs, Cash 3, and Fantasy 5; OR
B)How to quit?

 

I agree with you to a certain extent. My wife says that I have an addictive personality, whatever that is. I am not knowingly using that as a crutch, or excuse, but thank you for the constructive criticism. I am merely making a statement, kind of an observation looking in. I guess people do look for excuses for every aspect of their lives in many cases, and maybe I am just as guilty as the next person. I may be doing it without even thinking about it. Who knows.

I did not go out and look to get hooked on lottery tickets. I never woke up one day and said, I haven't been drinking for over 6 months, what else can I become addicted to. I just walked by a lotto machine one day, and said what the heck, I will just purchase three $2 tickets, and will see if I win. I did not expect to win, but I won $16. It was on from there.

I actually have no idea how much gambling constitutes fun, or when it becomes an addiction. Perhaps I used the wrong word, addiction. Is it a dollar amount? Is it how often you play? Is it a number of tickets? What if you don't tell your spouse exactly how much you are winning or losing? I sometimes go a week without playing, other times I play multiple times a day. I keep a very detailed record of every lottery purchase that I make. It is not hidden, but I do not advertise it either. It has not caused us any undue financial hardships; It has actually helped us a few times.

I guess if you are winning then you are doing good, making extra money, and if you are on a losing streak, you are doing something bad, you are a compulsive gambler. I know this for sure: When I am winning, my wife does not do too much complaining. It is only when I am on a losing streak. Am I addicted to games of chance or just the thrill? I am not a psychiatrist, so I do not know.

Maybe it is just thrill-seeking behavior which I know for a 100% fact that I crave, and have since I can remember. I love driving very fast, but have mostly given that up, due to having a family, and thinking more about their safety, as well as the safety of the motoring public and bystanders. If I do drive faster than is prudent, it is on a lonely, deserted stretch of roadway, in a car, not a truck, and it is for a short period of time, when I am certain that I am the only one on the road, and there are no homes anywhere nearby.

I love being in the woods in camo, and watching people and or animals walk by, who have no idea that I am there (don't ask, it just gives me a thrill along with another buddy of mine, so I know I am not the only one). I like off-roading in my Jeep in an newly bulldozed neighborhood, right after a soaking rain, knowing that there is the possibility that I will get stuck.

I knew a fellow that used to tap into the phone system in a shopping center, and would make interesting calls from one business to another. I have been hiking through much of north GA, far away from civilization, without a cell phone, and at times without a firearm. I think the time I was most afraid was when I was sleeping with just a poncho and poncho liner, miles from any road.

It was dark, and I had not planned on staying the night in the wilderness, but had gone in too far to make it out safely the same day. It was in deep woods, a moonless night, and it was pitch black, so dark that you could not even see your hand in front of your face, and I heard a branch break nearby, and it sounded like it had to be at least the size of my leg. There was no wind or any other logical explanation for that, other than a very large animal broke it.

I have stalked animals, but I am a photographer, not a hunter. I was mushroom hunting the other day, and came within 10 feet of a deer, and within 25 feet of her entire family: A medium sized 6-8 point buck, a doe, and their 2 kids. The doe and I locked eyes, and were having a Mexican standoff, seeing which of us would actually acknowledge the other. I finally spoke, and she ran off a little ways, and that is when I saw the rest of her family. That was quite thrilling. I am glad that buck didn't decide to gore me, deer have been known to go crazy. This was in a large tract of land, which such are becoming rare in our suburban area.

I have photographed bear with cubs up close, but that was in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, so they were used to humans, but that does not make them any less dangerous, if anything, it makes them more.

I know that I am going to spend $10 on the lottery today. Of that fact, I am certain, God willing. I don't know if I will purchase two $5 scratch offs, or one $5 scratch off and five Cash 3 plays, or five Cash 3 plays and five Fantasy 5 plays, or One $5 scratch off along with five Fantasy 5 plays. I also have no idea whether or not I will keep the money that I make (if I make any), or whether I will invest it in more tickets. Trying to figure out what to play in itself is exciting to me. Trying to win Fantasy 5, knowing the odds are 575,757:1, but I still play. Maybe I should just spend $5. Nah, 10 is an even number. There it is. I am an adrenaline junkie. Whether or not that means that I am deficit in any brain chemicals, that I do not know.