{{{{Erin}}}}}

never knew why this was an awful thing to say or do. I mean , as an everyday thing, that would be a questionable statement. but a dark room, a glass of wine , a walk alone, etc. are all ways people center , calm , and realign themselves. doing any one of those things too often could be bad in the long run ( avoidence ) ,but sometimes it helps

I read an interesting article by a guy who has a martini when he gets home, just about every day. Just the one, though. He was under some stress, went to see a therapist Therapist flipped out about the martini, blah blah, can't use alcohol as a coping mechanism, etc., etc. And then prescribed Xanax. He wrote that he couldn't understand why the martini was bad, but prescription drugs were okay. I think that he had a point.

Man. I would trade this glass o' wine for a Xanax ASAP!

Although my kitty is being very sweet to me, and is curled up on my feet and meowing concernedly, and that's better than both.

Sweet kitty.

This is why I do not tell my doctor that I have a glass of wine every day.

Yes?

Oh, you probably mean the kitty there!

Alcohol is a drug. It is often abused, but I certainly don't believe it is inherently more dangerous than most other drugs. Based on what the one Xanax I ever had did to me, I'd rather go with the alcohol. It's easier to limit dose.

One of my friends tells a story about John Denver time. Her mom was gettign very stressed, just basic life stress. at the time when mother's little helper was perscribed easily and often. Mom's doctor gave her a choice of a pill or a glass of wine . mom chose wine. When Mom got stressed , she put on music she liked, and sat down with a glass of wine. Interstingly , this gave a clear signal to the kids that mom was hanging by a thread, the needed to calm down , and so would mom. The adult kids, remember the ritual of John denver time with fondness. I don't think all that would have come from a pill

John Denver Time is brilliant! Although here it would likely be Grateful Dead Time or The Jam Time. I may have to try this.

Erin, you're going to have incoming e in a bit, not about writing.

The wife of our minister used to send her kids up to their rooms for either a half hour or an hour every afternoon, so she could be alone and relax. I don't know if there was wine (although she'll have a glass), but I loved her for telling that to a bunch of youngish mothers.

Whoa. Role reversal. Weirdness.

Emily just got all concerned and mothery because I said the popcorn I just ate was dinner.

Also, if I didn't think it would make me terribly sick to my stomach, I'd totally be downing my night meds with some alcohol tonight. I need to sleep, dammit!

Also, also, {{{Erin}}}. Sounds like you've got a good plan for the evening.