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I have recovered from the disease of Alcoholism. I believe there is only one person really,.. everybody. And that peace of mind is everything. -So treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself, because your neighbor IS yourself. I think most of recovery is what I would call common sense, but that learning to be ordinary is a true gift very few people acquire. My ambition is to accept everything unflinchingly, with compassion, and therefore be intrinsically comfortable in my own skin, no matter what. I am comfortable being uncomfortable and am willing to go to any lengths to improve my life. I believe the Big Book was divinely inspired, and is extraordinarily powerful. Unfortunately AA's best kept secret a lot of the time. (In my opinion). I just try to do what works, no matter what it is.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Finally! A use for Vodka in Recovery. (But ONLY if being around alcohol DOESN'T bother you!!)

Disclaimer: OBVIOUSLY please do NOT do this, if being around alcohol does not feel comfortable or you are a slightly ! over ambitious newcomer, (meaning COMPLETELY in denial,) and keep relapsing despite telling yourself you are 'ok' around alcohol. I only say this as I am not bothered by alcohol and I find a lot of Sponsees are the same, but its a personal thing, so do as you please. To be honest I do find it a bit weird (and funny) that I have a half empty Vodka bottle sitting next to all my cleaning stuff in a kitchen cupboard. Funny really. What would a visiting Sponsee think if they saw it!! Might look a bit suss! Hahaha.

In theory de ionized water or some distilled water might be ok to use instead, but I have tried it before once, admittedly in a much larger spray bottle, and it went a bit ! rank after a while. Don't really know why. But I love the two cleaning ladies on that programme, and have used their suggestions more than once already, so I just assume they know what they are talking about. All I'm saying is that the vodka element is not ESSENTIAL. If you like the idea, but don't fancy using the vodka.

Ok you will need:
Some GOOD Ylang Ylang from somewhere likeFragrant earth. (I would choose the Ylang Ylang extra superior - 10ml (Reference #EO669), but then I am a bit of an essential oil snob!)
Also. You could get some Geranium, Rose - 5ml (Reference #EO27O-5ml) because it is pretty cheap. Not as nice on its own, but can be added to a Ylang Ylang base.
Orange, sweet - 10ml(Reference #EO48O-10ml) is good on its own too but I find it a bit weak.
Sandalwood might be really nice actually, but I haven't tried that one. Lime might work, but I haven't tried it. And orange and clove would probably work well together but I haven't tried that one either. Still doing the flowery ones! There are LOTS of very nice flowery ones but the can be VERY expensive, so better to stick to the cheaper ones.

Then go to Waitrose and pick up the 'low rent' own brand vodka designed for cocktails (because it has less ? Taste apparently) Or so it says on the label!

Then off to superdrug to get yourself one of those empty spray bottles for a pound.
And voila! You have a !!! GORGEOUS room fragrancing kit.

The way this works is: you put ? 6-10 drops of Ylang Ylang in the empty spray bottle. Then you fill the rest up with the vodka. Shake it up a bit. Then use it as a room spray.
I LOVE it. It make the place smell EXACTLY the same as being in a flower shop full of flowers. Each to their own, but I LOVE it.

I saw it on that programme 'How clean is your house' AGES ago, and kept meaning to get round to doing it. Finally did quite recently.

Obviously, if you start thinking of ! DRINKING the vodka, then this is probably not for you! Stick to some lovely ! aerosol instead!

But I just thought that I would share that with you as I was deeply impressed by how good it smelled, and have been handing out little bottles of the stuff to people when I meet them. (Not random alcoholics I might add!) They seem to like it too. The vodka element always elicits a slightly puzzled look as well, which is always a bit of a laugh.

But basically, it IS lovely. Its like the room is filled with flowers. Not at ALL like normal ? Room fragrancers.

Its FAR too nice weather to blog and I'm enjoying my rest from study, so excuse my lack of enthusiasm for posting, but I just thought I would share that recent discovery. I should be in the gym!! I've managed to reinstate the gym routine, but I'm still eating luxuries. Ie crap. Boo hoo! Its back to the raw vegtables I reckon. Its not easy giving up bread! Ah well. Rice and beans might be an adequate substitute for the crack-cocaine-like addiction to bread! Worth a try anyway. See yal! Have a nice Sunday!

11 comments:

One Drunk to Another said...

Hmmm, don't think I will try it. Great site! I've not been here before, but I'll be back!

Syd said...

Hey Irish, I'll just stick to incense. I'm not in a blogging mood either but need to catch up on things. It seems that I am out of touch due to travels.

Shadow said...

hey! definately gonna try that room spray. i'll mix it quickly so i don't get tempted, heee heee heee

Sarah said...

hmm, I definitely don't think I could have it around. not yet anyway. but it sounds like a great idea!

ps rice and beans are a fantastic complete protein. and cheap!

Recovery Road London said...

Very very dangerous. Incredible you posted it.

The next time I buy booze, it's to drink it. Not to use it as a bizarre and unnecessary alternative to having the windows open.

Other than that, I hope you're having a great day!
lol

Kenny

Shannon said...

I just think you cute being all excited for this air freshner. I am glad you like it

Shannon said...

Opps wasnt done posting yet... LOL I think it would smell good I think its very intersting to bring this up. The whole time I was reading this I was thinkings -OMG buy Vodka???? AAH! or Have Vodka in my house... kinda freaked me out a bit LOL I know you gave your disclaimer and please dont think I am giving you a hard time because I so am not- just would feel weird to me...

Hope your evening is going good

twodogsblogging said...

Does it help with dog smell?

Anonymous said...

Well Vodka was not my drink of choice, for some reason I reacted horribly to it. Somehow Rum allowed me to have an ill perception that I could control a drunken state. Weird. I will stick to incents for now :) as Syd mentions. However it is very interesting to learn of this.

Anonymous said...

Amazed at the "recovered" folks who express fear at the thought of being in the presence of alcohol.

When Silkworth said that alcoholics could not use alcohol safely in any form at all - I am fairly sure he meant INGESTING.

If the presence of alcohol is making someone uncomfortable - there must be a reservation at the first step...If avoidance gives you some sort of power over alcohol - that isn't true powerlessness.

I hope I made someone feel uncomfortable with their "recovery" today.

An Irish Friend of Bill said...

Yeah. I agree Anon
"People have said we must not have it in our homes"
"We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, STILL HAS AN ALCOHOLIC MIND; there is something the matter with his spiritual status. His only chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a bottle of scotch and ruin everything!"
"Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things alcoholics are not supposed to do."
(p101, AA Big Book)

Well I did put that post in with the proviso that those that were not "spiritually fit' ought not to try this prematurely, but for those recovered folks, I can see no !!! problem here. Plus this is what I have observed first hand amongst those that are WALKING the walk as opposed to just talking the talk. Ie those that "perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others" (p14, AA Big Book)
They are all absolutely !!! FINE. Otherwise I would not have suggested it. But there you go. Just ANOTHER example of "If you want to hide something from an alcoholic, put it in the Big book"
Bt yeah. Ultimately its live and let live regarding those that use another approach. I am in no position to judge as I am sure I am equally deluded in other respects. I cannot claim to be 'better than'. I try to be helpful by describing what its like for me in a life that feels incredibly fearless regarding alcohol. For me and for Sponsees. But I understand many are fearful. Unfortunately their recovery is none of my business and even if it were, I am utterly powerless over how they decide to work their programme. But yeah anon, I can relate to your frustration in wanting others to be able to utterly unafraid of alcohol. But there you go. It would be nice if everybody in AA had the step 9 promises on page 85 wouldn't it?
Thanks for stopping by anyway :)

"We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality—safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition."
(p85, AA Big Book)

From:
"People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to their houses; we mustn’t think or be reminded about alcohol at all.

We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status. His only chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a bottle of scotch and ruin everything! Ask any woman who has sent her husband to distant places on the theory he would escape the alcohol problem.

In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.
(p101, AA Big Book)