I have been sober for a month.
I didn't hit any "rock bottom" moment, nor was I given some type of ultimatum from my wife. I just made a conscious effort to stop drinking. Since the onset of the pandemic, I've been working from home. That's almost 18 months total. During that time frame, my alcohol intake went off the rails. I would work until mid afternoon, and then head out to my patio every evening and start drinking and grilling. It was like Memorial Day, every day in my back yard. This escalated to passing out most nights. On weekends, I often started about 8 am with Bloody Mary's until moving to beer and then cocktails by noon. I even attended dozens of little league games while hammered. Its embarrassing to admit how many times I had bourbon or vodka in a to-go cup at a baseball or soccer game for 8 year-olds.
Sometime in late July, my 6 year-old was thirsty and wanted a drink of water. He had conditioned himself to ask if any clear liquid is safe to drink. He's taken too many swigs of straight vodka out of a regular looking plastic cup. It dawned on me that I was instilling a very poor example for my kids and I needed to stop.
There have been some significant moments that tested my newly found sobriety throughout the last 31 days:
- first time at the lake without alcohol - tough but I passed. - I did take advantage of my wife though. That was a plus.
- multiple times grilling without a beer - now that has sucked, but I do love Iced Tea.
- first time watching a Chiefs game without being drunk.. seriously in maybe 10 years. - I find myself paying much more attention to the game... even lowly preseason.
- first time watching a Husker game without drinking throughout the game - now that was brutal - I didn't feel inclined to participate in the game thread. Which begs the question.. Are all game threaders drunk?
- First time dealing with a Husker loss without drowning my sorrows. - honestly, I think I handled it better. I even went to Home Depot after the game, bought a new garbage disposal and replaced the old one in my kitchen. My wife was impressed. - she let me take advantage of her again.
This Husker loss was tough. It was brutal for a handful of reasons, but none more than the realization and acceptance that Scott Frost will never get it done at Nebraska. I've been as patient and rational as any fan, more so than most. I believed talent was the end all be all, and I've given him a pass to rebuild the talent. I've seen the signs previously, but I allowed myself to dismiss it because I understood the team just wasn't very good.
But Nebraska didn't lose that game because of talent. They didn't even lose the game because Adrian played pretty poorly. They very simply lost because of coaching.
Illinois will maybe win 4 games this season. They were going to finish 3-9, but they played Nebraska, so now they will finish 4-8. The Illini ran the ball for 3.3 yards per carry, had their starting QB knocked out, and their backup (who really sucks btw) only attempted 15 passes all game. Oh, both teams were even in turnovers. Its almost impossible to win a game in Power 5 football that way. The rest of the 2021 season, I doubt you see any Power 5 teams beat a conference foe while only running for 3.3 yards per carry, throwing 19 passes, and finishing even in turnovers. - Assuming they're not playing Nebraska.
Frost and staff say they were surprised by the Illinois defense. I noticed it right away in the 1st possession. In fact, I called it with a buddy and said, "Nebraska wasn't prepared for this defensive front." At 5 Million per year, your offensive minded head coach should be able to call timeout and immediately adjust to the look. If not immediately, then adjust by the 2nd quarter. If not by the 2nd quarter, then adjust at half time. Illinois made a pretty simple adjustment at halftime and it allowed them to take the 2nd half kick and score on their opening drive. The rest of the game, they just needed one more big play to put the game away offensively.
Rest of the season? There is no need to break down opponents. Matchups don't matter anymore when playing Nebraska.
The Huskers matchup ideally with the following teams:
- Fordham
- Buffalo
- Michigan State
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Minnesota
- Purdue
- Iowa
But will Nebraska even win half those games? Seems unlikely.
Looks like I picked the wrong season to quit drinking:
I didn't hit any "rock bottom" moment, nor was I given some type of ultimatum from my wife. I just made a conscious effort to stop drinking. Since the onset of the pandemic, I've been working from home. That's almost 18 months total. During that time frame, my alcohol intake went off the rails. I would work until mid afternoon, and then head out to my patio every evening and start drinking and grilling. It was like Memorial Day, every day in my back yard. This escalated to passing out most nights. On weekends, I often started about 8 am with Bloody Mary's until moving to beer and then cocktails by noon. I even attended dozens of little league games while hammered. Its embarrassing to admit how many times I had bourbon or vodka in a to-go cup at a baseball or soccer game for 8 year-olds.
Sometime in late July, my 6 year-old was thirsty and wanted a drink of water. He had conditioned himself to ask if any clear liquid is safe to drink. He's taken too many swigs of straight vodka out of a regular looking plastic cup. It dawned on me that I was instilling a very poor example for my kids and I needed to stop.
There have been some significant moments that tested my newly found sobriety throughout the last 31 days:
- first time at the lake without alcohol - tough but I passed. - I did take advantage of my wife though. That was a plus.
- multiple times grilling without a beer - now that has sucked, but I do love Iced Tea.
- first time watching a Chiefs game without being drunk.. seriously in maybe 10 years. - I find myself paying much more attention to the game... even lowly preseason.
- first time watching a Husker game without drinking throughout the game - now that was brutal - I didn't feel inclined to participate in the game thread. Which begs the question.. Are all game threaders drunk?
- First time dealing with a Husker loss without drowning my sorrows. - honestly, I think I handled it better. I even went to Home Depot after the game, bought a new garbage disposal and replaced the old one in my kitchen. My wife was impressed. - she let me take advantage of her again.
This Husker loss was tough. It was brutal for a handful of reasons, but none more than the realization and acceptance that Scott Frost will never get it done at Nebraska. I've been as patient and rational as any fan, more so than most. I believed talent was the end all be all, and I've given him a pass to rebuild the talent. I've seen the signs previously, but I allowed myself to dismiss it because I understood the team just wasn't very good.
But Nebraska didn't lose that game because of talent. They didn't even lose the game because Adrian played pretty poorly. They very simply lost because of coaching.
Illinois will maybe win 4 games this season. They were going to finish 3-9, but they played Nebraska, so now they will finish 4-8. The Illini ran the ball for 3.3 yards per carry, had their starting QB knocked out, and their backup (who really sucks btw) only attempted 15 passes all game. Oh, both teams were even in turnovers. Its almost impossible to win a game in Power 5 football that way. The rest of the 2021 season, I doubt you see any Power 5 teams beat a conference foe while only running for 3.3 yards per carry, throwing 19 passes, and finishing even in turnovers. - Assuming they're not playing Nebraska.
Frost and staff say they were surprised by the Illinois defense. I noticed it right away in the 1st possession. In fact, I called it with a buddy and said, "Nebraska wasn't prepared for this defensive front." At 5 Million per year, your offensive minded head coach should be able to call timeout and immediately adjust to the look. If not immediately, then adjust by the 2nd quarter. If not by the 2nd quarter, then adjust at half time. Illinois made a pretty simple adjustment at halftime and it allowed them to take the 2nd half kick and score on their opening drive. The rest of the game, they just needed one more big play to put the game away offensively.
Rest of the season? There is no need to break down opponents. Matchups don't matter anymore when playing Nebraska.
The Huskers matchup ideally with the following teams:
- Fordham
- Buffalo
- Michigan State
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Minnesota
- Purdue
- Iowa
But will Nebraska even win half those games? Seems unlikely.
Looks like I picked the wrong season to quit drinking:
