My one year anniversary Options

[TheCabinetmaker]

As some of you know, I am a gout sufferer. For those who don't know, its a terrible, painful disease. I knew what the "bad foods" were and avoided them. Still, about every 4 to 6 months I had an "attack" that could last as long as three weeks. Sometimes I would spend two of those weeks not being able to walk without the help of a cane and lots of pain meds. Last January I had a bout that lasted almost two months. One week my foot would hurt. It would clear up and the next day my elbow would swell and hurt. This went on from week to week. March 1 2011, I had my last drink of alcohol. I've been gout free since then and my uric acid level has dropped to half of what it used to be. Today is my one year anniversary of being sober. Now, I never figured myself an alcoholic, and I do love beer and wine (not to mention a good single malt). Besides the obvious health benefits, I've found so many "hidden" benefits. I immediately lost 30 pounds around the belly. My bank account balance has increased by about $500 bucks a month(easy 20 bucks a day for a good bottle of french red). I don't ever have to worry about getting arrested for a dui.

The bad part is the one arm guy who cleaned the beer cans from my trash can has lost a little income. Sorry dude, but your loss is my gain.