chaimoigen wrote on 24 Dec 2023 05:13:

on behalf of all the bocherim here, can you clarify what you mean by vasikin? Like early? In the morning?!?!? I thought vasikin was for when you stay up all night...

*asking for a friend

Maybe try having a seder with a chavrusa?

Day 7:
Had a lousy sleepy morning but bh managed to have a productive afternoon and evening.

Still dreading starting the week - hopefully won't let it get to me!

Diet started today - one of the side-effects of visiting a cardiologist...

Sshh.. Don't tell your wife or doctor... I have bourbon, cigarettes and extra strong coffee. You know where to find me, just stop by...  

Alas, it is to scotch I pay my allegiance. Do you have one of those upper-class vapes for me??? ;-)

Day 8:
Had some job-anxiety in the morning and some triggers at a restaurant in the afternoon. Got lost in my head at 3:30 but managed to pull myself into a successful second seder and everything straightened out from there.

It seems the afternoon before second seder time is very hard - makes sense because I don't have a chavrusa (for good reason) so it's easy for me to feel and to be lost. B'h if I stick with my plan second seder is one of my most productive times of day.

Most of all keeping on top of TBOTG, getting to bed on time, and keeping in touch with the rocking-house chevra on GYE - it's good to be a non-porn-watcher!!!

MAZEL TOV!!! MAZEL TOV!!!

Why do I get a Mazel Tov you ask?
In today's round of HeChochma versus Lust - Lust attempted a massive ambush!

I went to the somewhere and I knew there may be some challenges - but heavens almighty the person I was dealing with was a far too attractive and far too friendly young woman. Okay, I didn't expect it to be this bad - but I'm TBOTGed I'm ready for the challenge - the battle is real and I'm all in - doing good.

Then the lady says - aight she'll be back in 15 minutes. Walks out and closes the door.

And then I realized the computer right next to me is unfiltered. Lust is beckoning with a sly smile and a hearty appetite - I'm on the menu...

Full disclosure - last time a similar thing happened I watched porn on the computer even though the room didn't actually have a door and the computer was across the room... and I was working with a highly untriggering man. But this time, the door was closed, this friendly attractive woman was busy triggering me to the wazoo and the computer was right at my side - smiling and waving...

BUT NO!!
I'm NOT a porn watcher!!!
I"M NOT A PORN-WATCHER!!!!!!
In fact I'm actually a NON-PORN-WATCHER!!!!!
Yet
אלמלא הקב"ה עוזרו אינו יכול לו.

I needed Hashem's help. So I called Hashem Help Me. He didn't pick up. I called again -
"Is it an emergency?"
"YES"
"FIRE IN THE HOUSE OF AMRAM" WHeeooooWHEOOOOOwheeooooo - Fire department on the way to extinguish the blazes.

It occurred to me then to sleep the computer so it locks. B'h after 45 seconds on the phone the tide started to recede and b'h I slept the computer and when this woman returns she says "Hmm that's so funny this computer never shuts..."

Still have a bit of battle fatigue but I took a fat nap after that ordeal and we flyin'.
 SO

MAZEL TOV!!!

Thank you Hashem, you bedded the computer and not the women!

So inspiring to read this, thank you so much!

Mazel tov!!
Thank you for sharing this amazing moment with us. 

Day 9:
Computer shutting in 2 - had a great day - bit of a stressful lonely evening - big thanks to ChaimO, Foolie, HHM, and YKW for keeping me company and carrying the day!!!

Keep on trucking!!!

P.S. I also needed to post because I don't get updates from this thread 

But seriously Keep on trucking you are awesome!

Day 10:
Bh - A wonderful day in the neighborhood!

BE WHOLLY BROTHERS!

hechochma wrote on 29 Dec 2023 04:30:

roger that!

I'm so late to this party but I just read the thread from A to Z! I love your energy, and from your last anecdote, it seems like this time you're in it for real. Hope this nice message makes your dreary, horrible, no-good Motze Shabbos a teeny tiny drop more bearable!

Bennyh wrote on 31 Dec 2023 04:08:

Thanks!!! It means a lot to me that you say that this time I'm in it for real - I can sometimes be very positive but until now there has always been a part of me that was holding back. I'm working hard on being all-in right now - and I want to keep that up - so thanks for the compliment - and yes, you've added a ray of light into my generally very much disliked MS!!!

Day 12:
Bh Shabbos was good. MS was horrible and no-good as it tends to be... even in Australia. Big thanks to Foolie, ChaimO, Eerie, ASY, YKW, HHM and just now BennyH for helping me enjoy MS that much more!!!

I actually had a whole plan - I was supposed to go on the treadmill, unpack some seforim and learn - but alas, my son had to go to urgent care, and it turns out there was a parlor meeting I had to be at that I hadn't known about. Ah mentch tracht...

bright wrote on 24 Dec 2023 14:42:

I am considering this - but it needs to be such a geshmake limud and such a geshmake chavrusa and on the phone... My last attempt at an MS chavrusa fell apart recently due to a lack of those three conditions...