Dry January has become an international movement. The premise is simple: Start the new year off by abstaining from alcohol for a month..The practice has picked up steam in recent years and participation grows with each January.
My partner and I decided to take on the challenge of doing Dry January this year to begin our year with achieving a health goal. It has been much easier than expected to stay sober throughout the month.
Here are the biggest takeaways that we have for anybody interested in participating in Dry January:
Do Dry January with a group of friends. This one was huge for me. Having both my partner and a handful of friends participate made abstaining an act of solidarity with friends. Everybody can benefit from an accountabilibuddy.
Find non-alcoholic substitutes you enjoy. My head has always linked football and beer together so finding a great non-alcoholic beer has been pivotal to be sustaining Dry January during the NFL and CFB playoffs. Some Vermont breweries have even gotten in on the trend and have begun producing NA craft beer.
It doesn’t have to be January. Whether you are sober curious or just looking for a month-long challenge, it is important to remember that you can do a sober month any time of the year.
My experience with Dry January has been extremely rewarding. I truly think that I have gained valuable lessons that will help me make healthier choices in the future.
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Sometimes you need a 10,000-foot or even higher view to get the true impact of an event. Take the recent potent winter storm that dumped up to 10 feet of the snow before it moved eastward.
NASA and the National Weather Service have released satellite photos of the Sierra on Jan. 20 and Jan. 30.
The mounting snowpack may get another foot or more of additional snow over the next 72 hours as a new system was advancing toward the Bay Area and Northern California on Sunday evening.
“Total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches, except 8 to 18 inches above 7000 feet possible,” the weather service said. “Highest totals will be near and west of Highway 89. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph across higher elevations of the Sierra.”
In the San Francisco Bay Area where 3-9 inches fell during last week’s storms, forecasters said as much as 1 1/2 inches could fall by Tuesday night.
“The Bay Area will generally be around a half inch, locally up to 0.75 inch,” NWS forecasters said. “Farther south, expect a third of an inch to a half inch for inland and valley locations with an 1-1.5 inches in the Santa Cruz and Big Sur mountains. The good news is that the rain should be fairly steady so no concerns of heavy, intense rain rates.”
Any rain is a welcome relief for the region where tinder-dry hills helped fuel a historic wildfire system last fall.
Before last week’s storm arrived in Northern California, the region was under severe to extreme drought conditions according to the U.S Drought Monitor.
Between Oct 1-Jan 26, San Francisco had received just 3.33 inches of rain. Over a 72-hour span last week, that total climbed to 5.39 inches — 41 percent of the annual rainfall total, according to the weather service.
In Oakland, the total was 2.51 inches before the storm and stood at 4.20 inches when the rains passed — 38 percent of the annual average cumulation.
The news was even better for the South Bay — hammered by the storm front — where San Jose saw its yearly total jump to 3.80 inches or 50 percent of its annual average with Salinas seeing its yearly total jump to 4.40 inches or 70 percent of its annual average precipitation.
While it was a good week, Department of Water Resources spokesperson Chris Orrock says we need more.
“The ground was so dry that a lot of the moisture was absorbed into the soils instead of running off into our reservoirs and streams,” said Orrock.
February 01, 2021 at 12:13AM
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/31/dramatic-satellite-photos-show-storms-impact-on-bone-dry-northern-california/
Dramatic Satellite Photos Show Storm’s Impact On Bone-Dry Northern California - CBS San Francisco
Mobile, Ala. (WKRG) – We saw some lingering showers this afternoon, but most of the rain has moved out as the cold front makes its way through our area. We are in for a BIG pattern shift switching from warm, rainy and humid to COLD, sunny and dry with lows tonight dropping to the upper 30’s in our inland communities and lower 40’s at the coast. The breezy winds will stick around from the NW at around 15 mph with gusts up to 25 tonight making wind chilly values likely in the 20’s tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow starts of cold, windy, and cloudy, but the sunshine should make an appearance in the afternoon. Temperatures will start in the 30’s and 40’s with wind chill values in the 20’s, but afternoon highs will reach the upper 40’s inland and lower 50’s at the coast. Gusty conditions will continue with winds from the NW at 15-20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Temperatures will slowly warm as the week goes on reaching near 70 degrees by Friday when we see our next rain chance that will linger into next weekend.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Clouds are beginning to decrease in the region. Temperatures are comfortable in the middle and upper 50s. Although, we are seeing a breezy northwest wind. A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect until 6 PM. Winds could gust over 20 mph. As the winds begin to relax, we will see nighttime temperatures dropping down near freezing.
Monday will be a nice afternoon with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures. Clouds will increase for Tuesday. An upper ridge of high pressure will keep us dry and mild for the next few days. Highs will warm into the 60s and 70s for Wednesday and Thursday.
The next best chance of rain will come Thursday and Friday. The main upper low will track to the north of the region. So we will see a few showers Thursday evening and Friday. During this timeframe, the forecast becomes pretty muddled. One model shows the rain exiting Friday and keeping us dry for the weekend. On the flip side, one model shows more rain for Saturday. Both models are agreeing on some very chilly air coming down by next Sunday. Highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s!
Colder temperatures are on the wayThe next seven days
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CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – With a chance of overnight snow Sunday, we may have a dusting of it on the cars Monday morning.
The rest of the week should be dry and chilly, with overnight lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s, according to the National Weather Service.
Clarksville forecast
Here’s the rest of the forecast.
Monday: Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow showers in the morning. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday night and Wednesday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. Highs in the mid 40s.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
Thursday: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the lower 50s.
Thursday night and Friday: Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 30s. Highs in the upper 40s.
Friday night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers in the evening, then a slight chance of light snow after midnight. Lows in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Saturday: Partly sunny with a slight chance of light snow in the morning, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs around 40. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Today begins to dry out, but another quick round of high elevation snow and Upstate sprinkles comes on Monday. Sunny weather takes over Tuesday, followed by a nice warm-up later in the week.
Temperatures in the 30s hold strong for the next few hours as the sky begins to dry, so watch for slick conditions in the mountains. Mostly dry weather takes over in the afternoon, with highs reaching just the 40s.
Tonight we'll see mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers possible in the Upstate and snow over the higher mountains. Lows will be in the 30s.
Monday will bring mostly cloudy skies with a 20% chance for showers in the Upstate and 40% chance for snow showers in the mountains, mainly along the TN line. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s for the Upstate and upper 30s for the mountains. Overnight temperatures will be in the 20s.
Tuesday through Friday looks dry with the exception of the mountains where some rain showers could fall on Friday, otherwise we'll see quite a bit of sunshine. Highs will be in the 40s Tuesday then 50s after that. Lows will be in the 20s.
The next chance for widespread rain comes in on Saturday with highs in the 50s.
January 31, 2021 at 09:35PM
https://www.foxcarolina.com/weather/drying-out-today-more-rain-snow-monday/article_25e25684-6354-11eb-914a-6bfc358c975d.html
Drying out today, more rain/snow Monday - FOX Carolina
Foundation and dry skin can be like oil and water, Batman and Joker, Taylor and Kanye—which is to say that most of the time, they don’t get along. Instead of smoothing out dry or flaky skin, the wrong foundation can cake, itch, and further dehydrate an already-parched complexion. To find out which formulas are friends, not foes, to dry skin, we asked two makeup artists to share their intel.
Alexandria Gilleo, celebrity makeup artist and foundation expert recommends avoiding, “matte, powder, and powder-based foundations when working with dry skin because they can make dry skin appear worse and even more dull and dehydrated,” she says. Instead, you’ll want to look for creamy foundations in the form of oils, serums, tints, or creams. Terri Bryant, another world-renowned makeup artist, explains that the most hydrating foundations are ones that are infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a moisture magnet, and niacinamide, which supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Both artists stress the importance of skin prep, reminding everyone to apply a hydrating serum, moisturizer, and primer before even thinking about starting on makeup.
To find a product that fits the bill, keep scrolling for 10 makeup-artist-approved foundations that will leave even the driest complexions looking and feeling smooth.
Photo: Space NK
If you’re looking for a foundation with medium coverage that is packed with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients, Gilleo swears by this BECCA product. “It has a great velvety finish that helps dry skin look healthy and radiant,” she says.
Spiked with squalane and coconut oil, this easy-to-use foundation stick can spot-treat pigmentation and acne or work as an all-over foundation. In addition to boosting skin’s moisture, it also protects from environmental aggressors and helps your complexion fight inflammation.
With a mix of collagen, which helps with elasticity-and-hydration-boosting peptides, skin-tone evening niacin, and skin-damage-reducing antioxidants. this product truly overachieves. “Its finish is radiant, and the formula is buildable,” sats Gilleo, who names it as one of her go-tos when dealing dry skin.
For the perfect “no-makeup makeup” look, this oil-free buildable foundation has got you covered…literally. It offers medium coverage with a natural finish, and is so beloved that it’s even won the Community Favorite award at Sephora.
Tarte has gone and coined the term “foundcealer” to describe an all-in-one foundation-concealer, which is exactly what this product is. Its hydrating formula helps minimize the appearance of blemishes and contains antioxidants and essential fatty acids that work to protect and moisturize the skin. Best of all, it’ll cut your complexion routine down to a single step.
This formula is the most breathable of the bunch, and MUAs swear by it for dewy, hydrated, and healthy skin. If you like a foundation that’s ultra-lightweight and buildable (and won’t make ever make you feel caked on), this one’s a great pick.
With over 2,000 glowing reviews on Sephora’s site, this buildable face-and-body foundation has become a total fan fave. Because it’s waterproof (and sweat-resistant), you can be sure that it will stay on all day without smudging or creasing.
With a powerful blend of skin-nourishing botanical actives, this serum foundation creates an even complexion that looks as good as it feels. While providing optimal coverage, the aloe, rosehip, jojoba, and marula oils work to hydrate the skin and soothe irritation and redness, making it one of Bryant’s favorites.
This tinted facial oil is the ultimate for light coverage. It’s made from a mix of six hydrating oils, and comes with a light tint that creates a clean, velvety finish that looks just like your skin. It’s unlike any traditional foundation you’ve ever tried, and has earned a five-star stamp of approval from our dry-skinned beauty editor.
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WATERTOWN — The Dry Hill Ski Area is enjoying a stretch of excellent conditions and the slopes are busy with skiers, snowboarders and tubers in this, its 60th year.
The facility has had its ups and downs with issues like the weather and ownership in the six decades since skiers first took to its slopes, but it has maintained a determination to survive and to remain a local treasure, if only because of it being a novelty — a ski center in the back yard, a brief leap, from a metropolitan area.
“I don’t think people realize that there aren’t too many communities that have skiing 15, 20, 30 minutes away,” said Dry Hill Ski Area owner Timothy L. McAtee. “And you can go there for three hours and spend $20. Most people’s skiing experience is, you wake up at 4 in the morning, you drive for two or three hours, you ski all day, and you’re tired and get back in the car and drive two or three hours. That’s what a lot of people put up with to be able to ski.”
John N. Russell, president of the Dry Hill Ski Development Corp., looks things over in 1960. Watertown Daily Times
But during this ski season, the pandemic is causing people to remain closer to home.
“We’ve had some great crowds almost every day we’ve been opened,” Mr. McAtee said. “I think this year, especially with the COVID thing, I see a little more appreciation that people realize that this is a big asset to the community and it’s important to the area.”
Before Dry Hill was developed as a skiing center, local residents took other Wartertown hills to ski on. In the late 1940s, according to Times files, there was a privately operated ski tow at a northwest slope at Thompson Park. In 1950, the city cleared a slope on a Thompson Park hill facing Gifford Street (Route 12).
In 1951, the city spent $5,000 ($49,000 in today’s dollars, factoring inflation) to install a 560-foot-long ski tow with a lighting system. At its Jan. 10, 1951 opening ceremony, city recreation superintendent John H. Patterson pushed a button to operate the tow for the first time. Its use was free for the public, and a warming house was built at the base of the slope.
“All the skiers have to do is grab the rope and ride to the top,” Mr. Patterson said at the opening ceremony.
In 1960, a corporation was organized to raise $10,000 ($88,000 in today’s dollars) for the creation of a ski area for the community. The development of the Dry Hill area began as a community development project by the Jefferson County Junior Chamber of Commerce. Its members spent weeks clearing the slope at Dry Hill, which legend says, got its name from a popular distillery located there in the mid-1800s that attracted thirsty patrons to new heights.
By the opening of Dry Hill’s second year of operation in December of 1961, the ski center had been “vastly improved,” the Times reported.
John N. Russell, president of the Dry Hill Ski Development Corp., said officials and members of the local organization “feel the trails are as good as any to be found at larger ski areas in the section.”
In December 1960, the Watertown Daily Times reported that work was nearing completion at the Dry Hill Ski Area on the two slopes to be used that winter.
Two chain-driven tow ropes were in operation. Three ski instructors gave lessons.
In the spring of 1962, lights were installed at Dry Hill, the Times reported. In the winter of that year, a T-bar lift replaced the rope tow. A lodge was also built.
By 1963, the place was buzzing, as “modern slope grooming equipment” was put to use.
“Last winter’s record snow depths for the Watertown region kept operations humming through a long season at Dry Hill, and brought many skiers from distant points, including Canada and far afield throughout New York state to enjoy the deep base and frequent fresh powder,” the Times reported in December 1963.
By the 1970s, a chair lift was operating at Dry Hill. In the 1970s and 1980s, events expanded to include freestyle jumping, sled dog events, a ski-athon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, formation of a ski school, tube races, a snowbake, and even an “ugly skier contest.”
In 1966 the ski area was leased by Hall Ski Lift Co., under a five-year plan with an option to purchase. Hall Ski Lift, which built and installed lifts around the country, was founded in Watertown by Victor E. Hall in the mid-1950s. In the early 1980s, the company was bought by Van Roll.
In 1972, Hall Ski Lift purchased the Dry Hill Ski Area. In 1973, it put the property up for sale and later in 1973, it was being leased by Snow Cap Ski Development, a new group based in Watertown.
But by 1979, Dry Hill was being called “the faltering ski area” by the Times due to financial issues. Watertown Resorts Inc., its owners at the time, quietly put the area on the market. But in the fall of 1979, Labrador Development Corp., owners of Labrador Mountain Ski Area near Cortland, leased the hill from Watertown Savings Bank, to the delight of local skiers.
In March 1980, the ski area was sold at public auction to, once again, Hall Ski Lift for $96,350, but the company backed out of the agreement and a second auction was scheduled. Watertown Savings Bank was the sole bidder, which allowed the institution to negotiate privately for the sale of the property.
In the fall of 1980, Donald B. Berry, a veteran of ski area management, purchased Dry Hill for an undisclosed sum. He renamed it Sun-burst Mountain.
Mr. Berry left town in the summer of 1982 and the area went into bankruptcy. Once again, Watertown Savings Bank became its owner.
Steve P. Satterfied, rental shop manager at Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown, shows children in the ski school how to properly tighten down bolts on a snowboard. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Stability on the hill
Mr. McAtee continues to operate Dry Hill today after taking it over nearly 40 years ago.
Mr. McAtee and his financial backer, Steven P. Bishop, purchased the bankrupt ski center in 1984 for $150,000 ($373,000 in today’s dollars) from Watertown Savings Bank, after leasing it for two years. Mr. McAtee would eventually buy out the share of his partner, now deceased.
Mr. McAtee attributes his long stretch of ownership to “a combination of being lucky and stubborn.”
“I’ve just been fortunate,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of things: ice storms, banks going out of business and winters when it just wouldn’t snow. Now, we get to finish it off with a pandemic.”
But Mr. McAtee has been trying to make the most of the situation.
“The pandemic is obviously awful and it’s changed almost everyone’s life in so many different ways,” he said. “Normally, I don’t consider it lucky to be operating an outdoor, winter-dependent business, but during the days of COVID, this is what people are looking for. They’re looking for something to do where they feel safe.”
Mr. McAtee said that the nature of ski equipment, with face coverings and gloves, coupled with social distancing, can provide a safe environment in regards to COVID.
“It’s something that I believe people are finding at least relatively safe and somewhat comfortable doing, because there’s not much else to do in the winter up in Jefferson County,” he said.
Mr. McAtee said the nature of his business competes for people’s time. There’s more of that commodity with things like school-related activities such as sports and music events canceled.
“We’re busy this season because those things are gone,” he said. “They have more money to spend on things they can do, and that’s what we’re seeing happen.”
Those extra visits this season may pay off down the road for the ski area as more people get into the habit of skiing, or learning how to do it.
“We’re putting a crazy amount of people through our ski school,” Mr. McAtee said. “It’s just wild. A lot of people are trying skiing and snowboarding. I’m hoping that if this continues, we can turn many people into customers for the next few seasons.”
Kallie Jo McDermott, of Brownville, zooms down the hill in a tube at Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown where she spent the day with friends on the slopes. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Good winter stretch
The weather has largely been working out for Mr. McAtee this year, or at least when compared to previous years.
“We’ve had snow on the ground since we opened in the middle of December,” Mr. McAtee said. “I think it’s one of the longest spells without a weather interruption in many years.”
The lack of consistent wintry weather makes the ski area owner skittish about new investments.
“The last really good winter around here was 2010-11,” he said. “Since then, they’ve just been mediocre.”
Speaking on Jan. 21 when lake effect snow and a long stretch of cold weather was in the forecast, he added, “This year is one of the better starts to winter we’ve had since then.”
In 1988, the ski area made major investments that included two new snow machines, an electrical cable along a 2,000-foot slope to power the new machines and a larger water pump to run the snow machines. That work, along with new lights and a third slope, cost about $75,000. In the late 1990s, a tubing hill was added.
The community support for the area was shown in December of 2018 when Mr. McAtee’s snowmaking pump house burned down.
The Dry Hill ski school has taught scores of people over the years the finer points of the sport. These skiers were learning in 1981. Watertown Daily Times
“The outpouring of support that winter was very humbling,” he said. “I really wasn’t prepared for the many people who came out and said something, or were concerned that we recover. We didn’t like the fire happening, but it was nice to see how many people in the community reached out in support.”
Mr. McAtee would have liked to further reflect on that community support by hosting 60th-anniversary events.
“With the COVID thing, it’s not a good idea,” he said.
But those events may be postponed to next year, or even the year after.
“Sixty years is a pretty good milestone,” Mr. McAtee said. “Especially for a small ski area to be surviving, because there’s not a lot of us left in the country.”
Times archive librarian Kelly Burdick contributed to this report.
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January 31, 2021 at 10:30AM
https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/business/for-60-years-watertown-s-dry-hill-ski-area-has-seen-many-ups-and-downs/article_e3fd3879-829a-5aeb-ab3d-8935fccb9b11.html
For 60 years, Watertown's Dry Hill Ski Area has seen many ups and downs - NNY360
High pressure will keep things dry and cold through Sunday afternoon along with a light wind and brilliant blue sky. Although the highest temperatures Sunday will still be below average, it won’t feel as cold as the past couple of days.
Clouds will begin to increase Sunday afternoon, a sign of the upcoming storm. If the timing is right with the high clouds it could be a pretty nice sunset to conclude the final day of January.
There’s no doubt that a storm is going to hit us Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. It’s also without question that someone in New England is going to see between 6 inches and a foot of snow. The devil is in the details and the placement of this heavy swath of snow still needs to be honed a little bit. The map below is my current thinking as of Saturday evening, but you should expect these bands to be shifting as I get more data Sunday.
There is a winter storm watch posted for a large area of the northeast. When it becomes clearer that 6 inches or more of snow will fall, the watch becomes a warning.
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Snow is expected to arrive in some areas of Mass.Dave Epstein
It’s likely there will be some snow showers late in the morning on Monday. This is a forerunner of the storm itself, with the steady snow moving in the afternoon or evening. Snow will continue to pick up with each passing hour after sunset.
During the height of the storm, snow will be falling at rates of half an inch to perhaps even 2 inches per hour. This looks to be occurring Monday evening and the commute home could be quite difficult.
As of Saturday evening, this is the current snow prediction for southern New England. The bands are likely to shift as more data arrives Sunday.Dave Epstein
Temperatures are going to be in the low to mid-thirties and this means very heavy and wet snow. This is likely going to create some power outages.
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Temperatures will be above freezing Monday evening and early Tuesday as the snow falls.Dave Epstein
I think the snow actually tapers off in the early morning Tuesday and although there will be some lingering snow on Tuesday that day is really about cleaning up. There might be a coating to an inch or two after sunrise, especially over Essex County.
A coastal storm will bring gusty winds and heavy precipitation to the area Monday night and early Tuesday.WeatherBell
Travel will become tricky at some point Monday afternoon and continue through Tuesday morning. This is going to impact the buses, for schools in session, heading home Monday later in the day, especially south of the Mass Pike and further west. I suspect that areas that receive the most snow will have school closures for Tuesday.
If you are scheduled to receive the vaccine late Monday evening or Tuesday morning and are uncomfortable driving in snow or poor road conditions, I would try to make alternative travel plans. Unfortunately, Mother Nature just is going to do what it does.
Most areas on Cape Cod will receive rain and wind. Winds are not going to be excessive, but definitely noticeable and there will be some coastal flooding around high tide Monday overnight and even again Tuesday afternoon.
Minor coastal flooding is likely in Boston Harbor Monday and Tuesday.NOAA
The second half of the upcoming week will feature above-freezing temperatures for some melting of whatever snow you have on the ground. There also may be another weather system Friday of rain or perhaps a mixed bag.
Our next shot at rain arrives late on Thursday. We’ll likely stay wet Thursday night and some of Friday. A few rumbles of thunder are possible, but severe weather appears unlikely at this time. Rain amounts with our next weather will average around an inch or so. Temperatures will be well into the 60s Thursday, but a cold front will bring highs downs into the 50s on Friday.
Above: Cloudy skies over the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego County. Nov. 8, 2020.
The weather this weekend in San Diego County was expected to be dry with a warming trend as high pressure builds, with the next chance for rain and mountain snow predicted to arrive Tuesday night and Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Saturday.
The clear skies Saturday were expected to help start a warming process that will continue through Sunday, forecasters said.
At the beaches Saturday, elevated surf was predicted to continue with heights of 3 to 5 feet, highest across central and southern San Diego County along with a high risk of rip currents.
Caltrans San Diego said chain control requirements were lifted Saturday morning for state Route 79 from Interstate 8 to Julian.
High temperatures along the coast Saturday were expected to be 59-64 degrees, with overnight lows of 40-45, the NWS said. Western valley highs will be around 62 and near the foothills, highs will be 55-60 with overnight lows of 39-46.
Mountain highs Saturday were expected to be 46-53 with overnight lows of 32-39. Desert highs will be 62-67 with overnight lows of 40-49.
Probabilities were high for scattered showers and mountain snow Tuesday night through Wednesday, forecasters said.
"Wednesday will be a cold day with highs in the 50s in the coastal and valley zones and the high deserts, the 30s and 40s in the mountains, and the 60s in the lower deserts," the weather service said.
Thursday and Friday were expected to be dry as an upper ridge amplifies over the eastern Pacific for northerly flow down the West Coast, the NWS said.
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I am so glad Dry January is over. Not for the same reason others are elated. I don’t plan on going out to brunch on Feb. 1 and guzzling mimosas or sitting around a fire pit with my husband sipping on a hot toddy. I haven’t had an alcoholic beverage in 10 years and seven days.
Take that, Dry January, I’ve had my own Dry Decade.
I had to do a little self-inventory to figure out just what irked me so much about the articles in health magazines titled “Say ‘Cheers!’ to Dry January with These 8 Easy Tips,” or “Dry January taps into sober-curious movement”. What? Sober-curious movement? Is that a thing? It doesn’t seem like a thing. Equating the contemplation of not drinking for 31 days to a social movement is just a bit of an overstatement.
I realized that in all the years I was drinking, I could do a dry month. Or a dry finals week. Or a dry holiday at home to keep my parents off my back. But I still spent a huge part of my life and energy thinking about, wishing for and eventually praying for sobriety. From the age of 14 when I started drinking to black out until the age of 32 when those prayers were answered, the thought of not drinking consumed me.
You don’t realize how many times an alcoholic is asked, “Why can’t you just have one glass and stop drinking?” I didn’t know. I wanted to answer that question so badly for so long. I could, and did, have periods of complete abstinence from drinking, like Dry January.
The fact that I could do that, just stop drinking for five, 10 or 20 days, kept me wrapped warm in my disease of alcoholism for years. Decades. The not-dry decades. I told friends and family “see, I can’t be an alcoholic or whatever you think I am — I can stop drinking and I’m fine.” The problem was, though, once I picked up even one drink I couldn’t stop. One teeny, tiny itty-bitty glass of wine could lead me to completely forgetting where I was, who I was with or how I got there. My stomach drops now thinking of the unpredictability of it.
That’s really why I get mad hearing about Dry January, because I’m afraid it may keep people like me locked in their addiction. Wrapped in their disease. Stopping isn’t necessarily the hardest part of getting sober. In my experience, that’s just the beginning, it’s staying stopped that’s really hard. It requires a level of commitment, honesty and humility that nothing else in my life has come close to asking of me. And I’m a married mother of two toddlers. Getting and staying sober was and is harder than the toddlers. But it’s also the only reason I have them.
A better, more helpful and more meaningful question to ask someone you see struggling with alcohol or an addiction instead of “Why can’t you stop?” is, “Do you need help? Is there anything I can do to help you because I see you struggling?” Those of us with a substance-use disorder may need help stopping that substance, because the action of putting down things like opioids or alcohol can result in symptoms likened to death. But we need help beyond that.
We need to be seen, heard, loved and healed. We must be treated for the trauma that’s led so many of us to turn to alcohol or drugs to treat our own pain. We turn to them because they’re readily available, socially acceptable and much quicker to numb the discomfort than religion or therapy.
When my toddler is screaming in the back seat because she’s hungry, I hand her a semi-healthy (by mom standards) snack to quickly get her to stop screaming. I don’t drive home and cook a four-course meal worthy of a James Beard award. I go for the quick-and-dirty fix because it gets us by for now. That’s how so many alcoholics and addicts get trapped in the disease — we went for the quick-and-dirty fix to end our pain.
The real problem I’m staring down isn’t Dry January, it’s the notion that society still seems to believe that people suffering with addiction can just stop, make better choices, and move on with their lives. Being dry or abstaining from substances isn’t the same as being active in recovery or sobriety. Being dry when you’re an alcoholic is sheer terror; it’s a nightmare. It’s taking away the one tool that sometimes works and replacing it with nothing at all. So, you’re just left with pain.
For me, the antidote to that pain was a loving recovery community, therapy and time. Learning to be comfortable in my own skin. Knowing and hearing that other humans felt and experienced the exact same things I had when active in my alcoholism. It took the loneliness away, and the stigma of being too weak to stop on my own or not having enough willpower lost its teeth. That’s what I want for anyone, especially women, because the shame never seems to stop raining down on us, trying to stop using fill-in-the-blank to ease their pain.
For those who, like me, can complete a challenge like Dry January but feel like something is just not right, like deep in your gut you know something bigger is wrong, I beg you don’t just be dry. Reach out for help, sobriety and recovery. Reach out for life. And for those that love someone who drinks too much, does drugs or abuses any number of things, guide them toward help. Guide them toward life. It’s out here and it lasts way longer than 31 days.
Heather E. Ormand is chief executive of Nexus Recovery Center in Dallas. She wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.
January 30, 2021 at 02:32PM
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/01/30/good-riddance-to-dry-january-its-false-sobriety-for-us-real-alcoholics/
Good riddance to Dry January. It’s false sobriety for us real alcoholics - The Dallas Morning News
THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Today will be partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day and we’ll stay dry. A cold front will begin to approach later at night, with rain becoming likely at or just before midnight. Afternoon highs will be in the mid-50s to the mid-60s.
Rain chances will continue through much of the first half of the day on Sunday, but those showers will be exiting by afternoon and we’ll be dry across the state by evening. Highs will be in the upper 50s to the upper 60s.
THE WORK WEEK AHEAD: Temperatures will take a large step backward Monday as much colder air moves in behind the cold front. Clouds look to hang around through much of the day before some clearing starts to take place late. Highs will be only in the upper 30s to the upper 40s.
Tuesday through Thursday look dry with warming temperatures, but only two of those days will feature plenty of sunshine as clouds return ahead of an approaching system on Thursday. Highs will be in the upper 40s to the mid-50s Tuesday, rising into the lower 50s to the lower 60s Wednesday and even warmer Thursday, in the upper 50s to the upper 60s across Alabama.
Rain chances start increasing during the morning Friday as another cold front moves through. Those chances look greatest from midday to midnight before the front and showers leave the state. Hardly any instability is projected with this system, so severe weather looks unlikely at this point. Highs will be in the lower 50s to the mid-60s.
ON THIS DATE IN1936: Birmingham established a single-storm record and 24-hour record with 11 inches of snow.
ON THIS DATE IN 2005: A significant ice storm struck parts of northern Georgia on Jan. 30-31. Ice accretion was as great as 2 inches in Monroe County, southeast of Atlanta. Power outages in the area at the height of the storm affected nearly 320,000 homes and businesses.
BEACH FORECAST CENTER: Get the latest weather and rip current forecasts for the beaches from Dauphin Island to Panama City Beach, Florida, on our Beach Forecast Center page. There, you can select the forecast of the region you are interested in.
For more weather news and information from James Spann, Scott Martin and other members of the James Spann team, visit AlabamaWx.
MADISON (WKOW) - The majority of the day will be cloudy, breezy and dry until snow starts to push through the region late afternoon.
Snow is on track to arrive late Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening.
The southwestern portions of the viewing area will likely see the snow first, with flakes expected to fall around 2 to 4 p.m. in this region. Snow will push eastward, with likely all of southern Wisconsin getting snow by 7 p.m.
The far southeastern corner of Wisconsin is expected to see the heaviest amounts. Therefore, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for these counties along with those touching the Illinois border.
The rest of southern Wisconsin is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Both the advisory and warning times are 6 p.m. this evening to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Prepare for hazardous travel later Saturday into Sunday.
Despite it being a wet, dense snow there could be blowing and drifting due to gusty winds. Speeds up to 30 mph are possible at times.
The bulk of the snow will fall overnight, during that time moderate to heavy snow showers will fall. Snow will begin to scatter Sunday morning, becoming light before it ends by early-mid afternoon.
27 Storm Track snow forecast totals include: 5-8" possible for the southern portions, 3-6" for south central and 2-5" for the northern region.
Be sure to keep up with the latest forecasts on this winter storm.
dry.indah.link Sunny skies with few clouds are visible in this western view from Otay Mountain on Saturday morning. Courtesy UCSD HPWREN camera network
The weather this weekend in San Diego County was expected to be dry with a warming trend as high pressure builds, with the next chance for rain and mountain snow predicted to arrive Tuesday night and Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Saturday.
The clear skies Saturday were expected to help start a warming process that will continue through Sunday, forecasters said.
At the beaches Saturday, elevated surf was predicted to continue with heights of 3 to 5 feet, highest across central and southern San Diego County along with a high risk of rip currents.
Caltrans San Diego said chain control requirements were lifted Saturday morning for state Route 79 from Interstate 8 to Julian.
High temperatures along the coast Saturday were expected to be 59-64 degrees, with overnight lows of 40-45, the NWS said. Western valley highs will be around 62 and near the foothills, highs will be 55-60 with overnight lows of 39-46.
Mountain highs Saturday were expected to be 46-53 with overnight lows of 32-39. Desert highs will be 62-67 with overnight lows of 40-49.
Probabilities were high for scattered showers and mountain snow Tuesday night through Wednesday, forecasters said.
“Wednesday will be a cold day with highs in the 50s in the coastal and valley zones and the high deserts, the 30s and 40s in the mountains, and the 60s in the lower deserts,” the weather service said.
Thursday and Friday were expected to be dry as an upper ridge amplifies over the eastern Pacific for northerly flow down the West Coast, the NWS said.
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