Q: Whenever you think about buying a bottle or a drink, put that amount of money in your sober wallet. It will literally shock you. Staying sober is all about seeing the tangible benefits of sobriety, which we too often don't get to see. Getting a sober wallet will help make those benefits more tangible. Use the money in your sober wallet for healthy stress relief: get a massage, visit to a day spa, join a yoga class. If you're not into those things, buy yourself a healthy distraction like CD box set, a new set of furniture, or some gifts for your friends. Get a ring or bracelet, or henna your hand. Indulge in a special manicure to remind yourself that your hands no longer buy or touch alcohol. Be sure to start this for your first week of sobriety. Alcohol affects the ability of the body to absorb these vitamins, specifically thiamine. Deficiency can cause severe cognitive impairment, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or wet brain. Without involving alcohol, make a list of ways to "do" all the things you did when you used to get drunk. Make a list of ways to celebrate. A list of ways to have a romantic dinner. A list of ways to relax and unwind. A list of ways to be sociable. Many people live fulfilled lives without using alcohol as a crutch; convincing every fiber of your body that it's possible makes that jump so much easier. If you are tempted, try to visualize what you might look like totally out of control. Do you really want to be that person again? Don't fall into the mindset that you're forever going to be that person. You will forever be an alcoholic, but that doesn't mean that you can't be a happy, sober, and well-adjusted alcoholic. That's your goal. Embrace how good it feels to go to sleep at night without slipping into a coma, only to awaken at 3 in the morning with a desert for a mouth and a splitting headache. Embrace how good it feels to remember the people you met the previous night, and to recall their happiness at meeting you. Embrace how good it feels love yourself for who you are, not punish yourself for who you have become. Cherish your reasons. There is not always a reason for your actions the way, but when you understand your reasons , they give you meaning and make you principled. That's a good thing. What are your reasons for staying sober? "I never want to miss work because I have a hateful hangover again." "I never want to embarrass my child in front of her friends again." "I never want to be ugly to my spouse because I've had one too many again." "I never want to get a DUI (again)." "I never want to drunk dial my friends and relatives and act like an idiot again." "I never want to hide bottles all over the house again." "I never want to have to pretend I remember what happened the night before when I don't recall anything after X o'clock again." "I don't want to lose this marriage the way I lost my first marriage to the ravages of alcohol again." Or "I wonder what it would be like to feel good again." Instead approach them with a good attitude and remember that you can have a good time without drinking. On the other hand, if you know the temptation will be too great, don't put yourself in a situation where you are likely to slip up. Be smart about your limitations everyone has them. Memorize a prayer, poem or something (i.e. Hamlet's speech "To be, or not to be") to repeat to yourself when you are losing your control; remembering and reciting it will keep your head together when needed. Here are just a few inspirational quotes that you might find help you calm your thoughts: "Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship." - Buddha "Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt "I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn Give yourself a prize for every day or every hour that you haven't had a drink. In the beginning, this makes a bigger-than-expected difference. Wrap the presents up (or don't, it's your call!) and give them to a friend or family member you trust for safe-keeping. Check in with your friend when you've completed one hour, or day, or week of sobriety and redeem your present. Allow your friend or family member to share in your joy. Do meditation regularly especially in the morning. At the end of the session, vow not to drink alcohol. Remember your calm mind of meditation later when you feel like drinking. It will distract you. Pick up yoga! It will help you deal with stress and calm your mind. Best of all, yoga can be done in a group setting where you can feed off of the energy of other people. Embrace that positive energy.
A: Buy a "sober wallet". Buy a small piece of inexpensive jewelry as a reminder of your sobriety. Take a B vitamin supplement daily. Make lists. Remember what it is like when you tie one on. Embrace the psychological benefits of sobriety. Remember the reasons why you quit in the first place. Do not avoid all situations where you would normally drink. Memorize inspirational thoughts. Reward your successes. Learn meditation.

Q: Instead of spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs, a Spanish deck of cards is made of up 4 different figures, each of which has its own name. There are golden coins, called oros; there are glasses (or cups), called copas; there are swords, called espadas; and there are sticks (or clubs), called bastos. The ace of swords and the ace of sticks are the 2 highest ranking cards in the deck. Though they hold a numerical value of 1, they will trump any other card because of their rank. A Spanish deck is made up of 40 cards instead of 48. This is because there are no 8s or 9s in the entire deck. There are aces through 7s, each of which holds a numerical value that matches the number on the card. There are also face cards, which hold no numerical value. The jack is called the sota and has a number 10 in the upper corner; the horse (or knight) is called the caballo and has a number 11 in the upper corner; the king is called the rey and has a 12 in the upper corner. Remember, the face cards have a 0 point value, but they rank higher than many of the numerical cards, which means they can often win tricks. Each deck may have slight variations on what the face cards look like, but if you pay attention to the numbers in the upper corners, that should keep you from getting lost. This will be important when you're trying to win individual tricks during the game. Follow this ranking order from the highest to the lowest to determine who wins a trick: Ace of swords; ace of sticks; seven of swords; seven of golds; all 3s; all 2s; ace of golds; ace of glasses; all kings; all horses; all jacks; seven of glasses; seven of sticks; all 6s; all 5s; all 4s.
A:
Differentiate between the 4 suits in a Spanish deck. Recognize how the deck is assembled. Memorize the names for the face cards. Learn the order of cards from highest ranking to lowest ranking.