Two stories I heard on the radio while traveling this week gelled into this post tonight. The first was about a contest being held by brewer Guinness with first prize a reserved seat aboard a Virgin Galactic space liner. No astronaut training here; it’s basically drink beer, win a trip to space. The second was this story about a cross country US Airways flight that made an emergency landing because of a naked, belligerent passenger. Not surprisingly, police say the man had been drinking at the departure airport bar among other things. Click "Read more" to continue...<!--break--> It…
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The Discovering Alcoholic
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Drink Beer, Rocket to Space, and Prepare for Nudity
3 Jul 2009 | 8:31 pm -
The Ripple Effect of Loving Someone Who Drinks Too Much
2 Jul 2009 | 8:28 pmThank you author and speaker Lisa Frederiksen of Breaking the Cycles for this regular series sharing her decades long experience of dealing with family alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Click here to see the rest of the series. Much of the focus on alcoholism and alcohol abuse - with regards to treatment, education, prevention, public policy - is on the alcoholic or alcohol abuser. I’d like to draw our attention to those who are deeply effected by a loved one’s drinking (which I’m labeling “codependents” for simplicity’s sake) and the impact of that effect on the lives they touch… -
Prohibition: Just What the Doctor Ordered
1 Jul 2009 | 8:45 pmYes, it’s a noble experiment. They say history repeats itself and this prohibition era cartoon certainly lends credibility to the adage. It was drawn around the time of populist President Hoover (depicted with hat on heart while the doctor injects prohibition) who had no elected office experience, but instead had gained fame working directly with distressed communities and grassroots organizations. The economy was in shambles, Congress compounded the problem by pushing through the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, and taxes on corporations and the wealthy were raised drastically. -
Drinking Beer without Vodka is a Waste of Money
30 Jun 2009 | 10:22 pmA TDA International Update: My standard line when it came to drinking was “quantity, not quality”. The Russians also have a saying, ”drinking beer without vodka is a waste of money”. While the two phrases may sound different, the desired goal was the same; me and my Russian comrades wanted to get drunk quickly, and stay that way. Alcohol abuse has always been a problem in hard drinking Russia, but alcoholism rates have continued to rise unabated since the 80’s to now record levels. Now more than half of all deaths for ages 15-54 are caused by alcohol. The government is reporting… -
The Eleventh Commandment
29 Jun 2009 | 8:56 pmI have seen the effectiveness of Celebrate Recovery. The discovery of my own late blooming, private labeled spirituality has been the biggest and best surprise I’ve found in sobriety. Faith, no doubt, can be a very powerful tool of recovery but… the complexity of religion can also be a ripe target for an addictive mind to focus on to the detriment of recovery. Click "Read more" to continue... <!--break--> I know I used religion as just one of many excuses why AA wouldn’t work for me, it’s a common tactic. Mine was an issue of doubt and disbelief, but even devoutness can cause…
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Addiction and Recovery News
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What do you believe about your clients?
3 Jul 2009 | 6:48 pmA great set of questions for self-evaluation that focus on the worker's ability to see and work with client strengths. -
Cognitive performance enahncement
3 Jul 2009 | 6:44 pmHead to head articles for and against the acceptability of people taking methylphenidate to enhance performance. The against column offers an interesting ethical argument: Drug enhancements will be available disproportionately to thosewith financial means. If enhancements are helpful in gettingahead in a competitive world, then the haves would avail themselvesof yet another advantage over the have nots. Clearly, many inequitiesin education, material goods, and social class, not to mentionmore fundamental inequities in health care, nutrition, shelter,and safety, already give the… -
The sky doesn't fall in
3 Jul 2009 | 6:08 pmMore on Portugal's decriminalization strategy:Some question aspects of the system, but what Portugal's controversial experiment has demonstrated is that, if you take the crime out of drug use, the sky doesn't fall in.Technorati Tags: policy, drugs, portugal, decriminalization -
Tab dump
30 Jun 2009 | 9:56 amAMA meeting: More to do on tobacco controlOutpatient alcoholism treatment - 24-month outcome and predictors of outcomeHealthcare Reform Must Prioritize Treatment for Addictions, Mental Health, Report SaysComparing retention in treatment and mortality in people after initial entry to methadone and buprenorphine treatment Technorati Tags: tobacco, outpatient, treatment, policy, buprenorphine, methadone -
Marlboro Country
30 Jun 2009 | 4:39 amLegal, taxed, regulated and still an enormous illicit industry.
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Addiction Recovery Blog
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Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/29/2009)
29 Jun 2009 | 2:45 amDear RecoveryHelper.org Readers, Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/29/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org. Addiction Recovery News [Methadone treatment and its dangers] Authors: Reingardiene D, Jodzi?niene L, Lazauskas R Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid with high affinity for various opioid receptors, especially for m-opioid receptors. Methadone has been used as a successful pharmacologic intervention for the treatment of heroin dependence and acute and chronic pain. This… -
Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/22/2009)
22 Jun 2009 | 1:39 amDear RecoveryHelper.org Readers, Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/22/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org. Addiction Recovery News Catherine VanWetter interviews MAx Fabry on Her New -Healthy Healing Addiction Treatment- Program on Inspirations of the Heart Radio Healthy Healing Addiction Treatment is an integrated treatment program personalized to meet each individual’s needs. MAx Fabry, BA, CADCII, will discuss this new revolutionary program with Inspirations of the Heart Radio… -
Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/15/2009)
15 Jun 2009 | 1:28 amDear RecoveryHelper.org Readers, Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/15/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org. Addiction Recovery News 1,000 Treatment Providers Join the ACTION Campaign The Adopting Changes to Improve Outcomes Now (ACTION) Campaign has enrolled over 1,000 treatment providers and other organizations in its efforts to promote the national adoption of proven practices for enhancing client access to care and engagement in treatment. (More) Specific Genetic Cause Of Fetal… -
Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/7/2009)
7 Jun 2009 | 8:17 amDear RecoveryHelper.org Readers, Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/7/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org. Addiction Recovery News NIH Panel to Consider NIDA/NIAAA Merger A special panel at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended a formal study on the possibility of merging the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to form at National Institute on Addiction, but the proposal has been met with a volley… -
Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/1/2009)
1 Jun 2009 | 12:37 amDear RecoveryHelper.org Readers, Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (6/1/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org. Addiction Recovery News Sequencing of DSM-IV criteria of nicotine dependence Conclusions The prevalence and sequence of criteria of ND fit our understanding of the neuropharmacology of ND. The order among symptoms early in the process of dependence may differ from the severity order of symptoms among those who persist in smoking. (Source: Addiction) MedWorm Supporter Message: Learn…
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Addiction Recovery Basics
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Letter from Dr. Carl Jung to Bill Wilson
1 Jul 2009 | 5:55 pmThis is the letter to the founder of AA or Alcoholics Anonymous that illustrated the psychologists belief that spirituality wad an integral part of addiction recovery. Kusnacht-ZurichSeestrasse 228 January 30, 1961 Mr. William G. Wilson Alcoholics Anonymous Box 459 Grand Central Station New York 17, N.Y. Dear Mr. Wilson, Your letter has been very welcome indeed. I had no news from Roland H. anymore and often wondered what has been his fate. Our conversation which he had adequately reported to you had an aspect of which he did not know. The reason, that I could not tell him everything, was… -
Honesty In Getting Clean And Sober
26 Jun 2009 | 7:41 pm“There’s a lot of talk about the importance of being honest in all our affairs and relationships. I really don’t know where to start it’s been so long since I’ve been honest it’s almost easier to lie.” There are two major challenges concerning dishonesty that must be met and overcome in order to enter into a healthy recovery. 1. The dishonesty and lying has to stop. Unfortunately, for many people, this has become a habit. This behavior needs to be ‘unlearned’and the habit broken. 2. We must also overcome the fear of the consequences of once again being truthful… -
Controlled Drinking For The Alcoholic: A Myth
24 Jun 2009 | 4:20 amThe idea of controlled drinking has been getting a lot of press as of late; it seems to resurface every few years in a different form. While there are announcements every few years that there is a new treatment in the works which will allow people to drink while eliminating the chance for addiction; as you know it’s not available yet, if indeed it ever will be. Controlled drinking dates back to the 1930s. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous mentions it, saying essentially “The great delusion of every alcoholic is that one day he can drink again like a gentleman”. Personally, I… -
Drug Addiction Video
14 Jun 2009 | 11:21 pmThis drug addiction video is part of a textbook supplement on abnormal psychology. Some stories of how it is using. Related Posts These Are The Components Of Drug Addiction Treatment. Drug treatment varies depending on the type of drug used and the individual characteristics and make up of the patient. The best drug rehab programs provide a combination of therapies and other support services.... 10 Realities Of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment I was searching the internet for a good article on [tag-tec]drug addiction treatment[/tag-tec] and became upset. There is a tremendous amount of… -
A Couple Of My Favorite Alcoholism Videos
8 Jun 2009 | 10:55 pmHere are 2 of my favorite videos. In the first, Craig Ferguson Speaks From The Heart about his own trials with alcoholism. He speaks of a couple years ago when the Hollywood Brat Pack and LA rehabs were dominating the news. The second video deal with the issue of “letting Go With Love” and how it sometime has to be done. A great video for loved one of alcoholics. Craig Ferguson speaks on his past problems as an alcoholic and why he will not ridicule Britney Spears and her shaved head crisis. Must watch! … CBS Craig Ferguson late show speak heart Britney Spears shaved head…
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National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
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Treatment and the Justice System: Preventing Problems and Ensuring Recovery
1 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amAccording to a study by the Bureau of Justice, 32 percent of inmates at the State level and 26 percent of those at the Federal level reported they were using alcohol or drugs at the time of their offense. Reducing substance abuse not only helps to break the cycle of recidivism but can help prevent individuals from entering the justice system in the first place. This program will showcase how treatment and recovery services both within and outside the justice system transform lives and families, create safer communities, and serve as an effective crime prevention tool. -
Recovery and the Health Care/Insurance Systems: Improving Treatment and Increasing Access
3 Jun 2009 | 12:00 amWhen the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act of 2008 becomes effective in 2010, additional options will become available to those seeking addiction and mental health services. The Act will require group health plans to offer coverage for addiction and mental illness and provide benefits on par with those for all other medical and surgical conditions. This program will examine what impact the Act will have on health care and insurance systems and what it means for individuals and families battling addiction. The show will also explore other issues related to… -
Providing a Continuum of Care: Improving Collaboration Among Services
6 May 2009 | 12:00 amRecovery-oriented systems of care provide a continuum of care for individuals in recovery and their families. Treatment services, including screening and brief interventions, inpatient and outpatient programs, and aftercare and recovery support, are available at every stage of a person’s recovery from addiction. However, there are opportunities to enhance such services by facilitating collaboration and synergy throughout the full spectrum of supportive services by establishing a continuum of care that increases the probability of addiction treatment success and helps to reduce the incidence… -
Treatment 101: Recovery Today
1 Apr 2009 | 12:00 amIn 2007, an estimated 3.9 million Americans aged 12 or older received treatment for a substance use disorder in the past year. Each year reveals newer and better behavioral, pharmacological, and alternative approaches that advance the addiction treatment field and improve the chances of successful recovery with fewer relapses. This program will look at the current state of addiction treatment, examine recent advancements in the field, consider barriers to treatment and how to overcome them, and discuss strategies for making addiction treatment more accessible by establishing public health… -
Accessing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Online
6 Aug 2008 | 12:00 amWith the advent of the Internet in the mid-90s, the number of available options for finding addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services has grown exponentially. Nowadays one can search online and instantly find an extensive list of materials and providers, locate them immediately on an interactive map, read testimonials of people who are struggling with similar issues or have already overcome them, and find support in a sea of chat rooms and Web sites. Today's youth, in particular, are more technologically savvy than ever. Youth-oriented social Web sites can serve as a…
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Medical News Today: Alcohol, Addiction, Illegal Drugs
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Doctors Call For Minimum Alcohol Pricing - British Medical Association
3 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amDoctors yesterday reaffirmed their support for a minimum pricing strategy for a unit of alcohol. Speaking today at the BMA's annual conference in Liverpool, Newry consultant and BMA Board of Science member Dr Peter Maguire said, "Excessive consumption of alcohol and related diseases affect all parts of society. -
UK Doctors Back Calls For Minimum Price For Alcohol
3 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amDoctors attending the BMA's annual conference in Liverpool have today (Thursday 2 July 2009) backed calls to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol. Proposing a motion which also included calls for clearer labelling and a total ban on alcohol advertising, Dr Chandra Mohan from Barking, Havering and Brentwood, said: "People drink alcohol in different patterns and for different reasons, so a multi-directional approach is needed to address these problems. -
Intervention Program Targets Siblings
2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am"Siblings are Special," a pilot prevention program targeting fifth graders and their younger siblings, recently received $1.45 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse as part of the National Institutes of Health's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. The award is for two years. The program aims to enhance the quality of sibling and family relationships and thereby decrease risky behavior and use of drugs among youth as they move into middle school. -
Drinkaware's Response To Public Health Commission Report About Health Messages, UK
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 amIn response to a report by the Public Health Commission which says health messages need greater clarity and consistency to help people make the right choices, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says: "When it comes to messages about health and alcohol in particular, it's important that people have the information they need to make the decisions that are right for them. -
Drug & Alcohol Action Team Uses SAS To Tackle Drugs And Save Lives By Improving Joined-Up Delivery
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 amThe London Borough of Croydon's Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is using SAS software to achieve better results in its efforts to get more people into drug treatment, reduce drug-related crime and empower the local community to resist drug misuse. SAS, the leader in
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Drug & Alcohol Addiction Recovery
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Substance Abuse, Health, and the Immune System
Individuals struggling with addiction often face serious health problems. Not only does regular abuse of drugs and/or alcohol interfere with the proper absorption of vitamins and nutrients from food and put immense strain on the heart, liver, and kidneys, it compromises the body’s ability fight off infection and disease. Smokers are ... -
Rising Addiction Rates Linked to Economic Downturn
A new study by a non-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention facility indicates that rising rates of addiction may be linked to the recent economic downturn. Howard Meitiner, president and CEO of Phoenix House, commented this week on the study’s findings: "Addiction is on the upswing, fueled by ... -
Acupuncture: A Holistic Treatment for Addiction
Acupuncture is a popular holistic treatment for addiction. The ancient practice was developed in China over 2,500 years ago and continues to be widely used today to address a number of ailments. Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine that seeks to establish the free and balanced flow of ... -
How Pets Help Treat Addiction
The positive influence of domestic animals on human recovery and continued emotional well-being is documented, and includes recovery from addiction. Many people develop strong emotional bonds with their pets, and for some, this relationship can provide the strength to heal and recover from substance abuse. Research has shown that animals have ... -
Making Excuses for Alcoholism
Addiction is often accompanied by denial. Denial makes it possible for the addict to continue his habits in the face of serious negative consequences. Individuals struggling with alcoholism tend to employ a certain set of excuses when it comes to facing their destructive behavior.The reason that many alcoholics exhibit similar ...
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Addiction Recovery Programs, Rehabs and Articles
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Pros And Cons Of A Private Rehab For Drug Addiction Treatment In Rhode Island
A lot of people are getting into private rehab centers for addiction treatment in Rhode Island. Though these treatment programs are costlier than the state treatment programs, people do not mind paying a extra because of the various privileges that are got with this form of treatment. People who join into ... -
Relapse Prevention Offered By An Intervention Program For Drug Abuse Treatment In Kentucky
An intervention program in Kentucky performs many more tasks than merely helping families to convince their addicted members to get into treatment. One of such important tasks that it performs is to help addicted persons when they are out of the treatment centers so that they do not have a ... -
Why is Alcohol Abuse getting to be a Big Problem for the Addiction Treatment Program in North Carolina?
Earlier it used to be just the alcohol abuse problem in North Carolina, but now this abuse has been complicated by several supplementary issues. Things are really becoming difficult because people who are checking in for alcohol abuse treatment in North Carolina are having complications such as other addictions, health ... -
Using the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program in Washington for People with Drug Addiction and Mental Complications
As the name suggests, the dual diagnosis treatment program is an approach of medical science to treat two coexisting conditions in the human body in a simultaneous manner. In the addiction treatment program in Washington, the dual diagnosis approach is primarily used to treat the addiction along with a mental ... -
Who gets into the Residential Treatment Program for Drug Addiction in Delaware?
The residential treatment program in Delaware is usually considered as the last resort at treatment. When all other methods of addiction treatment fail, the patient is put through a residential treatment program. This is a very comprehensive treatment program in which several medical and nonmedical approaches are used to bring ...
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dryblog
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Recovery Widgets
16 Jun 2009 | 5:22 pm12-Step Desktop GadgetUse this Widget to help work through any 12-Step program. It displays the current step you are working on as a constant reminder right on your desktop. Also, keep track of how... more at dryblog.blogspot.com -
Flaming Shots
16 Jun 2009 | 5:05 pmVideo shows you how NOT to do a flaming shot.Video of another way how NOT to do a flaming shot. more at dryblog.blogspot.com -
Iron Man
11 May 2009 | 4:54 pmRobert Downey Jr Quotes on Addiction and Recovery"I don't drink these days. I'm allergic to alcohol and narcotics. I break out in handcuffs.""I’m not a poster boy for good behavior and recovery in... more at dryblog.blogspot.com -
Drunk Presidents
11 May 2009 | 4:49 pm11 drunkest presidents in American history11points.com more at dryblog.blogspot.com -
Jennifer Love Hewitt
5 May 2009 | 7:07 pmJennifer Love Hewitt Quotes on Drinking and Life "I don't drink. My personality is scary enough on its own, I'm half out of my mind as it is, so much so that people have already thought I'd been... more at dryblog.blogspot.com
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Attitude of Gratitude
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Rampart
4 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am20" x 20", acrylic on canvas -
4 Jul 2009 | 6:19 am
4 Jul 2009 | 6:19 am -
07.04.09
4 Jul 2009 | 6:11 amFreedom does not guarantee any specific result, and that is in fact its beauty. Instead, freedom gives you the priceless opportunity to create your own results. ~Ralph MarstonToday I am grateful...for the freedom of recoverythat my mental capacities are better after a few years of sobriety, but my brain is still scrambled from all the alcohol abuse. It does get a little better as the days pass.for the countless things done for me that I cannot do for myselfthat I have a path, that I am willing to follow that pathRemember the five simple rules to be happy:Free your heart from hatred.Free your… -
3 Jul 2009 | 7:21 am
3 Jul 2009 | 7:21 am -
07.03.09
3 Jul 2009 | 7:13 amLife is too short to spend it miserable. An excellent way to abate misery is to look at what you are blessed with. Unclench your angry fist, hold it up, and use your fingers to name five things you are grateful for. (P.S. we mean now!) ~Pocket Sponsor Today I am grateful...that these days I can act responsibly in publicfor endless new musicfor the creativity of human beings. I am constantly astonishedthat I can have my cake and eat it too, providing I have done the next right and loving thing, stayed spiritually fit and thanked my Higher Powerthat this weekend we celebrate the birth of the…
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GrAAtitude Monkey
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Gratitude List - Fourth of July Today 2009
4 Jul 2009 | 6:50 amToday I'm grateful...that Jack wasn't riding in the car with me when I was rear-ended yesterdaythat my friend Jessica was there and took me to the hospitalthat my mom and dad met me and my mom and I got out of there by 10 p.m.that I have people in my life that really really love methat I'm ok and so was the other driverthat he didn't have any dogs/kids in the car eitherthat my mom offered to drive me in to the meeting this morning so I can be there for someone's birthday - she said my friends are important to her because they've been so important to me!that I feel really blessed - what a… -
Gratitude List - Fourth of July Tomorrow 2009
3 Jul 2009 | 8:11 amToday I'm grateful...for how much I got done at work yesterday - it was a really productive daythat I got all my 29 hours in before the three day weekendthat I've lost a total of 34 pounds now!that I have plans to meet a friend at the 11:30 meeting tomorrow for her A.A. birthdayfor the day off (and tomorrow and Sunday off, too)that Jack is my dogfor my long life with Jack (always)for the kids who play the Play Station 3 at work and for how much they enjoy itfor the displays I got done at work yesterday (one on civil rights)that I have plans to go to the D.A. meeting and meet my D.A. sponsor… -
Gratitude List - PlayStation 3 For the Teens Now
2 Jul 2009 | 4:43 amToday I'm grateful...that Barb came to see me at my job yesterday!that we got a PlayStation 3 for the teens!for the Double Winners Alanon/A.A. meeting starting up on Wednesdaysthat I was able to attend the first onethat I got to see some really good friends therethat the two people leading are really important and influential people in my life whom I respect very much, and I respect both their programs in A.A. and in Alanonfor how much I've learned from my support group over the last few yearsfor Cyndee's birthday coming up soonthat I'm ok with not receiving the letter yet that I need to turn… -
Gratitude List - Med Check Today At the V.A.
1 Jul 2009 | 3:41 amToday I'm grateful...for going to bed early last nightfor my D.A. sponsor being willing to meet me another night (I have to be at the V.A. this morning at early o'clock for a med check)for my bike ride with Jack yesterday (it's so hot for him outside right now)that I can be patient about receiving the letter I need to turn in to UNT for educational benefits for the summer/fallfor the acceptance that maybe I'm not supposed to start with summer school, just school in the fallthat it'll be ok either way, as long as I don't debt to do itthat at least I'll be very ready for the fall semesterfor… -
Gratitude List - Late Shift Last Night (Monday)
30 Jun 2009 | 3:40 amToday I'm grateful...for a call and text messages from Barb last nightthat I got a good amount of work done since I worked the late shift last nightthat the main library is sending some craft kits for the teens at my libraryfor my coworkersfor the youngsters at the library who are involved in summer jobs and help shelve books and look for books on the holds listfor air conditioningfor the small amount of rain we got last nightfor the D.A. meeting tonight and for meeting my sponsor afterwardfor a quick conversation with Beau yesterdayfor Adam calling me back last night even though I was on the…
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higher powered
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the 4th
4 Jul 2009 | 3:31 amIf you have sex with a prostitute against her will, is it considered rape or shoplifting?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Can you cry under water?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? -
Friday morning
3 Jul 2009 | 2:14 amPastor Quinn, the gay convertertodAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkfulthat I still prefer to stay involved; with my partner out of the country for an extended time, it's important that I remain activefor the cycles that make up my lifefor the boundaries that I maintainthat I am off to the gym for cardio at 5am todayI have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson: to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmitted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmitted into a power...- Mahatma Gandhi -
down home, at home
2 Jul 2009 | 3:01 amLook what the cat brought intodAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkfulthat my friend Jesse J. told his story of experience, strength and hope yesterdaythat I went to the inaugural meeting of a Double Winners group last night at Lambda Center; I can sure use me some good Al-Anonthat I only have one life to live, but I get to live it in 2 very distinct halvesfor the PBS show, American Masters, which highlighted Garrison Keillor last nightThere is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.- Leonard Cohen -
It's already Wednesday!
1 Jul 2009 | 2:35 amJaywalkingtodAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkfulthat miracles never ceasefor the wide range of people I've met in the rooms of AAfor the wider range of people I've yet to meet in the rooms of AAthat I've been lucky enough to go to AA meetings in Houston, Palm Springs, New York City, London, Costa Rica and Trinidad. Later this month, I get to speak at a meeting in Austin.for spontaneity; I plan it as often as possibleIf I have learned one thing in this life, it is that God will not tie my shoes without me.- Doug Boyd -
Tuesday
30 Jun 2009 | 3:25 amThe top 12 indicators that the economy is bad--12. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.11. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.10. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank.9. Hotwheels and Matchbox car companies are now trading higher than GM in the stock market.8. Obama met with small businesses - GE, Pfizer, Chrysler, Citigroup and GM, to discuss the Stimulus Package.7. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.6. People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and are learning their children's names.5. The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.4. People in Africa are donating…
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Recovery Road
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1 Jul 2009 | 12:02 am
1 Jul 2009 | 12:02 amMarion Kennedy McAllister14th February 1935 - 1st July 2001Rest In PeaceFIRST & LAST & ALWAYS -
15 Jun 2009 | 12:28 am
15 Jun 2009 | 12:28 amI think I'm running out of things to say about AA and recovery. I seem to be posting more about other things. That tells me that Recovery Road has probably run its course as part of my recovery plan.Never say never, but I'll take a step back from blogging for now.I'm sober and I'm grateful for that. I wish the rest of you well on your own long walk down the road to recovery.Kenny -
European Elections - June 4th 2009
4 Jun 2009 | 12:11 amDon't vote for the BNP. There is no excuse for a protest vote for the fascists. A patriot is not a fascist. The fascists are the enemies of the working classes and an aberration on humanity.When the fascists come calling for our vote, we let our fists and boots do the talking...No platform. No excuses. No Pasaran! Sober. Grateful. -
Mind the Gap - the alcoholic head
14 May 2009 | 12:05 amThere is often a GAP between my perception of a situation, and the reality. I reckon this pigeon has more sense than me sometimes. Thankfully the 12 Steps keep my excessive headwars in check a lot of the time.I have been reading your blogs...you're not forgotten! Work is super-busy and I have one or two high class problems to resolve. I'll be back to my usual locquatious self pretty soon.Sober. Grateful. I'm still standing. -
7 May 2009 | 12:01 am
7 May 2009 | 12:01 amWe went to St John's on Saturday to check out Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6 in B minor [op.74] Pathétique and Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in Bb [op.85]> I think Private Equity Girl enjoyed the Tchaikovsky the most. I preferred the Brahms. It's a lovely venue. I recommend it.Not on the way to mosh, on the way to soar to some beautiful musicSober. Grateful.
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sobriety girl
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The Contentious Relationship.
30 Jun 2009 | 3:13 pmOver the last few months, there has been a complete breakdown of communication. I've been bitter and angry. Spiteful. Hurt. I've almost walked away several times. I've battled, yelled, pleaded and tried total rationalization with little success. It's been up and down to the point that I've become dizzy. I've cried in anger and quickly retreated by begging for forgiveness. Wrote letters, painted pictures and played sappy songs trying to find some neutral ground. Indifference. Love. Indifference revisited.At this point in my life, the aforementioned is my relationship with myself as a sober… -
Present.
21 Jun 2009 | 4:35 pmI don't know that I have ever truly believed that people could be present within their lives. If one is present, I've thought, where does the past fit in? I have always been one to try and rectify my past by trying to figure it out. To solve the problems that happened so long ago. My methodology would be to rack my brain for months trying to understand what in my past was causing me to make poor decisions. In reality, I was trying to assign blame and dysfunction on anything but myself and these decisions that were not grounded in present thinking. And, in an even more stark reality, I've… -
Awareness
7 Jun 2009 | 4:34 pmOne of the greatest accomplishments in life, in my opinion anyway, is self-awareness. I've blogged about this before in a completely different learning stage of self-awareness. The whole process of recognizing self-awareness is truly awe inspiring. It's when truly find this awareness that we are able to recognize what other people need, therefore creating really healthy and evolutionary relationships. It's been a very profound experience, humbling really, to realize that in self-awareness there is humility and an element of selflessness.Imagine that.In the days were I found emotional maturity… -
A preview of "The Sober Door" (The book).
27 May 2009 | 11:41 amI am by no means finished, but it's getting there so I wanted to share the preface (again) and first chapter of my fiction piece, "The Sober Door". It's grueling, painful and wonderful all at the same time. Thank you for all your support and would love to hear feedback. (This is also NOT edited yet, so it's simply raw material)KimPrefaceLocked in. Barricaded from the outside. He spared me. Saved me. Threw me with resounding force. I am conflicted. I am being spared. I am being enveloped in blackness. I can hear him. Screaming outside. Ranting, ranting, ranting.“What do you people want from… -
Expectations.
20 May 2009 | 4:11 pm" . . . Take another glass of wine, and excuse my mentioning that society as a body does not expect one to be so strictly conscientious in emptying one's glass, as to turn it bottom upwards with the rim on one's nose."-Charles Dickens, "Great Expectations"In the wake of my recovery and likely my perciptious road to it, I have become painfully aware of the expectations I set for myself on many levels. I wish to succeed professionally (okay, lost the actual professional job, but I'm still writing a book), attain true honesty within my heart and soul and live my life with happiness. The…
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The Junky's Wife
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Goodbye.
7 Jun 2009 | 7:31 pmI think I'm retiring this identity now. It has served me well, but I want to tell other stories.If you have found this site and it has been helpful to you, I am happy. I am happy that my experiences with my husband's addiction have been useful.And to anyone who might find it for the first time, please know that God is with you. In the most difficult times, I've been able to feel God's hand holding me, carrying me through.I can offer no better advice than this from pg. 164 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to… -
Rolling with the Roller Coaster.
20 May 2009 | 3:56 pmI'm doing ok. It's kind of a miracle.My husband spent the first night at home last night in about 10 days. Not because he wanted to or anything...it's not like he likes me or whatever. He just felt really sick and didn't have anywhere else to go.I am his safe haven. I wish he were mine. Maybe one day, he will be.I have found serenity in this situation. I cannot change my husband. I cannot even change his heart. His rejection of me is hard, and it makes me sad sometimes--I just don't believe it's really him rejecting me. It's him in his sickness, not him.Every now and then, I see a tiny… -
Prayer.
12 May 2009 | 10:01 amPlease, God, help me to let go of this situation with my husband. Please help me to remember that it is out of my control and no amount of crying, stalking, cajoling, or other manipulations will change his course of action. Help me to trust that he will change when he is ready to change.God, please grant me some release from this anxiety. My stomach is churning, and I am having trouble concentrating on the work I need to do for myself. Please fill me with the energy and motivation to take care of myself.Please help me with wisdom and discernment in this situation. Please help me to… -
Let's Try.
7 May 2009 | 8:36 pmMy husband didn't come home last night. He showed up this morning at 7 a.m. I get lost between when he is bamboozling me and when we are having communication problems and when I am paranoid and when he's trying to hurt me on purpose and when I'm deliberately misunderstanding him because I like to feel the special pain I get when I'm being hurt by him. It's comfortable and easy there.This part is the hardest part yet, I think. I am afraid of other women, and I think my husband might be enjoying me being afraid. We both feel like we owe each other a lot of hurting.I made this site private… -
Insecure.
4 May 2009 | 9:34 amI am feeling real insecure in my marriage right now. My husband and I had a lovely day together yesterday, but there are a lot of things that aren't right. I'm not right and he's not right, and we aren't able to communicate about it very well at all.I feel like my heart is going to explode. I hate this feeling. I have therapy today and a meeting tonight, and I'm sitting at the prayer center I like right now. I'm trying to turn this stuff over, and I'm having a real hard time. I want to find someone to help me work through these things. Maybe I can find someone here to talk to me.Prayers and…
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Woman.Anonymous7
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Digging deeper on my side of the street
24 Jun 2009 | 3:37 pmHusband and I were beginning to make love one night last week, and I was wrestling with being trapped in my head.Earlier in the evening as I was washing dishes somehow my mind went to thinking about how husband could have been spending his time with prostitutes while I was going about my daily life doing mundane things like washing dishes and not realizing what unimaginable physical intimacies he was sharing with other women. After that, all evening long my thoughts strayed down this path of invasive pictures forming in head.I was going back and forth about whether or not to say anything to… -
Transition out of therapy
14 Jun 2009 | 12:59 pmSince the beginning of June, and at the suggestion of his therapist, Husband has concluded both his individual and group therapy. Husband consulted me about this decision, and said that his therapist had offered to see us together if I was uncomfortable with this transition. But I decided that if both of them felt he was ready, and as long as Husband was planning to continue attending regular SAA and OA meetings, from my perspective I could see so much growth and progress that it seemed like a natural time to take this step.Then, last weekend, Husband and I realized we also both felt ready to… -
Happy Anniversary to Me!
4 Jun 2009 | 7:43 pmOn June 1, 2007 my life disintegrated when I found out that my husband and best friend of 20 years had spent tens of thousands of dollars having intercourse with high priced prostitutes for the past 3 1/2 years, and had been visiting strip clubs for lap dances since before we were married. I never had reason to suspect a thing, (in fact my husband always spoke with disdain about infidelity) and I would have bet my son's life on my husband's honesty.Because we had a child, I chose not to leave immediately (as my whole being was screaming out that I should do, and I would have were it not for… -
Finding love in loss
12 May 2009 | 9:59 amThe Buddhist Reviews Tricycle Magazine publishes a "Daily Dharma" email that excerpts writings on Buddhism.Today's edition about finding love in loss, from Lorne Ladner's book The Lost Art of Compassion, so aptly described what this journey has been for me:"To live a meaningful life, each of us must step outside the familiar, confining walls of ego defenses and enter our own wilderness, our own charnel ground, to face honestly the truth of impermanence and loss. In the strange cemetery of imagination, mourning ourselves, we suddenly stumble upon what’s most essential. Facing loss, we find… -
What am I afriad of?
4 May 2009 | 8:18 pmFor the past several weeks I've been wrestling with fears. I even woke one night and went through Husband's emails and Twitter friends to see what I would find. I found nothing, and I don't have any reason to think anything's going on. It's surprising, because I'd have thought from the way things are going with Husband's recovery and our couples work that I would feel more secure, more sure by now.Of course, the thing that I've been slacking off on is my own recovery work. After almost 2 years you'd think I'd have come far enough, right?!But, not surprising now that I've jumped in, apparently…
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Blisstree » Diseases & Conditions
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Be Cautious With Swine Flu This Holiday
4 Jul 2009 | 11:49 amAs people head out to family parties with BBQs, sparkler, food, and fireworks, health officials are reminding folks to keep the threat of swine flu in the back of their minds. Any time people are gathered, the spread of the H1N1 disease can take place. Here are a few tips health officials would like us to know: People who are sick with fever and a cough should stay home, away from public events, crowded places and family members in nursing homes or other similar settings. Pregnant women, children under age 5, senior citizens over age 65 and residents with chronic health conditions, including… -
Mississippi Fattest State
4 Jul 2009 | 11:11 amMississippi once again ranks as the heaviest state for the fifth straight year in a row. Over thirty percent of its population is considered obese. Adults aren’t the only ones gaining weight, either. Forty-four percent of children, ages 10-17, are considered obese as well. The state is well aware of its problem with obese residents, especially children, and is taking steps to correct the problem. School children are being exposed to lower fat foods and more exercise each day. Experts feel that with the struggling economy, healthy foods might be harder to come by for some families,… -
Health Risks of Speed Eating
3 Jul 2009 | 10:27 amYou may think it’s fun to watch speed eaters cobble down hotdogs this weekend, but the “sport” of competitive eating has some considerable health risks. While the percent of the speed eating population is not large enough to warrant a scientific study, several former speed eaters are dealing with obesity, clogged arteries, and other gastrointestinal problems. One competitive eater even found that after a while, his stomach would not register being “full” when he ate normally. This condition, called peristalsis, means that the stomach is not contracting. Despite… -
Bringing Patients Back to Life
2 Jul 2009 | 5:25 pmWhen Michael Jackson was taken to the UCLA Medical Center last week, he had the best chance around for being revived. The center is known for literally bringing patients that have died back to life. Apparently one doctor at the center “has pioneered a way to revive people that most doctors would have long written off, including a woman whose heart had stopped for 2 1/2 hours.” They tested their technique on cardiac patients who, with any other hospital, would most likely die. The results were amazing, with an 80% survival rate. However, patients needed very quick treatment in… -
FDA Warning: Smoking Cessation Meds
1 Jul 2009 | 6:10 pmThe stop-smoking market is huge, from the do-it-yourself treatments to alternative medicine to pharmaceutical medicines. Over the past few years, medications like Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban and Wellbutrin (buproprion) have been used by many people, some successfully, some not. One problem with these medications is that they seem to have an adverse effect on some people who take them and these can be quite serious. According to a press release issued by the FDA: These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted…
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coffee bitch
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love and tolerance
7 Jun 2009 | 10:55 pmWow love and tolerance is what I need to remember at meetings. It is easy for me to get a resentment. Life is crazy my deadline is coming for my website so I am pushing as hard as I can to make the date. -
Pod
5 Jun 2009 | 11:54 pmI was pissed off at my oldest because I thought he took my Ipod. I was acting like the old behavior which was not good. I have to watch myself because I am quick to judge and 95% of the time I am wrong. The boys have their soccer games tomorrow and pop warner football is starting soon. Running back and forth all Saturday is getting old quick. -
GOD HELP
28 May 2009 | 1:09 pmThis website is driving me nuts. There is some much to do and I am even having problems picking colors aaahhh. I need to move on so I sent it to some of my designer friends. The more I can deligate the better I will be. Some things need to go to god other things need to go to people who know what they are doing. I need to go to a meeting today or tomorrow.. -
scarletts
25 May 2009 | 11:04 pmWow there is something about silent films!! We went to a party today at some friends house. There where 5 couples there and they were all drinking. Man its hard when it was a hot day and you have to watch your friends drink ice cold beer. I was bumming a little bit but I soon got over it because I went home. -
peter pan is real
24 May 2009 | 11:14 pmI thought Peter Pan was made of only fairy tales. Peter Pans Blog I went to my meeting tonight and it was just ok. I was just there in body and sometimes that has got to be good enough. I have to much shit going on in my mind.
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In God's Hands
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AA Triangle
2 Jul 2009 | 7:04 amI remember, very clearly, the advice given to me while I was a patient in a treatment centre. Get a sponsor, get a home group, get the keys to the meeting, and use the phone. Kinda like the three parts of the AA triangle: Recovery, unity, and service.I kept that key to the meeting for about a year and a half. I didn't want to share it. I wanted to open the door, make the coffee, set up the chairs, get the literature set out, and shovel the snow off the walkway if needed. Greeting and talking with people as they arrived. There were times when I was full of self pity doing that work, sometimes… -
Weaving lessons
30 Jun 2009 | 7:45 amI've worked for the same employer for over 30 years and was recently told that my services are no longer required. I have been laid off and am now pursuing other activities. I would like to be able to go university and have another career before I retire someone off in the future. But, and I shouldn't be surprized, is how much fear I have around loosing my job and having a future that's not full of salary and benefits. On page 67 of the Big Book there is a paragraph that reads: Notice that the word "fear" is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and… -
Humbly asked God.
29 Jun 2009 | 7:34 amThe topic of discussion, last night, was step seven. "Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings." We read the chapter on the step from "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" and this particular passage jumped out at me:The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear--primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands. (page… -
sabbatical
19 Feb 2009 | 6:14 amStill sober, still clean. I'm going to take a break from blogging. I want to explore a different area of my life in the early morning time that I used to devote to reading everyone's blogs and writing in my own. Thank you for all your warmth and support, for being part of my We. -
gratefulness
13 Feb 2009 | 5:56 amIn Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions the chapter on Step 10 describes having "a genuine gratitude for blessings received" as part of that step. Over at dictionary.com, gratitude is defined as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful" or better yet "a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation."Steve suggested that I post a gratitude list, using that list as a tool to see the things that I am already happy for, especially when I am attempting to battle life instead of simply living it. So here goes, a bit of a list of items for which I am thankful for:For Step 2's "came to believe…
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addiction-recovery « WordPress.com Tag Feed
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Shame & Addiction (Mike Knott)
30 Jun 2009 | 6:39 pmADDICTION I am the adulteress and the penitent man I’m the cunning culprit and the little lamb and I love all God’s creatures all but one: this Chameleon —Mike Knott, “Chameleon” (Life of David – 2001) (Painting also by Mike Knott) -
67
30 Jun 2009 | 12:14 pmIt has been forever. I am having a hard time keeping up. My motivation is all over the place. I went to the beach this morning and came back mad. I had some errands to run out of town, so I sured at a spot I have never surfed before. The surf conditions were very good, but all I did, really, was float around for about two hours. Part of the reason I didn’t catch much of anything was that it was quite crowded. Still, another reason is because I am just not very good. I went surfing yesterday morning as well. The conditions were terrible. I was by my self for the first 40 minutes or so, but… -
SMART Recovery from Addiction
26 Jun 2009 | 6:38 pmAddiction and Co-dependency Recovery using the principals of SMART Recovery. A non-spiritual based, non-12 step treatment for All Addictive Disorders and Co-dependency Recovery. Addiction and Co-dependency Recovery using the principals of, SMART recovery which is an abstinence-based, not-for-profit organization with a sensible self-help program for people having addictive and co-addictive behavioral problems. It includes many ideas and techniques to help participants change their lives from one that is self-(and other) destructive and unhappy tone that is constructive and satisfying. … -
Cost of Foregiveness (Re-Post)
25 Jun 2009 | 9:35 amDIARY OF AN ADDICT – THE COST OF FORGIVENESS In a Twelve-Step recovery program, the Fourth Step involves a moral inventory: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” To make this moral inventory, it is recommended that the addict first compile a list of things and people he resents. This list of resentments is the key to uncovering assumptions and wrong actions that lie in the addict’s past (and continue to shape his present). So what does the addict do with all of these resentments? According to the Twelve-Steps he: (iv) makes an inventory, (v)… -
A Personal Version of the 12 Steps : blu3nude.wordpress.com
21 Jun 2009 | 3:42 amthis is from one of my favourite personal blogs dealing with recovery (”addiction, “not drinking”, “depression/anxiety/fear”, “love and sex”), blu3nude.wordpress.com, it’s very open , honest, and vulnerable (some things i wish we could all be). so when you get a chance, go there, wish her a happy birthday (june 21 is her birthday), or even wish her a happy belated-birthday depending on when you read this. But beware, she is a “snake” afterall, (but in a good way). Happy birthday again Blu and thanks for sharing your 12 Steps!
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Sobriety is Exhausting
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Feeling and Typing
4 Jul 2009 | 6:24 amI want to write a little about Ms. SoberPants (daughter age 27)but I don't feel like going thru the whole damn history for those of you who may not have been reading this blog for the last 3 years. Anyway, she will have two years sober this month which is sort of the biggest thing in the whole wide world. Yesterday she had to go to the grocery store for Mother. I know this seems like a simple task to everyone and I understand that to you it is no big deal. For Ms. SoberPants though it requires first drawing the map yet again from Mothers to the store. It requires entering a building with very… -
Thursday a.k.a Three Day Weekend
2 Jul 2009 | 3:28 amGod could and would if he were sought.Isn't it odd how sometimes that seeking is just a whisper away?Well, it's a new day. Like it or not it is here. Maybe yesterday you fretted about this day I don't know. Maybe tomorrow you will be filled with regret about this this day. At this moment though, it's a new unmarked un-dented day.My hair is clean and so are my clothes. Physically, I am appropriate to walk out the door.I've taken my morning medicine. I've read "On awakening...." page 86. I've digested it and put thought and prayer into it as well. My car has gas. I have a job to go to.I am… -
Wednesday Stuffola
1 Jul 2009 | 3:42 amBlah blah blah:Yesterday the Hospice nurse came to Mothers house to take a medical history, learn what medicines she's on etc. Mothers primary physician (a sleaze bag - long story) had sent her records to the hospice group. The records had her name, S.S. and date of birth correct but listed her illnesses as AIDS, HEP C and Emphysema. This upset her to think that the others at hospice had also seen her records and believed she had AIDS. The nurse said she would clear that up today and find out where the correct records are. Sigh.I like to read blogs early in the morning from my desk at work. I… -
Tuesday
30 Jun 2009 | 3:34 amYesterday went very well with the Hospice Rep. who happened to be their Chaplin. Mother liked her and I did as well.Some stuff:There is a guy at my home group who is loved by everyone because he shares so eloquently. I've been sponsoring his ex and boy howdy have I been hearing some down and dirty stuff about him!My husband has been entertaining the idea of taking a job out of Houston. YIKES.I keep forgetting to tell y'all that he was in a Pepsi commercial last week. Long story.I have a good life.....no matter what.Four day work week - Yahoo.Pammie -
Mama age 16
29 Jun 2009 | 5:02 pmOh I wish you could see how blue her eyes are with all that red hair. My daughter Ms. SoberPants looks like this. Pammie
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Actively Arielle: A Voice With A Commitment
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Fly the Banner
29 Jun 2009 | 3:37 pmJust a little something I wrote a couple of weeks ago. :)Fly the banner, Hold the flame, Dance your best, Sing out your name! Field all questions To the sky; Let your spirit Flow and fly. Bets are off, The word is out!— You have a voice; It’s time to shout! Fly the banner, Hold the flame, Dance your best, Sing out your name! Feel the rhythm In the air, Vibrate with A power rare! The sun is bright -
Triggers & Support Groups
13 Jun 2009 | 2:54 pmYes, yes, it's another video post, but if I've already said the words, why write them? :) In any case, this is the latest video I did for the FreEDomFighters collaboration channel on YouTube. I do a weekly video and my day is Wednesday. Check it out if you're interested in that kind of thing. We answer viewer questions and touch on topics chosen by those who watch us. I love being a part of -
Finding the Root
1 Jun 2009 | 6:11 pmA video I did for the eating disorder recovery collaboration I'm a part of on YouTube. Hope you find it encouraging and helpful. I am responding to a question from a viewer: "How do I begin figuring out what is at the root of my eating disorder and how I deal with that?"I have several thoughts, all of which I discuss in my video. 1) Talk as much as you can. 2) Journal. 3) Remember. 4) Let go of -
Appreciate Today
22 May 2009 | 8:23 amAppreciate today. Appreciate life. If it's a fleeting moment in which you can appreciate the world around you, then so be it. At least it's something. Don't let external factors bring you down. There is always something to appreciate in this life. Whether it be the beauty of a sunny day, spending time laughing with family, or talking for hours to a good friend, there is something to appreciate -
Friendships & Eating Disorders: Gaining Perspective Parts 1 & 2
4 May 2009 | 1:37 pmHere are two videos I made recently in response to a question by a viewer. I've gotten a lot of feedback from this 2-part project, so I thought I'd put it up here in the hopes it makes a difference to others. :)PART 1:And PART 2:
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Ex Con Alcoholic Addict's Struggle
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Never Give Up
28 Jun 2009 | 10:49 amIt crossed my mind in the past few weeks to just say, "fuck this" Again AI got bombarded with, it seemed like, everyone wanting to make sure I didn't have a dime left in my pocket. From court fines, parking tickets, old boss, and the great State of California withholding money meant for me which I earned but somehow is lost right now in the red tape beauracracy of government. So after the elation of completing parole successfully, I found myself living by the skin of my teeth. In the past that would have been an excuse to go out and get loaded from all of the stress that was coming down on… -
I Feel the Burn
8 Jun 2009 | 2:09 pmI joined a gym. A gym donated by the widow of McDonalds tycoon Kroc. It's run by the Salvation Army and it is on a block in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood. It's the greatest gym ever built. All brand new state of the art equipment, pool, game room with ping pong and pool tables and pinball machines. It has a computer lab with 40 computers donated by Hewlet Packard. It has a gym with basketball courts, and a climbing thing on the wall. Sadly, it isn't used by many people because of the hood. And many residents of the hood would rather spend the $20 a month fee on other things.I love it. I… -
One week down, One more to go
3 Jun 2009 | 11:09 amsince my detainment last week a number of things have happened that have hindered my progress but also shown me how much I am loved and being rooted to succeed.Money I was expecting from my parole savings has been lost. Not lost forever but sort of lost in the bureaucratic red tape of Sacramento. This money was supposed to help me move into a place of my own once leaving the parolee house. which in turn has left me like the state of California. My bank account has dried up, my credit is maxed out, and I am practically living as a homeless person until my next paycheck. A few people have… -
No More Parole!!!!!!!!!
29 May 2009 | 2:31 pmWhat a week. I was misinformed by my PO that I had a parole hold and a traffic warrant which needed to be taken care of. I turned myself in and paid the fines owed for traffic. When I asked about the parole hold the officers told me they didn't have any indication that I was on parole. so they let me free.I went back to the parole office and thought this must be a big mistake. After signing in the women at the window called me over and gave me a card. The card stated, "Frankiecon had successfully completed parole. My officer must be a scatterbrain. So, for the first time since 1996 I am not… -
I Really Can't Say
14 May 2009 | 4:24 pmThere have been tons of things going on in my life in which I would love to write about, but out of respect for others it will have to wait.One thing for sure is I am definitely moving out of here. The last straw was a petty complaint from my roommate concerning the use of his coffee. I helped myself to a cup which he always told me I could do if I was ever out. In the past I have bought him jars of Folgers, coffeemate jars of creamer, cups, bleach, and air freshener. I never asked him for a dime to pay me back. I have taught him how to use a computer with 1000s of answers so he could do his…
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Let's Talk with ModelMan Photography
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13 Jun 2009 | 5:57 pm
13 Jun 2009 | 5:57 pmForbidden is now available through Amazon Books. -
2 Mar 2009 | 8:40 pm
2 Mar 2009 | 8:40 pmI am overjoyed with the progress of "Forbidden". So much in fact that I am looking ahead to "Forbidden II" in which the obsession continues. My photography has taken a side road. A special and unique road which reaches out and attempts to uncover and explain the emotions of the daily grind. Love, family, courage and beauty are just some of what I'll be coming to terms with in the following
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sexual-sanity.com
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Marriage and Sexual Fidelity
30 Jun 2009 | 11:46 amIn the wake of recent news stories of marriage problems (Governor Mark Sanford, pictured at left with his wife Jenny in happier times; note also Jon and Kate plus 8), the New York Times ran a fairly upbeat article about the state of marriage today. It’s worth a look, as a great backdrop to the discussions we’re having about marriage and sexual fidelity today. It’s also worth a look for couples dealing with sexual struggles in their own marriage … if for no other reason than to see our challenges in the context of our culture as a whole. Here are a few notable quotes… -
Three challenges confronting recovering couples
30 Apr 2009 | 1:00 amIt’s hard to be a couple in our culture, let alone a couple in recovery. There are many pressures working against relationships. Facing these challenges with realism and honesty can help us establish the priority we need on our recovery. It won’t “just happen.” Challenge #1 The way we live today makes intimacy hard to maintain Historically, people worked, ate, played, and celebrated together. Compared to those times, there is little support for families in our culture. Today family members simply aren’t together much. Our culture separates adults from one… -
Failure is never final in recovery
28 Apr 2009 | 8:27 amFailure If recovery demanded perfection, then we would all be failures. Our goal is progress, not perfection. It has to be this way, since none of us will ever be perfect. It is said that the only time we fail in recovery is when we do not try again. When we stumble or slip in our sobriety or in our emotional and spiritual life (and the three are always interrelated), the important thing is to pick ourselves up and keep going. We may lose battles here and there, but if we rely on our Higher Power, we will win the war. None of us is free from temptation. Even when we abstain from compulsive… -
How to take back your power in relationships - set deadlines
21 Apr 2009 | 8:08 amPeople who feel victimized or mistreated in relationships struggle to know when and how to draw the line. We want to give people second chances … but what about fifth or sixth chances? Fiftieth or sixtieth chances? I know that Jesus said we should forgive people not just seven times, but “seventy times seven” times. But forgiving people multiple times does not imply remaining in the same kind of relationship. If my “friend” ignores or mistreats me again and again, I can forgive him, but that doesn’t mean I will continue to engage with him as if he’s… -
How to talk about sexually addictive behavior to your kids
11 Apr 2009 | 10:11 pmTalking to kids about sex is challenging under any circumstances. For parents who have been struggling with compulsive sexual behavior themselves, it’s especially hard. Parents must face down their own shame and fear, and realize that in most cases, it’s not only in their child’s best interest, it’s also helpful for their own recovery. Addiction thrives in secret. Families where compulsive sexual behavior has been going on in secret create an addictive system which is passed on from generation to generation. Unless something powerful is brought in to change things, a…
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Laughter Is The Best Medicine
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Enough Already
30 Jun 2009 | 7:01 pmWhen Emma was in Ireland, she made an interesting comment to me on the phone. She said that she couldn’t believe how much was going on in the world, with major situations happening in Iran and North Korea, and scandals in Great Britain (not that scandals in Great Britain really qualify as news anymore.) And I told her that from where I sat in Chicago, it didn’t really feel like there was more going on in the world than usual. Rather, it was likely her perspective that was different. In the U.S., it seems that about 80% of our news coverage (maybe more) is on things happening… -
Top 10 reasons I haven’t been blogging
28 Jun 2009 | 7:09 pm10. Watching Thriller video over and over and over again, sobbing and eating popcorn. 9. Too busy consoling Patti Blagojevich on getting booted off “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.” (Although, given the name, isn’t getting booted off the whole point?) 8. Hugh Jackman asked me to run away with him and had to go. 7. Was sitting on the veranda with a cool drink and a washcloth on my forehead. (I guess that would require a veranda.) 6. Making many trips to Wal-mart to buy up supply of Norma Kamali dresses. 5. Got lost in Ikea and took 3 days to get out. (All signs… -
Turning a corner
21 Jun 2009 | 8:00 pmYesterday was our first day at the pool. (Not sure why the pools in Chicago don’t just open between June 15-Sept. 15, because there’s really no point in opening on Memorial Day. Ever.) And I realized that, for the first time in years, I didn’t have to run around trying to find the swim diaper and the rubber pants. And I didn’t have to set up the stroller. All we had to do was put suits on, lather up with sunscreen (which I of course had to run to CVS to buy, as I hadn’t planned ahead - see my December 1 post about snow boots) and go. Everyone put on… -
I love this dress
17 Jun 2009 | 9:06 amUsually, when something seems to good to be true it isn’t, but occasionally, it actually is. I saw an adorable little black Norma Kamali dress in this month’s O Magazine (maybe you saw it – it was the issue with Oprah on the cover. Ha – a little O Magazine humor.) I investigated, and it said was available at Walmart for $20. At Walmart. For $20. My local Walmart of woe (which has actually been remodeled and it’s pretty nice and it doesn’t have that awful smell anymore, so I guess I have to stop calling it the Walmart of woe) doesn’t carry the Norma… -
The music that was missing
15 Jun 2009 | 2:50 pmI recently realized that something was missing from my life. Music. Not piano music that I play, or church music that I sing. I have plenty of both of those kinds of music. No, the music that was missing was the music that I like to listen to. Since I stopped driving to work (almost four years ago), I don’t spend very much time in the car. So I stopped bothering to put CD’s in the CD player. I just turned on the radio. And since the kids are frequently watching TV when we’re at home (okay, did I just really admit that? What I meant to say was that since the kids are…
