Thursday, January 31, 2008

Free at Last



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the freedoms I gained just by stopping drinking alcohol

that some day, today will be one of the good old days

that I remain teachable

for my personal workout trainer who is a model in several magazines

for my cats

if you're an aviation/aircraft fan, CLICK HERE; it's an interactive and panoramic view of the cockpit of the Airbus A380

Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.
-Voltaire

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Adversity


todAAy i AM grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a good night's sleep and waking up with a clear head and a prayer

that the time I used to spend getting drunk is much more productive these days

for some awareness of the things I need to do in order to make friends in sobriety; being a shy, introverted loner with a tendency to isolate, making friends is one of the hardest missions for me to imagine

for those who are willing to put themselves out there, regardless of how unpopular it may make them

for those times when I get into action


Adversity introduces a man to himself.
-Anonymous

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

todAAy ...


"Some people procrastinate so much that all they can do is run around like firefighters all day -- putting out fires that should not have gotten started in the first place." -- Nido Qubein

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." -- Don Marquis

"A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault." -- Cardinal Newman



todAAy... i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Eyes Wide Shut, the 6:30am AA meeting I attend just about every day; it's the best way to start my day that I have found and sure does beat going to the bar at 7am

that each moment of every day is unique unto itself

that if I want to experience many of my character defects, give me something to be in fear of
(heard this in a meeting)

that days like this only come around once every 24 hours

for a warm bed and a hot man

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."
-- Confucius

Monday, January 28, 2008

a long way to go


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I woke up sober and with no hangover this morning

that my martyrdom and isolationism may soon pass (feelings and behaviors I seem to experience occasionally)

that I am not long-winded when I talk in public

that I'm still able to make new memories each day

that I've learned to keep many of my "observations" to myself; especially when they are less-than flattering

Electile Dysfunction:
The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for president put forth by either party in the 2008 election year.



Sunday, January 27, 2008

The difficulties of stopping

Yesterday's itenerary...
  • 8:30am AA meeting
  • 10am workout with my trainer
  • noon trip to visit with Mom
  • 5pm AA birthday dinner for Zane
  • 6pm -- work the Lambda Center Membership Table
  • 7pm January AA Birthday Celebrations @ Lambda

An elderly Italian man who lived on the outskirts of Montecassino went to the local church for confession. When the priest slid open the panel in the confessional the man said, "Father ... during World War II, a beautiful Jewish woman from our neighbourhood knocked urgently on my door and asked me to hide her from the Nazis, so I hid her in my attic."

The priest replied, " that was a wonderful thing you did my son and you have no need to confess that."

"There is more to tell Father. She started to repay me with sexual favours. This happened several times a week, and sometimes twice on Sundays."

The priest said, " By doing that you placed yourselves in great danger. I can understand that two people under those circumstances can easily succumb to the weakness of the flesh. However, if you are truly sorry for your actions you are indeed forgiven."

"Thank you Father. That's a great load off my mind, but I do have one more question."

"And what is that my son?" asked the priest.

"Should I tell her the war is over?"

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Car Jacking

I am always striving to bring you the latest information available ...


BEWARE OF PAPER IN THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE

A NEW WAY TO DO CAR JACKING


Heads up everyone!

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the car jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They may practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the car jacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED!

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away.

Remove the paper later.

Friday, January 25, 2008

reality


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for progress in my "taking care of me" program

that a friend who relapsed this week is OK; he is in the hospital after getting mugged coming from a bar Wednesday night

that relapse is not part of my program -- as I watch others who go back out, I see how difficult it is to get back into recovery

for a Higher Power that is so understanding

that my feelings often have little to do with the facts

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
-- Carl. W. Buechner

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Trudging



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I neither need to nor want to drink any alcohol today; if you knew me 5 years ago, you'd say I am lying

that I'm not a liar

that there's always time to do the important things

that I don't regret my past nor do I wish to shut the door on it

that my sobriety requires willingness, my recovery requires action

"Power is so characteristically calm, that calmness in itself has the aspect of strength."
-- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Carrying on ...


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I can be responsible and accountable without any resentments

that I am in a relationship that requires patience in so many areas of my thinking; it has been the biggest and most profound learning experience of my 53 years -- and worth every minute (almost LOL)

for the Marines -- I totally know what they're talking about when they say they get more done by 9am than most people do in a whole day

that I could get up at 3:30am today to take a friend to the airport

It takes a real storm in the average person's life to make him realize how much worrying he has done over the squalls.
-Unknown

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

My First Jump

It was a gorgeous day, as you can see. The temperature at jump time was about 50 deg F. The temperature at 14,000 feet was about -10 deg F. Accompanied by the wind as I dropped at 120 mph, it was purty durn cold for a few minutes. The noise was deafening.
My instructor (the guy on my back with the parachute) advised me to pull his ripcord at 6,000 feet. I took his advice. Then, peace and quiet as the chute opened and we slowly soared to a graceful and stand-up landing. Total time in the air was about 5 minutes.
It was fun but probably not a new addiction for me. The most surprising aspect is that I never felt a sensation of falling. It was very peaceful except for the wind and noise.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that as a sober man, I am able to help out a friend in the middle of the night instead of sleeping through a phone call or finding an excuse not to be of assistance

today is day 1600 without a drink of alcohol for me

for a good meeting about Step 7 -- I like the way it ties into so many of the steps for me as I try to be the best person I can be -- for today

that it's no longer acceptable for me to be at odds with anyone now that I have the tools and desire to make things right

"It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."
-- Whitney Young, Jr.

Monday, January 21, 2008

In Remembrance



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

that my Mom is out of the hospital and happy to be back in her familiar surroundings

for a new appreciation of the meaning of The Serenity Prayer and a greater understanding of the wisdom to know the difference

that my friend ZANE (ZaneJabber) yesterday celebrated his 16th anniversary of remaining clean and sober

that I am now an inexperienced skydiver with one jump under my belt; an interesting day certainly but not as exhilarating as I had imagined. More on this tomorrow.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude."
~ William James

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Baby booming

I don't mind getting older.
Like I've heard said many times ...
"It sure beats the alternative."
With that in mind, enjoy the video.



Did you notice me in the background?

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Double trouble

I borrowed this from Lee @ Eau de Humanity




and now, to complete today's lesson ...

CLICK HERE for an interesting article.

It concerns media exxagerations and downright lies that they want all of us to believe.

Friday, January 18, 2008

FRIDAY

Did you ever wish your car had power windows?
Well, now it can ...




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Rule # 62 hahahaLOLhahahaLOL
(see Tradition 4)

that today, I shall be the very best person and friend that I can be; I pray for this every day and it amazes me how different it can be each day

that I can think on my own, but be willing to listen to just about everyone

for glasses that are half-full

"No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities - always see them, for they’re always there."
-- Norman Vincent Peale

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Morning Cereal


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a good visit with my Mom ...
and that I kept my cool when I found out the hospital didn't inform me of a major event from 2 days ago

for a guest speaker at Lambda whose story I really identified with

that we slept in late (real late) yesterday morning -- something I NEVER do and what a treat it was!

that H's best friend is visiting

"Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be."
-- Charles "Tremendous" Jones

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Change

55%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that changing bad behavior has never been as painful as the consequences of that bad behavior

that I can learn much by watching and observing others -- ie: when I spot self-centerdness, I identify with it almost immediately

that H and I are going skydiving this weekend -- neither of us has done this before

that I watch The Golden Girls every morning while reading some of your blogs

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.
~ unknown

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

still putting one foot in front of the other

follow the one you love.

CLICK HERE


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Step 6 and the daily attention it needs

to know that I am a pickle and can never again be a gherkin

that I am not the only strange person on this planet; in fact, there may be a few person(s) stranger than moi

that I have had a part in expanding the scope of recovery at Lambda Center -- we allowed a CMA (crystal methamphetamine anonymous) meeting 2 years ago and only this week authorized another new CMA group to begin meeting

People may fail many times, but they become failures only when they begin to blame someone else.
-Unknown

Monday, January 14, 2008

Manuever




Amazing Paking Job - Watch more free videos

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for freedoms I never knew I could have before I stopped drinking

that I could offer my own personal experience to someone who is going through a life changing situation

that I had the opportunity and honor to listen to the AA story of one of my favorite lesbians-in- recovery

for the recovery clubhouse I attend, Lambda Center -- it's a safe place for alcoholics who need a safe place, away from the temptations of the bars a few blocks away

that I am not tempted by those bars

Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
-Unknown

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Husbands

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.
On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs. She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads: Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids. 'That's nice', she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking. 'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads: Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework. 'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!' Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads: Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak. She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads: Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.
Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex. The second floor has wives that have big tits, love sex, and have money. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Who's Sitting Next To You?

This was sent to me by a friend in recovery. It's pretty long, but worth reading. It was originally printed in the AA Grapevine in 1991.

WHO'S SITTING NEXT TO YOU?

I know who you are. You are "X" who attends the ABC Meeting at the XYZ Club where AA's meet in Anywhere, USA. I saw you there the other night at the eight o'clock meeting. I don't know how long you've been sober, but I know you've been coming around for a while because you spoke to a lot of people who knew you. I wasn't one of them. You don't know who I am. I wandered into your meeting place alone the other night, a stranger in a strange town. I got a cup of coffee, paid for it, and sat down by myself. You didn't speak to me. Oh, you saw me. You glanced my way, but you didn't recognize me, so you quickly averted your eyes and sought out a familiar face. I sat there through the meeting. It was okay, a slightly different format but basically the same kind of meeting as the one I go to at home. The topic was gratitude. You and your friends spoke about how much AA means to you. You talked about the camaraderie in your meeting place. You said how much the people there had helped you when you first came through the door--how they extended the hand of friendship to make you feel welcome, and asked you to come back. And I wondered where they had gone, those nice people who made your entrance so welcoming and so comfortable. You talked about how the newcomer is the life-blood of AA. I agree, but I didn't say so. In fact, I didn't share in your meeting. I signed my name in the book that was passed around, but the chairperson didn't refer to it. He only called on those people in the room whom he knew. So who am I? You don't know, because you didn't bother to find out. Although yours was a closed meeting, you didn't even ask if I belonged there. It might have been my first meeting, I could have been full of fear and distrust, knowing AA wouldn't work any better than anything else I'd tried, and I would have left convinced that I was right. I might have been suicidal, grasping at one last straw, hoping someone would reach out and pull me from the pit of loathing and self-pity from which, by myself, I could find no escape. I might have been a student with a tape recorder in my pocket, assigned to write a paper on how AA works--someone who shouldn't have been permitted to sit there at all but could have been directed to an open meeting to learn what I needed to know. Or I could have been sent by the courts, wanting to know more, but afraid to ask. It happens that I was none of the above. I was just an ordinary drunk with a few years of sober living in AA who was traveling and was in need of a meeting. My only problem that night was that I'd been alone with my own mind too long. I just needed to touch base with my AA family. I know from past experience that I could have walked into your meeting place smiling, stuck out my hand to the first person I saw and said, "Hi. My name is--. I'm an alcoholic from--." If I'd felt like doing that, I probably would have been warmly welcomed. You would have asked me if I knew Old So-and-so from my state, or you might have shared a part of your drunk-a-log that occurred in my part of the country. Why didn't I? I was hungry, lonely, and tired. The only thing missing was angry, but three out of four isn't a good place for me to be. So I sat silently through your meeting, and when it was over I watched enviously as all of you gathered in small groups, talking to one another the same way we do in my hometown. You and some of your friends were planning a meeting after the meeting at a nearby coffee shop. By this time I had been silent too long to reach out to you. I stopped by the bulletin board to read the notices there, kind of hanging around without being too obvious, hoping you might ask if I wanted to join you, but you didn't. As I walked slowly across the parking lot to my car with the out-of-state license plates you looked my way again. Our eyes met briefly and I mustered a smile. Again, you looked away. I buckled my seat belt, started the car, and drove to the motel where I was staying. As I lay in my bed waiting for sleep to come, I made a gratitude list. You were on it, along with your friends at the meeting place. I knew that you were there for me, and that I needed you far more than you needed me. I knew that if I had needed help, and had asked for it, you would have gladly given it. But I wondered...what if I hadn't been able to ask? I now who you are. Do you remember me?

AA Grapevine, March 1991

I am writing this article to urge AA members to remember one of the most important reasons why we all kept coming -- at least for me, anyway. And from what I have seen for the last eleven years, it's important to all of us. Remember that person who approached you at your first meeting? The one with the glowing smile and friendly handshake? The one who talked to you for hours in the parking lot after the meeting? Not the one who just said, "Welcome," but the one who made you feel welcome. These are people who gave me hope -- and still do. Today, I try to make people feel welcome. It takes more than a brief handshake before and after a meeting to do this. Dinner meetings and long car rides to far-off speaking engagements in my early days were some of the most powerful meetings I've ever been to. I would ask, "Where are we going?" The reply was, "Don't worry about it." As I look around at meetings today, I notice there are a lot of members saying "Welcome" but not necessarily making newcomers feel welcome. It almost seems that helping a newcomer has become too inconvenient for some members. Now that they are sober they don't want to stay up too late because they have "responsibilities." They need sleep. I'm sure glad people weren't too tired to make me feel welcome when I first got sober. Remember, everything we have today is a result of God, AA, and a friendly welcome. Sleep on that awhile!

March 1999 AA Grapevine

Friday, January 11, 2008

to those in service ...

How to say Thank You.
CLICK HERE


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that the greater my acceptance, the greater my power (it seems)

that I have the honor of chairing the 12:15pm meeting every Thursday this month

for all those people in recovery who perform service in an infinite number of ways

that the most glaring of my character defects seem to be taking a back seat to being happy, joyous and free

that life seems pretty easy these days

that Zane has re-started his blog -- ZaneJabbers
check it out


If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.
-Anonymous

BONUS QUOTE ...

A man can get discouraged many times but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying."
-- John Burroughs

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Short, but sweet






todAAy
i AAm
grAAteful
&
thAAnkful









that my yesterday was ...
busy,
serene,
peaceful,
productive,
fulfilling
and very enjoyable


What more can one ask for?


My goal in life is to survive. Everything else is just a bonus.
-"The Lockhorns"

BONUS...

I was depressed last night so I called Lifeline.
Got a call center in Pakistan.
I told them I was suicidal.
They got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.
~ anonymous

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Hump Day

first
picture
taken
on
Mars



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for expanding awareness of me

that I'm in this thing (sobriety & AA) for the long run

that when I stood at the turning point, I didn't lay down and die

that I am having breakfast with my sponsor this morning after my morning treadmill session; then I'm off to visit my Mom in the hospital

for the new topic on SOBRIETY SOCIETY

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
- unknown

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

TUESDAY



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I try to keep the twelve steps as simple as possible

for the times that I am aware of my progress, especially my emotional sobriety

for all the people who are willing to give it a try, even though many aren't quite ready to give it up (I really identify with these feelings since I was once there)

that I saw a former sponsee who has been out of contact for about 6 months -- he looked like a skeleton compared to his former self (another good in-my-face reminder)

some say the road gets narrower as they get more time, but sometimes I think the road just looks narrower because I am fatter.
- friend of Bill

and a bonus quote ...

Don't worry if your work is hard and your rewards are few. Remember the mighty oak was once a nut like you.
-Unknown

Monday, January 07, 2008

Changing myself

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a short, but nice visit with Mom who remains in the hospital pending the outcome of additional tests

for the discipline NOT to act on many of my impulses

for the constant reminders of who I don't want to be -- in sobriety

that I am crazy enough to volunteer my time and effort (once again) to the Lambda Center Board of Directors

to get to hear Steven's story at the Saturday Night Live AA meeting at Lambda; it was told with humility, honesty and humor. Very entertaining and informative.

that I went to Scott's gallery opening on Saturday night. I truly enjoyed being there and watching so many people clamor over his talent and efforts. It made me feel good, but I'm not sure why. It was also wonderful to see so many recovering friends there supporting a fellow alkie who has so much talent.

When you are reluctant to change, think of the beauty of autumn.
~ unknown

Sunday, January 06, 2008

tongue-in-cheek

For those that don't know about history...... here is a condensed version.

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.
The two most important events in all of history were: (1) The invention of beer, and (2) The invention of the wheel.

The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups: (1) Liberals (2) Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can was invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed. Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement. Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement. Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided. Over the years Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass. Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat. Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living. Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing. Here ends today's lesson in world history.

This lesson has absolutely nothing to do with my personal beliefs. I included it here because I think it's funny. If you are offended, call your sponsor.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

One Billion

A BILLION - the true story about a Billion Dollars.

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the "politicians" spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

(a) A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
(b) A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
(c) A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
(d) A billion days ago no humans walked on the earth.
(e) A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans.
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number, what does it mean?
(a) Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.
(b) If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
(c) If you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??

Tax his land, Tax his wage, Tax his bed in which he lays. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes is the rule. Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat Tax his ties, Tax his shirts, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think. Tax his booze, Tax his beers, If he cries, Tax his tears. Tax his bills, Tax his gas, Tax his notes, Tax his cash. Tax him good and let him know That after taxes, he has no dough. If he hollers, Tax him more, Tax hi m until he's good and sore. Tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he lays. Put these words upon his tomb, "Taxes drove me to my doom!" And when he's gone, We won't relax, We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!! Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL License Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax Fuel Perm it Tax Gasoline Tax Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax), IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Tax, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service charge taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax (Truckers), Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Utility Tax, Vehicle License Registr ation Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registrati on Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax.

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt and had the largest middle class in the world.
What happened?

Friday, January 04, 2008

A Good Day to Be ...



Edinburgh Castle
Scotland



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that sobriety is daily; recovery can last a lifetime

that I picked up on a concept of spirituality early in my exposure to AA (well, it took 3 months, but considering I was 49, that was pretty fast for this lifetime non-believer)

with some pushing from my other half, I can become more flexible in my day-to-day behavior; this is NOT something I want to do by myself

that I rarely end sentences with a proposition

that the elections will be over in only 11 months (arghhhhhhhhhh!)

What I am doing today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
~~ unknown

Thursday, January 03, 2008

following the path ...


bibulous \BIB-yuh-luhs\, adjective: 1. Of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcoholic drink. 2. Readily absorbing fluids or moisture.

So, drop that word into a conversation and see how many heads you turn.

For example: “I have not been bibulous for 12 years on Jan. 14.”




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that it's not painful to be sober another day, simply by following a set of suggestions

for synchronicity

for doctors that can speak layman's English

that I am not afraid to make decisions

for some nice, cold winter temperatures. But we'll be back into the mid-70's by this weekend. LOL

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
~~ anonymous

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

going forward...

picture donated by Bob S.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I was made in Ft Worth, Texas (a friend mentioned that everything he got for Christmas was made in China)

that the chaos of the holiday season has passed

that I too (like many other people whose blogs I read yesterday) felt not quite so right yesterday; it has passed

for the fresh start offered by a new calendar year

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet.
-Anonymous


Tuesday, January 01, 2008

TUESDAY

My 2007 in pictures (partially) ...





todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my Mom lived to see 2008; we had another scare this week but once again she has pulled through and should get out of the hospital in a day or two

that I am up this morning without a hangover and can remember everything I did last night

for good attendance at Lambda last night for a New Year's Eve celebration

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
-Buddha

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.
A pessimist stays up to make sure the year leaves."


-- Bill Vaughn



"Another fresh New Year is here…
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright New Year is given me
To live each day with zest…
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!"
-- William Arthur Ward

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice." -- T.S. Eliot

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
-- Edith Lovejoy Pierce