One Word Answers

Try this on your own blog, if you wish. We can all get to know each other just a little bit better.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? bed
3. Your hair? short
4. Your mother? dead
5. Your father? dead
6. Your favorite thing? sobriety
7. Your dream last night? huh?
8. Your favorite drink? coffee
9. Your dream/goal? serenity
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your fear? people
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? drunk
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? security
17. Where you grew up? Houston
18. The last thing you did? uh-oh
19. What are you wearing? shorts
20. Your TV? Sony
21. Your pet? cats
22. Your computer? Sony
23. Your life? sober
24. Your mood? good
25. Missing someone? mom
26. Your car? Riviera
27. Something you’re not wearing? underwear
28. Favorite store? Lowe's
29. Summer? hot!
30. Favorite color? blue
31. Why did you laugh last? joke
32. Why did you cry last? death
33. Who will repost this? Dunno
34. A place I go over and over: Lambda
35. Someone who emails me: Zane
36. Place I would rather be right now: here

just loungin' round

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that when I got sober, I got sentenced to life

for the behavior adjustments that just sorta come naturally as a result of living in Step 10

that Step 10 causes me to adjust my attitude and behavior BEFORE I screw up (occasionally)

for proof (time and time again) that the smallest show of friendship can go a long, long way

that I am hosting our 10am backyard AA meeting this morning

that I seem to stay busy all day, every day. Sometimes, though, I 'd appreciate time to just do nothin'.

Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.
-The Hausa Of Nigeria

not Bunny

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I woke up sober again, able to remember everything I did last night

that I had my annual meeting with the family CPA to get the taxes processed

that I've been making some good progress in the back garden -- our temperatures here have been hitting the '70's just about every day, so it seems like spring. I know we'll have at least one more cold spell, but it is doubtful that the temp will get to freezing (famous last words).

that we got to hear Edgar M. tell about his alcoholism yesterday on his 6 month anniversary


Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.
-Christopher Morley

It works if you work it

todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I have now gone 2000 days without drinking alcohol (well, it's a start!)

for Chapter 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous, which includes little statements like ...

• that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success


• each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show


• our actor is self-centered


• Selfishness -- self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.


• We had to quit playing god. It didn't work.


• We had a new employer.


• Relieve me of the bondage of self.


• Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning.


• So we had to get down to causes and conditions.

There is, of course, much much more where this came from. These sentences are from pages 60-62 of The Big Book.


They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.
-Hindu Proverb

Small world

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm going to an AA meeting at 6:30am (as I do every weekday) where we will read a few pages of The Big Book and then discuss what we read

that I have daily interaction with people that I would not normally mix, but I need other recovering alkies in my life as often as possible

that I attended the funeral of a lifelong family friend yesterday. He was 83 and had been ill for over 10 years. I had not seen his children in 30+ years. We ran around together through our teen years, drinking and smoking the hooch. Yesterday, while talking to one of them at the chapel, she mused that her Mom had mentioned that I'm now a friend of Bill W. I assured her that I was and had partied until I was 49 years old and now had 5+ years in recovery.
That's when she told me that she had just celebrated her 32nd year of sobriety. LOL

that I don't feel the need to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras; Rio de Janiero or Port of Spain for Carnival (too many people, too much drinking and petty crime)

If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.
-Mary Pickford

Monday morning

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a really nice and peaceful (serene) weekend, filled with recovery stuff

that I got to hear Patrick S. tell what it was like, what happened and what it's like now

that I participated in the Lambda Mardi Gras Parade -- 100+ sober alcoholics having fun -- ie: dressing up in various outrageous costumes, throwing beads, screaming and laughing

for the tireless service work by people with long-term sobriety which is always a great example for me to follow (and others too, hopefully)

check THIS little bit of information about Facebook


There must be more to life than having everything.
-Maurice Sendak

George Carlin ... on aging

George Carlin's Views on Aging



Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony -- YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling.
What's wrong? What's changed?You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens.
If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.

Women are smart

Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with which to share his fortune.One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like just an ordinary man," he said to her, "but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit $65 million."Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.
Women are so much better at financial planning than men.

This is not a spelling bee

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I got to fill-in as chairperson at the nooner AA meeting yesterday; we talked about and discussed the many freedoms that we have realized in sobriety and recovery

for Tradition 9 and the opportunities offered at various levels of Alcoholics Anonymous

for unlikely scenarios

for old friendships -- my parents were really close friends with another couple for about 30 years. Both my parents died last summer. The gentleman of the other couple died Wednesday, 2 days ago. I will attend his funeral next Monday. I know that death is part of the aging process, both in my own self and in all of those around me. If I live long enough, I'll watch everyone die who I know today. That's kinda weird.


The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
-Confucius

see below

todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm sober and happy about it

that it's been a long time since I needed to lie about what I did yesterday

that recovery the AA way offers me the opportunity to live a life that may help others and not just myself

that my head cold seems to have gotten better overnight while I had a good night's sleep

CLICK HERE for the latest case of insanity in the courts


Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.
-Ann Landers

sickly

Talking Dog

A guy is driving around and he sees a sign in front of a house: Talking Dog for Sale.

He rings the bell, and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.
The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador retriever sitting there.

"You talk?" he asks.
"Yep", the Lab replies.
"So, what's your story?"

The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young, and I wanted to help the government; so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running. But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I wanted to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

"Ten dollars" the owner says.

"This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"

"Because he's a liar. He didn't do any of that shit."



todAay i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

I don't feel well this morning, so I'm just glad to be sober

that, just like so many other things, this damn cold I have will pass

that none of my cats can talk (English)


Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.
-William A. Ward

fancy car + things real

a new Pinaforina

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm right where I should be

that nothing is hopeless until I give up

that I do my best (usually) to constantly be aware of the importance of Step 10

that I usually know when I've done the next wrong thing (I've probably written this before here, but it is on my mind today)

that today is my Mom's birthday - she would have been 86 today, but she died last August


You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
-Chinese Proverb

Curls and Pearls

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the process

that Jamie R. shared a little bit of his story with us on Saturday

for the people who make the effort to help others; they are inspiring to me

that we went to the Valentine's dance at Lambda

for the thousands of folks who participate in the AidsWalk

that we saw Joel McHale in concert last night -- he was OK


It's not how much you have that makes people look up to you, it's who you are.
-Elvis Presley

Songs of the '60's (almost)

Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers. They include:

Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash
Herman's Hermits ---Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker
Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends
The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip
Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face
Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now
Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
The Commodores ---Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom
Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts
Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair
Leo Sayer --- You Make Me Feel Like Napping
The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone
Abba--- Denture Queen
Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall
Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore
Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To
Willie Nelson --- On the Commode Again

stuff

A man and a woman who had never met before,
but who were both married to other people,
found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a trans-continental train.

Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room,
they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly, he in the upper berth and she in the lower.
At 1:00 AM, the man leaned down and gently woke the woman saying,.......... 'Ma'am,
I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold.'

'I have a better idea,' she replied 'Just for tonight,...... let's pretend that we're married.'
'Wow!...................... That's a great idea!', he exclaimed.
'Good,' she replied. .............'Get your own fucking blanket.'

After a moment of silence, ......................he farted.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A matter of convenience

Ya know, I didn't drink and get drunk only when it was convenient ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I didn't get sober because it was convenient
that I don't go to AA meetings only when it's convenient
that I didn't work the steps because it was convenient
that I don't pray only when it's convenient
that I don't meet with sponsees only when it's convenient
that I sometimes volunteer to help when it's not convenient
that I don't blog only when it's convenient

I gave my life to be the person I am. Was it worth it?
-Richard Bach

not too serious today

East Coast Fishing Humor

The day after his wife disappeared in a kayaking accident, a Canadian man answered his door to find two grim-faced Mounties.

'We're sorry sir, but we have some information about your wife,' said one Mountie.

'Tell me! Did you find her?' the anguished husband sobbed.

The Mounties looked at each other. One said, 'We have some bad news, some good news, and some really great news. Which do you want to hear first?'

Fearing the worst, the ashen husband said, 'Give me the bad news first.'

The Mountie said, 'I'm sorry to tell you, Sir, but this morning we found your wife's body in the bay.'

'Oh my God!' exclaimed the husband. Swallowing hard, he asked, 'What's the good news?'

The Mountie continued, 'When we pulled her up, she had twelve 25 lb snow crabs & 6 good-size lobsters clinging to her.'

Stunned, the husband demanded, 'If that's the good news, what's the great news?'

The Mountie said, 'We're gonna pull her up again tomorrow!'



todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I enjoy being sober; if I didn't, it would really be tough staying sober

for the recovery tool box at my disposal 24/7

that I know better than to reveal too much of my personal life in the rooms of AA; some things are better left to my sponsor or support group

that my friend's trial is over and she came out of it OK

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes but in having new eyes.
-Marcel Proust

It rained !!

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I awoke sober this morning, right on time

for the chapter "We Agnostics" in the Big Book

for my moment of truth

that we finally got a little bit of rain in the Houston area; we're experiencing a minor drought the past few months

that I'm not a big disappointment to my fans --- ie: Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, etc...

Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can.
-John Wesley

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
-Erin Majors

on the freeway ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the constant reminders around me that my alcoholism is alive and waiting

for the changes that have occurred in my life due to becoming a more responsible person

that I carry absolutely no resentments towards people, or groups of people, with whom I disagree on a political or social basis (this is pretty big for me)

that I had the opportunity to witness another fascinating day in court yesterday; a friend accused of sexual abuse of a child. While that charge sounds very ugly, there are extinuating circumstances that brought the jury to a deadlock during the late afternoon, but the judge directed them to continue deliberating.


He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.
-Persian Proverb

If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it?
-Stephen King

on my mind ...

David Cassidy in 1975 (left) and 2008







todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for another sober day; that's 1,984 in a row!!

that I have learned the valuable habit of letting go of most of the little things (mostly)

that I was on hand to hear Negar's story of Experience, Strength and Hope (clap, clap, clap)

for a very peaceful and stress-free weekend

that I am once again the secretary (last time was 2006) of the Houston Roundup (GLBT AA Convention) and we had our first meeting yesterday; the event doesn't happen until Thanksgiving weekend


You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Global Hawk

This is a photo of the Global Hawk UAV that returned from the war zone recently under its own power.

(Iraq to Edwards AFB in CA) - Not transported via C5 or C17.....

Notice the mission paintings on the fuselage. It's actually over 250 missions.

That's a long way for a remotely-piloted aircraft.

Think of the technology (and the required quality of the data link to fly it remotely).

Not only that but the pilot controlled it from a nice warm control panel at Edwards AFB.

Really long legs- can stay up for almost 2 days at altitudes above 60k.
The Global Hawk was controlled via satellite; it flew missions during OT&E that went from Edwards AFB to upper Alaska and back non-stop.

Basically, they come into the fight at a high mach # in mil thrust, fire their AMRAAMS, and no one ever sees them or paints with radar.
There is practically no radio chatter because all the guys in the flight are tied together electronically, and can see who is targeting who, and they have AWACS direct input and 360 situational awareness from that and other sensors.

The aggressors had a morale problem before it was all over.
It is to air superiority what the jet engine was to aviation.

It can taxi, take off, fly a mission, return, land and taxi on it's own.
No blackouts, no fatigue, no relief tubes, no ejection seats, and best of all, no dead pilots, no POWs?

Pretty cool!

Dolphin Stampede

Gratitude Fondue

I took this photo yesterday outside of my gym.

I just had to.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that sponsee #3 and I began on Step 4 yesterday -- we're gonna read about it for a couple of meetings before he begins writing

that I get to see a room full of miracles every day

that Boston got the library job she's been after -- Congrats Boston!!

that several of us are supporting a recovering friend at a court trial today

that 32 years ago, I was in Daytona Beach training to become a professional baseball umpire


Don't regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.
-Unknown

One Day at a Time

Boston sent me the link to this video. Thanks Boston.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Rule #62 -- Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously -- this is always a pertinent reminder for me because I tend to think my existence depends on what happens with just about every event. Well, it's not near as bad as it used to be.

that I have always had an unconscious tendency to embellish situations, but at least now I recognize that fact

that I'm in one of my "zones" where nothing seems to bother me. I wish I could bottle this for future use.

for honesty in blogging

that I have more than I'll ever need


Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable are the kind who do nothing.
-William Feather

now see this

Dukes of Hazard

camera car


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I wasn't unwilling to admit I am an alcoholic

that I enjoy being different

that the twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous show me how to remain calm amidst chaos

for my new BlackBerry flip phone -- my 2-year old MotoKRZR decided to go to CellHell


Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and of true progress.
-Nicholas Murray Butler

Dancing animals

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

to see that when I'm spiritually fit (by my definition) it's so much easier to practice these principles in all my affairs


that patience with others and myself is a daily goal


to be able to recognize when my perceptions are skewed (yes! it happens!)



"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
R.J.Wiedemann.LtCol.USMC Ret.

Have a seat ...

Pogo Moose Incident - Fairbanks , Alaska

"They were laying new power cables which were strung on the ground for miles. The moose are rutting right now and very agitated. He was thrashing around and got his antlers stuck in the cables. When the men (miles away) began pulling the lines up with their big equipment, the moose went up with them. They noticed excess tension in the lines and went searching for the problem. He was still alive when they lowered him to the ground. He was a huge 60 inch bull and slightly peeved!"


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

to live in these truly extraordinary times

that I discovered another recovery blogger - CLICK HERE to meet Queeneenee

that we had a wonderful AA birthday celebration Saturday night at Lambda Center - there were 35 celebrants with 452 years of sobriety

that I actually sat and watched the entire Superbowl yesterday -- I have not done this in years and I'm glad I did because it was a great game to watch

The right time to show your good character is when you are pestered by somebody weaker than you.
-Buddha

Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:


Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. Common Sense declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

• I Know My Rights



• I Want It Now



• Someone Else is to Blame



• I'm a Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.