11-1-11

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for people who are real; those with integrity

for people with a sober history; I like to hear them talk

for people who walk the talk; they teach me how to act

for people who don't take themselves too seriously; they make me comfortable

You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.

- Carl Jung

Things on my brain cell...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my life is rarely as serious as it may seem; it helps to remember Rule 62

for the evolution of my concept of my Higher Power; I don't try to define or even describe it because that would only limit my concept

for patience and the rewards that come with it

that my mom-in-law is here visiting for 3 weeks. We get along great, probably because I'm sober! She's not legally my mom-in-law because my partner and I are not allowed to be married like most of the population. In fact, if I were dying in the hospital, he would not even be allowed to visit me. Oh well, don't get me started. LOL


Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman,
before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.
- John Quincy Adams

Rule #62

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for sponsees who are hungry to move forward (but not too fast)

that I get to choose the direction of my life, but I don't need to hold the compass

for fun and laughter in sobriety; we are NOT a glum lot (unless we choose to be)

that my days of being restless, irritable and discontent are rare, but I know there's a solution, just in case


Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.
- Benjamin Franklin

Hearing what I need to hear

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I live a pretty damned satisfied life, no matter what I may think (sometimes)

that I am usually NOT a procrastinator (there have been exceptions, even in sobriety)

for all the people who've been writing about Rule #62 -- Don't take yourself too seriously

that Syd reminded me of the glorious odor of mimeograph ink; for those of you too young to remember that, that's too bad


It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I smile at such a sally

This may be the best costume I've seen.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

to see people recovering from active alcoholism

that yesterday we had a meeting about some of the paradoxes we hear in AA meetings; ie: you have to give it away to keep it. Do you have one? Let me know in the comment section.

for Rule 62 (if you dont' know what that is, look it up or ask your sponsor; if your sponsor doesn't know what it is, get a new sponsor)

to see all the great costumes at Lambda Center on Halloween

for perfect weather during the weekend


We cannot hold a torch to light another person’s path without brightening our own.
- Ben Sweetland

back to ...

Nairobi umbrella





todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the miracles offered me, often without my knowledge

for just about the most fun I've experienced in sobriety -- about 7 hours with 15 other friends in recovery as we decorated vehicles, then waited for hours in the extreme heat (together) at the staging area for the Gay Pride Parade. The Parade took 2 hours itself, and I got to drive the convertible which presented Mr & Miss Lambda 2009.

that I got to meet and hold conversation with Annise Parker and Carlos Obando, who are running campaigns for Houston Mayor and City Council. Both are openly gay candidates, but stand for much more than just that.

that Scott W. celebrates another birthday today and he does it as a sober man

The giant oak is an acorn that held its ground.
~~ unknown

Fellowship

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the benefits of not being alone anymore -- those days of sitting alone on a barstool are my history, but don't have to be part of my future

that I have more friends than I'm willing to acknowledge -- for example, I have over 200 Facebook "friends", most of whom are in recovery

for the drama that I won't create today - hopefully

that I've been taking myself much too seriously and need to remember Rule 62 (see Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 149)

that a few of us went to the baseball game last night -- fellowship!!


When all is said and done, more is said than done.
- Lou Holtz

smiling

Ping Pong Master


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that we aren't a glum lot
that we absolutely insist on enjoying life
that we try not to indulge in cynicism
that we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness
that we have been given the power to help others
~~~ the above statements are all on page 132 of Alcoholics Anonymous, aka The Big Book

for a couple of hours spent being silly at The Galleria with some guys from Lambda


You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
-James D. Miles

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

But seriously, folks,

the dessert table from our housewarming party



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that we discussd Tradition 4 yesterday and I was reminded of its profund effect on me when I wrote about Rule #62 -- "Don't take yourself too damn seriously." About 2 1/2 years ago, my sponsor gave me the assignment to do that writing. Little did I know that the resulting paragraphs would prompt some actions that would change my life.

for two 1st-time newcomers at the noon meeting yesterday -- at Lambda Center AA meetings, it is tradition to have a 1st step meeting when there's a newcomer. I probably love those meetings more than any others.

that I live in Houston. Boys & Girls, this is a big city and is a very easy place to live. I have spent a lot of time in many big cities throughout Europe, Africa and Central/South America. Houston is the place to live for the best overall quality of life (in my humble opinion).

that I've done a majority of my Christmas shopping and won't have to deal with big crowds unless I choose to

If you're already in a hole, it's no use to continue digging.
-Roy W. Walters

Superb Friday

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that Rule 62 will guide my attitude for this 24 hours; if you are not familiar with it, see the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 149

that today will be good

for breakfast with my sponsor this morning

that Pam is a non-smoker who is losing weight

that I'm registered for the Palm Springs A.A. Roundup in September. Did I already tell ya that? Huh? Hayden is going to accompany me.

for the years I lived in the United Kingdom -- from 1989 - 1992-ish. For some reason, I was just thinking about those days which were so good. Howdy Liz!!

Middle age is when you have a choice of two temptations and choose the one that will get you home earlier.
-Anonymous

They were right all along!

I wonder who will replace Rosie on The View.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a good Tradition 4 meeting and some reminders about not taking myself too damn seriously

for the many tools that I usually forget to use in the right situation

for some damn clever HNT pix lately that actually include body parts of the same person who posted the photo

for the solution

that I will be driving a convertible in the Gay Pride Parade on Saturday night -- there are usually about one-half million folks there to watch, including many families

NOTE: if you haven't voted in my little survey from Wednesday, scroll down and vote.

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

Looking Inward

It seems that most of us, by the time we reached the rooms of AA or another 12-step program, were no longer the beautiful creature we once were.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Steps 6 and 7 and the acceptance that I will never complete them; I must apply them daily

for the opportunity and pleasure to watch the recovery of Laura L., who last week was able to buy her first-ever brand new automobile. She just celebrated 2 years of being clean and sober and is the most remarkable example of recovery I have yet to see.
Another one of the miracles!!

that the rocks in my head fit the holes in Hayden's
(stolen from page 397 Alcoholics Anonymous)

that my life as a sober drunk is much better than I could have ever imagined

for this continuing shift in my thinking and attitude

that today, I need to remember about Rule #62
(if you have forgotten what that is, see page 149 of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)

that tomorrow is hAAlf nAAked thursdAAy; see ya there

We do not see things as they are.
We see them as we are.
-The Talmud

Rule 62

Niagra Falls
(not to be confused with Viagra Falls)


todAAy i AAm grAATeful & thAAnkful

that I did not smoke a cigarette (or anything else) yesterday
that I met with my sponsor yesterday
that I prayed several times yesterday
that I read some recovery meditation yesterday
that I went to an A.A. meeting yesterday
that I had lunch with 5 other people in recovery yesterday
that I had coffee with a recovery friend and talked program yesterday
that I met with my therapist yesterday
that I spent time with my disabled mother yesterday
that I worked out a personal problem with my sister yesterday without losing my temper
that I seem to have stayed sober yesterday (again)
that it Works If You Work It

that I will be making a renewed effort to ...
DON'T TAKE MYSELF SO DAMN SERIOUSLY !!

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness."
-- Leland Val Vandewall