here, here

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my home group finished reading through the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) for the 5th time in 7+ years. We read a few pages every Tuesday morning and then discuss what we've read.

that I don't "buy in to" so much of the rubbish I hear every day

but, I do keep an open mind to the opinions and thoughts of others

that my parents did the very best job they could do when raising my sister and I. I bet that most parents do the same.

Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

H.O.W.

And thus, dear students, we have arrived at the basic formula for understanding women.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I remain honest, open-minded, and most of all, willing

for those who started the recovery journey and those who are teaching me

that I have so much to learn and even more to change; I hope I live long enough LOL

that things seem to be working out in ways I can accept (sometimes reluctantly)



When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
- Lao Tzu

Welcome to March!

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I truly have an open mind (I think)

that I have learned (sometimes, the hard way) to monitor my actions and behavior

that I deserve to be treated with respect

that I'm NOT Charlie Sheen


Each one has to find his peace from within.
And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

Big things, Small things

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for some awareness of patterns of my thinking and my behavior that comes to me because of Step 4 inventories

for day long calmness (serenity)

for knowledge that things will be OK as long as I closely follow the design for living that comes to me as a result of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

that answers will come but I must be more open-minded if I am going to appreciate them

for those who gave their lives 69 years ago at Pearl Harbor


We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
- George Bernard Shaw

Gratitude -- what a concept!

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I got to substitute-chair the 6:30am meeting yesterday and started the new month of November with a gratitude meeting. I'm sure it's the first of numerous ones this month and that's a good thang!

that I picked up on the tools to stay sober after about 6 months in the program. First, I had to develop some honesty I didn't want to face, then I had to become open-minded enough to allow the concept of a higher power into my life and finally I had to become willing to try something different.

for all those people who just keep coming back, for whatever reason

for some rain here in Houston - finally! It's been a record-breaking dry run here - 41 days without measureable rainfall.


Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect.
It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
- Anonymous

a few simple facts ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm not just sober, but I'm in recovery

that recovery allows me to handle the difficult times without wanting or needing to drink alcohol

that I found a Higher Power just by being willing and open-minded

for some friends I haven't met yet


Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying,
"I will try again tomorrow."
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Step Five "Admitted to God,

to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."


This was pretty easy for me when I first did it with my sponsor. I had a couple of sordid tales to tell and I told them. Talking through my 4th step highlighted the patterns of resentment of my life. We talked about those and how they can be largely prevented in the future.

The fallout from this step is that I feel comfortable (usually) talking to my sponsor about most matters. He doesn't judge me (as far as I can tell). He offers advice if I need it but always offers support. Another unsuspected benefit from an honest and thorough 5th step is that I always, always feel accountable to him. Many of my actions/behaviors are guided by the fact that I know I might have to relate them to my sponsor later on. It's like he's always looking over my shoulder.
I love this stuff!!


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for those who suit up and show up

for honesty, open-mindedness and willingness (H.O.W.)

that I get to participate in 3 AA meetings today, one of which will be in my backyard

for the many years of laughs given by Rue McClanahan

that Betty White is still going strong and may enter the NYC and Boston marathons while running for president


I have a 'Play The Melody' philosophy. It means don't over-arrange, don't make life difficult. Just play the melody and do it the simplest way possible.
- Jackie Gleason

H.O.W.

todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful


for the lessons of being honest

for the new concepts I can realize from being open-minded

for the opportunities given me by becoming willing

that it doesn't matter which side of the bed I wake up on; either side is good these days

I've always thought I could do whatever was necessary to succeed.
- Michael Jordan

In less than 12 months ...

I am curious who is going to attend the Alcoholics Anonymous 2010 International Convention next July in San Antonio. If you need to register, I have a link on my sidebar under the blogroll. It will stay there until next summer.

I'm going to keep a running list somewhere on this blog's sidebar. Let me know if you're going to attend for certain. We'll probably set aside a day and time to all meet each other.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm not running from anything today; I believe I'm able to face everything that confronts me (so far)

that I still have my senses -- to see, hear, taste, smell and feel

that I'm Honest (I think), Open-Minded (seemingly) and Willing (almost always)

that the psychic change I had 6 years ago removed the insane obsession to get drunk


Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds.
- Norman Vincent Peale

squarely in the middle

This is the first of many pictures I'll be posting of our new home. I am hoping it will be completed by late May.


todAAy i Am grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the concepts of Honesty, Open-Mindedness and Willingness

that I do my best to stay centered

for those times when I physically feel in a fit spiritual condition

to the people in recovery who go out of their way to get involved in extracirricular service activities

for the occasional use of common sense in all most of my affairs

that "it's a dog eat dog world, and I'm not wearing any underwear." a line from Blanche on The Golden Girls

If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
-William Penn

Trick or Treat

I'm soooooo glad I'm not a drunk pumpkin.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I seem to have more control over my life by letting go

that I'm sober and nicotine-free

for all the places that being Honest, Open-Minded and Willing take me

that it's been a long, long time since I've looked for tricks

If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day—go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month—get married.
If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime—help others.
-Chinese Proverb

Following the path

It's been raining a lot (more than usual) in England this past week.

Here's the latest in designer shoes for the well-prepared woman.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a really thought-provoking meeting yesterday morning about remaining teachable

that Hayden and I had a quick visit to see my Mom and then a long lunch with my sister, her significant other, their 2 dogs, 3 cats and 6 ducks

for a reminder from SYD that I don't always have to be busy; it's OK to just do nothing sometimes. Damn, I even need to be reminded of this!

that Step 10 of AA's twelve steps allows me to be OK with me

for 2 days without any rain

that my HP doesn't have to pay taxes

Procrastination is the gap between intention and action.
unknown

I am not perfect

click on the pic for more detail

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the principles of Honesty, Open-Mindedness and Willingness

that my high-class problems are problems nonetheless -- to me

that I can see my part in those problems, thanks to the steps of AA

that all of those problems have solutions, although I may not like those solutions

that I can take credit for my successes and blame for my failures

that my sometimes turbulent relationship with Hayden remains pretty much rock solid in spite of me -- this relationship is by far the most difficult thing I have ever attempted

"Self righteous anger is character assassination."
Denial is Not a River in Egypt

hAAlf nAAked thursdAAy

CLICK HERE for the HNT site


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I don't hate anyone. I've read several blogs about the death of Jerry Falwell. My feeling about people I don't agree with is that I need to take the high road -- always! If I hate them for who they are or what they say or do, aren't I running the risk of being as wrong, shallow or narrow-minded as they? If I expect to have freedom I must give it to others first.
(what got me started on this today?)

that I am getting bids/estimates from 4 remodelling contractors for some work in my home, but of course, I want the work to be completed in a matter of days where in reality, it will take a number of weeks

that I don't always have to leave a comment when I visit your blogs - and sometimes I only leave a word or two, just to let you know I am lurking in the shadows

It's never crowded along the extra mile.
-Wayne Dyer

Good Friday Gratitude

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I try to keep an open mind almost all the time. Maybe that's why so much leaks out.

that my therapist understands me just a little bit too well (LOL)

that to be the best I can be still requires a lot of effort

"Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."
-Mahatma Gandhi