Saturday, January 31, 2009

Phyllis Diller lines

A bachelor is a guy who never made the same mistake once.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

Aim high, and you won't shoot your foot off.

Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home.

Any time three New Yorkers get into a cab without an argument, a bank has just been robbed.

Best way to get rid of kitchen odors: Eat out.

Burt Reynolds once asked me out. I was in his room.

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing.

His finest hour lasted a minute and a half.

Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?

I asked the waiter, 'Is this milk fresh?' He said, 'Lady, three hours ago it was grass.'

I buried a lot of my ironing in the back yard.

I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them.

I'm eighteen years behind in my ironing.

I've been asked to say a couple of words about my husband, Fang. How about short and cheap?

If it weren't for baseball, many kids wouldn't know what a millionaire looked like.

It's a good thing that beauty is only skin deep, or I'd be rotten to the core.

Most children threaten at times to run away from home. This is the only thing that keeps some parents going.

My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor.

My mother-in-law had a pain beneath her left breast. Turned out to be a trick knee.

My photographs don't do me justice - they just look like me.

My recipe for dealing with anger and frustration: set the kitchen timer for twenty minutes, cry, rant, and rave, and at the sound of the bell, simmer down and go about business as usual.

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.

Old age is when the liver spots show through your gloves.

Our dog died from licking our wedding picture.

The real reason your golf pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing at you.

The reason women don't play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public.

There's so little money in my bank account, my scenic checks show a ghetto.

Tranquilizers work only if you follow the advice on the bottle - keep away from children.

We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up.

What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.

Whatever you may look like, marry a man your own age - as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.

You know you're old if they have discontinued your blood type.

You know you're old if your walker has an airbag.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Enjoy the weekend





todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for another Step 8 meeting yesterday -- that's 3 of them in less than a week

for a sponsee who is willing to do whatever it takes

that I am doing my best NOT to take myself too seriously but I take my recovery program as if it's life or death (actually, it is!)

that we in Houston are so lucky to have such mild-ish weather during the winter. I know many of you are experiencing hell lately. It's gorgeous here, although a little chilly for us, but this afternoon should be about 65 deg.


Winners have simply formed the habit of doing things losers don't like to do.
-Albert Gray


Thursday, January 29, 2009

It's absolutely amazing!




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I went to the 12:15pm meeting yesterday and heard Gavin tell a little bit about what happened to him to get him in the rooms of AA and how he found a Higher Power

that Scott at SoberNuggets celebrated 13 years of sobriety yesterday - drop by and say howdy

that we are each an example -- sometimes good, sometimes bad

that age is progressive

that I am going to be the secretary of the 2009 Houston Roundup
(I did this in 2006 as well)


To err is human; to refrain from laughing, humane.
-Lane Olinghouse


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Solutions



"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. All you folks in coach, please immediately exit the plane on the starboard wing and stand in 35 degree water up to your knees. Business class and Gold Card passengers, please exit through the galley where we have a Zodiac 650 inflatable raft and continental breakfast waiting for you."




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that there is a solution -- it's found in the first 164 pages of the book Alcoholics Anonymous

that sometimes you just gotta hang on tight

that I found out about the correct treatment for my incomprehensible demoralization regarding my alcoholic behavior -- AA

that my GP prescribed Lipitor for my borderline high cholesterol, which is crucial because of the damage caused by my 36 years of smoking. I also take an aspirin every day. I also modified my diet. I also exercise.

that my psychiatrist put me on Lexapro after a year of therapy; it's made a huge difference in my life


Believe those who seek the truth; doubt those who find it.
-Andre Gide

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Morph





Morphing the Presidents
courtesy of Todd in Hell's Kitchen


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I rarely give up

that I didn't give up 5 minutes before the miracle

that the miracle to which I refer is sobriety

for a new recovery blogger, Michael at Gratitude Nugget


Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.
-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Monday, January 26, 2009

What an order ...



Do you see gray areas in between the squares? Now where did they come from?



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm a member of AA, AAA and AARP.

to see and hear stories of humility in the rooms of AA; it inspires me to be a better person

that we went to see Nixon/Frost (the movie). Superb. Brought back some memories.
that we went to see Milk (the movie). Superb. Brought back some memories.


Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
-Jose Addison

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Lemonade

Pam awarded me (and others) with this Lemonade Award on me a few days ago. It's about Gratitude. When you have lemons, you make lemonade. Now, I'm supposed to pass it on. My instructions are below ...

Please share this opportunity with your favorite bloggers by doing the following:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great attitude and/or gratitude!

Recovery Road --- A Reason, a Season, a Lifetime --- A Dozen Steps --- Life Safari --- Boston's Gratitude --- Sober Steve --- Another Sober Alcoholic --- Sober Nuggets --- Letting Go --- rAAnch --- Recovering Wino

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday morning




You should see a man's face and also a word.... Hint: Try tilting your head to the right, the world begins with 'L'.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I have been willing to do whatever it takes to remain sober

to hear honesty from a newcomer

that I've never "fired" a sponsee (I don't care for that term); they have always fired themselves when I just give them the chance

that I'm willing to help someone as long as they are willing to try to help themselves


The only way on earth to multiply happiness is to divide it.
-Paul Scherer

Thursday, January 22, 2009

a burning desire

If you take a look at the following picture, let me tell you, it is not animated. Your brain is making it move. To test this, stare at one spot for a couple seconds and everything will stop moving. Or look at the black center of each circle and it will stop moving. But move your eyes to the next black center and the previous will move after you take your eyes away from it.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm no longer managed by alcohol

that my (writing about) Gratitude for today is being replaced this CHILI RECIPE.
Syd inspired me to copy and paste it here, just for you guys.

1-2 lbs ground round
1 can tomato paste
1 – 10 oz can tomato
1 can peeled tomato
1 large green pepper
1 large white onion
2 stalks celery
2 jalapeno peppers
½ potato
1 can Budweiser (optional, of course)
1 shot olive oil
1 envelope chile mix
1 envelope taco mix
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp bay leaves
½ tsp grated parmesian
½ tsp salt

lightly brown the hamburger, drain grease
add the meat and tomato to water and bring to boil
simmer for 1 hour (leave top of container ¼ open to allow
condensation to evaporate)

Add:
Chopped pepper, onion, celery, jalapeno, diced potato, chile mix, taco mix, olive oil, spices

Add enough water to make it like soup, bring to boil, simmer 1 hour

Now add the beer and parmesian

After 1 hour, let it cool and put in refrigerator over night before serving


Get rich quick! Count your blessings!
~~ unknown

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

encore, encore





todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a day of unity, in this country

that we finished Bill's Story in the 6:30am meeting yesterday; it offers some good reminders of where I could go and how Bill first imagined the steps

that my dream sequences have changed since being in recovery. For my first 2 years of sobriety, I had extremely vivid dreams as soon as I fell asleep which almost always awakened me. No more. Now, I just sleep.

that I'll never have inaugural balls

Lady Luck generally woos those who earnestly, enthusiastically, unremittingly woo her.
-B.C. Forbes

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Genesis




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for this momentous day

that I lived to see it

that I lived to see it sober

that I lived to see it sober and in recovery

that I lived to see it sober and in recovery with other alcoholics

There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore... and who always will. So, don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.
~~ unknown


Monday, January 19, 2009

the beginning of another interesting week

We'll miss these ...




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for all the events that led me to be the person I am today -- the good, the bad and the ugly

for the emotional pain I've experienced which is why I know when I'm feeling good

for Martin Luther King and all of the changes credited to him

that I have been walking around in shorts all weekend whilst many of you are in freezing weather

that I sat in on a Lambda Board meeting without being on the Board

for Rob & Laura Petrie

I will waste not even a precious second today in anger or hate or jealousy or selfishness. I know that the seeds I sow I will harvest, because every action, good or bad, is always followed by an equal reaction. I will plant only good seeds this day.
-- Og Mandino

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Things I might have heard...

Things overheard at 12 Step meetings...

  • Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone.
  • Ten out of ten people die, so don't take life too seriously.
  • Be profound, funny or quiet. After you talk in a meeting, listen to hear if you said anything.
  • I don't need your help today.... Love, God.
  • Our sickness is between our ears.
  • Want to hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans.
  • Don't expect to learn about people from books; a person can't fit in a bookcase.
  • Now I can wake up and say, "Good morning, God!" rather than "Good God, it's morning!"
  • When I turned myself over to God, I took my life out of the hands of an idiot.
  • When the world comes to an end, it will do so without my permission.
  • If you pray for a Cadillac and God sends a jackass, ride it.
  • There's no one too dumb for this program, but it's possible to be too smart.
  • All I wanted was to control you, myself and everything else.
  • My disease is an elephant. As long as I remember it's there, I won't get stepped on.
  • Try praying. Nothing pleases God more than to hear a strange voice.
  • Reality can be hell when you're only visiting.

Enjoy your Sunday. (if you want to)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Cheers!





todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the concept of being entirely ready to have my character defects removed

for the common sense that makes up the order of the Twelve Steps

for common sense

that everyone survived that airplane splash in NYC yesterday

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
-Martin Luther King Jr

Thursday, January 15, 2009

gettin' it together


disassembled VW




todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

that fear may be a mile high and a mile wide, but usually it's just paper thin;
thus, I just have to muster the courage to walk through it

that I heard this yesterday -- it doesn't matter if I believe in God or not. He can do His work without my approval.

for all of you who have preceded me and already discovered the things I need to know

for the few who are able to make it back to the rooms of AA

that I haven't (yet) tested my desire to make it back after a relapse


If you can't get a compliment any other way, pay yourself one.
-Mark Twain


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

on the nose!




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Bill's Story (Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter One)

that I have just enough knowledge & experience to train people in certain jobs

that these days, when I drive, I'm DAI (driving above the influence)

for the museum exhibition we attended yesterday; see the link on my post from yesterday


There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.
-Alexander Woollcott

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I can bear it




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I didn't drink any alcohol all day yesterday and woke up sober (again) this morning

that prayer is an intricate part of my recovery, every day

that we will read (at the 6:30am AA meeting I attend each day) some pages in The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous this morning and then we'll discuss what we read and how our experiences help us to identify with what we read

that I intend to call my sponsor today, even if just to check in with him

that Hayden, his Mom and I will do some museum hopping today, including going to see Body Worlds II



Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths.
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


Monday, January 12, 2009

Welcome




Snorkeling in Minnesota.

Alcohol may have been involved.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the way Boston presents a topic for discussion in an AA meeting

that I could give a little guidance to a first-time newcomer

that I stood aside and declined to run for a position at the election of the Board of Directors of Lambda Center. It was my turn to adhere to the spirit of rotation after 4 consecutive years. Now, I'll have to find other ways to be of service to the place wqhere my life was saved.

life is pretty good these days

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
-Ernest Hemingway