The International

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm off to the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous

seven years ago, if you had told me I'd be going to the above event, I would have never believed it

for a lovely noon meeting yesterday, full of recovery and laughter and visitors on their way to San Antonio

that I got to meet Steveroni and Anna

I am going to take my computer but probably won't blog. See ya Monday


Just do what you do best.
- Red Auerbach

just about time to go

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I have absolutely no desire to hang out at bars. It seems like so many of my "sober" friends are doing this. Many are relapsing. What part of step 1 didn't they understand? Why have they forgotten what it was like? From those who make it back, they seem to take it for granted that they can drink, then return at will to the rooms of AA. I guess they conveniently choose to ignore the majority who never make it back. Maybe they haven't gone to enough funerals. Yet. They provide me with plenty of reminders why I must never let up.

that 3 of us will pack into my car and head to San Antonio for the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous tomorrow after a noon meeting and lunch/fellowship. The 3 of us are 26 years old, 56 years old (me) and 85 years old. Three distinct generations.

that I may get to meet with Steveroni and his better half today who are staying in Houston on their way to San Antonio

that I learned a little more about selling on eBay; my car did not reach my reserve price, so it's still mine

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
- Erma Bombeck

fixin' the step

men can fix anything!


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I do my best NOT to make blanket statements that includes other people. The TV announcer before the USA-Ghana soccer match on Saturday said that "this American team has become first-name friends with all Americans." What a bunch of rubbish and a very irresponsible thing to say on worldwide television. I also hear (way too often) people sharing in an AA meeting who include that all alcoholics do this or do that. Speak for yourself buddy. Not me.

that this rant is done (for now)

for a really busy weekend - sober!

that we crowned a new Ms Lambda Center Friday night in a fun-filled drag contest

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.
- Robert M. Pirsig

I'm not religous, but ...

Part of the rebuilding New Orleans caused residents often to be challenged with the task of tracing home titles back potentially hundreds of years. With a community rich with history stretching back over two centuries, houses have been passed along through generations of family, sometimes making it quite difficult to establish ownership. Here's a great letter an attorney wrote to the FHA on behalf of a client:

You have to love this lawyer........

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer three months to track down After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply.

(Actual reply from FHA):
"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."

Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:
(Actual response):

"Your letter regarding title in Case No.189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 206 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the United States from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France , which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain . The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Queen Isabella. The good Queen Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus 's expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana . God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it, and the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our damn loan?"

Tyrone goes shopping

TGIF

Kulula is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Click on the pix for closer detail. Or don't.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for signs that give me direction, but I have to pay attention

for a little deeper acceptance of life as a sober man

for the challenges that life throws at me; when taken in context, I see their value

for a busy weekend ahead

Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time wasted in disapproving of others.
~~ unknown

Boundaries none

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for my anxiety medication. I must have burned up all of my multi-tasking brain cells during my last few years of drinking. Today, I get easily overwhelmed when too many things are happening at once. This used to be my forte when I was working. I could wear many hats every day and handle it all. No more. The last 2 days have been so busy for me, I need a break. Nothing serious, but never a dull moment during my waking hours. Seems like I have many people trying to include me in their drama and I have a hard time saying no to their requests.

for boundaries. Wish I had some. LOL.

that NOW I know I should not have skipped my weekly Al Anon meeting last night. But I need the rest.

that the BIG EVENT begins in San Antonio one week from today


If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.
- Mario Andretti

Now you see it ...

rust. under the black vinyl top.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


that I learned another good lesson yesterday. I had to humble myself and become honest. During a meeting in which the topic was honesty, I realized I was being less than honest in the description of the car I'm selling on eBay. It has a rust issue but I had purposely neglected to mention that. Obviously, the rust may well affect the value of the car as I try to sell it.
I admitted that I would want this information if I were buying the car and would feel cheated if the seller did not mention it. So, I had to come clean and when I got home, I amended the vehicle description, both in words and pictures.

that sometimes it's really tough to practice these principles in all my affairs, but it's worth it because I keep a clean mind

that I'm able to help others, even when I don't feel like it

The only difference between stumbling blocks and steppingstones is the way in which we use them.
- Unknown

post # 2,600

Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica - where do they go ?

Wonder no more ! ! !

It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life. The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life, as well as maintaining a form of compassionate contact with its offspring throughout its life.

If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried.

The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and sing:

...
...
...
...
...
...
...

"Freeze a jolly good fellow"

"Freeze a jolly good fellow."


"Then they kick him in the ice hole!!!"




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I don't wake up any more wondering what time I get to start getting drunk

that, by the grace of my HP, I don't need beer in my fridge overnight - just in case

that as a result of working the steps with a sponsor, I feel accountable to him - constantly and consistently

that I'm listing one of my cars for sale on eBay. This is an interesting, first time experience.

Everyone's a star and deserves the right to twinkle.
- Marilyn Monroe

balancing act

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that today is the first day of summer, and the longest day of the year, AND my sister's birthday (she'll always be older than me HAHA)

for the small things in life that I remember to not take for granted

for some balance in my life

for the teachers I had in my 12 years of public school; I can look back and tell you that they were all very good at what they did

that I'm really enjoying the path I'm on

for Betty White -- unbelievable talent AND humility


Two things a man should never be angry at: what he can help, and what he cannot help.
- Thomas Fuller

The IKEA divorced mother

Breakfast with Ginger

This Too Shall Pass

I think you'll like this.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the things I'll get to experience sober today

for the concept of principles over personalities; I attended a meeting yesterday where this was the focus of discussion.

for enduring friendships because those are the people who stick by me


The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
- Kahlil Gibran

a few little tidbits ...

PHONE REPAIR

A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions, when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang.

The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialled the subscriber's house.

The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring.

Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:

1 . The dog was tied to the telephone system'sground wire with a steel chain and collar.

2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.

3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signalling current when the number was called.

4.. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate.

5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.

Which demonstrates that some problems CAN be fixed by pissing and moaning.

Thought you'd like to know.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for a good night's sleep


for many different ways to learn, the least of which is to be teachable

that I don't always have to understand why people act the way they do, but it behooves me to know why I react the way I do

that I found myself watching America's Got Talent last night and actually enjoyed it!

Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble.
- Arabic Proverb

... just along for the ride!

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

over the last 6 years (I've been sober almost 7) I've had probably 15-18 sponsees. I've never "fired" any of them. I almost did early on, but after talking to my sponsor about it, he convinced me not to do anything. He said the problem would take care of itself. And right he was. So nearly all of my sponsees have "fired" themselves. Most are no longer sober, as far as I know.

that I'm still sober even though I don't use my sponsor nearly as much as I did in the first 2 years. We still get together occasionally though.

that Hayden and I celebrate 8 years together today. We spent 3 years apart physically when I got sober and built my sober foundation. He went to school back home and finished his degree.

that just about everything happens for a reason that I rarely know at the time


The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.'
- Grace Murray Hopper

Step Twelve "Having had a spiritual awakening ...

as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

I had a spiritual awakening as the result of the first 3 steps AND because I had no where else to turn AND because I had become honest, open-minded and willing to change. Ever so slowly.

Service. Carry the message. So many ways. An infinite number of ways to carry the message. From attending meetings, being a sponsee and sponsor, chairing meetings, preparing rooms for AA meetings and cleaning them, joining in the fellowship before and after meetings, making phone calls. To name just a few.

Practice these principles. Whew! What an order! Learning how to live sober (and in recovery) every minute of every day will take a lifetime. Life is dynamic. Things change, often daily. Responding and reacting to life as it happens in a spiritual manner has become my goal.

Soon, I'll write a little bit on the principles (as I understand them).
This stuff -- recovery -- never stops. I hope.
Thank God.


today i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I act as a sort of backup chairperson if/when the regular chair doesn't show up at the 6:30am meeting. This happens a lot.

that I hand out business cards (made especially for AA meetings) to newcomers. My card has my photo on it so that person can put a face to the name. I like this.

that I know how important it is for me to stay in the center of my program. If I were to ride on the edge, the centrifugal force would toss me out.


Often the difference between a successful marriage and a mediocre one consists of leaving about three or four things a day unsaid.
- Harlan Miller

Step Eleven "Sought through prayer ...

and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

It took me a lot of conscious practice just to get in the habit of a nightly prayer. I resisted this for half a century. But once I could do it every night (it took about 2 weeks for the habit to form) it became something I don't feel complete without doing. Learning to pray/meditate in the morning was more difficult. But today, at almost 7 years sober, I have formed the habit of a short prayer within the first few minutes of awakening. I simply ask for guidance in being the best I can be -- for today.

I'm not one to pray multiple times during the day, although yesterday could have used some additional prayer time.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I'm open to just about any suggestion

that Regina told her story of experience, strength and hope

that I was able to restart my day several times yesterday. It was just one of those days for me. I have had very, very few of these since I got sober, but there can be exceptions.

for the years I spent living in many countries. I hear so many people who think that the good old USA is the only place on this planet that can do anything right. People I respect, but who are simply ignorant of the richness of the different cultures of this world.


A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.
- James Dent

Ellen and corn starch

BP spillage

Step Ten "Continued to take personal inventory ...

and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."

The first of the maintenance steps. I work at this constantly. At least I do when I'm spiritually fit.

The literature on this step is astounding. The 12/12 tells me that "it is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us." Noooooooooo!!
It says that "justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it." But, but ...
I learn about "restraint of tongue and pen." Whoa!! Who knew?

Along with the occasional sincere attempt to become what I could be, I pray every day to just do the next right thing. The way I figure it, if I always do the next right thing, I'll be the best person I can be. Right?

In theory this should work. But I am an alcoholic with a self-will that can run riot at times. Granted, it's not as often and usually not as severe as the good old days, but the potential is still there. It still happens.

Enter. Step 10.
Every day.
Every hour.
Constantly.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for my passion about recovery and so many ways to participate in it

that my friend Lloyd was not seriously injured when a driver fell asleep and hit him head-on

for air bags

that I got up at 3:30 this morning, so I could pray & meditate, write this post and go to the gym before my 6:30 meeting

that my Astros are finally starting to pull out of a 2-month skid

for reruns of Seinfeld, Two and a Half Men and Cheers.

the greatest sporting event in the world begins today in South Africa. See the official song below.

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