New Beginnings

Entered sober living...getting settled in. There are just 6 others here so that makes it nice. Tomorrow will be a busy day! Have to stop by Natasha's too and pick up a few things. I'd write more but I'm exhausted! Will write more tomorrow! Thanks to those of you - and you know who you are - for all the support and prayers!

Tomorrow I enter "sober living". Never thought I really needed such a facility but I think now I do. Going to be a journey......one I'm looking forward to.

Sigh

Coming back to blogger. I have re-built and re-built with WP only to have some host disappear. It sux! I like WP because I like messing with all the different scripts and layouts, but what's the point when YOU CAN'T SEE THEM lol!!
More later.....off to find a decent template!

Testing

testing posts from cell

--
If you won't stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them!!

http://southpawsattic.atbhost.net/wordpress/

Blog

My main blog can be found here

FRIDAY FILL-INS

FRIDAY FILL-INS

ACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK

I am just toooooooooooooooo pissed for words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I re-built my Wordpress blog......then for some reason POOF it was gone. I thought it was the database not connecting because my regular site was still ok. Hours later, still nothing. So I uninstalled it..........nothing. So I deleted it, re-installed a new one......as soon as I changed themes POOF gone again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I'm sticking with blogger......for now, til I find a new host!

OPEN-MINDEDNESS

We have found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the realm of spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 7

Open-mindedness to concepts of a Higher Power can open doors to the spirit. Often I find the human spirit in various dogmas and faiths. I can be spiritual in the sharing of myself. The sharing of self joins me to the human race and brings me closer to God, as I understand Him.

MAKING A.A. YOUR HIGHER POWER

“. . . You can . . . make A.A. itself your ‘higher power.’ Here’s a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. . . . many members . . . have crossed the threshold just this way. . . . their faith broadened and deepened. . . . transformed, they came to believe in a Higher Power. . . ” TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 27-28

No one was greater than I, at least in my eyes, when I was drinking. Nevertheless, I couldn’t smile at myself in the mirror, so I came to A.A. where, with others, I heard talk of a Higher Power. I couldn’t accept the concept of a Higher Power because I believed God was cruel and unloving. In desperation I chose a table, a tree, then my A.A. group, as my Higher Power. Time passed, my life improved, and I began to wonder about this Higher Power. Gradually, with patience, humility and a lot of questions, I came to believe in God. Now my relationship with my Higher Power gives me the strength to live a happy, sober life.

FRIDAY 5

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions (there are five of them!) to your webspace. Answer the questions there, then leave a comment below so we all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What’s something you will not eat unless you also have ketchup? I don't really like ketchup lol
   
2. What’s something you will not drink unless it is served on ice cubes? Tea!
   
3. What’s something you will not eat unless it is served between slices of bread? A Reuben (on Rye!)
   
4. What’s something you will not drink unless you have a straw? A Milkshake =)
   
5. What’s something else you will not eat except under very specific circumstances? Bagel sandwiches - they have to have hard salami, cucumber, and cream cheese!!!
   
   PLAY HERE!!
   

FORMING TRUE PARTNERSHIPS

June 12, 2009 |

But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. We have been especially stupid and stubborn about them. The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 53

Can these words apply to me, am I still unable to form a true partnership with another human being? What a terrible handicap that would be for me to carry into my sober life! In my sobriety I will meditate and pray to discover how I may be a trusted friend and companion.

FRIDAY FILL-INS #128

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking I was living in a tumultuous time/era.

2. FaceBook was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you Mind your own business?

4. Writing helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the Memories.

6. Chores very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a grill-out and a meeting, tomorrow my plans include socializing and Sunday, I want to visit my brother!

FREEDOM

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Thursday Meme

Today is International Hug Your Friends Day. Please send an encouraging message to a retarded friend... Just as I've done.I don't care if you lick windows, Screw farm animals, Take the short bus Or occasionally shit yourself... You hang in there sunshine,You're special !

PLAY HERE!

FAMILY OBLIGATIONS

. . . a spiritual life which does not include . . . family obligations may not be so perfect after all. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 129

I can be doing great in the program–applying it at meetings, at work, and in service activities–and find that things have gone to pieces at home. I expect my loved ones to understand, but they cannot. I expect them to see and value my progress, but they don’t–unless I show them. Do I neglect their needs and desire for my attention and concern? When I’m around them, am I irritable or boring? Are my “amends” a mumbled “Sorry,” or do they take the form of patience and tolerance? Do I preach to them, trying to reform or “fix” them? Have I ever really cleaned house with them? “The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 83).

Southpaw's Journey: TMI Tuesday

Southpaw's Journey: TMI Tuesday

TMI Tuesday

Questions For June 9th, 2009:
Have you ever...

1. had sex with someone ten years older or younger than you? Yep
2. drawn from a nude model or been a nude model? No
3. had sex at a company Christmas party? Hahahaha No, not yet!!
4. had a blind date? Ugggh! Yes
5. slept with a teacher? No......smoked pot with one in the 70's tho! LOL
Bonus (as in optional): had sex with someone within an hour of meeting them? Ummmmmm.....no......but close! :/

Heads Or Tails

The theme/prompt for THIS week, June 9, is:

HEADS - "Tune"

Make any kind of post using the theme/prompt "Tune."

HOW TO TUNE UP YOUR CAR:

Starting Over.....

Well.....it's not called "Southpaw's Journey" for nothin'! lol
As some of you know, I have battled addiction for over 30 years. It has been a nightmare for everyone, myself included. I'm sure I'm not even completely aware of the damage I've done. I've always 'questioned' whether or not I was actually addicted - most of us AA'ers do that! I tried the 'controlled' drinking thing and I came to realize the only thing I was controlling was my death.
Several months ago, I relapsed - I hesitate to use the word 'relapse' because I think many people use that word totally and completely out of context....but anyway.....in all the years of my 'questioning', the one thing I have never been able to do is "Step-one": 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become
unmanageable. I have never, never, ever been able to make that admission. This time, however, I did. I've always denied step-1 because it would then lead me to Step-Two: 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to
sanity. I didn't want to admit that one either - that control flaw of mine! LOL
The last time I got sober, I literally did see God working in my life, but I got away from my spirituality which inevitably always leads us right back to our disease; meaning, I relapsed before I relapsed, if that makes any sense.
I thought I could 'handle' my addiction; I mean, after all, I was functional! I went to work everyday, I took care of my affairs, etc. But many of us are quite skilled in hiding our disease.
I didn't like the person I had become. I was, however, beginning to like the person I was sober. And so, for me, Step-Three awaits: 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we
understood Him. I no longer have to hide; I don't have to keep secrets; I don't have to feel worthless, and I can let go of resentments and anger.
Life can be good!

LIVING IN THE NOW

First, we try living in the now just in order to stay sober — and it works. Once the idea has become a part of our thinking, we find that living life in 24 hour segments is an effective and satisfying way to handle many other matters as well. LIVING SOBER, p. 7

“One Day At A. Time.” To a newcomer this and other one-liners of A.A. may seem ridiculous. The passwords of the A.A. Fellowship can become lifelines in moments of stress. Each day can be like a rose unfurling according to the plan of a Power greater than myself. My program should be planted in the right location, just as it will need to be groomed, nourished, and protected from disease. My planting will require patience, and my realizing that some flowers will be more perfect than others. Each stage of the petals’ unfolding can bring wonder and delight if I do not interfere or let my expectations override my acceptance — and this brings serenity.