Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

DG: I too love having a sponsor, but I'm going to find a new one, as I know I need a woman. I'll never let go of the guy who got me through the steps the first time though. At this point, after having done the 9th step, I call him now & then. We both knew that he would be a temporary sponsor to see me through that crisis I had. The problem here is that there are very few women in the program. There is one I really like that I'm going to ask. She's helping her son & DIL w/a new baby, but when she gets back, I'm going to speak w/her. She's on the brink of retirement & is my age. I like everything about her. It feels like kismet a little. We'll see.

I've been very busy w/the g-sons but will make my Thurs. step meeting tomorrow.

Love, Mary

[Winefree]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Thanks for the tips about Mom's hearing aids. She needed to put in a new battery tonight and things are a bit better. I just need to stay patient and remember the serenity prayer about the things I can't change.

Good meeting this afternoon. One woman shared about her extreme difficulty stopping smoking despite the fact she has had lung cancer. She also is an alcoholic, but so far has found that easier, although she is early in sobriety. It was great to hear all the love and support she got in the room from others in reference to their own struggles with cigarettes and alcohol. The fellowship is unbelievable. And as someone noted in the room, he'll keep coming, and so will I.

Winefree

[Cinders]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Hi.

First of all, I have to report that I went completely under last week. I believe the only time I was sober was when I was driving to the liquor store to buy some more vodka. I lost an entire week of my life.

At one point, I called my very aged 85 year old parents and begged them to come be with me. I knew, even in my completely sodden brain, that I would be able to stay sober if they were with me. My husband was out of town at the time.

They flew in and I sobered up.

I went to AA and explained my feelings. They are this. I either stop drinking now or I completely give up and die. It is that simple.

I have been praying for a good sponsor. Someone who is willing to work with someone like myself who travels for a living and is not always able to be on the phone or come to a face-to-face meeting, etc. I had a person in mind. A very matter-of-fact woman with over 6 years sobriety. Early this week, she told me she had too many sponsees and could not sponsor me.

Tonight I called her to find out about a new meeting closer to my house. She gave me the time and directions to the place. Tonight was the meeting's first gathering. I was at dinner with my hubby and parents and guess who was there? She came by the table and offered to take me to the meeting. On the drive, she offered to sponsor me. My heart burst with joy and hope. God answered my prayer.

She is willing to work with me through e-mail because of my weird lifestyle, and meet with me whenever possible when I am in town. My first assignment is: 1. Say a prayer to God every morning to help me stay sober that day. 2. Say the serenity prayer every evening and thank God for another sober day. 3. Read The Doctor's Opinion and e-mail any questions or comments I have about it. 4. Read at least one story a day.

I must also touch base with her daily.

I am sober a week today. I have faith that God is answering my prayers for help and more importantly I am finally willing to do whatever it is God asks of me.

The meeting was on the 10th Step and it was a great meeting. I hope enough people show up each Wednesday to keep it going.

Much love,
Cindi

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Cindi,
great to hear from you. I travel every week right now and find meetings to attend.
It makes a big difference. You can do this.

Great posts by doggygirl, mary and others. You all are my accountability
partners.
Love and peace from NYC ,
Phil

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Cindi: I've been wondering about you. Thank God you have your parents & now a sponsor. Yes, email & call every day. You can do that. I know how difficult it must be w/your traveling. But, as Phil said, you can find meetings. We have meetings here until 7 - 8 at night. My sponsor told me to pray every day as well...AM & PM. When I joined AA, I didn't have the luxury of saying: "I don't want to do it." I was desperate & at the end of my rope. Maybe that's why Bill W. & Dr. Bob called it "hitting bottom." I KNEW that if I didn't do what I was told that my sponsor would cut me loose. There are just too many people waiting for a sponsor.

Cindi, I come to this thread every day as well as a meeting. It is a way of feeling accountable, as Phil said. I've lost entire days of my life too...as well as important events: weddings, family reunions, & the like. After the last one, I said NEVER AGAIN! So far, so good.

Love, Mary

[Cinders]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Just to explain where I have been:

I was thrown into a psyche ward about two weeks ago on a 72 hour suicide watch. Once I got out and got back home, I responded by drinking about 1.7 L of vodka a day until one day in complete and total desperation I reached out to my parents to come and stay with me while I got sober.

I went below my bottom. My next bottom will be my last. I can't have another one.

Cindi

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Cindi: It's hard to believe someone can come out of something like that, but you did. You came out for a reason...your HP wants you to live a happy, joyous, & free life. Please do whatever you have to do to stay away from alcohol. Nobody's body...especially an aging body can withstand something like that. I know I would have broken down more & more had I continued the way I was going. After I saw your post, I called my original sponsor just to touch base & let him know what I'm up to. As soon as my woman friend comes back from Cape Cod (helping son & DIL w/new baby), I'm going to get to work again. I'll do anything at all to stay sober. I could not be happier in spite of the complications of life.

Take care, Mary

PS: Please come back tomorrow wo/fail!

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Hello all! Cindi, as I mentioned just a few minutes ago on the daily thread, I was just thinking of you yesterday and was so glad to see you posting today. For us, alcohol is life and death. Nothing to mess around with. I am so happy that your parents came to your aid, and that you now have a good sponsor. Do what she suggests and don't think too far ahead. YOU CAN DO THIS. There IS a good life out there for you, just like Mary pointed out. We just have to be willing to go to any length to get it. ANY length. No excuses.

Phil, I love that you are finding your way to meetings wherever your travels take you. You are my accountability partner too.

Mary, I'm glad you have decided to talk to the woman who will hopefully be your next sponsor. I too have a woman in mind. I was amazed that she and one of her longer term sponsees (6 years sober) are going to the other club Saturday night for my first time as a speaker. It's not time to talk with her yet about it, but it sure made me feel good when we talked after the meeting this morning and both these women said they were going to give me some support!

WF - that is a wonderful story about the fellowship you are experiencing. I am constantly amazed, and it is so comforting to know that these people care about me and understand me and will go out of their way to help me and support me. I am realizing how much of a loner I have really been in life - regardless of how many people were "around me" at all times. It is disconcerting sometimes to go through this process of becoming a true part of this fellowship that is so huge and so powerful and greater than any of us as individuals.

I spent some time this afternoon (between puppy potties LOL!) finishing my preparation for my Step 9 Status Meeting with my sponsor tomorrow, and I'm guessing the start of work on Step 10. I have also sketched out an outline for Saturday night. I used to do a fair amount of speaking in my professional life, and I'm not one for writing out much detail in advance. Bullets, and let 'er rip. I of course will be asking HP to put words in my mouth.

When we meeting tomorrow, we will have lunch as we always do. This time we are having a "picnic lunch" even though it will be indoors. LOL - Sister is so easy to please. Here is her requested menu:

1. Fried chicken. (cold, from KFC)
2. Cole Slaw (from KFC)
3. Biscuits (from KFC)
4. Twinkies (where the heck do twinkies come from anyway?? :H)
5. Crystal light. :H:H:H

For anyone else I probably would have tried to make everything from scratch or whatever. But I've learned that she means things quite literally. If she wants a Twinkie, that does NOT mean a piece of home made cake. It means Twinkie. Just like her suggestions in the program. Do exactly what she says. :H

I talked to Step Coach today and he is so excited to be going back to his old home club and seeing old friends and supporting my first time as a speaker on Saturday. He has now had a radiation and a chemo treatment this week and he says he is feeling none of the side effects he was told to expect - nausea, etc. LOL he said he hasn't lost his hair yet either. We've all been telling him that REAL men don't need hair. I am so grateful to have his help and support in my sobriety.

At todays meeting we discussed the 24 reading for today. The conversation centered on balance between the acceptance that we can never drink again, and the concept of achieving that one day at a time. My brain left to it's own devices loves to spin ahead into the future predicting and planning all kinds of stuff. As one guy who shares this problem pointed out, his planning and predicting almost NEVER turned out as he imagined. It was just wasted time and spinning wheels. That was certainly true for me as well, and is still true if I let my brain spin off into the future. Staying in today is very good for me. And I do think I have accepted that I cannot safely drink, ever ever ever. The best way for me to achieve that is to not drink today, and then repeat when tomorrow gets here. That's all.

I am grateful to all of you here. I love this thread and what each person brings to it.

Strength and hope,

DG

[gyco]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

hi all,ive been away to long.you all inspire me,on how far you have come,cinders i remember being in rehab and a doc who was admitted couldnt see the lite,he was a drunk,alchoholic whatever,,its just a word,this is a person that is suppose to be helping us,do we really not see what were doing to ourslves,or is it the damage to the brain weve created, damaged us,is there a bottom other then death,or when were at the lowest,were actually in essence dead to society,even AA can get complicated,if you make it that way,AA will not make you sober,it will teach why you should not drink,over time youll lern this,i do wish you well gyco

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Really great posts this week. I am grateful you all contribute. I'm trying to get home from NYC via Charlotte, air fares and corporate policy make it interesting. Yesterday I attended a 5pm meeting in New York. It was a Gay and Lesbian friendly meeting. I'm not gay but I needed a meeting and this was about two blocks from my hotel. Once again I found a friendly and loving AA group. During the intro time, the leader mentioned it was a gay and lesbian meeting but keeping with the 3rd tradition of AA, all who have a desire to stop drinking are welcome. I am just amazed at this program and how it is everywhere. Next week I will be in Nebraska and hopefully will attend meetings and provide another update.

Tomorrow I really hope I make it to my 630am "home" group.

Cindi, keep coming back, you can do this.
Love and Peace,
Phil

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Cindi: Remember "one day at a time." I forgot that until DG mentioned it. Don't think about the future wo/AL. It's too daunting.

As for me: I just got back from a step 10 meeting. Lots of talk about resentment & how an alcoholic can't handle it. I got my 7 month chip. It's so exciting to hear the applause...great to get the hugs & handshakes.

Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Phil: We cross-posted. I LOVE hearing about your going to meetings all over the country. It is so cool. I especially liked hearing about your going to the gay/lesbian meeting. I've heard about women going to men's meetings (& vice versa) when they were in need & getting that same kind of welcome. Very, very cool stuff. Mary

[karma702]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

I am joining the team. Count me in.

[karma702]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

I can not figure out the Denver Colorado AA website, what is a good way of finding meetings for a beginner?

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 19 - 25

Hello all, and welcome Karma! If you can't figure out the meeting schedule from the web site, is there a phone number on there? If you can call a number, I'm betting the person who answers can help you get a schedule for your area.

Is this the link you tried? Home Once you go past the disclaimer screen (just click through on the lnk provided) you get to the main screen. On the left side, pick "meetings." Then there are boxes to pick options such as time of day, type of meeting, etc. To get a really broad schedule, you can leave a lot of those blank or at the "all" default. Hope that works for you! But if that doesn't - just call the number!

Phil, that is another really great story about the fellowship, and the acceptance that everyone shows for one another. We are human beings first and alcoholics and then "whatever else" long after that. Hope your travels go well and you are not stuck out there in bad weather or whatever! I do not miss those days at all!

I will come back later and post more - have to run off to a business meeting.

DG