The weekend is over

Ahhh, I had a 2 hour nap today. It felt great!
Yesterday's Luncheon was a HUGE success! We had 106 gals show up. The biggest one yet. They came from Duvall, Seattle, Marysville, Vashon Island, Orcas Island, Freeland, Clinton, Langley, Anacortes, Sedro Wooley, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Kirkland, Custer....and many more. It started out as a small get together for women in Alcoholics Anonymous on Whidbey Island here 23 years ago. It grew and we handed it to the South Whidbey group to take over with about 35-40 gals attending in the Methodist Church in Langley. They handed it back to us (me) in 2004 and that year 55 attended and we were excited. The next year was 75, last year 95, and this year 106!! The CPO Club can have about 200 total so we are safe for a few more years. Some people think it is hard to put one together. I put together a "tickler" book the first year keeping track of what we did in what timeline, and who needs to do what. Each year I just bring up the task list and have a lunch with anyone wanting to help, and the rest takes care of itself. The most stressful part is hoping everyone will pay me and show up. Each year I stress out about a week before the Luncheon, then by the Luncheon date everyone pays and shows up and fun is had by ALL!! (Even me)! So next year if you hear of me stressing out about a week before the luncheon, just remind me that it will end up just fine. Have FAITH!!
Each evening I can hear the Canadian Geese fly over. Those Canadians sure are a noisy bunch!! It sounds good to me. It means Fall is heading this way and the Geese are coming closer to home for the Winter. The mornings are foggy and I can lay in bed hearing the fog horns from the Admiralty Inlet. It won't be long before we get our first frost then the Storms. I love this time of year.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

She's home

Mary Lou came home today, and she is doing MUCH better.
I will let her post the news on her blog: http://www.whidbeydreamer.blogspot.com/ .
I am going to be a busy little bee tomorrow. We are hosting an AA women's luncheon at the CPO club in Oak Harbor.

I estimate 100 or more gals showing up. I need to be at the door greeting everyone and making sure they paid or letting some in that doesn't have the money to pay. (We have some gals pay for two just in case one doesn't have the money to come). Fun will be had by everyone there!
I can't post pictures because it is ANONYMOUS! A secret club, how exciting, huh?
Then tomorrow night a friend I sponsor will be the speaker at a different meeting. I won't get home until around 10:00 or so.
Enjoy the weekend!!

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

Well that is more than I want to know.

UH-OH...Guess where my sis has been all day!

I got a call this morning from my sister asking me if I could get away from work for 1/2 hour and drive her to the hospital. She hasn't been feeling well and called her doctor this morning and.....well I'll let her tell the story. The bottom line is, she is in the hospital for a day or two for tests, and is doing just fine.
(Whidbey General Hospital 360-678-5151 room 18).
I took this picture and told her I was putting it in my blog hehehe I took her a robe and slippers. She will probably be home tomorrow night or Thursday morning.


Did you know.....A shrimp's heart is in its head.
Whaaaa?

I was making my bed yesterday morning and the phone rang. I came back and found a huge lump in the bed! Well of course it was Elliott, making a dull humdrum depressing day into fun and joy!
I lifted the blanket and he wanted to "play"! I wanted to get my chores done but nope....not now!

He was adorable for a few minutes longer then I decided to let him stay there for awhile and take a cat nap.

How in the world can someone not get joy from a cat like him? I spoil my cats rotten, and they give me back much needed love and joy. It balances out just fine.
Ahhh, I have another day off today!

The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language. Okay, say that real fast three times!

Slug Season!

Okay, what the heck are these slimy critters up to here? They are wrapped around a transluscent kind of blob. Are they doing the nasty??? That's all we need, MORE SLUGS!! Are they creating a big blob? Remember the movie in the 50's "Beware of the Blob"? I think it was the first creepy show made.

Tonight I went to my AA meeting but instead of the meeting, we had a "living wake" for one of our special friends that has cancer and maybe a few months to live. It was kind of weird having him there, but we had him sit in a recliner with his wife next to him and we all had a chance to share our feelings with him. I shared that he made me feel welcome at the first Bluebox AA meeting by him getting up and offering me coffee when I walked in the door. I thought I was special until I noticed he did that to all newcomers. He will be missed dearly. About 200 people showed up to give him love. We all shared then put in a few laughs. This picture shows that we all hug each other and AA has a special bind with each of us. He is the one on the left with his back to us. I blurred the photo so no-one would be recognized.

Boy, this has been a tough week with Ellen leaving us, the wake for My friend here. Another friend showed up to the meeting and she has the same prognosis! But the good thing is, they each have Faith and that gives them much courage and hope.
Hope for the here after. Hope that when we die, we will be in heaven and our pain and addictions will leave us! We will shed these bodies (which I will GLADLY shed) and who knows what we will look like? Be like? I just know that we will be with Jesus and that makes me happy! Some of you don't believe that, so maybe you won't be with Jesus. Maybe there is another place you are going to that will be better or worse? Whatever your belief, that is fine but I sure like the feeling I have believing in Jesus and living with the hope of meeting him and being forgiven for my sins! Whew! AMEN!
Well I have no idea where all that came from, but I am heading to bed now.
Have a marvelous weekend and please drive safe!
If you drink....please don't drive!!

I'm still around

I have been busy and tired. I have not left the blog world.....just taking a small break.
Hope everyone is fine and enjoying the last of the Summer.

Have you ever noticed that Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their Chair at a meeting.

Farewell Sweet Ellen!

You will be missed........dearly.
It was fun meeting you and your Hillbilly husband Curtis in June 2005.
You two were the perfect match, and I truly believe God put you two together.
You put up a fierce fight and you were a lady to the end.
I'll see you on the other side.
God Bless you Ellen.

What is God?....Who is God?

I went to a friend's house tonight for an AA meeting. We are holding them at his house on Wed nights for a few months. He has cancer and the doctors quit the treatments he was getting and told him they will give him pain medication to make it more comfortable for him. He told me tonight he thinks he might last until Christmas......maybe.
He started out the meeting asking us to relate our feelings about "God".
I know there are a few people that have a hard time trying to grasp the "God" idea because of troubles in their childhood or just no teachings in their childhood.
I related that I had a wild youth and young adult years and had God up on a shelf until I was two years sober and started working the 12 steps.
Step three:
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God As we understood Him.
That was the hardest step for me. The idea of letting go of my own control was hard for me to grasp. I guess I am a controller and have been told all my life that I am responsible for my own life. I have to live with my choices and pay the consequences.
I remember I used to be afraid of just about everything. If I was in a thunderstorm I would cower until it was over.....I would come home from work to an empty house and search each closet and under the bed before I could relax....I was afraid to go to sleep at night, afraid I wouldn't wake up....I felt lonely and hollow inside.
I finally "surrendered" myself to God in my prayers and told Him He can have me.
It is His will, not mine be done!
I quit worrying about getting a higher position at work, and guess what, I got it! I can actually live one day at a time now and not worry (too much) about the future.
My friend tonight told us he is curious about what it will be like, then he smiled and told us he will find out before us, and we need to find out for ourselves, because he isn't coming back to tell us!!
Ellen has only a few days before she meets Jesus,
another friend of mine Diana has maybe a few weeks.
Another friend of mine is fighting a long battle with cancer too, and we keep him in our prayers.
We all will die someday, that is the only guarantee in life.

Here is a prayer for Step Three I found in my workbook
"The Twelve Steps, A Spiritual Journey":
Lord,
I am learning that there is an awful lot I can't do.
I can't control life the way I used to.
I can't make people be what I want.
I can't stop the pain inside me.
I can't even fully submit to your plan yet-I'm still too frightened of you.
But I know that there is one thing I can do right now.
I can make a decision to turn my will and my life over to you.
Making the decision doesn't mean I have to make it happen.
Making the decision doesn't mean I understand you or your plan.
Making the decision doesn't even mean I'm entirely willing, but it does mean that I know your way and will is right.
Lord, turn my simple decision into reality.
AMEN

After working the Step, I say a prayer every night giving myself to God:

Lord Jesus,
I turn my will and my life over to you.
Mold me and do with me as you will.
I trust you to guide my steps, and
I enter the world with hope that I may better do Your will.
I ask for your forgiveness and acceptance.
I welcome your Holy Spirit's power, love, and guidance
In everything I do.
AMEN.

I pray that everyone can find the peace and warmness I feel since I have found God. I am no longer cowering in fear,
I no longer fear death,
I no longer feel lonely,
I no longer cry myself to sleep at night,
I feel loved unconditionally,
I feel forgiven!
For all of that,
I feel very very thankful.

Another parade!

Well I sure get the fun jobs! We had another parade here on the Island today. The Island County Fair in Langley. The entire route was only about 1/4 of a mile.

Phil, one of our newest drivers wanted to go, so I let him drive and showed him how to "ham it up" for the crowds.
Saranell, one of our C.A.C. members would get out of the bus, go in front and gesture to the bus to "kneel" then Phil would lower the bus to to the pavement.

The kids really loved it! The little boys were fascinated by it.
After the parade we parked the bus and ate our way through the fair. I had BBQ ribs (Nummy and greasy) and a funnell cake (really sweet and greasy), then went back home. I was home at 1:30 then took a long nap. Now I am wide awake at midnight and heartburn from all that nummy greasy food!

I have been totally exhausted for the past few weeks. Probably because of the sinus infection then two weeks of Augmentin. (Plus a full week of fun and activities with my 40 year class reunion)!!

I hope that horrid storm misses land and fizzles out in the Gulf!

Something to know:

Have a Sunburn? - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water.

I really didn't want that baked potato with my dinner! I hardly ever eat potatoes...so sticking that potato in the oven was just what I did.....I did not puncture it with a fork. OOOoops. I'm glad I have a self cleaning oven.
I drove to Seatac yesterday to pick up a friend of mine that arrived from Texas. We went to school together and tomorrow we are going to the 40 year class reunion. FORTY YEARS!! We are meeting in the town park with the rest of the school alumni. It should be fun. I guess I shouldn't look for the kids I went to school with, I'd have better luck looking for their parents! Although Linda looks that same as she did 40 years ago! It isn't fair! I look like my mom!
We had to take a picture of the Space Needle in Seattle while crawling through the city during rush hour.
I slept until 11:00 today. I am exhausted from my time off, but I enjoyed every minute of it!
Two more days.

AA Across the water

I went to Port Townsend today with Jane, a friend of mine. Here she is standing by the life boats just in case!
We are approaching Port Townsend here.
Across the street is the ALANO Club for Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to the noon meeting and met alot of new people. I used to run to the nearest local pub in every town I visited, now I visit all the AA halls. The people are the same only in AA they are sober.
And here is the meeting room waiting for all of us alkies to come and share our stories. We studied step 9 today. "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. (That is another post).


As we were crossing the Strait I was thinking of Ellen and the time she went whale watching up by Vancvouver Island. My heart goes out to her and her adoring Hillbilly husband Curtis. Ellen is fighting the fight of her life right now with cancer. She needs all the prayers she can get. She went into a hospice place yesterday where she can get 24/7 nursing care. If you have the time, pop over to her sight http://headlint.blogspot.com/ and say hello. Her husband reads her blog to her every night.
God Bless you Ellen. I'm praying for you.

New afghan

I don't know how to flip the picture for this post, but here is the afghan I just finished for my sis. I call it the "Candy Cane" afghan. I love the deep red color so I made up a pattern and named it. It is bigger than what I want so I will modify the pattern for a smaller one for me. It is made from "Homespun" yarn. It is soft and great to wrap up in during cold winter nights (IF THE CATS WILL LET GO OF IT).

Well I am off to bed. I have a few busy days ahead of me. I am going to Port Townsend tomorrow and Thursday I am driving south of Seattle to Seatac airport to pick up a friend.

Tip for the day:
When doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on.
Hmmm...I haven't fit in doll clothes for decades!! But I wonder if it would work putting on tight pants on hot days?

More pics of Lady Washington

This is what she looks like all dressed out.

This is her in the background


These pictures were taken from the wharf about a half hour ago. (8:30pm).

That's her in the back right.

Ahhhh, I love my little Island!
This was a relaxing day today. I did absolutely NOTHING!

I did go to Curtis's blog and read his thoughts about his wife Ellen. Please pray for them.

Lady Washington

The Lady Washington has appeared in Coupeville! It looks majestic next to our Wharf. I heard they are going to have a mock battle in the Harbor. When? Don't know. This Ship appeared in the Pirates of the Carribbean.

This weekend was great. The sun was out both days. I went to Church then came home and my friend Debbie followed me into Oak Harbor so I can leave my car at the garage to get serviced tomorrow. I am having it detailed inside and out, oil changed, filters replaced, air conditioner serviced. I like to keep it in good shape and have preventative maintenance on it regularly. I don't like surprises!
Anything exciting going on your way?
Any funny stories? Aww, c'mon, There's gotta be something going on!! JimBob?

Did you know...
Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair?

Stuff

I have been waiting all week for word from my doctor to see what the CTscan found.
I'm feeling much better, but there is something going on in my sinuses. I want it FIXED!! Ok, a little show of impatience on my part here. sorry. Now I know how Leslie feels. She waited for months for results and found out they LOST them!! Arrgghh!
On a more cheerful note....I have a full week off!! YAHOOOOO! Sleep in every day!

We had hot dogs at work the other day so I took in a salad I saw in Paula Deen's magazine. It is a corn salad. I saw the recipe and thought good grief, I must try it! Everybody raved about it and even the guys took a copy of the recipe. It is quick and great for pot lucks or barbecues. Try it!

Corn Salad
2 cans corn (drained)
1 cup diced red onion
1 cup diced green pepper
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
mix together and chill over night
just before serving add 10 ounces roughly crushed chili cheese fritos, stir well and watch it disappear!

Well I am off to my AA meeting. Have a great evening.
My prayers go out to all that died and were hurt in that horrible bridge collapse. And I applaud all the heroes that jumped together to help out the injured!
Thank you and God Bless you all.

More allergies!

After a two week bout with a head and chest cold and a week of antibiotics, I woke up Friday morning with a swollen eye, and a red rash. During the weekend it spread to the other eye. It burns and itches. My ears hurt and my throat is sore. I went to the doctor to ask to be referred to a specialist and she wanted to see me first. So She said "Oh, that looks like an allergy" YA THINK??!!
She is not my regular doctor but a partner. She gave me 6 prednisone pills and ordered a CT scan on my head. I told her about the troubles I've had the past 6 months. I had a bad reaction every time I went swimming (chlorine). I had a bad reaction when I took a new pill (Metformin).
Saturday I started a NEW pill (Actos) because Avandia that I was on for three years has been killing people. Hmmmm, maybe that would makes things easier. Naw.
So that is what has been happening in my life lately. I used to run to "Happy Hour" after work years ago....now I run to the Pharmacy!!
It's strange, but I seem to be running into the same people I knew at Happy Hour!! HAHAHAHHAHA
G'nite!

Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads.

Puffy eyes - Preparation H

Oscar the amazing cat

I was over visiting The Boomer Chronicles , and saw this article on "Oscar", the cat who can predict death. What an amazing article!! I made copies to take to the local Nursing homes.
Here is the Essay.


A feel good story for sure! Thanks Boomer!

It got a little breezy last night.....YA THINK??!!

I heard the wind last night then heard the old canopy flapping in the wind. I figured I'd have a few rips this morning, but had no idea I'd wake up to this! Luckily I had searched online for a replacement canopy in case this one bit the dust and it arrived Thursday!
So, I came home from Church today and put it on. It is a bit tight, but will loosen up when it rains (I hope). I spend alot of time under that canopy during the hot days (and rainy days).
I think I like the beige color better. It makes it look brighter. I might buy another one for back-up in beige.

Last night I was the guest speaker at the AA Hall in Oak Harbor. I have spoken before, but each time I get nervous at the last minute. I'm always afraid I will say the wrong thing, or talk too much about God (which alot of AA folks don't like). But it is a huge part of my story and the reason I am still sober today. I told my story in half an hour leaving out quite a few things but I think it went ok. There were only about 20 people there so it wasn't a huge crowd, but sometimes 10 people seem like a huge crowd.
Any way, I did it so there. Nothing in my life is a secret, so I tell it all and hope it reaches someone. I truly believe that if my story can help someone else get sober then it was worth it! My drinking career was fun while it lasted, but then my years in sobriety are more fun! Yes Virginia, there is life after sobriety!
Well Sunday is about over with. I napped today for two hours and ready to head back to bed. I am, feeling MUCH MUCH better, but am still tired from it all. Bronchitis drains you! I am off the antibiotics, so this week should be normal (however normal can be in my life).
I hope everyone has a marvelous week!

"The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it.
At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house."
--Jeff Foxworthy
hehehehe I like that one!! hehehehe

I've been tagged!

Holly tagged me.
I am to list eight random facts about me, so here it goes:
1. I am a 58 year old single gal.
2. I have worked in the Transit industry for 20 years on an Island in Washington State.
3. I am a recovering alcoholic with 20 years sobriety and still attend AA meetings weekly.
4. I am a practical joker and love to laugh and have fun. (Boy do I have some stories)!
5. I was a bartender for 18 years, a firefighter/EMT for 13 years, working on an ambulance on an Island in Washington State. (Boy do I have some stories)!
6. I am a Christian and attend a small non-denominational church in Coupeville.
7. I love cats and live with two of them.
8. I have Diabetes and live with chronic pain but refuse to let it cripple me. I am not disabled....I live and work with my disabilities and will work until I can't any longer.

The rules:
* Players start with eight random fact about themselves.
* People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about eight things and post these rules.
* At the end of the blog, choose eight (or less!) people to tag and list their names and blog addresses.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.

Oh heck, who wants to be tagged? How about Catmomma!

Summer colds suck!

I am on day 7 of this horrid cold I caught. Each day is different. Yesterday I could hardly breathe, I was so stuffy, and my heart was palpating in a weird beat. Today I felt better but my throat and ears hurt again. I stayed home from work again and went to the doctor who gave me some Azithromycin for 5 days and some great Cheratussin AC cough syrup with codeine! Yahoo, I sleep tonight! I have Bronchitis again. I think just about everyone at work has had it this year.
I came home and made some great tasting Sweet tea! I brewed some Lipton herbal ginger twist tea and added some instant ginger punch with sugar. It is GREAT iced!! And great for you! Ginger is a natural anti-inflamatory, and helps the digestive system.
I had to empty my air conditioner's reservoir and it had 3 cups of water in it! That was only three day's worth. GEEZE, no wonder I couldn't breathe yesterday. It was really muggy. We don't usually get muggy here. Today is back to normal. 70 degrees and high overcast. Yeah, that's what I like!
Back to my crocheting. I'm working on an afghan for me now in light dusty blue to match my chairs.

Arthritis?
WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too.
HUH?!

This a record breaking HOT day today!

I slept hard last night and had a weird dream. In the dream (Ican't spell dreamt, drempt, wha??)So any way, in my dream I was ashamed of myself that I gave up my 20 years sobriety. Then I couldn't find out how or why I did. I finally got up this morning and was moving really slow and my head was not quite clear. I realized as I was getting ready for work that I felt horrible! My throat was raw like I might have snored last night, but I sleep with a CPAP machine and cannot snore, so it was sore for another reason. As I was getting dressed I realized I was sick, so I called in to work to tell them I was sick. Well in my foggy state I forgot that I was supposed to be in at 8:00am to be with the design team for our new facility we want to build in the (hopefully)near future. I was told to go ahead and stay home, but I was feeling guilty and went in anyway. I introduced myself and my boss looked at me and sent me home. The hottest day of the century and I call in sick. Yeah, right!
Now I realize the dream was because of the bartending last Saturday and my not feeling good in the middle of the night. My subconscious was telling me I was hung over. HA! Fooled you, mr subconscious!! I came home, got undressed and went back to bed and woke up at 1:00pm. The temperature outside got up to 98 degrees, and my brand spanking new portable air conditioner is working quite well!!
It is still hot in here, but not like an oven. Next year I might buy a window unit for the spare room to keep this side of the house cooler. I am not getting any younger, and when I retire I will need to be cool, as one of the side effects of diabetes is that your internal thermostat quits working like it should and heat is getting harder and harder to bear.
Meet Mr. Cool!
Mr. Cool is facing the other side of the house. It cools 400 square feet and my house is 900 square feet.

I hope you all can stay cool. I'm going to get some theraflu now.

I sell Mary Kay cosmetics, but if you can't afford the masks,
use Elmer's Glue -
paint on your face,
allow it to dry,
peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads.

I went to a wedding!

Today was the most popular day ever for weddings, being 7-7-07. My good friend Tina was one of them. I have known her since she was in diapers, and have been a part of their family all these years. They met me when I was a bartender, married and a drunk. Her mother Debbie actually got me attending the Church I go to now. I liked the idea of Church on a Saturday night and the short sermons. Well we started a branch of the Church here in Coupeville two years ago and we only have one service and it is on Sunday morning at 10:00am. Oh well.
Any way, back to the wedding....
It was held at a farm in a huge barn and it was so romantic! Jason sang a love song of promise to her during the service.
This is Tina and her mother Debbie. Debbie is in her 50's, and doesn't look a bit over 40! I hate her. No really, I HATE her!
Hahahahaha just kidding. I love her like a sister. We have been through alot together. They asked me if I would bartend at the wedding, and of course I told them I would be honored to! I know, you all are thinking Geeze, Phyllis just celebrated 20 years of sobriety, and she is going to bartend??! Yep, I sure did. It was only wine, but the smell started getting to me after awhile. It was hard when people would ask what wine was sweet or dry. I gave them samples to taste. I must've uncorked 100 bottles of wine and champagne. There were over 150 people there. Everything went well, but I had to leave at 8:30 cause I was just too darned POOPED! On my feet for 3 hours and dancing behind the bar most of the time.

I aint young no more! I had a great time, and will do it again if asked. I used to love bartending. I was always in conversations with people and laughing the entire time. Well tomorrow is a day to REST and rest I will.

How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to
become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

Whew! I made it!!

I have been crocheting like mad to finish this afghan I started a couple of weeks ago. It is a wedding present for a dear friend of mine and their wedding is today at 4pm. I finished it at 3am today! Now it is time for me to get to bed and get rested for the big wedding!

Good night!

Two Reasons why it is hard to solve a Redneck Murder:
1.All the DNA is the same.
2.There are no dental records

Let the games begin.....

I heard a fire engine go by my house and went out to see what was going on and saw smoke billowing in the woods nearby. Fireworks have been exploding for three days now. I wish they would outlaw them. They are so dangerous! I guess I am turning into an old biddy, but after working on the ambulance for 10 years and in the fire department for nearly 14 years, I see the results of what started out to be innocent fun. Please folks, be careful and play safe!!

I have 5 days off! I go back to work on Monday the 9th. Ahhhhh, I have no huge plans, but I'm sure I will keep busy. Well, tomorrow is a barbecue, then Thursday I run errands and help my friend get appetizers together for a huge wedding this Saturday. She also needs help decorating the hall. Then Saturday is the big wedding, and Church on Sunday. Yep, I will keep busy. But the relaxing part is, I can stay up late each night, and sleep in each morning!! AHHHHHH.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

I'm just lazy I guess

I seem to forget I have a blog, or am just lazy. I see it has been over a week since I posted. I have a busy life as many of you know, so I blog when I can. I am busy in any of the spare time I have trying to finish off an afghan I started for a couple that is getting married. It is using a small needle and soft yarn. I guess it is like an oversized baby afghan. It is taking forever to finish, but it is nice.
I only work two days this week as I have alot of comp time coming to me from all the training I have been doing the past few months. So I have the 4th off and am going to a BBQ. Thursday is swimming and Friday I might have the day to myself. Ahhhhh, Calgon take me away! My friend is getting married Saturday, and then Sunday is Church.
I certainly hope you all have a fun and safe 4th!!

Believe in miracles.
I sure do!

Returning to old behaviours

Last night at our AA meeting we discussed "old behaviours".
To an alcoholic that can mean many things, but the bottom line is, we better watch out, or it could lead us to drink.
I have noticed in the twenty years I have been going to AA meetings and hanging around sober drunks, that most of us have a tendency to have a crisis in our lives. We call the ones that have alot of crisis one right after the other, "Drama Queen's". We suggest to get off your "pity pot" and do something about it and get on with your lives. Don't get me wrong, we all have crisis at times, and we in AA rally around the ones having a crisis and help them through it. It helps to keep them (and us) sober. But some just seem to keep doing the wrong things or saying the wrong things (that will be me):-).
I realized last night that when I was drinking, I would wake up the next day with dreaded guilt. I either said the wrong thing to someone, made an ass out of myself (quite often), flirted with someone in front of my husband (yep). scratched my car, drove to the wrong house thinking someone else was parked at my house, lost my keys (from the car to the door) and slept on the front porch. etc, etc, etc. Now you can see why I'd wake up with that guilty feeling.
In sobriety I wake up every morning instead of "coming to". I don't have that horrid guilt feeling. So when someone gets mad at me for something I said (quite often), I get the guilty feeling coming back. I think the worst and fret on it all day. I hate that feeling. It causes undue stress and is crazy.
Why can't I just leave it be, make amends and forget about it? I'm working on that.
The twelve step program is great!
Step three is "giving it to God". The big "G" word is hard for some people to take so they just ignore it and keep their old habits.
AA also helped me to learn to forgive and move on. What a gift to be able to truly forgive a person. A big weight is lifted when you do forgive. It is a great feeling of accomplishment to me to be able to forgive someone.
AA brought me to God, and now I have a great little Church I go to and I use my AA gifts to help people in my Church and lead them to AA.
I think God had his hand in this. he is using me to reach out to some people and help them. You know what? I LOVE it!
Have a great week. Yikes, July 4th is right around the corner!!

Stay safe on the roads this Holiday!
And buckle up!! Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs

Paul Potts

Oh my gosh, if you haven't heard of Paul Potts yet, you certainly will.
Go to this you tube site:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0dzZTPWrSM
He made me cry. I am not an opera fan, but he made me cry. I love his story!

Ain't he Puuurrty?!

Friday night was the "Birthday" night at my AA group. A dear friend brought me these beautiful roses to celebrate my 20 years of sobriety.
Wow. I'm not there yet, Thursday June 21st will be my 20 year mark, so I will show you the chip then, but I couldn't keep from sharing these beautiful roses! (And my handsome kitty)!

I hope everyone's week is going good. It is still cold here, but will warm up soon I hope.

Life is too short for long pity parties.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.

Sunday

I came home from Church this morning and had steak and eggs (num), put a pot roast in the electric fry pan, then I went to bed to read for awhile. About 4 hours later I woke up and panicked. It was daylight and I wondered what time it was, I panicked and thought I was late for work. It was 5:07. Hmm, it is early, I don't need to be to work until 8:00. WAIT A MINUTE, I'm dressed! Egads, it is still Sunday!
I jumped up and smelled the pot roast (Or should I say beef jerky).
HAHAHAHA Oh well I might get a few sandwiches out of this.

We had the installation of our new Pastor tonight at 6:00, so I freshened up and got there in time to greet everyone with my CPAP mask lines all over my face. HAHAHAHA We are family here and we all love each other. It was a nice ceremony then we had dessert and coffee.
Now I need to get ready for the second phase of my Sunday napping and get to bed!
Hope everyone has a great week!

It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and no one else.

But for the Grace of God, there shall go I....

I Thank God every single day for my sobriety.
I mean it. I could be dead by now or worse off, drunk every night.
I went to my AA meeting tonight and a gal I used to sponsor came in. She hadn't been to an AA meeting for two years. She had over 12 years sobriety then quit going to meetings.
She isolated herself and shut me out of her life. I finally had to let go and give her to God. I couldn't help her and I was making myself sick trying. I found out last year that she had been drinking.
She called me a few nights ago and asked why I never call her. I suspected she was drunk but wasn't sure. I know now that when I suspect it, then it is probably true.
We used to talk every night. I found out she was lying to me and telling me her health was going downhill, and that she shook because of a "condition".
Well yeah, the condition is called booze.
I found out tonight that she has been drinking vodka daily. She is trying to wean herself off by going to wine then to beer. She had 1/2 beer today to keep from going into convulsions.
My gosh, this gal looks horrid, and has aged 20 years in the past few years!
She used to take pride in her looks, and kept an immaculate house. She now lives in a very messy house. I cried, and she cried. I hugged her and told her I was here for her if she wants to help herself, but I cannot worry about her like I did before.
She has to be honest.
Whew! WHAT HAPPENED???
What happened? She quit going to meetings, that's what happened!
She isolated herself and let herself get into a severe depression then drinking kept her there.
She lied to me, to her doctor, and to herself. She gave up on life and numbed herself with booze.
I HATE ALCOHOLISM!!!!! It took my mother, it has and is ruining many lives, and it is UGLY!
Alcohol is just a symptom of a deeper disease. Depression, bi-polar, whatever.
Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord for my sobriety!!!
God willing and the creek don't rise I will have 20 years of sobriety on the 21st of this month!

Remember the three R's:
Respect for self;
Respect for others;
and responsibility for all your actions.

Elliott again

This morning at 6:00am I was sound asleep, and woke to a loud THUNK!! My heart was beating fast and loud. I sat up in bed and noticed Punkin at the foot of the bed looking down. I got up and walked around the bed and there was Elliott. He had this dazed look and was shaking his head. Well I'll be darned!! He fell out of bed! The cat sleeps like a log, and he must've rolled over and fell on his head or back.
The silly thing. I was worried that he hurt himself, but after awhile he was walking around then purring. What a nut!
Ahhhh, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! YAHOOO!!

Don't take yourself so seriously.......No one else does.

My water kitty

Whe I take a bath, Elliott comes in and watches. He is amazed at the water that comes out of the faucet, then it stops. Sometimes it just drips, and he jumps in the dry tub and waits for the water to come out.

There goes one, right there! Hey mom, make it do that again, will ya??? Huh??

I was in the shower the other night washing my hair and noticed he had jumped up on the edge of the tub between the two shower curtains and he was batting at the drops of water that was rolling down the clear inside curtain.......Naw, I wouldn't do that! I would not pull the curtain open to let him get wet. Nope, I sure wouldn't do that.....hehehe.

When you say, "I love you ," mean it.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

Parade Photo's

The person that was going to drive the bus in the parade was on vacation so I had to do it at the last minute. I was pouting, then after I got in the drivers seat and started waving at everyone I had a blast!
That is me in the drivers seat pouting. hehehe
This is a group of kids trying to catch up to the rest of the group. I think they were going too fast, don't ya think?
I finally got in the spot behind the airporter bus. When the parade got slowed down I showed off by lowering the bus to street level then raising it back up. The kids loved it!! They all yelled "make it bounce". The bus can't bounce, but it lowers so people can step into it easier.
We got to front street and that is where most of the people were. UH-OH...is that guy in the blue jacket picking his nose? hehehehe
The red building is the "world famous Toby's Tavern" Can't you tell by the people sitting in the truck?
All in all, it was a great parade, and I had a ball doing it.
Alot of people said the bus was the best part. I had the best seat, and taking their picture while I was driving was fun!!
So what did you do on Memorial Day?

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.