HELL NO, I DON'T LIKE IKE!

When the body, mind and soul create together, in harmony and in unity, God is made fresh. The does the soul know itself in it own experience. Then do the heavens rejoice. Meditations from Conversations With God, Book 1, page 175, September 10.

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Hi, Alkies, how the hell are you. The suspense grows, the fear is becoming intense, and my damned nerves are really being worked. Here we are, about 60 - 72 hours from predicted landfall of Hurricane IKE and no evacuation orders for a full scale evacuation of the state of Texas. Not even for SE Texas. Only Brazoria County and parts of Galveston County. I CAN"T BELIEVE IT! And then at 10 tonite the Houston Mayor and County Judge say that the time to evacuate the Houston area has come and gone. Not only that but for tonights SUPPOSED landfall spot - Sargent, Texas - has 100 mph hurricane winds covering the Humble, North Houston, Spring (I live there) and The Woodlands. They (the weather forecasters) say that a pine cone traveling at 100 MPH could shatter glass windows or crack Brick Walls. I really appreciate the fact that THEY are not trying to scare the SHIT out of me. (That is one way to lose weight) But they are Blanche, they are. Of course then they follow all of this crap with a newsflash that things could change by morning and who knows, it could go inland at Galveston as a Moderate cat 4. Or it could go in at Beaumont, or Cameron Louisiana. But as of now, It is poor ole Sargent, Texas. Now just ssssttaayyy ttttuuunnneeedd. SLAP! Wow, I needed that, I was shaking so.

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Seriously, I do take the weather situation with a lot of concern. Local channels all say just about the same thing. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Or..........IN GOD's TIME, NOT THEIRS. (GRIN) (guess from whom I borrowed that phrase.)

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Whatever happens, I will go through it sober. I am committed to that on a daily basis. Nothing can or will cause me to loose my sobriety. Nothing, NADA, zilch. I was Given a gift, and I am not an Indian Giver (not politically correct) and I plan to keep that gift, so help me GOD!

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One other little tidbit. Twice in the last 9 months the battery in my truck has failed and I had to get a boost. Once was a Saturday when I cleaned out my truck and had the doors open and my country music going. I also did all the windows inside and out. It just sparkled. I got in and NADA. So I called Goodman Honda and they said to have it towed in and they would just replace the battery. Towing was an expensive option even with AAA. So triple A gave me a boost and to Honda I went. They battery tested fine. No problem. OK, I was okay with that. Then this past June we decorated my truck and a convertible for the Pride Parade. It was 100 out that day. SO I kept the truck running with the AC on frantic. Sometime the truck died, I did not notice it, and after we were ready to go, I turned the key and NADA. Got another boost. So, today I was 151 miles past due for my service (the truck has a little gizmo that tells me this) so I took it into Goodson. $120.98 later they came in and asked if I wanted a free car wash. FREE. Hell, yes. She came back in and said Mr. M. your battery is dead. If you would sign here and authorized the service, we can replace it under your warranty. HALLELUJAH! Talk about timing. So about 10 minutes later I left with a new battery, a serviced and clean car. I just love God Shots!

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Tonite I am grateful for:

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God, My Higher Power.

My Sobriety.

Mamie, my Schnauzer.

My Sponsor.

Ability to pray for stronger nerves.

My God Box. ( I will probably fill it before Sunday)

My house.

A full tank of gas.

A new battery.

My gas grill full and ready to cook if the electricity goes.

Provisions for a week to ten days. (Must buy more diet caffeine free cokes)

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Y'all be pretty now, Ya Heah!

WHAT TO DO! WHAT TO DO?

Tuesday Night, September 9, 2008

If you knew Who You Are-that you are the most magnificent, the most remarkable, the most splendid being God has ever created-You would never fear. For who could reject such wondrous magnificent. Meditations from Conversations With God, Book 1, page 16
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Hi, y'all. What a change overnight. Evacuate, evacuate, listen to the TV, evacuate, evacuate, listen to the weather, evacuate, evacuate - BULLSHIT! Well, Yesterday I spent about three hours on line chasing down a good deal on a hotel in San Antonio. I called Rosalie and Sam last evening and Sam called and confirmed the reservations. While talking to Rosalie, I told her it would be our luck to evacuate to San Antonio and then the storm come in around Matagorda to Corpus Christi and wind up on top of us in San Antonio. This morning she called, laughing and said you really predicted this one right on, as that was the probability at 11:30 AM. She said they were just going to stay put until something definite was in. This thing is just to wobbly. No Shit Shurlock. That was music to my ears, I just really was not into this trip. Physically it would be too hard on me, and secondly - I did not want to be cooped up in a hotel with their politics for the next few days. Politically - we are total opposites. I respect their views, and try my best not to step on them. But I am not afforded the same in return. However, I love them dearly, and just have to put my foot down and say we cannot talk about this because it always end up with Rosalie mad as hell at me and then there is a confrontation. I cannot deal well with conflict. To me conflict = I don't like you. And it hurts like hell. I know this is not always the case but that is how I was raised. So I do my best not to be put in that kind of an environment. This is one of my character defects that I do not seem to be able to dump. The poor thing is scarred, bruised and bloody. I turn it over, take it back, turn it over, take it back, put it in God Box (A Silver Tea Box, I bought at Fedco in 1992), repeat, go back to turn it over, etc. Of course I know that none of you can understand this type of thing, I'm sure you ALL have mastered ALL of your character defects. Oh, let me tell you about this bridge I have for sale. ROFLAMAO.

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This past Sunday there was a piece in Zest that was about a chocolate malt. Now anything CHOCOLATE gets my full attention. This malt should only be purchased at a real ice cream store like The Marble Slab or Stone Cold Ice Cream. Ask them to use the Chocolate Fudge Ice cream instead of vanilla and to replace the chocolate syrup with the Chocolate Fudge they put on a Sundae. OMG. Total decadence. I want to fill up the bathtub with this concoction and just lay there with a very sturdy straw and sip my way into a diabetic coma. Such a heavenly way to go. YUM. (While I am drooling about this, I can just hear my arteries clogging.)

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While I was on my fourth line of my gratuity list, Mamie came over to me and nudged my arm and growled. I looked at her and she had her Purple Rabbit in her mouth and looked like she was daring me to take it from her. I did and we tussled with it for a bit. Then I got it from her and threw it over by the fireplace, and there went the silver streak to retrieve and start it over. She is just so precious, I love her more and more every day. I'll do a post on her one of these days soon. She is another God Shot.

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Tonight I am grateful:

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God, my Higher Power

My Sobriety.

Mamie, my schnauzer.

My sponsor.

God Shots.

Rosalie and Sam.

My friends - in and out of the blogdom.

The Purple Rabbit.

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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.

Monday, September 8, 2008

You cannot know God until you stop telling yourself that you already know God. You cannot hear God until you stop thinking that you've already heard God. Meditations from Conversations With God, Book 1, page 8

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Hi, Y'all. I do not know what is going on with my blog, but I hope I have fixed it. I did a Post last night, hit publish, and it just disappeared. So if you find one from me dated Sunday Night, September 7, 2008. Let me know where in the hell you found it.

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Had a very nice weekend. Saturday night was the usual, dinner with Daave and friends, Saturday Night Speaker meeting at Lambda and home by 10 PM. Enjoyed the speaker, did not agree with everything he said, but I did enjoy the ESH. I liked that he stated that was he said was not necessarily AA sanctioned, but that these were his truths. He was good - got a few giggles, some obriety, heard about a long relapse, and then a return to sobriety for the last 4.5 years. I appreciate hearing about those continuing to do research to see if it is any better and I have never heard anyone say, hey it was great - I learned to drink like a gentleman.

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Sunday, I got a call from Rosalie about Hurricane Ike. It looks like it is headed to Houston. Accordeing to the 5 day cone and track on ww.nhc.noaa.gov it looks like it will be over Galveston by Sunday. GEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ. Here we go again. Well, we will just find out as the days go by. Tracking will be better by Wednesday and we will make a decision by then, but to avoid no rooms at the inn, we are making reservations in San Antonio. That's just playing it safe. That does not mean we have to go. I'm kind of burned out on fleeing at HennyPenny.gov hurricane predictions. But I sure have like the outocome.

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Joe and I got together Sunday Evening, had dinner, and watched the knuckle grinding Sunday night broadcast of Big Brother 10. Oh, the drama. Speaking of drama, we then came upon Lana Turner's "Imitation of Life" and watched it. I love that movie, the acting is over the top, it's a tear jerker, but it never is stale. I have seen both versions several times. Loved Claudette Colbert in the 1930's version.

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Even with all the "excitement" of the weekend, I added one more weekend of sobriety to my list. It just does not get better than that.

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Today I am grateful for:

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God, my Higher Power.

My Sobriety

Mamie, my Schnauzer.

My Sponsor.

Love of my Sister and Nephew.

friends.

A good night of total rest.

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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.

Thursday Night, September 4, 2008

God's in his heaven, a beautiful, beautiful day in Houston; I had another day of sobriety, and all is right in the world. Well mostly.
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Tonight I am Grateful for:
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God, my Higher Power.
My Sobriety.
Mamie, my schnauzer.
My Sponsor.
Tomorrow is double dip day - 10 AM and 12:15 meetings.
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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.

Wednesday Night, September 3, 2008

The act of resisting something is the act of granting it life....the more you resist, the more you make it real--whatever it is you are resisting. Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 1, page 102

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Gooooooooood Mooooooooooorrrrrrrrrnnnnnning ALLLLLLLLLLKIES!

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How the hell are ya. You know 17 years ago I was in a mental hospital fighting for my mental health. (Some say it was a lost battle, some say I won) WHATEVER. Anyway, reading tonight's quote reminded me of how much I resisted admitting I was an alcoholic. So, all in all, I can definitely tell you that the above quote is very very true. Or at least it was in my case, and that is all I can do is share my experience, strength, and Hope.

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My experience is that I fought tooth and nail not to be LABELED an alcoholic. How could I possibly be an alcoholic, I had a good job, I drove current model cars or motorcycles, had a beautiful home, etc. How could I possibly be an alcoholic. I remember one morning during one of our group sessions that there was this woman that introduced herself as my name is WHATEVER IT WAS, and I am an alcoholic. She shared about how much she drank, the problems it caused her at work and in her life in general. Hell, I drank more than that and I sure as hell was not an alcoholic. I thought of myself, someone is brainwashing this poor woman, they will not do this to me.

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A few weeks later I moved out of my home so my now ex-lover could move the HOMEWRECKER into Our Home. I can remember standing there in the kitchen with Vic during one of my weekends out of the loony bin, I had a butcher knife in my hand and I just had the greatest urge to slam it right into his gut and then twist it. Damned, I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to just rip his heart out. But I could not do that. My beliefs held my hand steady and I saved myself a few years in California's penal system or worse yet, a date with a needle. Anyway, I moved out of that house into the log house that he & I built in Running Springs, Ca. I then commuted the 105 miles one way to work in downtown Los Angeles.

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On January 20, 1992, I quit the resistance. I no longer allowed my alcoholism to have it's own life. This was the best GOD SHOT I have ever experienced. So, yes, I can certainly attest to the truth to tonight's quote from Meditations. When I sat down to do my post tonight, I had no idea of what to write. I knew I would do a quote and my gratitude list, but had no idea of what was going to go between those two pieces of bread. Voila-------the quote did it. Another GOD Shot. They exist all over the place, I just have to allow myself to receive. It just does not get any better than that.

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Tonight I am grateful for:

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God, My Higher Power. (I sure enjoy his shots at me)

My Sobriety.

Mamie, my schnauzer.

My sponsor.

Comments from the blogosphere.

No longer being on the resist list.

My accepting that others may have a different opinion than I do.

Tolerance and Love is our Code.

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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.

Tuesday Night, September 2, 2008

SUTHEN-ISMS:
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ONLY A SUTHERNER KNOWS:
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The difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you have them, you "PITCH" them.

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How many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

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Can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

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Exactly how long "directly" is,. As in: "going to town, be back directly."

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That Southern babies know the "gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

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Exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

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Instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold Potato Salad.

If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!

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Only Southerners grow knowing the difference between "right near" and a "right far piece. They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

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Both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and Po White Trash.

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No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

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That "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

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Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines,...And when we're "in line" we talk to everybody!

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Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

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In the South y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.

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Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red-eye gravy is also a breakfast food, and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.

. When you hear someone say, "Well I caught myself lookin"," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!

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Only true Southerners say 'sweet tea' and 'sweet milk.' Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say 'Bless her heart"...And go your own way.

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To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by YOUR Southerness: Take two tent revivals, and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart.

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuf, ...bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

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And for those that are not from the SOUTH but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a to hang on y'alls front porch that reads, "I ain't from the SOUTH, but I got here as fast as I could.'

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SOUTHERN GIRLS KNOW MEN MAY COME AND GO, but friends are fahevah!

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And last but not least, when someone leaves your company, y'all always say "Y'all be pretty, now, ya heah!"

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Now for y,all alkies, work up a mess of those twelve steps, and trudge down yonder, a far piece, or right near. Or Say " I just caught myself" looking that up in the 12 x 12 or the Big Book. An I hope to see all y'all in the sweet "by and by."

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Tonight I am Grateful for:

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God, My Higher Power.

My Sobriety.

Mamie, my schnauzer.

My Sponsor

Gustav was just an ole' windbag and did not live up to predictions.

Three days with Rosalie and Sam.

That their home and business did not have any damage.

That all is right in my sober world and God IS.

My Own Opinion.

Your Opinion.

The WE of the program.

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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.