Friends of Bill W.'s topics - tribe.net

Wisdom or humilty or both...

2008-08-20T06:53:34Z

I saw this on a church billboard today, "Wisdom has two parts: 1)-Having a lot to say. 2)-Not saying it." I actually think that speaks more to humility but it does indeed speak to wisdom because it requires wisdom to know what to say and what not to say, just as it requires "wisdom to know the difference". :-) What's your definition of wisdom? Does wisdom make us humble?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

Am I still a slave?

2008-08-19T19:03:23Z

When I was drinking/using that is a no brainer. Of course I was a slave to the alcohol and drugs. With being sober today, am I still a slave?

At my home group today a woman with quite some time in was sharing how she was at her daughter's 40th birthday party and her daughter was totally shit faced as were a lot of other members of her family.

Some members (with quite a bit of time in) shared how they had to stay away from the booze and had to go to meetings all the time. They shared that their "ism"/disease is alive and well and likes to rear its ugly head.

I wonder though. If I cannot attend certain functions because they might "tirgger" stuff, am I not still a slave to the booze? Is it still making decisions for me?

The other "thing' I took issue with was so many people were saying "I have to go to meetings". Yet few were saying "I have to work the program of action". You see I can go to a million meetings (I did for the first 2 years I was in AA..but I was still using) but meetings alone do not keep me sober.

Meetings are essential, I will not deny that. But are meetings of any use if we do not work the program of action outlined by the Big Book? Am I "sober"/recovered if I cannot be around booze for fear of relapsing?

Just kind of curious as to your thoughts.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 17 replies

Who's going to Burning Man

2008-08-19T06:24:55Z

Who might I run into on playa or at a meeting?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

12 Today :-)

2008-08-19T00:05:16Z

Been a rough couple of years, but I have managed to muddle through and life IS good.
Thank you to all of the people that have been there for me.
And all of the people that have posted in this forum that I may not know, but still relate to.

Have a great day,
Dave

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 7 replies

birthday wishes

2008-08-18T00:12:21Z

our very own BK has 2 years today...

Yay, happy happy balinda, congratz!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

The Cleaner

2008-08-10T18:33:40Z

http://www.aetv.com/the-cleaner/

This looks interesting.
After producing Intervention a few years, A&E takes it another step.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

A Birthday on and off of the Playa

2008-07-31T07:22:15Z

I will be a virgin this year. I will also be a lamplighter. I need to know where all of the meetings are going to be held at every hour of the day and night. AA, NA, CA if the addiction is there I"m there if it is in the way of my life, If I spend the rent money on it, end a marriage, risk my health, inhale concentrated male cat piss and hallucinate then I need a meeting for it.
I have been doing The Dew one day at a time since 8/28/1992
My ETA on the Playa will be 1:00 am 8/23/2008

My camp will be the lamplighter Village-Poi, Love and Kerosene!
I am registered as Astraea

Thanks for your support

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

Freewill, Destiny, Fate

2008-07-31T06:56:01Z

Can these all live harmoniously in the universe? Are we free to chose as the book says or are we set upon a pre-determined path?
Does one philophy negate the other or do they compliment each other.... by our free will do we set our feet upon the path we have chosen and thus meet our fate?

Thoughts Anyone????

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 19 replies

Unbelievable

2008-07-27T18:33:10Z

DUI suspect had highest alcohol level recorded

http://www.projo.com/ri/northprovidence/content/dui_bac_07-23-08_BLAV3UB_v22.411a2ee.html

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

The Tao of Should

2008-07-18T00:05:45Z

A buddy of mine just busted this out on a non-recovery tribe. It made me all tingly on the inside.

"A wise friend told me once to be mindful of the word "should." It implies an effort to live up to an expectation usually not our own."

Thoughts, opinions, counterpoints?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 25 replies

Heard at a meeting....

2008-07-17T23:57:56Z

...a guy that picked up a 2 month chip:

"They were the longest two weeks of my life. Of course I was
conscious the whole time and maybe that had something to do with it."

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 25 replies

I'm 27 today.

2008-07-17T23:49:43Z

I was a young man when I came into the program but I feel and act younger now than in 1981.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 13 replies

Beligerent Denial - the energy drink!!!

2008-07-17T23:47:34Z

Ha!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rBLNRgT3YQ

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

Just for fun.

2008-07-15T07:29:41Z

Veni, vidi, velcro ... I came, I saw, I stuck around.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 1 reply

6 years today

2008-07-11T17:59:33Z

Thank you everyone for my sobriety.

"Together we can."

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 7 replies

"How you think and talk will influence how you relate."

2008-07-09T13:22:04Z

Today I am more aware of my thoughts and words. Generally I try to catch myself when engaging in negative thoughts and at the same time I pay attention to what I say. Am I being positive when I speak or am I being negative? I usually try to follow the old adage, "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all." I don't follow this adage at all times however; sometimes our honesty requires us to say some not so nice things. At the same time I try not to bludgeon anyone with honesty.

Have you noticed a change in your thoughts and speech? Has that change influenced the way you relate with others?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

Attention SF Bay Area Women

2008-07-02T14:01:39Z

For women in the San Francisco Bay Area, the next Broads Without
Booze luncheon will be held on Sunday, July 27 at 11:30 a.m., the
speaker will be Gerry H. from Chicago. If you are interested, would
like a flyer, or need more information, contact Linda at
<linda_gemini@yahoo.com> or Claudia at <claudiacamp@sbcglobal.net>
There is no registration at the door for this event, pre-registration
only.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 0 replies

The Save 'Em A Seat File

2008-07-02T13:47:16Z

Muncie man goes out drinking, ends up in trash truck
By LATHAY PEGUES

MUNCIE -- A Muncie man is finally breathing a sigh of relief -- but the smell his nose took in early Thursday morning wasn't so pleasant.
William M. Bowen, 27, gained consciousness to find himself trapped inside a huge commercial dump truck filled with waste and lucky to be alive.
How'd he get there?
That's a question even Bowen can't answer.
The last thing he remembers about Thursday morning was he and some "buddies" drank alcohol around 3 a.m. at End Zone Sports Bar and Grill, at 2430 N. Kilgore Ave.
What happened after that remains a mystery.
About 6:30 a.m., a driver with Rumpke solid waste company emptied a trash bin at Muncie Eye Center, 200 N. Tillotson Ave., into his garbage truck.
He was about to push the lever to the trash compressor when he heard someone screaming from inside the truck.
"He looked up and this gentleman was standing out the top of our truck," said Larry Green, market safety supervisor for Rumpke.
Bowen's only words were that he was cold.
"This gentleman was extremely intoxicated," Green said.
An employee at the Muncie Eye Center called police to report the strange incident.
"I've been here with this company for 10 years and this is the first time something like this has happened," said Frank Winconek, CEO for Muncie Eye Center.
"Was he sleeping in the Dumpster? I don't know," Winconek said.
Green believes it's possible Bowen could've been picked up from a trash bin on a previous run closer to the End Zone Bar.
Prior to arriving at Muncie Eye Center, Rumpke crews emptied trash at White River Plaza, located in the 2100 block of White River Boulevard -- under a half-mile away from the bar. Muncie Eye Center is more than a mile from Bowen's last known destination.
If that's the case, though, Bowen's body was indeed compressed under the trash.
"He packed the trash before he got to the (Muncie) Eye Center," Green said of the truck's driver.
The incident could've been a lot worse than it turned out to be.
Green said the trash compressor could've caused serious injuries, or even turned fatal.
Bowen was treated and released with minor injuries from Ball Memorial Hospital on Thursday.
He wouldn't tell police who his drinking buddies were.
"I'm just glad it turned out the way it did," Green said. "We didn't have a body that was dead. We had a body that was talking."

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 29 replies

accepting the seemingly unnacceptable

2008-06-24T00:30:07Z

If only. If only I had this my life would be better. If only i was with this person, life would be grand. If only I had more money in my savings, I would feel more secure. If only I were in san francisco by now, my life would rock. If only I could get drunk n high every day and still enjoy it, yes folks ugly but true...this is what my disease says. My brain tells me all sorts of fucked up stuff for me to worry about or long for.
My amazing life proves otherwise. If I was was meant to be in a relationship, there he/she would be...right by my side. money doesn't matter. out of all people I know that. Growing up in a family where love is expressed by money. Living on the streets with no money but all the love in the world. I'm not prepaired for the big move yet.
This all comes up from the fact that i've tried every way possible to let something go and I can't. UNACCEPTABLE! unafuckingaceptable! I want things my way. well my ways pretty miserable and self destructive. so yet once again I combat my head. Do the exact opposite of what it wants me to do. This works well for me allot.
I have to accept the fact that i can't let this go, but I can let go and let god. See where that takes me. never been disappointing yet. Gotta leap up on my god horse take the reigns and go for the ride. If I don't fight it, it'll be easier. I like to fight it. i've always been rebellious. yet somehow I will get to the other side. You see there's a reason i'm starting the steps over again. and what's the first about besides surrender...acceptance.
My wanting to start the steps over inspired my sponsor to as well. Idn't that beautifull. I feel some reading and writing coming on. prayer and action. more sappy poetry. Love.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

What? An order! I cant go through with it!

2008-06-17T01:09:21Z

So what area of our life are you still pretty sure you can do a better job than God?

God rarely rides with me in my car. I dont much care for God's choice in porn either.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 16 replies

AA & the Internet

2008-06-15T14:42:41Z

A friend of mine who is my Traditions Nazi...er, guru just found this and posted it on another online meeting site. Aparently our GSO has been busy with something other than rehashing ad nauseum whether addicts belong in AA.

Looks like there's pretty pretty sage suggestions here on all things internet: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_pdfs/mg-18_internet.pdf

"GENERAL SOCIAL NETWORKING WEB SITES
MySpace, Facebook and other social networking Web sites are public in
nature. Though users create accounts and utilize usernames and passwords,
once on the site, it is a public medium where A.A. members and
non-A.A.s mingle.
As long as individuals do not identify themselves as A.A. members, there
is no conflict of interest. However, someone using their full name and/
or a likeness, such as a full-face photograph, would be contrary to the
spirit of the Eleventh Tradition, which states in the Long Form that, “…
our [last] names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast,
filmed or publicly printed.”
Experience suggests that it is in keeping with the Eleventh Tradition not
to disclose A.A. membership on social networking sites as well as on any
other Web site, blog, electronic bulletin board, etc., that is not composed
solely of A.A. members, is not password protected or is accessible
to the public."

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 8 replies

Addicts in AA

2008-06-13T02:25:33Z

This was prompted by part of Laura Bee's post of today in Dumped and crying...and it is something I have come accross before in FOB chatrooms and live discussions.

Do drug addicts belong in AA, or an extention of that question is...can one be considered sober if they have not had any booze, but say, smoked some weed?

I have had long time AAers cry to me the "no addicts in AA" speach many times. They throw the traditions at me and the "singleness of purpose" thinghy.

I have noticed that AA is the only subsatance (intoxicant) 12 step program that seems to hold alcohol and drugs as 2 distinct entities. Now, I fully realize that AA is a huge fellowship. Rules for specific meetings or groups vary. But, I have seen, with my own eyes and ears, someone take a cake for 5 yrs sober at an AA meeting, who then mentioed that maybe it was time to take care of their chrystal meth problem now, and no one batted an eye. I know that groups like the Pacific Group are much more tough on that kind of thing, so much so, that even if you are taking doctor prescribed tranquilizers, exactly as directed, that, you cannot claim sobriety at their meetings.

I have been to AA meeting where the discussion is limited to talk of alcohol only, no mention of drugs is allowed, and I have been to other AA meeting where talk of drugs is freely allowed.

All other 12 step substance programs definesobriety as being free from all mind altering chemicals, including alcohol. You cannot claim sobriety in NA while still having some wine with dinner.

What do you all think?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 61 replies

prayers

2008-06-02T18:46:30Z

our miss janie starts her chemo today, please send out lots of love, prayers and good mojo to her as she starts this part of her journey.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 33 replies

Birthday

2008-05-23T23:32:54Z

By the grace of God, one day at a time

23 today

Thanks to you all.

Alex

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 6 replies

Photos of Drunks on "Skid Road' SF circa 1940s, 50s

2008-05-21T07:48:41Z

Here's the link.
fpl.org:82/search?/dFolder%3A+S.F.+Districts-Skid+Row./dfolder+s+f+districts+skid+row/-3,-1,0,E/2exact&FF=dfolder+s+f+districts+skid+row&1,10,

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 8 replies

Sunday Puzzle

2008-05-18T09:21:34Z

The AA big book, after telling us of the "vital spiritual experiance" solution proposed by Carl Jung to "our friend", says on page 28 "Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend found himself when he had the extraordinary experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man."
From this statement it is clear that the Big Book is telling us that Bill W was "our friend" who met Carl Jung. But that's not true. Rowland Hazard was "our friend" who'd met Carl Jung.
So my questions to you all are, "Why did Bill W lie to us here?" "Was Bill a compulsive lier and manipulator?" and "Are the rest of the things in the Big Book all lies & manipulations too?"

Maybe my logic or rational thinking is all goofed up. In which case, HELP me get my feet back on the ground.

Much Love,

Rajiv

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 36 replies

Step 9?

2008-05-14T06:26:36Z

http://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/500360.html

gotta love it!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 1 reply

10 Years!

2008-05-12T14:16:32Z

Just recently picked up my 10 year chip. Feels awesome!!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 11 replies

God is a Stimulator

2008-04-27T18:56:02Z

My name s Rajiv. Thanks to the grace of my God, the CES Ultra, I am clean today.

http://www.elixa.com/estim/CES.htm

http://www.cesultra.com/

Keep Coming Back. It (CES) Works

Much love

Rajiv

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 89 replies

About Substance Abuse

2008-04-20T21:16:14Z

"Anyone who can't go five minutes without a cigarette, or can't stop drinking or is strung out on drugs, knows that after a while there develops an attachment to the ritual of using it that has little to do with your original motive. The original impetus was to feel its effect, and the effect seemed positive at the time." Robert Downey Jr. *drooooool*

Does anyone remember where their line was? Where pleasure became ritual? Do you even agree with this thought?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 15 replies

The highly sensitive person and sensitivity as a temperament trait

2008-04-12T00:42:26Z

Are any of you highly sensitive people outside of being an alcoholic and/or have sensitivity as a temperament trait outside of being an alcoholic?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 77 replies

Dreams

2008-04-04T23:41:33Z

Dreamt I was organizing my meds (legal, prescribed, lots of) and there was a baggy stuffed down in one of the pill containers. Of course it was a lid (do people still call 'em that?) a bag of marijuana. I thought to myself (in the dream) Wow I've been wanting to get high! Then I immediately thought, who could I give it to?
I called an ex-coworker and he wanted it. He came over and got it but then he turned into a woman from my homegroup and she was going to give it to her girlfriend who was undergoing chemo therapy.
There's lots more but that's all I wanted to share. I didn't smoke it!
Ideally I would've just flushed it right away.
Still, big improvement from past dreams where I steal it, smoke it, push it.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

Its nobody's business if you have a child or not

2008-04-03T01:07:22Z

An old timer told me that its nobody's business if I have a child or not. That was a shock to me. I have to confess, I hate 'family values', you know what that means here in the SF Bay Area. Has anyone else heard this kind of advice before? Has anyone given this kind of advice before?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 29 replies

Eagles: One Day At A Time

2008-03-28T16:21:23Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 7 replies

I'm Stumped~Call For Help

2008-03-28T16:02:06Z

Tomorrow (God willing and all that jazz) our Marie (the triber formerly know as Bev) celebrates her anniversary. As is tradition a little ditty is penned in honor of birthday people.....I can't think of a thing that rhymes with Marie (except for a few naughty french terms) for her birthday "poem" over in Podium......HELP!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 46 replies

AA Old-timer's Prayer

2008-03-12T17:06:57Z

God, keep me from the habit of thinking that I must volunteer in
every meeting no matter what the topic. Keep my mind free from the
recital of endless details and give me wings to get to the point.
Remind me to guard confidences and to keep still when I feel that it
is necessary to share information "just for someone's own good."
Release me from the need to straighten out everybody else's thinking
and program.

God, I ask for the grace to listen to newcomers. Please help me
to remember the patience with which others listened to me when I was
new. Please seal my lips to giving advice, and help me to remember
to share my experience, strength, and hope. Remind me that my
purpose is to fit myself to be of maximum service to You and the
people around me --- not just other alcoholics.

Help me to remain teachable, God. Teach me the lesson
that, occasionally, it is possible that I may be wrong and remind me
of the freedom that I gain when I am able to promptly admit it and
make amends where necessary. Help me to remember the difference
between making amends and saying I'm sorry.

Help me to be a worker among workers, a friend among friends, and
a drunk among drunks. Keep me from being a bleeding deacon, God, and
help me to walk the path towards being an elder statesman. Keep me
ever mindful that I cannot manage my own life. I don't want to be a
saint, God, show me the way to seek You so that I may continue to
grow along spiritual lines. Remind me to put Rule #62 into practice
in my life every day. It is so easy to take myself too seriously.

Keep me free of gossip, character assassination, and judgment.
Remind me that although I have humbly asked, my character defects and
shortcomings arise when I least expect them. Help me to walk with
serendipity, to see good things in unexpected places and talents in
unexpected people and give me the grace to ! tell them so. Help me to
see that You love each of Your children, and that You do not need my
opinion of them or suggestions on what they might deserve.

Help me to be willing to accept Your answer to my prayers, whether
or not it is the answer that I thought I wanted. You know that I
have trouble with acceptance sometimes, God, so there are times when
You will need to help me to be willing to be willing. Show me how to
walk through life with grace, dignity, and my head held high,
carrying Your message and practicing these principles in all my affairs.

And God, thank You for the people that You have put in my life.
My family, of origin, and of AA. My sponsor, my sponsees,
the people of my home group, the women and men who first reached
out their hands to welcome me to the fellowship of Alcoholics
Anonymous, and the people in the world around me (i.e., my
colleagues, my neighbors, the other drivers on the freeway). I know
today, God, that I could not have walked these steps to get from
where I was when I first walked in the door to the man that I am today,
if it were not for the blessings You have given me through Your
precious children.

Help me to remember to be grateful today, God. For what I've been
given, what has been taken, and for what I have left. For people who
love me and don't even have to, and those that I love. Thank you for
an amazing life God --- I never could have imagined I would be so
blessed.

Thank you.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 34 replies

Interview with Annie Lamott

2008-03-11T03:45:15Z

"Twenty-three years ago a very hung-over Anne Lamott stumbled into a small church and started what was to be a long journey towards sobriety and sanity."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/03/10/findrelig.DTL

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 0 replies

AA Folk Wisdom

2008-03-11T00:35:16Z

Watching PBS last night and this brain doctor was discussing ways to get and keep a healthy brain (short of stealing one). Out of 3,000 brain scans from different individuals he found 90 healthy brains!
The scans of alcoholic brains were the worst, then heroin users. But he offered ways to improve the health of our brains. Some of the suggestions are right out of the Big Book: don't drink or use, write down resentments and let go of them, meditate.
But what amazed me was one of his suggestions was suggested to me when I came into the rooms of AA: make a gratitude list daily.
It's not in the Big Book or the 12x12, but it has helped me and my sponsees (the ones who actually did it).
So my question is what AA folk wisdom, if any, that you don't find in the literature has helped you? Pass it on.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 26 replies

From the "Let's save them a seat" Files

2008-03-07T15:25:08Z

Police say man flees stop, reports truck theft in Somerset County
By The Tribune-Review
Monday, December 3, 2007

Police say a Somerset County man fled a traffic stop, went home, shaved his mustache and changed his clothes -- then reported the truck he was driving as stolen.

Conemaugh Township police say they stopped 50-year-old Robert Sadlon for a broken taillight on Thanksgiving night and he ran off.

Later, the same officer went to Sadlon's home near Stoystown to investigate the reported theft. There, he found a just-shaven Sadlon in different clothes.

Sadlon is charged with drunken driving, escape and related charges.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_540889.html

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 24 replies

Sponsors, who needs the SOB's?

2008-03-07T06:25:51Z

Ever gone for a period of time without a sponsor or know someone who has? What happened?
Once you've gone through the steps, what is the role your sponsor plays in your life?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

Don't Knock It Til You've Tried It

2008-03-07T02:37:04Z

This morning in the car, radio tuned to NPR, the discussion was about rehab. A caller, "Jerry" said AA is the worst thing for alcoholics because we don't take personal responsibility for our actions, but give it all to a higher power. The on-air expert agreed.
I wish I had a cell phone. How I wanted to call and say "obviously Jerry's never done a 4th step, let alone 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. or 10. He mustn't have ever even heard them read.
I find this time and time again. The people who yell the loudest about AA not working for them are the people who've never worked AA (the 12 steps).
I uise to go to Weight Watchers. It didn't work for me even though I was at a meeting every week and read the literature. Of course I wasn't following the diet. Duh!
So, if AA doesn't work for you, tell me, did you get a sponsor, work steps 1 through 12, get a service commitment and participate in fellowship? If not...look in the mirror, there lies the problem.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

2nd Month, 2nd Step

2008-03-02T19:01:13Z

"Came to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

Any thoughts?

I'm wanting some recovery talk.
As for Step 2, I reword it as, " Came to believe that a power greater than myself WILL restore me to sanity."
I'm still a work in progress. In otherwords I'm still insane!
I'm housebound again and need your ESH.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 13 replies

Please watch this short video

2008-03-01T14:15:38Z

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

I hardly had a happy childhood or parents who were good at parenting.
No matter, I can still benefit from this man's experience.

Love & Peace,

Ron

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 1 reply

Sponsorship

2008-02-26T19:39:16Z

The effects of sponsorship in 12-step treatment of injection drug users

Byron L. Crape, Carl A. LatkinCorresponding Author Contact
Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Alexandra S. Laris and
Amy R. Knowlton
John Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615
North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Received 9 August 1999; revised 1 June 2001; accepted 2 June 2001.
; Available online 5 February 2002.

Abstract

What contributes to sustained abstinence from injection drug use by
those who participate in community-based Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is not well understood. We know that
sponsorship is a central element in these programs. To investigate
the relationship between sponsorship and abstinence, we evaluated
NA/AA sponsorship over a 1-year period in a longitudinal study of 500
former and current injection drug users in inner-city Baltimore
recruited from the community-at-large, independent of treatment
center affiliation. The findings indicated that having a sponsor in
NA/AA for this population was not associated with any improvement in
1-year sustained abstinence rates than a non-sponsored group.
However, being a sponsor over the same time period was strongly
associated with substantial improvements in sustained abstinence
rates for the sponsors, controlling for involvement with community
organizations, NA/AA meeting attendance, marital status, employment,
participation in drug and alcohol treatment centers and HIV status.
Involvement in community organizations was also strongly associated
with successful abstinence, controlling for the same variables. Of
those participants involved with community organizations, more than
half reported involvement in church activities. Our investigation
suggests that, for NA/AA sponsors in this study population, providing
direction and support to other addicts is associated with improved
success in sustained abstinence for the sponsors but does little to
improve the short-term success of the persons being sponsored.

The article can be found here: <http://tinyurl.com/2pnv46>

.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

stop the hate

2008-02-26T18:11:18Z

stop the hate
stop the personal attacks
especially when you live in a glass house

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 34 replies

The Longest Hangover

2008-02-21T06:57:38Z

The Longest Hangover: 23 Years as an Alcoholic
By Tania Glyde, The Independent UK
Getting plastered can only hide other problems for so long.

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/76837/

Interesting Article

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 6 replies

I hate this but it's GB's turn....

2008-02-16T02:19:08Z

he ain't feeling so good. Let's show him some love.

I'll go first.

I love you...even though you can be a real pain in my bazooka.

Oh sorry N, I meant to say, I love you. a

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 17 replies

Female verson of "Man on the bed"

2008-02-14T06:19:15Z

Do any of you know of the female version of "Man on the bed" picture? A friend of mine wants it for a t-shirt for some convention type thingee ma bobber.
I've never even heard of it.

Thanks!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

Third Tradition

2008-02-12T05:16:01Z

My sponsor just sent me this. Thought I'd share it.Here is the story about Irma Livoni. I try to tell this true story about what happened not just on Dec 7th 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day) but what happened to one of thefew women who was in AA at that time, and about a letter she received in the mail, on Monday, December 8th, which virtually kicked her out of AA.

In Dec of 1984, I had been sober for 2-1/2 years, and working with my sponsors Bob and
Sybil Corwi n since Jan of 84. Sybil had gotten sober in March of 1941, so at the time she was 43 yrs sober. We were driving home from a meeting and she asked me the date
(to her it was just Sunday). I told her it was Dec 8th, and that yesterday (Dec 7th) was the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.

She said 'Matt, have I ever told you about Irma Livoni?'

'Nope, who is she?'

She said, ''Well, when we get back to the house, come in for coffee and I?ll tell you
a story about AA history and some of the reasons we have tradition 3. Oh, and by the
way Matt, did you know that the literature specifically protects 'queers, plain crackpots,
and fallen women,' and since you and I are at least two out of those three, we should be
especially grateful for tradition 3? I'll show you it when we get home."

I laughed out loud, as Sybil had a great sense of humor, and she had been a taxi dancer, back before she got sob er, you know one of those '10 cents a dance' ladies, and she was
divorced twice, was a single mom, as well as an alcoholic back then, so the term 'fallen
woman' was something that hit close to home.

She had told me that it was very different back in the 30's and 40's for a woman to be
an alcoholic. Sybil said It was a time when women wore hats and gloves, and 'respectable
women' were not usually found in a bar, or at 'whoopie parties.'

Our Thursday night step study had voted to not cover the traditions after we got to
step 12, so I figured they must not be very important and thought I?d probably be bored
with the conversation, but she got my attention telling me that 'queers, crackpots and fallen
women' were mentioned, so I agreed to come in for coffee.

Besides Sybil had been sober longer than I had been alive. I didn't argue with her very
much.

Sybil got down her copy of the big book. She said, I want you to find the traditions in
there, and read me tradition 3. It was a 1st edition Big Book. Thicker than mine.

I said, 'Is this why they call it the Big Book?'

She said, 'exactly, Bill had it printed on big paper, with big margins around the type,
so that people would think they were really getting something for their money.'

I looked in the back of the book, where I thought the traditions were, but couldn't
find them. 'I can't find them, Sybil.'

'Exactly. That's because we didn't have any traditions back in 1941 when I came in. And
Matt, AA was in mortal danger of destroying itself, which is why we have traditions now.'
Then she had me find them in my 3rd edition and in my 12 & 12. I didn't read it all,
just the caption heading, and then she started telling me the story of IRMA LIVONI.

Irma was a sponsee of Sybil's. She also became a member in 1941, jus t after Sybil.
Sybil took her into her home. (Sybil told me that many people's bottoms were very low then,
no home, no job, no watch, no car, nothing).Sybil said it was different then for a woman
to be an alcoholic. That most of them had burned all their bridges with their families,
and were looked down upon, even more so than male alcoholics. Sybil said she watched AA help Irma get sober, watched AA help Irma get cleaned up, watched AA help Irma get her first job in sobriety, and watched AA help Irma get her first apartment in sobriety.

Then she said that on Dec 5th, 1941 a self-appointed group of the members signed a letter to Irma & mailed it 2 days before Pearl Harbor, on that Friday, Dec 5th. Here is a copy of the letter:

------------ --------- ----

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Post Office Box 607
Hollywood Station
Hollywood, California

December Fifth 1941

Irma Livo ni
939 S. Gramercy Place
Los Angeles, California

Dear Mrs. Livoni:

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles
Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, held Dec. 4th, 1941, it was
decided that yourattendance at group meetings was no longer
desired until certain explanations and plans for the future were
made to the satisfaction of this committee. This action has
been taken for reasons which should be most apparent to
yourself. It was decided that, should you so desire, you may
appear before members of this committee and state your
attitude. This opportunity will be afforded you between now
and December 15th, 1941. You may communicate with us at
the above address by that date.

In case you do not wish to appear, we shall consider the matter
closed and that your membership is terminated.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Los Angeles Group
Mortimer, Frank, Edmund, Fay D., Pete, Al

------- ----- --------- ----

I was stunned. 'How could they do this, Sybil?'

'Because we didn't have any guidelines, any traditions to protect us from good intentions. AA was very new, and people did all sorts of things, thinking they were protecting the fellowship.'

Sybil then said to close my eyes and imagine my being in the following setting. Sybil
explained that Dec 7th, 1941 was Pearl Harbor Day (a Sunday). She said that that Sunday
night everyone in LA was afraid that Los Angeles would also be attacked and bombed.
There was a citywide blackout, people were so terrified. She said that on Monday Dec 8th,
President Rosevelt gave the speech that talked about 'the date that will live in
infamy' and that we were now at war with Japan and Germany.

She said, that was the day that Irma received her letter. There was only one meeting in the entire state of California when Sybil came in, in 1941. By December there may have been two or three, but Irma had nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to. No other Group in California that she could ask for help.

Sybil said, 'Imagine only one or two meetings in your entire state, and being shunned by
your family, and by society, and by the only group of people who were on your side, your AA group. Imagine them shutting the door on you and sending you such a letter, Matt.'

I shivered at the thought of it. It was Christmas time, the stores were decorated and now poor Irma was all alone.

I thought about how it was in 1984 with 2000 meetings a week to choose from in Southern California. and then I imagined having no other help for a hopeless alcoholic.

Sybil told me that Irma never came back to another meeting, left AA and died of alcoholism.
She wrote to Bill about the incident, and I cannot tell you that this is the reason that
the following is a part of the 3rd Tradition, but it certainly seems to apply.

From Tradition 3, page 141:
... that we would neither punish nor deprive
any AA of membership, that we must never
compel anyone to pay anything, believe
anything, or conform to anything? The answer,
now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity
itself. At last experience taught us that to
take away any alcoholic's full chance was
sometimes to pronounce his death sentence,
and often to condem him to endless misery.
Who dared to be judge, jury and executioner
of his own sick brother?'

------------ --------- ----

JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER

I remember looking at those words again and again, and they seemed to get larger and
larger.

JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER

JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER

JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER

I hadn't really noticed EXE CUTIONER when I had read it the first time at my 12 & 12
study group. Again I felt so bad for this poor lady. Wow, those words really had a different meaning than when I had read thetraditions before. So here it is, 23 years
later, and each December 7th & 8th, I always think about Irma Livoni, and how lucky I am,
that we have traditions now. I also think of how lucky I was to have met Sybil and so lucky that she appointed herself my sponsor.

Years later I realized how everything she ever taught me was like gold. But in 1984 I had no
idea who Sybil really was or how lucky I was to have her as my sponsor. She was like a
piece of living history, but I really didn't realize how valuable that was in explaining WHY we do some of the things we do (like the story she told me about how they never said
'Hi Sybil' and no one said 'Hi my name is Matt and I'm an alcoholic' back then).

Besides being one of the first women in AA, Sybil was the first woman west of the Missis-
sippi. She also became the head of LA's central office for 12 years, and she became close friends with Bill and Lois. She and Bob even used to go on vacation with them. She used to tell me all sorts of stories about Bill Wilson and things he said to her.

He was very interested in how AA would work for women, as there were very few women
worldwide in AA back in 1941. Marty Mann came in before Sybil did, but very few stayed sober.

I learned that night that no one can get kicked out of AA. We can ask a disturbing wet drunk
that he needs to settle down or we might have to ask him to step outside for that day, but
we don't vote to kick anyone out forever. And we don't shun people because our guidelines,
our traditions tell us that no one has to believe in anything (they don't have to be like me) and they don't have to conform to anything(they don't have to dress a certain way, or have no facial hair, or pay anything). Even if I get drunk again, I am still welcome at any AA meeting.

So that's the story about Irma Livoni. Feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested in knowing a bit about how and why the traditions got started. I think it sort of puts a face on tradition 3: the face of a woman I never knew, who got kicked out of AA. Who got drunk and died.

Thank God for Tradition 3, and thank God for all of you. I truly appreciate and cherish
all the people in this group.

Best AA love to you all.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

Mike NoMoHawk

2008-02-02T00:30:31Z

He's in the hospital guys and can read Tribe. If anyone wants to say hello...

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 6 replies

Marie re-joins the workforce

2008-01-31T04:08:52Z

Our friend Marie, aka Bev, is re-joining the workforce tomorrow. I'm sure she could use words of inspiration, as any time i've more than a couple weeks off it's been a real struggle to get back into the swing of things. If I were her, I would be scared, so anything you've got I'm sure she'd appreciate.

Here are some inspirational quotes about work -

Colleen C. Barrett:
Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.

Colleen C. Barrett:
When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more bricklayers.

Lena Horne:
Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

Rita Mae Brown:
Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.

Thomas Alva Edison:
Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Vince Lombardi:
Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.

Winston Churchill:
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Helen Keller:
I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 19 replies

Spiritually Stuck, Sick or just bored?

2008-01-28T19:25:57Z

Hi all, I dont post much, but lerk around reading them...Sobriety date 1/1/89, I just celebrated a birthday, I stay connected with my sponser, Work with newcomers and go to about 4-5 meetings a week if I need it or not...the thing is...I think I am bored....This, would be when I would tell my sponsees, "red flag"!

I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to...talked about it with my sponser and she says, just keep doing what your doing...it all looks good from the outside, but the inside is screaming..."if I have to hear so and so say this one more time!!~!!!!
Granted, I am froma small community in the Bible Belt, and I get a little skitzy when people start preaching in the meeting, and somtimes remind them we are in a AA meeting,
I am rambling, and really just wondering if any of you who have put some time together have experienced this...Thanks, GIGI

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 24 replies

Amy Winehouse doing her thing! VIDEO

2008-01-25T18:54:27Z

.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article710911.ece

I can hardly understand anything she says except the '...6 valium...' part

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 8 replies

The Mess, not the Message

2008-01-23T21:57:19Z

So There i was, minding my own business at my fairly regular sunday gig when this chick picks up the card I'd laid on the seat next to me and hands it to me. (after it'd been there 5 minutes) She says "I was saving this seat." After looking thoroughly up and down for any kind of saving seat token I respond with, "And i was supposed to know this... psychicly?" and place the card back down. She looks at me in that rich girl way and sneers "my friend's prettier than yours." and I chuckle. "I doubt it but good for her."
In mid-sarcasm I catch the chair person standing up and sitting down again in a motion to which we all know. I lean over to RK and *kinda* whisper (it's a big room) "did she just stand up as a fucking newcomer!??!". He nods and fills me in. Last week this same secretary picked a chair with an axe to grind. He called on all newcomers. ***NONE*** had worked the steps.

Color me spoiled. We went and had sushi instead. I really needed a meeting too. But hey God likes unagi too.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 31 replies

LF recovery desktop tools

2008-01-22T15:06:04Z

hi there! im looking for free online downloads of maybe daily reflections or thoughts... kinda like something that will come up by itself daily automatically (like my weather channel desktop or like a daily horoscope) but for recovery... aa lit, inspirations notes, anything really. thanks...

oh also LF a website with pretty inexpensive but real silver aa or serenity prayer inspired jewlery, bracelets... TY and peace!!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

Drunks On Display

2008-01-19T02:59:41Z

Drunks on Display

hosted by:
Artists and Writers group of AA
We want YOU to perform at the
Talent Show and Benefit for Central Office
Saturday, March 1st at 7:45
If you wish to perform and/or donate cool stuff for a raffle
please contact:
Pete for performances
phone 415.601.2000 or
Bryan for donations
phone 415.336.2784
by Jan 25
12 Performers names will be drawn at the February 1st meeting of Artists and Writers.

Talent Show open to all Painters, Poets, Dancers, Photographers, Ceramicists, Musicians
or whatever your talent is.
Each performance to be 5 minutes in length

Artists and Writers group of AA meets
Fridays 6:30 pm at
All Saints Church
1350 Waller (near Masonic)
San Francisco

I tried to post this as an event but it didn't work.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 0 replies

Cheers

2008-01-17T02:34:37Z

This morning was different. After walking the dog and making a pass by the dumpster to drop off the poop bag I noticed 2 champagne bottles
sitting on the ground just to the left of dumpster. It was dark out and I didn't give it much thought until I got closer and I noticed that had not been popped. I couldn't believe my eyes so I reached down and had a closer look. Sure enough, they were full and unopened. With all my many years sober, my first thought was, no wonder, it was Andre Champagne. Second thought was, someone is going to be very happy when they come across this little freebie. It has been over 2 hours since I saw this and I'm still thinking about it.

Just thought I'd share the secret.

Cheers!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 9 replies

Club House

2008-01-16T16:09:51Z

In the town I live in we are starting a discussion about creating a club house. In some ways I think it would be AWESOME to not be dependent on other places for a meeting room.
However...
The AA around where I live leaves a bit to be desired. Service structure is virtually non existant. And try to discuss the Traditions or try to bring a group conscience to follow the suggestion of the Traditions and you get a TON of resistance.
Has your area established a club house? How did it go? What is your ESH?
Thanks!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 5 replies

Responsible Productive Member of Society

2008-01-15T16:54:52Z

I had a great experience yesterday. I told someone that I did exactly what I had said I was going to do. I got a new job. I've had a tummy ache ever since. As soon as I accepted what appears to be a step up in the direction I want to go, my Loser and Fraud tapes began running. A bunch of others too. I'm turning it over to my hp but so far no luck. I haven't worked in over a year or had alot of face contact and I need to walk in and create relationships with probably 200 or tenants. That is just one thing on the three pages of my job description. My head hurts too. I 'know' that if it's the right place for me I'll be able to step up as needed. I hate starting new jobs, this year especially I don't have the internal fortitude to deal with all the insecurities and other things that arise in a situation like this.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 22 replies

FEAR

2008-01-13T02:26:14Z

Face Everything And Recover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wUe65OfaeI&NR=1

For Steve.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 20 replies

"We Are Not A Glum Lot" ...Or Are We?

2008-01-12T17:22:09Z

What kind of fun have you had in sobriety? I didn't get sober to be miserable. I have fun. "Partying" has a new meaning now. It use to mean getting blotto. Now it means being with friends, good food, music, dancing, even singing. Hikes in the wilderness, walks on the beach, bowling, dog-walking, going to the movies are all more fun with people in the program. What's fun for you (besides the inane "sharing" here on tribe. Oops, my bad!)
Life on life's terms isn't always a blast but I must find some reason to laugh or smile. What floats your boat?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 22 replies

D/L these..

2008-01-11T23:38:40Z

http://silkworth.net/freestuff.html

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 6 replies

NYE

2008-01-04T23:06:05Z

so how did everyone celebrate nye this year?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 11 replies

The Hangover That Lasts

2008-01-03T22:58:17Z

Here's a link to a great article from the NY Times. Thanks Georgia!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/opinion/29steinberg.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

Thank you all for being a part of my 21 years

2008-01-02T16:56:57Z

Hi, I'm an alcoholic, my name is RK, and I've never had it so good!! And thank you all for the kind birthday wishes.

Something interesting just happened at the meeting that I just left. It being Jan 1st, there were several other birthdays in the room. They ranged from 7 yrs to 14 yrs to 17 yrs, and myself with 21 yrs. The previous secretary with 6 yrs and some change was chairing out. He was very well spoken, funny at the right places, sad and choked up at other places and he gave a very nice pitch. He then proceded to call on people that he respected as well as his friends. He made it a point to call one woman with 98 days and another young man with 30 days as the meeting was wrapping up. He also made it obvious that he wasn't going to call on anyone celebrating multiple years of sobriety and he didn't. His axe to grind, so to speak, was to draw attention to the idea that it is much harder to stay sober for 30 days than it is to stay sober for years.

I was asked after the meeting, if A) I was pissed off that I wasn't called upon, and B) if I felt like my pride was leveled by this young man.

I answered no to both of these questions....I actually felt a little sad and not for myself. While I agree, that to the guy with 30 days, 7670 days seems completely unattainable, I felt sad because, I feel a responsibility to that guy and the other newcomers in the room to let them know that it's possible and I felt sad that he didn't get to hear from the 7, 14, & 17 year olds either for the exact same reason. Because they didn't get a chance to fufill their responsibility to carry that message to the newcomers in the room as well as the other people who might be having doubts as to whether they'll make it or not.

For me, in completely selfish terms, it was a freebie, by the end of this week, I will be sick & tired of hearing myself speak, but I have to remember what my first sponsor told me 20 yrs ago, when I thought I was being humble and told him that I didn't want to take any more 1 yr cakes, (something that they do in San Diego)....He told me that they weren't for me, that they were to show others that if I could do this thing, that maybe they could as well.

I want to thank you all again for the good wishes and the fellowship that we enjoy in these tribes, and charge you all with carrying the breakdown of the 12th step with you this year....and this is completely my interpretation. You can do with it what you will...That said...I believe that "Having had a spiritual awakening as THE result of these steps" pertains to the first 11 steps...in other words, having taken them, we get to wake up. In order to have an ongoing spiritual EXPERIENCE, I believe that we need to carry that message to other alcoholics that they too can become spiritually awake, by taking the first 11 steps. And they get to build on that experience by practicing the principles of honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness, humility, brotherly love, justice, perserverance, spirituality, and service, in our daily lives.

I'll leave you with one last coincidence...I find that the more time that I spend in the 12th step, the less time that I have to spend in the first 11.

Happy New Year to you all. In the immortal words of Pete Townsend....

"I've a feeling 21 is going to be a good year, especially if you and me see it in together..."

g'nite

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 4 replies

Since he won't toot his own horn...

2008-01-02T03:49:50Z

Our friend Little Mike is clean and sober 21 years today!!!!!!!!!

Gratz Little Mike

Yay God!

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 16 replies

Are you in town for the holidays?

2008-01-01T00:06:38Z

I'm in and out, I'll try to be at my Sunday meeting, away Monday and back Tuesday night

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 16 replies

New 12 step meeting for kinky folks in SF

2007-12-30T07:53:20Z

On Wednesday Jan. 9 there will be a recovery meeting at the SF Citadel at 1277 Mission St in San Francisco for those involved in the leather/BDSM lifestyle. The time will probably be changed to later soon. i have also started a tribe for announcements for this meeting as well as discussion topics for people that are in recovery and also into kink, it's called the Kinky 12 Steppers, check it out if you haven't already.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 0 replies

It's that time of year again.

2007-12-26T22:57:04Z

12-Step Visit From St. Nicholas

T'was the night before Christmas When I went on a bender,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a bartender.
The empties were stacked by the chimney just fine,
In hopes that St. Nick would fill them with wine.
With Mama in her kerchief and I with my booze,
We'd just settled down for a long winter's snooze.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my drink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I crawled and then stumbled
To open the shutters where I stood and just mumbled.
Then what to my bloodshot eyes should there appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

I thought it was DT's and needed help quick!
I didn't know it was only St. Nick.
I poured myself another as the reindeer came
While he shouted and called them by name:

"Now Barfly! Now Wino! Now Boozer and Rummy!
On Drunkard! On Alky! On Dipso and Dummy!"
So up to the housetop St. Nicholas flew
While I pulled the pop-top on another brew.

I trembled with fear when I heard a new sound--
Down the chimney came St. Nick with a bound.
His cheeks were like roses, he grinned like a possum,
His eyes, how they twinkled, his nose had rum-blossoms!

I offered him a drink, step up to the bar,
"Not today," he said, "I am now so-ber."
He had a clear face and a little beer belly,
That shook when he laughed like a bowl
full of jelly.

This was too much, it increased my thirst.
"Hold it!" said St. Nick, "First things first.
You don't have to drink, easy does it,
Now that wasn't too hard, was it?"

He reached in his sack and with a great fuss
He gave me the book "Alcoholics Anonymous."
"Read this 'Big Book' for a life sublime,
Follow the principles one day at a time.

"This is the best present I can give,
Twelve steps -- a new way to live.
The AA program keeps me sober, it's true."
Then giving a nod, up the chimney he flew.

Then I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
"You now have a choice, starting tonight.
So Merry Christmas to all and to all Season's Greetings,
Don't pick up that first drink, and go to AA meetings!"

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/transitionsdaily/christmas.html

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 12 replies

Ok, so, um...yeah...

2007-12-22T13:10:21Z

I went back and read through every single post in the "Inge" threads after a good nights sleep and a hot cup 'o' mud. I've come to the conclusion that I over-reacted. On second read, I can find little to complain about. It appears the only real asshole on the tribe is GB, actually. However, that is to be expected from him, so I've no hard feelings about it.

So there, I'm over it. Just wanted to let y'all know cuz I'm sure some of you were losing sleep wondering what I thought of you. Rest easy.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 73 replies

Bronze Badge of Courage

2007-12-20T20:14:11Z

What do you do with your chips? Keep them? Carry your latest? Give them to others? Plant them and hope that serenity grows?

I was laughing the other day when Dave said he thought the picture that Inge posted of a chewed up 24hr keychain was pretty neat.

One of my best buddies in AA is sponsored by someone who is sponsored by someone who was sponsored by (I really don't know how many times removed he is) who was sponsored by Bill W. So, anyway, my friend was given a chip that was his sponsors that was his sponsors....and so on....and his sponsor commented about the lineage of it then went on to say , "so don't put a f^cking hole in it an make it into a keychain"

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 11 replies

AA Progress for Women

2007-12-20T16:19:30Z

This is a great story.

http://www.aa-uk.org.uk/alcoholics-anonymous-reviews/2007/11/chandigarhs-first-alcoholics-anonymous.html

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 2 replies

Outside Issues?

2007-12-20T03:54:29Z

Everyone talking about their 'bad months' got me wondering; what constitutes an outside issue to you? The pamphlet 'Problems Other Than Alcohol' http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_pdfs/p-35_ProOtherThanAlcohol.pdf draws heavily from the stories in the 12x12 and when read in it's entirety makes sense yet it barely scratches the surface of 'outside issues' that I know to be very common struggles for us. Bill's story refers to his depressions and drug useage. I find it interesting that after the 1st step alcohol isnt mentioned again in the short form of the steps. The rest focus on spirituality, mental twists and failed relationships of all sorts. It seems appropriate that many of these things would be talked about either with a sponsor or at group level - within reason, for identification purposes. After all, alcohol was but a symptom was it not? How many of us have met that pure alcoholic that dealt with the physical addiction to ethyl alcohol and was genuinely all better.

I guess the question is what defines 'within reason' for each of us...

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 106 replies

Any SF meeting you go to?

2007-12-20T03:40:33Z

I go to Friendly Circle on Sunday nights, 7:15pm

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 18 replies

Troll Free Recovery

2007-12-20T01:31:20Z

come cast your vote. we need a moderator

http://tribes.tribe.net/aa_cheerleaders/thread/e9aa01ed-3b90-46e5-a420-0f66ba2af6f2

RAH-RAH

::shaking pom-poms::

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 1 reply

Bill W. FOUND!!!

2007-12-19T22:28:49Z

I just shipped our software to Bill Wilson in Billings Montana where he is alive and well and writing pesticide recommendations.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 6 replies

LIVING SOBER NEW YEARS DANCE December 31st

2007-12-19T04:21:11Z

For all of us who will be fortunate to wake up WITHOUT a hangover on January 1, DJ Robbie Martin will be spinning for the LIVING SOBER FUNDRAISING DANCE at the HARVEY MILK ACADEMY AUDITORIUM from 9PM-2AM. If you are seeking sobriety or would like to start your new year off with a SOBER BANG, come out and experience sober fellowship at this New Years event. Of course there is a $15 requested donation, but absolutely no one will be turned away. DJ Robbie Martin has a special set in store with a disco countdown/Auld Lang Syne... Theres an AA/AL-ANON meeting at 7:30 and the dance starts at 9.
HARVEY MILK ACADEMY AUDITORIUM 4235 19th Street (corner of 19th Street & Collingwood), San Francisco

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 12 replies

You people are "alcoholics," you say...

2007-12-19T02:07:04Z

And for this reason, you are now also proud Cult Members with little or no ability to think for yourselves! Way to go!

Bill Wilson was a deluded, insane man who wrote a book full of contradictory nonsense. Your collective allegiance to this madness is probably damn near as detrimental to yall's sanity than drinking ever was. But hey.... even the members of "Heaven's Gate" died sober, I guess - so that must make it alright. Right?

Jeeeeeez.....

Is there a 12-step program for people addicted to 12-step programs? Look into it, some of you zealots...

My unsolicited advice: Start thinking for yourselves again, look at what your addictions REALLY mean to you (not to the group) and rejoin the ranks of the living....you are not nearly as sick as AA would have you think you are. Really now. I bet a good many of you could benefit from a nice glass of chardonnay and a total reassesment of your AA-cult membership.

Inge

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 213 replies

Think... Think... Think...

2007-12-16T23:37:43Z

Went to two kickass 12 step meetings this morning.
At the first one someone was chosen the week before to pick today's BB reading. The entire reading was "Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles." (p62) Then the discussion opened.
One fella shared that the pursuit of self-awareness is not the same thing as self-centeredness or selfishness. Made sense to me. The more self-aware I become the more I seem to be able to show up for others. That's how it works for me.
At the same meeting a guy said when he was doing his 4th step he told his sponsor one of his biggest problems was that he was a people-pleaser. His sponsor said, "Let's ask the people on your 4th step about that." LOL
At the 2nd meeting I went to the speaker was a woman with 13 months. She spoke with an amazing amount of emotional maturity even though she shared about going thru the same denial and doubts and emotional rollercoaster rides a lot of us do.
She spoke about serenity and contentment ... as states of mind. And of happiness as a (transitory) feeling. Whew!
None of this is neccessary for sobriety. Just don't drink today.
But to me these experiences are the sweet nectar of recovery, they are my bliss.
I don't care how weird that sounds it's true.
They remind me that I'm a spiritual being having a human experience.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 3 replies

The MOST perplexing cliche in AA

2007-12-16T22:26:30Z

It's a mystery, wrapped in an enigma. It's the ubiquitous http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/76e/41b/76e41beb-4228-4a05-ae22-2a83293aac3c But what does it mean to you?

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 41 replies

All In Favor Of Shannon A Moderator....

2007-12-15T08:02:36Z

say aye.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 50 replies

ok, s now what

2007-12-14T23:12:19Z

so i just went into the settings and set it to notify me when someone new joins. inge has bee removed again by tribe for the 3rd time. i guess we'll see if he tries again.

carry on with what ever you like.....

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 24 replies

Overheard in a meeting:

2007-12-14T20:58:42Z

"At my first meeting, I said I had no money.
A man gave me a Big Book for free and said, 'Here, if you're lucky,
that's the last thing you'll get on your own terms.'"

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 0 replies

ATENTION SHOPPERS!

2007-12-14T19:15:24Z

Inge has unsubscribed. Film at 11:00pm.

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 16 replies

Aren't you glad..

2007-12-14T18:14:42Z

that mornings like this are a thing of the past? ;o)
-----------------------------------------------------------

How to Rate a Hangover

Only those who have been there can identify with this.........

One Star Hangover (*)
No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a steak & fries.

Two Star Hangover (**)
No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM, Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.

Three Star Hangover (***)
Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive. Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke --- yet you haven't peed once.

Four Star Hangover (****)
Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. (For the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars.) Your eyes look like one big red vein, and even your hair hurts. Your sphincter is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.

Five Star Hangover(*****)
You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to defecate results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare 'floater' thrown in. The sole purpose of this 'floater' seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your butt. Death sounds pretty good about right now....

posted in Friends of Bill W. - 7 replies