TOPIC: Touching Base. Keeping In Touch. How Are You Doing?

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by BillJ

As for geezerhood...

We have our conversation about geezerhood, and this shows up in Sunday's funnies pages:

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by sticker

my sponser taght me the #1 rule for being in a relationship with another person in recovery...her programs none of my bussiness, and mine is none of hers. We keep our recovery seperate..go to different meeting and it has been the best thing i have learned..we both have a strong recover witch does indeed bring a happy home

It is absolutely imperative to stay outta yer mate's program, whether she's Alanon, Narconon, makes no difference. Aint none of you gonna let me work yalls program-right? Then what gives anyone the right to work their significant others program?

Done with that rant-thanks.

I aint gonna argue with my Canadian bro. But I'd give him bloody hell if I were listenin to "Holy Wars-The Punishment Due". By brother Dave M. That guitar lead-in in the middle blows my skirt up somethin fierce, I may not catch ya, but I'd make ya twist the wick!

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

I may not catch ya, but I'd make ya twist the wick!

Cut from the same bolt of cloth, my Brother.....

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Cut from the same bolt of cloth, my Brother.....

Ya think the Good Lord woulda let two of the same kinda miscreants as us slip past Him? That means we must have a purpose here! Love ya bro!

[aasharon90]

Happy Monday to you Bikers in Recovery.

I wrote this morning on here but for some
strange reason I lost it due to computer
problems.

Today was my day off from the bakery.

I made a quick trip to the Harley store to
purchase my first Harley decal for my back
car window.


This sticker will reflect very good when head
lights hit it at night....and sunlight during the
day.

I then went to a birthday meeting not far from
me, a meeting I havent made in about a month.

Today I am overall in a good place. Always checking
to see where I am mentally, emotionally, physically,
spiritually in my program. In other words.... H.A.L.T.

Hungry Angry Lonely Tired and R.I.D....Restless Irr-
itable and Discontent.

It's amazing that when i dont make a meeting on a regular
bases how uncomfortable I feel inside.....it
doesnt take long for me to get completely aggivated
with people, places and things.

For example....a girl at work who is in one of those
extensive rehab programs for a yr or so, has been
loud and abnoxious and has cause me to reach
my limit with her.....

I shushed her the other day for talking too loud
and i copped a resentment big time.....

Well....i talked it out with a fellow member,
made a meeting and returned the next day and
gave the girl several hugs and explained to
her my situation with her.....

Now all is cool. Whew..!

I can u what....life without some kind of
recovery program would surely drive me
to drink at times.

Life without recovery can be a b****
sometimes....right?

Now on a lighter note...

My friend and I went for a spin
yesterday driving along the country
roads foloowing the levee then taking
a trip across the Mississippi River on
the ferry boat.....soooo cool.....

I just love escaping work and people
and noise and just enjoying the excitement
of bike riding......

[aasharon90]

Hi Im sharon and Im an Alcoholic.

By the Grace of my HP and people
like you here in SR I havent found it
necessary to pick up a drink of
alcohol since 8-11-90.

For that and you I am truely
grateful.


Hi Bikers in recovery. It's been
awhile since I last shared here.

Hmmmm....sounds similar to what
Id say to the Priest when I went
to confession as a little child.

Id like to say that there's not
much going on with me at the
moment....but that wouldnt be
exactly true.

In recovery we all go thru different
stages of change. When we first
get sober, we r like infants just
being born. We depend on others
to carry us and feed us food for
thoughts. We need the proper
nutrition to help us grow and
mature each step of the way.

Im going thru more changes even
with the number of yrs sobriety
I have. Changes is not always
easy and as we know most of
us dont like change and we dont
like the pain and discomfort we
bare when we go thru those
changes.

Today Im applying the tools of
recovery that was so freely passed
on to me to help me go thru my
divorce.

Ive been separated from my spouse
for over a yr now and we live in
different states. At the moment we
r in the negotiation stage. No
verbal communication...just emails.

So things r less complicated and
completely civil.

It's so good to have a program to
fall back on when things arise in
our lives to help keep emotions
in check.

I know that in a few months the
strings from my 25 yr marriage will
be cut and I will finally be free.

Freedom from the bondage and
I will soon know another new freedom.

My only hope is that the grieving
process won't last too long.

Im sooooo looking forward to
living many more yrs. one day
at a time happy joyous and free.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

Freedom from the bondage and
I will soon know another new freedom.

My only hope is that the grieving
process won't last too long.

Im sooooo looking forward to
living many more yrs. one day
at a time happy joyous and free.

Thanks for dropping by, Sharon. Got to thinking about some of the regulars at this site, and who was missing, and your name came to mind.

Although no marriage of mine ever lasted anything like 25 years (except the marriage to my bike, of course) I do have some E, S & H about divorce. In my case, once I snapped out of the blue funk I was mired in, there was a certain process I had to go through. I had to examine my loss and grief, and do inventory work on it, but I also had to work with a counselor to get some of the really deep stuff cleared up.

That accomplished two things. I was able to acknowledge what went wrong and close the book on my broken marriage, and (even though I had no idea at the time) start getting ready for the marriage I'm in today - the healthiest and longest-lived relationship I've ever had.

[aasharon90]

Thanks Bill.....I appreciate ur ESH.

With everything swimming around in
both of my friends head and mine
yesterday, we decided to shut it
all down and just ride.

We pulled ourselves together
and cranked up the bike and off
we drove to the Harley Store
in the next town.

Driving the long way around
and just admiring the scenery
was relaxing....Blue skies followed
us there and back....so awesome...

On our way back we drove the
interstate.......loved it....fast
as much as the speed limit would
allow.....

The open road with wind in our
faces is totally exillerating. It
allows u to escape whatever
bothers you.

However, when the bike stops
and we hop off then we return
to reality....the everyday drama
of life.Sometimes good and
sometimes not.

At the moment im in limbo......

I am wanting to hurry up to end
my marriage and presently have
a good friendship with someone
in recovery. Without airing out
personal laundry in public, we have
many of the same interest....

Most is our recovery, faith and
love for the open road on a
bike.

The small nit picking things
do get the best of us just
as in any new relationship,
however we remain positive
openminded and willing to
talk things out.

It's not always easy because
im one of those that clams
up and wants to remain silent
instead of speaking whats on
my mind.

What makes it worst is the moods
we get ourselves in that is some
times unexplainable. Is it hormones
for us women that drives anyone
crazy.....or is it the mans mood
that wants him to escape to his
own cave....

Crazy crap like that can drive any
relationship or marriage insane.

Anyway...im just rambling....

With keeping FIRST THINGS FIRST....

Taking care of my disease and
following the principles of recovery
step by step allows us to face
any situation with calm and ease....

Hopefully........

Just want to ride and live life
HAPPY JOYOUS AND FREE.

Thanks for letting me share.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

The open road with wind in our
faces is totally exillerating. It
allows u to escape whatever
bothers you.

However, when the bike stops
and we hop off then we return
to reality....the everyday drama
of life.Sometimes good and
sometimes not.
........................................

What makes it worst is the moods
we get ourselves in that is some
times unexplainable. Is it hormones
for us women that drives anyone
crazy.....or is it the mans mood
that wants him to escape to his
own cave....

Being on the bike is more than momentary escape for me. It's meditation. It helps clear my mind of worthless BS, and remember what I'm really about: staying sober and being of service. When I drop the kickstand I'm in much better shape to face "the everyday drama" with a cool head and an open heart.

I'm blessed that my wife gets that. She understands that there's something spiritual about riding - that it fills my cup in ways nothing else can - and so encourages me to ride when I'm able.

The upside for her is I'm probably a bit easier to be around when I have a few bugs in my teeth!

As for moods: it seems well-established that men and women, in general, process things much differently. In our marriage, Jackie wants to talk things over, and I want to hide out 'til I can figure out what's bugging me, and how best to say it.

From watching numerous Oprah and Dr. Phil shows, I gather our routines are pretty typical of the species. However, because we love each other, we strike compromises, situation-to-situation, and learn to better ask for what we need and want.

It seems to work pretty well.

[aasharon90]

That's some good ESH there Bill J.

I agree that there is something more
than just sitting on a bike and riding....

When im riding behind my friend ....im
the passenger....maybe one day soon
i'll be riding solo...mainly because i
have the desire to....

Anyway....i have the luxury at the
moment to just enjoy the view and
not have to worry about running into
things.

No seriously....With blue skies above
us....i just gaze up in awe ....
In fact yesterday i spotted a bill
board sign with the picture of Jesus
on it with a saying....hmmmm....
something like....u can talk to Him
today,,,,He listens.....

And i just smiles and looked
above to the heavens and said,
I Love you Jesus over and over
again..... Sooooo Awesome.....

I love the outdoors....nature....
the beauty provided to us to
enjoy..admire....appreciate.....


Ok..enough of that gooey show
of emotions....

[aasharon90]

Now about friendships....relationships....

Both my friend and i have been in
long term marriages....one 25 and
the other 35....we both were married
to normal spouses....non-alcoholics.

Now here we r 2 alcoholics in recovery
with a new beginning for both of us....

The thing is neither one of us has ever
had a relationship with another in
recovery,,,,,this is all new to us.....

So how does 2 alcoholics manage to
co-exist together.

2 people with set ways of life....we
both are independant people....wanting
it our own way....we both want to be
in charge.....but we do know that in
any relationship there has to be a give
take....an understanding...a respect....

And most of all a recovery program to
live by.....to guide us....

We r both at stages in our life where
all we want is simplicity....no stress....
just fun, adventure....living life on
lifes terms.....

We both have been there done that
kind of stuff in our past and now we
want to be happy joyous and free....

Communication is my biggest obstical...
im one to get quiet and avoid confrontation
for the moment until ive had time
to think on it....or fester....then
ill bring it out in the open.....of course
we both feel much better.

Then i think....lifes too short to have to
go thru all this again....why cant
life with others be simple.....

Well it can be as long as we keep
in mind....life is a journey of
many one days at a time....
ever remaining teachable....

Right?

[aasharon90]

Coffee in hand, a new day...work....
some VH1 to listen to....made a meeting
yesterday....life is grand.....

Graditude....grateful for my recovery.

What are you grateful today?

It's amazing how fine life is when
we have a program of recovery to
follow. Meeting to go to to reconnect.

It's like a life line....When we go thru
our everyday life and you need to
get refueled ...just like our car getting
low on gas, we go to the fill up so
we dont get stranded.....so it is
with recovery,,,,we begin to get
low in our recovery fuel and we
need to fill up to continue on our
journey.

Yesterday I went to my noon
meeting....and most of the time
im all dressed up fashionably,
reserved...however I decided to
go comfortable in where I am
in life.....

I wore my Harley black shirt, jeans,
boots and accessories.....brought
my tray of goodies for service work.

I was comfortable allowing others
to see me out of my comfort zone...
and you know what....i was still
treated with much respect as before.....

So the clothes and fluff doesnt change
who u really r....its the joy and fullfillment
you recieve in ur recovery program.

It's being grateful for the new changes
in ur new life, new meaning, new
direction....always staying connected
to ur recovery lifeline.

Today life in recovery is grand.

Riding to live...living to ride....
even if im just the passenger
at the moment.

[aasharon90]

Hello Bikers in recovery.....

Where is a good place to look
at Harley or Biker tatoos?


While waiting on my divorce
to be completed, Im getting
excited about taking the riding
course to learn how to ride
solo on my friends Sportster.

The Sportster will be fixed up
for me to ride....maybe some
pink color here and there and
more chrome.....

Also....neither of us have ever
had tattoos.....so the question
is....where can i find Harley
or biker tattoos? Maybe roses
or hearts....Eagles....

Im thinking a pretty Harley rose
tattoo would be feminine enough
for lady on her new recovery
adventure.