Bimm

Welcome back, Van. I was wondering where you offed to.

Darren, good job not drinking. Today you get to once again be your own hero.

Tonight ,we're going out to dinner with another couple to my favorite "local" German restaurant. Well it is the only German restaurant and it is a 35 mile drive. It's tough to drag my butt out of the comfy house on these cold evenings.

Looks like it will warm up over the next few days, so it will be an opportunity to hike up the hill and check out the upper meadow and pastures...I love it up there as it is so peaceful.

Stay sober and stay in touch.

Tres

Just checking in. Doing great. I have a busy weekend.

Singing tomorrow for two services at the church. I have no clue what the songs are. We practice beforehand, thank goodness.

Mom is here, she is wonderful.

Dee74

bearing up guys

D

InParticular

Holy crap, it's crunch time again. Got a big deadline coming up in FIVE DAYS, AAAAHHHH!

Dee74

you can do it IP

D

InParticular

Thanks Dee! I was up late last night, was out filming, and up early this morning, after four hours' sleep, because I woke up thinking about the damn project. I'm going in to the lab today to take all the film I've shot for the last four weeks and put it all together. I have to make it into a multimedia website complete with text, three videos and photos, and probably a timeline. And links to other websites and documents, etc. Eek!

Tres

Stay strong IP, and you will persevere!

Long day of singing. I sang at two services and an extra evening practice... I am exhausted. I must say we sound pretty good. I lip synced some of the words this morning.... We could not use our music folders..

It's nice to use my voice again. I couldn't do this when I was drinking. I am meeting some great people who don't drink at all. They seem much happier than the drinkers that I have known...

Bimm

Good morning everyone.

As I mentioned earlier, we went to the German Restaurant on Saturday with another couple. The food was very good and I had a good time. I was a bit put out that the woman took a couple of phone calls (definitely non-emergency) during the evening and was constantly fidgeting with her smartphone. What's with dat? I found it kinda annoying.

Tres-I wish I could sing. I do, but people tell me I shouldn't!

IP-Your gig sounds like fun, but I'm sure it may not seem like it at times.

Our weather should be relatively warm for the next few days, so I do need to make the effort to get up off by fat butt and go outside.

Marine28

Took my friend to the airport a little while ago. She came down to visit and help me get settled. Found a great beach about 6 miles away. Will be frequenting that place. Still looking for a golf buddy, so need to checkout some courses soon.
A few weeks here solo and then my Mom is coming for a visit for three weeks. Everyone wants to visit when you have a place in Florida!

InParticular

In the middle of a mini sh*t-storm at school! But it's under control, for once.
Tres you are so lucky you can sing. I always wanted to but have the most embarrassing singing voice. I never do it.

Can't believe you're beaching it, Marine. Envious!!!!

How was the Kasserole Klub this month Bimm?

Bimm

Just a quick check-in.

IP-The KK went well and the new format where the host provides the entire meal, seems to work better. Much more like a dinner club than what previously could best be described as a frat party.

One of my old wine drinking buddies will be in town this weekend for the World Cyclo-Cross Championships (participants have to be certifiable crazy). He'll bring a lot of wine to drink and that is OK as my wife enjoys his company.They can drink the wine and I'll sip a cranberry juice and enjoy the conversations.

I have been thinking I need a vacation, but no idea where or what to do. I'll need to give it some thought.

Tres

Doing fine here. I am enjoying my mom. She is so much fun. I took today and tomorrow off. Shopping and enjoying the time together.

Loving my sober life!

Marine28

Kind of down tonight, but doing okay. Just popping in to say hi. Glad you are enjoying your Mom, Tres.

Vantrina

Hi Everyone,
Hi Ninjas,

Crazy week at work, had a major project due and although I really enjoyed working on it, I'm glad the crazy hours are over.

Have reconnected with two old friends over the past two weeks, which is really nice and much needed. My not drinking was met with respect, which was refreshing.

Tres, glad you are enjoying your mom. That's nice.

InPartic, wow, your work sounds interesting. Sounds like you are creating the whole package, which is a lot, but is also interesting. You'll get it done. Bet it is great when you get into your creative zone…

Bimm, thinking that is a good set up where your friend & your wife can enjoy some wine and you can enjoy your cranberry. Reading that made me think that cranberry would be a good alternative to the splash of pomegranate soda I've been adding to my Pellegrino lately.

Marine, six miles to the beach sounds great to me. Hope you are having a better night tonight. Some nights are meant to just be quiet and to allow us to hang. Which is exactly what I'm doing.

Vantrina

Super Bowl Anyone?

Looking forward to the SuperBowl tomorrow.

I really don't care so much about the game...at least right now I don't. I'm more concerned about the pulled pork and the nachos & chicken wings & commercials. lol. (Monday I begin my spring diet. )We are staying home tomorrow, but it should be fun

What are some of your fav SuperBowl foods? Although I'm all about the chicken wings, my ultimate #1 favs are the nachos w/melted cheese, salsa, peppers, & chill or some combo of that.

What about fav SuperBowl commercials? I still love the DarthVader car commercial…was that last year? Cracked me right up. Please let this year's commercials be clever!

Fav SuperBowl performance? I'm going with Bruce, and year's back, Miss Diana Ross.

What will your beverage of choice be tomorrow? I'm going to go with either a seltzer with a heavy hit of pomegranate or cranberry OR a seltzer with the juice of a freshly squeezed half a lemon. Looking forward to it.

Any one else?

Marine28

I decided that with only 84 days under my belt it is best to stay away from the bars and parties and am not one for watching football at home anyway. A new non- drinker friend asked me to go to the casino with her and they have simulcast horse racing which I enjoy. Back to the game.....

I do like to see the commercials and also like the Darth Vader one and the Clydesdale horses after 9/11. Haven't had nachos in years, maybe it's time to get some tonight. I always like chips and salsa and mini tacos.

Drink of choice is going to be diet coke while at the casino and seltzer water with cranberry at home. Like the idea of the half lemon...will have to try that.

InParticular

I have never watched a Super Bowl. Maybe with my dad years ago when I was at home but I just don't have the attention span to sit and watch a sports game-any sports game for that matter.
We have the Davis Cup in town right now which is the Canadian top tennis men again the top Spanish. I have the opportunity to go the the game today. Probably won't though.
Finished my mini-doc yesterday FINALLY after so much messing around with file formatting and uploading, UGH. Now it's on to project #2 which I am going to do on bullying. It is a very big topic here as a 15 year old girl hanged herself a few months ago after online and at school bullying. She posted a video on youtube before she did it, so sad. Google Amanda Todd. People are beginning to take action which is so good-bullying is a shameful aspect of our society and has been tolerated for far too long.

Bimm

IP- Congrats on finishing your doc. I'm glad you are doing a piece on bullying. It has started to get some attention of late, but it is a topic that has been ignored for far too long. I'll bore you with a bit of my personal history and I'm not saying everyone should try this is or is capable of doing this:

I grew up in NYC and the walk to and from school for a 9 year old could be challenging. There always seemed to be someone waiting to terrorize you en route. My brilliant solution was to walk along to school with the biggest kid in the neighborhood. In theory this was a great idea as it fended off any of the other kids from messing with me...did I mention I was puny for my age back then? The problem was that my walkmate would also pick on me and knock me around. One day, I remember this as plain as day, he started pushing me around and I guess I was having a bad day, so I just sort of instictively closed my fist and delivered a solid punch to his nose. I surprised myself as I had never punched anyone before. As my punch landed, I remember thinking "oh ****", he's gonna kill me. Instead of killing me, he just stood there dumbfounded that some little pipsqueak had the b@lls to smack him. Then when he realized that blood was splatted all over his fat face from his broken nose, he started bawling like a 2 year old. He never messed with me again. Over the years, I got pretty good with my fists to the point bigger kids left me alone for the most part.
I'm a very non-violent adult, but sometimes bullies just need to be exposed for the insecure cowards they are.

Vantrina

Bimm, well said, "Sometimes bullies have to be exposed for the cowards they are…" Never understood the psychology of putting so much energy into making another person so miserable, you know?

InPartic, congrats on finishing your documentary. Online & other forms of bullying is widespread. Back in the day, if someone was bullied, it was kept within a small group; now, one push of the "send" button and hundreds, if not thousands of people can be involved…I find that both frightening and heartbreaking. I will google that young woman's name.

Just back from the gym, have decided to support San Fran since I love that city. (I actually get bored watching the entire game too!) As I mentioned earlier, I'm all about the food and the commercials.

Have a good & sober night everyone.

Tres

Funny this year I don't know care to watch the game. I am surprised that my daughter is more interested than me. I do enjoy the commercials. I loved the taco Bell ad with the old folks.

Big party day in our neighborhood. The annual Chili cook off. I was a judge. I think I missed my calling in life.. It was so much fun... And I love Chili. There were 12 entries.

Of course every one is drinking at this event. I know you won't be surprised when I say that my husband stumbled in at kickoff time. Ate, passed out in bed, then threw up all over about 15 minutes later. The now the bedroom reeks... Yuc.. I will be sleeping in the spare bedroom. Good thing my mom left this morning.

He had been doing pretty good for a while, but we all know how that goes..

So sad about bullying. I was teased but I guess not to any extreme extent. Plus our electronic age spreads words so quickly.

Bimm, good for you on kicking that kids butt.

The game is pretty boring so off to bed for me.