[groovemongrel]

I am not saying give up seeing live bands. I didn't give up seeing live music but I did give myself a break. My priorities were my recovery first because if I didnt have that I wouldn't have anything else.

What I really meant to say is that if your are feeling squirelly about going figure out what your priorities are.

I have seen newcombers not take the advise of an oldtimer with many different results. You may or may not get high tonight, or it may trigger something that gets you high tomorrow or next week. Or you can find out that going to a show straight may actually be an awakening for you that you can notice things that you didnt notice before when you were numb.

But like I said if you are feeling squirelly you are not obligated, there will be many many more shows to see later in your recovery.

Whatever you do, I wish you the best.

Thanks Jackr. I'm totally committed to my sobriety and really confident of sticking to it. There will be no cheating at all.

[groovemongrel]

Just to keep this thread for what it was intended, I've decided to post the 12 Steps for anybody who is curious.

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

[groovemongrel]

BTW, clean and sober since 4/87. And currently active in NA.

Congrats... coming up on 21 years.. your sobriety is of legal age...lol

seems I picked up where you left off, I started in 84 but by 4/87 had really reached my full potential. probably know some of the same people. The circle of dope fiends on tour stayed rather close (if only in proximty ..)

joe

Thanks, broomhead. 21 years, that's awesome. Congrats to you.

[jackr]

Congrats... coming up on 21 years.. your sobriety is of legal age...lol

Maybe I should celebrate - NOT!

seems I picked up where you left off, I started in 84 but by 4/87 had really reached my full potential. probably know some of the same people. The circle of dope fiends on tour stayed rather close (if only in proximty ..)

joe

By 82 I had stopped touring, my addiction had full hold of me and I was in a bad way. I was a slave to herion and other drugs. I only saw local shows.

[groovemongrel]

It is OUR responsibility as "Men (Or ladies) to be righteous brothers and support those that need us. Call it Karma, call it the Golden Rule, call it what you will, Life is about helping others, the rewards you reap will far out-weigh the sacrifices you make to help others.

I'll get out of the pulpit now, and I apologize in advance for my Rant.
.... It is not just a nifty, hip, Grateful Dead-ish way to end my rants but a true way to live, so with that....
PEACE,
Phil

Excellent stuff, Phil. Personally, it's Jesus Christ that has saved me from my addictions. Pretty much alcohol, pot and coke were my big hang ups. Knowing that he forgives my sins and gives me strength to withstand daily temptation is just amazing to me. Peace to you.

Jamie

[amyjared]

I am very impressed by you folks. I was always glad to see the Wharf Rats at shows and even traveled from NC to Alpine Valley with a crew. I was excited that people could separate the addiction from the show and still enjoy the band. So, to all of you, congratulations and keep it up!

[Rev_Roach]

I called their website bogus because is has a bogus message board feature and its got no traffic at all. I figured there'd be more people connected, that all. Relax.

I didn't realize if you where you were coming from. Saying "whats with these bogus ass wharf rats" or "the website sucks how can i find people" are two very different things, and thats why i added the shit in parentheses. im glad to see which way you intended, and wish you good luck with everything. have a good clean time if you decide to go tonight.


PS - just out of curiousity, anyone here have/had pill issues? I thankfully have never got onboard the H train, but have spent way too much time with OsCar and continue to struggle (today marks one good week and im particularly glad that i managed to avoid on a lonely valentines day).

[groovemongrel]

I am very impressed by you folks. I was always glad to see the Wharf Rats at shows and even traveled from NC to Alpine Valley with a crew. I was excited that people could separate the addiction from the show and still enjoy the band. So, to all of you, congratulations and keep it up!

Thanks Amy! I actually had to call my exwife who I used to go to shows with cause her names Amy and our son's name is Jared. She's not in Oregon, though but I didn't catch that one lol.

[Rev_Roach]

I called their website bogus because is has a bogus message board feature and its got no traffic at all. I figured there'd be more people connected, that all. Relax.

I didn't realize if you where you were coming from. Saying "whats with these bogus ass wharf rats" or "the website sucks how can i find people" are two very different things, and thats why i added the shit in parentheses. im glad to see which way you intended, and wish you good luck with everything. have a good clean time if you decide to go tonight.


PS - just out of curiousity, anyone here have/had pill issues? I thankfully have never got onboard the H train, but have spent way too much time with OsCar and continue to struggle (today marks one good week and im particularly glad that i managed to avoid on a lonely valentines day).

[groovemongrel]

I didn't realize if you where you were coming from. Saying "whats with these bogus ass wharf rats" or "the website sucks how can i find people" are two very different things, and thats why i added the shit in parentheses. im glad to see which way you intended, and wish you good luck with everything. have a good clean time if you decide to go tonight.


PS - just out of curiousity, anyone here have/had pill issues? I thankfully have never got onboard the H train, but have spent way too much time with OsCar and continue to struggle (today marks one good week and im particularly glad that i managed to avoid on a lonely valentines day).

Thanks Rev. I never had a pill problem but a family member did. Keep fighting the good fight. Have you checked into NA to help? You'll be glad you did if you're trying to quit taking those evil pills.

[jackr]

Pill problem - Guilty. Mostly tuanols and secanols (barbituates) and vicodin.

I got off them by going to herion. Not strongly reccomended

Pills can be as bad if not worse then anything and just as hard to kick. Very very dangerous.

[BuddhaG]

Rev_Roach, Its good to hear that you have been feeling in control recently. I had a good friend in high school who got into lighter PKs and soon moved to oxycontin and then H due to cheap price and probably something about the IV delivery.

It was really sad to watch the downward slide into addiction... he stopped enjoying the things that used to bring him the most joy and became a very compulsive person, often doing ridiculous or dangerous things for no apparent reason.

In short, he became almost unbearable to hang out with at a time where he most needed the help of his friends.

I am very happy and proud to say that he is on his way to rebuilding his life and regaining the ideals and goals he once held as important elements in his life. He has been clean since July 2007 and is inifinitely more happy and thinking positively about the future.

Doing drugs to numb your senses does not make negative feelings go away. Finding your connection with the world and people around you and feeling a purpose in your daily activities is the way to clear conscience. I hope I am not preaching... this is just what I have found in my short 20 years of experience as a living breathing person.

Stay strong, Brothers.

[broomhead]

Doing drugs to numb your senses does not make negative feelings go away. Finding your connection with the world and people around you and feeling a purpose in your daily activities is the way to clear conscience. I hope I am not preaching... this is just what I have found in my short 20 years of experience as a living breathing person.

Stay strong, Brothers.

That's a great statement, doing drugs absolutely does not make the bad feelings go away, only delays and compounds them.

Heroin (and i suppose other drug) addicts, are notorious for " just one more time" "If I just do this today I'll kick tomorrow" and with 100% faith believe it. It's a great argument for something misfiring in the brain of an addict. A popular rehab quote is, "if every time you walked in the road you got hit by a car, how many times would you walk in the road looking for a different result?" it wouldn't take me long.. Yet somehow I must have had a dozen real relapses after being clean long enough that i wasnt sick, each time thinking it would be different. It just doesnt work. I've been an addict in a half dozen major cities = didn't work. An addict on dead tour = really didn't work, A broke addict, a rich addict = didn't work.

I know this is WAY out there and probably has no meaning to anyone, but one of the strangest things that motivated me to want to really try to get clean, more than my family, friends or education. The thing that totally hit me was; One day as I was waiting in line at a cumberland farms to buy smokes or something. Dope sick on a sunday morning (every addicts least favorite day of the week, next to holidays...lol). In front of me was this freshly showered guy, just shaved, hair wet and smelled of clean. He was around my age and was buying orange juice and the Sunday times. He was in a brand new grey sweat suit w/new white sneakers. He looked so rested and peaceful. It was sunday and he was going to go home and enjoy a relaxing day, while another day of hell was just begining for me. The thought of taking care of myself again of having the time and energy to shower and put something clean on, moving slowely looked so inviting.

So, now whenever I wonder what I'm doing putting around on this little island, or dealing w/the absurdities of my kids, I know it's so much better than that race. Soooo much.

[groovemongrel]

That's a great statement, doing drugs absolutely does not make the bad feelings go away, only delays and compounds them

Indeed. Its been said that these kinds of character defects are just self defeating attempts to satisfy unmet needs. I've found it very helpful to go to therapy to find the root of the problem and begin to cut at it, rather than hacking away at the leaves.

BTW, I did stay completely alcohol and drug free for the show Friday. Well, other than the 2nd hand pot smoke in the venue

[strumminsix]

I know it's a little late but Wharf Rats were out at the Chicago shows.

Still great people after all these years...