2016 - In Review - UPDATED

Well... so much to discuss.


2016 started out with me being drunk a lot of the time.  I nearly ruined my marriage early on and spent the entirety of January at my parent's house.  On the plus side, I was able to attend multiple meetings down the street in Streamwood.  Fat lot of good that did, as when I was allowed to come back home, I went straight back to my old ways.


I attended an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for the next few weeks or so... and that went fairly well for a brief while, before, yet again, my nasty habit poked its head through.  I got sent to In Residence therapy for nearly a month, where it was sort of a men in prison atmosphere, but I was at least in a place on people also suffering from the same disease.


Once out, I was immediately put back into IOP with the guy who pretty much saved my life.  Ignatius.  I returned to his room/class/sessions and it was different that time around.  I was back in multiple meetings, I got a really good sponsor, and once IOP was done I attended After Care.  While I "wish" I could say After Care was as much of a success... I felt myself wanting more.  2016 didn't end well with my After Care therapist (as can be read here) and I am in line to find a new provider in 2017.


Apart from that stuff... I've been doing exceptionally well.  I've found some meetings that are conducive to me.  I've made some decent friends.  I've got a job... (working on improving that one!)  And, I'm not nearly as emotional as I used to be.  Considering the losses we've suffered in 2016... that is a marvel in and of itself.


I was going to do a gallery of celebs we lost in 2016... but I don't think Blogger would allow that many photos inserted into a post... so... I will just briefly go over some of the losses here:


OH MY STARS... where to begin?!?  These are in no order, but commentary will follow:


Pat Harrington  (Schneider on One Day at a Time.)  A common face growing up.
David Bowie!  (An idol.  That hurt!"
Alan Rickman!  (Another idol.  That hurt too.)
Dan Haggerty (Gizzly Adams.)  Not a huge fan, but he was a part of childhood.
Glen Frey!  (Wow!  I didn't even know he was sick!)
ABE VIGODA!  (He was supposed to be Celebrity Eternal!)
George Gaynes  (If you saw Police Academy you know him!)
George Kennedy (If you saw Airplane/Naked Gun... you know him!)
Nancy Reagan.  (Not a fan of her husband's term(s)... but still...)
Garry Shandling!  (Shocker!  Great comedian!)
Patty Duke
Prince (Not exactly his biggest fan...but wow!  That was a shocker!)
Morley Safer (TEXTBOOK anchor back in school!)
Muhammed Ali (THE GREATEST!)
Noel Neill (The original Lois Lane from early television.  She also cameoed in Christopher Reeves' first film and Brandon Routh's film.)
Gene Wilder  (How many idols can one lose in  a year?!  Too many!)
Robert Vaughan (Met him.  Got a photo with him.  Nicest actor ever!)
Arnold Palmer
Florence Henderson (America's mom!)
Fidel Castro (Not America's dad!!)
Janet Reno
Fritz Weaver (Character actor.  Did a lot of Twilight Zones and the best single story in the movie Creepshow "The Crate".)
Ron Glass (Two Barney Miller people in one year!  GASP!)
Van Williams!  (The Green Hornet... oh, C'MON!)
John Glenn (American Hero Supreme!)
Alan Thicke (I suppose we can call him America's (Canada's?) dad)
Bernard Fox (Doctor Bombay!)
Kenny Baker (R2D2)
Carrie Fisher (Shocking loss of Princess Leia.)
George Michael  (Again, not a huge fan... but wow!)
Zsa Zsa Gabor (Famous for being famous, I guess.)
Debbie Reynolds (One day after her daughter Carrie Fisher!)
<strike>Donald Trump</strike>  (Oh!  Sorry!  Ahem!)
Update:  Oh, and 2016 couldn't end without one final actor:
William Christopher (Father Mulcahey from M*A*S*H)


Iknow I've mssed far too many more!  Here's hoping for a happier 2017!


Happy New Year!


One Day at a Time!

WORTH A MENTION FOR PET OWNERS

What a Treat Today!

After a few weeks of weird-ass work schedules and equally weird-ass weather, I got to have a day off and I spent part of it at a meeting.  I'm really happy that happened.  (Not because I've had/got thoughts of drinking, mind you.)  It was just really exceptionally nice to attend.  What it being a somewhat holiday week, there was a decent sized crowd.


The topic today was about divisions and wholes.  How we, as alcoholics, lived a divided life when we were abusing, and the after-effects of what we've become now.  So:  As close as we can come to being whole.  I dug that part of the meeting.


We didn't have many newbies from the courthouse today, so I got to spend the time with folks who actually wanted to be there.  I think that's what made it nice for me. 


There were enough people to split up into two groups and we were able to share in a more enclosed environment about our "divided" issues.  It was reminiscent of my days at In Patient and I.O.P.  The bit about drinking being more important than anything else for us.  (I'm still working on my mega-wordy Year In Review post, so I will lay out that entire poo-load of TMI in a week or so, but it's coming.)  My point being here is that I (we) don't even think like that any more!  I loved that part.


Our attendance and being active at meetings contributed to the "whole" aspect.  Again, I loved that after what I feel was such a long time away.  I'd go on here more, but some of the things shared today are not mine technically to divulge.


Still and all...  


I'm in a really good place at the moment internally.  I don't give any sort of credence to those drinking thoughts.  Am I eating worse than I've ever done before?  Yes.  But one freaking obstacle at a time!  LOL!  A New Year is around the corner... I can always make... GASP!... a resolution!  I got one personal fault at bay.  Maybe I can make Chicago-style hotdogs and Gyros a resolution for 2017!)  Yeah, right.   


Fantastic group!  Fantastic topic!  Just a really, really nice day for me.  (It makes freezing to death yesterday at work worthwhile.)


SIDENOTE:  Stef got me this really cool Eskie Rescue hat as an early Christmas present which a couple of people commented on.  I had to explain that while I wasn't precisely a part of Chicagoland Eskie Rescue, I did indeed participate.  (So there's a Christmas gift well received, my love, if you're reading!)


I ran some needed errands and am about to start scallops and spinach.  What's wrong with that, right?


I remain (THANKFULLY!) One Day at a Time!  T-Minus 5 days and counting till NEW WHO!

 

(As Tom Baker Would Say...) "Well... it IS Biblically Accurate."

I did this to my wife's Xmas village/community/whatever all the time... but I added Doctor and companion figures.  It rounds it out nicely. 

Simply... THIS!

I "Believe" We Are 12 Days till Christmas

So... in lieu of anything pertinent... here's me... being me...

Snow Days and Work Days

Loads of snow here in the Chicagoland area, so it was wiser to just stay indoors and not risk driving, so no meetings attended.  My work schedule for this week isn't currently conducive to meetings, either, but I will do what I can.


All is well, though.  :-)

Trying to Stay Warm

Thank goodness for a day off.  Not only did I get to attend a meeting, but I also didn't have to deal with the current gig.  Wow!  It was (and still is!) cold outside!!


I do like my Wednesday off, though.  I get to attend the meeting at Westminster.  Those meetings are HUGE people-wise.  We break up into four separate rooms and go over the topic of the day.  Today was a little more religious than I'd normally like, but as I'm getting in touch with my higher power, not so much. 


Union of the soul.  Wow.  What a topic! As I shared earlier today, I'm in an incredibly nice place!  I make it a point to have my personal moment with my higher power each and every morning and night. 


I've set my phone to an earlier time every morning so that I can do my daily reflection and thank said higher power for not doing what was once a habit.  I also make it a point to go over the day before I go to sleep.  If I repeat myself, I apologize... but I'm in a really good place!


One Day at a Time!


Oh... and here's Captain Jack all done up in Xmas lights.  (That one is for Stef!)

Getting Used to December

So, here we are in December.  Where did the year go?


I will have a lengthy post later this month with a "year in review" post... but I will update accordingly throughout!


I'm on a weirder work schedule right now... so, my meeting posts may be sporadic. 


Till then... here are a few photos I liked and wanted to share.