May 24th is graduation day. I've been driving my sponsor crazy since 6/1/72. I can safely say that I've taught him everything he knows about humility, patience and tolerance (LOL)

54,, have 14 years clean.

55 now.

28 days to go. Actually today April 28th is my forty one year anniversary of being freed from the houscow at the Federal Prison Camp in Missouri. At the time I didn't know it - but it saved my life. I've been grateful ever since. Getting an extended period off drugs and alcohol helped to make the early days a tad easier. Went to meetings daily for a year. I keep expecting an invitation to the annual Alumni meeting, but they must have lost my address.

One wouldn't think that a prison camp was much of a rehab center, but I was in jail with a group of Draft resistors.While there were plenty of other drug dealers,  bank robbers, gun runners and white slavers. The Draft resistor guys took me under thier wing, together we found ways to hold evening educational classes and brought in outsiders from the community. An added plus was getting to meet the last surviving member of the Purple Gang.

Awesome story Capt 12-Step!
I volunteered on Hospital & Institution
meetings my 1st few years sober.
I have 26 1/2 years clean and helping
Young women that want to get off drugs is
the best feeling ever. I understand them:)

My alumni is State Hospital Treatment Center
It brought reality home to me. I still visit
the center at least yearly and tell my story.
I love that place and at the time thought
it was the worth thing that could happen to me.
I needed to get off my high horse!
I had attended the slush centers.
So thankful to God, I can never repay Him

but I try by helping others recover from Addiction! 

Xxoo

57,

Twenty Nine more days left.

Just back from turkey hunting, son in law Justin bagged a big Tom on Tuesday morning, just hours after it snowed 4 inches. Getting out hunting was better then anything my doctor has given me these last two years. While totally unwisely and insanely more physically exhausting then I should have attempted, it was exhilarating. Because of the late Spring and conditions we should have switched to a later hunting season but this was the only time Justin could get off work. Due to my health I had help picking spots that were easily accessible, but due to soft heavy  mud and greasy slippery plowed fields, we ended up much farther away from where we wanted to hunt then we anticipated. As much as I regret knowingly going in bad conditions; just being outside and a part of nature made it all worthwhile.

The day before the season, we managed to haul our hunting blinds over a mile out to the spot. But I wore myself out so much that I couldnt walk back to them again. Fortunately Justin got his turkey out of the blind that was set up where my friend Al had recommended. Buddy Al, has been mentoring me on turkey hunting and put us on birds. Part of any hunting trip is all the things that go wrong and those that accidently go well (LOL). I lugged my blackpowder shotgun around the first day, only to find out later that the powder was oil soaked and wouldnt ignite. Day two I got to a closer hunting spot that looked OK, but somewhere on the walk in, my ramrod must have slipped out of the gun. Luckily we found it the next day. Since I didnt see any birds anyway, it really didnt matter much if the gun could have been shot or not. On Wednesday we moved to a location easier for me to get to, I spent some time watching a hen go in and out of the woods, then four turkeys came out, running full steam away from me. Hunting in a stiff wind doesnt lend itself to birds being out in the open long.

Priceless

165 days - looking forward to dropping a digit or two...

64

36 days left

Like liver? Try this

In a small baking pan, layer large slices of onion. with 1/2 in thick slices of liver. Pour 3/4 cup BarBq sauce over this and bake 1 hour at 350.

65 more.

37 days left.

39 days to go. Another abscessed tooth gets worked on tomorrow. Cardiologist read my echo and she isn't planning any surgery soon (What a relief). New blood pressure med. to deal heart rate which has dropped to 50. Dermatologist still doesn't seem to know what to do for the lichen planus.

Next week it's turkey hunting (maybe in a blizzard). I have a tent-like blind to sit in and bought a reclining Camo chase lounge for naps. A bag full of cookies, sandwiches and a couple of thermos of coffee and I should be fine.  

68

73

Keep it up crew the fog will lift as you cross that finish line.

74 more.

Hey Vern

Love your post, we need more members like you.

Great wisdom statement , shows your human side we all need to connect like that.

Humor makes us all happier, keep your observations coming their great to read.

Matt

45 more days. Guess what? Root canal tomorrow at 11 am. This disease and treatment just keeps on giving LOL. Had my cardiac echo last week, today it was an endoscopy. It just keep's getting better. What I love about all these tests, is that if I don't get a phone call within a couple of days of the test, I can relax.

Thought for the day

My words of wisdom include: Laughter, Love, Chocolate, and Bacon. You can arrange them in the order that makes the most sense for you.

Vern

77 more, kicking my butt.

47 more days. Spent the day with grandson Jacob, Grandma Carol made cookies and he ate all the pizza the wanted.

Thought for the Day

I thought "flash mob" meant something else. Can someone come bail me out?

48 days short. Last night's shot knocked the stuffing out of me today; six trips to the john. Not much else going on, even though it's April; it was snowing all afternoon. No accumulations but Northern MN might get 6-8 inches. They are still ice fishing and driving on the northern lakes; we expect ice-out here (Mpls) sometime late April or early May.

Vern

79

Day 49 almost over. "Having fun yet" remains an understatment. Not. Another dart done. Spent the day with grandchildren teaching 3 1/2 yr old Jacob how to make Mickey Mouse ears on pancakes.

70

Way to go, and best of luck, I have those symptoms at week 27 or 28.  I get final answer if I am finished on April 26, if detected it is over for this round.  Nice fish, yes here is spring has sprung, - 20 C with wind and a foot of snow, 4 feet up at camp.  Again good luck and keep plugging a head

Bill and Family

Sounds real good vern

Smooth sailing and good landing to you

BillS

Big, thanks for pointing out my wrong end date on my signature. Yes, it appears my brain just isn't focusing very well. I met with the Liver God last week and we both worked it out that I end 5/23. At least that's what we think. So, when I finish the three darts I have (one this Thursday) then I'll just need one more shipment. Boy does that sound good!

12step, your signature says your EOT is May 12th. That don't work out to 50 in my fogged up brain.

80 for me,

50 days left for me. I'm finding that I don't bounce back so quick and I'm easily moved toward anger or sadness. New Avatar each day till I hit 50.

If you want to count down with me, post your progress.

Vern