oldr_n_wsr's alcoholic adventure

[oldr_n_wsr]

My last post here got me thinking. I sometimes downplay or don't even talk about what I have and/or haven't lost while drinking. I feel bad when I hear what others have lost and what they have gone through. I think I am somehow "less of an alcoholic" not having gone through what many/most others have gone through.

I did read in the big book how at first the original AA members were "low bottom" drunks who didn't have much left to lose but later how some "bottoms" were raised so it could reach people before they hit those very low bottoms. My sponsor said one time, everyones bottom is as low as they want to go.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Perhaps a bit less discussion of other people's bottoms ....

[Bicycle Bill]

My last post here got me thinking. I sometimes downplay or don't even talk about what I have and/or haven't lost while drinking. I feel bad when I hear what others have lost and what they have gone through. I think I am somehow "less of an alcoholic" not having gone through what many/most others have gone through.

I did read in the big book how at first the original AA members were "low bottom" drunks who didn't have much left to lose but later how some "bottoms" were raised so it could reach people before they hit those very low bottoms. My sponsor said one time, everyones bottom is as low as they want to go.

Oldr, your sponsor was spot on.  It's only when one realizes that they have hit bottom that they figure out there is nowhere to go but up.  For some of us, and maybe you're one of the fortunate ones, the bottom is not as low as it is for others.

But know this.  Addiction is a patient disease.  All it takes is for someone to think that they weren't really addicted (denial), or that they are "less of an addict" (minimizing), or that "they know better now so they can handle it" (no other word for this but hubris!) — the hallmarks of "stinking thinking" — and Mr. Booze will return with a vengeance.

-"BB"-

[oldr_n_wsr]

Amen to that. Thanks for the reminder BB.
Another saying that is a sure way down is "I've got this".

[MG McAnick]

OK, I got here late, and started on page one before realizing that there are 35 pages to this thread. I just skipped to 35.

On page one, oldr_n_wsr mentioned that he lived in Mineola LI NY as a kid. Maybe still does. The late Tess of Le Chat House fame grew up in Massapequa, and I spent five years as a kid sort of between you two in Farmingdale. Luckily Tess and I escaped.

As to first drinks, that story is part of one of my earliest memories. My parents flew to Europe for three weeks. We were living in LA CA at the time. (You may remember my first flight story from another post.) My sister and I spent that time in San Diego with our uncle Harry and his wife aunt Lois Lee. She and I were sitting on the front steps of their newly built house. She was drinking a beer. I asked her for a sip. I thought it was the nastiest tasting stuff I'd ever experienced. I remember other things about that short period which I verified with my uncle many years later. There was a drop off behind the house, so they wouldn't let me toddle back there. I do not recall whether it was 2ft or 10ft, but they were scared about the possibility of my falling. Then there was their toaster. It popped the toast way up, like in one of those comedy movies. That was the only time I was in that house as they moved to VA shortly after that. I was 15 months old.

I got over it, but I still don't drink much of anything. I bought a six pack of a local brew in October, and drank the fourth one last week.

[wesw]

amen to that last sentence.

[oldr_n_wsr]

No longer in Mineola NY, now I am out in what used to be Gods country, the town of Farmingville NY. (but it's fast becoming Queens NY).

[Fafhrd]

I was forn in Mineola, but my father worked in Farmingdale (they actually lived in Hempstead). But in 1936 mu parents had the good sense to return to Wisconsin (from whence they had come) and raise me there.

[wesw]

oops, my comment was for the last sentence on the previous page.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I was forn in Mineola, but my father worked in Farmingdale (they actually lived in Hempstead). But in 1936 mu parents had the good sense to return to Wisconsin (from whence they had come) and raise me there.

Small world.
Mineola is as busy as Brooklyn now.
Some of my high school buddies still live in the area so I get a chance to go there once in a while.

[Fafhrd]

My father had interned in Brooklyn (he was a doctor), and was working in a sanatorium someplace on the Island. When I was born, he had to move to an apartment (in Hempstead; children weren't permitted in the quarters he'd been living in). They decided to move back to Wisconsin, and I have no memory of having lived in New York at all.

[oldr_n_wsr]

working in a sanatorium someplace on the Island.

Either Brentwood, Central Islip or Kings Park most likely. All have been shut down.

I have no memory of having lived in New York at all.

Want some of my memories?

[MG McAnick]

I remember Lon Gyland very well. We lived just off of the Hempstead Turnpike between what is now hwy 135 and Bethpage Parkway, leading to the state park and golf course. 135, The Seaford Oyster Bay Parkway, had not been built when we were there, but houses on the street behind us were already on the chopping block for it.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.728887, ... a=!3m1!1e3

My father gave $15,000 for the brand new three bedroom split level brick house in 1954. I say my father did it because my mother, sister, and I were still in LA. I remember when we moved in. There was a huge pile of leftover and/or broken bricks down the street that I climbed up on with my new friend Howie Tanschuwicz. (sp?) Wellll, it might not have been huge. I was only three. There were no lawns yet. My mother sold it five years later for $17,500. Houses in that area are now selling in the $350,000 range. Before 2008's bubble, they were $100,000 more. Dozens are listed on Trulia as being in foreclosure. I just looked. One of those, in the next block, has an opening bid of $211,000.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Nice area.
Here on Lon-Guy_Land many bought houses "high" and are underwater now. Thankfully not me. I bought in 1985 (paid under $100k) and have paid off my mortgage. Problem with trying to buy forclosures is you are essentially buying from the bank and they have to approve the offer. They are notorious for never making a decision. My daughter just bought a house and had tried to buy a forclosure (actually she tried more than once) and it got to be too painful/long time/vague responses.

I remember back in 2007 I was at the bar near work (I was still drinking at the time and frequented happy hour daily) and in came a few hundred people from a mortgage broker firm (one of the biggest in the areaand on the island. over 1000 employees). The place had just shut down. No warning, no nothing. In fact some people had just been hired a few days before the closing.
I knew something was up but didn't know the extent to come.

[oldr_n_wsr]

IT's been a while since I posted in this thread. Everything has been going well although my cousin is dieing of bladder cancer (I think I mentioned this before but I am too lazy to go look so I am mentioning it again). They (he and his wife) have been try other forms of treatment from other hospitals but nothing is making it any better. At best the treatments are keeping it from growing/expanding.
He and his sister are trying to clean out their mothers house (who died last November). I've been helping them the best I can. Most of it is just mental/emotional support.
I have chair the beginners meeting onFriday night at my home group. Normally I would be at the big book meeting that occurs at the same time as the beginners meeting but commitments are meant to be honored. I do get to other big book meetings duringthe week so it's good.

I am speaking at a beginners meeting at Hope House in Port Jefferson this sunday. Never spoke at a beginners meeting before.

Going to start cutting a hole in the wall between the kitchen and living room at my daughters house on sunday. I'll see what is behind the sheetrock (probably wiring only) and figure out what needs to be done. It is a load bearing wall so I'll have to reinforce the area where the hole will be. Should be fun, and I am not being sarcastic as I enjoy doing these things.

Finally cleared the clog in the kitchen sink at her house. The pipes were galvanized steel and rusted inside. Made a internal dam and broke through the side while snaking. I replaced the section that broke and the elbow area that the rust dam was in. It was right at the bend where the pipe joined with the main pipe. I was affraid of sendning all the gunk into the main and possibly clogging that up, so I cut that area out also. So some of the pipes are still the steel ones and some are pvc.
All of this was done in a crawl space that had a dirt floor with dirt like talcum powder. And it was only about 16" high. Also, a bunch of the insulation was fallign down so I got to put new insulation rods in to hold it back up.

Things should be good for a while. Of course now that I have said that, something will go wrong interrupting the plan.

Anyway, thanks for listening.
It is a great day.

[RayThom]

... Things should be good for a while. Of course now that I have said that, something will go wrong interrupting the plan. Anyway, thanks for listening. It is a great day.

What? That sounds like self-fulfilling prophecy to me. Your "something" should be "nothing."

And, yes, it IS a great day. Don't screw it up with negativity.

Me? 12,528 days... but who's counting?

[oldr_n_wsr]

Me? 12,528 days... but who's counting?

Don't screw it up with negativity.

No negativity. Just joking around.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Just found out my cousin died this morning about 11am. I had a bad feeling all day. Now I know why.
He was a good man. A year younger than me (actually about 8 months). He had bladder cancer that they knocked down a few years ago but it came back with a vengence. He had some experimental treatment a few months ago but it didn't help at all. i talked to his wife last night as they were taking him to hospice. He was in a lot of pain and walking was a very large chore for him. I last saw him a week ago when he went in the hospital because some drain was clogged. He got out tuesday and now.......
I prayed for relief from his pain. Guess I got that prayer granted.
Gotta go call my sponsor.

[Big RR]

My condolences oldr--it's never easy to lose someone you care about; even if they were in great pain and were suffering, the finality of death is not easy to grasp. Just hang in there.

[Long Run]

I am sorry for your loss.