BearSchlong

I did that one night, sat on the patio overlooking the harbor. Very legit.

From my perspective, your “slacking” is the fact that you’re not out there doing field research. You’re wasting valuable time. The clock is ticking. I had to drink myself sober.

I was there for a weekend a few years ago. Walked into the Art Institute of Chicago with half an hour before pre-concert dinner reservations. I approached a docent and said “soon, I’m going to spend a day or two here, deeply contemplating the antiquities and masterpieces. But for now could you just point me to the Ferris Bueller painting?” My kid lives there now, a few blocks from the beach, and I’m anticipating much more time to appreciate the city.

When was the last time you read Bill’s story and looked for the similarities? When was the last time you read Dr. Silkworth’s opinion and considered the allergy? When was the last time you read “we agnostics” and considered a power other than yourself? Go to the stories in the back of the book and pick out one written by a woman. They tend to be very well written. Why don’t you try that for starters? Your sobriety is yours. Pick up the book and start being accountable to yourself.

Alcoholics Anonymous was written to be mailed to any English-reading person who wanted to stop drinking but found they could not. Sure, it was expected that the recipient would find a community of similar travelers and fellowship would ensue, but like I tell my guys, “imagine you’re the only alcoholic in your rural county. Everything you need to get sober and stay that way is contained in this book.” If you’re like me, you may need to have color commentary for additional context and practical insights. I’ve read the book about a 20 times, and the best supplement to the book that I’ve discovered is a set of weekend workshops put on by some country boys named Joe and Charlie. They also wrote a book called “The Steps We Took,” but the most enjoyable and convenient way to for me to access their content is in audio. There are many apps, this is the one I use: via Joe & Charlie Big Book Study on Audiojoy http://taps.io/BYP3w Such deadpan humor and wisdom like “Joe was out screwing around, I was simply committing adultery” lol. The way they simplify and deconstruct the steps with practical explanation is masterful. It led to them holding workshops worldwide. I’ve worked the steps with a sponsor, I regularly attend meetings where we read the BBOAA and the quasi-sequel commentary, “12 steps and 12 traditions.” AA is great. Sure, you make friends and hear good stuff, but real progress is made with a sponsor and through working the steps. And spending time 1 on 1 with other alcoholics. I had dinner the other night with a guy who got sober in pch’s home group and relocated to mine, and it was like dating my mirror image, down to the fact that we both love Robert Caro’s books. From my observations, YGIFS is exactly like me prior to getting sober. The smartest guy in the room. I still over intellectualize everything, but at least now I realize the fallacy. The trick is finding AA mentors that you can admire and emulate, and doing what they did.

I had dinner a few weeks ago with a recent Michigan grad who was on the dive team. She was telling me about all the fucked up situations and injuries that occur on the 10m platform when you miss a rotation or don’t land with your legs or hands together. She said one of her friends actually scalped herself on the edge of the dive platform.

I cancelled a Barclays card and a citi Best Buy card recently, no or minimal impact. Replaced with the AA citi black card for club access. Thinking of cancelling a discover that I use for exactly one $24.95 recurring charge. And I have a basic BOA card I haven’t used in years, thinking about eliminating that one as well. So right now I’ve got 7 open cards: BOA cash back card (hardly ever used) BOA random card (never used) Discover (aforementioned) Bonvoy chase (for Marriott spend, lifetime platinum) Amazon chase (hardly used, as I have the Amazon synchrony for 5% point rebate) Southwest chase (hardly used as I’m 90% AA flyer) AA executive world elite MC from citi (all daily purchases, for airline status.) Just checked and I’m still 850. I think I may deep six one BOA card and the discover. Is it worth it to get an Amex for AA points?

But never has five

The sandbags holding the teleprompter in place jumped up and but him on the ankle.

Didn't he run the parking lot tram?

How did you target them? Flipping next to channel boys?

To Appalachian State, no less.

Why am I suddenly craving Tong’s Thai on the old Austin Highway near Ft. Sam? Hoping his next duty station will be SA. I really miss living there.

Wow. Better wash your hands after you're done holding your dick, Lt. Dan.

Thank you for reminding me to get my ass to a meeting tonight.

I chortled.

Well now it’s a moot point, spent half an hour assembling the new one and proceeded with brisket, racks of ribs, and a bunch of leg quarters over the last 2 days. Probably cooked for 22 hours. There are some slight improvements that recteq made since my original model. Controller is upgraded, dual band. My probes actually work now, and the firebox shield is wrought iron vs steel, which seems to hold heat better.

That is some funny stuff. More like this. Young conservatives concern me.

My dad died in an automobile accident on March 16 of ‘22 and we still haven’t received a final bill. Dad was the most responsible guy I know. A few months prior to his death, he was in the hospital for a few weeks. One day an AR clerk showed up at his hospital bedside and said he needed to pay $22k immediately. So he pulled out his checkbook, right there in the hospital room. His Medicare out of pocket for that whole year was maxed at $7,500. When my stepmom found out what he did they talked and either stopped payment on the check, or called the billing office and threatened them with a lawsuit if they cashed it. I can’t remember which. We never received another bill from that hospital. I’m his executor and I have money set aside in an account for if/when the final bill shows up. I’ve got more respect for meth dealers than medical billers at the moment, for other reasons that would derail the thread.

Do not pay the hospital until after all the claims have been processed. Medical billing is make believe.

I was on a flight yesterday with quite a few of the Vietnam POWs who were reunited for the 50th anniversary of their final liberation. Was moving. One guy had a suit jacket with the American flag sewn into the lining and the POWs emblem.

Just spent a half hour on the phone with him, no answer on the robots, right now I think they have a few to carry light rucks and are just playing with them. But this shit pisses me off. He's supposed to be a Captain by now. And it's really beginning to fuck up the chain of command in the military. My apologies in advance for the CR vent but that dumb motherfucker shouldn't be in the Senate. And it's not high-level, it affects all officers. At the Pentagon, high-level officer nominations continue to stack up as first-term Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) continues his lonely hold, halting all high-level military promotions over concerns that military policies ensuring service members' access to reproductive care may potentially facilitate abortions

I’m not sure yet, haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but I’ll let you know.

I live with low overhead so I can enjoy places like that without hesitation. Of course my kids are out of the house and from what I can tell my main work buddy has 4 young kids and just got gutted in a nasty divorce so I think he was limited to the company per diem. The others are a year out of school so they’re fine with bar food.

Meanwhile, today at Ft. Bragg