Archives: August 2002

Fri Aug 30, 2002

the weekend and thoughts on God

big week end ahead. my family (wifey, daughter, son, two step daughters and one step daughter's b/f) are headed to the coast to visit with my family. i'm a little anxious about the trip, mainly because i need to deal with some unresolved issues (vague enough?) with my mom and step-dad, but, all-in-all, i'm looking froward to some time away from jobs and the same old scenery. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 30, 02 | 9:49 am | Profile

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Wed Aug 28, 2002

the straight line

grief can be very intense, but i'm finding my way through it. i've had some 'normal' moments over the last two days, and i'm finding myself smiling and laughing again. 'they' were right, "the quickest way to the other side of a feeling is straight through it."

so, i move on with life. meetings, prayer, service work, step work, work, caring for my kids, breathing.

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 28, 02 | 10:32 am | Profile

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Mon Aug 26, 2002

it is raining today.

its raining. moisture descends in waves, cascading from gentle mist to forceful falls. the dust cracked soil and parchment leaves are expanding with new life. the creek below has swollen and rushes forward, chasing itself triumphantly, a clarion call. soon, the greening will begin and that recently dormant life of nature will stretch forth boldly one more time before autumn has its judgment and sends the lush of summer deep into the shell of winter.

i'm crying. tears of sorrow, painful showers of bitter sweet decision roll across by cheek, clouding my sight and mind. meaning is lost in the moment of impending loss. i ache. i feel brittle, weak, dry. how ironic, that today's rain, long awaited and much the subject of prayer and need, cannot touch my withered soul and yet, mimics my tears.

today i say good bye to a dear friend. my canine buddy of the past decade, whose romps upon the bed in early morning hours, and snubbed nosed burrowing beneath the covers will be remembered and missed. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 26, 02 | 8:47 am | Profile

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Sun Aug 25, 2002

normal things can bring great hope...

today, as a result of the exercise and work yesterday, my body is tired, wonderfully tired and my spirit is renewed.

friday evening spent with wifey and freinds listening to the smooth jazz of Chris Murrell and a late dinner and conversation left me feeling hopeful.

saturday brought homework, jobs of yard and house, all now more complete.

saturday evening, a game watching. a heart grabbing Seminole victory...albeit...none to impressive. but, a win is a win.

today, worship at the local Quaker meeting. lovely spirit. ahhhh, the touch of the Divine.

now, i'm off the job #2 and i feel peaceful and greatful for life. even the challenges of life on life's term's (see below) seem managable. i'm doing the next right thing today, and i'm not doing it alone.

i'm very aware of God's love and kindness today.

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 25, 02 | 12:29 pm | Profile

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Thu Aug 22, 2002

life on life's terms, Theophany's World part 44

ok. there are some things i need to process here.

my mother had surgery yesterday. she has been having some ongoing problems with hernias and infections. i was a bit worried, but her surgery went well. i got a message from my step-father that it all went ok. i really need to call her, but haven't, yet. she will probably be home from the hospital tomorrow, so i may just wait and catch her at home.

i have a problem with my mom and step-dad. i owe them money. during the last few months of my active addition, i borrowed money from them to help with the purchase of our current home. and since i'm digging myself out of one financial hole after another these days, i haven't gotten around to them yet. they are on my list of needed amends, but as these things often go with family, it is easier in some ways to put it off while i calm other more vocal creditors. however, it does bother me that i owe them, and we DON'T talk about it. so i carry this silent dark cloud around every interaction i have with them. i really need to clean this one up.

my dog is still a problem, but (and i know this sounds selfish) he keeps having good days...it makes it hard for me to decide to kill the dang dog! he looks so healthy today. of course, he is waking me up at all hours of the night and demanding to be let outside, fed, etc, or he inflicts endless barking on me. he has changed, and i know this is a result of his illness. it is a good thing that i don't have anything to 'put him down' with....cuz at 4 in the morning it seems like a really good idea! aargh!!!!!!!!!

next topic. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 22, 02 | 9:52 pm | Profile

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Mon Aug 19, 2002

a familiar Familiar

i am feeling a very familiar feeling today. i am angry today, a real grump. nothing suits me and i'm feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. yuck.

several things going own. first, my dog is really sick. he started having seizures a while back. the vet put him on some medicine that helped for a while, but they have returned and have gotten alot worse. he just flails about, urinating all over the place and foaming at the mouth...poor baby. anyway, i'm having to look at putting he "to sleep." i just don't have the money to prolong this situation, and since the vet has said it really is a matter of time, there isn't much else i can do. the poor dog is so confused, even when he isn't flailing about on the floor, he isn't himself. he has become much more grumpy, and demanding: barking at 2,3,4 am to be let out and fed. he isn't himself. i really hate this situation. powerless.

second, work suks. i like my job ok, but business is really slow and money is tight all around. i am greatful to have a job, though.

thirdly, two sponcees are giving me the run around. choosing chaos and calling me to try to pull me into their messes. argh.

finally, i really don't want to do my step work right now. surprise. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 19, 02 | 9:02 am | Profile

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Fri Aug 16, 2002

progress

i have often wondered, as i have watched people fall away from recovery and then relapse, how i could avoid becoming one of those people that stayed clean for a while, even a long while and then went back out to the drugs.

i hear alot about sticking to the basics: meetings, sponsorship, prayer, step work, service work, etc., when this issus comes up. today's 'Just for Today' reading (see below) hit me as key to staying in recovery. i must ever strive to move forward, to learn more, do better and grow. the key to this, for me, is spiritual awareness and growth.

practically, what does this mean? just for today, it means that i will take some extra minutes at lunch today and read some spiritual words, and spend a few moments in meditation/prayer. it means i will have lunch with a freind of mine who shares my longing for things spiritual, and talk openly about how our journeys are going. it means i will do something nice for someone today, without them knowing that i did it. that is what it means for me, today. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 16, 02 | 9:23 am | Profile

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Wed Aug 14, 2002

awareness, surrender and growth

i'm tired today, fatigued actually.

the addict in me wants to change that, so i'm fighting the urge to consume large quanities of coffee and tea. it is that way with me and most feelings...feelings that is that are uncomfortable: i want to change them.

for me, for today, i know that feelings come and go, kind of like the breeze, or the change of day to night. something inside of me responds to something outside of me and BANG, a feeling. my boss clears his throat, and if i'm worried inside about the amount of time i spend on the pc not working, then i feel guilty. or, my child asks for money to go to a movie and if i'm uptight about choices i have made in my spending, i feel angry. on on the drama goes.

i'm learning though. i'm learning that first i need to feel my feelings...let them be, acknowledge them. then i need to remind myself (often with the help of others and my recovering step work) that they are just feelings...coming in like the wind. i don't have to react to them. i don't have to try to change them. i can just let them be. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 14, 02 | 2:15 pm | Profile

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Mon Aug 12, 2002

Wangle!?!

i get a 'word for the day on my cell phone each day. they are often interesting and mostly usless words that i can never imagine using. for example, yesterday's word was "Zorilla - a carnivorous African weasle with black and white fur." I can here my kids now, "Daddy. The Zorilla ate the neighbor's cat again."
or, maybe a bad scifi movie: "Godzilla vs Space Zorilla"

then there was "Virid -bright green or covered in green vegetation." here we go..."I looked out over the southern swamp, she swam up to me and as her stealth body slide from the water, i was stuck by the lucious beauty of her three virid breasts, covered in thick slime." na.

then, today! word for the day: "Wangle - to acquire something through indirect or devious means."
wangle? wangle? "pardon me, but your wangle is showing."

i had a good weekend. hope you did.

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 12, 02 | 8:43 am | Profile

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Fri Aug 09, 2002

music for ME!!!!

update: now my ride is sporting a new Kenwood CD player. It is good to be back in touch with rythum again.

Sing it Tina!
Scream it Bruce!
Play it Dixie Dregs!

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 09, 02 | 3:14 pm | Profile

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gulp!

work just got wonderfully crazy. can you say, "45,000 tee shirts?"

no time to think. gotta go for the gold!!!!!

Trinity, check your dang PO box! ::forced smile:: lol. no control issues here...no sir.

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 09, 02 | 10:57 am | Profile

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Wed Aug 07, 2002

gonna play it loud!!!!!!

i'm planning to get my NEW cd player for my car today. wait. before you think i've gone off the deep end and am implusively buying something i don't need...hear me out... More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 07, 02 | 9:16 am | Profile

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Tue Aug 06, 2002

another day clean

i feel good. nanananana. like i knew that i would...

yesterday = work, eat right, exercise, meeting, time with wifey, read.

today = feeling good.

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 06, 02 | 9:48 am | Profile

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Mon Aug 05, 2002

Thought on the weekend.

woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach. the cause is simple. Money. good thing is, that because i was feeling so stressed, i.e. uncomfortable, i did something about it. payed a couple of bills, looked over the next two weeks of cash flow, and i think i have it covered. well, sorta. at least the knot is a little less tight now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WIFEY!!! yesterday was my wifey's birthday. she planned her own party. it was great. i got the chance to visit with some freinds in recovery that i hadn't seen in a while. it was really good to catch up with them. i shared with them about the 'addicted bloggers' web ring and blog site. they where very interested in taking a look at it. they both have more than a decade sober/clean and it is always good to learn from them.

next topic...i spoke at a Quaker meeting yesterday. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 05, 02 | 9:33 am | Profile

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Sat Aug 03, 2002

my son is dating a porn star?!

this morning my x-wife calls. she's all upset that she found an aim conversation on my son's computer between him and some girl that contained talk,in detail, about how they wanted to 'sex' each other.

my son is 13. my son listens to rap and hip-hop. my son speaks openly to me about his likes and dislikes of certain curves on the female anatomy. am i surprised at said aim conversation? no. am i 'shocked and appalled' by it? no. in fact, my biggest concern is to wonder if he is in fact talking to a real teenage girl, or some drooling, hairy 45 year old man. yuck.

anyway, the x-wife raked him over the coals pretty good this morning, and then sent him off on his week long trip to the beach with his freind and said freind's parents. i guess he and i will need to have a little chat when he gets back....first, about not leaving those dang aim conversations on your PC screen at his moms. geeze. then about some issues around his choices for expressing his new found sexuallity.

where do i find the page in the Blue/Big book on this one?

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 03, 02 | 4:35 pm | Profile

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Fri Aug 02, 2002

i want to bleed

i want to bleed
let the ruby stream flow
from self inflicted wounds of loss
rush forth with all life, zest and hope
pulsing screams of despair
velvet waves overflowing proper boundries

i want to bleed
washing out decaying debris
rotting carcasses now swept away
foul orgnaic rot lifted from the land
of now remembered errors
move on, ever away to another place

i want to bleed
until the last drops fall silently
tears of silent agony upon now parched land
leaving only dust, lifeless shadows
passed by all but a few
mindless of the flood that once flowed

until they too long to bleed

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 02, 02 | 9:32 am | Profile

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the horrible hand of chaos reaches out to me...

look around me. today, nothing is different than yesterday. some jobs, same recovery, same kids, same x-wife, same old car, same, same, same...

if you could look inside me, my heart, mind and gut...things have changed More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 02, 02 | 9:07 am | Profile

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Thu Aug 01, 2002

meeting makers make it

it seems that a common theme in my recovery is "Go to a meeting."

after three years of meetings, an average of 3-4 each week, i really have not felt like stopping. it isn't that i don't have a life. it isn't that there are not things i would rather be doing. it isn't that i'm not sometimes bored, and irritated by the same jargon. it IS that i reallt seem to do better each day, if i've been to a meeting. More...

Posted by: Theophany on Aug 01, 02 | 9:18 am | Profile

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