DAILY QUOTA:

"Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene."
- Arthur Christopher Benson

"Well, I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day."
- Johnny Cash, 'Sunday Morning Coming Down'
- lyrics by Kris Kristofferson

QUIPPING POST:

Domestic upheaval
A drunk promised his wife he wouldn't drink all weekend. After leaving for work Friday morning he finally came home Monday drunk as always. First things first, he rushed into the washroom and started getting violently ill. When he finally emerged, he sat down on the sofa and waited for the lecture. His wife waited until his stomach settled down: "I told myself I wouldn't say a word about your drinking, but now that you've brought it up..."

DAILY QUOTA:

"God loves a drunk, for ever and ever, amen."
- Richard Thompson

"See you Monday! We'll be talking about Freud and why he did enough cocaine to kill a small horse..."
- From the film, 'Good Will Hunting'

QUIPPING POST:

Self-supporting
A recovering alcoholic was boasting to his sponsor, "Some of us were talking yesterday about how important it is for members to financially support AA. Someone mentioned that alcoholics can be cheap when they sober up, but I've never been like that. I used to buy the best booze and often bought rounds for my buddies! And now I eat well and only buy gourmet coffee. I'm sure glad I'm not cheap like some people!" The sponsor listened patiently to the bragging, then brought the conversation back to talking about recovery, "There's a wonderful chapter about Tradition Seven and being self-supporting in the book, 'Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.' You can pick one up at our local central office for under ten dollars and it should put things in perspective for you..." His sponsee interrupted him: "Can I borrow your copy? I'm sure not paying ten dollars just for a book."

DAILY QUOTA:

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first."
- Ernestine Ulmer

"I remember that first day we headed to the liquor store ... and Ryan carefully took his time checking each beer out. I was so impressed. But then I realized that he was looking at the alcohol content! That’s crazy."
- Chris Robinson, 'Animation World Magazine'

QUIPPING POST:

Stern warning
A doctor gave his alcoholic patient a stern warning, "If you don't want to accept help for your drinking problem, there is only one specialist left that can help you." The drunk had no idea what the doctor meant, "What kind of specialist is that, doc?" The doctor looked him straight in the eye and said: "An undertaker."

DAILY QUOTA:

"You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there."
- Edwin Louis Cole

"The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whiskey. By diligent effort, I learned to like it."
- Winston Churchill

QUIPPING POST:

Elephant and Drunk
Q: What do you get when you genetically splice an elephant with a drunk?
A: An elephant that never forgets -- except when it has a blackout.

_______________________________

Resources:

Home of Lois and Bill W: Stepping Stones

Where it all started: Dr Bob's Home

Lots of resources here: AA History and Trivia

Meetings, chat, forum and more: Cyber Sober

Dedicated to 12 Step Recovery: Serenity Found
_______________________________

Due to a technical difficulty:
New daily posts will resume Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Have a good one day at a time!

DAILY QUOTA:

"There is but one cause of disease -- poison toxemia -- most of which is created in the body by faulty living habits ..."
- Sir Arbuthnot Lane

"You wouldn't come to work with a hangover unless you were an alcoholic. Dude, you got a disease!"
- From the film, 'The School of Rock'

________________________

New links added today:

Forum, Stories, Poetry, Chat: AA Sober Living

No to alcohol: Alcohol 411

Christian recovery support: Alcoholics Victorious

Christian faith based organization: Just for Today Recovery

Network for improving treatment: Paths to Recovery
________________________

DAILY QUOTA:

"I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little."
- St Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:16

"When I was a practicing alcoholic, I was unbelievable. One side effect was immense suspicion. I'd come off tour like Inspector Clouseau on acid: 'Where did this cornflake come from? It wasn't here before'..."
- Ozzy Osbourne

QUIPPING POST:

Happy, but Worried
A woman was happy that her husband wasn't drinking anymore, but she was also worried about him. One evening she phoned her best friend and confided, "At the AA meeting he goes to, people take turns talking about their personal stories. But he told me that every time he's asked to share, he passes and just listens." Her friend tried to reassure her, "He hasn't been sober very long, so that's probably normal." The woman stopped her right there: "It's not normal for him -- all he ever used to talk about was himself, and he certainly never listened."

Link:

Taped speakers to download and listen to: XA-Speakers

DAILY QUOTA:

"The truth will make you free."
- Jesus

"When I thought I was going to die, and I did think that, I told Cheri the only consolation was I had no one to blame but myself... I did all the things, and lived the kind of life, to make myself an alcoholic."
- Pat Summerall, 'Duluth News Tribune'

QUIPPING POST:

Primary Purpose
Q: What is the secret primary purpose of Alanon?
A: To ensure that AA members' real stories get told.

DAILY QUOTA:

"Harry, we're alcoholics, we're generally satisfied to hurt ourselves."
- From the film, 'Where the Heart Is'

"I'm desperately trying to figure out why kamikaze pilots wore helmets."
- Dave Edison

QUIPPING POST:

First thing in the morning
A man's wife insisted that he go see a psychiatrist about his drinking. So to get her off his back, he went to see a doctor first thing in the morning. "My wife thinks I drink too much," he explained, "I told her it's normal and that I'm no different than other men." The doctor needed more information, "Well, for starters, do you drink in the morning?" The man didn't hesitate: "Sounds good doc, just give me a double of whatever you're having."

_______________________

Resources:

Summaries of latest research: Alcohol and Health

U.S. addiction recovery advocacy: Faces & Voices
_______________________

DAILY QUOTA:

"I did a television movie once called 'My Name is Bill W' and I did a movie called 'The Boost', and one was about of course the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the second was about cocaine addiction.... It's the reverberation, the ripple effect of substance abuse; it's astonishing how many lives it touches."
- James Woods, at 2003 'PRISM Awards'

"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects."
- Arnold Glasow

____________________

New links just added

Addictions from A to Z: AddictionZ

AA in England, Scotland and Wales: How to Find AA in UK
_____________________

DAILY QUOTA:

"Well you thought I'd be waitin' up when you came home last night,
You'd been out with all the boys and you ended up half tight;
But liquor and love that just don't mix, leave the bottle or me behind,
And don't come home a drinkin' with lovin' on your mind."
- Loretta Lynn lyrics

"It’s been so long since I made love, I can’t remember who get’s tied up."
- Joan Rivers

QUIPPING POST:

Special days
Two ladies were having coffee after an Alanon meeting when one of them said, "I heard of something that is supposed to help people like us who live with alcoholics or addicts. Pick a few days or weeks and do something just for you! Circle the days on a calendar to remind you that those are your special days to simply celebrate life! The idea is to do that on a regular basis." The second lady thought about it and replied: "I don't need to mark a calendar. I celebrate whenever my husband ends up in either detox or jail -- and that happens every couple months like clockwork."

DAILY QUOTA:

"I used to tell myself I drank because I was nervous ... Or because I was in an insecure business. And when people said I had a problem, I tried to prove I didn't. I'd read that if you could go without a drink for 21 days, you were not an alcoholic. I white-knuckled it for 21 days, only to go on a rampage on the 22nd. It took me a long time before I stopped kidding myself and realized I was an alcoholic and I will always be one."
- John Spencer, from 'Parade' article republished by ACA

"All my life I've wanted to be somebody -- I realize now that I should have been more specific."
- Lily Tomlin

QUIPPING POST:

Big Date
A drunk had a big date on the weekend and wanted to pick up something special for the occasion. He turned to the liquor store clerk for help, "I'm spending the day with my new lady friend tomorrow and she said she would do the cooking, so I'd like to bring a nice wine. Can you recommend something?" The clerk suggested, "Maybe just get a wine that you like and I'm sure she'll like it too." The drunk answered, "Oh, I don't care for wine myself, but I just thought she might like some. It's our first date so I want to make a good impression!" The clerk smiled, "Well, if you have an idea of what you'll be having I might be able to recommend something that goes with it." The drunk thought about it and replied: "Well, I'm bringing a six pack and a bottle of vodka for me, but I didn't ask her what she's making. I'm guessing maybe something like bacon and eggs since I'm going over there for breakfast."

DAILY QUOTA:

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action."
- Ghandi

"I have lived to thank God that all my prayers have not been answered."
- Jean Ingelow

QUIPPING POST:

Ferris wheel
Q: Why did an AA group hold their meetings on a Ferris wheel?
A: They were firm believers in the spirit of rotation.

DAILY QUOTA:

"Don't go around the world saying it owes you something. It owes you nothing. It was here first!"
- Mark Twain

"It's useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office."
- Shirley McLaine

QUIPPING POST:

Getting Married
A drunk announced to his drinking buddy that he was marrying the waitress from their usual drinking hole. His friend responded, "Well, congratulations you old dog you! She's good looking, that's for sure, but did you know that she's been divorced twice and has had some health issues to deal with as well?" The drunk wasn't swayed at all, "Look, I love her just the way she is and I'm not going to hold her past against her!" His buddy explained: "That's not what I mean -- don't you think she's already had enough problems without marrying you?"

DAILY QUOTA:

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, to fly we need only embrace each other."
- Jessamyn West

"He became an alcoholic but also had a bad memory -- sometimes forgetting to drink for days at a time. Then someone would remind him of his condition and he would start up again."
- Rick Chandler, Tahoe Daily Tribune

DAILY QUOTA:

"Every moment that I am centered in the future, I suffer a temporary loss of this life."
- Hugh Prather

"Right, here's the plan. First, we go in there and get wrecked, then we eat a pork pie, then we drop some Surmontil-50's each. That way we'll miss out on Monday and come up smiling Tuesday morning."
- from the film 'Withnail and I'

QUIPPING POST:

Stopped for a quick drink
A drunk stopped at the bar for a quick drink Friday after work. When he finally made his way home Monday morning, his wife was furious! After really letting him have it, she added, "Do you know I couldn't sleep all weekend?" The drunk replied: "You're not the only one -- you think I slept?"

DAILY QUOTA:

"I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I've met."
- Dwight Moody

"Even though I joke about my past or my drug addiction or alcohol addiction in the past, I do take it very seriously. It's not to be reckoned with. You know drugs and alcohol are very powerful and to make a long story short, can kill you."
- Andy Dick, at last year's PRISM Awards

QUICK E-QUIP:

Ultimatum
A man's girlfriend gave him an ultimatum: either get help for his drinking or get lost! He thought he should get a neutral opinion, so he asked a co-worker, "My girlfriend thinks I drink too much, but is there something so bad about having one glass of wine with supper?" His friend didn't think so, "I enjoy some wine with a good meal. She must be overreacting." The fellow felt vindicated: "Exactly! Do you like to chase it with some bourbon and a six-pack like me, too?"

New links added today:

National Institute on Drug Abuse: NIDA

Celebrating the art of making a difference: PRISM Awards

DAILY QUOTA:

"There's nothing like eavesdropping to show you that the world outside your head is different from the world inside your head."
- Thornton Wilder

"From his terrace, a neighbor in a pinstriped suit looked at me like I was a crazy drunk. I raised my glass and toasted his concern. Vodka in the morning is good (I thought). Vodka in the afternoon is even better. Not to mention healthy snacks of coke and grass. Maybe my neighbor didn't approve of a middle-aged businessman like me getting blasted at 8 a.m. Maybe he was on his way to Wall Street, where his world was neatly ordered. Well, my world was wildly disordered."
- Walter Yetnikoff, 'Howling at the Moon'

QUICK E-QUIP:

Detox
After yet another ugly binge, a drunk's doctor insisted that a stay at the local detox center was necessary. Checking in, a counselor asked him, "Tell me, as honestly as you can, why do you think you drink alcohol?" To the drunk, the answer was obvious -- he was no fool! If that was the toughest question they had, he knew this detoxing business would be a breeze! "That's easy," he answered, "I drink it because it comes in liquid form, otherwise I'd eat it."

DAILY QUOTA:

"Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want."
- Marsha Sinetar

"You know, booze isn't really your drug of choice anyway. You're addicted to chaos. For some of us, it's coke. For some of us, it's bourbon. But you? You got hooked on disaster."
- from the film, 'Changing Lanes'

QUICK E-QUIP:

Earthquakes
A drunk and his wife were having their morning coffee. The general tone of their conversation was pretty much the same as always that day: at one point the wife commented, "If you had been home the past two evenings instead of out drinking, you could have watched a TV mini-series with me. It was about earthquakes and how this one seismologist tries to find what's causing them." The drunk mumbled, "So what about it?" His wife got to her point, "I just thought that the way you vibrate and your hands shake in the morning, you could have related to the people in the earthquake zone!" The drunk wasn't amused, "Oh, that's what you thought is it? Well here's an aftershock for you: since you're so good at pointing out faults, maybe you could have helped that seismologist figure things out!" The wife jabbed back, "Don't push it mister, you're already on shaky ground."

DAILY QUOTA:

"People who pray for miracles usually don't get miracles. But people who pray for courage, for strength to bear the unbearable, for the grace to remember what they have left instead of what they have lost, very often find their prayers answered. Their prayers help them tap hidden reserves of faith and courage that were not available to them before."
- Harold S Kushner

"If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex?"
- Art Hoppe

____________

dryblog notes:

Technical difficulties
Experiencing problems lately loading or scrolling dryblog? If so, try clicking your browser "refresh" or "renew" button. Thanks for your patience while the issue is being resolved...

This blog's for you!
A new design format for dryblog is being devoloped. An interim version -- including the usual daily quotes jokes and news -- will be launched soon (God willing, probably within a month or so). After that, work will continue on the eventual full multimedia site, that will also offer recovery articles, graphics, some interactive features, expanded related links and more! Notes about the new site will be posted here as things develop...

DAILY QUOTA:

"Accepting does not necessarily mean 'liking,' 'enjoying,' or 'condoning.' I can accept what is, and be determined to evolve from there. It is not acceptance but denial that leaves me stuck."
- Nathaniel Branden

"I wasn't an alcoholic -- but it did get to the stage where I was enjoying drinking more than playing football."
- Darren Williams

QUICK E-QUIP:

Monday Liver
A drunk suffered all weekend. His liver was acting up again, so Monday morning he went straight to his doctor's office. The doctor poked and prodded for a while and suspected the worst, "Are you still drinking every day?" The drunk replied: "Sure, but it doesn't seem to help."

__________________________

Resources:

Helping those who need it most: Recovery Lane

Acquisition and dissemination of knowledge: Center of Alcohol Studies

Click here to go to top of main page