Happy New Year !

Well, this will be interesting. This is my first Sober New Year's Eve since I was in High School. Let's see, that was 1976 so I've blown 31 of them in a row. Not like I don't remember them, or that this one will be any different than the others, minus the drugs and alcohol, but I can't say that there was a "Happy" one in the bunch, which just makes them just a "New Year. (Oh Crap! he's gonna sing... and Barry Manilow at that... I'm gonna PUKE... SOBER !) "It's just another New Year's Eve, another night like all the rest. It's Just another New Year's Eve, let's make it the best. It's just another New Year's Eve, it's just another Auld Lang Syne, but when we're through this New Year you'll see, we'll be just fine.

I guess, when you boil it all down, I just made it through my 1st Year Anniversary of being 100% Clean and Sober (not a slip, not a drip), Thanksgiving, Christmas, my 46th (SHIT !) Birthday and 4 hours away from the New Year, not to mention the almost uncountable hours spent on doctors visits, AA meetings, physical therapy, medications, injections, extractions and tests. After all of that, I still have a few brain cells left to fire enough to keep my tired heart beating, and my heart-light shining. So thank you, my friends for putting up with me through all this. and, most importantly, Thank You God, for the strength to continue, my family and my friends to hold me up when I'm tired and lonely, and the humility to know where it comes from.

And so, my friends, may this New Year bring us all health, happiness and long life.

I SURVIVED !

Well, Christmas came and went and I SURVIVED ! That's a whole lot more than I can say for last year. Last year I was laying in a hospital bed at a convalescent facility and couldn't even get to the bathroom by myself. (He could go, but couldn't get there - you make the the picture in YOUR head - We've been there) I'm still a little tired, and need to do something to loose a few pounds now, but I'm feeling "Healthy". It seems I still have a bad tooth, (THAT will have to come out!) and I need to re-build some strength in my back, but It's all Good !

Time to get to work !

Abby Normal ?

If you know who or what "Abby Normal" (without looking it up) be the first to post a comment to THIS post and win a prize.

Getting Tired !

It's Wednesday, the 19th and there's not a whole lot left in the tank, and there's miles to go before I sleep. I'm almost twice as active as I've been in a while and the stamina is not there like it used to be. Back when I was with that Kids group, I remember working 8hr. days, THEN doing a show at a mall or old folks home. Mind you, I was 10 plus yrs. younger then, but I feel about 30 yrs. older now (you think is was all that drinking ?). I gotta pull this one through, though. There's too much riding on it (Life?). Can't you just go away till New Years, Phil? (What? I didn't say anything. Besides, you can't have any fun without hurting me.) Wanna Bet ? (Yeah, you bet your life and I'll bet I end up in a jar at some medical school labeled "Abby Normal")

I gotta go lay down. I'm arguing with my liver again.

It's a Miracle !

O.K, well, it's not a miracle quite yet, but things ARE getting Better. I realize that Christmas is NOT all about me. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to stop watching my Christmas Movies, Cartoons, Carols and such. You're welcome to watch and experience them with me.


I Do wish my Zoe, Monica, Renee, Gail, Janna, Ashley, Donna, Devyn, Melissa, Karen, Tracy & Family, Jeff (Lefty), and other loved ones, and all my family were here to share this with me. After all, a year ago I was beginning to drift back from a Coma, and being "MOSTLY dead" I really DO have a lot to be thankful for this year.

"God Bless Us, Every One !"

Well, it appears that I have been rebuked for the Grinching of Myself (Imagine that!) I feel that I need to add some additional information to justify this, so here is an excerpt from the reason I gave to my Cousin, Karen. I realize that is, technically, a "previously published work" but it was too good to not use again.

Dear, Cuz ..."First, I have Grinched myself because, as you noticed, I have been whining to many of my friends for THEIR LACK of "Christmas Spirit." Our "Boomer" generation was raised with the stop action animation of such classics as "Rudolf..."(Burl Ives), "Santa Clause is Coming to Town"(Fred Astaire), and standard animations of "How the Grinch..."(Boris Karloff), "Frosty..."(Jimmy Durante) and, of course, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (penned by the now immortal Charles Schultz). That's where I learned about OUR Traditional "Christmas" Ask a kid today who Scrooge is and they'll tell you "Donald Ducks Rich Uncle. I mean CHRIST ALMIGHTY ! (By the way, that's His NAME, not a cuss word) (No, I didn't mean YOU) The Pea-Brained... I mean "Generation X" and "Generation Next" kids, in their teens, 20's and 30's don't know this Christmas. They know X-Box, & "Guitar Hero", Hillary Duff, Hanna Montana and "A High School Musical Christmas" (Actually, I made that last one up, but is it a stretch ?)

So my point, in the blog was "I WANT MY CHRISTMAS" damn it ! I Don't WANT to change. I want Christmas to be about "Trimming the Tree", not the Presents under it. I want "Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing" not "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". I Want an Oompa-Loompa NOW ! ! ! (Oops, sorry) But do you get my point ? And my Point is "Christmas doesn't belong to Me" and I shouldn't act like it does. That's why I awarded myself the first "Golden Grinch". Because Christmas will be what it is, whether I like it or not and even if I steal all their Hornswagglers and Bambooslers, when they wake up on Christmas Morning, those F-ing Who's will still gather around the tree, sing that damn song, and feast on "Roast Beast"... Because It's CHRISTMAS ! "

I hope this makes things a little more clear as to how I am feeling this Holiday Season. Since I LOST the last one (that "IN A COMA" thing), I feel that I am allowed to have a little extra Christmas this year, and I intend to do so whether everyone likes it or not. If I try to shove one last bite of Christmas into you, take no offense but, damn it, your gonna eat it, or "NO PIE FOR YOU !"

... Stink, Stank, Stunk !

Well, I'm told that the last few days, in my attempts to have myself a Very, Merry Christmas, I have attempted to force that same Holly, Jollyness on other people. That would make me the First Official Recipient of the "Great Golden Grinch" award.

This award has been present to Doug Coutts for his Un-Nerving "Pity-Me" attitude due to his personal desire to celebrate the Holiday Spirit. This revelry should be celebrated by the individual as he or she sees fit, and not to the standards Mr. Coutts sees fit. This attitude exemplifies the Grinchiest of traits and is truly deserving of this award.

"December 7th, 1941

A Day that will Live in Infamy" I, of course, was not born then, and my parents were still in their youth. The day, actually, didn't mean...anything to me, but the Submarine Base @ Pearl Harbor is right across from the Arizona Memorial (about a mile). We, on the sub, would always look at it and curse as we scrubbed the film of oil/seawater that collected at the water line on our boat.

It wasn't till I had Submarine Base Duty weekend and had to drive a group of Japanese Sailors for a tour around the base, that I realized how important that Memorial is to US. When we visited the Arizona, I watched as one of the Japanese sailors made a gesture with his hand like an airplane crashing, then an explosion, then pointing all around the harbor, as his fellow sailors chuckled quietly.

Well, payback is a Bitch ! Our next (unscheduled) stop was the Submarine Base Memorial, dedicated to the Submarine Fleet in the Pacific. Inside that leftover aircraft hanger, encircling the entire roof line 3 1/2 times are little Japanese Flags. When I pointed out to their interpretor that those 239 flags signified an aircraft, ship or transport SUNK by the Submarine Fleet during the war, those chuckling faces turned quite somber.

Today, We Honor the Brave Men and Women who Fought and Died to Secure the Rights we have Today. Anchors, Away!

It's December 5th.

Does anyone actually READ my blog ? If Not, I'm wasting my time posting it.

If a Recovering Alcoholic falls in the woods, does anyone hear his cry for help ?

(Would SOMEONE PLEASE answer ! I'm the only one he gets to talk to, and he's driving me Ape-Shit!)