>>Maybe I really am nuts. I am sure I have tried everyone's patience.
>>
>>When I am sober I don't feel nuts.
>>
>>When I go to AA meetings I don't feel nuts. When I go to meetings I feel it. But when they get going about the higher power they drive me away.
>>
>>I absolutely believe it when they say this is a progressive disease that can kill you.
>>
>>I am a terrible person when I drink. I hope that's only when.
>>
>>There is a woman I like in the group. She smiles a lot. She always comes in late. She speaks frankly but not theatrically I like everything about her. She is an alcoholic, like me, but she smiles and laughs easily. She is working hard at staying sober. I like her.
>>
>>Who cares what a drunk thinks? How worthless is that, even at Christmas?
>
>ahhh. I've never understood the logic of those 12-step programs. Like how the heck is sitting around yakin about bad times and booze gonna help someone quit drinking? Doesn't seem like it's work too well to me - I'd think the idea would be to find OTHER things to think/talk about - but then again I'm obviously no expert at such things. And if you're an athiest it's even worse. But hey if it works for some people then I suppose it's a good thing. In the meantime there are other options like www.non12.com
>Good luck with the battle Mike - I was wondering how it was going for ya lately......

Hey Victor. It has not been going so bad overall. I'm not sitting on the beach in Hawaii or anything ;-)

AA is actually OK despite my lack of spiritual belief. There is a group of regulars and I have come to trust them. All the open meetings start the same way -- the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. My fellow members come from all walks of life, from the stereotypically down and out to those fully functioning on the outside. There are crappy indulgent stories and stories that hit you right in the chest.