>>>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 ;-)

Glad to hear it. Funny thing when yer more sober than drunk things have a tendency to work out (eventually). Not always easy to keep that in mind sometimes though.

>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.

Yep. I dunno I would find it kind of depressing myself - but then again I guess it would help keep one's feet on the ground. AA obviously works for a lot of people (from all walks of life) and even with the spirutal hangups everyone there has the same goal so that would have to be a huge help. The holidays are always tricky - do yer best to hang in there and remember what's worked for you so far.