Major drama on a Sunday

Ok when I say major drama I mean it, and I'm not even kidding. Well job two is definitely gonna be an adventure. I noticed one of the guys just wasn't right, slurring his words, a bit of a stagger in his step, his eyes seemed to be looking at something in California.

He came out onto the front porch smoking a cigarette, it was half gone when he came out so I asked why he was smoking in the house, a major no no. His response was don't worry about it it's no big deal (not being able to type his slurred speech doesn't give this justice). He then puts out his cigarette and staggers into his room. My jaw dropped, head tilted to one side in amazement. I looked at a friend who stopped over to see my other roommate, he looked at me, and I saw all that I needed to see.

I followed him into his room to confront the situation and asked him what he was on. His response was I'm not on anything then the scent of a drunks breath filled my nostril. I promptly asked what he had been drinking and he of course responded that he was sober. I walked away and got my test kit out. We do a saliva test. I handed him a paper cup and told him to spit in it, swearing he was not drunk he complied. I tested the saliva and he was two times the legal limit to drive, but still swears he has been sober six months. Now he is screaming and cursing, getting very belligerent, he calls his mom and asked her for some reason to talk to me. I take the phone and she asked how much has he drank immediately.

Well at this point I now have the owner there for backup as well as two other people and I sit down with him and explain in a very soft tone of voice that he needs to go to detox. He starts screaming, not understanding why, refusing to go. One of the other guys tries to reason with him and he jumps up like he is gonna hit him, oooops mistake, the roommate gave him a little shove and he went to the ground. At this point he no longer wants to fight with him anymore, he now turns his attention to me. Calling me every four letter word he could think of, still swearing he was sober, wishing I would stop picking on him. He then decides that he doesn't like either choice (detox or just leave) so I step out to call the police. As I walk through the door I tell him even his mom knew from three words he was drunk and that's when he decided he wanted to fight me. I stepped into the yard because I have been trained to get someone into an open space when they want to go nuts, this gives the best chance for no one to get hurt if it does come to an altercation. He moved toward me and I push on his chest with my left hand, right hand now clinching into a fist just in case. I think he saw that because he backed down just as fast as he came forward.

At this point I have officially lost my patients for this freaking guy so I call the cops. They show up two deep and that's when I get a lesson in halfway house 101. To legally kick him out we need the same license that a hotel would have, and we don't. The cops realize what we are doing there and support us as far as they can. They even convince him that he does have to leave. He walks away, they drive away, then he comes back.

At this point I am as mad as a midget with a yoyo. I call the cops back because he is trying to force his was back in the house. His key won't work because we changed the locks pretty quick. My roommate tries to go outside and reason with him, but you can't reason with an unreasonable person. This time when the cops come back there are three of them. They very patiently tried to get him to do something that would get him arrested or baker acted, but to no avail. He is in the front yard screaming that he did nothing wrong.

Cops couldn't make him leave, reasoning couldn't make him leave.....I had a bright idea, how about trickery?????

I walk out to him and the cops, interrupt and announce that if he will go to carp detox, have them test him, if he is clean and sober I would pay for a months rent for him out of my pocket. Now this made him think he was even more right, and he agreed.

I know addiction is the same no matter what the persons drug of choice is, because the substance isn't that persons problem, it's their solution (as crappy of a solution as it is). But I will say this, I will take a crack head over a drunk any day. The crackhead might take the tv with him, but when he goes he never comes back. Drunks believe no one is smart enough to figure them out, therefore they can sneak around people who know better and get away with something.

Uuuuuuuuggggghhhhhhhhhhhh! Well that's it for now, I need to research this hotel license thing. (deep sigh) ok everyone, let's make it a great day!

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A big surprise

Ok, well im sorry I missed a day yesterday, I was very busy sleeping all day preparing myself for the start of another weekend marathon with the kiddies.

I feel as though I would be remiss if i didnt share a few updates on past days topics. First about my friend, I am now quite sure that her special someone is not married and it seems like maybe he read my blog about him and it motivated him to get off his butt and do something. She is just as happy as a person should be and I have decided that makes me happy. Second, as you know I spoke at a meeting Thursday night and it was awesome. I do love when i get an opertunity to speak, it kinda gets my blood flowing.

Now about todays subject..... I have decided not to talk about my work life here because the type of work I do. The field I work in is bound by many laws that prevent me from sharing details, but I can talk about this. I have loved my immediate supervisors since day one with this company, but the higher ups on the other hand I have not really had an oppertunity to interact with because they are sleeping while I'm working and vice versa. Some of my co-workers have told me that they heard my name come out of the owners mouth followed by nice words, but i don't usally take that serious. My only concern about nice things from the higher ups has been when I go to the bank the check clears. I have worked for some companies that was a real concern at, but I am always confident I wont have that problem here. Well now we come to today; you all know that I was on vacation two weeks ago and I was told when I planned my vacation that I should not expect to recieve my PTO hours in January because they expire on December 31. I was resigned to the fact that I would have a very tight couple weeks and was ok with that because the vacation was worth it. Well two weeks ago I got my check and had missed one day from that pay period and they paid me. I was very pleased and the report on my check still showed 22 hours of PTO. I started to hope that I might get that 22 hours on todays check, but prepared myself to not recieve it just in case. WELL.... I came into work last night and my check was in my box awaiting me. I slowly opened and to my absolute amazement..... they paid me for a full week. I was completely floored.

I have never worked for a company that looked after thier people like this place looks after me. I dont have the hardest job in the world, but it is by no means easy.  Let me tell you I have had a passion for my job since I started, BUT now... wow I have a passion for the people I work for. As I move forward in this journey and get licensed by the state to work as a counselor, I truely hope that I can move up with these people.

Well thats enough for now, have a great Saturday!

Crossing the lines

Well happy Thursday to all.

Just a note before I start on today's topic, thanks to all for the comments on yesterday's fiasco. I do not however agree that he is married, according to my friend he is divorced. I will however repeat my comment, creepy!

But enough about that. As you know I have been a member of alcoholics anonymous for almost two years. Before that I struggled with my addiction for more than two decades bouncing in and out of another twelve step fellowship. Let me make this disclaimer, that twelve step fellowship was NOT the reason that I didn't find a solution then! I just was not ready for my solution. When I got clean aa was convenient because of where I was living and finding rides to meetings was easier if I went to aa. I also found the perfect teacher for me there and began to change my life.

Well, the two fellowships are both based on the exact same steps and principles, but there is a distinct line between them. Very few people attend meetings in both fellowships. Many in aa have some sort of substance abuse history other that alcohol, and most junkies also had issues with alcohol, and more importantly than that those substances really were not anyone's problem it was the solution that we came up with (yes it was a poor solution). So I do not understand why some people have a problem with what they call the other fellowship.

By now your probably wondering if I have a point, and since I forgot my point for a second I had the same thought, but I do. I was asked last week while at the Fern House if I would come to a meeting of that other fellowship and share my story. I, as I would always do for aa cheerfully said yes. He then gave me the details of the meeting and come to find out it is on lake worth beach about 100 feet from the ocean. I thought what a nice place for a meeting, unless it's the last week in January. Fortunately it won't be too cold tonight, high fifties.

Now I share all this because I can't tell the whole story as speaking about another fellowship is a no no, so I can't talk about where I found my solution. I can talk about my solution as they have the same steps, and I can tell my story because it's mine and no one gets to take that from me. If asked I will tell anyone or everyone that aa is where I found god and myself. I guess I can hope for more than one thing tonight. Always when sharing I hope that someone can relate to my story and realize that they can also change their life. Second maybe, just maybe my crossing the line will help blur it for someone that is to this point closed minded.

Here's hoping all your faces have smiles

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Yes it's Wednesday again which means a trip to the Fern tonight. My favorite night of the week! Also three of the guys in my houses have expressed an interest in going with me this week, I can only hope that they find the help they need there. Last week my group finished so we will be starting new tonight with a new group of fernites!

So last night I was sitting in front of the tv unable to find anything to watch because every network in the world found in necessary to broadcast that pant load, um I mean the president. I thought to myself I'll watch it hoping to hear the magic words, you know "I'd like to speak to you on the plight of the immigrant, as a Nigerian born man I know" but just as he was introduced my phone rang. I of course answered right away hoping for something more entertaining and boy did I get it.

Now I must start by saying this person knows I have a blog, because she said I better not read about this on the internet tomorrow. I just can't help it so I will not use any names. Now I received this call because she knows I will tell her the truth regardless of if it is painful, and I did. She is in a new relationship, well not really. She met this guy on the train about six months ago and because they both spend an hour each day on the train they began to talk to pass the time. Now there is obviously some sort of chemistry because she is describing a man that puts butterflies in her stomach. Now I have the impression that they have been dating for a while because I heard that they had talked about what type of wedding they were going to have, the type of dress she would wear, even what song their first dance would be. I was getting excited for her and her happiness, but then the bombshell dropped. They have not even been on a date yet (unless you count a daily train ride as romance). I now have the opinion that he is creepy because men do not plan out their married life based on commuter conversation. I cant speak for the women out there because quite frankly I don't really understand how you all think, but as a guy that just isn't natural.

Now the actual reason for her sharing this story was to ask a guys opinion about if I think he really likes her. This I couldn't answer. I did tell her i am not sure that I care if he likes her cause I'm not sure if I like him for her, but to make her happy I gave her some advice to put them in a position where something that they do could be called a date and call me back to tell me how it was. I hope she takes my advise BEFORE sending out the invitations to her wedding or thinking up names for the children...ooops too late her mom already did that.

Now for the reason that I shared this with you.....SEE MOM I AM NOT THE MOST SCREWED UP, I told you so.

Have a great day everyone!

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Another Tuesday in paradise

Well paradise if you love overcast skies, wind, and rain but I don't mind those, it's not like I'm the type to go lay on the beach anyway.

Well I got the estimates on the damage to my car, the hood is gonna be three hundred plus tax and the windshield will be two fifty plus tax and my crappy insurance company will not cover any of it. According to the guy at the glass company it is only scratched not cracked so insurance will not cover it. I gotta say I find this whole thing just crap-tastic. The worst part is I will not have a car for a couple days. Now I know what your thinking, I went the first eighteen months that I was clean without a car and managed to get everywhere I needed to go. I am really trying to remind myself of this same fact but it's a hard pill to swallow.

Here is my biggest problem with the whole thing, the sheriffs department found the guys who did it at their mothers house......and didn't arrest them. I asked the officer why and his response was he needs a warrant from the states attorneys office first. Now I still remember my days of living on the wrong side of the law, and I always got to taste the dust on the hood of their car as well as enjoy the feeling of the handcuffs two clicks to tight for my wrists. Is this whole we can't arrest the criminal new? I guess it's their way of avoiding overcrowding in the jail....oh wait no they used to make me sleep on the floor. I don't get it but I guess I'm not supposed to right now. Oh well.

Enough about that! I did get to spend some time with the pops today. He needed a ride to the doctor so I went to help him. Now I'm off to a meeting to try finding my serenity, have a great day yall!

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Drama, drama, drama

Yes it's what it looks like. I actually couldn't get all three cars in the picture. It has been a crazy morning here at the homestead.

I had gotten home from work about an hour before the festivities began and I was just laying down. When I heard a banging at the door. Apparently one of the guys in my house pissed off his crack head ex girlfriend so her three brothers came over to kill him. Well we called 911 and the fabulous PBSO took fourteen minutes to respond. Well when my roommate wouldn't come out of the house the took a parking stone and threw it, bouncing it off the hood of my car and into the windshield.





Turns out the one with the pitchers arm just got sentenced to ten years probation last month, so with this new charge of criminal mischief and vandalism he will be going to prison for his stupidity, and his brothers will also end up with charges as well. You know I am so damn mad I could spit nails but I am lucky (REALLY trying to look at the bright side) I have friends and they are being mobilized. One of my buddy Daryl's tenants does body work on cars so that will help with the hood and my insurance should take care of the windshield. I just really don't know what to do about this guy I lice with. I know her from the past and nothing, and I mean nothing but turmoil has ever been in the same room as her. I told him repeatedly for several months now that he can not have any involvement with her if he is going to live under the same roof as me. He has repeatedly lied saying that he is not with her or even talking to her but here comes her redneck crackhead brothers two months later destroying my property. What did he offer me for causing this drama? A hearty sorry about your truck while he walked away to call his new drama queen. The more I think about this the madder I am getting so I will stop. On my way to see the parental units right now, have a great day, I promise to try to myself!
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New Job, Day 1

Well, as we have spoken about here yesterday was the first day that i was actually in charge of the sober houses, and if i had to describe the first day in two words.......MAN DOWN! yup we had to lose one of the guys because he just absolutly wanted to run things his way and i was going to fall in line with his plan. Or not! I felt as though i would be doing him a favor that might help him in a future stay in another sober living community with some first hand knowlege of the facts of life. I have to say it was not my favorite thing to do, it sucked. But I am commited to not taking this persons failure as my own.

You know people had to explain to me what the facts of life are, sometimes quite painfully. Now its his turn. I will pray for him to find his way as many prayed for me... and we will move forward, as well as make it a great day!

P.S. the kiddies are still the top job and keeping me VERY busy. Right now its 5:45 in the morning and typing this constitutes my only the second time i could stop for five minutes in a row.

Thats it for now, heres hoping all your faces have smiles!

A laugh for your Saturday

If you ever feel a little bit stupid, just dig this up and read it again; you'll begin to think you're a genius.
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(On September 17, 1994, Alabama's Heather Whitestone was selected as Miss America 1995.)
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever,"
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
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"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff."
--Mariah Carey
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"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life,"
-- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign
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"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body,"
--Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward.
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"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country,"
--Mayor Marion Barry, Washington , DC . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it,"
--A congressional candidate in Texas .
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"Half this game is ninety percent mental."
--Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark
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"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.."
--Al Gore, Vice President
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"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix ."
-- Dan Quayle
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"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
--Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
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"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people."
-- Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instructor.
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"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
--Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina
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"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas"
--Keppel Enderbery
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"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed, and it will monitor their heart throughout the night And the next morning, when they wake up dead, there'll be a record."
--Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman
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Unveiling

Well, as I have told you, there is a BIG announcement to come. Well after two meetings with one guy, one meeting with two guys whose opinion I trust better than my own, long thought, not to mention some prayer and meditation looking for the answer to my question..... I have decided to go for it!

That being said, start the drum roll.... I have a second job. Wow put like that I guess all the suspense was over dramatic and a let down, sorry. Most of you know that I work with the kiddies, and if you don't read some past posts. What I haven't shared with you is that I also live in a sober house for men. The reason I have stayed there so long has changed several times. First it was I had no drivers license and it was convenient. Second became school, very close to school and my responsibilities are minimal there and it just worked. Well the owner approached me a few days ago and told me that he has no time to run the place anymore. I personally think that he is frustrated because dealing with people in early recovery is a real handful. I can honestly say that the inmates have taken control of the asylum, and if Daryl doesn't take a break he's gonna end up in an asylum himself!

I have been helping him for a while because I gotta live there too and didn't want to bounce my head on any padded walls but I have been doing this strictly for a few perks here and there. But now he is stepping aside and needs help. I laid out certain requirements that I had one by one (and there were many because there are some things wrong that need fixed for my name to be on this) and I laid out how I would like to be compensated (and yes I was more than reasonable and fair) and on each and every point that I made his response was either it's totally up to you do what is right, or no problem. You know this was a business meeting(although between two good friends) I really expected it to be a negotiation... But it wasn't at all.

There are gonna be several people who just don't like me because they are used to running the place and some of them aren't qualified to run a microwave. Some will adapt to living within the rules as I will lay them out, and some will be looking for a different place to live.

I spoke with my mentor and friend who also does this type of work about the guilty feelings associated with telling someone they have to move out right now. He shared a few things with me. First set expectations, he doesn't throw anyone out, they throw themselves out because they know what is expected. Second don't take responsibility for peoples success when their lives change because I didn't change them. Also don't take responsibility for peoples failure because they fail themselves. Third and most important you don't have to treat everyone the same because people are different, but they all need to be treated fair.

Well that's it for now, I have some serious planning to do. Have a great day and remember... You'll never know how big someone else's smile can get till you give them one of your own!


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Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul
In the fell clutch of circumstances
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of change
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the year
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley


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Happy Wednesday

Well last night started a new semester at school (yes I know the picture isn't very good, what can I do I was driving when I took this) I looked at me schedule and to my surprise I have this class this week, then an online class in feb. and nothing else till march. I am thinking about adding another class to help speed up things. Anyway I walk into the classroom and sit down, open my briefcase, take out my iPad, log on to the school Internet, and I feel a tap on my shoulder. Looking back I see an oddly familiar face, but couldn't quite figure out who this was. Then she smiled real big and said hi Chuck! It was Stephanie, a woman that I worked and was friends with back in 1993. Quite a nice surprise! She is now a yoga and fitness instructor and looking to take those skills into the recovery field. Class was great and my favorite instructor Tina had us almost ready to leave when the power went out and we had to leave anyway.

Now that was great but not even the best thing from yesterday. I can't talk about the best thing yet, because it's not been finalized yet, but check back often because I am anticipating a BIG announcement on a great opportunity. More will be reveled.

Tonight is my favorite Fern House meeting, followed by a meeting with some people to try and finalize the details for this announcement. I am also going to sign up at the gym. A Youfit just opened in my neighborhood and ten dollars a month for the gym I need to do this.

That's it for now, here's hoping all your faces have smiles!

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Hoping for a great Thursday.

Last night was a great night back at the Fern! For those who do not know I am alumni of this great place, and I go back there every Wednesday night to share how I got out of the pit of addiction and make some suggestions for the guys following me. I just love this two hours of my week because every time I go to the fern house I get reminded of why I stopped using drugs in the first place. I also deepen my passion for sobriety each time I show up and help someone else just like me.

Well enough about that. I see from all your comments that your all on pins and needles about the upcoming announcement. Unfortunately I am not yet able to talk about it just yet as there are still too many details to be worked out. I can tell you that if this happens I will be a much busier person, but I think it will be beneficial on several levels. I just have to get the ducks in a row and make sure that I am not walking into a situation that would be bad for me. I promise all the details will be to you soon.

Tonight is a back to school moment but Rodney Dangerfield is not invited. I am looking forward to this and by the end of the night another class will be completed and I will be that much closer to being able to get my councilors license. Well that's it for now talk to you guys later, till then have a great day!

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Back to normal

Tuesday afternoon and the reality of normal life is settling in. For all those anxiously awaiting pictures of the people of walmart, sad news. I did find a great picture that I would have loved to share with you but I couldn't get the camera out of my pocket and turned on fast enough, ooops.

I went to starbucks this morning for a very relaxing cup of coffee shared with my iPad. Well I found an article on the new starbucks drink cup size being bigger than the average human stomach which I found very interesting. I decided to share the graphic with one of the employees and she looked at me and said "just imagine how bad that is for you". Now I know not everyone loves their job, or there place in life, but I took her comment to mean I shouldn't have my favorite vanilla cafe frappachino. Maybe tomorrow I'll try dunkin doughnuts... I'm sure that's MUCH better for me.

Enough about that, tonight it's back to school! Client intake and assessment is on the menu at school this week. That's great because I do that at my job already. Either I am gonna breeze through this class, or I will learn some things that will help me get better at my job right away... Well probably both! I am also quite stoked because the teacher, Tina, is just great. She is very informative covers what needs to be covered, and let's us go. Some of the instructors are very monotone, scattered, very longwinded, and make Chuck sleepy.

Well I'm gonna go now I need to review before class at five. Have a great day!

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Monday in paradise

Good morning from paradise. At least the day started looking like paradise, now there is a tornado watch and it's very humid. Last night was my first night back with the kiddies and was pretty uneventful. I really had some difficulty staying awake, I really got used to sleeping at night like a normal person does. The best part is they are working me back in slow, I worked last night, have the next few nights off, then back to normal schedule on Friday.
The reason for this is I go back to school Tuesday and Thursday this week. I really like school, but I don't always understand how the classes that I have to take could ever be put into value. I should say I used to say that back in high school and I can think of at least no times that knowing if y=3x+5 and if a train is traveling west at 47mph into a15mph wind then y=?????...... Okay maybe I'll pay a little more attention this time and can maybe answer some questions later.
For today there is a trip to the walmart in my future. I'm sure most of you have gotten. Those people of walmart emails with pictures of the guys wearing dresses, the extra fat women wearing a medium t-shirt that covers about half her fat rolls... You know the emails, well I'm taking the camera going in search of these relatives of the guy from deliverance.
Well that's it for now, here's hoping all your faces have smiles


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Sunday afternoon

Well it's Sunday and my vacation officially ends in about two hours. This has been a very relaxing week but I must say I am ready to get back to work. I stopped in there yesterday for about twenty minutes and I realized that I do truly belong there. I was inundated by friends asking how my trip was and much I was missed and that left me with a very good feeling. You know for many years of my life no one wanted the person I was to be around. People slammed doors in my face when I knocked. Now I know why and don't blame anyone who did that. Now there are true friends and I want to say I appreciate you all! Well that's it for now cause I need t watch a little football before work. Here's hoping all your faces have smiles...cause mine does!


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Saturday on dry land

Well it's Saturday and I'm home. It was a great vacation but the sound of the washing machine is a reminder that it's time to get back to normal life. There will be no more four course meals served at my whim, but vacations are just that, a brief separation from reality. I stopped by work to check my schedule and realized I kinda missed the place, well I will be back there tomorrow night. Maybe one last vision for your drooling pleasure








Now back to reality, it's playoff weekend for football which makes me happy. I also have a Saturday night off work for the first time in quite a while so I am going to a meeting that I really like but never get to go to!

Well that's it for now, here's hoping you all have a great day!

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Day seven

Yes that is what it looks like, we are almost home and the cruise is almost over. Very sad moment, but it has been a spectacular time for all of us. I can only pray for good health so we are all able to do this again! I will be putting all the pictures up on facebook tomorrow night and more will follow as the group is emailing everyone all the photos.

With all the weather problems we have had (rain, tropical storm force winds, missed ports, etc.) you would think that the group would be bummed, but everyone just had a blast.

Just one question: who is cooking dinner for me and serving it tomorrow?

Can't wait to talk to everyone soon! Till then have a great day!

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Cozumel part two

Well this was our second stop in Cozumel. For those who missed the last two posts here, we have had high winds not to mention pretty high seas. These two factors have cause our captain to skip Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico. Instead of Costa Maya today we went back to Cozumel. I don't know how Mexican phones work or if they use smoke signals, because most of the shops in the port didn't open until noon and we made port at nine o'clock. It was very windy, overcast and in the sixties. Now that might have bothered me except if I was at home it would have been fourth degrees, windy and me working.... I'll take this, but thanks for offering!
Now tonight was a completely different story as our entire group of fourteen skipped the dinning room and went to the steak house upstairs! Dinner included a New England crab cake which was awesome, the best lobster bisque I have ever in my life eaten, and you guessed it surf and turf. I normally do not like filet minion because it does not usually have much flavor, but this just melted in my mouth and the lobster was great as well.
One more day left at sea, we have a 36 hour steam back to Cape Canaveral and then Saturday morning back home. Well it's only 11 oclock, much to early to be in the room, I am gonna put on a jacket and head up on deck. Have a great day!

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Wed at sea

Well there goes Isla Roatan Honduras as we sailed away unable to make port due to rough weather conditions. The port, mahogany bay, faces south and is very narrow. The strong winds crossing the ship made docking impossible.

Well, now the wind is blowing 45 mph from the north and makes the stop in Costa Maya impossible.... So were going back to Cozumel! I think this is pretty cool as I wasn't able to do all I intended. Carnival as a company really stepped up and gave everyone on the ship a twenty percent discount on a future cruise. Now I think that is pretty freaking awesome considering this was something completely out of their control. They really know how to create raving fans!

Dinner tonight was fabulous, fresh mozzarella, caesar salad, seafood newberg, and bitter&blanc for dessert. For those who don't know, that is amazing, they take all the scraps from all the cakes they make and make a sweet bread pudding with bitter chocolate and cream!

On my way up to the lido deck to watch the stars and feel the breeze. I will check in from Cozumel's Internet cafe tomorrow.
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Day four.. Roatan Honduras

Well it's day four and we are just south of my favorite island, Isla Roatan, Honduras. Have tried twice to dock the ship, but due to high winds And the size of the ship this is as close as I get to roatan



Carnival has decided for safety reasons not to dock and we are going to have an extra sea day, which is ok I guess. Well I gotta go make a new plan for today... I leave you with this mouth watering picture of last nights dinner


A duet of filet minion and short rib confit. Have a great day, I know I'm gonna!

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Tuesday in Belize

Well it's Tuesday morning in the wonderful nation on Belize. We are anchored anoint three miles off the coast and there are small boats called tenders picking up passengers.
Now I said we were three miles off shore, I'll tell you if that's as close as I have to get to Belize I will be happy. I have nothing against the people in Belize it's just the city reminds me of a cross between Beirut and the ghetto.

Whats the lie most often told in Mexico? Answer: of course we filter our water. Walking around the ship this morning it seems some people fell for that lie! None of us were that stupid though.

What's the lie second most often told in Mexico? Answer: I will be right back with your change. Didn't get us with that one either. There will be more to come on this subject.

That's it for now, have a great day


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Day Three in Cozumel

Yes, that's me wearing a tie. I know but don't get used to it cause it will happen one more time this year, and that's Thursday. You can bet if I'm wearing a tie there was lobster and jumbo shrimp in my immediate future!

Some of you may be wondering where are the pictures.... Well the ships Internet is very slow so I am now sitting in the Internet cafe in Cozumel. Well the trip has been fabulous so far I must say. Day two was spent staring at light blue sky's and deep blue seas, not to mention losing my butt at the blackjack table.

To give you a brief tour of the ship





This is the most festive pool you will ever find


And if you ever dreamed about playing chess with knee high chess pieces they have you covered as well!

We just got into Cozumel, and it dawned on me that I had no sunglasses, I found a pair of Ed Hardy's and talked the guy down to fifteen bucks. These are the small things that keep me happy.

Well I need to get back to having fun so to all of you, here's hoping all your faces have smiles
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Day two in paradise

You know I just don't think there is anything better than a sunrise over the open ocean. This is day two of the cruise and we are skirting the Florida keys
Day one was a barrel of laughs, the kind of delirious laughs that come from staying awake for thirty some hours at a time. I do think I did great at it cause I never even got grumpy, but really who could be grumpy here



Leaving port was very nice, a lovely view of NASA and the cape, could only wish for a launch while we were leaving... Maybe next time! In a few hours we will see land for the last time till tomorrow when we get to Cozumel.



Here's hoping you have a great day, I sure will
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Location:Just south of the keys

This Saturday was ment for sailing

First a shout out to a new follower, JETER welcome.. I will be traveling with the flat version of you this week, pictures will follow.

Well the last night with the kiddies was pretty uneventful, they are all pretty much sleeping now as I type this (I hope they dont here me typing and wake up). The one thing that just erks my chain about working with the kiddies is two days after they come running in broken and battered, they sit on the patio and tell stories about how great getting high was, well i asked one of them if getting high was so great, then why the heck did you come here??? Needless to say he didn't really like that, but my motto is you get the truth, and sometimes that hurts!

Ok enough about that work crap....ITS CRUISE TIME!!!!!! those who follow me on facebook know i started my countdown at 45 days... dont do that (just a tip) but looking at the clock i see it is 4AM and the ship leaves in exactly 12 hours. I gotta tell you that i know what a hyperactive kid on a sugar buzz feels like right now. Ohhhh i have people wanting things from me right now, i guess thats all for now... on the next edition there will be many pictures and stories...
till then may all your faces have smiles

Fridays mention for packing

Well it's Friday y'all and that would normally mean the start of a long weekend at work, and I will spend Friday night with the kiddies, but we are following that one night of work with......


And also...


Not to mention...


That being said, I think my night with the kiddies will seem much longer than usual, but not so bad considering what will follow.

But I'm not there yet and I need to remind myself to stay in the here and now... Must focus on the kiddies first. For those who don't know, which is most of you cause I haven't told you, I work in a detox facility helping drug addicts and alcoholics get clean and sober. I'm sure most of you at least know someone that has been affected by addiction, so you know what kind of drama they create in their world. Now multiply that drama by 37 and that's my job. I have to admit, it does not always seem fun, but it's NEVER boring that's for sure. I'll share some of those stories another day. Well that's it for now.

Here's hoping all your faces have smiles on them, cause I'm quite sure mine will

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A little poem for your Thursday

Help on the way---Robert Hunter

Paradise waits
on the crest of a wave
her angels in flame
She has no pain
Like a child, she is pure
She is not to blame
Poised for flight
Wings spread bright
Spring from night
into the sun
Don't stop to run
She can fly like a lie
She cannot be outdone
Tell me the cost
I can pay
Let me go
Tell me love is not lost
Sell everything
Without love, day to day,
insanity is king
I will pay
day by day
anyway
Lock, bolt and key
Crippled but free
I was blind
all the time
I was learning to see
Help on the way
I know only this
I've got you today
Don't fly away
'cause I love what I love
and I want it that way
I will stay
one more day
Like I say
Honey, it's you
Making it too
Without love in the dream
It will never come true

Now some of you may have guessed that these are lyrics to a song as well as a great poem. This song was performed by a band that i used to trape around the country with. I loved to shake my bones when they played this, but i never really understood the lesson to be found in the words until recently. In the great change that my life has encountered in the last two years i realized several things about love.. more specificly love for myself. My words for all of you today are REMEMBER to stop and care about everyone including yourself! I hope you put a little love in your dreams.... And they all come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

have a great day

Wensday Jan 5

So its another day in absolute paridise here in florida. Not to much on the plate for today, i do have a visit at club fern tonight which i never want to go before hand but i am always so happy i went when its over. I found a new meeting last night and liked it a bit, maybe gonna have to go back there when i get home from the cruise.............speaking of which

we are at 3 days, 4 hours, 14 minutes and counting

Well thats about it... heres hoping all your faces have smiles, come on smile even if its fake

Welcome

So I am new to this whole blogging thing, we will see if I like. If your reading this you probably have way to much time on your hands and might want to consider collecting stamps or something, but WELCOME!!! So my life is already an open book so this won't be too different. For those who don't know me I am a border line clinically insane person studying to help other insane people. I am also a proud friend of Bill W. And will share some of those experiences another day. I am preparing myself for our family vacation.... 14 of us going on the cruise this year and we leave Saturday. I will try to come up with something interesting for you tomorrow.... Till then here's hoping all your faces have smiles!