About Blog and About Me moved to substack blogger folder for editing

About this blog:

I intend to make recovery fun with lists and contests that lead to a point that supports recovery. Alas, until my memoir hits the best-seller lists, I can only offer “recognition” for winners.

The first list will ask for synonyms for drunk or high, as in “I was ‘wasted’ last night.” And, yes, there is a point to that list, which will emerge from the first contest: identify the common thread among the items on that list.

I will post every Saturday evening at a minimum, probably more often. Do the email thing if you want to be annoyed by notifications that I have posted something new, or just check every Sunday.  

About me:

More details later, but for now: I am a 73-year-old widowed great-grandfather and an addict in recovery since 1985. My only active addiction, besides music and writing, is to my mountain bike, which I put 2130 miles on in 2015. My brain is “80% song lyrics.” I have been in recovery for 30 years from a 25-year run on beer, speed and weed. Anyone can have an off quarter-century. Although I was unaware of it when I began to self-medicate in 1960, I have had lifelong issues with anxiety and depression.

I recently retired as a licensed addiction counselor in good standing, after 21 years in my last job, facilitating the outpatient treatment group, while working part-time as a college Speech Communication instructor. Before coming to Pierre, I provided mostly individual counseling in my first paying job, before returning to be the Director of the Detox/Halfway House where I had served my internship the summer before.

My Guiding Principle is “there is no solution; seek it lovingly.” Core Guidelines include “when you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Core Beliefs include “addiction is a Brain Disorder, and I have it.”