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mountain dog
Trad climber
over the hills and far away
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Oct 26, 2012 - 12:40am PT
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I am in Bend OR. right now. No work for me. Trying very hard but can't find a job in this town. Nothing. Confounded and confused. If someone on this site would like to get together tomorrow or this weekend, or any time, I would be much obliged to have your company.
I still have enough change to buy you a coffee or tea!
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mountain dog
Trad climber
over the hills and far away
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Oct 26, 2012 - 02:44am PT
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Gotta bump this up for the weekend.
Would like to meet a climber, who might relate to this thread.
I am in Bend OR. Have rope, rack, and Smith parking pass.
I will climb, or belay all day for the sheer joy of being out there.
If you like to fly fish, I like that too, and I have plenty of gear and flies to share.
I have been here a couple of months and I have gone to several meetings without feeling any connection to the group.
Are there any kindred spirits out in SuperTopoland?
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Michelle
Trad climber
Toshi's Station, picking up power converters.
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Oct 26, 2012 - 03:40am PT
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I just don't see the point in drinking non-alcoholic beer.
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mountainlion
Trad climber
California
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Oct 26, 2012 - 06:17am PT
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Mountain dog you do have kindred spirits here on the taco! Wish I was in Bend to hang with you. Instead I'm on the other side of the world and without many people to relate to. Keep it sober brother. Don't relapse. Go out and climb hard with someone go back home and do what makes you happy but stay sober!
Good Luck!
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TwistedCrank
climber
Dingleberry Gulch, Ideeho
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Oct 26, 2012 - 10:08am PT
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When I'm at a sports bar or brew pub with friends or for work, and the waitron asks me what I'm drinking, I'll pause long and hard, like I'm seriously pondering which malted pop I'll be imbibing in. Then I'll say:
"I'm drinking water tonight"
Works every time. Like a fukkin fairy tale.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Oct 26, 2012 - 12:37pm PT
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Mountain Dog - we get down to Smith often and will be moving there in a couple of years. I look at this thread since my son is a recovering addict and my husband is the son of an alcoholic. You wouldn't find us at a meeting, but you will find us in the park. There are many folks who like a life with some adventure but don't indulge in a lot of partying. You'll recognize us - my husband is the big strong man ordering the virgin peach daiquiri. Hope to run into you - we always enjoy the company of a new face and some social climbing.
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Kenygl
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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Oct 26, 2012 - 12:45pm PT
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MD, hit a meeting. Then go climbing.
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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Nov 17, 2012 - 06:51pm PT
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My theory was that this is just like when my alarm clock goes off at 5:30 AM and my first thought every time is, reset the alarm for later. Once I overcome that obstacle, the rest of the day is easy.
The other night a business contact took me out to dinner at a nice steakhouse. I had two ice cold nut brown ales and got hammered. I never drink anymore and alcohol is a powerful drug for me. I didn't crave more after those two and didnt crave more of them since. Many years ago, when I drank regularly, one beer would lead to another like a reflex, but I don't have it anymore. It was cured by having an iron will.
Next, I have to get my lead head back. Unfortunately, I have probably lost that too, for years I've lived in such crappy places for climbing.
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Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
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Nov 17, 2012 - 07:26pm PT
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It's been over two years no booze no hootch.
Thought about posting up but it's too easy to fall into the trap of measuring the quality of our sobriety by time spent in abstinence and I wouldn't want to contribute to that view.
For many, abstinence is not a requirement for sobriety and I envy such fortunates.
I admire the courage and honesty of those who say not good enough, embark on a path more appropriate for their personal success and then, share their stories here.
It's particularly inspiring when such stories are told by my friends and heroes.
Thanks again to Hank for this thread and those willing to contribute.
Edit:
I haven't made any promises, never's a long time!
I'm not on the wagon's 'cause it's just a vehicle from one binge to another.
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slodog
Trad climber
ontario canada
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be true to yourself-honesty, integrity,-no matter what life and those in it throw at you-and beleive me i've had my share of sh@t thrown at me.nothing is more important than honesty-it is the value of a man.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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its all true, man;
the entire journey beneath us is valid.
except for the part about
discovering our inner beauty
along the way or even at the end
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jebus...best wishes...
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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jebus, son.
the proximity of my recent utterings upon this topic
as positionally related to your confession of new-found chemical-anti-relations
does not imply a correlation between the two.
let me have my
thousand verses of nothing.
its everything i have to say,
and nothing less.
my head is fixed in the universe.
i pounded it into the void
centuries ago;
and though many thoughts have
passed thru it en route to their epic summit goals,
my command center
remains static,
and will forever be tat
blowing in the gales of a dreamless silence.
carry your torch higher,
as your ambitions guide you.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Club soda, fizzy water, whatever you call it is the best. Come to Boulder Jebus - we are overdue for a Boulder area HH where coffee and club soda are as prevalent as other beverages!
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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Hang in there, Jebus, it gets better every day. It took me not drinking to regain the life I had always wanted and deserved. Alcohol just wanted to steal all of that.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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A coffee toast for now and a fizzy water sometime down the road Jebus, cheers!
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Plaidman
Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
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To each their own, but I feel blessed for where I am at now.
All the best to ya Jebus H Bomz! That is part of living sober. Being blessed for where you are at that moment. Sometimes it sucks, but the times you can feel love, contentment, peace, and real pleasure make up for it.
Like I said all the best and welcome to the clan!
Plaid
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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Dec 12, 2012 - 09:57am PT
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After 3 years and 2 months, I finally got my drivers license reinstated yesterday. Some thoughts:
I was actively drinking, a lot, when I picked up my second DWI in two years. The first one resulted in about $5K in fines and fees and a 9 month suspension. The second one got me a month in jail, about $12K in fines and fees, and a 3 year suspension. Nothing the State did, no penalties they enforced, got me to stop drinking, and I used the resulting resentments as an excuse to drink more as an escape, and then as a physical and mental need.
It wasn't until I was ready to stop drinking that I checked myself into rehab and started a path of recovery that would work for me. A lot of alcoholics will never take that first step to sobriety, and I count myself as extremely lucky to have seen that light. I owe much to a supportive and loving family, but it's not enough to get sober for them, you have to do it for yourself. Today I am just short of 2 1/2 years, and life has never been better.
I have to use an Intoxilock device for the next year, which will include my four month cross country road trip next Spring. That means blowing into a box to start the truck, again 2-5 minutes later, and then randomly every 5-20 minutes after. I could choose to be pissed off about that, but I choose to accept that my new found driving privilege comes with a minor inconvenience. It's not like I don't breathe anyway when I drive.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Dec 12, 2012 - 11:47am PT
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Edge - I hadn't realized that device required as many blows. Lat year when the van alternator went out in PA, the mechanic drove me up to the local ATM machine, and with slight embarrassment, he said "I need to blow into this, and I will explain after" and that was my first experience seeing one of those at work.
I hadn't realized he was probably needing to blow into it regularly - thought it was a very random thing, or else the one time to start a vehicle.
This guy went on to also rail away at the state being absurdly overzealous with the thing. After all, he had only had 3 beers that night he got pulled over... Now, he said, he just has the wife drive when they go out, so he needn't worry about getting in trouble for having a few damned drinks, which he doesn't even feel intoxicated over.... He simply did not connect the dots. An person who does not have a drinking problem also does not have a problem with not driving if they have been drinking!
I let him go on, and on... and then finally I said "Well, the reason for the very strict laws is because innocent people were being killed by intoxicated drivers. Some of those drivers wake up the next day and have no awareness that they ran into, ran over or killed another person. I know that most people would have trouble living with themselves, knowing that their impaired state caused such a thing. And so I think the laws are a good thing."
He looked at me - sort of pissed - and I said "I am an alcoholic myself" and told him whatever time sober I had. Then "They didn't have these laws when I was drinking, and I drove drunk often. Very drunk, often. I am really glad I never hurt anyone doing that."
So - may be that guy really just had the bad luck of a fluke having one too many beers one night. But the look in his eyes during this conversation made me think otherwise....
I'm sober today, and glad of it!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Dec 12, 2012 - 11:56am PT
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Good work Edge. That's more rigorously honest than most of us can get about our troubles, past and present.
My hat's off to you.
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