There was another really cool episode last night. It was the story of Rick Kirkham, a former news correspondent that lost everything, a phenomenol job, his family, wife, everything.

C~

Jewels~

Wow, that's a lot of moula! I respect the fact that you can be so honest, and now I see why you were so adamant about the AA thing and not drinking. Keep it up and hopefully with all your knowledge you can help others in this town.

I feel really bad when I see people that obviously (trying very hard not to judge) have a problem. Several times I have seen really skinny, shaking people/ or twitching/ can't stand still, walking around the Check Cashing place, or the Save-mart, usually buying crap food, and only a little bit. The thing that really breaks my heart is that I have seen them with little kids in tow. It's easy to spot as the kids are usually still in their pajamas, and such, no socks or shoes, and look disheveled or dirty. It makes me just want to reach out somehow. It's one thing if someone wants to ruin their own lives, and tragic nonetheless, but when I see kids involved it really gets to me. It makes me feel helpless as I do not have the experience or the knowledge to help these people, and the fact is, they probably don't want my help anyway. Do the existing programs in Tehachapi try to reach these people on the streets or do they have to walk in to a meeting? 

Anybody out there working the programs, please feel free to chime in here. How do you reach out to these people?

Gillfish~ That was me, I started another post about the outrageous price of gas and since someone on this post said  that the average person in Tehachapi spends $300 a month in alcohol (BTW, Very hard for me to believe), I started a new post saying that yes, I did: only it was the high octane stuff I put in my gas tank.  We all kind of float around from post to post, so anybody who had followed this thread would have gotten it.

But seriously, I probably only spend half  that much on alcohol  once a year re-stocking my bar for the Holidays. Other than that, maybe $ 30-50 bucks a month, if that ,on a couple of bottles of wine, and some  decent beer.

 Wonder who is drinking all that alcohol and if it's true or if it takes into consideration the restaurants and bars, etc., around here that purchase alcohol to stock their bars, but it doesn't necessarily get consumed in one month by the locals?

Gals~ Glad to see you gals are all getting on now. I have a way with alluding to things...that way you all have a chance to chew on things for a while. I know a few of you probably think I am straight out of Mayberry! (Sparks, now I now you are LOL on this one).

Truthfully,  I spend allot of time working with lawyers (and I deal with adversity and contention on an on-going basis most of which is completely unnecessary).(before I start feeling the hate, let me stop you short: I am not a lawyer. I consider myself to be a very strong personality and frankly, I couldn't survive in that realm if I wasn't,. This website is my escape from that rat race and I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated and everyone here the benefit of the doubt.

Yahoo !!!!  This is what I like about this site.  Yes, this got a little heated, feelings were hurt, judgments were made, difference of views and commitments, some harsh words were said, but you guys didn't stick out your tongues at each other and run away.  ( which was in no way a laughing matter)  You two worked it out although your practices are different.  You two still found a common ground.  And most of all respect!!  Thank you for showing that you can get down and dirty but come out patting each other on the back with smiles. 

Group HUG!!! 

Hey ZU  don't pinch my butt unless you mean it.  lol   I love all you gals.    We are all different and YET,,   I too can feel the love.   I'd say we are all very mentally STRONG women.   Great Post Christine...  mumbling... I guess i will have to watch the show now. (grin)

 I wasn't really testing myself I was testing the disease theory.  

As for my AA symbol on my webpage.  My alternative steps page has helped 100's of AAers in the last 15 years.  I still receive emails daily of thanks.  I won't remove my AA symbol because it was my AA group who made it for me, in fact my AA page is the very same as it was 15 years ago, i have never changed a word.   Many of us who reach out to the emails coming from this page are sponsors and we work on AA panels.   To answer your question YES I am still a big part of AA and I won't let you take that away from me. This is not a game to me, I do not believe that all AAers are alike and I know many prefer the alternate steps.  To say we do not belong to the AA fellowship simply because we use alternate steps does indeed offend me Jewels.  AA saved my life and it did so by allowing me to use the 12 steps in anyway that I choose.  We all know the Big Book and Traditions by heart and yes we do the alternate 12 steps, and if you look a little closer you will see...  these steps lead to the same recover as the traditional ones.   There are NO rules in AA we do the best we can for each other, THAT'S IT. You are entitled to your opinion, however to say that I am not worthy of flashing the AA sign that I am so proud of on my webpage simply because I don't follow the same steps and rules as you do is just wrong.  Our fellowship stands by one another no matter how diverse.   I am glad that you are so proud of AA that you feel a need to defend them against me,  I'm glad you are sober and doing well.   BUT don't EVER put down or condemn another AAer simply because they do not do the program the same way you do.    This is NOT what AA is all about.   If you will notice at the bottom of the page of  my http://wud1.com/steps/Steps...  there is a link to the traditional steps and many other resources that YOU yourself may find useful.

Zu- I think it's cool that you and many people on this site can share their experiences without judgment by other.

What's right for someone is not necessarily right for another.

Christine