Hi. Hope you're all enjoying sobriety. I am. Haven't been here for a while. Still active in AA just not coming here as often as I was. Got an anniversary on the horizon. 15 years they tell me. God, I'm almost an oldtimer. How did that happen?

So, what else have I been up to? Well, I'll just share this with ya. Now, for the benefit of newcomers. AA does not own or operate recovery homes or drying out places, but every now and then, AA members get together and set these types of places up because many of us understand how difficult those first few weeks or months of recovery can be.

Having said that...

About 25 years ago, this man that I now know in AA was working in a recovery home for alcoholics, and like most alcoholics he had an idea a minute about how things could be changed for the better.  Finally, the board of directors called him aside and said, "Listen Charlie[not his real name], your ideas are good and maybe they might work and we think when you get your own house you can run it whatever you want, but while you're in our house you'll do things our way."

So Charlie quit his job and opened his own house and it's quite a nice place to live in, and not a bad to place to work in. I should know, I worked there for about ten years. I don't work there now and I'm not even going to tell you that story. About a year ago, my boss called me aside (because I was having an idea a minute about how to make his house a better house) and he said, "You know Bernie, you have a lot of good ideas and some of them might even work, and when you get your own house you can run it whatever way you want, but while you're in my house you'll do things my way."

Now you can only guess what happened next.

I put my thinking cap on and began to think. After a few moments of serious thought, a light bulb came on. Me and about half a dozen members of various fellowships got together, formed a non profit society and we're going to open our own house. We know the city its going to be in but we haven't nailed the exact location yet. And no money has fallen from the skies yet so what we're planning is still largely theoretical, but something tells me 2013 is going to be an interesting year for us.

Last week, I was chit chatting with my old boss about this and he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm beginning to understand why I don't like you. You remind me of me." I know he was just being witty. Of course he likes me. What's not to like?????

Well that's my cute little story for now. I'll be back later to update it. But, in case I forget to, merry xmas. :)