Addiction

I am 6 feet tall, weigh 190, I'm grey haired, partly deaf and I'm an antique. I'm happily married to the most patient, forgiving woman I have ever met. I have 4 kids, 5 grand kids and a great grand step son. I was a professional artist and photographer for about 25 years, and I think I will go back to that after I retire (soon). I am a cancer survivor.

I have been clean for 30 Years. My sobriety date is 5 August, 1977 (this time). The first time I cleaned up, I lasted about 90 days. I left a meeting, went to a bar and asked for a beer. When I picked it up, my hand started to shake so badly that I spilled some of it on my shirt. Within a week I was back to my drugs. In the next three and a half years, I did more damage to me and every thing and every one that I cared about than I had in the previous 16 years. I almost didn't make it back to sobriety.

I drank and used for about 20 years, I can remember the names of 54 drugs that I did (that I knew the names of). My wife intervened on me and I went to treatment that night at Care Unit Lovelace in Albuquerque. I have remained sober since. I am a drug addict/alcoholic and have several co-occurring psych disorders. I am an Adult Child of an Alcoholic, and a big time Codependent.

Life In Recovery:
I have learned a new way of living, I started going to meetings because I was desperate. They told me if I kept coming back I might not drink or use. I kept coming back and I must tell you that I had no idea that life could be this full, serene and rewarding. I know that my 12 step program of recovery has saved my life and the lives of most of my family members. The hope strength and experience of others as they have related it has been of incredible value. Every one that I have known in the context of my sobriety has helped shape my recovery process. I thank you all for that so freely given gift.

New Orleans, Spicy food, Strong coffee, Cats, film noir

Cell Phones in public places, George W, Racists, Fools, Aggressive drivers, Batterers

Blue Grass, Baroque Concertos, Dixieland, Acid Rock, Folk Rock

Anything by: Larry Mcmurtry, Nevada Barr, John Grisham, David Lee Burke, Sue Grafton

Easy rider, Iron Weed, 28 Days, Me myself and Irene, Something about Mary, Apocalypto, Tombstone, Blazing Saddles, Cabaret

I love drawing, particularly in ink. I am an award winning watercolorist. I love doing any kind of photography and darkroom work. I'm not a gambler. I am a compulsive reader, I like to read almost any thing, either fiction or non fiction. I like to cook - Cajun style, Texas Barbeque, or New Mexico style Mexican. I Like food to be very spicy.