This is just to say “Thank You” to TN*hippie.
Is Fort Sanders the center of the universe or what? More than likely “what.”
Sir Rhosis (a former resident of that “scruffy little city.”
I have another question for you:
Do you agree with the assessment that you resemble a cross between Brian May and Robert Plant?
Fantastic, TN*hippie. That’s a major accomplishment. You’d better be damn proud of yourself. I know I am!
Well, damn Beth !! – I’ve been picturing very much the same image, probably not in quite the same way as you, though. Maybe straighter hair and not so coiffered as Brian May but definitely thereabouts.
TH – do ya wear a cap or a hat ?
And also, nice to see breathing free again and very best wishes with the alcohol thing.
I lived in “The Fort” my senior year at UT. Crack houses and college students, what a strange mix.
BTW, TN*hippie, I never knew you before your “vacation,” but after reading your recent threads, I’m glad to meet you. Good luck to you, brother.
Tommy the Cat another former resident of the “scruffy little city.”
Dignan
I started it because I was here for a while then I was gone for a while and now I’m back and I thought people might want to know what was up. Also, I’ve searched for answers all my life and I’ve been largely unsuccessful. Now I just want to nail down the questions. Holding? Yes…Knox County Jail. Las Vegas? No, NashVegas…another name for Cashville…you know: Music City, USA. I live there now.
katrina
No apologies necessary.
Whammo
You’re welcome.
Sir Rhosis and Tommy the Cat
I don’t know about Ft. Sanders being the center of the Universe, but from the late 60’s to the early 80’s it was definitely the Bohemia of Tennessee. It’s lost its charm since then, though. Man, it’s great to meet former residents of the “scruffy little city!”
evilbeth
Who’s Brian May?
London_Calling
Rarely. A wool one on really cold winter days.
Peace,
TN*hippie
Boxers or briefs?
Monster104
Already answered that…usually briefs, sometimes boxers, and when it’s godawful hot: neither.
The guitarist for Queen.
Miss Beth, I happen to know Hippie is quite gorgeous. Delicious, in fact.
So, Hippie, when are you coming to Idaho? 
I know you can use some home cooking.
Oh, I’ve seen him and I know what he looks like. I’m just wondering if he agrees with my assessment of who he resembles.
Did you miss me?
Did you bring me anything?
Are you as glad to be back as we are glad to have you back?
(I smiled ear to ear when I saw your name on the boards after your long absence. I honestly had just that day or the day before been wondering how you were doing)
Zette 
(blushing from all the flirty attention)
evilbeth
Don’t know if I look like him/them or not. I have been told I resemble Michael Hedges (when he had long hair).
jazzmine
You really know how to welcome a guy!
I don’t have plans to travel to Idaho any time soon, but it could happen.
I’d love to sample your cooking. I’ve been eating well, though. Remember I’m a pretty fair cook myself.
Zette
Yes, of course I missed you.
I’ve brought nothing but the dubious gift of limericks.
Thank you for the kind greeting.
TO ALL OF YOU:
Thank you so much for the sweet, generous welcome! You folks are wonderful. I appreciate you all.
Peace,
TN*hippie
I’d say that’s a somewhat fair assessment. But maybe with a little Robert Plant thrown in for the sake of wildness!
evilbeth
Still blushing but loving it.
Peace,
TN*hippie
I didn’t see this or would have responded earlier.
----:)/ x o x o x
----///\\
Did you have in-house treatment, and/or half-way house, and/or jail? What has been helpful to you in maintaining your sobriety, and what is most difficult?
I am now working as a resident assistant in a half-way house for recovering female addictcs and/or alcoholics. I think it is the best job I have ever had, although it is not full-time and may never be. I admire those who fight this good fight, and would pass on any helpful hints or suggestions you could give.
Spider Woman
We need to talk!
Jail, then inpatient treatment, then halfway house…where I still live, now as resident manager. Not a first for any of these things.
Most important in getting back into recovery?
The full realization that I’d tried to do it on my own in every possible way…and it never worked for long.
Most important in maintaining my program?
The willingness to take suggestions, whether they made sense to me or not.
Most important to my everyday sobriety?
Serenity.
Most important for my serenity?
Gratitude.
Most important for staying grateful?
A personal, meaningful spirituality.
Keep it simple. More will be revealed.
Peace,
TN*hippie
More questions; do you belong to any on AA message boards, and do you think the Internet could be a valuable tool for sobriety? I found an AA site, and an AltaVista search yielded lots of results.
Another question: How many of the treatments that you went through were highly confrontational? Are many of them shame based?
At the facility where I work, there are, of course, many staff people of varying personalities. I notice that the ones who have the best rapport with their clients are those that use an adult to adult approach rather than a shaming parent to naughty child approach, but in the past, I think there may have been more of an emphasis on that parent/child thing.
I have only been working there since March, and consider myself to be co-dependent rather than addict, so I don’t know as much about the disease as an recovering addict would. If you have a working e-mail address (I haven’t checked your profile), I would like to question you further if that is all right.
Online AA:
I don’t spend much time on AA sites (or any other sites, for that matter) because I simply don’t have the time. I do like this one: stayingcyber.org
I will check into the ones you found, too. Thanks.
Yes, I think they are valuable tools for people who want to know more about AA but haven’t gotten up the nerve to go to a real meeting. Also good for people who live in remote areas or are otherwise physically restricted from attending f2f (face-to-face) meetings. BUT, I firmly believe that they are not an equal substitute for f2f meetings.
Counseling styles…
The style seems to vary more with the counselor than with the institution itself. I think that shaming is generally counterproductive, as most of us had more than enough shame by the time we got into treatment. On the other hand, being overly sympathetic and/or allowing the client to create his/her own treatment program doesn’t work, either. The best counselors I’ve seen are hard-headed but big-hearted.
e-mail me any time at:
Kent13TN@aol.com
Peace,
TN*hippie