# I'm back.. (and happy to be so!)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 9, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295 "2008-06-09T03:51:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/1 "2008-06-09T03:51:50Z")
Hi everyone
I have returned after about 9 month “Hiatus”…
I had a good reason to be away. You see, the Straight Dope forums were my “Drinkin’ Buddies”… It was great to have a bunch of erudite, off-beat and hilariously insightful people to hang out with when I was pounding back the beers. (12 or so, on average, and we are talking CDN beers here… )
And then I quit drinking… and smoking too… No big relvalation, no big “thing”, except that it was “time” to do so… as I was looking forward more to being drunk, than I was to being sober…
One of the main things I did was to quit revisiting the “old haunts” where drinking and smoking were part of my planned activities… The SD board was one of my fave haunts… so…
So… many changes… I got my career on track (still work retail, but for some odd reason, I got promoted to management…and a big raise… (wonder if being consistantly clear headed (not hung over) had anything to do with it?)
Anyway, I am back, and glad to be so… This board, for all its arguments, great and small, has (since I discovered it) represented a real high point in human potential…
Now I plan on enjoying it even more, as I will be able to clearly think about, and remember what has been posted on it…
And to all of you that enjoy your drink with this board, more power to you, this is by no means a judgement!
Regards
FML
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/2 "2008-06-09T03:53:29Z")
Congratulations!
Also, welcome back.
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### Author:  [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/3 "2008-06-09T03:57:01Z")
Welcome back. I’m not sure how clear headed you’ll be after a few days around here but at least you’ll be sober! Congrats!
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### Author:  [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/4 "2008-06-09T04:16:14Z")
[QUOTE=Ruby]
Welcome back. I’m not sure how clear headed you’ll be after a few days around here but at least you’ll be sober! Congrats!
[/QUOTE]
Heck Ruby.. any state of mind that the SD produces is better than mere sobriety!
regards
FML
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/5 "2008-06-09T04:21:56Z")
Congrats and welcome back\*\* FML\*\*!
Coincidentally I also quit both things back in October of '07.
I feel so much better, I’m glad you do too. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/6 "2008-06-09T05:13:10Z")
Good for you, and welcome back.
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### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/7 "2008-06-09T05:16:21Z")
Congrats! And welcome back.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/8 "2008-06-09T12:39:29Z")
Welcome back!
Glad you’re learning the life can be fun even in sobriety – and that some of the old haunts can be safely revisited.
twicks, one of a bunch of recovering drunks who hang out here
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### Author:  [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/9 "2008-06-09T17:53:44Z")
Congrats and welcome back! 🙂
Are you familiar with [this article detailing the use of Buddhist meditation to combat PTSD in veterans?](http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/full-metal-lotus/16799/) It’s what pops up if you google your username.
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### Author:  [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/10 "2008-06-09T18:06:20Z")
Good on you, glad to see you’ve done good with yourself.
And welcome back, did you bring any pie?
MT
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### Author:  [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/11 "2008-06-09T18:40:46Z")
Hello there! And welcome back!
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### Author:  [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/12 "2008-06-10T01:43:46Z")
Good to see you again!
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### Author:  [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/13 "2008-06-10T06:05:45Z")
Thanks everyone… It is great to be back…
Please line up for pie…
regards
FML
(PS Autolycus: You may have also seen referents to my “nom de chat” in the old Yahoo chat Religion 1 room… I was a regular there for years… Alchohol fueld fundie bashing… see what drink will get you in to…There is also a website containing some of my art and stuff… sigh… good times… wish I could remember having them,)
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/14 "2008-06-10T15:20:14Z")
Welcome back, congratulations on all of your successes.
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### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-and-happy-to-be-so/452295/15 "2008-06-10T15:44:18Z")
Congratulations, and bravo!
I’m delighted to see you back here.