New Quitter

[brettlees]

Days - 202 through 204

Friday 1/31 was day 201, and went well, flew home from Denver with no issues. Arrived in STL around 11:35 and too the bus to the parking deck. Went to start truck and learned quickly that the batteries were dead. Laughed when the parking lot attendant brought out one of those little porta-jumper packs because I was certain that wouldn't even help my fuel pump start turning. Finally wound up hooking jumper cables to one of their buses and that still required 45 minutes of charge time before the white beast would awake.

Drove that damned thing home and parked it in the driveway. Waited until the AM to determine the root cause. Load tested both batteries and they were fine (drained but fine). The tested the Alternator and found the cause. swapped the alternator out in less that 20 minutes using the old shadetree mechanic trick of a 2x4 laid across the fenders and then tying the belt up with rope to take the tension and sliding the old out and the new in. She is wide awake now and ready to roll another 150K (or better be).

Saturday night I took my little princess to dinner and a Daddy-Daughter dance, only to find out that I "had to" leave her side for about an hour to go stand in for someone else at a Boy Scout's award dinner. As I argued that point my wife was adamant that I had to do both (should have seen the foreshadowing). I went to the dinner, got up to speak and then quickly learned that I was the one receiving an award. The District Award of Merit, which is given to the person in our community that the peers in Scouting vote in based upon their time spent in scouting and what they do to help in the Scouting movement. When I received the award there was my family standing at the end of the stage waiting to congratulate me. Now I know why my daughter was not pissed of that I was ditching her dance. We returned to her dance with 30 minutes to spare and we cut a rug. Then I took her out for cake and ice cream.

Then Sunday came and we had a Scout Sunday Mass in the AM, which was in a word "outstanding". Both of my boys were part of the color guard one carrying the American Flag and the other sporting the Pack Flag. My little Marines were spot on with the march and the robotic movements.

Then finally our Cub Scout Pack had their Pinewood Derby race. My 7 year old took first place overall with a car that I can actually say he built. I did the band saw cutting but he whittles with a knife and a dremel to get the desired shape. He weighed and weighted it himself, he drilled the axle holes, filed his axles and painted the car. I also learned that he had the fastest time on the track so far. Yes, this means that he will be racing at the District race as well this weekend.

However, what got me the most was that both of my sons built cars and after the races they raced against me. No matter which lane the cars were in both of their cars were faster than mine. The teacher became the student as they schooled me in public. As humbling as that is I have never felt this proud.

IN other words I could say the weekend started of shitty, but the shitty part followed a great evening with two quitters who I am proud to call friends and then got finished off with two great days, and I am on day 204 today without Nicotine or Tobacco and I haven't had any fake in my lip for over two weeks.

P

Bro you deserve these sorts of high points in life, and its great that you get to enjoy them free of having to worry about re-dosing with poison, and with a great chance of enjoying many many more because you took your freedom back. It made my morning to read about your weekend. Thanks!

[Pinched]

Days - 202 through 204

Friday 1/31 was day 201, and went well, flew home from Denver with no issues. Arrived in STL around 11:35 and too the bus to the parking deck. Went to start truck and learned quickly that the batteries were dead. Laughed when the parking lot attendant brought out one of those little porta-jumper packs because I was certain that wouldn't even help my fuel pump start turning. Finally wound up hooking jumper cables to one of their buses and that still required 45 minutes of charge time before the white beast would awake.

Drove that damned thing home and parked it in the driveway. Waited until the AM to determine the root cause. Load tested both batteries and they were fine (drained but fine). The tested the Alternator and found the cause. swapped the alternator out in less that 20 minutes using the old shadetree mechanic trick of a 2x4 laid across the fenders and then tying the belt up with rope to take the tension and sliding the old out and the new in. She is wide awake now and ready to roll another 150K (or better be).

Saturday night I took my little princess to dinner and a Daddy-Daughter dance, only to find out that I "had to" leave her side for about an hour to go stand in for someone else at a Boy Scout's award dinner. As I argued that point my wife was adamant that I had to do both (should have seen the foreshadowing). I went to the dinner, got up to speak and then quickly learned that I was the one receiving an award. The District Award of Merit, which is given to the person in our community that the peers in Scouting vote in based upon their time spent in scouting and what they do to help in the Scouting movement. When I received the award there was my family standing at the end of the stage waiting to congratulate me. Now I know why my daughter was not pissed of that I was ditching her dance. We returned to her dance with 30 minutes to spare and we cut a rug. Then I took her out for cake and ice cream.

Then Sunday came and we had a Scout Sunday Mass in the AM, which was in a word "outstanding". Both of my boys were part of the color guard one carrying the American Flag and the other sporting the Pack Flag. My little Marines were spot on with the march and the robotic movements.

Then finally our Cub Scout Pack had their Pinewood Derby race. My 7 year old took first place overall with a car that I can actually say he built. I did the band saw cutting but he whittles with a knife and a dremel to get the desired shape. He weighed and weighted it himself, he drilled the axle holes, filed his axles and painted the car. I also learned that he had the fastest time on the track so far. Yes, this means that he will be racing at the District race as well this weekend.

However, what got me the most was that both of my sons built cars and after the races they raced against me. No matter which lane the cars were in both of their cars were faster than mine. The teacher became the student as they schooled me in public. As humbling as that is I have never felt this proud.

IN other words I could say the weekend started of shitty, but the shitty part followed a great evening with two quitters who I am proud to call friends and then got finished off with two great days, and I am on day 204 today without Nicotine or Tobacco and I haven't had any fake in my lip for over two weeks.

P

[Coach Steve]

Belated 'BanDog'

[brettlees]

It was a pleasure to meet both Brett and Corey last night, these guys completely get quitting. Funny how many addict behaviors and experiences we all shared without knowing it. Ended up staying out way past my bedtime, given the weather the mrs. wasn't happy. But it was sooo worth it.
Congrats again to you both on you milestones yesterday. Enjoy and be proud of them, you earned them.

What a great time- Thanks Pinched for reaching out when you came to town again! I can't stress enough how great it is to meet fellow quitters in person, and have that face-to-face accountability and connection going forward. It was a double blessing that these are two upright and on-the-ball men who also enjoy having some laughs. Can't be beat!

[T-Cell]

It was a pleasure to meet both Brett and Corey last night, these guys completely get quitting. Funny how many addict behaviors and experiences we all shared without knowing it. Ended up staying out way past my bedtime, given the weather the mrs. wasn't happy. But it was sooo worth it.
Congrats again to you both on you milestones yesterday. Enjoy and be proud of them, you earned them.

[ledbettin]

Congrats pinched! Well done.

[Diesel2112]

'clap' 'clap' 'clap'

[Mthomas3824]

Congrats on hitting the second floor my brother!

Diddo!!!! Glad you're still here and inspiring me with your comments and support.

[racetrackcowgirl]

Congrats on hitting the second floor my brother!

[traumagnet]

Hey Brother! Congratulations on making it to the second floor. You my friend are a bad ass quitter. For as long as I've known you, you have never complained once, never whined once and never, that I've seen put another quitter down. I've been quit 100 days more than you and I've been looking up to you since you've come here and posted a day one.

Proud of you Brother! Congrats and enjoy your day

Fleas you forgot that he had his own bank also the Bank Of Pinched for a short while.....oh and a broke CAC all in the first two floors...Yep I just had to.

[B-loMatt]

Pinched you jumped in and started drinking the Kool-aide day 1, and it is no surprise to me to see you at 2nd floor. You are one bad ass quit machine, and I will quit with you every day of the week; twice on Sundays. Well done!

[Sand_Fleas_Gotta_Eat]

Hey Brother! Congratulations on making it to the second floor. You my friend are a bad ass quitter. For as long as I've known you, you have never complained once, never whined once and never, that I've seen put another quitter down. I've been quit 100 days more than you and I've been looking up to you since you've come here and posted a day one.

Proud of you Brother! Congrats and enjoy your day

[Kdip]

Congrats on reaching the 2nd Floor Pinch!!! Enjoy the day, you earned it!!!!

[pbrain04]

right on Pinched

[Pinched]

Day 200 - 1/30/14
Today I hit the 2nd floor. However, today is just another day. I drank the kool aide, share the kool aide and chime in when I feel it is necessary. Do I always have sage advice no, do I filter my language-fuck no, get used to it or move along.

However, you decide to quit, just commit to it and stick to your guns. I believe in the methods established by those who blazed the quit trail before me. If you don't then at least believe in your quit.

I don't always agree with everything that is said or done here. However, I also believe that those who give advice care. Being former Military I did not always agree with the orders I was given, but I listened to superiors or those who knew better than me. In that life mistakes caused loss of life, well guess what, that happens when quitting a deadly addiction too.

I never pictured that I would be sitting here today at day 200, that is not because I didn't want this day to happen but because I did want it to happen. The vets told be shit like "ODAT", "NAFAR", "1+1=2", "focus on today"...I took that advice, bought in although then it was a guide I didn't fully understand. Yet, today I sit at 200, say yeah it does get better, and numbers don't matter. That is when I feel that I am starting to "get it". I look for that in people too, get it or don't that is all your choice.

P