Whatever

And the pup likes it! Win Win!

 

That’s what she said

 

Sorry Shad, had to like this just to dislike it. You know we all care about you.

 

Good Morning Folks

 

Good morning Maner

 

Ok Shad. I gotta old guy up. One thing I've learned in this thread is we can generally say anything we want without any reparations later. Because we're friends. Yes, even though most of us have never met, shook hands, bro hugged, or broken bread, sweated on a trail, whatever, and might not ever, I'd still like to think that doesn't mean we can't consider ourselves all friends.

I know you have the power to delete this post, but I hope you don't. I'm not the newest guy in the thread but I almost am. All this means is that I might be making a huge mistake but my goal is to solidify our friendship even more.

I took the liberty of quoting some posts from tonight. Then I'm going back and deleting mine because what I thought was all fun and games seemed to take a turn for the worse.

By your own admission. But you could be joking.

At first I thought this was a joke and hoped it was. It was outta the blue and unprovoked so I was c

A concerned friend.

Also concern from, If I'm not mistaken, a very special friend.

Then it got weird.

Another friend being concerned. Trying to make light of a possible out of control situation.

More concern and great intentions.

Clarity. This is good.

Serious concern.

Foolishness.

Things friends are allowed to say or do.

Why, because we really do care?

See. Told you so.

More concern disguised as a ha ha joke.

You're friends are just trying to help.

If we didn't care, we wouldn't try to help.

Why?

This

This

And this.

Evidence that your friends do care.

Yes. And you know what. I have been one too.

See, friends will help.

So you say. But.......

Alcohol definitely causes confusion, and anger can be the result.

Truth.

You're never alone here or with those that love you. You know that.

Friends will even share your pain.

Knowing is progression but you have to accept it too.

So now at the risk of ostracizing myself, a little about me, because as I said originally, we're all friends here.

I've been drinking since I was 15. I stole my parents booze. After I got my license we would go out or to parties. Fights. Passed out in an alley one time. More fights. As I got older, I became more stupid. Two of my best friends killed themselves. One, a husband and father of two hung himself in a jail cell when he got arrested for heroin. The other one lost playing Russian roulette. To this day I regret not being able to stop these tragedies. My depression and drinking and drugging increased. Then after a while, I got 2 DUIs almost within 2 years of each other. Became a biker, and shit got real hard quick. By now, years later I was starting to realize that my destiny was in my own hands and only I could control it. One day like a bolt of lightning it hit me. I thanked God I hadn't killed anyone or myself and decided it was time to stop being stupid.

I have a saint of a wife that has gone through all of this by my side, a beautiful house in the country with a little land, a built in pool, two rather expensive newer vehicles, and a 26 year career at a great company.

There were times I was outta work, on welfare, and yes, I still drink to this day. I'm not stopping either. I can't tell you to either. I'm no hypocrite.

I'm just not going to be stupid anymore. Trust me Shad, if I can do this then I know you can! And if you want help just reach out Brother. I've walked in your shoes. Been down that fucked up road. But I, we, got you Bro. You obviously have people here that care and love you. Only those kind of people care enough to give you a hard time.

Just ask

 

Good morning Brother Maner! WTF are you doing up this late?!

 

Well done. Well fucking done.

This thread has done more for me than most of you can imagine...or maybe most of you can...

 

Went to bed early, got to finish welding some sliders up. Guy coming by early on the way to his work to pick them up

 

Some posts have already been deleted from earlier, sort of a mop up if you will.

 

Thanks Brother. I feel the same way. You're all great peeps. This is so evident here.

 

Well, if anyone asks, I will delete my final post. We've chatted privately and I can relate. He's a great young man. Like I said, my wife is the saint, I am not. But I'm way better than I used to be.

 

No need to delete on my behalf. It was a fine post.
It can be easy to cross the line in here sometimes with a joking post.... given that most of us are friends (talked with each other on here for over a year every day for the most part or via texting/irl phone convos) we know each others history mostly and weak points. So rather than go on joking, we err on the side of safety

 

You're a machine!

They must put something in the water down/over there. I am such a lame ass compared to y'all. Although I was on a ladder earlier fixing some trim siding that had come loose. Not a fan of heights, and 16' up over a river rock garden bed and the concrete sidewalk at my age could lead to more than just a broken hip.

 

Ladders at our age are about as smart as us driving 90mph.

 

Yea. I would never do that.

 

Morning everyone who’s still up, 4 more hours!