My Days and Nights

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to blog lately, but I've working to set up my program here. I know that alcoholics and drug addicts like me tend to make excuses, I don't mean to make an excuse, but just to apologize about not blogging. This has been a big step for me.

I arrived up here from Brooklyn at the end of January. This is small town USA, in the mountains of northwestern New York. There's not much to do in town here, but I'm not here on vacation. I'm here to get well, to learn about myself, and to stay sober. Right now, this is the place for me. Someplace not close to a metropolitan area, not being to say "Fuck, this shit," and hop in a cab and go have a drink. Granted that there are 3 bars right outside the campus. That's a test for anybody trying to recover from alcoholism and addiction.

They give you a lot of freedom here. It is what you make of it. You can just sit here and not do anything for your recovery or you can take advantage of every class and opportunity -- like going to the gym three days a week. I'm keeping myself busy. Taking classes that are helping me put myself on the right track -- on the twelve steps and spirituality. I've also signed up for classes on stress-mananagement, anger management, budgeting and other things that will help me along the way.

There's also bingo and ping pong and pool tournements. I participate in all of these things. They even have a variety show competition coming up. I haven't decided if I'm going to participate in that yet. We'll see. You never know, I do like getting on stage.

I've been going to meetings every night since I got here. I'm trying to do 90 meetings in 90 days -- some are NA, some are AA. I've mixed it up by going to meetings in town, where's there's people with more experience and taking time to learn from them, to experience their strength and hope. I also go to meetings here on campus as well. But I make sure to go to one every single day -- it's usually a good way to end my day.

My friends and family have been supportive, including you folks. I appreciate the e-mails and mail that I've received and apologize that I haven't been return your e-mails. But I have been able to access my e-mail recently, so please write to me at rod@rodbarryworld.com or if you'd rather at Brooklyn/Malone Media, 332 Bleecker Street, #K27, New York, NY 10014.

Talk to you soon.

Love ya, Rod