H. I. T. C. H.™
Help Inform Touch Connect Heal
April 16-18,2010 Convention Hall Ocean City,Maryland register: cprcna.org This year featuring P.Funk with original members of Parliament Funkadelics, Hula Monsters, dance lessons,jazz brunch,ice cream social,basketball,golf
karoake,skateboarding,NA thunder,bonfire and beach mtgs
Rappahannock Area of Narcotics Anonymous "Showers of Spirituality" Speaker Jam. White Oak Rescue Squad - 535 White Oak Road Fredericksburg VA 22406. 10am - ? . Food Fellowship and Fun. Bring a DISH if you WISH. More info @ www.rappahannockareaofna.org. Flyer @ http://www.rappahannockareaofna.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/hands.jpg
Breaking news on late night tabloids flash to a picture of a bloated teen star. Quote from an interview with Britain’s The Sun in 2004 voiced over by a late night floozie. “I was working on The Lost Boys (1987) when I smoked my first joint. But a year before that, I was starting to drink beer on the set of the film Lucas (1986).”
Another shot of Haim, young adult now; you can see his addiction like a mottled stain of shame on his face. “I lived in Los Angeles in the ’80s, which was not the best place to be. I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack.”
And finally the kicker. The news flashes all over, during the day this time, cause you know dying is BIG NEWS. This tortured soul said so much more than his words related. I am an addict and I am dying. “I started on the downers which were a hell of a lot better than the uppers because I was a nervous wreck. But one led to two, two led to four, four led to eight, until at the end it was about 85 a day - the doctors could not believe I was taking that much. And that was just the Valium - I’m not talking about the other pills I went through”.
Final picture of Haim in his happy days before his addiction took a downward spiral that sucked the life out of him. Newsflash! “It was an apparent overdose,” said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Frank Albarren. Oh and as for the four empty pill bottles found in the room? They’re not talking bout that. Yet. Tune in next time. Apparent. Indeed.
Almost voyeuristic in nature, our society reacts to a celebrity death from addiction like rubbernecking a multiple car pileup on the interstate. Something titillating to the world about watching someone go down, over and over and over again. Make it a “B” celebrity and all of a sudden, television screens are reflecting images like a two AM infomercial; watch him go to treatment, watch him relapse, watch him drunk and high, watch him embarrass himself, watch him die … it’s the amazing DRUNK AND DOPEFIEND SHOW. Corey Haim is just another number in the list of those who die every day from addiction. The difference is living in the public eye, scrutinized by others because they “think” they know. It is on television; and of course you believe everything you see there right?
Did the cameras catch the pain of his family? The dark nights of the soul where the choice was death or using? The humiliation of not getting it and using after telling the papers that he was “clean and sober”… again. The torture and torment of “this time it’ll be different” thinking and seeing his life, career, future become wrapped in a neat ball of SICK. The legacy of Corey Haim as Reuters news feed so wonderfully described him. “Hollywood teen star of the 1980s who became as famous for his struggles with substance abuse as his acting”. Bleck. How bout being famous for his willingness to never give up until it killed him? So much for the perpetual optimism of the media. Oh wait that’s right. Living doesn’t get ratings.
We as recovering folk get the whole idea, have a gut level understanding of the living hell that was his life. As a result we have compassion. Responses such as “drug addicts should die cause they’re stupid” via Twitter, make me cringe and shudder. As if anyone would consciously choose to be sick in the first place. Cause you know that public displays of sick bring about fame, but not in the form of the next movie role. Bankrupt by a hundred thousand dollars, Haim lost it all. Including and especially his reputation as an actor; using and the chronic relapse train made him a hollywood has been joke.
Yeah I hear you buddy. I get you. I relate. More than a celebrity gossip show for people to say “awwww”, you are me. Funny thing about addiction and celebrities, you always hear about them when they’re on the down and outs. But when they’re recovering? Being healthy, active, productive members of society? Not word one. Guess public shame and death is more newsworthy. Pity. Back to rubbernecking. But those of us who “get it”, celebrate the quiet dignity of recovery. And we know. Yes indeed… we know.
From those of us who have been down that same dark alley of hell…
Rest in peace Corey.
—–
Check out Sassy’s blog at http://www.iloverecovery.com
Breaking News: RT and Kenny P of InTheRooms.com are being featured on the hit nationally syndicated morning show, “The Daily Buzz”, at 7AM on Thursday, 3/11/10 - Please tune in and support InTheRooms.com!
About The Daily Buzz:
The Daily Buzz is a nationally syndicated breakfast television news and infotainment program produced in Winter Park, Florida by ACME Communications and shown largely on The CW or MyNetwork TV affiliates. It started on September 16, 2002 with 10 stations and has grown to encompass 39% of American television audiences. The show is known for a more informal atmosphere than its counterparts.
The three-hour program is broadcast every weekday morning. It is currently carried in 162 U.S. television markets, most of which come from The CW Plus programming service that serves smaller market stations. Some of the stations that carry the show only broadcast a portion of the program (usually these stations air a morning newscast produced by another station in the market, preempting the national show). Unlike other network morning shows, The Daily Buzz provides opportunities to break for local news and weather during the show.
Click the link below to see if the show is on in your area, otherwise you can stream it live at http://dailybuzznow.com
This Sunday, March 14 at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters in Austin, TX - InTheRooms co-founders RT and Kenny P (MrClean) and their trusty sidekick Alex (TheDotMack) will be on hand giving out free coffee, ITR T-Shirts, and more!
Bring your friends to sign up for InTheRooms and they’ll get a cup of coffee too!
More info on this as it unfolds - RSVP now!
Thanks,
The InTheRooms Team
This is definitely the book for you; if you are suffering from any addiction especially drugs and alcohol. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTROL IT, IT IS OUT OF CONTROL You know who you are, you have tried everything you can; feel like a complete failure, your ready to throw in the towel, you may have either contemplated suicide or given it a try, possibly more than once. Lost, alone, full of fear, frustrated and just want the pain to end. Don’t give up just yet, there is HOPE, there is another way, you can do it because YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
You must be ready to go to any lengths, because this is definitely a matter of LIFE and DEATH. You are suffering from a deep soul sickness that is curable as I attest in my book, my life story. I have been there, done that and recovered, yes recovered as alcohol and drugs were just the symptom of my underlying problem. I addressed the causes after I put down the bottle and the pills, found out I was not alone, others suffered just like me and survived.
You know deep in your soul there is still a glimmer of hope or you would not be looking at my web site, searching for answers. I cannot guarantee you will get sober or straight reading my book, but I do know that I am sober today, my life has completely turned around, I have a peace that passes all understanding and finally experienced LOVE. I was told in the beginning that if I gave sobriety half a chance, put 10% of the effort toward getting sober that I put into getting drunk I would make it. Remember the misery and pain are still out there, you can always go back if this does not work, it is waiting patiently for your return.
-Gordon Rouston
–
Gordon Rouston is a grateful member of InTheRooms. His profile can be found here.
You can purchase the book by visiting http://www.gordonrouston.com
ML3 is a Seattle based original rock band that has been to prison ninety two times… in five different states. They never go quietly and they never go alone. Traveling with twenty-three thousands pounds of stage and lighting and a dedicated crew of twenty, they are hard to miss. You will find ML3 rock’n in various venues: Clean and Sober events, Festivals, Prisons (youth, adult), Biker events, Concerts Halls, and Clubs. Captive audiences are their specialty!
ML3 is probably the truest since of the word “Underground Band” being up until about a year ago, outside of a few public appearances has played solely for inmates. A felony friendly group to say the least! Founders of the band John McBride (20 years recovered crack head) and April McBride (21 years sober) are anchored in their recovery programs and work intensely with other alcoholics and addicts. Both have survived the throngs of severe depression in the early years of recovery so excellently defined in “A Vision for You”. Pain is a great motivator drunk or sober. Being faced with a life or death experience in sobriety, both threw themselves completely into working all 12 steps. Both found the “easiest and softest way” to maintain some semblance o f sanity and usefulness is being consistent in the program..all aspects: Unity, Recovery, and Service!
They are a far cry from the hopeless walking disasters they used to be of years past. No more boogie men in the crawl space, no more tree people observing every breath, no more sounds of the whole world screaming in the background in unison, to say the least sanity has been restored!
What does ML3 stand for? John and April are the founders of a non-profit called Morning Light Outreach and Mentorship Program, which serves as a transitional assistance program for those re-entering society after incarceration or drug/alcohol rehab. With a crew of 20+ ex-felons and friends in recovery they pull out all the stops for their new found brothers and sisters serving time. ML3 band performs a 1 ½ hour rock concert inside the institutions with AA styled sharing in-between songs, informs audience of the services available and remains in contact with inmates serving out the remainder of their time. The “3” in ML3 represents “Unity, Recovery, and Service”.
With a sincere heart of service in combination with the gift of music John and April have done their best to share a message of experience, strength and hope to those who still suffer…anywhere!
Please check out the premier release of their Mini Rockumentary “ML3 Goes To Prison” at
You Tube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/ML3music
ML3 is the featured artist for the month of March on Recovery101radio, check out their interview at http://www.recovery101.net
ML3 CD’s are available on ITunes, and CDBaby. Links are provided on ML3’s MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/ml3music).
Contact Info:
Morning Light Outreach and Mentorship Program
PO Box 82284
Kenmore, WA 98028
Join us on Facebook!! We have 2 pages: John N April McBride and there is also a ML3 fan page
425-444-3995
I have been in Recovery for just over 2 years. I got in trouble with drugs when I had too much time on my hands selling real estate. I was making pretty good money and I had too much free time to gamble and do drugs. I was given the choice by my wife to go to rehab or lose everything. I choose the obvious.
After rehab at the Hanley/Hazelden Center in West Palm Beach, I realized how easily your life could slip away. Fortunately I saw the “light” and proceeded with a program of Recovery. With the several life changing things that I implemented in my life, I also attempted to get Life Insurance for my family. I was denied coverage because something I said at an appointment with my psychologist 2 years ago. I stated that I sometimes feel like “killing myself”. This little saying caused my life insurance policy to NOT be issued. I was in great health and that statement of “killing myself” occurred 24 months before I even applied for my life insurance.
My agent did not want to appeal the decision and just moved on to the next potential sale. I, on the other hand, appealed it with vigilance. After several attempts with the underwriters, and gathering letters from my psychologists and other professionals, I was issued the coverage that I wanted with the best rating due to my current health.
Due to the real estate market crashing, I decided to get my life Insurance license. I sincerely love what I do. I am able to help those get the life insurance that they are entitled to buy due to their current situation. We all have a past and some sort of medical issue that might haunt us, but “WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY!!!!”
I am the Life Insurance Agent that you want working for you.
Sincerely,
Michael Freed, PA
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Since 1879
