Submitted by TheDotMack on July 15, 2010

Here’s a list of events we think you should check out this July on InTheRooms.com:

1) ITR Member Mike DeStefano, http://intherooms.com/nacomic is on NBC’s Last Comic Standing this monday night! Tune in and continue the voting, find out if he makes it to the next round!

2) This Sunday, at 9PM EST on The InTheRooms Hour, by Holistic Lifestyles Radio - Join Kenny P and RT as they chat with John from John’s Walk for Recovery, http://johnswalkforrecovery.org/ . Also joining the program is Cheryl C. and Philly T. of The 12-Steps of Yoga. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/page… — Listen Live by clicking here http://www.holisticlifestylesradio.com/

3) John from John’s Walk for Recovery, is currently walking across the country to make it to Washington, D.C. just in time for Recovery Month this September. Check John’s route at http://johnswalkforrecovery.org/ and walk with him!

4) The 12-Steps of Yoga July Workshops are being held in Providence, Rhode Island – July 16th & 17th and Brandon, Florida – July 24th & 25th. Click here for more info: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/page…

Submitted by BenBen The Fisherman on July 15, 2010

Submitted by Mike DeStefano on July 7, 2010

I cannot believe that I’m on TV. People come up to me on the street “I saw you on TV. When I was using drugs people came up to me on the street and said you stole my TV!

12 years ago this month I was sitting in a room alone in west palm beach Florida with pipe burns on my mouth and hands and bleeding tracks on my arms hands and feet from shooting dope. The physical wounds and condition of my life were pleasant compared to the complete isolation of my soul. I was alone again. I had the gift of recovery when I was younger but I couldn’t hold on.

I wasn’t weak I wasn’t craving the fun of using drugs again, I wasn’t stupid…I was in pain. My wife died from AIDS after 3 years of inexpressible suffering. I was clean and because of my recovery and you beautiful people I stayed with her until she took her last breath. I went numb after that but I stayed clean I went to meeting I talked to my sponsor.  Less than a year later my father died of cancer. I went back to the Bronx to his funeral and was done. I got back on the plane and landed in west palm beach  and ended up in that room alone desperate and lost. The pain of using came back to me so quickly and it was worse than ever. Once you know the warmth and love of recovery it’s unbearable to do without it. I decided I would pick up one more white key tag. This would be the last,  if I don’t make it this time I am going to kill myself. And I meant it!.

I came back and began a new journey on July 13 1998. I always made my friends laugh but never dreamed of being a comedian. I was a heroin addict I dreamed of more heroin. I was at an NA convention with a few weeks clean and they were having a pool party that got rained out. I went up to one of the guys with the badge and the walkie-talkie and said hey why you don’t let me do a free comedy show. He said you’re a comedian? I said yeah!  I lied but it seemed like a good thing to lie about at the time. Well 20 minutes later I went into a conference room and proceeded to make 100+ addicts laugh there asses off! It was my awakening. I can make people who are hurting feel better! I went to a local open mic night and got onstage. I got 1 laugh and 10 boos… just like I did with my  addiction I remembered the 1 laugh and my journey began. I was sitting alone dying in a room in Florida 12 years ago… Now; I am on NBCs Last Comic Standing with a very good chance of winning it all! I have 1 thing over all the other contestants.  They are afraid of losing!!  I’m not!! Sure I want to WIN but no matter what happens for me for where I came from I cant lose!  Being Clean and Sober and having friends like you IN THE ROOMS!!!! So please watch me and if you can VOTE that’s right…I know a lot of us cant VOTE because of the felonies but for this you can VOTE  for me lets show America what a bunch of addicts and Alcoholics can do for One of our own!

Submitted by TheDotMack on July 7, 2010

InTheRooms member Mike DeStefano shares with the world a bit of his twisted wisdom in his new book, Bada Bing Bada Buddha - Deep Thoughts from Da Bronx. We here at InTheRooms think its fantastic, a welcome set of maniacal meditations that are sure to brighten up your day. Here’s a little bit of what we’re talking about:

· It’s fun to put a gun in the mouth of an optimist then say “how’s the glass looking now?

· On the 8th day God created Darwin. Argument settled.

· I started having fun and made money by accident.

· Do dogs in AA stay sober 7 days at a time?

· Happiness is the enemy of art.

This month we’re doing things a little different - the first 80 people who comment on this post will receive a FREE copy of the book, courtesy of Mike DeStefano and InTheRooms.

To purchase copies of the book, please click here: http://www.puppiesandheroin.com/shop

Submitted by AngelaJ on July 7, 2010

A former Miami Therapist told me one day, “Perhaps you may want to look up a Recovery Website on the Internet called InTheRooms!” (ITR). I had never been on any of the Internet Social Networks before.  I was extremely nervous, paranoid, insecure and a recluse to say the least, however I trusted this person implicitly.  On May 27th 2009 I set up a Profile Page and so was born “Angela J.” I was immediately welcomed by the Loft Crew and felt I had found a safe harbor.

When I arrived to ITR I was in complete denial of the fact I had a current drug problem.  I listened to my first Speaker Tape which had been posted on one of the Co-founders Profile Pages… I was moved and touched by what I heard.  I remember identifying with this person, crying, and realizing I needed help. I had already established some friends here and one of them suggested I go to a NA Speaker Jam being held in Massachusetts.  It was there I found someone to Sponsor me, on one condition, that I go into Detox!

The resources on ITR are endless and I found a place that would take me.  Ironically it was in the very same town I had driven to in Massachusetts earlier that month.  After a difficult but successful detox, I came home and did the next right thing, I followed the suggestions! I went to more than 90 meetings in 90 days.  I was very sick for a week in early recovery and found out about the Bridge through ITR, a phone NA meeting.  Attending daily allowed me to keep my commitment to Recovery and was a reinforcement to my Face to Face meetings. I made a daily alphabet gratitude list and started my Step work immediately.  I heard someone from a Hospitals and Institutions panel (H&I) say: “NA isn’t a race, but it ain’t no Parking Lot either!”

My first year in Recovery has not been easy.  I was told early on: “NA means Never Alone.”  Through the support of my dear friends and all of you, I am alive today.

I don’t know if any of you realize how important being clean is to me.  I was “dry” before, but that was in a cult where I lived in abject Fear and Terror. My addiction ruined, and nearly destroyed my life. If it were not for all of you, I would not be here.  I told someone at my first NA Campout: “I knew how to do drugs, but I never knew how to do people!  You are teaching me!

This website has been the perfect format allowing me to navigate difficult situations, I would not have been able to deal with in person!  If I don’t know how to handle a problem, I can just log off and think about it, or ask someone I trust. And then there is always “brb!” Many of you have held my hand all along the way.  I have made friends all over the world! Those late nights when I couldn’t sleep or was upset I have been able to turn to ITR for help.   My Sponsor and the co-founders have been so incredibly kind. I have written many private messages (actually mini-novels) almost daily, which were read and answered by people who were busy and had lives of their own!  I am not the easiest person to help! I have many problems, but I reached out despite those.  I took risks and “put myself out there” little by little.

To me, Recovery is all about change.  It has given me the Freedom I have searched for my whole life.  I feel as if I can finally be all that I was meant to be.  Learning how to “Do Life on Life’s Terms” is not easy.  Without the mask of drugs I often feel raw, vulnerable, and it is as if I am seeing everything for the first time.  But then I look at all of you and realize you are going through or have been through the same thing. I am on my Fourth Step now. Reaching out to my Support Network has made this task manageable.  As my Sponsor says: “The Steps are Always the Answer!”

Because of ITR, Recovery has been an Incredible Journey…  I have found laughter and humor in these rooms and heard the pain and heartbreak of those who are going through difficult times.  I learn so many lessons from all of you such as: “Principles before Personalities,” and how to set boundaries.  I am able to use tools I was once given, which seemed to elude me in my addiction.   I feel as if I am finally on the right path, and I thank all of those who have gone before me for sharing your Experience Strength and Hope so honestly.  I have Heroes in my life today and it is because of you I too have HOPE.

Forever in debt,
Your Friend, Angela J

Submitted by BenBen The Fisherman on July 7, 2010

The Free at Last Area

of

Narcotics Anonymous

is hosting the fifth annual

Spring Fever Fish Fry

Things will kick off around 12 noon with

refreshments, fellowship, recovery!

Speaker Meeting @ 1 p.m.

Bob D. (formerly of Columbus O-Hi-Ho)

50/50 Raffle Drawing after the meeting.

Sat. June 19th 2010

214 Reagan St. West Monroe LA 71292

(Trinity Baptist Church activities building enter off Stella St.)

for more info call:

318-957-9911

CLANCY I.-51 years of Sobriety is our Keynote Speaker….♥ ♥ ♥ We have a Surprise Entertainer at our upcoming Way Of Life Conference the end of July in Palm Beach, Florida ……. http://www.wayoflifeconference.com/main.sc I'll give you a little HINT: she was Nominated for the PRISM AWARD–and she sings about "BROKENESS…"…!(http://www.lauracmusic.com/)PLEASE get your REGISTRATIONS in before we reach our LIMIT .