Illogical Logic

The mind is an interesting and confusing thing. This mechanism called denial is difficult to understand. People seem to have this uncanny ability to not see what they don’t want to see, and only see what they chose to see. I know it sounds confusing, but that is because denial is confusing.

Because I have lived too many years of my life with and around addicts as well as people who have an illogical logic you would think I would understand how the process works. I don’t!

I mean truth is truth, even for those who say there is no such thing as absolute truth, by saying they are sure there is no such thing as absolute truth they prove it does indeed exist. You cannot say there is no such thing and in the same logic say you absolutely believe it to be true! Get my point?

OK back to truth and illogical logic. Logic tells you that using drugs or drinking and driving is dangerous and can lead to a path of bondage, addiction, jail and even death.

Illogical logic says that only holds true for “other” people. And you are the exception. If I had a quarter for every time I have heard someone say, “I can stop any time I want.” I’d be rich. I was going to say if I had a penny for ever time but in today’s economy that wouldn’t make sense. J

I am using addiction as the example because addicts are famous for being illogically logical. I have watched this season of Celebrity Rehab and every week - I listen to what Dr. Drew tells his patients, most still just don’t seem to “get it”.  What really astounds me is watching an addict in denial watching a show like Celebrity Rehab or Intervention and making comments about how messed up those people are, never being able to see that a whole lot of their behavior is the same!

But the same form of denial and illogical thinking holds true for many things in a person’s life.

The alcoholic who says they are not an alcoholic because they are not homeless and out on the streets. They manage to hold on to a job or they are not getting completely wasted every single day, therefore there is no problem. Yet every time they drink they lose control and wreak havoc in the lives of those around them. It makes no sense to me why someone would keep doing the very thing that is causing the problem. Illogical!

Logic says if you have gotten more than one DUI you have a problem.

Again I am astounded at people who have gotten more than one DUI and then think nothing of drinking and driving again.  Or worse someone who gets high on some other substance and illogically tells him or herself it’s different and OK to do because it’s not “drinking and driving.”

Logic says lying is wrong and if you lie- people will begin to distrust you not believe you even if you might be telling the truth. Illogical logic cries, “Why don’t you believe me- just because I have lied a few times (or more than a few times) before? You should still believe me now.”

Denial is simply illogical logic. Saying another person is bad because they do something when you yourself are doing the same thing is denial. Minimizing your own actions because they are YOUR actions is denial. Acting as if you are being persecuted or accused of something unfairly when in fact you are doing that very thing is completely illogical.

I know your probably thinking what IS she rambling about? I look around me and see the state of our society and it scares me!

I see kids today having no respect for authority or for adults in general. People refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions.

When there are consequences for wrong doing or making bad choices - people blame it on everything but their own foolish choice.  It was the horrible childhood, it was a bad break, it was the spouse, and it was just bad luck. Someone spills a hot cup of coffee on themselves and it’s the restaurants fault.

A child lies, disobeys, disrespects or whatever and then when there are negative consequences it has nothing to do with their behavior it’s all just because the parent, the teacher, the police are being unfair or are out to get them.

A person gets a DUI and it’s not because they were drunk- it was because the Cop was being a jerk. Of course it didn’t have anything to do with the fact you were in fact driving while drunk.

The husband or wife who loses their family because they continue to use drugs, or drink or cheat or be abusive - But it’s not their fault, the spouse or family just didn’t love them unconditionally or were not supportive or made them mad.

 A parent lies, and then doesn’t understand it when their child lies. Logic tells us children learn what they live! They learn by example not what you tell them.

Then there is general illogical logic. Example - faith to me means you trust God in everything and knowing He will take care of you no matter what is going on. Faith is trusting regardless of what it looks like.  When I tried to explain this to a couple of people; one who is no longer in my life, their reply was, “So what you are saying is I can just walk out into the street in front of a speeding car and God will protect me. “ My reply is - Really does that sound logical to you?

If you deliberately walk out in front of a speeding car you’re going to get clobbered! God himself tells us there are consequences to foolish choices. Actually now that I think about it, that kind of explains their rational when it comes to some of their choices!

The one who is no longer in my life, continued to use drugs, but because they were prescription drugs it was OK. Add some alcohol and some weed to the mix also. Knowing this behavior is dangerous is pretty much the same as throwing yourself in front of a moving car and expecting God to keep you from getting run over!

But that’s not faith, that’s foolishness! And it’s testing God which we are NOT supposed to do. If something is wrong it is wrong no matter whom you are. If something is dangerous it is dangerous no matter whom you are! That is Logic! Illogical logic says you are the exception to the rules.

 There is a saying common in addiction programs; it says “to continue to do the same thing over and over expecting different results is insanity!” And that does not hold true for addiction alone. 

Again I just don't get it, I don't understand and it is in all honesty making me crazy! Maybe I am the crazy one? Hmmmmm.....Nope...I don't think so! 

More Stories of the Paper

During the first few months I was at the News Messenger our Editor moved on to another paper. Stacey began interviewing to fill the position; I was honored and a bit surprised when she actually asked my opinion on a couple of the potential candidates. We both agreed on one of the last interviewees, his name was Troy. Troy was awesome and a great addition to the office, he was also a bit of a risk taker at times. I don't think it was because he was actually seeking to take risks; sometimes he just reacted and did what needed to be done. 

One morning as we were busy working, and not too long after the Oklahoma City Bombing we heard an explosion just outside of our office. We all ran to the door to see what happened. There was a car parked in front of the bank next to us and it was on fire. There was a woman in the car trying to get out. Troy ran out of our office and helped the woman get out. Once she was out of the car, which was still in gear, the flaming car began to roll across the street headed for the busy Barber Shop. Troy, jumped into the car, threw it in park and jumped out stopping the car in the middle of the street before it could reach the barber shop. The Fire Department showed up at that moment and took over, but not without first telling Troy not to ever do anything like that again! 

Richard, our Outside Sales Rep and I were standing at the door, Troy walked in and the first words out of his mouth were, "DO NOT tell my wife about this!" They were expecting their first child and I am pretty sure that although her husband did a very heroic thing, would not have been pleased about the chance he took! 

Even though Lincoln was a pretty small town we had our share of excitement, sometimes good and a lot of times not so good. 

Our office was one of several along Main Street; the buildings were rustic brick with some great old architecture. Our section of buildings contained the local café, and a bank. Across the street were various businesses with a beautiful courtyard in between the section of buildings. One block down on the other side of the street was another bank; just around the corner across the street was our Police Department.

Of course being the only local paper we had a police scanner in our office. One afternoon we heard a call go out about the bank down the block being robbed! Troy went running out of the office, without his camera and headed to the bank. There was a man inside the bank holding hostages by shotgun. Richard and I stood at the door and watched him run across the street headed for the bank. At the same time we both noticed he had forgotten his camera. I told Richard, you should take him his camera to which he replied, “I don’t think so, you take it to him.” Before we finished the conversation, Troy came running back into the office to grab his camera. We could hear on the scanner the police had the building surrounded and were trying to talk the man out without hurting anyone.

I asked Troy if he thought it was safe for him to be going back over there. This was going to be another, “don’t tell my wife about this!”

A couple minutes later Richard standing at the window says, “Hey Cindy isn’t that your son running this way?” I looked out and her came my youngest son Chris running through the courtyard heading for the office. He was white as a sheet! He was about 10 years old at the time.

He ran into the office and I asked him, “What is wrong?” He kept saying, “Mom we didn’t know he was really going to do it, I’m sorry mom we should have gone to the police. “We didn’t think he was really going to do it!” I asked him what on earth he was talking about.

He proceeded to tell me that he and a couple of his friends were walking down the street, this guy who was holding the hostages happened to be related to one of the kids Chris was with. He was drunk and told the boys he was going to rob the bank and showed them the shotgun. He had also told him he didn’t care if he got out alive.

Apparently this guy had just recently gotten out of jail, found out he had cancer and his life had not been going too good. My first thought was for the people in the bank. If this guy didn’t care anything could happen.

Chris was terrified and thought he was going to be in trouble because they didn’t tell anyone what this guy was going to do. It wasn’t long between the time he showed them the gun and then walked into the bank.

It took them close to an hour to talk this guy out, and thank God he gave up and no one was hurt. The police chief told Troy they were gonna have to give him his own bullet proof vest if he didn’t stop doing stuff like this!

I told Troy when he came back into the office what Chris had told me, he talked to one of the officers and they asked Chris if he would identify the man. I thought they would have him identify him from a distance, you know like they show in the movies! However to my complete dismay the officer told Chris to come over to the car they had the guy cuffed and sitting in. He opened the door, so the guy could see Chris and asked Chris if this was the guy who told him he was going to rob the bank.

I couldn’t hear what exactly the guy was saying to Chris, all I could think was are you serious??? You put a little boy in front of a man who just held people at gun point and you want him to indentify him for you? The officer told the man to keep his mouth shut and stop talking to Chris; a little late considering Chris was already scared to death.  Chris of course had to say yes it was him.

For the next few weeks Chris was worried because apparently a couple of people had made some threats against him a few days later as he was walking home. I told the police chief and he said I shouldn’t be too concerned because Chris wouldn’t be called to testify or anything because the guy plead guilty ...alrighty then easy for you to say it’s not your child that is terrified right now!

Such is life in a small town I guess. 

My Newspaper Years

There are times like the last couple of days when I just feel like writing something, yet seem to be unable to focus on just one thing. With so many things going on in the world and in my family trying to narrow down one subject can be impossible. I have always seemed to get "inspired" in the middle of the night but have decided getting up at 2 a.m. just isn't something I want to do now.  

I use to work at a weekly newspaper when I lived in California. I loved that job, I learned so many things about newspapers, and how they are put together, although 15 years later I'm sure it's a lot more technically advanced than it was. We use to lay the paper out by hand, printing the editorial stuff, the photos and the advertisements. Each piece was laid out on boards in the back of our office, headlines were measured and placed, and all content was laid out before us. Each person in our small office was responsible to proof all copy. The more eyes on it the better usually. If someone missed a mistake chances are the next person looking at it would find it. Although there were a few times mistakes were missed.  

We had a New baby section, Obituaries section, Engagement and wedding section and a Police Report section. The last one always seemed to generate phone calls from people who had been arrested or the family members of those arrested, calling to complain and in a few instances make personal threats against our Editor or our entire staff. It did make for some exciting times, well maybe exciting isn't the appropriate word.  

One week when everyone was exhausted from trying to meet our deadline, I walked into the office to open up as was my routine. The answering machine was loaded with message, not usually a good sign. Apparently our graphics art/photographer placed the Obit headline over a Birth announcement! Not good! We of course apologized and then gave the family a quarter page birth announcement to make up for it. 

When I got the job at the paper, which was called "The Lincoln News Messenger", I had not worked in about 10 years. I had been busy raising kids and four years of that time was when we lived at the Cabin. I had just recently learned to type and work with word processing programs. When we had moved to Lincoln, Ca I had read the local paper once or twice but thought it was kind of wimpy; meaning it at that time was mostly fluff news. Anyway, on one of the days I had bought the paper I decided to check out the classified section. There was a help wanted ad for receptionist at the paper. I decided what the heck I'll apply and see what happens. At the time I really needed a job because my husband at the time worked seasonal and had drug addiction issues so we needed the money. 

I applied and got called in for an interview. The Publisher at the time was Stacy, I met with her and the then Editor Ellen. (I think that was her name). They asked me how fast I could type and then why I wanted the job and why I should get the job. I told them I had always wanted to work at a newspaper, that I would be a hard worker, learned things quickly and would be a loyal employee. They asked me to type up a small classified ad and then print it. Because I had just learned Microsoft word I had no problem remembering how to print. What threw me was I did not know the printer was in the back of the office so when I hit print I thought I had done it wrong..lol Stacy told me months later that the reason I got the job was because out of all the people they interviewed I was the ONLY one who knew how to print!

Stacy told me they would like to offer me the position but that I should know what the job actually entailed first. I would be responsible for typing up and proofing classified ads, answering the phones, helping to proof editorial copy, enter subscribers into the data base, make some inside sales for display advertising, making deposits, and helping with the paper layout on Tuesday evenings to get the paper off to the printer by Wednesday morning for Thursday's delivery. I was also responsible for measuring the advertisement versus editorial content on Thursday mornings to determine cost of postage for the papers that were mailed out. A paper has to have a certain percentage of advertising in relation to editorial content. 

At first I thought, wow can I actually handle all this? But then I decided OK if the good Lord allowed me to get this job then He knows I can handle it, and if He knows I can handle it, then I can handle it. Stacy told me I would start the next morning, which just happened to be Tuesday, deadline day.  As we were walking into the office that morning Stacy told me she hoped I was not offended by swearing but Tuesdays were pretty crazy and I would probably hear quite a bit. I told her, "no it doesn't bother me". I mean I had a husband who was a truck driver and had a horrible mouth! 

She was not kidding about the language that flew through the office that morning! It was crazy but incredibly interesting to watch them all work. My job that first morning was to make sure they were not disturbed while they were getting the paper together, especially the editor. I was also told to make sure anything that came over the fax machine was priority because there were display adds coming from the graphics department of our parent paper that needed to be proofed and if needed corrected. 

It was pretty exciting. It was also pretty stressful at times. Like I said the police reports usually brought a few threats sometimes of a lawsuit, which there was no leg to stand on because arrest reports are public information, and occasionally we or I should say our editor got a couple of death threats or threats of violence. 

I was employed at the News Messenger for four years, during those four years I learned almost every aspect of getting out a local paper. I added to my job description taking occasional photographs, writing a column once in a while, inside and outside sales for special insert features, I covered a City Hall meeting, did the "man on the street" column and photos and got to be pretty good at the whole manual lay-out of the paper. By the time I left four years later that aspect was gone and it was all done by computer along with every body that had originally worked there when I started. 

I loved Stacy, she was an awesome person and a great boss. Because my self-esteem was so low at that time, which is pretty common when you have been in an abusive marriage for 10 or 12 years, I was terrified of making a mistake! I just knew the first mistake would find me unemployed. 

I had been there a few weeks, Stacy had shown me how to measure ads and briefly went over the cost per inch as well as how to determine the cost of running an ad for a period of time. Display ads were sold by inch whereas classifieds were sold based on work count. Anyway, I was a lone in the office one afternoon and a customer came in. He was actually a repeat customer who was already familiar with how things worked. He asked me to give him some pricing on a display ad he wanted to place. I told him Stacy was not in the office and I was very new at doing this type of thing. He insisted I try to figure it out for him because he was in a hurry. I measured out the size ad he would need and told him what I thought the cost was, I also told him I did not know how accurate it was and that he really needed to talk to Stacy before we did the ad. He kept insisting so I wrote it up and took the order. When Stacy got back I told Stacy about the order she looked it over and I had seriously under charged the guy. She had to call him back and tell him we would not do the ad for that price. She was more irritated with the man who placed the ad because he knew what I told him wasn't correct but thought he could get away with it. I thought for sure I was going to be fired! 

After Stacy got off I told her how sorry I was and that I had tried to explain to the guy I was not sure about what I was telling him. All she said to me was, " Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and you F---ed up, just don't do it again." That was all she said. I was thinking wow...she didn't fire me. Working there had a huge affect on helping me overcome my insecurity and low opinion of myself. Everyone in our office was supportive of one another and more than willing to help and teach me whatever I showed interest in learning. And I was interested in learning EVERYTHING! 

My Little Kissy Face

 Kellen is growing so quickly. It's hard to believe he is going to be two in a couple months. 


He talks up a storm, we may not always know what he is saying, but he does so it's OK. Although he is learning words very quickly. 


It was so much fun spending two weeks in Indy recently. The last week we were there I got to take care of Kellen for the week instead of him going to Daycare. I had a blast! 

He is so much fun now. He has the most amazing smile, although he has always had that. He blows kisses and gives hugs. There is nothing better than getting a hug from a little one especially when it's their idea. 

I taught him to say, bye bye see ya...it's so cute when he does it. He of course already knew bye bye but the see ya part was new. He is so expressive in his facial expressions, his mannerisms and even attitude. 

He loves to be outside. Every morning one of the first things he would do would be to go to the front door and say outside. Then he would go to where all the shoes are and start trying to put a pair on so he could go outside! Playing in his little pirate ship pool is one of his favorite things to do outside. Although he usually insists on having someone sit in the pool with him. 

I was wondering how Kellen and Maggie would get along, they were buddies in March when Kellen spent a couple weeks with us. It took a little while for Maggie to settle down enough but a few days before we were ready to leave, they once again became buddies. 

It's interesting to watch Kellen and Maggie grow and change over the months. Puppies and kids are a lot alike in that respect. Each month brings something new and exciting in their personality and expressions. 

I'll be spending a couple weeks in Indy watching Kellen while his mommy and daddy are on vacation. I won't be taking Maggie though because with Kellen's two huskies it would be just too much work. But I plan on having a blast with my little Kissy Face. I can't wait to see what changes have taken place between now and October. 


Every time I spend time with Kellen I always remember to thank the Lord for the miracle of his becoming part of our family. He is such a blessing to all of us and a true testament of the love of God for us. 

Maggie Meets Booker and Fritz

Maggie and Fritz

Perfect pose

Checkin each other out

A moment of calm

They look like they would be best friends..but not really! 

Maggie wants a hug

Let's play Fritz

Do you like me?? 

We spent two weeks at Sarah's, it was Maggie's first road trip. She actually did pretty well on the more than five hour drive. I was excited to have her meet Booker and Fritz, wondering how she would do and how they would accept her.

It took over a week before Booker quit trying to pounce on her, and not in a good way. Once I started paying more attention to Booker he seemed to become less jealous and a bit more accepting of Maggie.

Fritz and Maggie became friends, which is probably because Fritz is two years older than Booker and a bit more mellow. 

Maggie's First Road Trip

I took Maggie on a road trip to Indianapolis a few months ago where she got to meet her 'cousins' Booker and Fritz. She actually did great on the five hour trip, although not sure I would want to do it very often. 

It took a few days for her and the boys to get to know each other, and eventually her and Fritz became buddies. Booker...not so much!  

Our New Family Member

Five Weeks

Two Months

 Four Months

For the last few years my husband has been wanting to get a dog and I have said no. My reasoning to him was this: Unless we can afford to get shots, vet bills, and licensing it is not fair to get a dog. Not to mention not having a fenced yard. I also know how much responsibility is involved with getting a pet. Time it takes to house train, leash train, etc. and having to worry about what you are going to do with the dog if you decide to go on any overnight vacations.

I have had more than my share of dogs over the years, not to mention having worked in an Animal Shelter a few years ago. I have seen too many people get pets without counting the cost, and not just financially, of having a pet. People who do not research what kind of dog or any other animal that would be a good fit for their family and their lifestyle. All breeds of dogs have different temperaments, excitement and energy levels. Some require more patience and work than others. Some are great with children and some not so much.

As you can see, I eventually "lost" the battle. Not that I am complaining, Maggie is a great puppy and I love her to death! She is smart, entertaining and of course incredibly stubborn!

My step-daughter came to live with us last June. She was not doing very well living with her mom, failing school, not coming home when she was suppose to, talking back, and beginning down a road of negative friendships. Carie was 12 when she got here. Her 13th birthday was in February and of course she said the ONLY thing she really wanted for her birthday was a puppy! Just the excuse my husband needed to begin insisting it would be great to have a dog again especially now that we are buying the house and can actually have a pet.

For months before Carie's birthday the topic came up, and she kept saying she wanted to get a puppy. I told her and her dad the same thing: we can't afford a puppy right now, we don't have a fenced yard, and it's a lot of responsibility.

She talked to her Grandmother in California and told her all she wanted was a puppy for her birthday but I kept saying no and her dad sort of said no. I don't know for a fact, but I am pretty sure her grandmother told her daddy (her son) he should get his daughter a puppy. Because it wasn't long after they had both talked to her on the phone they kept trying to talk me into it.

Finally, a couple of weeks before her birthday I told them both, "Fine, I have expressed my concerns about getting a puppy and I am against the idea right now, but we all know you are going to get one anyone. So here is the deal, I WILL NOT be the one responsible for cleaning up after it, not in the house and absolutely NOT outside." Every time in the past when we have had pets I have ended up being the one that has done the majority of the cleaning up after, caring for and playing with. That was NOT going to happen this time.

On the way to look at some puppies a friend of my son had, I again told my husband, "You better count the cost of having a dog. I will be watching Kellen (my grandson) in March and I will be going to Indy to pick him up and to take him home. The puppy is going to be completely your responsibility when I am gone. You better make sure you have money set aside to get her all her shots, her licence and to get her fixed." (We were pretty sure we were going to get a female pup.) Of course my husband said, "I know I know. It will be fine don't worry about it." Yeah....right I thought to myself!

So we ended up deciding on Maggie, she was from a litter of six puppies. The mom is a brindle pit and dad is a boxer. Although everyone who has ever seen Maggie has thought she was a lab. The vet said it is possible her daddy is not the same daddy to the other pups in the litter. I did not know there could be more than one dad to a litter of pups!

I was a little concerned because the puppies were just five weeks old and most pups are not taken away from their mom until they are at least six to eight weeks old. But they had already taken away from mom, the owners (irresponsible as far as I am concerned) put the pups on dog food and stopped letting mom nurse them. Which is probably one reason Maggie even today wants to suck on my husband and son's thumb. (Which of course they have let her).

I asked the vet about this and she basically said it won't hurt anything but do they really want to be letting her do that when she's an 80lb adult dog?? Because whatever behavior you allow when they are pups will carry over into adult age. I've never let her suck on my thumb and she knows its not an option. My husband, yeah he still lets her so does Chris.

Any way, of course because I am the one home all day I have ended being the one that had to clean up after her during the house training days. She flat out refused to go outside with all the ice and snow on the ground. I actually have a video of her going out to the first step then turning around and running directly back into the porch! But then she was not even six weeks old and it was only 15 degrees outside so couldn't blame her there.

I will give my husband credit for one thing, he did actually get up on the middle of the night with her. I tried to tell him she was going to be just like having a new baby, and just like human babies puppies wake up to eat and go to the bathroom every couple of hours. Needless to say he was pretty tired in the morning when he went to work. No I did not feel the least bit bad for him. I would simply say, "I told you to count the cost" before getting a puppy!

We began watching the Dog Whisperer and have faithfully been watching and trying to really follow what he says. I have to say I love that show and am amazed at the gift he has with dogs. When we first got Maggie I was a little concerned because she is part Pit bull. They seem to have a bad reputation, although I have always believed most dogs become "bad" because their owners are ignorant. However, there was still a little bit of concern. But I believe the good Lord allowed us to get a dog that would be good for our family, I believe that because once I realized we were getting a dog regardless of how I felt about it, I prayed and ask Him to please make sure we got a dog that would be a good fit for us and that would be gentle and obedient. And she will be obedient with training, she is right now to a point.

Maggie sleeps with my husband and I, another thing  I tried to warn my husband about from the beginning. She is tiny and cuddly but when she gets bigger you are going to regret it. And of course he does because already she hogs the bed, and she still has a lot of growing to do!

All in all aside from the inconvenience and frustration with the rest of my family sometimes, I am glad we got Maggie. She is a real cutie and has so much personality! She is very smart and has learned to sit and lay down. We're working on walks, teaching her that she is not walking us, we are walking her! She will get it eventually.

My husband said the other night we should get Maggie a playmate...to which I answered..."I DON'T THINK SO!

Drug Addiction & Intervention

I'm thinking I might need to stop watching Intervention because it really disturbs me to see people who are so trapped in their addictions they can see nothing it is doing to those who love them. I find myself getting more and more angry as the show progresses. Why do people start using to begin with? It's not like there isn't a ton of information out there on how dangerous and destructive drug use is. Even though I know most people have the misguided idea they are "different" and in destructive, and playing around with getting high could never "catch them" in addiction, it still baffles me. (Just to clarify here, I am not talking about ACTIVELY RECOVERING Addicts who are getting help and NO LONGER USING)

Yes I tried marijuana when I was younger, and one time I even tried speed, both of which I did not like AT ALL! (I was an adult before trying anything by the way). I do not like feeling like I am not in control of my actions and behavior, and when a person is using, thinking they are in control is only an illusion!

I went through my "drinking period" from age 17 to 18. No I did not drink for a whole year, just want to clarify that..LOL However once I had kids drinking was a very rare thing for me. I realize I could have had the potential to become an alcoholic, in reality everyone does if you continue to push the envelope long enough. Alcoholism ran on my mom's side of the family. She had two or three uncles who died because of it.


Getting drunk just was not worth it to me. I always had the misfortune or fortune I should say, to remember every stupid, ridiculous thing I said and did the night before the next morning. That alone was enough to convince me it just isn't worth it. Not to mention feeling sick was not something I was fond of either.

As far as drugs are concerned, I had heard "one time could be the last time" and I took that seriously. I've never really been the kind of person to think I could do whatever and nothing bad will happen. Anything can and does happen and no one person is immune to the consequences in the end. You may not die or destroy yourself right way, but if drug use continues, it WILL HAPPEN!


Our society is partly to blame for drug abuse, I mean after all have you seen all the commercials for drugs that promise to make you "feel" better? Are you depressed, take a drug. Are you feeling unhappy, take a pill or have a drink. Can't sleep- take a pill- have a drink. Can't stay awake - take a pill -drink an energy drink! It's OK everyone needs a little help now and then. But in the end how much does it really help, it doesn't fix anything all it does is allow the person to cover up or dull the emotions people do not want to feel. Emotions and feelings are part of being human, we have those things for a God given reason.


Too many people today don't want to have to feel anything negative, or deal with the issues that are root causes of making them feel unhappy, unloved or fill in the blank! Yes I know there are some people who may need medication for emotional illness, however, that does not mean every person who is having a problem should or needs to be on something. But people today want a quick fix to everything, including problems or emotional issues. People don't want to "do the hard stuff/work" required in some cases to get better. I want it and I want it now...make this go away now...just give me something to make me feel happy.

Most addicts I know, and unfortunately I have had experience with too many, are in such denial they can't see anything other than what they want. There is always an excuse, they are always the exception, and it is never their fault! And they are very good at judging other addicts behavior as horrible yet not seeing themselves in the same light.

I know addicts who actually watch Intervention and agree how messed up the people who are on the show are, how horrible it is what they are putting their friends and family through, talking about how they aren't like that, news flash...yeah you are! What you see going on in the lives of those people on the show, others see going on in your life! The pain those people are causing their families is the same exact pain you are causing yours!!!

My ex-husband was and still is an addict. We were together 14 years and during that time he continued to use, whether it was alcohol, meth or weed, and usually all three together. In 30 years he has still remained in his addiction. He has lost his family, lost pretty much everything else and has not managed to keep a job more than a few months at a time. It is sad because he really has nothing to show for his life. Yet, he continues to use! It use to amaze me at the things he would say when he was using meth. Because he was snorting it, he would say it wasn't as bad as someone who used needles to shoot it up. Or when he was spun he would try to tell me he just "had too much coffee".

What really use to flabbergast me was when he would get upset if I sprayed bug spray in the house because all those chemicals were dangerous to breath in...REALLY???? You snort chemicals up your nose and you are worried about bug spray?? And I never understood the whole, lets use meth to get wired but then drink alcohol and smoke weed to mellow out? Now that makes perfect sense...NOT!

The lying part of addiction is what makes me the angriest. All addicts lie, yet all addicts deny they lie which is just another lie...lol Yet all addicts HATE to be lied to! It is completely ridiculous to me when you know without a doubt someone is using. They look different, they talk different, they behave different and it's very obvious to those who know the person well they are using, yet when confronted they lie! Saying things like "how dare you accuse me of using, I'm getting tired of being accused of using when I'm not". Alrighty then...! Another news flash...continuing to deny it or the more you say you are not using does NOTHING to convince others your not...LOL All that does is make you look like a fool for thinking no one can tell.


Every time I watch Intervention I see these things over and over in those who are struggling with addiction, and realistically if they are still using and not getting help to stop, it's not struggling, its a battle lost and if it continues it will be a war lost which will end in death!


I know addicts who just switch from one substance to another. Regardless of what the drug of choice is, those who finally understand the concept you can USE nothing...period are those who will successfully over come their addiction! And if you actually put your faith and trust in the Lord chances of overcoming addiction are even higher!


A drug is a drug and for someone who has an addictive personality using any kind of substance WILL lead to using again. It may not happen right away but it will progress and end will lead into being trapped in addiction still.


That is one of the things I have learned by watching shows like Intervention and Celebrity Rehab, using is using and if the addict truly wants to stay clean and sober they cannot use anything! That is something they stress over and over and over to the addicts in Rehab and recovery…The other behavioral change stressed in Rehab is choosing to seek help and understanding you cannot do it alone! It is the addiction that tells you that you can!


Of those I know who are addicts, the only ones that actually have maintained sobriety are those who are refraining from any substance not just their drug of choice and are “working a program”. Getting counseling, attending meetings, having a sponsor, etc., all of these things are needed for the addict to remain clean and sober. To think otherwise is, like I said, the addiction speaking and the percentages show substantially lower the addicts chance of remaining sober/clean!


I realize addiction is a disease, however it is the only disease that can be avoided because it is brought on by a person’s choice to use a substance to begin with. I also know there is hope for those who want to be free, the first and foremost being the Lord. All things are possible with Him...you just have to make the choice!