Fawlty Showers 2

 

Yappy

Dogs were allowed in the outside seating area of the diner.  Someone had brought what might have been Pomeranian-demon mix, that yapped at Mojo.

Mojo raised his head, stared at the little mutt with a look equal parts boredom and contempt, and went back to snoozing.

The little dog turned circles in frustration.

Talmadge reached down to pat Mojo. “Little dog reminds me of my son-in-law, always mad I won’t drink with him. I don’t even answer him anymore.”

“I’ve tried to stop arguing online,” I said. “I’m happier when I don’t.”

“I had to block my cousin,” Epiphany said. “I don’t think capybara are the chicken of the future, and I’m not investing in a giant rodent farm. Done arguing with her.”

 

Today I’ll try to avoid pointless arguments.

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•                     www.greenbriartraining.com  

•                     https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

 

#addictionawareness #dailymessage #inspiration #odaat #recoveryposse #recoveryispossible

Fawlty Showers 2

Strange Bank Account

The next day I saw a notice another high school classmate had passed away.

It reminded me how life was like inherited money in a strange bank account. 

Every day you had to make a make a withdrawal, never knowing how much you had left.  Unhealthy habits were like fees that ate away at your balance.

The thought depressed me until I remembered the flip side. Not knowing my balance motivated me to get ‘my money’s worth’ from every withdrawal. Each day could be used to make that day and the next day better.

Today I’ll get my money’s worth.

  

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•                     www.greenbriartraining.com  

•                     https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

 

#addictionawareness #dailymessage #inspiration #odaat #recoveryposse #recoveryispossible

 

Fawlty Showers 2

Shoulds

Abigail appeared at my door, a strange look on her face. She told me her aunt had overdosed on whiskey and sleeping pills.

“I believe I should feel sad,” she said. “I feel nothing but relief.”

I ignored the urge to tell her what I thought she needed to hear. She knew.  Finally, she said, “I feel the way I feel. I’m not going to judge myself for it.”

I nodded. Talking more to herself than to me, Abigail said, “People need to look at where their shoulds come from.  My aunt always said I should be grateful she took me in, that I’d be lost without her.”

I said, “And you know that’s BS.”

“I felt guilty for years, telling myself I should be more grateful. Recently, I found out my father paid her to take care of me. I was her meal ticket.”

Abigail thanked me for listening and left.

“She’s right,” I said to Dipshitdumbass the bunny. “Before you feel guilty because of someone says you should do something or feel a certain way, consider the source.  Ask yourself where that should came from.”

Today I’ll look for the source of my shoulds.

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

 

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•              www.greenbriartraining.com 

•              https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S
 

Fawlty Showers 2 

Daddy Issues

Just a then a young woman in a very short dress named Monica ran up and hugged me way too tight. She introduced herself to Dr. Deb, saying, “Your husband is one of my favorite AA old-timers!”

“Daddy issues?” Dr. Deb asked after Monica bounced away.

“You could say that,” I answered.

“Attracted to much, much older men, maybe a father figure like you?” she asked, laughing.

I laughed too. “More like a grandfather figure. Different issue. Poisoned her dad for neglecting her mother. He lived, she spent three years in jail.”

Dr. Deb said, “Wow. OK then. Poisoned him?”

“Yep. Told him for months she didn’t like the way he treated her mother. One day she’d had enough and put something in his coffee.”

“Was she drinking?”

“A year sober when she did it. Best you could say is at least she dealt with the problem head on, if in a wildly inappropriate way.”

 

Today I will face my issues head on, but in an appropriate way.

 

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Fawlty Showers

Hidden Good

I was talking to the school principle in the hallway. Two huge boys pushed a scrawny kid against a locker. One boy opened it. “They’re going to shove him in!” I said to the principal.

She smiled. “Wait, they do this every day.”  One large kid handed the scrawny kid a paper bag. The scrawny kid laughed.  I looked to the principal for an explanation.

“The kid on the left is nicknamed Flop, FLag On the Play.  He’d happily tear your liver out and feed it to you at midfield. The blond kid’s guidance counselor thinks he’s got a promising future as a mob enforcer.”

“What about their malnourished friend?” I asked.

“Mom’s a nasty drunk who berates him constantly. Dad sells drugs.  The boys bring him lunch, and look out for him.”

“So you watch this every day to remind yourself there’s good in the world?”

“Sometimes where you least expect it. Brightens your whole day when you see it, but you have to look.”

 

Today I’ll look for the good.

 

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/
 

 Fawlty Showers 2

One More

The next day I spoke about addiction at a local high school.  A kid asked me if everyone has a little bit of an addictive personality.

I said, “I don’t know if I’d say everyone does, but I think it’s human nature to want just one more.”  I gestured toward the audience, “Anybody?”

A boy put his foot in the air, and said, “Sneakers. I work in shoe store so I can get a discount when I buy one more pair.”

“One more game,” a boy said, “I gotta play one more video game.”

“One more episode,” a girl in the front row said.  “Netflix is half the reason I’m failing Calc.”

A boy behind her snorted, “The other half reason is you’re a girl.”

She turned to glare at him and say, “My favorite show is ‘How to Get Away with Murder.’ Hey, don’t you cut through the woods on your way home?”

They laughed, and I added, “The ‘one mores’ are a good reminder, maybe a warning, that while most people are not prone to addiction, the first step toward it seems to be human nature.”

Today I will beware of the one mores.

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 

Fawlty Showers 2

Downhill Run

When I finally got into my office, I almost wished I hadn’t.  I got an error message on a home-study course I was designing.  Two hours later I was still struggling to fix it.

 

I remembered the conversation I’d just had with the night nurse. “Can’t give up even if it’s an uphill battle,” I said to my laptop.

 

I texted a friend who was familiar with the program. “You’re in the wrong screen. Try this…” When I did, all the information I’d been looking for magically appeared.

 

No uploading, no downloading, no reloading – just a downhill run past the error.

 

I was so happy for a little bit of a downhill run, I picked up my laptop and kissed it.  Naturally, that was when Katy and Dana walked by.

 

For the next several days I heard nothing but jokes about my laptop being the real Dr. Deb. People shut my door saying, “I’m sure you and your computer want to be alone.” Every message I got had a string of kiss emojis attached.  Even downhill runs have potholes.

 

  

Today I’ll be grateful for the downhill parts of my journey.

 

Fawlty Showers 2 is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Influence

Semi-Colin let MA into the backyard when they buried Cuddles.  The next day they found a small pile of Gummi Bears on the grave. MA had sneaked out during the night, braving stray cats, foxes, and other creatures, to honor his friend.

Semi-Colin and Dash wrote a picture book “The Brave Little Ferret.” They sold it online and donated the money to the animal shelter. 

Our influence outlives us, and ripples through time.  Cuddles’ bond with MA had emboldened him, in turn inspiring Semi-Colin and Dash.

As Fathers’ Day approached that year, I smiled thinking of the ways my father’s kind soul had left its mark on my children. My heart sank remembering a friend who’d never learned to trust men because of her father’s deceitful ways.

I reminded myself that my influence was likely to last long after I was gone.

Today I will try to be a good influence.

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Fawlty Showers

The Right Thing

The next day Abigail and Dana were standing at Katy’s desk in the reception area. 

“Why does everybody look so sad?” I asked.

Dana said, “Even though that witch from the county got canned, we know we can’t bring MA and Cuddles back.”

“MA and Cuddles had a good life here,” Katy said, “But your friend’s little boy adores them.  I’m sure he plays with them constantly.”

Abigail almost smiled and said, “MA isn’t so chubby anymore. I believe he’s getting more exercise.”

“Ain’t always easy doing the right thing,” I said. “But at least we get to visit.”

Today I’ll do the right thing even if it’s painful.

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

•             www.greenbriartraining.com 

•             https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

•             https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 

Fawlty Showers

Carrot and Stick

“How does your husband deal with your daughter’s boyfriend?” I asked later.

Dana said, “Carrot and the stick.  He got Dimwit, The Princess’s boyfriend, a good job cleaning up construction sites. Holding onto that job is the carrot.”

“What’s the stick?” I asked.

“He told Dimwit he knows a couple of shady bricklayers who owe him favors.  They’d be happy to hide a body behind a brick wall if he asked.”

 “I met your husband,” I said. “He’s a really nice guy. He’d never do something like that.”

“You know that, and I know that. Dimwit can’t be sure.”

I thought for a moment. “It takes both sometimes. I quit drinking because I got tired of beating myself with the stick. I stayed sober because of the carrot – seeing how much better life could be.”

‘Gotta love the carrot and the stick. ‘Course I’d like to beat Dimwit with a stick while he choked on a carrot, but that’s another story.”

 

Today I’ll try to be grateful when I’m motivated by both the carrot and the stick.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/
 

 Fawlty Showers

Connected

Ten days after we moved the animals to Semi-Colin’s, Cuddles started making daytime appearances.  He’d saunter around the buildings, visiting staff and patients, occasionally dropping a half dead mouse in someone’s office. After a couple of hours he’d wander off, headed back to Semi-Colin’s.

I didn’t want to read too much into Cuddles’ behavior, but I thought he wanted to stay connected. He’d been a beaten down alley cat when the previous building owner had taken him in.  Our staff had shown him more attention and affection than he’d ever received before.

Some people have been sustained by faith, family, and friends, work and shared experiences, and recovery. The wise ones stay connected. I sent Dr. Deb a text to say I wanted to have everyone over for dinner on Saturday.

Today I will stay connected

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Fawlty Showers

 

Changes

The first couple of days did not go well for anyone at Semi-Colin’s house. Dash had to be told several times to be gentle with the animals, especially MA.  Cuddles hid under a couch, hissing at whoever came near.

Semi-Colin made some changes.  Dash started feeding Cuddles little pieces of chicken. A week later Cuddles had warmed up to his chubby new buddy who liked to curl up next to him in a sunbeam.

Semi-Colin left some of Dash’s toys out. At night MA would hide whatever he could drag away. In the morning Dash would look for the piles of Lego, plastic soldiers and the like, laughing with delight whenever he found them.

I thought about how often life changes. The first year of recovery is hard, but one day you realize you’re so much more at ease being sober. You’re sad when a relationship ends until eventually you realize you’re happier than you’d been in a long time. You have that surgery and wonder why you put it off.

Life changes when you make changes.

Today I’ll be grateful life changes when I make changes.

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

At the next staff meeting Randy announced the county inspection had been moved up a month. We had to make a decision about the animals sooner rather than later.

In the end there was no choice to be made.  If we didn’t find a home for the animals the county would refuse to renew our license.  The county evaluator would shut us down.

I wanted to rant and rave and get a lawyer and see if I could borrow my friend’s St. Bernards to leave their calling cards in the county evaluator’s yard and/or convertible.

I texted Semi-Colin instead.  He still wanted to adopt MA and Cuddles. He would be happy to have our staff visit the animals as long as we called first. 

I told my colleagues Semi-Colin lived ten minutes away, and we could arrange lunchtime trips to see them.

“I don’t like giving them up,” Randy said, “but this may be the best we can make of a bad situation.”

 

Today I’ll make the best of a bad situation.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Whose Issue Is It?

At the end we all got up to thank the speaker. The Preacher made a beeline for the podium. 

Talmadge helped Stanley to his feet and handed him his walker. Everyone else waited for Stanley to make his way to the front of the room before lining up behind him.

When Stanley reached the podium, the speaker said to The Preacher, “Excuse me,” and gestured toward Stanley leaning on his walker. 

“Sure,” The Preacher said, “but one more thing,”

“I don’t want to leave him standing there too long,” The speaker said. The Preacher didn’t move.

“Right. This will just take a minute. I think…”

The speaker said, “I don’t know why you need so much attention. I hope you figure it out, but today I refuse to allow your issue to become my issue.” With that she stepped around him and shook hands with Talmadge and Stanley.

I turned to Margaret the newbie who was standing behind me. “Well there’s my nugget of wisdom for the day. “

 

Today I won’t let someone else’s issue become mine.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

I Got This

Later that day I saw two men in suits leaving Randy’s office.

“Detectives?” I asked Katy. She laughed.

“You are so cynical,” she said. “Attorneys for the food service company we use.  We didn’t have a bug, we had food poisoning.  They’re here to offer a settlement.”

“In a twisted way, this whole thing was like dropping an addiction, maybe getting out of a bad relationship.”

“How so?”

“You suffer through withdrawal, maybe you feel weak and disoriented at first, and then you’re better off than you were.”

Katy nodded, “Once you get through it with one thing, you know you can do it with another.”

 

Today I will remember all the tough times I’ve gotten through.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Most of the Time

Snakes in the Hood III was every bit as bad as we’d hoped it would be.

Genetically altered cobras escaped a government facility and took up residence in car hoods.  They chased a group of sorority sisters, and a mechanic who’d tried to check their oil, to a nearby ferret farm.

In the end the super-ferrets saved the day, killing the queen cobra. We laughed until we were in tears.

I hugged Brat Boy tight before he left.  I was getting older. I had no idea where his career might take him.  Whatever time I had with him, I planned to make the most of it, something I couldn’t do if I was drinking.

 

Today I’ll make the most of my time with the people I love.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Numb

“How’s your new neighbor?”  I asked Brat Boy.

“He’s an AA,” Brat Boy said, shaking his head.

“You mean he’s in AA.”

“No, he’s an AA, amateur anesthesiologist.  He likes to make himself numb.  Apparently he thinks a lot of himself and finds living among the common folk painfully disappointing.”

“Trouble with being numb is you never learn to deal with life’s pain. It seems to slow the healing from whatever wounds you suffer. You can’t feel the good things in life, either.”

“He’ll be too drunk to notice when Snakes in the Hood IV comes out,” Brat Boy said, laughing.

“Numb prolongs the pain, postpones the joy,” I said.

 

Today, be it good or bad, I’ll be glad I’m not numb.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Old

Brat Boy dropped in that night. “Bad movie night?” he asked. We liked to make fun of bad movies, something we’d started when he was in his teens, but hadn’t done in years while he’d been at school.

“Love to,” I said, thinking some things never get old. Over the years, appreciating these things had made drinking less attractive.   

Waking up not only knowing where I was, but where my car was as well. Clean clothes, breakfast when I wasn’t hungover, being reliable at work. 

Not having to apologize for loudly guessing, at their reception, how long someone’s marriage would last, or telling someone not all babies are cute, and theirs will likely ‘grow out of it.’

Time with my family. Time with my friends. Time alone fishing, writing, riding my bike.

“Appreciating what you have, what never gets old, is a big part of staying sober,” I said.

“Snakes in the Hood III?” Brat Boy asked.

 

Today I’ll be grateful for things that never get old.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

 Fawlty Showers

Enough

After the meeting I thanked the speaker, and told him I liked what he said.

“The trick is to never worry about how your critics react when you prove them wrong,” he said. “I used to waste so much time trying to change my mother’s mind about me. Now I just enjoy my accomplishments.”

I didn’t hear a lot of criticism, but I wondered what kept me from enjoying my accomplishments more. When I thought about what I’d completed at the end of the day, a little voice would remind me of all I hadn’t finished, or could have done.

I thought, tomorrow I’m going to be productive. Tomorrow night I’ll be happy with whatever I accomplish. I’m not going to beat myself up over what I could have done.

 

Tonight I will be happy with my accomplishments.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

·         https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Fawlty Showers

Wrong

I went to an AA meeting that night.

As a white guy in his mid-thirties gave his lead, somebody in the back could be heard complaining.  People tried to shush her, but she kept on.

The speaker didn’t react at all.

At the end he held up his chip and said, “I’m one year sober today.”

“You’ll be drunk in a week!” the woman yelled and left.  I was stunned. I’d never heard anyone heckle a speaker before.

The speaker laughed. “That was my mother. I used to drink to drown out her constant criticism.  Now I let it fuel my recovery.  I’m sober for me, but proving her wrong gives me a little boost.”

 

Today I’ll prove my critics wrong.

 

Fawlty Showers is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:

·         www.greenbriartraining.com 

·         https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001K8MG0S

https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose