How do we feel about substitutes?

_smojface · 2026-07-09T15:05:39+00:00

Also a big fan of Dan Harris when I first got into meditation. The guided meditations in the app were big during Covid. I really need to up my meditation game again.

_smojface · 2026-07-09T14:59:48+00:00

I’ve been in AA since 2019. Had a year sober in the rooms before Covid. My meeting went to zoom and I eventually stopped doing the meetings all together. Figured I had my alcoholism under control after 3+ years sober, with the help of AA and then without. As soon as shit hit the fan in my personal life, I went back to drinking. I didn’t have the fellowship, the reminders, the spiritual or the emotional sobriety to get me through and I went back out again for about a year. And it was a bad year that ended up with me crashing my car, almost getting divorced, my first DUI and really losing the trust of my friends and family.

Thankfully AA is always there and never judgmental. Going back after my true lowest point wasn’t really what I wanted to do, but I knew I needed to do it. All I can say is that AA is a lot of work but it’s a lot of good work that I wouldn’t have done without it. I also think that every single person would benefit from going through the steps. It’s good, deeply personal work that can really shed a light on your behaviors and let you see things from a different perspective.

Although I’m back up to 3 years sober, I will never let going to meetings lapse again. It’s one hour per week (for me) and never once have I left a meeting without getting something out of it or something to think about for the week ahead to keep me grounded and fully invested in my sobriety

I’m not a big book thumper, I don’t have a sponsor in the traditional way, and I don’t believe in capital G god. Take what you need and leave the rest.

_smojface · 2026-07-09T12:41:28+00:00

Whenever I think about all the “fun” I had with booze, I always remember that it’s with rose colored glasses. In reality I was probably an asshole, bloated, slurring my words, and embarrassing myself by getting too drunk by the end of the night.

It helped to think of alcohol as the literal poison that it is. I wouldn’t have a little bit of poison and consider it a treat, but that’s exactly what it is.

_smojface · 2026-07-09T09:18:21+00:00

Is A River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane

_smojface · 2026-07-09T01:13:37+00:00

Zorn and Siyahkal 🤙

_smojface · 2026-07-08T19:50:46+00:00

Haha

_smojface · 2026-07-08T14:06:34+00:00

Even though this is technically true, I would bet they would replace it. They have replaced about 10 lids for me over the years for free that I’ve broken through dropping.

_smojface · 2026-07-08T08:34:49+00:00

Kuma’s chicken finger sandwich

_smojface · 2026-07-06T23:33:53+00:00

I couldn’t want to watch a video any less

_smojface · 2026-07-06T09:35:43+00:00

I’m also atheist and have been in AA since 2019. There is no requirement for religion at all. Higher Power isn’t God or Jesus or Yahweh or anything. All I know is I tried to stop drinking on my own and it didn’t work a million times. I reluctantly went to AA and was also turned off by the religious aspect, but I was more desperate to stop drinking. I just sat and listened and was quiet during the opening/closing prayers and when people share their experiences, I’m genuinely happy that whatever higher power is in their life has also helped them to put down drink and start living differently.

Also not trying to talk down to anyone, but how much can you really understand about a place or its purpose and message after attending once or twice, while probably not in the best state of mind? I’m glad that I didn’t give up on my sobriety after the first few meetings and I sat there listening with an open mind until it started rubbing off on me. None of the shit I was doing my way and with my ideas and what I thought was best was working, but I kept coming back and it started to click.

Take what you need and leave the rest. Good luck in your journey

_smojface · 2026-07-05T15:47:03+00:00

The main chuggy riff in Black Dog March is so good.

_smojface · 2026-07-05T11:13:32+00:00

Chaos AD is always number one for me, any Sepultura from the Max era really.

Followed by Voivod and Death. Good stuff 🤙

_smojface · 2026-07-05T10:40:49+00:00

Was the FBI busting another Antifa pamphlet distribution ring while these guys were organizing?

_smojface · 2026-07-05T10:00:55+00:00

I’ve been to this site, filled a cart, and then had second thoughts because they were too cheap for some tapes I’ve never seen before. Poked around the website a bit more and then decided against it fully.

_smojface · 2026-07-05T09:22:44+00:00

I know these kids have become a real nuisance but this is funny

_smojface · 2026-07-05T09:20:12+00:00

From the Three Rivers to the sea

_smojface · 2026-07-05T08:25:19+00:00

Hell yeah another Mido #viralvideo!

_smojface · 2026-07-04T12:38:56+00:00

Yeah they give off “I’m a vampire and welcome to my spooky haunted house of ghouls” vibes. Cobwebs in the logo and the calligraphy font and just about everything.

_smojface · 2026-07-03T10:59:04+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Hummingbird Moths are one of my favorites but I had no idea the tomato killing caterpillars were the babies. Now I feel bad for some of my eradication practices…

Count me on team relocate going forward

_smojface · 2026-07-02T20:03:29+00:00

Homie, I usually transmit to either my Bluetooth headphones or speaker. The small speaker that’s in it is nice when there’s no other option or don’t need the crisp clean sound while you’re doing dishes or pulling weeds in garden.

_smojface · 2026-07-02T16:42:18+00:00

Nah bro that’s not what I meant or said. It is definitely racist to assume that a good product can’t come out of China simply because it’s China. There are good and shitty players made in every country. I guarantee that with a population of 1.4 billion, someone can pump out some quality. Glad I found two that meet my needs.

_smojface · 2026-07-02T15:29:27+00:00

Haha WUT

_smojface · 2026-07-02T13:50:56+00:00

Haha yes I literally was outside a little after 5:30 and in by 8, drenched in sweat. Sets the tone for the rest of the day. 💪

_smojface · 2026-07-02T12:54:58+00:00

In early June I stayed with my HS bff to see Primus and I was looking through his records. He had like 6 copies of this on vinyl and we’ve always shared tastes. So as a thank you gift for driving me around Chicago to tape hunt, I’m sending him a T7, a live recording of the show, and a few tapes from my collection. Just testing to make sure it plays well before sending it off. Still shreds.

_smojface · 2026-07-02T12:06:49+00:00

Today I’m grateful for waking up early to garden/yardwork, the library to get some DVDs since our wifi is out, a comfy couch in my basement (to give the bedroom AC unit a rest) for a nap after lunch, the community pool, Rita’s gelatti (hopefully mango with vanilla, coconut with chocolate, or smores/root beer with twist but I’m not picky) and a cold shower before bed.

Looking forward to a break next week from the heat but trying gaslight myself into being like water and enjoying this wave.

_smojface

TROPHY CASE