Rob
Here in Kansas, just had a few minute to check in to see how everyones
doing, well the first month of the new year is going to be gone here in
3 hours, Im hoping that everyone that still has clean time, that they
continue on that path and stay gamble free, for those of you that are
still struggling, dont give up, its takes TIME and youll will find your
path to recovery from this addiction.I struggled for so many years,
till I finally found my path to recovery,and staying clean, it takes
many changes in our lives,many ups and down, but we can accomplish
this.Very few of us will never be able to walk away and stay away
without, working recovery everyday, even I still at times have the
desire to go gamble, but thankfully Ive banned myself and have been
able to put away money in CDs so that I donot have instant access to
it.Also Linda told me several yrs ago about INGDIRECT online banking.I
can transfer any extra cash from my checking account to ingdirect and
it takes several days, so you donot have access to your money and it
also takes several days to transfer money back to your checking
account.If anyones interested its, Ingdirect.com, if referred they
often offer you a $50.00 bonus for opening a saving account.Ok friends
will post again when time permitts.  Rob

Hi Shell,

Glad to hear that you are making your way out of disaster casino
lifestyle and that the GA meeting was such time well spent.
Sometimes I just think how weird it all is, that I would bother
spending time in a place where the main employee occupation is to
stand around watching while people throw their  paychecks away.  I
went to a Macys store last night, in a mall which was positively
deserted, and even on a Friday night. Must be the economy because it
would usually be jammed.  From the clearance rack there were really
nice 60 and 70 dollar original price clothes for like five to seven
bucks a piece. So for a small fraction of what would be spent at the
casino in the same amount of time and have absolutly nothing to show
for it, now I have really nice clothes instead of buying more 3 piece
monkey suits for the casino bloodsucker managers to walk around in
Plus, was not stressed out and was only 5 miles from home, not 100
miles away and have to make the most depressing drive back home after
getting fleeced. It feels great not to have to go online to check how
much damage was done to the bank account.  What a relief to go to
work today and know that it is not to support that pack of leeches.

Liza
  In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, "shellmoore75"
<shellmoore75@...> wrote:
>
> good for you liza!
> i am 14 days clean and really just today had my first strong urge
to
> gamble. thank goodness it would take me a couple of hours to get to
> a casino and i have been very busy working. also, i went to my 2nd
> meeting last night and really enjoyed it. take care and have a
> good "clean" weekend!
> shell
>
>
> --- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, tankweasel
> <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > I went up to the counter after and gave them that stupid players
> card
> > and said I don't want to go back and waste any more money at this
> > shithole ever again and requested to be taken out of their
> computer
> > system.  So then 2 weeks later they send that crap in the mail
> with
> > some freebie gambling coupons .  Fine!  I am going to go there
> with a
> > girlfriend who thinks gambling is the most stupid waste of money
> > imaginable and hates casinos and we are going to cash out these
> > coupons, leave the casino dump and and then go out hiking and for
> > lunch once a week.  Lately, my mimdset has really begun to
> change,or
> > maybe just getting too old for this nonsense.  the thought of
> > spending my paychecks on that crap just seems so hard to even
> > imagine, the stamina I used to have to work for nothing just is
so
> > gone. I trust God has provided enough wisdom to see that I don't
> need
> > to try to keep hopelessly proving that I can be a social
gambler.
> > Accept it and just move on. Yesterday I took that damn eggcrate
> > mattress topper out of the car back seat and put it out for the
> > garbage truck and just thought, Never, ever again will I sleep
> curled
> > up in that car in a Dennys parking lot after pissing away a
> paycheck
> > ever again.
> >
> > Best regards to all,
> >
> > Liza
> >
>

Have A Wonderful Day Of Recovery And A Great Weekend !!!

Thank you for that information re Deb.  Pass onto her my best wishes
and tell her that I am going to wait for her to come on over here to
Aussieland.  She was an inspiration for me and I attribute my recovery
to her and her wisdom.
Thanks again
And another day without gambling is wonderful.
Helen

good for you liza!
i am 14 days clean and really just today had my first strong urge to
gamble. thank goodness it would take me a couple of hours to get to
a casino and i have been very busy working. also, i went to my 2nd
meeting last night and really enjoyed it. take care and have a
good "clean" weekend!
shell


--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, tankweasel
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> I went up to the counter after and gave them that stupid players
card
> and said I don't want to go back and waste any more money at this
> shithole ever again and requested to be taken out of their
computer
> system.  So then 2 weeks later they send that crap in the mail
with
> some freebie gambling coupons .  Fine!  I am going to go there
with a
> girlfriend who thinks gambling is the most stupid waste of money
> imaginable and hates casinos and we are going to cash out these
> coupons, leave the casino dump and and then go out hiking and for
> lunch once a week.  Lately, my mimdset has really begun to
change,or
> maybe just getting too old for this nonsense.  the thought of
> spending my paychecks on that crap just seems so hard to even
> imagine, the stamina I used to have to work for nothing just is so
> gone. I trust God has provided enough wisdom to see that I don't
need
> to try to keep hopelessly proving that I can be a social gambler.
> Accept it and just move on. Yesterday I took that damn eggcrate
> mattress topper out of the car back seat and put it out for the
> garbage truck and just thought, Never, ever again will I sleep
curled
> up in that car in a Dennys parking lot after pissing away a
paycheck
> ever again.
>
> Best regards to all,
>
> Liza
>

Hi Helen,
Excuse me for hitting the enter key too fast.....LOL!!  I just heard
from Debbie and she is okay.  She is in treatment and also back in
school for the spring semester.  She will graduate in May,  which is
wonderful. Deb is a trooper and will never stop fighting the good
fight.
I think she still reads the boards but I will let her know you asked
about her.
Sincerely,
Mimi
--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, "helen.gittings"
<helen.gittings@...> wrote:
>
> In my last post I was asking after 'Debbie' but thought I would do
> another specificlly with that heading.
> Anyone with information re this lovely lady who came here helping
> people and always taking the time to answer all the messages please
let
> me know if Deb is o'k.  She has had some serious illness last year
and
> am hoping that she is on the mend.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Helen
>

--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, "helen.gittings"
<helen.gittings@...> wrote:
>
> In my last post I was asking after 'Debbie' but thought I would do
> another specificlly with that heading.
> Anyone with information re this lovely lady who came here helping
> people and always taking the time to answer all the messages please
let
> me know if Deb is o'k.  She has had some serious illness last year
and
> am hoping that she is on the mend.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Helen
>

Have A Wonderful Day Of Recovery

And The Start To A Great Weekend !!!

January 30 Reflection of the Day

Have I gained freedom simply because one day I was weak and the next day I became suddenly strong? Have I changed from the helpless and hopeless person I once seemed to be simply by resolving, "from now on, things will be different"? is the fact that I am more comfortable today than ever before the result of my own will power? Can I take credit for pulling myself up by my own boot-straps? I know better, for I sought refuge in a Power greater than myself – a Power that is still beyond my ability to visualise.

Do I consider the change in my life a miracle far beyond the working of any human power?

Today I Pray
As the days of abstinence lengthen, and the moment of decision becomes farther behind me, may I never lose sight of the Power that changed my life. May I remember that my abstinence is an ongoing miracle, not just a once-in-a-lifetime transformation.

Today I will Remember.
Life is an ongoing miracle

In my last post I was asking after 'Debbie' but thought I would do
another specificlly with that heading.
Anyone with information re this lovely lady who came here helping
people and always taking the time to answer all the messages please let
me know if Deb is o'k.  She has had some serious illness last year and
am hoping that she is on the mend.

Thanks again

Helen

--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, LostStar1969@... wrote:
>G\\The definition of gambling is:- Play games of chance for money
stakes:  Speculate wildly:  Risky undertaking:  Reckless speculation.

For me gambling is gambling and whatever the game the same feelings
of guilt, the lies etc have occurred with whatever form of gambling I
undertook.  Different horses for different courses.

Since I have been visiting this site many people have come and gone
and new ones will keep coming.  No one will get better from this
illness until they admit that they have a problem and then do
something about it.  It's impossible to find recovery on your own.
There are many resources out in the Community to help addicted
gamblers.  Gamblers Anonymous is what I choose to deal with my
addiction and found it a great relief to go to a meeting and find out
that I was not alone with my illness.

I would also like to know how one of the regulars on this site until
she suffered ill health last year 'Debbie' is doing, can anyone
please let me know - I think of her often and she is in my prayers.
Debbie always shared with great honesty and wisdom and I identified
with her story - Hope you are doing o'k Deb!

Helen from Australia.











> I notice that the vast majority of posters here seem to have an
issue with
> video gambling such as slots and video poker and thus we can relate
to each
> other and experiences and ways to handle it.  I am not a doctor of
any sorts so I
> don't know for sure but I would assume that the mindset and
motivation of
> action/sports gamblers is somehow different than those who play the
hypnotic video
> games..The reason I ask this is that I have noticed that we
sometimes get new
> members who are heavily into the horse track betting and when they
post it's
> like no one seems to know what to say to them because their
situation is so
> different from the video/casino gambler..Usually after awhile it
seems the horse
> racing posters just give up and disappear...Am I alone in this or
does anyone
> else find it hard to relate to the posts of this sort?..Sara
> **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in
just 2 easy
> steps!
> (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?
redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%
26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De
> cemailfooterNO62)
>

I went up to the counter after and gave them that stupid players card
and said I don't want to go back and waste any more money at this
shithole ever again and requested to be taken out of their computer
system.  So then 2 weeks later they send that crap in the mail with
some freebie gambling coupons .  Fine!  I am going to go there with a
girlfriend who thinks gambling is the most stupid waste of money
imaginable and hates casinos and we are going to cash out these
coupons, leave the casino dump and and then go out hiking and for
lunch once a week.  Lately, my mimdset has really begun to change,or
maybe just getting too old for this nonsense.  the thought of
spending my paychecks on that crap just seems so hard to even
imagine, the stamina I used to have to work for nothing just is so
gone. I trust God has provided enough wisdom to see that I don't need
to try to keep hopelessly proving that I can be a social gambler.
Accept it and just move on. Yesterday I took that damn eggcrate
mattress topper out of the car back seat and put it out for the
garbage truck and just thought, Never, ever again will I sleep curled
up in that car in a Dennys parking lot after pissing away a paycheck
ever again.

Best regards to all,

Liza

Owning Mahowny is a brilliant film. Very appropriate for us CG types!

ps_ot wrote:
>
> There is also a movie called "Owning Mahowny" that had Phillip
> Seymour Hoffman in it that was a true story. It was released in 2003.
>
> Take Care
> Peter
>
> --- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GettingPastGambling%40yahoogroups.com>, mishcad@... wrote:
> >
> > i think Paul Newman was in it
> >
> >
> >
> > Mishca
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LostStar1969@...
> > To: GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GettingPastGambling%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:59 am
> > Subject: Re: [GettingPastGambling] Part 2 of "The Gambler"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Wasnt there a movie back in the 70`s or 80`s called "The Gambler"
> about a high school or college basketball coach who was out of
> control with his gambling?
> >
> >
> > A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy
> steps!
> >
>
>

As  late add-on to the last statement of the previous post
about "doing something MORE PRODUCTIVE than gambling next weekend".
Sounds a bit asinine because  gambling at best is a sorry ass
pathetic waste of effort, and doesn't even come close to being called
least productive way to spend time.--- In
GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, tankweasel <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Sue,   Maybe it take an experience really vicious to get us to even
> think about quitting.  When I was charged with tresspassing that
> really shook me up and although did continue gambling at  casinos
> that I did not sign a self-exclusion form at it was the first thing
> that started to get me thinking how low this addiction had become.
> The money loss just leaves me stunned to think about it, especially
> when there is nothing of substance to even show for it but endless
> ATM transactions and maybe a dozen credit card advance cash slips,
> add to it $2400 in legal costs and a piece of paper with a court
> judgement to have the charge dimissed in a few months. Just
> acknmowledging every day that I don't need to "prove myself" at
> trying to be a casual or social gambler is enough for right now.
> Accept it for what it is, an insane addiction. There are so many
more
> things to accomplish than to spend the mindless idiot hours pushing
> on a stupid button watching cartoon figures on a reel spin over and
> over.  May as well go rent Porky Pig cartoon videos if I want to
see
> a bunch of cartoon pigs. Did not gamble since last weekend and am
> planning to do something more productive next weekend.
>
> Best regards
> Liza
>
> --- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, Sue Clark
> <sueclark61@> wrote:
> >
> > Actually I did hit my head.  Passed out standing up at the
> cashier's cage. Fell straight back onto my head.  That landed me in
> the emergency room. Concussion, CAT scan, the whole thing. The next
> day? Back in a chair in front of a slot machine.  It helps to write
> about this stupidity: The utter inability to control myself AT ALL
> when it comes to slot machines.  Yipes!  The urge to gamble is
> gnawing at me as I write this.  But I will not gamble today.  Damn
> this is a nasty addiction!  I HATE  it!!!
> >
> > --- On Sun, 1/25/09, tankweasel <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> >
> >
>

Sue,   Maybe it take an experience really vicious to get us to even
think about quitting.  When I was charged with tresspassing that
really shook me up and although did continue gambling at  casinos
that I did not sign a self-exclusion form at it was the first thing
that started to get me thinking how low this addiction had become.
The money loss just leaves me stunned to think about it, especially
when there is nothing of substance to even show for it but endless
ATM transactions and maybe a dozen credit card advance cash slips,
add to it $2400 in legal costs and a piece of paper with a court
judgement to have the charge dimissed in a few months. Just
acknmowledging every day that I don't need to "prove myself" at
trying to be a casual or social gambler is enough for right now.
Accept it for what it is, an insane addiction. There are so many more
things to accomplish than to spend the mindless idiot hours pushing
on a stupid button watching cartoon figures on a reel spin over and
over.  May as well go rent Porky Pig cartoon videos if I want to see
a bunch of cartoon pigs. Did not gamble since last weekend and am
planning to do something more productive next weekend.

Best regards
Liza

--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, Sue Clark
<sueclark61@...> wrote:
>
> Actually I did hit my head.  Passed out standing up at the
cashier's cage. Fell straight back onto my head.  That landed me in
the emergency room. Concussion, CAT scan, the whole thing. The next
day? Back in a chair in front of a slot machine.  It helps to write
about this stupidity: The utter inability to control myself AT ALL
when it comes to slot machines.  Yipes!  The urge to gamble is
gnawing at me as I write this.  But I will not gamble today.  Damn
this is a nasty addiction!  I HATE  it!!!
>
> --- On Sun, 1/25/09, tankweasel <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>

There is also a movie called "Owning Mahowny" that had Phillip
Seymour Hoffman in it that was a true story. It was released in 2003.

Take Care
Peter

--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, mishcad@... wrote:
>
> i think Paul Newman was in it
>
>
>
> Mishca
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LostStar1969@...
> To: GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:59 am
> Subject: Re: [GettingPastGambling] Part 2 of  "The Gambler"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Wasnt there a movie back in the 70`s or 80`s called "The Gambler"
about a high school or college basketball coach who was out of
control with his gambling?
>
>
> A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above.  See yours in just 2 easy
steps!
>

Have A Wonderful Day Of Recovery And The Start To A Great Week !!!

JANUARY 26 Reflection for the Day

Personal freedom is mine for the taking. No matter how close the ties of love and concern that bind me to my family and friends, I must always remember that I am an individual, free to be myself and live my own life in serenity and joy. The key word in this realization is personal. For I can free myself from many involvements that seem necessary. Through the Gamblers Anonymous Program, I am learning to develop my own personality.

Am I reinforcing my personal freedom by leaving others free to control their actions and destinies?

Today I Pray
May I find personal freedom, by reevaluating associations, establishing new priorities, gaining respect for my own personhood. May I give others equal room to find their own kinds of personal freedoms.

Today I Will Remember
Take the liberty; it's yours.