Kreativ Blogger

Kelly Wright over at Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award!  I am honored for certain.  By the way, in her description of me in her post, she referred to me as “a machine” – that is one dandy compliment right there, methinks.

In keeping with the traditions:

1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

Here are seven things that someone out there might find interesting, because I was nominated by a doctor, I’ll keep these items medically related:

1.  The entire State of Michigan wanted me to sober up in ’92 – it said right on my paperwork, People of The State of Michigan vs. James…  I was honored for sure.  They wanted me to sober up so bad that they even paid for my stay at the treatment center.  They’ve since been paid back in full, plus quite a bit.  It was a gamble, but it paid off for them (and me), big time, though I had every intention when I walked in the door to do my time and go back to my normal drunkard’s life when I got out…  I decided to quit, or more aptly stated, I asked for the strength to quit about 2 weeks in – at the end of my  bout with the DT’s.  Though I had a rocky start after I left the Farm, I haven’t had a drop since.

2.  An interesting part of Delirium Tremens is “the shakes”.  I shook so bad for two weeks that I couldn’t drink water out of a glass without a straw.  The only symptom I didn’t have to deal with was the hallucinations.

3.  I had learned about a year prior to quitting that I had the liver of a 60 year old chronic alcoholic – I was 21.  The doctor who read me the results said I’d probably be dead of cirrhosis by the time I was 30.  I still drank just as heavily for another year.

4.  At 41, I have a healthy liver and the ability to live to old age.

5.  I have celebrated every year, for the entire month of my anniversary, since turning 30.  I consider every minute I’ve spent after that day borrowed time.  It is awesome.

6.  I was an absolute slacker as a teenager.

7.  I’ve never once blamed anyone but myself for the life I chose (though it was possible and tempting) and I’ve been through some stuff that I simply won’t write about here – it’s just too nasty, it would make you shudder.  I did however, thank the State Trooper who pulled me over and took me to jail on my 1 year anniversary.

The seven writers whose creativity I enjoy are (technically, I like Kelly’s blog plenty but I’d bet it’s against protocol to renominate her):

Blue Hen Cyclist.  He’s just a fantastic writer – in fact, when I wrote my own post about my first group ride, I tried to emulate his style.

Steep Climbs.  Leave it to a guy to fall in love with the one thing most cyclists dread – Climbing.  Read a few cyclists writings about climbing, you’ll see the word “suffering” in there somewhere…

Tri Fatherhood.  One of the coolest ways to write a blog I’ve seen…  I love reading his posts.

Sip, clip and go!.  The first post of Karen’s that I’d ever read was about a woman who converted her, uh, woman of the night pumps into cycling shoes.  I still chuckle when I think about that post.

bike v car.  A man after my own heart from across the pond who happens to be a whole lot funnier than I am.  Great writer.

Joseph Lampen.  Fellow Michigander, Mr. Lampen actually makes riding a bike in the snow sound fun – anyone who can do that is about as creative as you get.

All Seasons Cyclist.  One. Cool. Blog.