On the Fence of Abstinence

Originally posted 3/14/2011 on another site in a different format

I felt not unlike I was in that old movie Grand Hotel...the one with Garbo 'wanting to be alone'. Let me just say, come Friday night: I felt Garbo's pain. I had a real-time situation comedy/thriller/mistaken identity/runaway groom/sociopath story unfold before me.
My guests, uninvited guests and guest stars included: a doctor, nurse, an airline pilot turned telecommunications expert, a director, a newspaper man, a boot lover, a former trick, a houseboy, his boss, my crazy cousin, a waiter and my neighbors across the driveway: whom for 17 years never gave me much thought, but thanks to recent events, now host tailgate parties on their balconies at sundown.

It was also Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. One might think it's time to reduce the drama, go within and not have my apartment known as the Hollywood Hilton A-Go-Go.

And you: gentle reader. Are you taking a break these next 40 days? The next 30? This next week? Break means a break. Not a scary end. It might mean a rest off the treadmill.

All breaks are good. Do not feel bad because you stopped for a week, and your buddy went two weeks. If you go on holiday, let people on your fave sites know you've gone, either by a profile change, emails...I for one worry if I don't see you around for an extended period.

In the interim, educate yourself. Here are three links I found interesting, though I have not read through them yet. I do not recommend these as accurate, false nor do I guarantee any statements presented as facts. I thought them good sites to visit.

BLUELIGHT is a forum for all types of discussions regarding all sorts of things. I appreciate their statement they have posted:  "Bluelight is monitored by various agencies". Think about that when next you post on Craigslist or Nasty Kink Pigs' pig board w/a phone number whining for illegal substances or situations  It's so unbelievable that people would do that: they must think we're all a  bunch of practical jokers.

Erowid is another resource I liked. I've uh..randomly selected the link to 'speed'. You'll get the myth, the mystique and the mistakes than can be made with meth.  Even a history. No mention of Hitler or Satan though. The Japanese in 1919 cooked up this concoction. Personally I'm more thankful for sushi. There is a great mantra at the end: Control drugs. Don't let them control you.

And last but not least (and if I find more links I will post them) The Partnership@Drugfree.org is like a Webster's Dictionary but not such complex reading that you need a medical license. It's user friendly with pictorials. Imagine if you ever went on Jeopardy! and the category was 'PNP'?  Brush up on your rush and be prepared.

WeHo "Unfriends" Friends of Bill W.

Originally posted 3/3/2011 

It was late November that I made loop upon loop on foot of Robertson Blvd: down to Melrose then back up to Santa Monica Boulevard. I was going to a ONE Institute photography exhibit yet didn’t bring the address because---- I'm stubborn.  The 600 block of Robertson is a short stretch of street, and jam packed with Bossa Nova cafe, The Abbey, the back of the dance club The Factory, West Hollywood Park, Christian Louboutin and other smart, chic boutiques. So, an art gallery should be easy. Not so.

As I made loop number 3, exchanging smiles with Lindsay Lohan as she stepped out of a snappy car (this was between court appearances) voila, there was a sign directing me left onto El Tovar
Place, and at the very end of the street, was a tiny sign marking the ONE Gallery.

I time-stepped up a short set of stairs and confronted with 4 doors, I marched straight ahead and into an acting class: whether it was Strasberg method or Meisner technique I wasn’t sure.  Wait! Not so.
On the blackboard in giant letters: CMA. Yowza! A crystal meth anonymous meeting. And the dirty looks began to fly my way.
I apologized, backed out and went to the door marked ONE Gallery, which was the size of Midtown Manhattan apartment's kitchen.

Investigating later, I learned this was the Werle Building: better known to everyone but me as the West Hollywood Recovery Center. Imagine a small office building made entirely up of  12-step programs A (alcoholics) to U (under-employed)

The Werle Building has been WHRC's  ‘temporary’ home of 8 years and it serves around 6,500 people a month. It's elegant and  discreet in its own way and an asset to the community.

Not for much longer. The WeHo City Council,  which has not been getting the best press for a year now, voted to tear down the Werle Building. The Werle butts up to WeHo Park and its demolition allows the City to expand the WeHo Library (much needed) and the ‘Tiny Tot’ Playground (no comment). This is not the first time WeHo has altered the park. A few years back, the baseball diamond gave way to parking.

The super bad news is that there is no relocation plan at the moment for the WHRC. None.  Where will those who depend on WHRC’s meetings go?

Tuesday is Election Day. If you are a registered voter in West Hollywood, I urge you to study each
candidate’s position and cast your vote with an informed mind. You may not miss something until it’s truly gone.

As they say on TV: “This is Topman California and I approve this message.’ Because I typed the damn thing