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Post by hondobrode on May 12, 2014 1:49:14 GMT -5
I had a nice conversation with my father tonight. He and I don't have a close relationship due to his alcoholism, but this was the first Mother's Day since my grandmother (his mother) passed away earlier this year, so while my wife, daughters and I were at my parent's house for dinner, I joined him outside while he grilled. She'd had Alzheimer's and wasted away to damn near nothing at the age of 93, so while it wasn't a tragedy that she died, it was still sad for all of us. He was willing to open up and be real with me about his feelings, which was huge, because he's spent the last 40 years hiding his addiction and putting on a mask for the entire world. My father is a lifelong alcoholic like his father before him. After not doing anything about it for decades, my mother finally forced the situation and started Pop on the road. He'd quit before for short periods but never really wanted to quit. Eventually after being separated for 6 years or so, they finally reconciled on the condition that he went through professional treatment at a world class medical facility. He did and I've never seen the both of them so happy and content together. My my dad hid it too. No one ever knew or suspected as we had a respectable family and both parents were professionals. Finally he didn't care any more. I honestly didn't think he was physically able to do it, but he did with all our support. They're both retired now. We all wanted more than anything for them to reconcile and his last years to at least be sober. Is he involved with any social groups or organizations ? That can be tremendously helpful. I went with him to AA a few times and thought it was a good thing. Alzheimer's ! I truly think that has to be so horrible for everyone involved. It's never easy when parents get older. I'm 500 miles from mine but will be seeing them soon. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on May 12, 2014 18:47:19 GMT -5
Richard Bishop, glad you were able to share that moment of intimacy, even if it doesn't reconcile what must have been a tremendously painful past relationship. JKCarrier, happy frickin' birthday! And this just made my darn day: For Shax..a little Planet of the Apes art by Francavilla courtesy his twitter.....  -M
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Post by coke & comics on May 12, 2014 19:43:49 GMT -5
Attachment DeletedHere's the gang from the Bristol Comics Expo. Left to right is myself, Captain Clarkie, the steampunk rap artist known as Professor Elemental, and king mob. The con's organizer, a nice lady named Mal, took the picture.
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Post by The Captain on May 12, 2014 21:21:35 GMT -5
My my dad hid it too. No one ever knew or suspected as we had a respectable family and both parents were professionals. Finally he didn't care any more. I honestly didn't think he was physically able to do it, but he did with all our support. They're both retired now. We all wanted more than anything for them to reconcile and his last years to at least be sober. Is he involved with any social groups or organizations ? That can be tremendously helpful. I went with him to AA a few times and thought it was a good thing. Alzheimer's ! I truly think that has to be so horrible for everyone involved. It's never easy when parents get older. I'm 500 miles from mine but will be seeing them soon. My dad won't do AA. He's too proud, because he was taught by his grandfather that men never showed emotion or weakness and that they only needed themselves (his own dad, my grandfather, came back from WWII unstable and wound up killing himself after having served as a doctor at an internment camp in Hawaii, dealing with both the Japanese internees as well as the wounded coming back from the Pacific Theater). He sings in the church choir and volunteers in various capacities with community and church groups, but he always finds a way to crawl back into the bottle. He did go to an inpatient facility for a while, but it didn't stick, and when he went to a psychologist and was prescribed Zoloft for depression, he stopped taking the medication because he didn't like how it interacted with the alcohol, not realizing that maybe if he didn't drink so much, he wouldn't need the medication. I love him and care about him, but at the age of 67, he's not going to change who he is and I just have to accept that. |
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Post by hondobrode on May 12, 2014 22:07:42 GMT -5
My dad won't do AA. He's too proud, because he was taught by his grandfather that men never showed emotion or weakness and that they only needed themselves (his own dad, my grandfather, came back from WWII unstable and wound up killing himself after having served as a doctor at an internment camp in Hawaii, dealing with both the Japanese internees as well as the wounded coming back from the Pacific Theater). He sings in the church choir and volunteers in various capacities with community and church groups, but he always finds a way to crawl back into the bottle. He did go to an inpatient facility for a while, but it didn't stick, and when he went to a psychologist and was prescribed Zoloft for depression, he stopped taking the medication because he didn't like how it interacted with the alcohol, not realizing that maybe if he didn't drink so much, he wouldn't need the medication. I love him and care about him, but at the age of 67, he's not going to change who he is and I just have to accept that. That sounds very similar to my Pop. He was exactly 67 when he went to World Class Hospital and stayed with it. I truly thought it would kill him, and later that it wouldn't stick, but it did. |
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Post by hondobrode on May 13, 2014 11:33:57 GMT -5
Don't wear out your elbow there Chris  My wife knows I really like Space Ghost, and she found this piece of fan art while surfing earlier tonight and sent it to me, so I thought I'd share since I know there are a few other Space Ghost fans here...  A little beefier than the classic Toth version but a pretty cool rendering. The broad waste almost reminds me of a Wayne Boring Superman pic. -MDang ! That is gorgeous, and yes, very Boring-esque. Lang ? I wish I knew who that was. |
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Post by DE Sinclair on May 13, 2014 11:57:31 GMT -5
Don't wear out your elbow there Chris My wife knows I really like Space Ghost, and she found this piece of fan art while surfing earlier tonight and sent it to me, so I thought I'd share since I know there are a few other Space Ghost fans here... A little beefier than the classic Toth version but a pretty cool rendering. The broad waste almost reminds me of a Wayne Boring Superman pic. -MDang ! That is gorgeous, and yes, very Boring-esque. Lang ? I wish I knew who that was. Your wish, etc, etc: ryanlangdraws.blogspot.com/2014/05/space-ghost.html |
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Post by clarkie on May 13, 2014 14:15:54 GMT -5
Here's the gang from the Bristol Comics Expo. Left to right is myself, Captain Clarkie, the steampunk rap artist known as Professor Emmanuel, and king mob. The con's organizer, a nice lady named Mal, took the picture. He's actually known as Professor Elemental. Heh, heh. |
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Post by Rob Allen on May 13, 2014 19:37:28 GMT -5
I guess I'll write this here - it's about some comics I just read, but they're new, but I don't really follow new comics.
Anyway, I read a couple of FCBD giveaways - the Marvel one with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the DC one called Future's End. The difference was striking - the Marvel one looked like fun. It made me look forward to the upcoming movie. The DC one showed a future that was just relentlessly unpleasant.
I know where I'd rather spend my time, money and energy.
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Post by coke & comics on May 13, 2014 19:46:13 GMT -5
Here's the gang from the Bristol Comics Expo. Left to right is myself, Captain Clarkie, the steampunk rap artist known as Professor Emmanuel, and king mob. The con's organizer, a nice lady named Mal, took the picture. He's actually known as Professor Elemental. Heh, heh. Oops. That makes a lot more sense. |
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Post by coke & comics on May 13, 2014 19:47:57 GMT -5
I guess I'll write this here - it's about some comics I just read, but they're new, but I don't really follow new comics. Anyway, I read a couple of FCBD giveaways - the Marvel one with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the DC one called Future's End. The difference was striking - the Marvel one looked like fun. It made me look forward to the upcoming movie. The DC one showed a future that was just relentlessly unpleasant. I know where I'd rather spend my time, money and energy. Seems to be the universal reaction to the difference between the companies' strategies, evident from the comics to the movies. Hey, are you in touch with Ed Cunard at all? He was heading to Portland tomorrow for a couple nights and looking for people to drink or karaoke with. Somebody had suggested your name, but I'm not sure if you are in contact or even know each other. |
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Post by Rob Allen on May 13, 2014 19:52:20 GMT -5
I certainly know Ed's name but haven't been in touch with him. Is he on here, or CBR, or somewhere else entirely? I may not be able to carouse but I can recommend some places.
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Post by coke & comics on May 13, 2014 19:55:29 GMT -5
Not here yet. He's on the old CBR (the new old CBR that is) and on Facebook.
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ray
Initiate
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Post by ray on May 13, 2014 20:01:22 GMT -5
Greetings all. Inspired to join by coke & comics. I have very fond memories of the Classics board. Hope to join in on the conversation. The big transition between the old board and this one is working around autocorrect and small type on my iPhone (yay for progressive lenses). Old dog learning new tricks....
Ray R.
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Post by coke & comics on May 13, 2014 20:37:52 GMT -5
Greetings all. Inspired to join by coke & comics. I have very fond memories of the Classics board. Hope to join in on the conversation. The big transition between the old board and this one is working around autocorrect and small type on my iPhone (yay for progressive lenses). Old dog learning new tricks.... Ray R. Welcome, Ray. That's one more to cross off the list. Soon all the cool kids will be here. |
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