How To Be Free From Drugs and Alcohol

Alcohol and drug treatment has changed a lot over the years. The first forms of such treatments were quite brutal; in the dark ages it was thought that addictions were caused by demonic possession, which had many different prescribed ‘cures' ranging from blood letting to being burned at the stake. In the 19th and early 20th century, these treatments had improved but little; addictions were then considered forms of insanity and the treatments of choice involved straight jackets, padded rooms, and electric shocks.

What we consider today as modern alcohol and drug treatment didn't really start until the second half of the 20th century. No doubt spurred onward by the favorable results demonstrated by the rapidly growing '12 step' program designed by Alcoholics Anonymous, medical professionals began to realize that reasonable and effective alcohol or drug treatment was in fact a possibility. Some of the first forms of these treatment centers formed in this time were not much more than centers where the 12 step program could be taught.

Even well into the 1980's handing someone a ‘big book' (the Alcoholics Anonymous guide) and telling them to go to 90 meetings in 90 days was a common and acceptable form of alcohol and drug treatment. Since then there has been some improvement of our understanding of the disease of addiction, and alcohol and drug treatment has become both more complex and more effective.

The 12 step model can certainly be helpful, but the greatest thing about it is that it's free for anyone. There is no reason to pay exorbitant fees for such treatments only to get a copy of the big book and a list of nearby meetings; from virtually every city in the world you can find a listing for a nearby AA center in a phone book and get all you need to get started for no charge at all.

This doesn't mean that alcohol and drug abuse treatment isn't necessary. Going through a treatment program is a great way to get off to a good start into recovery. Just make sure you select one that is known for providing services beyond just 12 step model functions. As both a recovering addict and a former drug abuse counselor, I can say with some confidence that the best way to boost your odds in recovery is to try out many different forms of treatments; that way you are sure to find at least some things that work for you.

Parents want principal terminated

I am one of those parents. My signature is on the list that was turned in to the School Board. I have found myself at odds with these people many times. They have many problems with managing the school, and instead of dealing with them in a manner that satisfies the public they waste their time making policies that do not help the school, and do so generally behind closed doors. If they bring back Ralph Jacobs they will prove that they are hypocrits, and should ALL be removed during the next election cycle. Donna Hubbard is a terrible superintendant who does not concrens herself with what is going on in the school, or the community. She should also be removed as superintendant. Lockland schools were once under academic warning, and thankfully that has changed, but with the board as it is now things will start to go back to where they were before. We should expect more from our schools and school boards so that we can expect more from our students.

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A group of parents, including some leaders of the parent-teacher organization, asked the Lockland school board Tuesday to fire the district's only elementary principal, who is facing an assault charge.

Misty Cromer, an Arlington Heights parent, gave board members a petition she said included 94 names of parents and community members. Michelle Lind-Hatton, the PTO treasurer, said more names on another list are coming.

The petition requests that the school board not renew Ralph Jacob's contract. Jacob, 50, is accused of hitting Rhonda Holloway during an altercation in front of an Avondale home this month. According to the police report, Holloway said Jacob punched her in the mouth.

Jacob since then has been on paid administrative leave. A 2005 contract listed his base salary at $64,000. He could not be reached for comment. A court date is scheduled June 4 before Judge Melissa Powers in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

Some parents said they feared that if Jacob is acquitted, the school board may still employ him as a school leader.

"My main problem with all the charges is that this school holds a zero-tolerance policy. If a child strikes a child, how is the principal going to enforce that?" said Robin Heimann, a parent with four children in the district's schools.

Board President Kim Costanzo received the petition without comment. She said later that the board is likely to meet in June, but she did not know when the board will discuss Jacob's status.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, the board reversed itself on a decision to terminate one of two teachers. The board rehired Michael Cole, an elementary teacher, for at least a year.

But the board voted unanimously to not offer a contract to Jody McOsker, a high school science teacher who last year spoke out against changes in the district's grading policies that she said made it too easy for students to pass.

Her termination, announced last month, prompted a student sit-in that involved several dozen students.

McOsker read a statement during the meeting that continued to question decisions made by school leaders.

She said the school board rarely discussed or debated policy changes in public, and that high school teachers have no place to go if they have a dispute with the principal, Ben Hubbard, because he is the father-in-law of superintendent Donna Hubbard.

"I have chosen to voice my concerns in this public forum because I know that Lockland can be so much more, if only given the chance," McOsker said.

Donna Hubbard said afterward that teachers can complain to their union if they have problems with the principal or other district employees.

PPP Direct is an awesome new tool from PayPerPost

You may have noticed the new PPP Direct graphic I have on the top of my sidebar. This is an excellent opportunity for me as a blogger to be matched directly to any advertiser that may be interested in having me make a post about their site, blog, service, product, etc.

I do want to state that I will not post positive only posts. I must have the right to post honest opionis or thoughts I have.

The other awesome part about this is there is a minimual mark-up for the advertiser. Many sites, such as ReviewMe.com, charge an advertiser a 50% to 100% mark-up. This is money they keep for matching an advertiser to a blogger. The PayPerPost product does the same thing, but they only charge a 10% mark-up (5% of which is the PayPal transaction fee for credit card processing).

If you are a blogger, and have not yet signed up for PayPerPost this new feature alone is an awesome reason for getting signed up right away and get paid to blog.

If you are an advertiser, please make use of my PPP Direct link to have me post a review for you. (If you feel that the rate is too high post a comment letting me know why).

Recreate a pricey wipe-off board for about a quarter of the cost

I am constantly forgetting things, so I figured a wipe-off board for jotting down grocery or to-do lists would be a great addition to my home. But I didn't want it to look like it belonged in an office, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money.

With a few simple steps, I created an affordable, frosted glass wipe-off board very similar to an expensive one I'd spotted at Pottery Barn.

WHAT YOU NEED

• 16- by 20-inch black frame with glass
• Perfect Glue instant bond
• Krylon frosted glass finish
• nail polish remover
• newspaper
• dry-erase marker
• picture hanging mount and nails
• hammer

WHAT YOU DO

• Take the back off of the frame. You can get rid of everything but the frame and the glass.
• Apply glue around the edge of the frame. Affix the glass to the frame. Put a couple of heavy books on the glass to hold it tight, and allow the glue to dry for at least 12 hours.
• Once the glue has dried, remove any excess with nail polish remover.
• Lay the framed glass down so you are looking at the back. Put newspaper over the edges of the frame to protect it, and then spray the backside of the glass with the frosted glass finish.
• Using a hammer, nail a mount for hanging to the backside of the frame.

Tip: If the frosted glass spray looks too heavy in certain areas, don't worry. What may look heavy initially can actually dry to a lighter finish. Whatever you do, do not attempt to wipe off the frosted effect - you'll end up with a smeary mess.