Bill Brenner

Will E-Cigs Get Me Over Smoking?

by Bill Brenner June 14, 2012 Addiction

Update: July 26, 2012: I’ve been leaning on my crutch like a motherfucker during a trip to Las Vegas. But I haven’t touched the real thing or drank, which is progress. I’ve been using electronic cigarettes lately. Why, you ask? Let me try to explain. When I’m in the mood to feel sorry for myself because I can’t do things I’m addicted to, I’ll throw up my hands and ask myself, “What else is there…  [Read More]

People Surprise Me Sometimes

by Bill Brenner June 11, 2012 Family

The wedding I wrote about a few days ago has come to pass, and it was a great night. Everyone got along, which isn’t always easy in this family, and it was great to see the newlyweds look so happy. It was also a night where a few people defied my expectations. Mood music: [spotify:track:7AIwqOPojh63neK7B0UwiM] Two people I was certain wouldn’t talk to me came up and greeted me warmly. Another couple we haven’t seen in…  [Read More]

Zombies Are Addicts, Too

by Bill Brenner June 8, 2012 Addiction

Zombies have become the new American superhero, revered in countless Facebook memes and magazine articles. Now we have real people eating other real people. Mood music: [spotify:track:714tlsBfatWBEomrcZmz7i] I normally wouldn’t touch a topic like this, because zombies are a work of fiction. But lately people have been trying hard to will the fiction to life. We have one guy eating the face off a homeless man and another guy eating his buddy’s heart and brain….  [Read More]

Grief Management Put to Music

by Bill Brenner June 7, 2012 Grief management

Weeks after a loved one dies and we’ve allowed ourselves to fall apart, we have to make a choice: Stay in a fetal position, hidden from the world, or stand up and move forward. This is a little tribute to someone who made the latter choice. Mood music: [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48842027″ iframe=”true” /] I don’t know Ian Clark very well. We’re connected on Facebook, and I’m very fond of his mom’s band, The 360s (he plays…  [Read More]

Hit Me Again, I Can Take It

by Bill Brenner June 6, 2012 Adventures in writing

Despite the sometimes divisive topics I write about daily, most of the comments people leave under my posts are positive. But don’t you worry — I take my share of  barbed rebukes as well. Since it can be terribly difficult for some to take criticism, I thought I should share what I’ve learned. Mood music: [spotify:track:2ZIyAatdOPqpQNsjVNAAoj] To show I’m an equal opportunity kinda guy, let me start by sharing the not-so-nice reactions readers have had…  [Read More]

Four Survival Tips for Dysfunctional Family Events

by Bill Brenner June 5, 2012 Family

I’ll admit it: I’m something of a black sheep in my family. There’s a large chunk of family I have little to no communication with. But sometimes big events require us to be together in the same space, like a wedding this coming Saturday. What to do? Mood music: [spotify:track:6Nt5aSBZC3Rs97mQeNzICw] I’m thinking about this because the family member I’m most estranged from sent me a Facebook friend request yesterday. Since she unfriended and blocked me…  [Read More]

When We Look in the Mirror, We See John Edwards

by Bill Brenner June 2, 2012 Crime and punishment

I admit feeling some glee over the fall of former U.S. senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards. I always thought the guy was full of himself, and cheating on his cancer-stricken wife was probably one of the shittiest examples of infidelity you could find. Yet I’m going to defend him — a little. Mood music: [spotify:track:5edNYGd8F7pEhfIQu6RenB] Edwards was back in the news this week when a jury found him not guilty on one count of accepting…  [Read More]

Sometimes, Sobriety Sucks

by Bill Brenner June 1, 2012 Sobriety and abstinence

Some days I wish I could have a glass of wine or six. This leaves me with two choices: Fall off the wagon with zeal or stay sober and resent the world with zeal. It’s funny, because binge eating was the addictive behavior that got me into the most trouble and I don’t get this way over the flour and sugar I used to stuff myself with. Mood music: [spotify:track:1LHi4OZluPAa2iCf3QatBJ] Yesterday afternoon I was really…  [Read More]

Maybe It’s Time for a New Therapist

by Bill Brenner May 31, 2012 Mental health

Lately I hate going to my therapy appointments. I dread getting in the car to go, and once I leave his office my head goes from slight ache to migraine in the course of an hour. It’s not the therapist’s fault as much as it’s a change brewing within me. Mood music: [spotify:track:7rvD6aTf1Aa2OMwzAQbQwO] I’ve written about my therapist before. He’s taught me a lot about how the brain works, what happens when a mental disorder…  [Read More]

When Fakes Go for the Kill

by Bill Brenner May 30, 2012 Communication Skills

We do a lot of stupid things to gain acceptance among others. Many of those things go back to being a fake. Some of you have been guilty at some point. So have I. The question is if anything good can come from our shenanigans. Mood music: [spotify:track:3prDBxwP2kuDQQ94tApMl2] I’ll start with myself. Someone who means the world to me recently suggested that I’m the star-struck type. I love making friends with musicians, especially when I’m…  [Read More]

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