It's not been easy to write the past few months. I've been working from 4 AM to 3 or 4 PM Monday through Friday. On top of that, I'm going through something challenging physically. Once again, I will have to climb another mountain. Hey, what's one more mountain, right? Following four years of on and … Continue reading Preparing To Publish The First Book of The Series
Category: Drug / Alcohol Addiction
Writings for the recovering addict, and the addict not yet recovering.
Re-Posted from December, 2021. The following was copied from my column. I write for a treatment newsletter in Colorado. Close your eyes and allow your mind to scroll back to the past, back to the world of drugs and crime. Whether last month or last year, let's journey back to the inescapable emptiness of getting … Continue reading Acquiesce To Recovery
"So, what did the doctor tell you this morning," he asked his wife, struggling to hide an ugly scowl on his thin, dark features. A sudden wave of sadness filled her mind as a single tear tried to fall from one tired eye, but didn't. The room seemed unnaturally quiet as the woman prepared to … Continue reading Causing Pain, That Other, Ugly Coping Skill
I want to take a few minutes to say "Good Morning" to those individuals who've struggled with loved ones addicted to drugs or alcohol. The people who have the love and patience to stand by the addicts' side throughout their battle with addiction. So often, we (bloggers) write about the pain and suffering of the … Continue reading Good Morning To Anyone Damaged By Those Who Are Damaged!
Most of us have experienced the frustration associated with standing in line, waiting to return something at a customer service counter. Even if the line is short, the employee assigned to help you may have treated you in a less than respectful fashion. Why are you being treated poorly? Depending on their hiring and training … Continue reading Shoplifting, Gift Cards, Facebook Marketplace, And Organized Retail Crime.
Pictured: Fishing with my Son. Following twelve months of planning and preparation, I moved to Texas three weeks ago. Following more than 30 years of Denver residency, I didn't hesitate to surrender my Colorado Driver's License for a Texas Driver's License. That's right, I have become a Texan. I already have my Texas Fishing License … Continue reading It’s Official . . . I’m A Texan! Re-Posted From January, Last Year.
"When you consider the pain you cause a person to be that person's fault, that's evil." Highly Recommended! Joseph Shanklin August 12, 2022
It's important to pause, place the drama of this world aside, and take a couple of days to remember the meaning of Christmas. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I love this holiday! God Bless! Joseph Shanklin Christmas, 2022
This was one of my first pieces of writing. At the time, I was still in my first year of sobriety. I've had a couple of people ask me about the meaning of 'Damages.' They feel I'm placing addicts on a pedestal. I surely don't set the average drug addict or anyone else on a … Continue reading Damages [Spring 2019]
For this piece, I used two characters from my novel, but it's not an excerpt. It was inspired by an actual tomato plant in a large hanging cage. Similar to the one shown . . . but bigger and . . . well . . . slightly demonic looking. The Tomato Plant As promised to … Continue reading The Tomato Plant [Extended Version]