Week 1 of California Sobriety

Remembering my best friend Dave Street, and also two Coronas with lime in one hand. Is it double fisting when you're only using one skeleton gloved hand?

I've been using alcohol to self medicate arthritis for a long time, mostly daily drinker, I don't get drunk but I definitely get buzzed. Tequila, club, on the rocks, lime. It's a performance enhancing drug for me. Lemmy is an idol of mine. Booze makes it inviting to play guitar because my entire body doesn't hurt... or rather it does, but I just don't care

When I'm not liquored up, I don't really play guitar much.

On April 16, 2025 I got very badly food poisoned so I didn't self medicate for a few days. We had a show at Ottos Shrunken Head on that Saturday. I don't party before shows anymore because Mad Jack (our bassist) had a nice sit down discussion with me about professionalism, and he's probably right, so I've been doing all the shows and rehearsals sober since.

The only time I've really wanted a drink this week is Ottos, it's this Pavlovian response to me getting to numb myself after a performance, but still I forewent my tiki drink and stuck to my club soda. I don't remember about 25 minutes after breaking down and getting off stage... I felt my soul leave my body. My guys manned the merch table while I turned into a statue and people I don't remember told me things I couldn't even understand. The post show recovery is crazy without slurring up. It is what it is, I guess.

Morning after that show was Easter Sunday. I spent it alone, organizing my apartment, watching documentaries. I interacted with four people the entire day... two employees at the bistro where I ate a bangin chicken and waffles for breakfast, and two employees at Applebees at dinner. All of these places, I sit at a bar and truly there's no temptation. After pouring me 20 drinks a week for years, none of the bartenders bust my balls about it. Peter at Rutts Hutt gave me a "my man" after the third day he tried to pour me a beer.

I've slept through every wake up call, there's a knocking at my door. I do not know what's on the otherside of it but I want to be formidable when I face the music. I'm grateful for my food poisoning. True blessing. Unfortunately I haven't picked up my guitar much... sorry Princeton.