It irritates me to no end the way some people ask questions. If you want to know something just ask don't purposely structure your question to start an argument. For example, if you want to know my opinion on any subject ask "What do you think about...?" DO NOT start your question with, "Don't you think...?" or "You don't think that...?" When someone starts a question in either of these manners it automatically tips their hand to what side they are on. It also draws clear battle lines.
And when I tell you my opinion don't respond with "So what you're telling me is...?" This clearly tells me that you didn't hear what I was saying. You only heard what you wanted to hear and now you're ready to argue. If you follow these simple rules we can have a civil conversation with differing opinions without it turning into a full blown argument. Thank you.
May 26, 2010
May 20, 2010
Best Year Ever?
I played an Auggie Stardust show last Saturday night. It was a benefit for flood relief here in Nashville. A lot of people came out to show there support and see some live music. We raised over $1100 that night and I also discovered some great new local music. Go check out Chip Greene and watch his video for "Everything About You." It's a great song.
At the end of the night I was talking to a friend about nothing in particular, just catching up. When the music ended I decided to leave. As I was saying goodbye to Jax he stopped and with a big smile said, "One last question: is 2010 the best year ever?"
I had to take a moment to think about this. I'm not sure why he asked this question but I have to say it has been the most consistently good year of my life. If you'd asked me a few years ago if I would ever have another year like this one I would have told you that those days are far behind me. It's funny how each decade of my life seems to get better toward the end. It's true that I still have a few years left before the end of my fourth decade on this planet but things seem to be moving in a very positive direction.
So far in 2010 I have come to terms with who I am and where I am in life. I've gotten back into some semblance of my former physical shape. I've played a lot of music. That one has been the big thing. I gave up on music several years ago and sold most of my equipment. I announced my retirement on my former blog and shut off the light on that part of my life. Simply put, I had fallen out of love with music. But this year I was forced out of retirement and well, dammit I've fallen back in love with music. And I've had plenty of encouragement from my friends to keep me from getting complacent with doing one show then riding that high for the next few years.
I can say that being sober for the first five months of 2010 has been very enlightening. I feel good. I hadn't felt good in many years prior to sobering up. Not having that distraction in my life has helped me focus on changing other aspects of my life that I had been neglecting. I've also started to feel real emotions again. I forgot how good they feel. Even the bad ones. It's amazing how much joy you lose when you let a foreign substance dictate how you feel.
Those are just a few of the things that 2010 has brought to me so far. There is still a lot of year to go but after thinking about it for a few days I have to say, "Yes!! So far 2010 has been the best year ever."
At the end of the night I was talking to a friend about nothing in particular, just catching up. When the music ended I decided to leave. As I was saying goodbye to Jax he stopped and with a big smile said, "One last question: is 2010 the best year ever?"
I had to take a moment to think about this. I'm not sure why he asked this question but I have to say it has been the most consistently good year of my life. If you'd asked me a few years ago if I would ever have another year like this one I would have told you that those days are far behind me. It's funny how each decade of my life seems to get better toward the end. It's true that I still have a few years left before the end of my fourth decade on this planet but things seem to be moving in a very positive direction.
So far in 2010 I have come to terms with who I am and where I am in life. I've gotten back into some semblance of my former physical shape. I've played a lot of music. That one has been the big thing. I gave up on music several years ago and sold most of my equipment. I announced my retirement on my former blog and shut off the light on that part of my life. Simply put, I had fallen out of love with music. But this year I was forced out of retirement and well, dammit I've fallen back in love with music. And I've had plenty of encouragement from my friends to keep me from getting complacent with doing one show then riding that high for the next few years.
I can say that being sober for the first five months of 2010 has been very enlightening. I feel good. I hadn't felt good in many years prior to sobering up. Not having that distraction in my life has helped me focus on changing other aspects of my life that I had been neglecting. I've also started to feel real emotions again. I forgot how good they feel. Even the bad ones. It's amazing how much joy you lose when you let a foreign substance dictate how you feel.
Those are just a few of the things that 2010 has brought to me so far. There is still a lot of year to go but after thinking about it for a few days I have to say, "Yes!! So far 2010 has been the best year ever."
May 10, 2010
May 2, 2010
This Ain't No Place For The Weary Kind
I had my last drink of alcohol on November 1, 2009. I've been sober for six months now and it has been an experience. I always knew I'd quit drinking one day and I thought I would have quit a long time ago but I didn't and it got way out of control. These past six months have felt like an eternity. Everything that was before doesn't seem real but I know damn well that every second of it was. I put myself in harm's way too many times to count and I hurt too many feelings to ever be forgive for. But now I'm in a good place and I feel great.
Shortly after I made my decision to quit I heard the song "The Weary Kind" from the motion picture Crazy Heart and it struck home. Sometimes a piece of music or a movie about an alcoholic musician can shed new light on a personal matter. The things that have helped me along the way would seem trivial to most people but they have done the job so far. I cannot thank my friends and family enough for being the support system that has held me up many times. I could never repay what you have done for me. My journey isn't over, not by a long shot but I have six months behind me. And a song to remind me not to give up:
The Weary Kind
Your heart's on the loose
You rolled them sevens with nothing to lose
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
You called all your shots
Shooting eight ball at the corner truck stop
Somehow this don't feel like home anymore
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
And this ain't no place to lose your mind
And this ain't no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your body aches
Playing your guitar and sweating out the hate
The days and the nights all feel the same
Whiskey has been a thorn in your side
and it doesn't forget
the highway that calls for your heart inside
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
And this ain't no place to lose your mind
And this ain't no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your lovers won't kiss
It's too damn far from your fingertips
You are the man that ruined her world
Your heart's on the loose
You rolled them sevens with nothing to lose
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
Shortly after I made my decision to quit I heard the song "The Weary Kind" from the motion picture Crazy Heart and it struck home. Sometimes a piece of music or a movie about an alcoholic musician can shed new light on a personal matter. The things that have helped me along the way would seem trivial to most people but they have done the job so far. I cannot thank my friends and family enough for being the support system that has held me up many times. I could never repay what you have done for me. My journey isn't over, not by a long shot but I have six months behind me. And a song to remind me not to give up:
The Weary Kind
Your heart's on the loose
You rolled them sevens with nothing to lose
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
You called all your shots
Shooting eight ball at the corner truck stop
Somehow this don't feel like home anymore
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
And this ain't no place to lose your mind
And this ain't no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your body aches
Playing your guitar and sweating out the hate
The days and the nights all feel the same
Whiskey has been a thorn in your side
and it doesn't forget
the highway that calls for your heart inside
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
And this ain't no place to lose your mind
And this ain't no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try
Your lovers won't kiss
It's too damn far from your fingertips
You are the man that ruined her world
Your heart's on the loose
You rolled them sevens with nothing to lose
And this ain't no place for the weary kind
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