October 26th...

 

October 25th...

 

Friday Music - Sofie Royer

Funny to me the amount of women who think I'm a far worse man than I really am.

I'll see you in your dreams. 

Friday Music - Suki Waterhouse

Another year down.

Was in New Orleans, Savannah, Chicago, the Great Wilderness, and San Francisco.

I had one of the better years of my life.

Friday Music - Chappell Roan, Toni Basil, Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift

I'm not usually a fan of these mash-up songs, but I like this one. 

I enjoyed hearing this while I looked a the Northern Lights. 

 

Friday Music - MJ Lenderman

Tonight I'm going to be out looking at the stars,

Watching the sun paint the sky.

And apple picking on Sunday! 

Friday Music - Imagine Dragons ft. J Balvin

It's been a busy but quiet week...does that even make sense?

Going to Homecoming tonight...

Friday Music - Kay One set. Cristobal

Shake your life up every once in a while.  It's good for you.

Taking dancing lessons, enticed by a woman who moves like water. 

Friday Music - Mannequin Pussy

I might like you and appreciate your...efforts, but I'm not bankrolling your entire life.  

That's hilariously overselling your value.  

Friday Music - Kris Kross

For the first time, I went sailing on one of the big lakes in the city last weekend.  

It was a challenge with all the kayakers, paddleboarders, and canoeists.

Plus the music from the shore livened it all up! 

Friday Music - Kabin Crew & Lisdoonvarna Crew

For the first time in three months, I can take a break and breathe.  

I specifically waited for Labor Day Weekend to post this.

Yeah, it's Irish kids, but this song slaps. 

Friday Music - Hyuna

Too many parties this week...

Too many!

This song still slaps! 

Friday Music - Nilüfer Yanya

I always wonder why you ran away.  

I'm fine, but I always wonder.

Friday Music - Galantis feat. Sofia Carson

Still exhausted from my vacation.

My new friends want me to come back and go camping...life under the night sky is wonderful. 

Friday Music - The Mowgli's

I lost my head in San Francisco...

That is a solid city. 

Friday Music - Tony Bennett

I can't tell you how nice it has been to take this week off. 

SWEET MOTHER OF MERCY!!!

Friday Music - Camera Obscura

After an abso-freaking grueling last few weeks, I'm taking a vacation.

I seriously do not know if I will return...

Friday Music - Fontaines D.C.

A busy weekend.  I hate really busy weekends.  

Plus side is I am tango dancing tonight!  

I like the vibe of the song, the video is rough. 

Friday Music - Babymetal with Electric Callboy

What if we kissed in the Haring exhibit...

You didn't ask for a heavy metal, industrial techno, Japanese girl band mash-up, but here you go.

(And it's actually REALLY good). 

Friday Music - Olivia Rodrigo

Back after vacation.  The week has not even slowed down.  Sigh...

I know I featured her a few weeks ago, but she is fun! 

Tripped and fell into my bed! 

Friday Music - Andrew Gold

I am on vacation.

I am mailing it in...from the 1970s!

Friday Music - Charlie XCX

This week has been brutal. 

This woman is on my list of 5...

Friday Music - SASAMI

The boldness of a person you've known for years returning after their first year of college. 

"You want to hear a secret?"

Friday Music - veronicavon

Dear Lord did yesterday feel good.

Friday Music - Sabrina Carpenter

Confessions of returning college friends...

Stop, you're making me blush! 

Friday Music - After The Fire

Fun spending a Thursday night in town.

I love it when the bartender immediately recognizes I'm not drinking and they constantly top off my sparkling water with lime. 

This song slaps. 

Friday Music - Abby Sage

I went to a $500 steak house!

I was sat next to a bunch of loud, swearing Canadians. 

The steak was delicious. 

Friday Music - Olivia Rodrigo

Telling someone I'm not interested and then accidentally showing up at the same place they are. 

Delightful...

Let this earworm live inside you for a while. 

Friday Music - Ducks Ltd.

I love it when a flirt meets a flirt.  There's such a tension that forms as they try to continually one-up each other. 

This band name is freaking awesome. 

Friday Music - Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone

Of course, I was going to feature one of the songs this week.  

Music to lose yourself in...

Friday Music - Foals

Running in crowds I usually don't, and this time they don't seem to be treating me like it's a burden.

Friday Music - Aluna, Tchami & Kareen Lomax

I am headed to Chicago to see if I can find the person I was supposed to meet there years ago...

...And have a Chicago beef steak, hot dog, and deep dish pizza.  

Friday Music - Panic! At the Disco

When someone asks you 'What's the wildest sex you've ever had,' say nothing. 

Only porn stars and people who never had wild sex answer that question, and we'd all know if you were a porn star. 

Friday Music - Foudeqush and Ludwig Goransson

If I tell you a fantasy, I am not expecting you to try to make it real.

This song is so freaking beautiful. 

Friday Music - Chappell Roan

"You look like a Hulk mixed with a needy puppy."

Okay...I am only here for the fish fry...

Friday Music - Kygo & Ava Max

I love it when you discover the person who has a very public aggressive and in-your-face persona is actually somewhat submissive. 

Let the thaw begin! 

Friday Music - Cera Gibson

A group of friends sits down and talks about the wildest sex each of them has ever had.  One of them is reluctant to talk about it, but finally relents.

Stares and silence.

Two of them have been in my DMs ever since. 

Friday Music - Beyoncé

The number-one country song in America.

The Black experience is being taught, if you listen.  #BlackHistoryMonth 

Friday Music - Nas and Damian Marley, ft. Joss Stone and Lil Wayne

Remember, there are people who have it A LOT harder than you. 

And it has nothing to do with effort.  It has to do with circumstances. 

Friday Music - Mos Def

I thought the days would get less busy.

My balance is struggling.

10 Years

Today,  I am ten years sober. 

It really was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.  I don't miss it.  I don't miss the draining of my wallet.  I don't miss the feeling of being hungover constantly.  I don't miss watching it physically hurt me.  I don't miss sheepishly apologizing for wildly inappropriate behavior the next day.  I don't miss the weight gain.  I don't miss being a drunk.

I still miss the friend I thought I had.

My first counselor told me two lists to remember as I started this journey.

The first is to create a foundation by making sure the following things are in your life:

• 1) Some kind of physical activity
• 2) Some relationship with whatever higher power you follow, or regular quiet personal meditation if you don't have a higher power you follow.
• 3) A counselor to talk with

The second list was just as simple:

• Love yourself.
• Love others.
• Have others love you.

The liquor industry spends a lot of money trying to make you convinced you HAVE TO drink to have fun.  You don't.  That's a lie and the fun I have now is far more rewarding and memorable than the fun I had before.

Get help if you need it, but don't feel like you have to drink anymore if you don't want to.  My stopping saved my life on many levels.

Friday Music - A Tribe Called Quest

When you don't drink, the people around you get super drunk, leading to interesting scenarios...

It's February.

Friday Music - Men I Trust

I thought it'd be hard coming back, but it's been warm.

Friday Music - The Trammps

Yes I'm going there.  

I'm being hauled out to a roller rink with some friends for 70's night.  I guarantee they will play this. 

Friday Music - Tyla

The dark cold time is here.

You'll find me on a beach... 

Friday Music - Cherry Glazerr

Welcome to the new year.

Act like everything could change if you don't get off your caboose.  Funny story...