Displaying items by tag: the morning hang

Today, Saturday, August 5th, 2023 marks the 1,460th consecutive morning that I’ve woken up with a clear head. Four years sober. It hasn’t always been easy, but I can honestly say it’s been a lot easier than the life I was living prior to August 5th, 2019. 

I won’t get into the details because that’s not the point. The point is that maybe you’re reading this and saying to yourself, Ya know… last night was rough. Maybe the past few nights, weeks, months, years have been rough and you’re ready to stop, but you don’t know how. 

If that’s the case, I know exactly what you’re going through. I’ve been right there in that same spot and I can tell you that there is hope, there is help, and there is a way out. Again, it’s not easy, but it gets easier. It gets better. 

Today I can wake up and I can be there for my family - for my wife and my sons and my step kids and my father. I can be a good husband and a good dad and a good son. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I’ve allowed myself the chance to be present for them and for myself. And I’ve never been more grateful for anything in my entire life. 

Gratitude is the key, I’ve found. If I’m not grateful for the things I have and the things I’ve been so freely given, then what actually do I have? Not much. I used to take so much for granted. I felt that the universe owed me something, for whatever reason. Now I’ve realized it’s me who owes, dnd I remind myself that every single day. Again, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but I find myself making the best of most of it. 

Just yesterday, a friend and coworker shared this song by Noah Kahan called “Orange Juice.” I’m not sure she even knew, at the time, that I’m sober, and I KNOW she didn’t know that my sobriety date was the very next day, but man, this song hit me like a ton of bricks! I’ve shared it below, give it a listen, if only for the fact that Noah Kahan is incredible. 

So I’ll end by saying thank you. Thank you to my wife and to my children and to my dad and to my sisters and to my friends and my employer and coworkers and everyone who has been there for me, one day at a time. I appreciate all of you more than I’ll ever fully be able to express. And to the person reading this who’s struggling, drop me a note, we’ll chat… And maybe you’ll find that we have more in common than you think.. And maybe you’ll find that there is a better life out there and that you deserve it. 

As for me, I’ll have an Orange Juice… Much love.

I live by one simple rule: never doubt any member of Blink-182, especially when they're talking about aliens. 

SO a while back, Blink guitarist and singer Tom DeLonge left music to pursue aliens. Well, to prove that they exist. He co-founded To The Stars... Academy of Arts and Sciences to that end... Well, as of yesterday it appears his work was not in vain. 

On Wednesday, UFO whistleblower and former U.S. intelligence officer David Grusch testified in front of the House Oversight Committee that not only UFOs but aliens exist!  Grusch sited aircraft of "nonhuman" origin and "biologics" that were recovered from a UAP (UFO) crash site!!!! DUDE! ALIENS!!! 

After this revelation, Tom DeLonge took to social media to say, "AH-HA!!!" Well, he didn't really say that specifically, but it was definitely an "I told you so" moment for the Blink guitarist and true believer.

Well, Tom, on behalf of all of us who never doubted you I ask, is it cool if we crash with you during the alien revolution?

Fall Out Boy is Fall Out Boy. Blossom is Blossom. But you? You're something special. 

Don't get me wrong - Fall Out Boy rivals any other band that's currently touring, as they proved at Blossom this week. And as for our local venue, nestled deep in the woods of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park? Well, I don't have to tell you that it's one of the best concert venues in the country, hands down. 

But I'm here to remind you what you're bringing to the table. I had the honor of meeting dozens of you who stopped by the 107.3 Alternative Cleveland tent on your way into Blossom Tuesday night. You made me smile, you made me laugh, heck, a couple of you nearly brought me to tears - no joke!  And I appreciate every single one of you. 

My man Walt, a Northeast Ohio LEGEND, stopped by for a hug. I appreciate you, Walt! Cindy and Tom told me about the concerts they've seen so far this summer and I got to meet their kids. I appreciate you, Cindy and Tom! Dave wearing his tie-dyed Alt CLE shirt, I appreciate you! Kay and Reagen, two young fans, were able to tell Brady Marks how much they love listening to her. We appreciate you Kay and Reagan! And the young couple from Pittsburgh visiting Blossom for the first time who took an Alt CLE magnet with them, I appreciate you! And the countless others who stopped by to say they won tickets from us, we appreciate you! 

Beyond the words here on this page, we appreciate you so very much! You're the reason we do it every day - don't ever doubt that. So until next time, thanks for the memories!