Buy it in bottles.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.” “I never use alcohol unless its woman-related.” “There are better things in life than alcohol, but alcohol makes up for not having them.”  As you can see, the quotes & quips continue. I envy people that can drink. I -for one- cannot. I have said it before & gladly repeat it here; “I am allergic to alcohol. I break out in handcuffs.” I haven’t had a drink since March of 2004. Not one drop.

I haven’t had an altered thought, since February 4th, 2008, when I gave up all drugs. I have watched pool pals, arrive to skate & they just cruise around; not really pulling anything gnar.  However, they drink several tall cans & its off -the- hook! I have seen several notable pool riders that CANNOT skate very rad at all, without liquid courage. I’m amazed at times. I understand completely. The first time I drank, it worked. I felt the warmth of alcohol, pissing down my spine & I knew that everything was going to be just fine!

Booze carried me through a great deal of horror & sleepless nights. It cruised me through breakups, makeups, wakeups and injuries. However, I recall, waking up on a Saturday morning, feeling like I had the ‘zachlees’. My mouth tasted exactly like a camel shit in it & my head hurt abysmally. The night before, was an unending barrage of Rum & cokes, cocaine (which is something I cant refuse after I start drinking), & god knows what else. The last thing I wanted to do, was load my pool pump into the car & drive to Salbaland to skate.

I went & ate eggs, drank a few beers to get my pulse regular…and the next thing I know, it was Monday afternoon. The police were cuffing me & all I could see was asphalt, boots & the underside of a car. Jeez!  So, you can see, “I know, that you can buy it in bottles & I know you can find it in pills…I know it all so very well.” I also know, that its the end of my existence, if I do partake. I have lost my right to chemical peace of mind. If you drink, have one for me …pool pals! Thanks to Jim Goodrich for the image of alcohol & bliss…Skate-Ozzie