I’ve had way too many friends end their lives by playing chicken with telephone poles while totally shit faced. After having a few buddies die from drinking and driving it really wakes you up.

Last night, there was no question what my mode of transportation was. I let Mr. Kern’s wife do the driving and just crashed in their guest house. Could I of drove?
Probably. Was I going to drive? HELL NO!

Once I learn that someone has a DUI on their record it instantly changes my view of the person. I remember turning down a girl for a date because she was so non chalant about the fact she had a DUI. If that was no big deal to her, then I could easily see that she would live her life recklessly in other areas as well.

Don’t get me wrong. I still wanted to do the horizontal bop with her, but as far as having long term aspirations, they were through. I simply had no respect for her.

And I have little respect for people that continually endanger others on the road by getting totally wasted and thinking they are cool to drive. I’m just not down with that. It’s beyond selfish, and just plain dumb.

Of course we’ve all made some pretty dumb mistakes, but I’d like to think my days of being behind the wheel while intoxicated are over. Which is why I’m in the market to buy a “Tour Bus” or a extravagant “RV” to chauffeur me around town. Figured I’d hire a driver and let him live in the bus as long as he was constantly on call and took me from bar to bar, city to city, and gig to gig.

I’d love to never have to drive again. And besides, in Southern California traffic, it may be cost effective to hire a driver for $15 an hour and let me sit in the back and work on the lap top and Wi-Fi. Surely I could muster up $100 an hour on the laptop instead of sitting in traffic making diddly squat.

Now, the Micro Brews.

One of the things I like about Carlton is that he’s not one of those crusty bastards who has no clue about good beer. You’d probably have to put my testies into a vice and crank the lever pretty hard just to get me to drink some domestic piss beer. That stuff is straight up nasty.

John has really good taste in beer, which is not the norm for guys his age and background. I had the luxury of enjoying some nice beers in a English pub in downtown Melbourne Australia. But John was on his best behavior. No drunken debauchery stories, or anything like that. Ah schuks!

However, I do remember snagging a 5th of Jack Daniels one night out of a Hollywood private party because Carlton dared me too.

That night definitely included some stories you don’t always share in public. Sorry, use your imagination.

Anyways, that stolen 5th of booze was warming the stomachs of us drunken marketers as we responsibly loaded ourselves into a CAB. Yes people, it’s amazing how much people under appreciate things like CABS. A simple $50 could make the difference between life and death, and losing $50 or $50,000.

The risks of drinking and driving are just not worth it.

And John knows that, and from what I can tell lives by it too. Boozing and driving has always been on my biggest list of pet peeves. Heck, I can’t even call it a pet peeve. I downright despise it.

And therefore, I really respect John, this post, AA and 12 step organizations, MADD, and anyone else willing to step up and encourage people to do the right thing when behind the wheel.

I’m all for the crazy drunk fests, drinking games, doing body shots from the middle of some silicone double D’s, and all that jazz. Party it up ya’ll. But make sure you spend a couple seconds to know that you have a safe way home.

Love, Peace, and Bicycle Grease!

J-Mo

Consider this: the first public miracle performed by Jesus Christ, arguably the most famous and influential person who ever lived was…to make more wine.

Why? To keep the party going and because His Mother asked him to.

Works for me.

For those of you driving after partying tonight or any night, please keep the shiny side up. Your soul may be immortal, but your body isn’t.

Lets talk about boozing it up, shall we?
I mean, tomorrow is Amateur Drunk Night, after all. The streets will be an obstacle course of big damn SUVs and expensive sedans driven by people who have just discovered just tonight, at the big New Years Eve…

Let’s talk about boozing it up, shall we?
I mean, tomorrow is Amateur Drunk Night, after all. The streets will be an obstacle course of big damn SUVs and expensive sedans driven by people who have just discovered — just tonight, at the big New Yea…

I just turned 22 and I’m STARTING to figure some of this stuff out –glad for some pointers.

I was up and down the whole spectrum since I turned 21 (and before that too some might say) balancing being a professional with enjoying life and flirting with booze…

I’d share my stories, but I would have to quote you…

“no, I’m not gonna share any details… cuz the Statute of Limitations hasn’t applied yet in some instances.

Plus, I still need plausible deniability on a few other, more recent things.”

Next time I see you at the bar at a marketing event, we’ll have to swap stories… when it’s safe

Happy new years buddy!
Caleb

It’s great to read that the real pleasure is coming from the value you’re providing the world…

This took me a LONG TIME to learn. I’m still learning it.

But once I took my eyes off of dead writers that ended up dying by their own hands (Jack London and Hemingway), and put my focus on successful writers who are happy and satisfied with LIFE…

Well, my world just kept getting better and better.

Thanks again,
Matt Hegedus