Road Trip Weekend

Hydesville

         I just got back from a great road trip over the weekend . I travelled north from Sacramento to Humboldt County. My main purpose for the trip was to visit my Dad's family and to hit the horse races. My grandma and grandpa live up there as well as my uncle Chris, his wife Patti, and their two boys Payden and Parker .

         First, the weather was amazing. The highs were in the 60's and it was pretty cloudy except for a little sun on Saturday. I was excited for the cool weather because Sacramento has been in the high 90's for the last couple weeks . So it was time to break out the jeans and sweatshirts. I try to plan a trip to Humboldt County at this time every year because it is during the County Fair and the Horse Races. It has to be the biggest weekend for the county and the people watching is spectacular. I had to roll solo this time because my girl was at my sister's bachelor party .



Ferndale Horse Races



        I left on Friday morning and was excited for the sights. It is great to drive away from the big city into the wild. I usually take I-5 to Woodland , Go Highway 16 West through the Capay Valley, Link up to Highway 20 west around Clear Lake , and get hit 101 North and take that all the way to Eureka . I usually give myself 6 hours but I have made it in as little as 4 and a half hours . My plan was to hang out on Friday with my Grandpa Bob and Grandma Lois, and hit the Horse Races and Fair on Saturday with Uncle Chris and his family.

Joe Villa 1968

        Everything went great and when you're not drinking you have a ton of money for betting and fair food. I thought I had tried everything when it comes to fried foods but the Humboldt Fair had a half pound of fried bacon dipped in a brown sugar and mustard sauce. It was one of the most fantastic foods I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. Hanging with my family in Humboldt is like getting the VIP treatment. They know everyone and we had the hookups to it all .

        The best thing about the trip was I met a lady whom went to school with my Dad and she gave me a picture of my pop's senior high school picture. It brought a lot of old memories back and it made me thankful for the time in my life I got to share with him . So I  thankful to everyone that took care of me this weekend and put out the great hospitality. Until we meet again Humboldt !

Sade and John Legend next week

           It is almost surreal. Imagine growing up listening to someones music and passion for life for over 20 years and now having the opportunity to see them live. I get to see Sade live in concert next Wednesday at the Power Balance Pavilion or as every single person in Sacramento calls it, Arco Arena. I bought tickets last week after procrastinating about it for over 2 months . Thanks to being sober I have found that my bank account often stays at a monetary amount that can afford me small gifts for me and my girl to enjoy. We are both so excited and even if the seats are off to the side and in the nose bleeds we are to extremely excited to attend.

        John Legend will also be opening up for Sade. That would be like getting to eat your favorite Cake with a glass of the most delicious Root Beer. Both performers can melt your heart with their words and if you don't have it on repeat for at least a couple tracks then something is wrong with you . So if you see me at the concert , say what's up , and at least I know you have good taste in music.

         

Trying it Clean and Sober

     It has been 14 days since I made the choice to be clean and sober . It was a decision that needed to be made. I have spent so many years saying "Yes" to everything and that it has been a complete change to now say "No" .  I have been going pretty hard for the last 15 years. Alcohol, Weed , and Cocaine have been a major factor in my life for all those years. Some more than others but they all play the same role. They allow me to think that I'm God and in control of any and every situation .

     But life is funny that way. I am but a mere grain of sand in this enormous world. Just a small piece of this creative intelligence we call earth. God has played a huge roll in this ability for me to change . Now this isn't the God that used to scare me in Catholic Class . This is  "God" as I know it. Something much bigger and more powerful than  I can ever imagine . I will let him guide me. I am no longer afraid of the road but

    Now I am not a sucker by any means. I understand that anything good is worth putting in work and time . Anyone can say they are going to stop drinking. But it is the time after that matters. Living a good life and trying to be sober is my goal. I am excited for the future and completing the goals that I set forth. I used to just talk about what I was going . It was a waste but just having a fighting chance now is something i truly cherish.

If you know someone that may want the help of A.A. please click on the link and check it out. They are all over the world and you can most likely and ready to help anyone whom wants to stop drinking .

Central California Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous 

The Fair is Back in Town

That's right people. The California State Fair is back in Sacramento for a magnificent two weeks. It starts this weekend.  If you want to see the true weirdos that California holds than the State Fair is your best bet . I try to go every year and since I have been with my lady we try to go a couple of times during the two week span. One trip is usually strictly for food and the other will be for the concert series.

 We had our very first date at the State Fair and witnessed MC Hammer absolutely murder it up there. It was a great show and it makes you realize that the world's greatest entertainers can put on a show anytime and anyplace. I spent two hundred dollars on twelve dollar beers but if you saw my lady it was all worth it. I think I was hungover for two days.

               The food is by far the best thing going on at the fair. it's not so much the Alligator or Elk Sausages. It's more about the Turkey Legs, Funnel Cakes, and Miller High Life. There are very few venues nowadays besides the Fair that will allow you to enjoy all of these food in one place and not be chastised by your peers. I recommend taking an antacid before and don't bring anyone on a diet.

 The Fair is for everyone but not everyone is made for the Fair.

Can you Handle it?

It's been a minute people. Sorry I have been away and just getting back into the swing of things. I have been busy with work and if you have read any of my blogs in the last month they seem a little on edge. I get frustrated sometimes, like everybody but I often get frustrated for not speaking up until it's too late or never at the right time. That is my curse. I feel the need to talk about things when they are blowing up in my face as opposed to discussing them in the early stages . I think most people call it being a "Pussy" , but I look at it as more. I feel a lot. I am constantly trying to listening to every sound and smell around me. I don't want to jump into anything to soon but at the same time I enjoy viewing the chaos that is this world. It is constantly raining hope at  different spots on the planet but at the same time it is dumping shit on the unfortunate. We as humans get both. The animals out there in the wilderness don't often get to deal with the shit side of life. Because when you're an animal of the forest when the bad hits, you usually, end up dying . But lucky for us human beings we get to deal with life when it gets bad but we also get to witness it when the good strikes.

But I have realized in the last couple weeks is that it always starts with yourself . If you want bad times than surround yourself with that negative energy. If you need to be positive than surround yourself with that positivity in your life. And that in itself if probably the most easily explained and the hardest thing to accomplish in one's life. But we can all have fun trying 

Keep that Pitcher Full. Not that kind of Pitcher

As of right now I feel overwhelmed, overworked , and under appreciated. I feel overwhelmed cause their are so many things I want to do in this world. I want to be a Rugby Coach, a Musician, and hopefully one day own my own Real Estate Company. What the fuck? It couldn't be any different . I sound like a 6 year old kid telling everyone how he wants to be a football player when I grow up . You know the way you talk before life gets in the way . Stupid talk.

I feel overworked because no matter what I do the end result always changes. Maybe it is the lack of leadership I currently possess at my job? In "real life" I could coach forty Ruggers or put together an hour long concert. But in my employment life I am watcher. I am not making any move without a proper review of the task. I have been burned too many times.  I am not trying to waste an extra life. I work with salesmen all day. And if you're not careful you can get sold on their ideas. Which when it comes to a salesmen it is usually them selling you on doing their work for them. Typical shit .

And lastly I feel under appreciated because of my wallet. Actually my wallet is feeling under appreciated because seldom does anything go into it without most of it coming back out .  Working in a 100% commission industry can only bring more stress into your life. My wallet is light and sad.

As of right now I feel like I am letting life step all over me. I have this notion in my head that the fuller my pitcher is than the less opportunity I have to fail . But in actuality having such  a full pitcher has allowed me to step away from more important projects in order to please everyone . But pleasing does not pay the rent . Unless you're a prostitute. Which is something I am trying to avoid at all cost. so I am going to either pour some water out of this pitcher or get a smaller container.  

Be A Firm Believer in Yourself

It starts with you. If you don't believe in what you stand for than pack it up. We all go through times where we think we might not be at our best or the world has it out for us . Those are normal feelings. It is a big scary place out there. Millions lose and even less win everyday.  A lot of turns where we don't know what is behind the next curve. Sometimes it's dark and finding our way out isn't always the top priority.

But I can say that the second you distrust yourself it is the beginning of the end. You need to be at all times your biggest fan, supporter and critical of your actions towards others . I know that I am not always the best at everything, or even anything for that matter. But I am me and I am responsible for my own happiness and for my own portion of the pie called life . Without my original drive I cannot expect others to provide for me and to know when I have had enough. It's not up to them  . I have a voice, a pen, or a computer where i can let these things be known . Without it I am a wild  animal that may have to fight for these things I take for granted . So as long as i have a voice I intend to use it .

The Art of Sing Fighting

I have never claimed to be the creator or inventor of anything . I have never made a discovery that will change the course of human intelligence . I can say that my girl and I are innovators and we have perfected the art of Sing Fighting. Or also know as Sing Arguing .

   What is Sing Fighting you ask? It is the act of critiquing, or proving a strong point through song that might otherwise be taken offensively if it was simply spoken. Singing and music have alleviated stress and brought joy to people for thousands of years. So when enlightening someone close to you with a topic that may come off as intrusive it may be in better taste to sing the request to them . Whether that be their current cleaning abilities or perhaps simply there current outlook on life . When tackling sensitive subjects it may just be easier to belt them out in song to your partner or close friends.

      Not everyone takes to Sing Fighting immediately . It takes two or more parties to be in a solid sing fighting contest. Just one person involved typically means you are singing songs to yourself which can come off as strange or slightly schizophrenic . You need to practice regularly. As well placed lyric in a Sing Fighting contest can make all the difference. And the power of song can be much more powerful than immediately telling someone they are a true train wreck .

     As an avid Sing Fighter I can tell you that the ability to tell my lady what is on my mind has increased ten fold. I am no longer afraid to tell the woman I love that she is being a baby or she may need to fold my clothes a little quicker next time she does laundry. As long as these requests are made through song I am confident that I will no longer be sleeping on the couch for erroneous non-rhythmic comments .

Please take my advice and truly give Sing Fighting as chance to make close relationships even closer.  

Why do people write blogs?

Why do all these people around the world write blogs? Chances are you can't talk about what you want in your current surroundings. Maybe you are a kid confused about the world and every time you open your mouth someone tells you to "shut it"? Maybe you're a girl whose fashion sense is depressing at best and you want to find others that dress or look like you? Or maybe your a guy whose sense of the world can sometimes only be put into words cause if he went around saying that shit in public people would think he is crazy. I think I fall under the last one. I feel like I have so much to say and so little time to do it.  But after awhile a human being can only talk so much before you have to start putting it in writing . People don't want to just hear words.  If you just keep talking one day someone is going to ask you to stop. But people are so insane nowadays that you never know someones version of "stop". It could be a bullet.

I write a blog cause I feel that when I sit down and think about what I am writing it comes out straight to the point and easily interpreted. I wish everything was just like that. And than it hit me. That is why people do this venting on social media. It is the way I want it. That is the goal in this huge thing called Life. To make it the way you want it . To make it acceptable by you. For you to allow others to critique, make fun, or just plain ignore you words , but at the same time knowing they can look whenever they want . So on that note I am in full support of all you bloggers out there no matter how bad your shit sucks. At least you're at the comfort of your computer screen for the time being and not in the trenches of the real world .

Attack of the Hairy Back

I have a bald spot on the top of my head the size of a small plate . I reserve the right to only wear double extra large white shirts . I have an uncontrollable vice of drinking light beers and smoking cigarettes. All these traits are shared by millions of others in the world. But I also belong to a very secret and mysteriously club that rarely speaks in public and often stays out of the water without proper care. That's right I am the carrier and silent leader of the Hairy Back Club.

The first step to being in the club is admitting it . You can't hide from it. It follows you around wherever you go. It doesn't matter the hair color, or the age group. Once you are in , chances are you are in for life . I will offer a few tips that can make your entry into the club smooth and possibly pain free. Here goes!

1. You have a few ways you can go about getting the hair off your back. I recommend using electric clippers. I am not some LA model so I like a little fuzz. You could wax it off but make sure someone kicks you in the balls first to dull the pain . I don't recommend laser treatment cause it's very expensive.

2. No matter how flexible you are you can't do it yourself. You need someone on your side. You must befriend either a fellow Hairy Back member or ask your girlfriend really nicely .

3. I recommend shaving it at least every two months. That way you can keep your back hair looking short and manageable.

4. Don't ever be embarrassed by what you go going on on your back. You're a man and it goes with the territory.

5. Girls may make silly comments, but lets face it, they shave their butt holes, pluck their facial hair, and bleeds from their vagina once a month. They have very limited room to talk.

The bottom line is don't let your hairy back stop you from enjoying your summer. That would be silly .