I can't even deal with how amazing this year has been. Over the past few months, I've had the fortune of seeing so many of my favorite bands and artists such as Graveyard, the Shrine, High on Fire, Goatwhore, Lo Pan, Skeletonwitch, Fiona Apple, Old Baby, Midnight, Havok, R. Kelly, Karma to Burn, Horseburner, Black Tusk, Today is the Day, Ken Mode, Fight Amp, and countless others. Now over the next two months, I will be seeing Floor, Thrones, Mockingbird, Kvelertak, Goatwhore again, Torche, and fucking BARONESS. IN MY HOME TOWN. No one ever that great comes here, and it's pretty much the most amazing thing that's ever happened to little ol' Huntington WV.
On top of that, I've been lucky to travel to Columbus a million times, Asheville, North Carolina to get tattooed by my favorite artist, Myke Chambers, and New York city to visit a wonderful friend, and I'll be continuing to travel as the year goes on.
I also purchased my favorite drum kit by my favorite stoner metal drummer ever, and it is the kit of my dreams. 17 years of playing and now I finally feel like a real fucking drummer.
In August, I'm moving to Brooklyn, NYC to start a whole new life for myself and hopefully have more time for writing and more opportunity to play music with like-minded individuals while experiencing what it's like to live in the most famous city on the planet. It's exciting, it's terrifying, and it's exactly what I need after the demise of my marriage last year and a punctuated end to a great relationship that left me paralyzed with heartbreak and depression.
I'm also finally getting a grip on the eating disorder that plagued me for too many years. I also quit drinking just over 8 weeks ago, and to say that it has been life changing and amazing would be the understatement of the decade.
So with all this positivity comes great benefit, and the greatest of those is I have met who I genuinely believe is my soulmate. He is wonderful, uplifting, encouraging, talented, wickedly intelligent, handsome, kind, and one of the most prolific and amazing artists I've ever seen, much less had the chance to actually meet. To think he recognizes any of those traits in me is the most life-affirming feeling I've ever had, and I believe that we will continue to make each other better through a strong commitment to not only each other, but to ourselves as individuals trying to navigate the treacherous waters of life in today's world. We inspire each other and push one another to greater acheivements, and we also share so many interests and passions, so it's wonderful to have a partner by your side to share the experiences life has to offer. I can't express how much I truly believe this man has saved me, from my mental and physical health, to my emotional stability and development. He is undoubtedly the greatest person I know, and should anything happen to our romantic relationship, just knowing he is in my life as a friend and confidant has already exponentially improved my outlook on everything.
I know not everyone is as fortunate as I have been in this recent period of my life, and that makes me sad, but I do those who are not can continue to move forward and constantly work to improve not only their own life, but the lives of others as well. I have lost so many people I consider wonderful friends in the past few months (especially since giving up substance abuse, which is sad) but the positive changes that have taken place are worth every ounce of struggle and continue to show me that every day is an opportunity and none should be passed over just to settle for the simple and predictable. Sometimes your life is going to change very rapidly and it's scary and unnerving and awful for a while, but in the long run, those struggles and triumphs and losses and confusing times are going to make you better.
On that note, I am now going to go back to reading a book and listening to records, because that's where I'm finding solice in the little time I do spend here in my home. Expanding my knowledge through music and literature has definitely been another huge factor in my newfound unshakeably positive outlook on life, and I hope that you find the same through whatever mechanisms best suit you.
I leave you with a picture with a few of my favorite new friends, taken at Ravari room in Columbus Saturday night after the Midnight show at Ace of Cups. I'm the only sober one, but I had just as much fun as the rest of these crazies
On top of that, I've been lucky to travel to Columbus a million times, Asheville, North Carolina to get tattooed by my favorite artist, Myke Chambers, and New York city to visit a wonderful friend, and I'll be continuing to travel as the year goes on.
I also purchased my favorite drum kit by my favorite stoner metal drummer ever, and it is the kit of my dreams. 17 years of playing and now I finally feel like a real fucking drummer.
In August, I'm moving to Brooklyn, NYC to start a whole new life for myself and hopefully have more time for writing and more opportunity to play music with like-minded individuals while experiencing what it's like to live in the most famous city on the planet. It's exciting, it's terrifying, and it's exactly what I need after the demise of my marriage last year and a punctuated end to a great relationship that left me paralyzed with heartbreak and depression.
I'm also finally getting a grip on the eating disorder that plagued me for too many years. I also quit drinking just over 8 weeks ago, and to say that it has been life changing and amazing would be the understatement of the decade.
So with all this positivity comes great benefit, and the greatest of those is I have met who I genuinely believe is my soulmate. He is wonderful, uplifting, encouraging, talented, wickedly intelligent, handsome, kind, and one of the most prolific and amazing artists I've ever seen, much less had the chance to actually meet. To think he recognizes any of those traits in me is the most life-affirming feeling I've ever had, and I believe that we will continue to make each other better through a strong commitment to not only each other, but to ourselves as individuals trying to navigate the treacherous waters of life in today's world. We inspire each other and push one another to greater acheivements, and we also share so many interests and passions, so it's wonderful to have a partner by your side to share the experiences life has to offer. I can't express how much I truly believe this man has saved me, from my mental and physical health, to my emotional stability and development. He is undoubtedly the greatest person I know, and should anything happen to our romantic relationship, just knowing he is in my life as a friend and confidant has already exponentially improved my outlook on everything.
I know not everyone is as fortunate as I have been in this recent period of my life, and that makes me sad, but I do those who are not can continue to move forward and constantly work to improve not only their own life, but the lives of others as well. I have lost so many people I consider wonderful friends in the past few months (especially since giving up substance abuse, which is sad) but the positive changes that have taken place are worth every ounce of struggle and continue to show me that every day is an opportunity and none should be passed over just to settle for the simple and predictable. Sometimes your life is going to change very rapidly and it's scary and unnerving and awful for a while, but in the long run, those struggles and triumphs and losses and confusing times are going to make you better.
On that note, I am now going to go back to reading a book and listening to records, because that's where I'm finding solice in the little time I do spend here in my home. Expanding my knowledge through music and literature has definitely been another huge factor in my newfound unshakeably positive outlook on life, and I hope that you find the same through whatever mechanisms best suit you.
I leave you with a picture with a few of my favorite new friends, taken at Ravari room in Columbus Saturday night after the Midnight show at Ace of Cups. I'm the only sober one, but I had just as much fun as the rest of these crazies
cutcopydestroy:
hank!