DUI and the New Tour... A friendly reminder again this year!

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » April 18, 2006 2:33 pm

Well... it took me a long time before I could write this piece, but here it goes... I was at GW for the Thursday Show in 2003. My buddy (JB virgin!) and I went golfing all day long... drinking about 8 Corona's each. We took separate cars to the show as he goes off in one direction, me to another. In any case, we wandered all around the GW parking lot with our red wagon full of beer, shrimp and munchies.

What a great day... having been to JB concerts for years at GW, it's always a thrill to spend quality time enjoying the people, food and festive experience of GW... and, it's always great to see it through a "virgin's" eyes. I usually go to both shows, Thursday being "Bring a virgin to GW night"AND Saturday being the "All my friends from every year night". Well, we really soaked it all in... and I was drunk. My friend and I had singles in Section 1 and 3 respectively. We lost each other during the rush to get in...

What a great show ( from what I can remember!). I left right after the 1st encore, still blitzed out of my mind. It is very true that alcohol makes you make some bad, bad decisions. I drove home got pulled over by the staties,flunked my field sobriety, blew a .15 on the breathalyzer, and was charged with DUI, 1st offense. The next day, I plead no contest, received a 45 day loss of license, fines and fees totalling over $2000, plus the humiliation of my name being posted in the newspaper (I am a teacher!)... all in all, not a great day. Oh, did I mention that my wife was not totally happy either...

So, what's the point? Well, I went back to GW on Saturday, attended another great show, totally sober, and since than have not had another drink. And, I want to say, that the show was tremendous without the alcohol. It was very interesting to see the crowd from the sober point of view.

Please... please ... please... if you are drinking and driving during this new JB concert season, remember the consequences of your actions... I was lucky, this was a wake-up callthat I answered. And, yes, you can still enjoy the shows without the booze. BTW, I'll be in San Jose for the show in April with my wife and 4 'keets (their 1st show!)

Remember, be careful out there and use good judgement!

balcony girls · Post by **balcony girls** » April 18, 2006 2:35 pm

. . very good post, my friend. .

. . and perfect timing . .

. .it is very important . . and will help keep our BN phamily all togther for many more concerts . . .

Fins21 · Post by **Fins21** » April 18, 2006 2:38 pm

Great post! Especially because in today's society, a DUI can possibly ruin not only your reputation, but also your career....

Keep those PHINS UP!!

jbfinscj · Post by **jbfinscj** » April 18, 2006 2:40 pm

centralmaPH wrote:Well... it took me a long time before I could write this piece, but here it goes... I was at GW for the Thursday Show in 2003. My buddy (JB virgin!) and I went golfing all day long... drinking about 8 Corona's each. We took separate cars to the show as he goes off in one direction, me to another. In any case, we wandered all around the GW parking lot with our red wagon full of beer, shrimp and munchies.

What a great day... having been to JB concerts for years at GW, it's always a thrill to spend quality time enjoying the people, food and festive experience of GW... and, it's always great to see it through a "virgin's" eyes. I usually go to both shows, Thursday being "Bring a virgin to GW night"AND Saturday being the "All my friends from every year night". Well, we really soaked it all in... and I was drunk. My friend and I had singles in Section 1 and 3 respectively. We lost each other during the rush to get in...

What a great show ( from what I can remember!). I left right after the 1st encore, still blitzed out of my mind. It is very true that alcohol makes you make some bad, bad decisions. I drove home got pulled over by the staties,flunked my field sobriety, blew a .15 on the breathalyzer, and was charged with DUI, 1st offense. The next day, I plead no contest, received a 45 day loss of license, fines and fees totalling over $2000, plus the humiliation of my name being posted in the newspaper (I am a teacher!)... all in all, not a great day. Oh, did I mention that my wife was not totally happy either...

So, what's the point? Well, I went back to GW on Saturday, attended another great show, totally sober, and since than have not had another drink. And, I want to say, that the show was tremendous without the alcohol. It was very interesting to see the crowd from the sober point of view.

Please... please ... please... if you are drinking and driving during this new JB concert season, remember the consequences of your actions... I was lucky, this was a wake-up callthat I answered. And, yes, you can still enjoy the shows without the booze. BTW, I'll be in San Jose for the show in April with my wife and 4 'keets (their 1st show!)

Remember, be careful out there and use good judgement!

Great story, I hope that most people take to heart what you just wrote about. Personally for me when I attend a Buffett show, I make it a point to only have one or two drinks. I have seen and heard about to many accidents and deaths to want to become just another statistic. Once again thank you for posting such a meaningful post. Everyone should be required to read your words of wisdom.

Capt.Flock · Post by **Capt.Flock** » April 18, 2006 2:43 pm

If you do drink (like I do) make sure you have a DD. DD in this case does not stand for drunken dial

Rum_Runner · Post by **Rum_Runner** » April 18, 2006 3:01 pm

My policy is to stop drinking a couple hours before the show, by the time the show is over and the hours to wait to get out of the parking lot, I am good to drive home. However, I don't overdo it from the beginning either, I just feel that I will enjoy the entire experience if I can remember it the next day.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » April 18, 2006 3:07 pm

Thank you so much for the post. I worry about a lot of the folks I see at concerts, and a lot of the cars I see after the show. I have a good friend who is in a 12 step program who loved Buffett shows until this change in his life, and now he finds he can't handle being surrounded by it at concerts. But there are some of us who do prefer to see the shows sober, and we have a great time too!!!

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » April 18, 2006 3:09 pm

Capt.Flock wrote:If you do drink (like I do) make sure you have a DD. DD in this case does not stand for drunken dial

Unless it's a cab.

fanvan · Post by **fanvan** » April 18, 2006 10:34 pm

Thanks for the reminder----the day before the concert is my day to have one too many, either at my hotel or in my rv at a campground as will be the case this year in Pittsburgh and Mansfield-----concert day is one corona an hour up until 7:00---then soda until we leave the parking lot, about midnight.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » April 18, 2006 10:41 pm

Thanks again this season for the reminder, centralmaPH. I'm sorry you had to go through this experience, but thanks for the courage to allow us to learn from what happened to you.

I look forward to lifting a coke with you in the GW parking lot.

Zanzibar · Post by **Zanzibar** » April 18, 2006 10:48 pm

Thanks for the post!!

Everyone have a ball at the concerts but be SAFE!

KYPARROTHEAD · Post by **KYPARROTHEAD** » April 18, 2006 11:03 pm

I too got my first DUI in October, days before my scheduled trip to see JB in Las Vegas (already had ticket, hotel everything) and could not attend because of my court date.

I wouldnt say dont drink, but if you drink dont drive, and if you drive dont drink...

I could have EASILY paid for 4 years of cab rides for my $2300 in fines and another $1000 for my attorney. Add in a few Buffett trips. (and my loss of plane ticket, concert ticket, and hotel..)

I am sure everyone has been lucky for awhile, but eventually it will catch up, it sure did for me, and it took a cold piece of concrete and cell to wake me up.

I dont want this to become a DONT DRINK post, because I still do, but responsably now. We plan on camping out in Cincinnati again this year, Cab'n it in Chicago, and we have a hotel just blocks from the venuein Dallas so we dont have to drive...

Stay safe, and tune in to channel 31 NOW on sirius! Show is on!!

Brandon

rkoener · Post by **rkoener** » April 19, 2006 10:50 am

we usually charter a bus to take us there and home. That way we don't have to take a chance.

Caribbean Soul Man · Post by **Caribbean Soul Man** » April 19, 2006 11:06 am

it's always puzzeling for me and my wife when we see folks at Jimmy's shows that are completely blitzed, wandering around or worse - sick or passed out. What's the point of that?

As much as we pay for tickets, travel, lodging, time off from work, etc. I want to remember everything and not feel like total sh*t the next day. Don't get me wrong - we definitely take part in the festivities

but at 39 years old, I know where my limits are and I stay within them. It does seem that it's the 21-25 year old crowd that gets carried away with the drinking - and not to stereotype, but sometimes the younger folks are the ones that don't seem to be there for the music anyway. We've all seen the "college age" kids that are obnoxiously drunk, complain when the classics are played and talk through the whole show. As if they know nothing about Jimmy's first 20 years of music and think of him only as that "get drunk and screw guy."

Wasn't there a parking lot incident last year (I'm thinking Chicago) where someone blew up a gas grill and got carted off to the ER with bad burns? As I recall alcohol was a definite factor. That's not my idea of a good time.

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » April 19, 2006 11:24 am

thanks for posting this important reminder!!!

this is why me and my friend are taking the 'Buffett Bus'- no worries and everyone is safe.

CaseyPhins · Post by **CaseyPhins** » April 20, 2006 4:22 pm

Thanks for that. I think it means alot that people can share these types of stories. I have done shows both sober and drunk (since I'm only 23) and when I was 20 I got HAMMERED and threw up everywhere with CaliKrin screaming at me "PUKE AND RALLY!!!!" and I missed the show cause I couldnt crawl my ass out of my dads VW van. Being sober is a totally diferent experience....you can remember what 25,000 Fins Up looks like (who could forget that) and you can remember the names of the people you meet around you.

Plus the last Irvine show Jimmy did 3 years ago there was a Drunk Driving accident in the parking lot....I heard thats one of the reasons he hasnt returned till now. (FYI BE CAREFUL IRVINE CROWD! The cops are tough!)

CaseyPhins · Post by **CaseyPhins** » April 20, 2006 4:28 pm

Caribbean Soul Man wrote:it's always puzzeling for me and my wife when we see folks at Jimmy's shows that are completely blitzed, wandering around or worse - sick or passed out. What's the point of that? As much as we pay for tickets, travel, lodging, time off from work, etc. I want to remember everything and not feel like total sh*t the next day. Don't get me wrong - we definitely take part in the festivities but at 39 years old, I know where my limits are and I stay within them. It does seem that it's the 21-25 year old crowd that gets carried away with the drinking - and not to stereotype, but sometimes the younger folks are the ones that don't seem to be there for the music anyway. We've all seen the "college age" kids that are obnoxiously drunk, complain when the classics are played and talk through the whole show. As if they know nothing about Jimmy's first 20 years of music and think of him only as that "get drunk and screw guy."

There are some college aged kids there that are true fans. Tonight will be concert number nine and saturday will be lucky 10. I understand that there are some college kids there to see free boobies and down some beer but to me the parking lot is a total added bonus. I was stupid and pushed my limit a couple years ago and I wasted 100$ (and not mention my family plays the "Buffett Barf" video every year). I was raised a parrothead and I will always be one...and I actually just started collecting the real records (so if anyone knows where I can get them that would be GREAT!!)

Caribbean Soul Man · Post by **Caribbean Soul Man** » April 20, 2006 4:53 pm

CaseyPhins wrote:There are some college aged kids there that are true fans. Tonight will be concert number nine and saturday will be lucky 10. I understand that there are some college kids there to see free boobies and down some beer but to me the parking lot is a total added bonus. I was stupid and pushed my limit a couple years ago and I wasted 100$ (and not mention my family plays the "Buffett Barf" video every year). I was raised a parrothead and I will always be one...and I actually just started collecting the real records (so if anyone knows where I can get them that would be GREAT!!)

I hear you Casey and I know there are many many younger PHs that truley do appreciate the man's music. I have 7, 9 and 14 year old sons who are bigger phans than a lot of the adult PHs I know. And by no means am I saying all concert goers in their 20's are ripped and wandering around but we've all seen enough of them to know that many are. But I'll also say that the only thing worse than a 22 year old drunk getting sick all over the place is a 55 year old drunk getting sick all over the place (see them too

)

As far as the boobies and beer, well you'll probably never outgrow that

welcome to BuffettNews!

CaseyPhins · Post by **CaseyPhins** » April 20, 2006 5:05 pm

Thanks Soul Man! This is defantly a welcoming crowd and its been a long time since I've come around. (Way to go starting your Keets out young....they will appreciate it later and completely understand "Why do we get Drunk and Screw")

I can agree that if you are going to see a drunker then it should be a 20-something....what can I say...we do it with Style!! (but I have to admit...seeing my dad do a beer bong last year was pretty classic!)

Well Im off. I have a concert to get too!! (Along with my "Hoot" t-shirt that says "I Met Jimmy 4.13.06 (I hugged him, too!!) on the back)

PHINS UP!

Pacinthecage · Post by **Pacinthecage** » April 20, 2006 10:21 pm

Thank you for posting that post. You know what they say is true. If just one person makes a better choice than they would have without your caring post who knows the # of people you have affected in a positive way. I recently quit drinking and because of caring people like you posting I would be still thinking I couldn't go to see Jimmy sober. Thank you for jumping out of your comfort zone and posting your experience. You have successfully turned a negative into a huge positive.
Have a great evening. Take care and everyone be safe!!!!

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DUI and the New Tour... A friendly reminder again this year!

DUI and the New Tour... A friendly reminder again this year!

Re: DUI and the New Tour... A friendly reminder again this y