Be Careful !!- A Friendly Reminder Once Again This Year

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » March 11, 2008 5:54 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...

Big Phan · Post by **Big Phan** » March 11, 2008 6:09 pm

Thanks for the reminder...one we can't hear too often. Phins up to your sobriety!

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » March 11, 2008 7:09 pm

Pacing.....It's all about pacing.....

If you do 3 weeks worth of drinkin' in 2 hours....you're gonna need a ride home.... on the other hand......the parking lot is often littered with those too damn drunk to stand, let alone make it into the show....great oppertunity to upgrade your tickets.....

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » March 11, 2008 7:18 pm

Thanks for the reminder. ALWAYS HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER.

lminor26 · Post by **lminor26** » March 11, 2008 7:31 pm

I am a teacher too. I've often wondered what would happen if my name ended up in the paper for anything--haven't drank and drove--but I'm not perfect.

Did you lose your job? I hope not...

aeroparrot · Post by **aeroparrot** » March 11, 2008 7:37 pm

If you ARE driving and want to be part of the crowd and drink, do NOT drink alcohol. Grab a cup and fill it with Pepsi or Coca-Cola ONLY. Some people will assume you are drinking alcohol even though you are not.

brznbeaches · Post by **brznbeaches** » March 11, 2008 7:41 pm

It's amazing all the $$$ and effort we put into getting tix, then not being able to remember the show! BTDT

I've been lucky so far- had to sit in the parking lot long enough to spber up, but I think many of us can imagine ourselves in your shoes.
Thanks for the life lesson!

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » March 11, 2008 7:53 pm

CMPH, thanks again for having the courage to share your story and post this every year as a reminder!

palmettopirate · Post by **palmettopirate** » March 12, 2008 10:58 am

"If you ARE driving and want to be part of the crowd and drink, do NOT drink alcohol. Grab a cup and fill it with Pepsi or Coca-Cola ONLY. Some people will assume you are drinking alcohol even though you are not."

LOL. That's a joke, right? I hope. I thought the days of those games had passed when you could only be accepted by a drinking crowd if you had alcohol also. Come as you are. Take it or leave it.

Migration Michelle · Post by **Migration Michelle** » March 12, 2008 12:11 pm

Great reminder...thanks for sharing your story!

I never drive to a JB concert...usually take some sort of car from the hotel or from home. (works better for my Landshark-loving self!)

f2cdlzrd · Post by **f2cdlzrd** » March 12, 2008 1:08 pm

Great reminder...thanks!! I am also a teacher and it scares me to be out sometimes when I drink. I never drive if I have more than a couple beers. I also teach in 1 county and live in the next county over. That works out for me because when I go out or to the grocery store I don't have to worry about running in to students and especially their parents.

pbans · Post by **pbans** » March 12, 2008 1:18 pm

Well....not a thumbs up that you got a DUI....but thumbs up that you let yourself serve as an example of WHAT NOT TO DO.....

I've seen lives destroyed by drunk drivers......so yes, yes, yes....pick a designated driver and then treat that person LIKE THE HERO THEY ARE!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » March 12, 2008 1:20 pm

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Pacing.....It's all about pacing.....

If you do 3 weeks worth of drinkin' in 2 hours....you're gonna need a ride home.... on the other hand......the parking lot is often littered with those too damn drunk to stand, let alone make it into the show....great opportunity to upgrade your tickets.....

thank you Jesus for putting stupid people and Yellow Album fans on the planet with us.

Angel Beech · Post by **Angel Beech** » March 12, 2008 1:36 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
thank you Jesus for putting stupid people and Yellow Album fans on the planet with us.

SPEW @ Yellow Album fans

Hooray Beer! · Post by **Hooray Beer!** » March 12, 2008 2:04 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Pacing.....It's all about pacing.....

If you do 3 weeks worth of drinkin' in 2 hours....you're gonna need a ride home.... on the other hand......the parking lot is often littered with those too damn drunk to stand, let alone make it into the show....great opportunity to upgrade your tickets.....
thank you Jesus for putting stupid people and Yellow Album fans on the planet with us.

You know the Yellow Album is how a lot of people, including myself, found Buffett, became fans etc, so don't be so quick to knock it

And speaking professionally as your emergency medical provider, you really dont want to see what can happen to you, or the person you hit, when you drive drunk!

Mplsfins · Post by **Mplsfins** » March 12, 2008 2:12 pm

Just had this debate yesterday with my brother in law and Alpine. He wants to drive and get set up with our gear. Last year we took the bus and he said it seemed like something was missing. Not me, got hammered, took the bus back to the campground and passed out. $35 for a bus ride is a heck of a lot cheaper than a DUI.
Don't drive, it isn't worth it. Get a DD or take the bus. No need to spoil yours and potentially someone elses.

Finz Out

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » March 12, 2008 2:21 pm

pbans wrote:

Well....not a thumbs up that you got a DUI....but thumbs up that you let yourself serve as an example of WHAT NOT TO DO.....

I've seen lives destroyed by drunk drivers......so yes, yes, yes....pick a designated driver and then treat that person LIKE THE HERO THEY ARE!

I'd say to the DUI. It may have saved you or others from much worse.
Use your brains, people! Cab fare is a heckuvalot cheaper than a DUI. Or a funeral.

be at the beach · Post by **be at the beach** » March 12, 2008 2:40 pm

We always chip in and pay for the designated driver's conccert ticket. Never have a problem getting someone to be the DD!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » March 12, 2008 3:06 pm

Hooray Beer! wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Pacing.....It's all about pacing.....

If you do 3 weeks worth of drinkin' in 2 hours....you're gonna need a ride home.... on the other hand......the parking lot is often littered with those too damn drunk to stand, let alone make it into the show....great opportunity to upgrade your tickets.....
thank you Jesus for putting stupid people and Yellow Album fans on the planet with us.
You know the Yellow Album is how a lot of people, including myself, found Buffett, became fans etc, so don't be so quick to knock it

And speaking professionally as your emergency medical provider, you really dont want to see what can happen to you, or the person you hit, when you drive drunk!

a) if all you know is the Yellow Album songs, and you try to hoot down people around you for standing/dancing/singing along with songs you don't know because your album collection is 1 deep... then yes, I am going to knock that. Dollars to doughnuts, the ones doing that came to drink, get stupid, and wanted to say "I was at the Buffett concert" as a badge of their coolness.

b) I know the physics. I am not advocating drunk driving. (tho remember, stupid people, distracted people, and 80 year olds in early senility can do just as much damage without the additional stigma of "being physically-impaired")

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » March 12, 2008 3:13 pm

palmettopirate wrote:"If you ARE driving and want to be part of the crowd and drink, do NOT drink alcohol. Grab a cup and fill it with Pepsi or Coca-Cola ONLY. Some people will assume you are drinking alcohol even though you are not."

LOL. That's a joke, right? I hope. I thought the days of those games had passed when you could only be accepted by a drinking crowd if you had alcohol also. Come as you are. Take it or leave it.

Unfortunately its NOT a joke. And it's not a matter of acceptace but rather perception.

I no longer drink for medical reasons and have had people tell me "man you were tore up last night" just because they were drunk.