We had frankincense and myrrh incense in my house in a censer for years until my ma got asthma

I have incredible news for you about how remarkably mediocre she was *prior* to 2021 as well

It's the first confirmed case of sexual transmitted CTE

Might even say mush to think about

If you receive an email from me in the next hour I'm sorry.

Anyhow, John I don't know if you'll ever see this and far be it from me to tag him, but thank you. I could never thank you enough.

To this day, nine years later, The Sunset Tree will stop me in my tracks. Not out of pain, but out of gratitude for shepherding me through something which should have at best sent me to the hospital. At worse, the grave. Every track is beautiful, tender, and strong. When I needed it, it was there.

I later found out drinking with that antibiotic causes "fatal seizures." I came closer to death than I realized.

I stumbled to a bodega, bought two Gatorades, some limes, salt, and water. I almost shit myself in the bodega and hobbled back to the Bond Place hotel feeling a mix of disgust, shame, and pride at having survived to tell the story.

Around noon I came out of it. Like waking from a horrific dream. My body ached. I had likely bruised, if not broken, two ribs. I texted the one person I knew wouldn't make fun of me, someone I barely knew. She brought up a yogurt from the vending machine and somehow I kept it down.

I remember humming Dinu Lipatti's Bones as I dry heaved over the sink, unable to even keep down water. Drifting in and out of half remembered dreams. Tracking time by the repeat of Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapod.

No one, that is, but The Sunset Tree. Over those fourteen hours, fading in and out of consciousness, holding onto the sink and my soul, I listened to that album over and over and over again.

Around 11:30 I started to throw up. Note that word, started. For the next 14 hours straight I would be vomiting. Despite being with three dozen other kids, I had no one to call. I had recently escaped an abusive relationship by the skin of my sanity. I had no one.

True to my word to the doc, I didn't over do it. I had a beer with dinner, and a shot of whiskey around 10pm. Around 11 I started to feel cold. Very cold.

Three days later I left for Toronto with a large gaggle of college students for "cultural exchange." Namely, discovering how many times 19 year olds can be teased by bartenders for crossing the border to drink. Note: don't do this kids.

"Yeah sure but be careful, don't drink a bottle of whiskey or anything." Boy howdy was he wrong.

That (early) spring, I had unfortunately contracted a minor staph infection in my ear. I was on antibiotics to treat it. Like a responsible kid I checked with the prescribing physician to make sure I could drink on it.

I mean that with every scrap of love in my heart. The most meaningful, influential, and weird artists in every scene are just Some Guys (gender neutral) who are a little weirder than respectable company can accept.