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  • awgustwest
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    Wharf Rats at Council Bluffs RD show
    Hey all, Im new 'round here, but wanted to let ya know if your going to be at the Rat Dog show in Council Bluffs IA stop by the Wharf Rat table and say howdy to Clint and Eric and the other Wharf Rats in attendance. I'll be at 10KLF flying my yellow balloons so if you're there say hey:)
  • bear7140
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    milwaukee ratdog date
    Looked for yellow balloons at summerfest ratdog Were any WR's there? (besides this bear) Won't make Aragon date in Chicago. Great 2nd step meeting this am with my homegroup. Rev Al's, one of the gys at the meeting fronts a band After Curfew(good rockn'roll) plays tonight in hometown music and brat tent The Rev's a bona fide real Rev. and serious heat on the stratocaster. qualifications First show ever Famliy Dog 11/1/69 Too many roads to try to count since then and I've tried bear's first sober show(s) 3 days at the uptown in Chicago Feb 1981. First AA meeting 1/24/80. My sponsor gave me Good Orderly Direction and I went with a couple of sober buds, same to this day. Found the briliant Wharf Rats later on down the line. Nice to be here.
  • scarnurse
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    recovery
    good to here from all of you!lets have a meeting peace and keep it green
  • tripperb
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    The bus came by on 12-7-81
    The bus came by on 12-7-81 in Des Moines, Ia., I got on, that's when it all began.First song-Bertha Last song-Brokedown Palace (Denver 12-1-94) And Leave It On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! searchin' for wharfrats in portland.find some heads @ na meetings, but it's not the same. don't have the time to form a group myself ( back in school after 20 yrs) even a blind man knows when the sun is shining
  • Clincher
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    "hearing new things..."
    Thanks shack. I love the sound of that. My first meeting of the friends of August W was the hope of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field 91 (in sight of a Green Bay Packers banner!). I remember a couple of beat cops inside the stadium checking out the group. One was nervous, the other saying something like, "It's an AA meeting." The first cop was skeptical, and the way the second cop told him "I know it is," still gives me a goosebump or two. Thanks for showing up, everybody.
  • shack
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    all those shows ...
    ... that i walked by the gathering of wharf rats and nodded and acted polite. ha ha! now i am almost 17 months clean and sober and life is so positively different. 46 and back in school at iupui. i cruise with my earbuds everyday and describe my sobriety as 'hearing new things' all the time. i love the gd! before i write a senior thesis or something, i wanna say one more thingy: when jer-bear passed i had the premium built in excuse. i got sooo wasted for 11 yrs. poor me. what fun now is! peace, shack deer creek - indpls.
  • Fatjack
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    Wharf Rats
    In 2000, I became a Wharf Rat and even got a Steal Your Face tattoo with "Whaft Rats" written around the skull to celebrate my "going on" 8 years of sobriety. Whenever I think I might stumble, it is in plain view on my arm to keep me strong and encourage me to keep going. Being able to enjoy the real joy which is the music and my life now which are the most valuable things. Fatjack West Virginia
  • Alpine7784
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    We Are Everywhere
    First found the Wharf Rats in 1989. First clean show was Deer Creek July 18, 1990, and I stayed clean for several years. My last Grateful Dead show was 6/23/93. Unfortunately, I went back out in 1998, and came back in 2003. I was glad to hook up with the Wharf Rats again, and my sponsor is also a Wharf Rat. It is SO WONDERFUL to be able to attend shows like Phil & Friends, Yonder Mountain,etc. clean and not get into all the BS that went along with trying to cop. Thanks for being there when I needed you. If I can help, let me know. Sean K. On the Illinois side of St Louis 9/10/2003
  • wharfratpete
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    The music has always been the best high!
    This site is so cool! To have a Wharf Rat foru is quite a statement! As you can see, I am so Grateful for my sobriety and the fact that AA & The Wharf Rats have allowed me to continue my life’s, musically based, spiritual journey, that I adopted ‘WR’ into my identity. I often identify myself as a WR in the hope of letting fellow travelers, who may be struggling, know there is a solution, and that they are not alone. My first sober show was 3/16/90. I had about 65 days. The Music held me up as usual, but My sobriety had to come first. That included devoting time to my 7 year old son. So my next show was not until Orlando, 4/4/94. (had tickets for both nights) That show is where I made my first WR meeting. What an Awesome experience! I’ve been going to them every show since. My son has gone with me too, as a visitor, at the Further Festival shows. (He attended two GD shows with me: Cap. Center 9/6/88 & RFK 7/1389) I have been privileged to hold WR meetings in my area and even met the founder at a meeting in Charlotte. In the early to mid 90’s, I had a hand in helping start the meeting in the Rose Garden on AOL. Is that still going on? I haven’t been an AOL user for years now. Also I have lost a lot of my vision to a rare eye condition and have trouble with chat rooms. The text moves too fast. I haven’t been as active in recent years; my vision loss has slowed me down a little. I play bass in a local 60’s cover band, another incredible gift of my sobriety. Another great moment was meeting Phil 4/14/01, at his Florida blood drive. We shared stories of our sons and how playing music together has bridged the ‘Gen. Gap’. That night I had front row seats at the P&F show. What a day! Glad I was sober! Well I’m rambling! LOL! No need to bore you any longer. Be well! And Thank You! Peace!
  • B42
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    Almost one year to the day
    Almost one year to the day after the last time I saw The Grateful Dead perform at Highgate,'95, i would be "introduced" to AA and eventually The Wharf Rats. What a Godsend.10+ years now and I've never been more Grateful, though I still sorely miss Jerry.... I'll get down to it and write my story here one of these days so others may possibly benefit, till then, thanks for shaing and keep those yellow balloons(not the nitrous ones), flying for all to see. "if you get confused..."
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16 years 10 months
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Welcome, Wharf-Rats.
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16 years
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I'll be sittin' in the " No Alcohol " section at Wrigley Field 5/5.Cubs vs Giants.........Game time 1:20 pm Tickets still available :o) It would be so cool to have a whole WharfRat section at Wrigley. See you there. November and more as I wait for the score. They're tellin' me forgivness is the key to every door.
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15 years 2 months
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I will be at the DCU 4/18...this will be my first show w/ out being "chemically" inconveienced...will there be a wharfrat meeting there? And how ill I know they are there and where ? Also I haven't recieved my tix yet...has anyone out there recieved there's? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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15 years
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thank you... i am so grateful to be here.. when ratdog.org went down, i wondered where i would find some kind fellowship... WHARF RAT: 8 years; 9 months; 5 days... glad to be here...
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16 years 5 months
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Are you the other Charlie I met in PA? If so, Welcome friend! If not, Welcome friend anyway!Peace, Love and Recovery,lefty
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16 years 9 months
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tj crowley traditionally the 'table' is identified w/ 'yellow ballons' usually there's a banner (wharf-rats)attached to the wall inside milieu(s) will have table on main floor directly behind drums/stage above all..if even staying w/ the wharf-rat folk is un-comfortable, the same two feet that brought you dancin in can bring you to the exit sign(s)
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15 years 9 months
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Hello friends, Haven't visited the forum for a couple of months now, but very happy to announce that I recently celebrated my 1 year birthday - hoping to get to a show or two out west in May. If I can make it, I will certainly be on the lookout for fellow wharfrats - would sure love to meet some of you! Kym
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15 years 2 months
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Hey people, DC and Charlottesville are just a couple of weeks away! I'll be doing my 1st shows sober. My last shows were in NC 89 right before getting sober. I'll be on the lookout for the table and yellow balloons-can't wait to see you there!
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16 years 1 month
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Hey y'all. I'm going to Greensboro and the 5/5 Chicago shows. It's just me, one ticket. I'm super-excited but also a little wary because of the cunning, baffling nature of this disease. Any folks here I could meet up with before/after these shows? (Can't wait to look for the yellow balloons!) I want to really have a good, carefree time, and not feel weird if there are triggers, y'know? I've been clean for a few years now but haven't been to hardly any shows. I went to tons of meetings the first few years, got a strong foundation I guess. But for the past five or so – the familiar story – I've gotten "busy" with life: having a kid, work etc. I'm grateful to have remained clean during this time. Actually, since getting my ticket for Greensboro, I've been to more meetings than in the the last five years. But still not in the middle of the boat as I was when first clean. I was so excited when I found archive.org a few years ago. I got back into the Dead without getting tangled in the scene. But it's just been me and the music. My wife – who I met in recovery – unfortunately doesn't get the "dead". Thank god for this forum. Once again, I realize I'm not alone; there are people out there just like me! Peace. ---- I was blind all the time I was learning to see.
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16 years 9 months
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tj crowley not sure if i'll be at any show(s) due to price of tckt's BUT march 28th will be my anni
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16 years 9 months
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RODGER ALLINSON alas yet being clean and sober now for the past six years i can really apreciate and respect what being a wharf rat is all about when i was on tour all those years i could'nt even begin to imagine the concept but now i,m glad that as i go to shows this spring ill have a network to plug into
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15 years 1 month
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Hey Jimmie C and all wharf,sI'll be at Wrigley 4/18, with 11 years clean and sober. I'll let you know how cold it was. -PEACE-
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15 years
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I've got 8 yrs and L.A., May 9th is my first Dead show, is any one else going??
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16 years 9 months
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Celebrating the resurrection of The Dead on Easter Sunday in Greensboro. Yellow balloons/tables on the premises?
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16 years 9 months
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I'll be there, Lord willin'.
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15 years 2 months
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Well the final weekend before the tour has come and gone, and no west coast freebie, warmup, sendoff, nothin, zilch (I was hopin). Guess the days of the unanounced free show in Golden Gate Park are over. Oh well, see all of you west coast rats @ Shoreline. Hope I don't go into DTs between now and then (deadlirium tremuns) "I'll get up and fly away"
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15 years 2 months
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I have looked for WR groups around chicagoland to no avail.Nobody seems to feel like typing.
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14 years 11 months
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Hi, I am looking for a kind soul in NYC to sell me 3 tix for the 042509 MSG DEAD show for $200 total. I realize this is CRAZY-BELOW the price on the tix. To compensate for this I am offering you a FREE 3 NIGHT stay in San Francisco. I have a lovely studio apt located 3 blocks from the Powell Cable Car turnaround and would love to share my space w/ you for free. SHORELINE May 10th, SHORELINE May 14th, and you've got a free place, heck, I'll let ya stay at my place from the 9th till the 15th!! (Shoreline stay ONLY offered for Wharfrats, and I pay only $150 for the 3 tix) If this works for us, I have a relative in Manhattan that will pick up the tix and pay you, Of course, I am sure we will speak prior. search words to pull up my post quicker: SF NYC MSG Mountain View CA 05/10/09 05/14/09 051009 051409 0510 0514 042409 0424 04/24/09 04/24 $200 $150
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15 years 5 months
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Sorry I havent posted in a while.....life on lifes terms. IM SO EXCITED-its been hard to work, think, eat, sleep, I know you guys understand! April 12 will only be my second show sober but I CANT WAIT!!! I am gonna be doing the family thing most of the time but will be hanging with the Rats too!!!! Did I mention IM SO EXCITED?????!!!!! c u guys sooooooooooon!
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16 years 1 month
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Anyone know of good meetings in Greensboro or Winston-Salem Saturday night or Sunday morning? I'd love to get a meeting in before the show.
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16 years 3 months
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Greensboro, NC I'll be there. 15 yrs clean. See you guys under the yellow balloon. It will be my first WharfRats experience.
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14 years 11 months
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I am just discovering this Wharf Rats thing. Feels like comin home all over again. I have been to lots and lots of shows but hopefully(if I can find a ticket to buy!) May 9 in L.A. will be my first sober show. I have 7 yrs of good trudgin here in L.A. but I'm really excited to see the dead when I'm sober I am REALLY EXCITED!!!!!! LIFE IS GOOD!! May the four winds blow you safely home
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15 years 2 months
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just 2 nights and a wakeup Wife and I are taking our 18 & 20 yr olds to their first show... they grew up listening to The Dead and they are as stoked as their ole man. It was my 20 yr old son that noticed it would be the 38th anniversary of my first show... pretty special and will be my first with my children (double special) See everyone at the Meeting between sets ... Been clean n sober 26 years and gonna shake these ole bones one more time... :-)
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16 years 3 months
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What time will the wharfrats gather at the Greensboro show? Any good Narcotics Anonymous meetings in the area?
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16 years 9 months
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I found out about them 2 years ago at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. This past 17 March 2009 I celebrated 23 years clean and sober. I thank God I survived the 15 years before that. Let your life procede by its own design.
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15 years 2 months
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Hey All,Can't wait until you come up to NJ/NYC. My name is Jason and have been a wharfrat since 2002. Looking forward to seeing you up here! Have fun tonight :) Can find me on aol Notfadeaway18, give me a text when you get to NJ. Jason
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14 years 11 months
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Hey All, Tammy from Philly, PA here, 78 days sober, my 1st sober show will be in Philly Sat May 2nd and i'm nervous, looking for wharfrats to help me stay sober and dance the night away. Please contact me so i don't have to sell my ticket out of fear, i had to give up all of my ppl, places and things. JazzKittenPoet@yahoo.com
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16 years 9 months
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tj crowley meetings usuaaly are during the break but the table is attended to throughout the show
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15 years 2 months
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Looked high and looked low ... No Wharfrat table at the Greensboro show Couldn't find table nor meeting between sets ... Glad I wasn't Jones'n
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14 years 11 months
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I hope to see the yellow balloons at the show tomorrow in Albany. There's nothing like a Dead concert sober!
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14 years 11 months
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Wow, we ended by loudly singing a line from "Black Peter" starting with "See how everything leads up to this day" and people were stopping and staring and taking pics. Big Daddy Don said Jerry sang that at the WR first show. Thanks to the guys at the table for being there when I took a break from the freaky Space stuff the Dead are doing now. I'm SO GRATEFUL for my WR fam and wouldn't have made it these three shows without you!
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15 years 2 months
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Yea, I couldn't find the rats at the greensboro show either. But I had a great time. Thats 6 clean shows for me and looking forward to many more. The boys sound great I hope they start touring more often. This summer or next fall would be killer.
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15 years 2 months
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Made my shows in DC & UVA clean and sober. Thanks for the yellow ballons at both shows. It was a comfort to know you were there, if I needed you. My brother rode shot gun for me. Miracles in sobriety never cease.
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14 years 11 months
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Hello family,Going to the Mountain View show, 6 of us Clean, not Dead Heads. Hope to get to meet some of you there. Anybody going? Janice
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14 years 11 months
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MSG SHOW... WOW!!!! I went with my 69year old Dad, My Brother in Law and a friend. We had section 401, but MIRACLED floor seats, both sets! Cosmic Charlie, U J Band, He's Gone, Gimme Shelter all SUPER DUPER!! Mid Set break Wharf Rat mtng, very nice, extra special. The meeting was so packed, "normies" in the hallway couldn't get by! Hahaha. I shared, said I was Wharfrat from SF. Very warm, good vibes. Sobriety countdown, beautifull. Confetti was thrown and my thick hair soaked it up. I think some of it remains. St. Stephen w/ confetti, in and out of my hair, like spaggetti... I will be at Shoreline both shows, Call me up, my name is Lew. (415) HOLY-GUY Wharf Rat AA mtngs on Thursdays at 8:15, Noe Valley SFCA, hope to see y'all there...
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14 years 11 months
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FYIOn this site's video page, the video of Greensboro featured Big Daddy Don on the floor dancin with his crazy hat! When I met him in G'boro I didn't know who he was, but I found out at the other shows. He was a valuable asset to me at the shows and generous to my driver, gifting her some "Cats Down Under the Stars" jewelry.
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14 years 11 months
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Hi Everyone, Sounds like the shows are amazing and everyone is havin' fun doin' it sober. I live in Carlsbad, CA and was wondering if anyone from San Diego is heading up to the show on May 9th. I'm newly sober and would love to go to the show. I need to go with some wharf rats otherwise I won't be going. I'm leavin' it up to my higher power. I'm puttin' it out there and seein' what comes back. Cuz I no that the life I was livin' was no good but I'm gettin' a new start to live the I should. please email me at phreeang@yahoo.com if you have any info, would like to chat or are goin' to the show and you have room for one more sober head. Lots of Love, Ang
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15 years 1 month
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I see no one has posted to this in a few years so I am reaching out in hopes that someone will respond...any wharf rat action at the 2009 shows?
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15 years 1 month
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Ok, now the site is acting funny..as soon as I posted my question the 2009 comments came up LOL. Hugzzz
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15 years 9 months
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Coming out from Arizona for my first SOBER show on 5/14 and hoping to put some faces to the names I read here. Where should I look for the table and balloons - somewhere inside the venue would be my guess. Will be visiting with friends in the area, but will be on my own at the show and hoping for support! Love y'all - see ya soon!
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15 years 2 months
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Gettin close to showtime folks...would love to get together with other clean and sober rats before show and share experience strength and hope. I went to the NYE Phil/Ratdog shows and my sobriety was in jeopordy for a while. Need to make sure I'm plugged in for this. I plan on getting there very early (lawn seats). Shoot me an email here or rhollis80@yahoo.com ♪♪♪ "I'll get up and fly away" ♪♪♪
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15 years 2 months
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Thanks for the table in Hartford! My 5 years and my buddies 1 year sure did appreciate you being there.
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14 years 11 months
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Meadowlands was great!! Looking for a safe place to meet on lot in Philly?? I'm doing a few shows with Louie, and am always happy to give out a one show sticker and a hug. His Falafal/ Jerry Roll booth is impossible to miss on shakedown. Also looking for an extra ticket both nights.. Haps/ Flaps/ 7 Laps
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15 years 2 months
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Original Wharf Rat from the East coast now living in Wyoming. 24 years clean and looking for Wharf Rats to hang out with at the Denver Show. HP provided a clean rider by "coincidence" when I posted on a local board. Email me at lonesomejohnnie@hotmail.com or call me at 307-248-3117 (cell). Some folks trust in reason, others trust in might, I don't trust in nothing, but I know it'll turn out right.
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14 years 10 months
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Haven't seen any version of The Dead since I sobered up in 2000 and am heading to Shoreline on Sunday... can't wait to feel the music again. Will be with a solid buddy but am hoping to find a meeting at set break... any suggestions from those in the know?Enjoy the shows, take care of each other and be well. Thanks for any help you can hoffer. "once in awhile you get shown the light"
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14 years 11 months
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Just wondering if there will be a booth at the Forum for us? Didn't see one in Philly.....
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15 years 5 months
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wow! what an amazing trip-ya a little strange too I guess!!! Hit up tables in Greensboro, D.C. and Charlottesville-which was AMAZING might I add-Black Peter is so powerful-great shows-great sobriety-I even got some great bumper stickers for my car! Now people can come up to me and ask who August West is-or what a Wharf Rat is for that matter-lol!!! I love all of you my brothers n sisters-thankx for being part of my family!!!peace, love, n sobriety-hcm
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15 years 2 months
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I count 19 shows and no Wharf Rat. Maybe Shoreline?...
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15 years 2 months
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Phil and Friends: 50 times, Ratdog: 45 times, Other Ones: 12 times, The Dead: 1 time ♪♪♪ "I'll get up and fly away" ♪♪♪