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  • hippiechickmom
    Joined:
    hey sisters and brothers!
    Hey Rats! I haven't posted in a loooong time but I hope everyone is good:) I just had 5 years in March and I feel better than ever! Saw Furthur in Broomfield...nice...can't wait for Red Rocks again...although its kinda a ways off. Thinking about Bobby and hoping he is okay!
  • Benzzer
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    Joined:
    I wanna say to my sisters and my brothers...
    ...keep the faith! Oh, and introduce myself. I'm Ben and I'm an alcoholic/addict who's been sober since July. I'm 33 years old and have known of you guys since I was probably 13. Well I went through my years of use and abuse and always kinda figured I'd end up with the Wharf Rats and so here I am if you'll have me. Thanks! As I listen to the Other Ones sing "Just like Mary Shelley, just like Frankenstein...," I gotta think I'm in the right place.
  • BEAR 14
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    Joined:
    My Sponsor tells me....
    Be unabashed and public about sobriety and AA.I was taken by Roger Y. to my first meeting the 4th Thursday of Jan. 1980. Didn't drink and didn't die so far. Couldn't have done it without you all and many more not on this small list. Countless blessings and lots of Experience, Strength and Hope came my way. Thanks to HP, as we understand him, and AA. I was told to take care of it... " It don't belong to you, it belongs to US." First show Feb 1970, went to Family Dog to see Commander Cody and got dosed with the Dead who hit me with Mama Tried. Went back to next few nights shows and the bus departed. Got my 30 yr wooden chip from Wharf Rat AA group meeting at Holy Innocents Church in SF a few years ago. A most prized token of the long strange trip. Couldn't have done it without you all, everyone. Bound to cover just a little more ground Before it covers me. bear
  • mmtapeop
    Joined:
    I'm 53 with grandkids and
    I'm 53 with grandkids and still going to shows/fests with kids and staying clean since 4/2/04. Love hangin with The Rats. Always get a boost when I see yellow ballons & "one show at a time" stickers on people. It's an instant connection. Looking forward to taking grandkids to their first fests. Maybe this summer....if mom & dad are ok with it!!! HAVE A GRATEFUL DAY!!!
  • mmtapeop
    Joined:
    tees
    Love the new Rats tee design.
  • MoonKnight
    Joined:
    Looking for a friend just someone to talk to and hang out with
    I have been clean and sober since 7/13/88 and don't smoke anymore. I'm from Northern NJ, married for 23 years seeking friendship with someone male or female (not friend with benefits) is into Jamband music. My wife is not into "That kinda music" I love to go to shows. Love the DEAD saw them over 100 times.Been to over 300 concerts in my lifetime. I'm 46 My wife wanted me to find a friend just someone to talk to and hang out with, she suggested I find someone to hang out with that has interests same as me. I use to do everything with my 2 sons but they are both in college now and don't have time for me. Thank you for your time Paul
  • marye
    Joined:
    that is REALLY rotten
    I had a friend dosed against their will one time and it was a bad scene for a long time. It's not a funny thing to do to people AT ALL. Hope the wrats are doing okay.
  • mona
    Joined:
    passing it on
    Sunday night at Red Rocks, 2 wrats were offered chocolate that was packaged in a commercial way,while they were standing at the table. this happened right before the set break meeting. They examined it and ate it and the guy who gave it to them said nothing and walked away. This is a horrible thing to happen to someone in recovery, let alone anyone! Even with people who are using, proper "drug edicate", is always to ask if the person wants to dose. It was an extremely frightening experience for those 2 wrats and I would hate for this to happen again. I don't know if the person who gave it to them had malicious intent but it should never have happened. Here is a description of the chocolate and packaging: silver foil on the inside with a lilac colored label with printed ingredients and some sort of local logo for chocolate company. It was a smaller bar and chocolate had nuggets in it. I did some research and found out these we're all over redrocks, and apparently had mushroom powder in them. Not sure if this was someone local from Colorado or if they will have them on the whole tour. Please be aware if you are attending any upcoming shows. This happened right at the wharf rat table!! I pray this never happens again
  • kym
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    Joined:
    County Bowl 10-7-12
    Just wanted to say hi and that I am looking forward to seeing old friends at the SB show this year! Had to miss last year's tour altogether, and this will be my only show this time around, so it will be nice to reacquaint! See you at the table, or maybe at Superica beforehand! (You coming this time, Jimmy C?) I will be staying in SB a few days before and after the show and have spent a lot of time in sobriety there - if anyone needs info on local meetings, I would be happy to help! Feel free to PM me if you need info! Kym in Arizona
  • hockey_john
    Joined:
    1988 or 1987
    Just a little bit of my life on the road with the Dead. The year was either 87 or 88 cant remember which. Was handed a piece of paper at a shoreline show, read something like need help were here for you. Noticed it said something about balloons and being sober. I was as mass hole as they come. Having been to almost every show fro summer of 82 till this point in 87 or 88 I took the flyer crumpled it and threw at the persons feet. Little did I know a year or so later my life would change like so many others. I was rescued from the Haight in October of 89 walking down the street. Much to my surprise a family member from the east coast had flown to find me and take me to treatment. I have not stayed sober all that time yet I have NEVER lost my love for being sober. I put together 5 years then 7 and now 7.5 again. Life has its ways of throwing us curves we just need to learn to duck at the proper moment. In these last 7.5 years alot has changed I lost the love of my life in an auto accident and NEVER found it necessary to pick up a drink or a drug. That's the power of our maker and the program of AA Not one to like NA FIND TO MANY people there getting high. I happen to like AA the old fashion way sit down SHUT UP and listen. thanks to you people and my higher power life goes on. I miss my little one every day yet I love my life far to much to give in to the old habits. jhon my little one was dyslexic and always wrote my name that way. I know she is in heaven and I will join here and so many others someday
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16 years 11 months
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Welcome, Wharf-Rats.
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16 years 1 month
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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 3 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 1 month
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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 7 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 11 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 10 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 3 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 3 months
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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 11 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 11 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 2 months
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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 1 month
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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 10 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 10 months
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I'll be there, Lord willin'.
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15 years 4 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 3 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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15 years 1 month
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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 6 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 3 months
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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 4 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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15 years
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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 3 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 4 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 10 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 3 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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15 years
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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 11 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 3 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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15 years 1 month
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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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15 years
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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 4 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 3 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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15 years
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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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15 years 1 month
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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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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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15 years
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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 2 months
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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 2 months
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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 10 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 4 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 3 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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15 years 1 month
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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 3 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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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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15 years
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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 6 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 4 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 4 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" ♪♪♪