1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,340 Now I would like to introduce our main speaker 2 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:07,760 Stuart hey, hey good evening. I'm Stuart. I'm an alcoholic 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:15,080 I'm gonna take this off because it got hot that 20 minutes. It's not only gonna get hotter. I know it. Um, no, I'll just drape it 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,420 Oh sure. Thanks, brother. Um, I want to thank Alex for asking me to come out and share with you 5 00:00:19,420 --> 00:00:23,920 He's the responsible party notice. He's not here, right? Yeah 6 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,440 But you know who to blame 7 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,440 the way this happened is uh 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,960 Let me start with my sobriety dates February 4th 1985 9 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,740 my sponsors Ken Jacobson and 10 00:00:36,740 --> 00:00:39,520 Sunday night, Ohio is my home group 11 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:45,200 Yeah, so, uh, Alex had Marty stuck up scheduled to speak a few months back 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:50,680 I don't know if he's been out here since then but Marty had a medical procedure and he wasn't able to speak 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:56,300 So being the good a that he is he gave Alex my number as well as a few others 14 00:00:56,300 --> 00:01:03,560 And so when Alex worked in list, I wasn't able to speak back then but Alex being the good alcoholic secretary that he is 15 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:10,960 But do you mind if I book you for later? And so here you have it. Um, I met Bruce first time and 16 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:18,360 That was out here earlier with oh, you're Mary's husband, right? That's what it's come to an alcoholics anonymous for me 17 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:25,260 I'm Mary's husband and apparently Bruce and Mary are good friends on Facebook or I should say friends on Facebook 18 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:30,760 I don't know how good of friends but um, you know for many years and alcoholics anonymous 19 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:37,400 I was Matt Johnson's nephew or you could say I was Hank Johnson's grandson or you could say I was Lou Johnson's grandson 20 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,500 What that means is I'm third generation alcoholics anonymous 21 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:49,440 My grandparents got sober in 1970. My uncle got sober in 1973. They got sober in a little group called the Pacific group 22 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,320 I don't think any of you've ever heard of that, right? Yeah, and 23 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,480 You know 24 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:02,120 Growing up for me born and raised in Los Angeles. I'm a product of an interracial marriage. My mother's white 25 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,040 Hence, that's how Matt Johnson's my uncle 26 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,320 And my father's mix. My father was Filipino Portuguese American Indian and black 27 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:16,800 but his birth certificate and mine as well say Negro and I was born in 66 and 28 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,440 That wasn't a good time to have mixed ethnic background 29 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,760 It's a good time now, but it wasn't a good time then 30 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:32,560 So I heard it all, you know what the grade school in Hollywood the summer of 6th and 7th grade 31 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:38,560 My mom decided to move us out of Hollywood into the San Fernando Valley to a town called Tohonga 32 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:44,560 Yeah, so what I heard was we're moving it to Panga. Okay. Yeah, and when the trucks pulled up to Tohonga 33 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,140 I went what the right and you know 34 00:02:47,140 --> 00:02:52,480 I always talk about that as a significant time of my life because I was I don't know how old he in sixth grade 35 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,880 exactly, and and I started drinking on a regular basis about 12 and 36 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,640 I've been thinking about this because I remember when I came in they used to say you're 37 00:03:01,640 --> 00:03:05,080 Your emotional growth is stunted 38 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,600 To the time that you started drinking 39 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:12,060 So what that means is when I got sober at 18 and Alcoholics Anonymous 40 00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:18,640 I had the emotional maturity of a 12 year old right and somebody. Oh, what was the 41 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:25,960 our speaker or second ten minute speaker said something about she did everything late that that that rang a bell with me because 42 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:34,180 That summer of 12 years old. I knew that normal kids didn't drink and do other things the way that I did 43 00:03:34,180 --> 00:03:36,720 So when we made that move to Tohonga 44 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,580 I made a conscious effort to as my old man used to say hit the books 45 00:03:40,580 --> 00:03:43,900 Stay on the straight and narrow and be a good kid. You know what I mean? 46 00:03:43,900 --> 00:03:47,480 and that lasted for about two weeks, so I got invited to my first kegger party and 47 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,520 Once I met the new guys and once I started drinking the beer it was on and like Donkey Kong 48 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,000 you know and it never slowed down from 12 to 18 I 49 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,240 our first speaker was talking about 50 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:07,160 Outside issues when I asked over the we didn't call him outside issues, but we'll just say this that I'm no stranger 51 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:14,080 And you know I got sober at 18. They used to say things like kid. I've spilled more than you drink 52 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,340 I used to say well. I didn't spill they used to say you know you haven't hit bottom 53 00:04:18,340 --> 00:04:21,080 if you still have a watch you know all that kind of stuff and 54 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:29,400 You know the Pacific group was my go-to obviously I but I didn't go in a hundred percent I 55 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,620 Used to go to meetings here in the valley at the time 56 00:04:32,620 --> 00:04:39,520 White oak and Van Owen right used to be the nest and it was up on the second floor and downstairs was liquor store 57 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:45,360 And then right around the corner was Arturo's pizza, and I used to work at Arturo's pizza when I was 16 still in them at 58 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,240 all but when I got sober I would go to the nest and 59 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,320 Maybe another Valley meeting like the hole in the sky 60 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:56,760 and then the other four nights of the week that I went to meetings I would go to Pacific group meetings and 61 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:02,160 It was really a weird time because that first six months of sobriety I 62 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:09,200 Went out I I got you know into that Pacific group regiment get up go to work 63 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,720 Shower change go to a meeting 64 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:17,440 Go out for fellowship afterwards go home amped up on coffee sit up look at the ceiling until about 2 in the morning 65 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:22,600 Go to sleep get up go to work and and that first 28 days sobriety 66 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:23,080 It was cool 67 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:28,080 But what happened was I had a friend who was in town who had come back from rehab in Northern, California 68 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,280 And her mom invited me to spend the night because she had her mom had put a dinner on 69 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:37,680 We had dinner and her mom's like honey. I wanted to spend the night and I was like well 70 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,520 I'm call my sponsor my sponsors like cool, and the next morning 71 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:45,360 What happened is I went up for a cup of coffee before I took off to work 72 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:50,120 And I couldn't find the sugar and so I'm like hey Joanne. Where's the sugar she's like it's in the kitchen, honey 73 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:55,920 Cabinet above the refrigerator couldn't find the sugar couldn't find the sugar, and I'm getting frustrated. I can't find the sugar 74 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,360 I mean you think this was like you know a major 75 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:03,760 You know national emergency or something and I looked up the third time in the same cabinet 76 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:10,240 And I saw the bottle of Kahlua and went oh, there's Kahlua right here. Just shot it in the coffee hit the lips and I went 77 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:15,200 Spit it all out in the sink and said whoa you can't have Kahlua right 78 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,040 That's got alcohol in it so I bolted on out of there went to work and went the whole day 79 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,160 Just put it out of my mind. I didn't drink you didn't drink you didn't swallow 80 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,720 You didn't drink you didn't drink and that night 81 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:28,480 I was at the nest and some guy got up who had gotten sober the same time 82 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:33,880 I did you know 30 you know we're going up coming up on 30 days, and he talked about how he went out and I went what? 83 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,520 What how and then I after the meeting I went downstairs to the payphone? 84 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,960 And I called my sponsor, and I said I had a sponsor at the time named Randy Randy Williams 85 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,180 And I told him what had happened, and I go what I didn't drink right and he said nope you did 86 00:06:46,180 --> 00:06:48,100 And you have to set reset your date 87 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:52,360 I was like oh, this is bull man, and uh Randy at the time was sponsored by my uncle 88 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,280 So I called my uncle next right. I mean right go to the Supreme Court with this right and 89 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,280 You know I ran across my uncle, and he said yeah, you got to change your date 90 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:04,520 And he goes, but look at it like this Stu. It's just today 91 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:09,140 You only lost today, and uh and that was you know February 3rd, so 92 00:07:09,140 --> 00:07:14,740 February 4th is my sobriety date now, and I haven't found it necessary to drink or use no matter what however 93 00:07:14,740 --> 00:07:18,860 I have found it necessary to take myself will back 94 00:07:18,860 --> 00:07:25,580 Ruin lots of good things make things hard on myself, but stay sober no matter what 95 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:28,640 So 96 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,640 Yeah, that was 97 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:36,320 18 I get sober. I'm in the Pacific group. I'm going to the watches. I'm going to the yard 98 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:41,760 I'm doing all that structured good home group stuff that you guys do here, and I can tell you guys do here because I 99 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:47,360 Recognize a bunch of faces. I've seen faces. I haven't seen in a long time. I see faces that I see at my other meetings 100 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,400 and 101 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,320 You know 102 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,780 Alcoholics anonymous and life was good to me 103 00:07:53,780 --> 00:08:00,600 I mean I got a job at the studios when I was 18 in the stockroom of a studio. That's no longer around 104 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:07,880 And six months later. I was a apprentice sound editor, and you know sound editors worked on film in those days 105 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:15,040 We worked on 35 millimeter film, and I was the apprentice and I started moonlighting at another studio on Burbank, and it was a small 106 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:16,680 independently owned place 107 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,280 And they hired me as an assistant 108 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:24,880 and then their lead assistant had problems with cocaine and I came to work one day and this guy was running down the stairs as 109 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,320 I was coming up the stairs and 110 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:32,520 Steel reels of film were being flown at him as he was running out the building and she was saying and don't ever come back 111 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:37,800 You drug addict and she looked at me right there and said hey, we need a new lead assistant 112 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,400 Would you be interested in the job and you know it just worked out and next thing you know? 113 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:46,040 I was an assistant sound editor, and there was a guy in the alcoholics anonymous name Art Cole 114 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:52,760 And I like to say old-timers names when I am relate something that happened in my life and our Cole 115 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,520 I'm pretty sure it was art that said this no no no no it wasn't art 116 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:03,920 It was Barney Morris and Barney Morris used to say if I basically that the sentiment is if I inject my will 117 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:09,040 I'm gonna sell myself short right you heard that the whole thing where you write down your goals and alcoholics 118 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:14,660 anonymous write down ten goals and alcoholics anonymous put in an envelope and when you get your first year you open that envelope and 119 00:09:14,660 --> 00:09:20,000 You'll see that your life has gone better than that ten goals Barney Morris. He was a 120 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,880 television anchorman for 121 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,360 ABC 7 and 122 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:29,480 Every four years he would have to renegotiate contracts, and he was a big shot in the Pacific group 123 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,760 You know a longtime sobriety not big shot 124 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,360 But you know what I mean everybody knew who he was and he used to speak a lot 125 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,380 He had a big deep voice kind of like Keith Carpenter and anyway 126 00:09:38,380 --> 00:09:44,120 And his wife was is Carol, and I think she's still down in San Diego and anyway 127 00:09:44,660 --> 00:09:48,200 Barney said when contracts come up. He doesn't negotiate 128 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,200 He just says give me the best deal you want to give me and I'll take it 129 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,400 And they just kept giving him more money and more money and more money 130 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:59,600 So they this lady hires me to be her lead assistant editor, and I'm gonna go in there 131 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:05,080 And I'm gonna ask for this I'm gonna and I had heard Barney speak at the Wednesday night meeting the week before this whole 132 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,360 Job opportunity came up, and I just I said no 133 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,720 I'm not gonna ask for crap and then when I showed up to take the job 134 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,840 It was freaking twice as much as I would have asked for I mean it was incredible 135 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,600 I couldn't believe it when I stopped Noel knows why I'm asking 136 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:24,560 855 okay because last time I spoke I was like oh, I've got five minutes so anyway um so 137 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:27,200 You know the motion picture 138 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,560 Industry was it was a trip 139 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:33,520 It was the 80s a lot of people were victim 140 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,320 victim a lot of people were 141 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,480 Well, okay. Yeah that too, but um 142 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:45,640 They were they were just caught up in the whole thing. You know like our first speaker said if 143 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:52,400 Everybody used cocaine in the 80s so there was a lot of that in the industry and a lot of people were going through rehab 144 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,580 and a lot of people were getting court-ordered and and 145 00:10:54,580 --> 00:11:00,600 A lot of careers advance because other people were falling out due to drug and alcoholism. You know what I'm saying 146 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,360 I mean, and I like to think I was one of them 147 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,800 I mean, I just I stayed sober and went to my meetings the guy who owned the studio's daughter was sober 148 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:14,120 And we became friends we dated and then but I like to say I had my job before we dated 149 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,120 And then we didn't date for long 150 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:20,200 and then his second daughter the middle daughter who was like one of the 151 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,520 Two older sisters that ran the place she was sober and her husband was sober 152 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:30,240 So it was a really fun time in AA and work for me. I mean I got on my first airplane trip 153 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:36,440 That year that first year. I worked for them, and it was like hey, it's a four-day weekend 154 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,720 Let's go to New York. You know we jumped on a red-eye 155 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,840 We went to New York did the weekend came back 156 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,400 You know oh wow I mean we still smoked on airplanes 157 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:51,920 And you stood in the back and you talked to the crew and you smoked cigarettes, and it was it was awesome, and I 158 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,480 I 159 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,700 Met a woman in my home group. She's still sober 160 00:11:57,700 --> 00:12:00,640 We married we had a daughter 161 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,340 I ruined the marriage we divorced I used to say when I got sober 162 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:09,860 I'm too young to be an alcoholic. I never had a career. I never had a wife 163 00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:13,920 I know you know I've never been divorced and ever and they used to say yet 164 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,760 That's what they used to say and the yet happened 165 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,360 Married had the career had the divorce 166 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,240 And 167 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:30,600 After we divorced I kind of floundered around I was in between studio jobs because of the seasonal hiatus and 168 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:39,160 I don't know which war it was in the desert broke off, and I had since got my high school GED 169 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:44,800 You know young alcoholic making his own decisions needless to say I didn't graduate high school 170 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:46,880 I 171 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:53,600 Did the continuation school? It's my choice. I I found out you could work and go to school at the same time my choice 172 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,640 And then I just said why was anybody want to go to school when they could work right? 173 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,480 And I just never went back to school 174 00:13:00,660 --> 00:13:04,920 So um in a a we had a friend my wife 175 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,940 And I who had never got her high school diploma, and she was gonna go take the GED 176 00:13:09,940 --> 00:13:15,040 But she was scared and she says hey Stu. I heard you don't have a diploma. Would you take the GED with me? 177 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:19,560 I'm like sure let's go and this is what I mean by things coming late right so 178 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:24,120 You know I don't know how old I was 22 23 I go with her to Fairfax 179 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,940 High we take a little test we come back the next week 180 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:31,520 We take another test and they look at both of us, and they say hey you guys can just go down and take the GED 181 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,760 You don't need to do any schooling, and so I'm like cool now 182 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:39,120 She's chomping at the bit to get me to go and I'm like yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah 183 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:44,680 Yeah, and so we do the testing and now that we know now that I know that we can go down and just take the time 184 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:45,960 Come on. Let's go take the test come on 185 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:50,720 Let's go take the test and her work won't let it let her skip her schedule won't allow it so I 186 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,540 Can't handle anymore, so I go down and I take the test and I pass so hey 187 00:13:54,540 --> 00:13:58,300 I got a GED right then that war breaks out and everybody's all you know yeah 188 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:02,000 so I go into the marine recruiter because I'm in between marriages and 189 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:08,360 In between jobs, and I enlist in the Marine Corps, and I enlist with the intent shit 190 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,840 I'm 28 already when I enlist that's you know 10 years older than the average recruit 191 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,840 That's what I mean by doing things later 192 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,320 so 193 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:21,120 My intensely enlist in the reserves and continue to work in the studio go to a meetings 194 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:26,000 You know do the whole thing and then I'm like you know what it's only four years of your life 195 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,800 If you're gonna do it you might as well do the real deal right we had guys like Frank Jones in the Pacific group 196 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,020 Herb Jones in the Pacific group, they're dead 197 00:14:33,020 --> 00:14:37,280 Frickin Harvey Ferguson he's still in the Pacific group 198 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:42,000 So we had all these Marine Corvettes, and I used to hear all these stories, and I said yeah 199 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,360 Yeah, and so it ain't like that 200 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:49,200 but but you know before 201 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,920 Before I shoved off to boot camp Clancy's looked at me, and he said hey kid see if you can keep your mouth shut 202 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:56,160 Do your tongue? 203 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:01,880 Yeah, right whatever and and at ten years sobriety. I shipped off to Marine Corps recruit Depot, San Diego 204 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:07,000 And you know it's a lot of it is what you see in the movies, right? 205 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,400 You know like freaking full metal jacket the drill instructor in your face, right? 206 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,880 But a lot of it isn't like 207 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:20,920 The dirty dozen yeah, that's what I was looking for the dirty dozen, right 208 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,680 I'm looking at Avery because he's a jarhead too, so anyway 209 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:30,600 You know that marine course all full of frickin morals honor courage commitment 210 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:36,720 DY's aren't frowned upon fighting is frowned upon. I'm like this isn't the Marine Corps 211 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,360 I signed up for but needless to say is the Marine Corps 212 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:44,000 And I did it and I did the first four years and my uncle said I was gonna be a lifer 213 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:49,480 and I said nope and I got out and I came back to the motion picture industry did that for a couple more years and 214 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,440 Couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand what had happened 215 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,440 my perception of what had happened and 216 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:01,340 You know by this time. We're editing digitally on computers, and you know it's like whatever 217 00:16:01,340 --> 00:16:05,520 So I reenlisted back in the Marine Corps. I didn't reenlist 218 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:11,080 I was still on orders, but I took active orders, and I became a Marine Corps recruiter, and you know I 219 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,800 98 I started going to the Monday night in Sino Hills meeting 220 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:20,440 I don't know if anybody here has been there, but you know Vince Yeo started that meeting 25 years ago now and 221 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,880 You know when I started going to 98 it was only up 222 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:31,000 Maybe not not more than five years in existence, and I did that meeting for many years 223 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:37,920 As I was working in the industry again, and then when I took those orders for active duty 224 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:43,240 I made me a Marine Corps recruiter, which is why I took the orders, and they made me a Marine Corps recruiter right here in Glendale 225 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:48,720 California and I did another four and a half years in the Marines and I remember going through that 226 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:55,360 transition back from the two years that I was in the motion picture industry and and trying to find something else before I made the 227 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,080 Commitment to go back in the Marines, and I remember Chuck Bernard one Tuesday night 228 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:04,680 He finally just he said hey are you telling everybody about what you're trying to do just get a job 229 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,360 I mean, and that's nice. I mean he just any job just get a job already 230 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:14,080 and so so I was able to come back and say well back in the Marines and uh so I did that for another four and 231 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:15,960 a half years and 232 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,320 It was kind of weird. I had just made the commitment 233 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,880 I said you know I got nine and a half years active duty in the Marine Corps 234 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,400 I might as well go for 20 right I mean hey don't raise no quitters 235 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:30,000 So I said I'm gonna go for 20 and but you have to put paperwork in to do that 236 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,880 All right, you've got to put paperwork to go because I went from the active to the reserve component and now I'm gonna go back 237 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:40,760 To the active component for good and retire at 20 right that was my new goal 238 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,200 And as soon as I made that decision the Marine Corps forced me back to the reserves 239 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:49,020 Yeah, 90 days of pay and then you go back to the drilling reserves, right? 240 00:17:49,020 --> 00:17:53,200 So I didn't get the paperwork in in time that happened life, so whatever 241 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,720 I needed a job. You know I needed a job 242 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:02,440 AA is rock-solid my life right um I am recruiting in Glendale 243 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:07,160 I had the opportunity to buy a condo in Glendale. I bought a condo in Glendale. I met a woman 244 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:11,520 That two years that I was trying to make it work again in the studios 245 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,380 I met a woman at a star well at the 246 00:18:14,380 --> 00:18:20,840 Store next to the Starbucks is where she worked and me and a business partner would meet at the Starbucks and have coffee every day 247 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:27,080 Pretty much, and we would see this gal doing her thing at this little boutique, and you know I would say to her 248 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,720 Hey, do you want to get together a Tuesday night? 249 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:34,640 And she'd say I can't I have a commitment she wouldn't say what it was and she wouldn't say I had a commitment 250 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:40,200 But she had plans and then she go how about Wednesday and oh I can't do Wednesday right because I had the Wednesday night meeting 251 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,680 Right so we're playing this on and off for about six months 252 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,640 and then finally we hook up and we're able to go out and so now we're out on this date and 253 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,700 She says something to me, and I just went how long you been sober. She's like 254 00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:54,640 14 months right so 255 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,720 We're she's a six-month newcomer working on her program 256 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:03,960 And I'm a 14 year sober person in the middle of my program right we're doing this 257 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,680 And we're trying to make it work, and we neither one of us knows that we're alcoholic right our pickers work 258 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,680 Even we're out there, so 259 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:17,280 So she and I started dating I go back in the Marines. I'm the Marine recruiter. We buy the condo together 260 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,780 She's we're getting serious. She's like you know 261 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:27,120 When are we getting married right? I don't know how it comes up, but something like that right the subject of marriage comes up 262 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,780 And I go I go not until I get staff sergeant cuz I'm a sergeant in the Marines right 263 00:19:30,780 --> 00:19:32,840 And I'm like not until I get staff sergeant 264 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:34,240 And we play this game for about three years 265 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,200 And she just looks at me and she goes the Marine Corps is never gonna make you staff sergeant when we're gonna get married 266 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,760 Or in I go I go how about this date? 267 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,880 I got this weekend off right so we go to Vegas our moms come to Vegas 268 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:50,960 She has a friend on the program come I have a friend of the Marines come and my daughter from my previous marriage is there so 269 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,160 We have a little thing up in Vegas on the weekend, and now we're married 270 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,960 it's Marion Stewart show right and we buy a house and 271 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:02,800 04 and then she gets pregnant or maybe she's pregnant already 272 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:07,900 But we buy the house, and then we move into the house, and then we have our first daughter 273 00:20:07,900 --> 00:20:15,380 Which is my second daughter, and then you know we're done. We're cool life is good. We're you know doing a I'm working 274 00:20:15,380 --> 00:20:21,060 also the Marine Corps forcing you back to the reserves in oh six a couple years after we bought the house and 275 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,160 I need a job, and you know tinker in with going back to the film industry 276 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,480 But I really don't want to go back to the film industry so I put an application with the sheriff's department now 277 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,280 I don't really want to be a deputy sheriff 278 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:37,800 but I had a sergeant on the sheriff's department the whole time I was a marine recruiter trying to get me into the 279 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:43,500 Sheriff's department and so after four and a half years of telling kids you got to keep your options open 280 00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:49,760 I go you know what better not gamble 100% on the sheriff's department. You should put an application in with LAPD 281 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,600 Which I do and so you know I'm still active duty Marine Corps 282 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,860 So I get to wear the alphas with you know not the blue one, but the green one 283 00:20:57,860 --> 00:21:02,720 You know the cops like that stuff. You know and you're sitting there and and next thing you know boom 284 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,760 I'm in LAPD's Academy, and I'm in LAPD's Academy 285 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,640 And then I get a phone call from the sheriff's department offered me an opportunity in their Academy 286 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:16,800 And I'm telling them um I kind of made a six-month commitment if it doesn't work out. Can I call you you know and so? 287 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,800 that's how I became a cop and 288 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:27,360 Yeah, that's how I became a cop and and really standing here 35 years sober everything in my life 289 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:32,200 It's God's will right because every time I try to inject my will nothing ever happens 290 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:37,400 Nothing good like Tinkerbell said nothing good could come of this, but um so 291 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:42,880 you know it was hard waiting for LAPD to offer me the job and 292 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:47,880 Living off my savings after that last paycheck from the Marine Corps came 293 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:52,800 It was so hard that I went to the social services office on 294 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,000 San Fernando and Glendale San Fernando Pacific 295 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:03,160 Me my wife and our one-year-old child and we went in and we tried to sign up for you know benefits, right? 296 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,560 I mean, it's a variety right. I mean and 297 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,420 We got told we had too much man. I mean 298 00:22:08,420 --> 00:22:12,600 We had 14 grand in our savings account. We had on two cars 299 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,740 We owned a house, and they said come back when you're broke, and I'm like 300 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,600 Because I'm doing the math man and that 14 grand with unemployment ain't gonna last much longer 301 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:27,320 You know what I'm saying, but you know again God's will right God's 302 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,000 We just took the steps 303 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:36,840 we just went through the motions the next indicated thing and then I got the job offer you know and and the 304 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,840 the Marine Corps medical benefits we're gonna 305 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,880 We're gonna expire 306 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:49,000 Health you know health insurance, and I found something that said when a marine is involuntarily 307 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,160 Terminated his orders are involuntarily terminated, and he's sent back to his reserves 308 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,400 He's entitled to another six months of benefits, and you know I mean I called that major back 309 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:03,280 And I say hey mage I was involuntarily separated right yes, you were staff sergeant or no. I was sergeant at time. Yes, sir 310 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:04,560 Yes, yes sergeant 311 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:10,560 I said cool because I found this thing and he amended the paperwork and I got six more months of benefits and those six 312 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,040 months of benefits 313 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:18,720 Overlapped with the first month of the LAPD benefits. You know what I mean, so you know my mind says 314 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:24,960 Oh, we're in a drastic situation and nothing good is gonna come of this and my higher power has never let me down so 315 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:31,320 You know I go into LAPD's Academy. They give you this little piece of paper. They say hey starting late 316 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,080 I was 40 when I went to LAPD's Academy 317 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:40,540 And we had an academy class of 70 something people and out of the top 10 runners in that class 318 00:23:40,540 --> 00:23:44,880 It was myself another guy who was 40 another guy was all prior service military 319 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,480 It was cool, but um we we get we're in the Academy 320 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:49,860 And they tell you you know write out your goals 321 00:23:49,860 --> 00:23:56,400 And it was graduate the Academy make probation and become a motor officer and maybe a sergeant 322 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,400 I can tell you I don't want to be a sergeant in LAPD 323 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,120 so 324 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,840 My first 10 years of LAPD was pretty much a collision investigator 325 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,080 You know I did a year in patrol, and then I went over to 326 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:12,520 Traffic and I was a collision investigator here for five years in the San Fernando Valley 327 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:17,900 I was on probation handling a collision right in front of this building on Sherman Way 328 00:24:17,900 --> 00:24:23,200 And I stayed in the reserves. I stayed in the Marine Corps reserves. I 329 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:28,720 Earned a rank of staff sergeant. I was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant, and you know I thought well 330 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:33,800 I'm I'll retire as a gunnery sergeant. That was my goal stay in the Marines till they promote me to gunny 331 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,640 I'll become gunny highway 332 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,840 right gunny highway with darker complexion and uh and 333 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:45,800 and when I get 20 satisfactory years you know I'll retire and 334 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,860 I was in the Marine Corps reserve. I just done a 335 00:24:49,860 --> 00:24:53,920 Exercise in Okinawa Japan, and I came back to Conus 336 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:58,400 And I was in Texas waiting to fly back to LA and they called me into the admin office 337 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,720 And they told me we're forcing you out to the individual ready reserves 338 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:07,240 That's the reserve component where you don't do nothing you just you're on paper in the reserves and that made it harder for me to 339 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,680 Get gunnery sergeant, and I was doing the paperwork and gonna 340 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:16,120 Stick it out till I made a gunny and retire after I got 20 sat years out so in math time 341 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:18,120 It would have been five to seven more years 342 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:23,520 And I had the paperwork in and they had me at this thing they were doing all these PowerPoint things 343 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:31,680 And I just said nope does that doesn't spell mother as my wife's uncle likes to say and I? 344 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:36,640 Pulled the pen in December of 2016. I'm completely out of the Marines and 345 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,960 the end of that period 346 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:41,640 end of 347 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,640 2016 no yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah 348 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:48,320 October of 2016 I get a training order to motor school 349 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:51,040 LAPD and 350 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,440 I'm happy as a pig and you know what and 351 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,160 I've been 352 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,320 I've been waiting for 10 years for this right 353 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:03,000 I'm blowing the motor school motor school and the Friday before the Monday. I was supposed to start they 354 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,960 They canceled the class, and I'm like wow man 355 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,320 I'm gonna have to wait another two years 356 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,960 And you know whatever and then we had this upstart that was supposed to be in the class 357 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,440 And you know he's like I'm gonna contest this I'm gonna grieve this we're gonna do this 358 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:16,480 We're gonna dish and I said look 359 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:21,040 That's not me you know you want to go and do the thing and we're a group and we want to know what happened 360 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,040 And we want to know what we can do to make this happen 361 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:28,560 I'm for it. I go, but I'm not a big can you know not a big raise a stink kind of guy in those? 362 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,320 those 363 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:31,560 situations and 364 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:37,720 So he did he went in representing us as a group and he brought our case up and then somehow some way the powers that 365 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,720 Be January 28th of 17 366 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,760 The month after I terminated my relationship with the Marine Corps 367 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:49,880 I got to go to motor school, and I aced it. You know I aced it 368 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:56,840 Not because anything I did it's really everything in my life is the foundation that the Pacific group gave me 369 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,800 you know get there early stay late and 370 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:06,120 Just do what we do you know not not this is not rocket scientist 371 00:27:06,120 --> 00:27:11,740 I mean this I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm just trying to fit in not stand out 372 00:27:11,740 --> 00:27:17,160 That's pretty much what I've been doing for the last three years riding a motorcycle meeting people 373 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,780 I like to say meeting eight to twelve new friends a day 374 00:27:22,780 --> 00:27:25,240 well 375 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,660 And I will tell you I have stopped plenty of people in a program 376 00:27:28,660 --> 00:27:33,680 and it's either identified by the keychain on the on the ignition key or the 377 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,760 number on the necklace or 378 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:43,760 The sticker on the car, and I would go up and I'd identify myself and say this is why I stopped you 379 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:48,520 then I go back to the bike and well I was in a car most of the time in that day and when those incidents and 380 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,280 I'd make them stir and then I go back and I'd say okay 381 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:52,680 I'm gonna exercise my discretion 382 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:57,880 And I'm gonna give you a warning and you're gonna call your sponsor and take a tenth on this and then walk away real quick 383 00:27:57,880 --> 00:27:59,680 right and 384 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:04,120 And I get in the car, and I leave right and and and pretty much the same 385 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:08,180 You know prior service marine prior service army 386 00:28:08,180 --> 00:28:13,560 You know go back to the car make them stir, but I must tell you I gave one marina ticket boy 387 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,760 He sure didn't act right and so 388 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:22,080 But you know my life is good today my wife, and I have two daughters like I said earlier 389 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,460 we were done after she and I had our first and 390 00:28:24,460 --> 00:28:31,520 She was stepping stepmom to my 25 year old for 10 years. No 15 years of her life 391 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:39,360 So we were done, but um shortly after I finished the Academy she came out and said I'm late and 392 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:45,640 I'm like okay, and I really did I was like okay cool, and she was like no not cool 393 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,160 And I go well hey next step is go to the doctor. You don't even know if you're pregnant, right? 394 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:55,920 Yeah, she goes to the doctor. That's me so a couple days later. Yeah, exactly oops 30 seconds 30 seconds too long 395 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:03,620 So so so anyway she couple days later. She comes out, and I'm doing something in the driveway, and she's like standing on the boot 396 00:29:03,620 --> 00:29:10,120 Yeah, no like yeah, and so you know we have our second my third daughter and 397 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,360 and 398 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:20,320 You know life is good. I have an ex-wife a wife a daughter a daughter a daughter a mother a sister 399 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,960 And if I'm lucky an uncle or a nephew that comes over you know 400 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:31,680 But um no alcoholics anonymous has given me a life that would have never imagined if you're new 401 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,520 I saw some hands go up, and if you're new 402 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,120 Art Cole did say this 403 00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:45,120 Go to 90 meetings in 90 days don't drink or use in between meetings out of respect for the alcoholic who sober and at the end 404 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:51,520 Of 90 days if your life hasn't gotten better will gladly refund your misery um and that's what he told my uncle in 405 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:57,040 1973 and that's what I got to hear my uncle say every time I would go with him to hear him talk 406 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,040 I tell one quick story, so I'm like 407 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:04,180 17 I'm live. I'm no longer living in something to hunger because I'm a 408 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,880 self-imposed homeless person slash runaway and 409 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:16,300 I'm working at this boiler room right those are phone centers, and I used to be Jerry Mitchell at solar max power 410 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:21,700 I'm calling you because our inspectors are gonna be in your neighborhood and when they get by 411 00:30:21,700 --> 00:30:28,360 They're gonna explain to you how much you could save with solar power sounds fair right be your own judge when they get there 412 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,520 They'll explain it to you and be your own judge 413 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,240 so 414 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:34,240 basically, we're just 415 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:38,540 So we're so we're doing this thing and uh and the guy they sent out here from Missouri 416 00:30:38,540 --> 00:30:39,960 There's a big guy here from Missouri 417 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,840 He was talking about the guy they sent out here from Missouri to set up this thing in 418 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,080 California big pothead right and so I know guys who got pot 419 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:52,440 so I'm up into hunger at the pot connection to score for the guy in Woodland Hills and 420 00:30:52,440 --> 00:31:00,160 The pot connections taking forever forever forever forever and my uncle calls me a pager you remember those beep beep 421 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:06,400 Hey, what's up, dude? Hey? I'm speaking down and wherever and you want to go to a meeting that oh, I can't do it 422 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,400 I'm working. Oh you're working. Yeah, I'm working 423 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:15,800 Some other time maybe right cuz you know I'm the self-imposed homeless person and so he says well if you go 424 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:17,960 I'll buy you dinner, and I go I can't not tonight 425 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:23,940 But thanks for the offer right cuz that usually would work right cuz at 135 pounds at 5 foot 8 426 00:31:23,940 --> 00:31:28,720 You know it's like I could use a meal so the guy shows up. I give him the other guy's money 427 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,520 He gives me the thing I put it in the jacket this time 428 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:32,560 I'm wearing three jackets 429 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:37,640 You know that's why we roll right when we got the the flannel the Pendleton the down vest 430 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,480 Then the other jacket over the down vest and then the other jacket over that jacket 431 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:46,200 and then you know you got the pocket with your toothbrush and toothpaste and the pocket with the papers and then the 432 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,800 Dental floss right and then all the stuff right so I'm coming down from Tohunga 433 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:55,000 I get on the Sherman way because there's only certain routes you can do on a moped right so 434 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,240 You come down Sunland Boulevard, and it turns into Vineland 435 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:03,220 I think and then violent connects with Sherman way, and now you're westbound and Sherman way 436 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:05,480 And you're right around this area when a group of 437 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:12,160 Guys drinking beer in the back of the pickups decide to use you for target practice and start throwing their empties at you 438 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:15,680 Right and so you know they're yelling and oh I gotta tell you my head shaved 439 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:22,560 I got the freaking the punk rock look going right, and I'm it was a sight to see I got some pictures 440 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:24,560 but only a few but 441 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:30,220 Anyway, they're throwing empties at me, and we're on Sherman way, and I'm not doing everything 442 00:32:30,220 --> 00:32:34,840 It's just to dodge these cans right and we could have been at White Oak. I don't know what Street 443 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:39,320 It was I just know I'm going west to north when I go and I take off right take off 444 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:44,000 You can only go 35 miles an hour in a moped right, but to my I don't know why I should have been surprised 445 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:49,920 They yeah the center median makes them have to go to the next corner right after you get them at the intersection 446 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:53,160 But sure enough they come back, and they're following me 447 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:59,480 Southbound and we get to victory where I start to go west again, right? 448 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,520 and 449 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:09,320 Between Lindley and Reseda. There's those communities where you can only get on there through the the sidewalk right you know the 450 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,320 Cinderblock walls so up on the sidewalk 451 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:17,480 the cinderblock wall and now I've lost them right so I get to like 452 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,600 one south of 453 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:27,800 Victory I don't know what Street is I think it starts with the e Irwin Irwin and Reseda. There's a red light 454 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:33,320 Because you know I know they're gonna catch me right and the light turns green so I know it doesn't turn green 455 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:38,920 I just let go I can't wait boom and I bone through the red right and now a car starts to come south on Reseda 456 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:44,280 Just as I bone through the red, and I think it's them right so going through the neighborhood right and also in the car turns 457 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:48,820 I oh and so I died just car for about two more blocks before they decide to turn a red light on yeah 458 00:33:48,820 --> 00:33:51,200 so 459 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,200 so um 460 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,840 You know it's like you know 461 00:33:55,840 --> 00:34:01,800 They're patting me down or going there to put my keys on them see they're putting my my knife on the seat 462 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:05,820 They're putting everything on a seat right, and I'm completely engaged with them now 463 00:34:05,820 --> 00:34:10,460 I everything else before and what's gonna come later. It's just totally slipped my mind and 464 00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:15,480 After everything said and done they write out a ticket for running the red light and you know 465 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:20,560 Oh, I say I cried like a right. You know. I mean I cry and then you know you got uh-huh 466 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:27,040 And so the senior copper gives me this ticket, and he goes everything you said might be true young man 467 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:35,300 But it doesn't allow you to go through this neighborhood at these speeds running red lights and risking other people's property and lies 468 00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:42,400 Yeah, yeah, whatever right yeah, that's what you're thinking. Yeah, yeah, whatever pig and so uh so uh he takes everything off the hood of 469 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:47,960 The car sets it on the seat of the the bike gives me my copy of the ticket gets in the car and leaves 470 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,880 And so you now because you're that frickin? 471 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:57,480 Compulsive person that you are that I am the keys got to go in this pocket the toothbrush and toothpaste got to go back in 472 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,600 This pocket the hair combs got to go in this pocket 473 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:04,980 Everything's got to go back in its right place, and then because when you go to point a to point B 474 00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:10,200 You always go keys wallet hair comb, but you know you do the little Mary a little dance right yeah 475 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:15,880 Oh, I got everything. I'm leaving now, and so uh I went hey. Where's my knife pig he kept my knife, right? 476 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,880 He did he kept my knife, but then I next thought I went what the hell am I going? 477 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:20,120 What the hell am I doing realize? 478 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:24,400 I was working right and I took my hand and I put it inside that outside jacket 479 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:28,880 And there it was and I was like and I'm telling you that it clicked because I'm 18 now 480 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:35,080 I'm not a juvenile you know I mean and there were so many more stories like that as a juvenile that ended up in the West 481 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:36,960 Valley Police Station right 482 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:42,000 But I got on that little thing and I mean and I started heading to Woodland Hills 483 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:48,600 And I got there and the dude said oh, it's about time right. You know what's up. No. Thanks. What a beard 484 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:49,960 No, thanks, what a crash 485 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:53,080 No, thanks, and I got back, and I just rode around the valley that night 486 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:56,700 And I said you know what you're an 18 year old loser. You couldn't complete high school 487 00:35:56,700 --> 00:35:59,560 You can't even keep a job at Burger King. That's a whole nother story 488 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:03,600 What are you gonna do with your life, and I swear to you I heard boy 489 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,880 This is your last chance and the next day 490 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:11,520 I called that uncle and said hey, are you by chance going to a meeting tonight, and he said yeah? 491 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:15,520 I'm going with Cecil we're going down to Oceanside or San Diego or something 492 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,080 And I said cool and on the way back 493 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:21,440 It was a meeting like tonight two 10-minute speakers in the main speaker and then on the way back I cried 494 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:26,040 And my uncle said 495 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:28,760 And times up I'm done 496 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:31,640 he said go to 90 meetings in 497 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,980 90 days and out of respect for the alcoholic who's 498 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:42,000 Sober don't drink or use in between meetings and at the end of 90 days will gladly refund your misery and it far 499 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:44,320 Exceeds my expectations. Thank you for having me tonight