Hey guys! I arrived at the Key West Airport on Sunday about 2:30pm. 34.5 short hours later (no more than a couple hours layover each time) i arrived at my hotel in Phuket, Thailand. I jumped in the shower (i felt pretty beat up as i cannot sleep on planes) and went straight to the beach. My buddy, Zub, and I went to the beach to ride waves. They were BEAUTIFUL!
We then went up the hill and lunch overlooking the surfbreak. Then we hit a sunset paddleboarding session riding waves. It seemed to me that standup paddleboarding is very rare here cuz no one could believe their eyes that we were riding waves on the things. After sunset we went to the pool, got a massage (A REGULAR ONE-$8.50 for an hour!) then passed out for some much needed sleep. It is now 720am and we are off to breakfast- Thai food every meal!
It is hard to believe that this Friday, Aug 6th is my twelfth anniversary at Irish Kevin's. Twelve years ago I walked into that bar a kid. Now, I am not sure what I am!
Twelve years of late nights, songs, and crazy stories. Thanks everybody for keeping me on vacation.
This summer I was able to spend a lot of time with a group of Special Forces during their time here in Key West. These gentlemen said they were going to make me an honorary Special Forces Combat Diver.
Well, they gave me a plaque and several different "uniform" items. I was even allowed to be in their class graduation photo- which shocked me. However, on Thursday night, after graduation, they asked me to wear the class tshirt.
About halfway thru my show, they joined me onstage. The class commander held out the badge with one hand and drove the badge into my chest with his other hand like a hammer. The rest of the class walked by in single file and pounded the badge embedded in my chest-- with a couple "resets," as a favor to increase bleeding.
Bye the end of my show the white class tshirt looked as tho its wearer had been working in a slaughter house. What a distinct honor and what a great group of guys!
As most of you know, I am a huge fan of the United States military and I love to mention that onstage. However, it is very easy to be Patriotic when playing on an American stage. I have MANY British friends and I am sure they will appreciate this story.
On this weekend, 13 years ago, I was doing a show in the Highlands of Scotland at a bar called "The Stables." Not only was I the only American in the bar, but I was the only non British citizen in the bar. Towards the end of the show, being the Fourth of July, I sang THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. Then, I proceeded to remind the audience that it was the anniversary of us kicking their asses back in 1783 (when the war officially ended with "The Treaty of Paris").
The rest of the night was a bit foggy, but I woke in the morning on the side of a mountain, surrounded by sheep-- wearing nothing but my boxers. For those that don't know, the Highlands are freaking COLD, even in July.
So with a smile on my face, I began the long trek down the mountain [...]
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Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to get to know some of the members of the US Special Forces in Key West for Dive School. It is amazing to me after hearing their stories, and seeing some pics of their experiences overseas that they can behave as such gentlemen while on US soil-- and such fierce combatants when fighting our enemies halfway across the world. God protect our fighting men and women, and God bless the USA. DTOM.