Happy Early 50th BDay To Me!

In 1989 I visited Washington DC almost every weekend. 

One day while I was perusing K Street in GTown with a friend, we happened upon a small record store that also sold some very cool threads. A lot of British fashion stuff, which we were into back then. We were Goths, you know....! 

So I tried on a pair of Doc Martens that I had never seen before. They were actually more feminine looking than the clunky original yellow-thread 8-hole boots. This pair had a more squared toe and was narrower through the foot. I LOVED THEM!! So I paid the $70.00 price of the time and wore them in with TREMENDOUS pride! MY FIRST DOCS! 

After a while no one could separate my Docs and me. We had melded. They were an extension of the flesh on my feet. They were spilled-on, moshed-on, stepped-on, puked-on, and even used to kick a rude girl in the bathroom at the Bank in Philly once...(I was drunk. I don't remember the details, ok?!?) 

Those Docs of mine lived through YEARS of everything with me. 

Until one day, years later, as I was packing to move out of a mold-infested house that I had lived in for 8 years (and now terribly sick from it), I saw it ... 
...My Docs had been infested with HUGE amounts of MOLD. the same mold that was causing my illness. I was devastated. To me, at the time, there was no cleaning this mold away and feeling "OK" about wearing the boots again. I had to throw my beloved Docs away, and my heart was broken.

Anyone who loves their Docs will understand that this is like a death of a beloved friend. 
For years, I couldn't even consider replacing my Docs. Then for even more years, when I DID start to consider it, I couldn't afford to even consider replacing my Docs. I was saddened. 

Last year when I turned 49, I decided to make a "Big 50 Bucket List" of things I want to do during this year, before I turn 50. On that list was that I wanted to save enough money to buy myself a new pair (a perfectly fitting pair) of Docs again. And so I did. :) I ordered them online, and they are as close to my original pair as I can find, and ...AND... they even have ribbon shoe laces. (A benefit of the times, I suppose, and I love that). 

And so, here are my new Docs. May they be moshed-on at least one more time before my days end, and PLEASE make sure I'm buried in them at that time, because THESE aren't leaving me. Thanks. :)

Meet John SloX. You'll Be Happy You Did.

Been a while since I posted because, well...LIFE GETS IN THE WAY. 

But I'm here now, and I'm excited to introduce you to a new friend. 
I have TONS of cool & awesome friends in the world. All over the world. I'm truly grateful that they allow me to call them my friends. 

THIS GUY, though, is special. THIS GUY has more talent in the little tip of the fingernail of his baby finger than most shmoes I've ever met. I have yet to find something he cannot do. He makes me laugh until I choke or pee myself EVERY SINGLE TIME he posts something on one of his social media sites, and he's saved me from descent into depression on several occasions, just by watching his posts, and for that I'll be eternally grateful. 
I promise you, you'll want to know this guy. 

Oh, how typical it would be if I left it just at that; but I can't. 
THIS GUY also has quite a story to tell, and he's willing to tell it. He's willing to tell it, because he actually would like to help other people who might be in a situation like he was. 
...pretty cool guy, huh? 

You haven't even seen a fraction of this SLOX. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you John SloX. (Vine)

Guy who knows his street name but doesn't know his street name.

For more of John, please find him on Instagram at notjohnslox or SnapChat at toxoslox.