California Sober, 1000 Miles from the Kentucky Derby

An unofficial race recap of the 151st Derby — and some meandering thoughts on Hunter S. Thompson, addiction, missed trifectas, and finally figuring out that the booze was never the main event.

Odds Are Against Me: Dementia, Sobriety, and the Excuses I Made to Avoid a Friend

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, I heard that Gary had died from complications of early-onset dementia. Fireworks cracked through the night as the world welcomed 2025, but suddenly it all felt hollow. Gary Tyer was my friend. An artist and rock and roller through and through. He had a voice that could pull…