One Halloween when I was like 13, me and a couple of my friends decided to dress up like girls.
My mama and sister hooked me up with shoes and a dress and a stuffed bra and pantyhose and a wig and a purse haha. Then they sat me down in a chair and did my make-up for me.
I must have sat there an hour, and they were both laughing and cracking up the entire time. But toward the end, they were just like, “OMG OMG WAIT TILL YOU SEE!”
I wasn’t in front of a mirror while they were doing it.
When they finally finished, I went to the bathroom and checked myself out, and it just blew me away. I couldn’t believe it.
It creeped me out.
I looked just like my mother. 🙆♂️
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NostalgiaJeremy
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featured image is me and my sister and two step brothers on the right
We didn’t call it camping… that’s what city folks say… when they do it once in a while.
We called it…
the weekend.
…and sometimes in the summer— it was just life.
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Growing up in Georgia…
I didn’t have to go anywhere—
to find it.
I lived on the edge of thick… deep woods… the kind full of things that could hurt you.
We weren’t scared…
didn’t matter—
we were in there anyway.
Kids… by ourselves… no parents… just dirt… trees… and whatever moved in the shadows.
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Then there were the weekends…
My friend Chris— his folks had land on Lake Oconee.
Man… we lived out there.
Tents… or just sleeping by the fire…
Fishing… boating… skiing… swimming…
Great times.
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And when I wasn’t there…
I was with my dad… and my uncle… heading up into the north Georgia mountains… along the Tallulah River.
We’d drive about 15 miles down a narrow gravel road… till we hit the river crossing.
Then we’d drive straight through it.
Clear water… ice cold… even in summer…
on the other side— was nothing.
No people.
Just us… and whatever else was out there.
Bears… Bigfoots… timber rattlesnakes…
just the locals.
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We’d set camp right on the water…
Fish all day.
Rainbow… brown… beautiful native brook trout…
Trout for breakfast— fish… grits… eggs…
Lunch— fish sandwich… chips…
Supper— we went all out…
Grilled or fried fish… vegetable kabobs… baked potatoes in the fire… salad…
We ate like kings out there.
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I’ve caught so many fish in that river… I couldn’t even guess the number.
Been going since I was about 7…
I’m 52 now.
Haven’t been in a few years…
Life gets busy…
…but that place is down in me.
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Some summers…
the riverbanks would glow red—
tiny garnets everywhere.
We’d sift through them… looking for the bigger ones…
We’d also look for gold… found some too.
I remember once… I had a handful of decent-size wild garnets and gold… glistening in my palm
but that place for me— is more valuable than anything I can hold.
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Then came Florida…
Lived there for 12 years.
Different world— same soul.
Many freshwater fishing trips inland… spent much time at many of the different springs…
…but also the coast…
I lived on Anna Maria Island…
Had a sea kayak.
Weekends… I’d load up my truck… drive to Bishop Harbor…
Drop in…
Paddle 45 minutes out to these tiny… remote islands.
Set up camp.
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Mornings— I’d paddle and fish…
Afternoons— back to camp… eat… rest… chillax…
Evenings— back out till dark…
Then nights…
just me…
the fire… the water… the sounds… the wildlife…
Alone…
but not really.
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Down there…
we call it…
Salt Life.
Had the sticker on my truck and everything.
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So yeah man…
I’ve been what yall call camping a few times 😁
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All jokes aside…
I’m about that life.
It’s in me…
just like music.
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been singing this in my head and on guitar all day…
Me and my buddy Jonathan… fishing in Florida
Jon and I were fishing when 3 huge wild boars walked behind us
My friend Jimmy holdin’ my fish… this is my pb 9.3 lbs… caught at Lake Istokpoga FL… Feb 2o14Supper one evening on the remote island
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Romans 1:20
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
So before Fuel was even Fuel… they moved through a couple early names like… “ReelTooReal”… and “Small the Joy”… before everything finally settled into place.
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And right at the center of it all—
was Carl Bell.
Lead guitarist… but more than that—the architect.
The one writing the songs… lyrics… music… structure… building the sound from the ground up…
and even producing along the way.
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Because Fuel… was never just a band…
it was Carl Bell’s vision— brought to life through the voice of Brett Scallions.
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Today—I’ve got two good ones for you 🎧🔥
🎵 Falls On Me — Natural Selection (2003) 🎵 Sunburn — Sunburn (1998)
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I’ll be here a while with these guys… hope yall enjoy 🔥
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I don’t want to grow up… I’m a Toys R Us kid… they got the best… for so much less… you’ll really flip your lid… from bikes to trains to video games… it’s the greatest toy store there is… gee wiz… I don’t want to grow up… cuz baby… if did? I wouldn’t be a Toys R Us kid… 🤷♂️
🎸 Matthew Sweet — Hidden Gems Two deep cuts worth the spotlight.. “Evangeline” and “Not When I Need It.” “Evangeline” comes from Girlfriend (1991), Sweet’s breakout power-pop classic. It wasn’t a single, but it became a fan favorite for its hooks and guitar fire—and it was inspired by the comic-book character Evangeline, blending sci-fi imagery with aching pop romance.
A few years later, 100% Fun (1995) kept the melodic magic rolling. “Not When I Need It” is one of those perfect deep cuts—bright, punchy, and emotionally honest. Together, these tracks show Sweet’s sweet spot: killer hooks with real heart.
Discovering Matthew Sweet in the early ’90s was a blast for me—cranking his CDs, guitar in hand, playing along in my room. Hope you enjoy this little trip back 🎸
Also, I love the guitar riffs in “Evangeline”… many of his songs have it like that.
As I was putting this piece together, I got raptured back to 1995 — on the edge of my bed by the window… that little apartment in Riverdale, GA… guitar in hand… as was always the case… learning these next two songs. The story behind this album’s title is heavier than the sound.
Matthew Sweet’s 100% Fun — the 1995 album that includes both “We’re the Same” and “I Almost Forgot” — gets its title from a surprisingly heavy rock history footnote. Sweet lifted the phrase “100% fun” from Kurt Cobain’s 1994 suicide note, where Cobain wrote: *“The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I’m having 100% fun.”*
That ironic origin gives the album title a bittersweet edge — a record full of bright hooks and jangly guitars, but named after a line born out of real emotional struggle. 100% Fun stands as one of Sweet’s most loved power-pop records — catchy, melodic, and quietly reflective beneath the shine.
Sports have always been a huge part of my life. They’ve been there for as long as I can remember. I come from a long line of athletes. My grandfather even had an opportunity to pitch for the Detroit Tigers, but he chose to serve in World War II instead. My father was a great athlete too, and he was also my coach growing up, teaching me the game—and a lot about life—along the way…
I love a lot of sports, but my two main ones are American football and baseball. I played Little League all through my childhood and into my teens. I didn’t just throw on a uniform and participate—I excelled. I was a star, haha. I’m normally pretty humble, but I want to be accurate here so you can feel what I’m putting down 😅 I was mainly a pitcher, but in between starts I played shortstop and left field, doing whatever my team needed… I also hit for power and average.
In little league.. I once made an insane diving catch in left field to win the game… the crowd went nuts… bum-rushed me and carried me off the field on their shoulders cheering haha…
Sports were where I learned who I was when things got hard…
I kept it going into junior high and high school, playing both baseball and football. On the football field I lined up at quarterback, wide receiver, and at cornerback on defense, and I excelled there too. The dream was always to try and go pro in baseball, but along the way I got pulled into the music scene and ended up chasing that route instead. Even then, I never really left sports behind. I kept playing, jumping into league softball over the years and staying connected to the game any way I could.
As far as watching sports, my heart stays close to home. I love the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, and when it comes to college football, I’m a huge Georgia fan—Go Dawgs! Major League Baseball, the NFL, and college football are my mainstays, but I also enjoy basketball and golf, both playing and watching. Sports have always been more than just games to me. I’m thankful I grew up the way I did, grateful for the chance to play, I miss them days…
My first year in little league… im holding the bat wrong in this pic.. my hands are opposite how they should be lol
1 Corinthians 9:24–26 (NIV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize… Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever…
