Lying Drunk

It was his dream life.He got paid to publish his thoughts on music, film, celebrities, andwhatever else he wanted.Strangers recognized him in public. He married a reader and won someawards. He judged talent competitions, was on the radio, and signed adeal with a literary agent. He knew rock stars - two of whom asked himto write their books. His face was on advertisements trying to get peopleto read his fairly large newspaper.He was also the guy walking out of the liquor store with a bulging,swishing paper sack at 3:30 p.m. Which, for him, wasn't unusual at all.His life was like the turkey scene in "Christmas Vacation." It lookedperfectly cooked, golden brown, juicy, and quite wonderful from theoutside. But one serious poke revealed a heaving, steamy vacuum ofinedible disgust.His name was Tony. And he was a liar ... and an alcoholic. He drankaway his family, career, friends, and nearly his life. He escaped rehab.He spent his 50th birthday in the hospital with more alcohol in his bloodthan what killed Led Zeppelin's John Bonham. Hallucinations, hospitalsand homelessness couldn't even stop his insanity.Did anything? Read on ...