Instagram story viewer> @thebalancedbartender_> Posts

Sway

@thebalancedbartender_

3.5K

followers

4240

following

🦢 Bartender @originalswanbar
🧗Fitness Coach @mesarim_mv

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Nice day for a run ft. @boutit_brenns @jramoschamaco taken in Sunset Cliffs by @thebalancedbartender_

51

3

a day ago

“The best surfer is the one having the most fun”

Last surf school of the summer🤙🏽
Class sponsored by @bacardi 🦇 taken in Tourmaline Surfing Park by @thebalancedbartender_

156

14

9 days ago

To preface any of this, Im just gonna say I know this song selection is stupid. I think it’s stupid. He would think it’s stupid. Im sure you think it’s stupid. It’s all fucking stupid. But this was playing at his funeral reception yesterday and it’s been stuck in my head and now every time I hear fucking Hootie and the Blowfish Im gonna have to think of him and cry.
Thanks Chris, you dick.

Anyway, I finally gave myself a chance to sit down and process the pain of losing someone that has been a massive part of my life for the last ten years.

Chris Valdez.

He was my boy.

I can’t tell you how many times he picked me up when I was down. He was there, rooting for me in the good times, yeah. But I could always count on him being there in my lowest of lows, always ready to give advice or let me crash at his place when I had nowhere to stay. Always ready to throw hands if anyone was fuckin with me, buy me food if I was low on funds, or in many cases, roast me if I was bummed over a girl until I was forced to laugh.

He introduced me to freediving and spearfishing, that of which takes up most of my free time now. Something we planned on doing till we got old.
The last time I saw Chris I got to feed him and some of our friends some fish that I caught. Poetic in a “Teach a man to fish” type of way I suppose.

He gave me a lot of tips and tricks for bartending early on, a lot of which I use today. Back when I was jobless he said I should hit up this new bar soon to be opening up, which I did. That bar was Swan Bar, of which has given me many opportunities over the last five years.

Chris truly was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I hope he knew how grateful I am to him for shaping much of what my life is today.

From what we gathered, it seems he found some sense of peace at the very end. That’ll have to do.

God I miss you Chris.
Seriously, thank you for everything.

Rest in Peace my brother. by @thebalancedbartender_

529

51

2 months ago

Salt by @thebalancedbartender_

169

4

2 months ago

Giddy up
.
.
.
Lil trail ride with @pendletonwhisky from last year by @thebalancedbartender_

106

5

3 months ago

🖼️

📸 : @andrejbick

This is art 🎨

Sweet Peach 🍑

🍸

Pay attention 🍻 by @thebalancedbartender_

258

5

3 months ago

This pic was taken a few days after my 33rd birthday, and look at me, acting like a kid. I turn 35 today. Never got around to posting it, so it’s going up now, cause fuck it.

Whatever, none of you will know.

If you’re reading this, Im glad our paths crossed at some point along the road. Life’s been pretty fucking great. Been surrounded by lots of love, more than I deserve, really. I want to thank you for that. Im just hoping Im giving enough back.

If I got swiped from this earth today, I couldn’t be mad. If I’m lucky, Ill get 35 more. Hopefully Im still acting like a kid then.

Anyway, who cares, life is short, I appreciate the hell out of all of you, now someone hand me another Loner. by @thebalancedbartender_

300

35

3 months ago

Ran around Asia just long enough to remind myself what the whole point is taken in South East Asia by @thebalancedbartender_

133

11

3 months ago

Rummaging our way through Upper Middle Earth by @thebalancedbartender_

204

8

7 months ago

Can my next birthday be at Kowloons?
.
.
.
📸: @madelinebarrphoto taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @thebalancedbartender_

257

6

10 months ago

Spent my summer where it made the most sense by @thebalancedbartender_

86

11

10 months ago

Meet me at Ould Sod taken in The Ould Sod by @thebalancedbartender_

181

5

10 months ago