Getting Drunk...Later?

I think it's been weeks since I've had enough alcohol to get drunk off of. And ya know what? I don't really care.

I honestly haven't genuinely felt like getting hammered in a long time. I've had the occasional beer after dinner or in the shower, but haven't even felt like doing that lately.

I guess there are several reasons for this.

First, some things just come in waves. There was a stretch where I was all for getting wasted every weekend, but it just kind of wore off. When it'll come around again, I have no idea. There was also a stretch where I was having one beer a day, just for the hell of it (usually in the shower). That got old. I don't need or want it that often, anyway.

Second, I feel good enough as it is without the alcohol. Seriously, I don't think people understand how good I feel ALL the time. Nothing fantastic or special even needs to happen, I just enjoy life as it is. I don't understand how some people don't/can't feel good without drinking, and actually feel bad for them. Look around once, and for every thing that's bad that you see or for every reason you feel crappy, I can show you at least three reasons why you should forget about it and feel as good as I do. If you can't see how beautiful the things around you are, you're missing out. (PS. I'd be more than happy to show you all the gorgeous things around you if you can't see them.)

Third, beer is pretty bad for you. I haven't got any trace of a beer belly yet, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Fourth, I have an uncle who I met only once when I was a baby. He died in January, and no one knew (including his daughter) until a month later. He had had no contact with any member of his family in more than 20 years and was a hardcore alcoholic and it has been assumed (though not confirmed) that he drank himself to death. I found out just before this that alcoholism happens to run in both sides of my family. Even though neither of my parents drink, it's something I'm going to keep in mind.

Fifth, I'm not sure which I enjoy doing more: thoroughly sampling and tasting a new beer, or rocking out with an old favorite. Having a lot of a beer you enjoy has it's perks, but tasting a new beer is also pretty fun. And I can't go on a beer-tasting marathon. After two, I get buzzed enough that I can't properly focus on the complexity of the flavors and also the flavor starts all mushing together. And any drinker knows that you can't taste anything at the end of a whole night of drinking so it's not even worth trying at that point. If I can't sample a new beer right, I'd rather not waste my time (and the beer).

Sixth, I feel more like partying and drinking when I have a lot of energy, as opposed to wanting to drink after being tired and over-worked. Some people feel the opposite and want to go out BECAUSE they're tired and over-worked. Not me. Getting a tired body drunk is asking for trouble. And this past week I spent more than 30 hours working in the studio, not counting the 18 or so hours of class time spent in the same studio. I got home no earlier than 2am on any day of the week (except wednesday), and stayed at the studio so long one night that I was able to take the very first bus of the day home. That was at 5:30 in the morning. Needless to say, I needed good sober rest (and I got it...15 hours worth, feels damn good), not to stagger around.

Also worth noting is the fact that I was presented with no fewer than SIX opportunities to go out and drink from Thursday to Saturday, and didn't go for any of them. One of them even had free beer all night! That says something about how motivated I am to drink these days. However, it feels awesome to have been invited to those six events. It's good to have options. Hahaha.