¤ I remember being a young teenager and thinking how cool it was to be drinking.
Now that I'm in my 20's, I'm still drinking.  I think I've passed the peak of those days though.  It seems the earlier you start, the earlier you stop.  And, as much as this pains me to admit it, getting older means you can't drink as much as you used to, and it takes longer to recover from your binges.  Your body just can't hack it anymore.  Or maybe you just grow out of it.  ¤

   [ winter sighs, remembering a three-day hangover several years ago ] 

¤ I don't intend to preach to people about the evils of drinking. I just wanted to put some thoughts and feelings here for your perusal.  And to say that although being plastered right out of my mind can be alot of fun, it has landed me in trouble on occasion.  I'm not going to put the specific details of such exploits online.  Depression fuels my drinking, and a depressed drunk does strange things that would never occur under the influence of sobriety.  But I'm happy to say that I'm better now. Sort of. ¤

   [ St. John's Wort is said to be quite helpful for depression ] 

¤  I've found that different people act differently when they are severely intoxicated.  Unfortunately, many men (usually jocks) get violent and like to pick fights, often with innocents.  Then you have people who become excessively friendly.  Altered perceptions, and realities abound.. And it's so fun at the time..  The feeling that nobody is really paying much attention to what you are doing...  But the sober ones are..  ¤

   [ oh, the sober ones always remember the next day ]

¤  Besides getting drunk and doing really stupid things, you also have to worry about other people deliberately hurting you during this time.  Rape and date-rape can occur during drinking.  Alcohol can lower your resistance to fight back, and fuel the aggressive nature of the men.  This is not the victims fault, and she should not be blamed.  The increase of date-rape drugs is also scary.  These pills can be easily slipped into beverages which render unconscious the victim.  ¤

   [ mother always told me to watch my drinks in the bars ]