Recently in boozing Category

I've been drinking alcohol sporadically now for about 2 and a half months. The selection has actually been fairly limited, partly out of ignorance and partly out of opportunity. It's been largely beer, wine, and cider, with a handful of mixed drinks. Overall I can't say anything had the least effect on me other than some Margaritas drunk during the vice presidential debate. (Although it may have just been Palin that was making me feel a bit woozy.) Even that was just barely, really. I'm not particularly anxious (nor even worried about) getting completely smashed, or anything. (There is a kind of academic interest in seeing what effect it would have on my social skills, as that's been a discussion topic for years, with other people.)

But if it's normally having no noticeable physical effect on me, and the taste is only enjoyable about half the time so far, then what exactly is the appeal to drinking? Alcoholic drinks cost considerably more than soda and ice tea. And some people can't seem to decide if they should be annoyed at me when I ask about drinks. I don't think they can really grasp the concept of being completely ignorant of the topic.

That's just it, though. I am -- well, was and mostly still am -- completely ignorant on the subject. How many things in life can you claim to be completely knowledge-less about, that are still very common and popular activities? This is actually exciting. Learning something new. And being able to do so anywhere, with anyone. I can't remember the last time I picked up a whole new subject from scratch. Two and a half months, taking pretty much any opportunity that came up. (Don't worry mom, it was surprisingly few). And I still barely even scratch the surface. And those people that decided I am being sincere seem to get a lot of enjoyment out of it as well. I think everyone likes passing on what they know... and this is a topic everyone knows. No matter what the disparity in knowledge, no matter what the lack of previous social interaction... this is something that always seems to connect. Imagine being able to try something completely new at almost every place you go.

The thing that gets me about all beers and most wines so far, (besides just generally bad taste), is the smell. And the first thing people keep telling me to do it to smell these drinks. But the smell immediately pulls me back about 25 years. Every single time, I'm put back in my frame of mind as a kid. People who smelled constantly of alcohol. The 5 gallon bottles of uber-cheap wine. A lot of less than positive stuff.

I'm not saying the drinking I'm doing is bad. (Although red wine still consistently tastes like feet). Just a trigger for early, ingrained things. Amazing what smells can do.

if you like "girly drink, try midori sour (melon taste liquor mix with something, sex on the beach (i think vodka + ..) they are sweet

guinness is my choice of beer.. dark & smooth. slightly better than the rest

i think the worst one i've tasted is bombay (liquor).. blech!

if i had to choose drink, i usually go for vodka.. or vodka based. they tend to mix it with something sweet

or rum is not bad either, rum + coke is typical college drink

sake is similar taste to vodka.. there is also sweet kind of sake.. i forgot the name. but usually the more expensive, the less burn.. you can ask at the wine store for sweet kinda sake

and you get this info from your non-drinking friend (&)

for wine, bordeaux is not bad.. rose (pink) is summer drink

'Scuze me while I work my way backwards through the last few days:

Sunday was actually both relaxing and kinda productive. Started off the morning going to Eastern Market. No new toys, (although I found both TLR and folding cameras in good condition!). But I did pick up some fresh fruit. Went from there to the mall, looking for a carrying case for my newest toy. Didn't end up buying anything though... not willing to pay $30 for a piece of plastic, when nicer cases for older models cost less. I understand the concept -- that since the newer model is a premium object, the consumer is probably going to be able and willing to pay more for the associated accessories. But that's not me. So I went back across town again and did some grocery shopping. I am loving the new Safeway. They've obviously been studying the success of stores like Wegmans, because they're picking up a lot of their architecture and methods. I now have cheesecake! When I got home and realized it was only early afternoon, I went back out and picked up some frame so I could hang some of the art I've been gathering over the years. I like the new wall. Though it makes me realize my photo wall is too crowded, and I need to spread those out a bit.

Saturday started with a haircut. I am once again purty. Then meeting Kier to go to the Small Press Expo. I enjoyed it, this year. There was a lot of good, quality work. Past years had seen too many shoe-gazers and too much really weak art. But this year there was a decent range and a variety of styles. Picked up a couple things. And though I couldn't convince anyone else to go, I planned on hitting Spellbound that night. It really has been a long time since I went. But my 9:30 "quick nap" didn't end until nearly 2am, at which point it wasn't worth it. Gawd I'm old.

Friday was normal amounts of work. Nothing special. That night, Stephanie came over for pizza and a movie. A movie with cameras and hawt, hawt, lesbian sex, of course. Was nice because I also hadn't seen Stephanie in a while.

Thursday was a fairly average work day as well. Though I did manage to put together a piece I really liked, and somehow the client chose that version as well. (No doubt they'll destroy it yet in edits). That evening, I met with friends at a local restaurant to watch the Vice Presidential debate. I gotta say, regardless of your politics, Palin really is just about the worst speaker I've seen in national politics in a long time. There were points where the moderator looked like she couldn't believe what was happening, and stopped to ask Palin if she wanted to answer the question that had been put to her. Thankfully, we were also drinking margaritas, which is another first for me. (Hell, so far I don't think I've had any repeats in alcoholic beverages). A really good, interesting taste, as opposed to the "fun" taste of the Woodchuck Cider. After the equivalent (due to refills) of 3 or 4 of those, I got a ride home. This was probably a good thing, because by the time we pulled up in front of my place, I had to stop and consider wether I would be able to walk up to my apartment without leaning on the walls. First time I've definitely felt the effects of alcohol. Though I still wasn't plastered. Mentally I was okay. Mostly concentrated on keeping my head enough to walk. Had no trouble with my keys, and my typing actually drastically improved. So just the large motor skills. And there was no hangover to speak of, in the morning. (Though I'd been drinking water throughout, and had more just before going to sleep.)

I wanna be a lush when I grow up.

*grin*

I swear my mother will think I'm well on my way, whenever she gets around to reading this. But I have no desire to drink, ever, really. It's all been mostly academic interest so far, when I'm out at social events. I think my fiends are just overly social. I could almost go out every night of the week, if I pushed it.

Last night, though, was Refresh-DC. Nguyet gave a presentation on designing websites. (She did a great job, too, and didn't vomit even once!).

Afterwards we gathered at Chadwicks for the usual social hour (or two, or three...). Met one guy who basically does the same type and style of work as me. Finally exchanged greetings with Kirsten, who I've only been in the same room with a couple hundred times. She always struck me as one of those people who is very much not interested in meeting new people, though. This of course should be kept in mind with my absolutely awful judgement of first impressions. Shouldn't complain, of course, since she gave several of us a lift to the metro, through the rain.

Tried a Woodchuck Cider last night, which I'd been meaning to for a 'while'. Outside of the martini, probably my favorite so far. Still had the beer taste to it. But it was sour and sweet at the same time. Very good. Probably the most dangerous thing for me, as I'd be tempted to drink too many of them.

Friend #1's recommendation after hearing all this is to try Smirnoff Ice or Mike's Hard Lemonade. Good to know.

And for anyone interested, I recently fixed the comments form, so you can once again comment. Would have done it sooner, but I didn't know it was broken.

Went out with some friends over the weekend. Fuck... I actually pretty much spent the whole weekend with these friends. But we started the weekend on Friday night with dinner (yay Sushi!). My friends had relatives in town, and the goal for the night was a little after-dark site-seeing. Up through Dupont Circle, across to Adams Morgan, and down to U Street. Stopped at the Saloon for a few hours, which was packed. The Saloon is a low-tech bar. All beer. No mixed drinks. No hard stuff. And... well... no space. But at Doug's suggestion, I ordered a Maibok beer. Would love to say something eloquent about it, but they all still taste like failed chemical experiments, to me. Did try a sip of someone else's beer; something much darker, which had a much more subtle taste. About 2 a.m., we hurried over to DC9 before last call, and very bad dancing to bad English pop music. And someone handed me something that tasted very good, which always makes me paranoid. They don't tell me 'til the end of the night that it was just a Malibu Sprite. LOTS of Sprite, very little rum. By about quarter to 3, I left to catch the last train home. The party apparently went back to Adams Morgan for the obligatory 3 a.m. Big Slice.

The next day was a party/gathering, to celebrate the arrival of the previously mentioned relatives. Plenty of people I knew, though in general a different group of people than normally show up to these parties. Probably the most surprising-but-happy person to see was Sarah, who didn't even dash out as quickly as she usually does. Convinced her to fix me a drink at some point. Had to laugh, when after letting me try hers as a test, she proceeded to hand me what obviously was a watered-down version or the same thing. (Vodka and Mountain Dew) Just SUGAR with a little bit of kick. Spent most of the night actually talking to the guests-of-honor. Gave up on the bus, and passed out on the couch about 3 a.m., (where, of course, I lay talking with someone for at least another hour).

Took off in the morning, before most of the people woke up. Needed to shower and offload some photos. Passed out in the middle of those things, and was awoken by the same friends asking if I was still up for another photo excursion, this one to the National Arboretum. Short trip, due to a late start. But always a nice getaway. Followed up with dinner and ... something I can't remember. (Fucking senility). Anyway... again went home while I still could. Work calls, and my friends were sick of me.

As for the alcohol, the only other experiment was last night, at the final Cocksucker Tuesday, where someone brought a wine called "Werewolf". While I can't say anything good about it, (it was another red, tastes-like-feet thing), something I've been bitching about finally made it's way through all the fat in my head. I keep saying these drinks smell like 7th-grade chemistry experiment. And while I was sipping the Werewolf, I remembered that most of those experiments involved some kind of alcohol, (albeit not the kind you normally drink).

Duh.

Adventures in drinking still proceeds slowly.

Last week I picked up a bottle of Kijafa. I remember my grandparents drinking this stuff. It's a Danish cherry wine. Supposedly very sweet. Brought it with me to Cocksucker Tuesday, to share with friends. Mutual consensus seemed to be that it was okay, though not particularly good. But I wasn't looking for amazing. Was mostly just a nostalgia thing, and general curiosity.

(And, ya know, it's probably the only wine on earth I could walk into a store and ask for and know what the hell to expect.)

And it wasn't an unpleasant taste, overall. A sweet, cherry flavor. But still that same harsh, chemical taste that every alcohol I've tried so far has given me. They all taste like something I mixed up in 7th grade Chemistry. (Shannon has threatened to make me try Everclear, after those comments).

I will no doubt get used to it. I'm guessing it doesn't even occur to most people, since they started drinking back when getting drunk was the sole goal, and have long since forgotten the novelty.

People pick on me, for most enjoying "feminine" drinks. They Kijafa and the Apple Caramel Martini. You can see to them that it's just not 'right' for me to be drinking too much of them. It's just another weird association I simply can't comprehend. No one thinks it's girly if I eat a candybar. But if my drink is sweet or sticky or whatever, that is girly? It's not like I'm going out and asking for Cosmos or something with pink flowers in it. Eh. Something else I'll 'learn' eventually, no doubt.

With great caution and apprehension, I tried some white wine last night. Don't remember what it was, but I'd been assured white wine was more likely to taste good than red, at this point.

And that's about it. Aside from the martini, it's the best thing I've tasted so far. Not that it's "good", but wasn't bad, either. Shannon insisted it was very sweet, though that's got to be relative. The closest comparison I can think of is fruit juice that's gotten to old. (Okay... that's basically what wine is, but hey...). A very chemical taste. But not bad.

Still a failure as a lush.

I had a few drinks last weekend.

If you've been keeping up with our little story here, then you know that this is the first time I've ever drank alcohol.

A while ago, I came to a personal realization that it was silly to consciously not drink. While I wasn't adamantly against it, I was waiting for ... something. But that, in my opinion, was just silly. I know there's no logical argument against drinking. It felt like something that really should just be another thing to try, another experience to have. No more or less important than anything else in life.

Once I decided that, my only real concern was how to go about it. Didn't want to drink alone. (Not that I could... would have no clue what to try. No frame of reference.) But while I love all my friends, some of them no doubt would have made a big deal out of it. In some cases, that would have been disruptive, and overall, I just didn't want it.

So the opportunity came up last weekend in Atlanta, with a friend I trust. That first night, I just had a beer, (Newcastle Brown). REALLY not the best thing I've ever had. Reminded me of when I tried to drink prune juice. Or as I described it to someone last night: It tasted exactly like beer smells. And when was the last time you realized the other guy in the elevator had been drinking -- based on their smell -- and had that be a good thing? Finished the whole thing, though. I knew beer would be an acquired taste. But gawd. :)

No real effect. Wasn't really expecting one, especially at my size. But still ... paranoia runs strong at a moment like that. Taking that first sip is ... weird. It was like there was physical resistance to overcome... it was so ingrained as something not to do.

But all was well.

One or two nights later, when we were up on the Sundial with a group of people, I ordered a Apple Caramel martini, which is what most everyone was drinking. Special for the night, I think. I wasn't actively hiding it from anyone, but since I was on the outer edge of the group and given the way the bar was set up, I don't think most people noticed. I'd told my original friend I had to have at least one drink before the weekend was over, that didn't leave me wanting to wash out my mouth. And it was actually pretty good. Different still. Strong, harsh. But good.

And again... no real effect.

Later that night, a couple of us were sitting around one of the hotel rooms. They'd opened a bottle of red wine. And I stole a sip from a friend's cup.

The... nastiest... shit... I've... EVER... tasted.

My first response was that it tasted like my friend's feet. And that was before the aftertaste hit, which was worse. Tried another sip a few minutes later. Not getting any better.

*shiver*

Since then, there hasn't been anything else. I've been mostly at home alone, and I don't feel like drinking by myself. Talked to a couple people about it, and they've been pretty open with recommendations. Though, I have a hard time remembering any of it, since -- again -- I have no frame of reference.

Like I said, there's been no noticeable, provable effect from any of the drinks so far. My head felt a little fuzzy, but then I'd been up partying for days. And I felt like I was able to talk a little more easily with friends, but that could easily have been relief, or just psychosomatic symptoms.

It was interesting, overall. And fun, as far as the social interaction it's generated. I want to continue experimenting. But I have no awful cravings. One drink didn't kill me, mom.

This isn't exactly general knowledge yet. So how stupid is it writing about it on a blog? Well... my family are probably the biggest readers, and they have to learn sometime. Won't probably see them for months, so this way is as good as any. And my old friends are bound to think I'm goofy, or just not care, really. The newer friends... I don't think most of them read this. And if by some miracle they do... it's not a secret anymore. And it's too late to make a big deal about the first time. I'm sure the discussions will come. But at least now they can be a little more diffused.

Special thanks to the friend who listened to me ramble about it on-and-off for a few months, who understood, and who laughed at me while I had that first drink.

Just for my reference, some of those discussions and recommendations:

Friend One

Friend 1: Try Guinness or a Hefeweisen next time.

Me: why?

Friend 1: Or Murphy's Chocolate Stout-- that one actually tastes like chocolate milk.

Friend 1: Why which?

Me: was just wondering why those were preferrable

Friend 1: Oh, I think they're less bitter.

Friend 1: Hefeweisens are light, and usually garnished with orange.

Friend 1: Stouts are smooth and less bite-y.

Friend 1: Keep in mind I tend to *prefer* bitter drinks, so I'm going to have some trouble thinking about them the same way you might.

Friend 1: Anything involving tonic, for example, is high on my list but probably low on yours.

Me: well...

Me: right now, I don't have much of a list

Me: :)

Me: i can see getting used to the beers

Me: the wine may take longer

Friend 1: opt for white wine, srsly.

Me: and the girlydrinks don't seem to be a problem

Me: okay

Friend 1: Girlydrinks can be problematic for new drinkers, keep in mind, because the taste masks the alcohol content a lot of the time.

Friend 1: Beer is sort of nice to cut your teeth on because the amount of it you can get in your stomach at one time is a limiting factor.

Me: paranoid as I am? :) I'll keep it in mind, but...

Friend 1: Heh. Drink #2 takes the edge off the paranoia.

Friend 1: Drink #3 kills off hangups

Friend 1: Drink #4 just wants to make friends with drinks #5 and 6.

Friend 2

Friend 2: Wine's an acquired taste. Red wine is, in my opinion, better with a meal that includes red meat, potatoes, etc.

Friend 2: If it was a dark beer, it might've been a porter. They've got a bitter edge… wait. a bitter edge, shouldn't you have taken to it more easily? HA.

Friend 2: I like lagers best, they've got brighter flavors usually. Porters are tasty, though; Black Butte from Oregon is quite good, got a little bit of a sweet undercurrent. The only stout I've tried is Guinness and I like it well enough.

Friend 2: And like I said: don't mix your alcohols.

Friend 2: Avoid too much sugary crap, too.

Me: hehe... why... besides looking like a 'girl'?

Friend 2: excess sugary drinks tend to lead to hangovers

Friend 2: dehydration is, I think, the leading cause for a hangover, but not going crazy with the sugar is a good way to avoid it, too.

Friend 2: If you *are* curious about wines, Gary V.'s got a pretty good thing going with winelibrarytv.com -- he's kind of a nut, but he's pretty passionate about wine and getting people to find what they like by trying lots of stuff. so the takeaway lesson is: try lots of things.

Friend 2: ALSO. they're kind of cheesy and lowbrow, but the Arbor Mist wine things? (glorified wine coolers) they have this Blackberry Merlot one. tastes like CANDY! so tasty.

Friend 2: they're sort of the Hershey's chocolate bar to a fine wine's Godiva, if you catch my drift.

Friend 2: Corona's good, Dos Equis is also good (esp. with mexican food, woot!)

Friend 2: if you're going to try tequila -- I know you have chat histories turned on, so I'm not worried about going too fast here -- stay. the. fuck. away. from Cuervo Especial.

Friend 2: I've had 2 hangovers in my lifetime and the first one was a result of that swill. oh it's nasty.

Friend 2: Cazadores: also good. « steeerong.