Dwink on the shelf

I am, at present, a teetotaller. Putting it in context the urban dictionary says a teetotaller is 'Someone who does not drink at all usually for health, religious or personal reasons; not just because they are short on cash or their wife pokes them good in the eye with a broom for coming home drunk.' No, I didn't wake up one fine morning with a black eye from my wife – mainly coz I have no wife! Nor did I decide in a fit of boredom that I shall give up the -OH group for a year just for the fun of it... I'm not that crazy (yet!). It's a resolution I committed to after an occurrence at some point earlier this year. Nevertheless, I've never been what you may call a 'drinker'. I'd fall under the category of an occasionally occasional 'drinker'. End of exams, birthdays, meeting an old friend... that sorta drinker. The drinker that needs a valid enough reason to tax her liver and slaughter her brain cells!

Be that as it may, despite not being a regular alcohol consumer, the past two months have highlighted the times alcohol acts more as a social glue than merely a way of loosing you inhibitions – though granted the latter may make the former less of an effort! My house mate now sticks to lemonade when we go to the movies or grab a random bit, because, as she puts it, Drinking alone is just sad! So lets scratch out parties, end of exam celebrations, congratulatory parties and any other celebration that includes drinking and bonding over slurred speech and finding absolutely everything funny especially when its not. You're bound to get frowned upon if you mingle with a bunch of highly intoxicated folk and not join in on the criss-crossed walk!

Do I sound like I'm moaning? I really don't mean to... It just comes naturally with being a moody cow! :P Teetotalism isn't all that bad. Where should I start...! Well, for starters, my mum is well proud of me. That's not to imply that she wasn't before I 'teetotalled'! Guess she's a big fan of brain cells and a healthy liver. I suppose, so she's relieved to an extent... at least for the next year! The whole self-control argument holds in this case as well. The temptation to join in and the discipline to not... so far so good! Oh and plus there's the ££ benefits! Yes, -OH is more expensive than it would seem when you've had a few! Spending £30 for a 'night on the tiles' doesn't seem all that 'reasonable' a price to pay for a banging headache the next morning and when the slightest ray of light is like a gift from Satan! There's the added benefit of improving you social skills by meeting people when you're plain, dry sober and 'breaking the ice' without falling on them as you try to stand up! Discovering fluids that aren't just water, milk or coffee.. now there's a surprise! A friend of mine got me something that for all intents and purposes is non-alcoholic bubbly... so I don't feel 'left-out'! Oh I feel special! Lol!

It's a social tool... and an amazing one at that! In my world, however, its sitting on the shelf till October! :)

Off to catch a bus n a smoothie! Till l8r xx