A Decade and Two Years Under the Influence (1362 hits)
Category: RomanceRating: 1.53 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Rizzo (View user info) at 2005-10-30 14:58:15 EST
"I've got a bad feeling about this." - Taking Back Sunday
On October 30, 1993, I got buzzed for the first time. It was a quart of Budweiser. I drank it all in 30 minutes, stood up off the steps of my grade school, and proclaimed to the crowd "What the hell happened to balance?"
They laughed, pretty girls, popular guys. We were all 15, well out of grade school, but that was our drinking spot. For the first time in my entire life, I found out how to break out of my social mold and connect with my peers.
Drinking became a staple of my life. I couldn't talk to girls unless I was drunk. I couldn't drive to the next hot spot unless I was drunk. Friday and Saturday weren't weekends unless we were drunk. At 16, I had drank more than some adults had in their entire lives.
At 18, I stopped drinking. Alcohol had consumed my summer, and I had become depressed. Drinking didn't help me score chicks anymore, it made me fat, it made me hung over, it made my reality distored. I stopped because I thought I could.
I didn't stop.
I rear ended a guy once because I was rushing to grab coolers at the hardware store so I could fill them with beer.
My car once overheated in front of a beer distributor in the worst neighborhood in Philly.
Other bad things have happened to me because of alcohol. Countless others.
I stopped for 18 months to finish college. They were some of the best 18 months of my life. After college, I proceeded to drink again. I gained 30 pounds, and by that summer I was in the worst physical shape of my life.
I eventually quit again, for three months. I lost 40 pounds. I became a physical marvel. On the 90th day, I proceeded to get drunk at my ex-girlfriend's house, two hours away in the Poconos. I passed out and floated over my body that day. When I woke up, my best friend was there. He had driven two hours to find me, just to make sure I didn't die in my sleep. The ex kicked me out and never spoke to me again.
Another time I got drunk at a concert. I drank a daquiri at 2 p.m. The next thing I remember was 9 p.m. I was in the hospital. My BAL was .44. I shook for three days trying to recover.
I quit again just this past year, for four months. I wanted to clean out. During that time, I asked myself a lot of questions. None of them were really answered, because I couldn't be honest with myself. I started drinking again because I wanted to have some fun. A summer under the influence.
On October 30, 2005, I got tipsy off some Twisted Teas and a Coors Light. I picked up a really cute girl and kissed her right in front of the owner of the joint, the doorman and a bunch of her friends. Everyone in the place knows who I am. It isn't the first time I've picked up a girl in that bar. I'm the man in that joint now.
I had a good night. That Coors Light was really good.
Twelve years under the influence. As I sit here now, I wonder if I should put an end to all the drinking, on this date. Twelve years ago, I hadn't picked up the Budweiser yet, but we were getting ready to. Mischief Night was going to be fun.
I wonder what would have happened if I had never picked up that quart, never gotten drunk that night, never broken the social mold in such an artificial way. Would I be sitting here right now, typing in this box? Would Eli Manning have negative one points in my fantasy league, even though the Giants are winning by 13? Would I have dated Lindsey, Joanna, Lisa, all the others? Would I still be with one of them right now?
Alcohol isn't necessary, but it's weird when a drinker stops drinking. I've done it before. Should I do it again? Is that pint of Coors Light really the end?
The football game is on soon. There will be plenty of opportunities today and in the next drinking year to be under the influence.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
User Reviews
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-13 23:41:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
well the cutting down on the drinking worked well.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DRANK WHEN ARIANA WAS IN THE HOUSE!!
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-11-07 15:49:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My motto:
I wouldn't have a drinking fettish if drugs were legal.
Good luck with that.
Submitted by Aphrodite (user info) at 2005-11-07 15:11:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I miss you Rizzo :( Whatever happened to our Hot Sex on a Platter? New York Super Fudge Chunk at 2 am? Our parents trying to marry us off to each other?
I miss the good ol' days...
Submitted by bigbabylons (user info) at 2005-10-31 10:11:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I know i drink to much, always feel like shit the next day, but just can't help
myself when i get home, straight to the fridge. Maybe i should stop for a while
too.
Submitted by ozzy (user info) at 2005-10-31 09:48:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This was a nice read.
I too have given up the bottle for varying periods of time (ranging from 8 hours to 8 days), only to take it up again.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-10-31 08:50:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto sobriety +2
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-10-31 07:45:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 for all. For me, a n00b, getting on B@W!!
http://www.ubersite.com/m/77872
I love Uber!
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2005-10-31 00:54:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Fucking pussy, I'm drunk right now.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2005-10-30 21:20:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
what the hell man if they are comin- geh, nevermind.
forthewin approves of this post.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2005-10-30 20:37:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Drinking didn't help me score chicks anymore, it made me fat"
I'm fairly sure that if you can keep an athletic figure while drinking at dangerous levels you will never give up. Alcohol is currently one of the best parts of my life, and not in some sad way.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-10-30 18:44:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah Rizzo, I was just thinking about you. Now what was it that brought you to mind...hmmm something about the color green...and orange and blue...hang on it'll come to me...something about a bird of prey and a horse.
oh maybe I'll remember
in the meantime how the hell you been
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2005-10-30 18:43:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good luck whatever you try
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-10-30 18:18:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
at least you can recognize the effects it has on you. my drinking problem is that when i drink, i don't know when to say when.
cunt below me: what kind of stupid fuck rates and entire post based on one's choice of beer? fuck you.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2005-10-30 16:17:52 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Coors Light is hardly a beer. It's more like a fortified lemonade. And American pints are smaller than British ones, making them less manly.
Submitted by Bigmike (user info) at 2005-10-30 16:13:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't know what the big deal is. Just don't pick it up.
So many other things you could be doing to enrich your life. I used to love drinking but never enough that I had to have it. Now It's rare if I have a total of ten beers a year. The headaches aren't worth it.
Get some coca cola or something.
Alcohol is poison.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-10-30 16:06:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I am currently undergoing an enforced absence from Alcohol.I feel bad at the moment, but I am sure my liver will thank me in the long run.
I just wish I wasn't having to go cold turkey on smokes at the same time.
-Dave
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2005-10-30 15:24:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-10-30 15:10:38 (#)
Ranking: 2
I say give your liver a break. You know, give the little guy some time to try and recover.
Submitted by AlkalineSolo (user info) at 2005-10-30 15:22:07 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
-1 for TBS quote. What did you expect?
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-10-30 15:10:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I say give your liver a break. You know, give the little guy some time to try and recover.