1.5 Sapphire & Tonics.

50% orange juice + 50% ginger ale = effervescent goodness

I don't know why I never thought of drinking this combo before.  It's basically a non-alcoholic mimosa, and it's tasty as hell.  No more shall I drink OJ at home without the bubbles to go with it.

During a lull at the hospital yesterday, a classmate and I got to talking about our weekend plans.  This is my weekend to work CT transport at the hospital so I'd stay in for the night¹, but she had plans to go out with a mutual friend who's coming to town.  Talk inevitably turned to bar/club-hopping and drinking, and to the fact that my alcohol tolerance has gone waaaaay down. Since I moved back to the Midwest, I don't really drink with any kind of regularity anymore.  In fact, the last time I went out, I felt tipsy after only 1.5 Sapphire and tonics.  And I barely finished the second glass.  Weak sauce!

Actually, I would have said that of myself ten years ago, when I was going out several times a week and in my drinking prime.  Obviously I've slowed down since then, especially since the allure of the club scene has dulled over the years, and recently I reached the conclusion that -- real talk -- it's not as much fun to drink as it used to be.

I never liked hangovers anyway (who does?), and it's hard to forget the feeling of dread each time I hovered over a toilet waiting to taste my drinks again on the way back up.  Granted, I've only thrown up from alcohol a handful of times ever, but I wouldn't want to do it again.  If I'm gonna do the Technicolor yawn, it better be for something worth it, like from a crazy bad reaction to shrooms or salvia or something².

Anyway, I'm just lucky the people I've had the pleasure of drinking with back in the day weren't into shaming, or else I would've sworn off alcohol long ago after inevitably waking up to find myself duct-taped to the hood of a minivan with male genitalia and racial slurs scribbled artfully on my face.  But the drinking experiences were fun while it lasted.  Besides I don't think my body can handle it anymore³. At this point, my hangovers would probably last the whole day at the rate that I'm (not) drinking.

Anyway, all you binge drinkers keep doing you.  I'll toast up a glass or two, but after that I'll be content to be an amused bystander as you go about your hilarious drunken shenanigans.  I'll be aight. Besides, I got my fantastic non-alcoholic mimosa.  Bottoms up.

On a completely unrelated note, St. Germain's Tourist is auditory silk.  Listen to the album.  Your ears will thank you.

¹But then again, what else is new?
²Not that I've experienced this, though ...
³My old-man excuse.  Now get off my lawn!