I don't believe I've ever deliberately given up drinking, or much else, for ONE day in a row, let alone forty. My no-booze status is not religiously motivated, rather by a desire to expedite some weight loss and test my self discipline. So far, it's been no problem at all although I feel like boiled shit and I'm not any less bitchy; both the opposite of the side effects I'd hoped for as a result of this experiment. I think that not feeling well is a coincidence.
As to not being any less bitchy, I may just have to try another approach. Maybe Buddhism. (We'll see if it works for Tiger first.)
I've had a few of my favorite party girl friends ask, "What about St. Patrick's Day?!" In my Irish pub chefs world, this day of unapologetic drunkenness for many an Irish-American and Irish-American-for-a-day means little more to me than record sales, long hours in the kitchen and an aching back.
In fact St. Patrick's Day AND St. Patrick's Day Parade day in Pittsburgh can both be counted as challenging, less than fun-filled days for the restaurant workers in our city. Nothing says "Tabhair pog dom, taim Eireannach" like vomit on the sidewalks and urine soaked public bathrooms. Woo hoo!! I can hardly wait. It's one day of the year for me that NOT drinking is the most appealing approach to tolerating the festivities. (I have not yet ruled out the possibility of sedatives as my St. Patty's Day therapy.)
With thirty-five days left, I'm sure there's a life lesson or two ahead for a girl who's been partying pretty much non-stop since adolescence. Wish me luck.
