Field Work

Well, the alcoholic challenge is progressing well; the weight's starting to come off, I haven't had any "Leaving Las Vegas" moments where I woke up shaking on the kitchen floor with only a bottle of vodka in the refrigerator (not that I've ever had one, but this is the first time I've deprived myself of alcohol for this long, so we're kind of in uncharted territory), and I've had a generally positive experience in my temporarily sober state.

To that end, I'll be embarking on my latest mission to test my mettle this weekend; sober barhopping.

Sounds ridiculous, I know, and I'd be lying if I wasn't a tad apprehensive about the prospect of going to several different bars, packed with drunk people who want to stumble into me and enough alcohol to take down John Daly, beckoning to me to break my vow of beer celibacy. Plus, we'll be entertaining some houseguests this weekend, including Stan- who just so happens to be ridiculously fun to drink with and has a penchant for ordering rounds of Jager shots before anybody has a chance to object.

If you'd have asked me to consider sober barhopping under these conditions 3 weeks ago, I'd have almost certainly given you the gasface. After going a few weeks without drinking, though, I really doubt it will be that bad. I am actually really looking forward to it, despite the fact that I'll be playing the role typically reserved for my friends' pregnant wives- the desingated driver (whaaaat?)

My first real extended sober foray into the bar scene will definitely be interesting. I'm looking at it as something like an expedition- "field work", if you will. I'll do my best to provide an account of how my evening progresses- the good times, the annoying times, the cravings, whether sobriety adversely affects my pool game as badly as it affected my bowling...anything and everything the the night has in store for me (with names falsified to protect the intoxicated).

I hope to return to you with my alcoho-abstinence vow (and my sanity) in tact!