Dear Don't Drink in the Winter

Dear Don't Drink in the Winter,

Let's be clear about this: I you, Don't Drink in the Winter. And that's almost an absolute statement. I started up with that little rule of mine last Winter, and the logic was this: the darkness of a Portland Winter is hard on me. Drinking and the effects it has on my sleep and mood doesn't really help. Therefore, to be as good as I can be during the winter I decided to go with the rule. Therefore, I you.

Overall, it's not actually that hard to do. I've never been a big drinker, anyway, so it's not like I find myself dying for a drink at any given time. I am perfectly able to hang out with other people who ARE drinking and still have a good time. It's not a challenge, really.

However, there are times when I just feel like having a beer. Not to get drunk or anything else, but sometimes I just want to enjoy a nice pint of beer. This usually happens when I spy a particularly pretty glass of ale while I'm out. And that gives me a twinge of "why can't I just have a beer?" Usually, I remind myself that even one beer does effect me. Not so much in terms of feeling the alcohol at the time, but more in line with how it causes me to sleep. How about an example?

So - last night, I decided that I wanted to have a beer. I was at a "staff social" that was supplying free drinks and food. Being a cheap-ass who always wants to take advantage of a deal, I felt inclined to have at least one beer to take advantage. And so I went to the bar and ordered a nice, light lager (a Kirin, for those scoring at home). Funny thing is that it ran out mid-pour, so I only ended up with half a glass of beer. Maybe it was a sign. I probably should have heeded it. However, in spite of the fact that I generally you, I drank half a glass of beer last night.

And I didn't feel anything. There was no effect. The beer tasted nice, and I presumed that that was that. I then went on to have dinner and hang out for the remainder of the evening (without having any more drinks). I went to sleep. Slept eight hours. Woke up.

And I FELT it. Not to say that I was hung over or anything of that nature. But I have been a little bit fuzzy and eye-tired all day long. It's a feeling of having had a terrible night's sleep and needing a nap to make it through the day. It's really quite an annoying feeling. I don't have the full energy and alertness that I usually do. Because of HALF A GLASS OF BEER!!! I mean - how utterly ridiculous is that? I have trained my body to respond to even the slightest outside influence, and this is my result.

And it sent a clear message to me: adhere to the rule. You. Because there's just no point, and it's not worth it. I'm not exactly wasting my day (I ran a bunch of errands this morning), but I'm not exactly taking full advantage of the first relatively decent-weathered day in Portland in quite a while. And it's all due to having a freaking HALF-GLASS of beer. It's so frustrating, I don't know what to do. Other than to remember that I you.

And so I shall stick to my rule from here on out. This reminder is too obvious to ignore. There's just no point. Unless I'm going to be going ALL-OUT (which I just don't ever do, anyway), it's stupid to feel a bit off the following day for no benefit. So root beer and waters for me until the sun starts shining down again. And maybe even then.

So I write you this letter as a form of re-commitment, Don't Drink in the Winter. I you. And I shall remember that I you. And I shall follow through. You have treated me well so far, so I apologize for doubting the wisdom of sticking it out last night. I shall not do so again.

Thinking Nap or Caffeine,
CVT