Day 39 - I hope they serve wine in heaven

Have you ever noticed how alcohol is used in so many aspects of life?  Think about it.  If you have had a crummy day at work, chances are the thought of "man, today sucked.  I just want to go home and have a beer" has certainly crossed your mind.  Sometimes after a bad day, you want to go for a run or punch a punching bag.  But the other times, if you have had a bad day, you just want to go home and drink the pain away.  There are movies about it.  There are books about it.  There are songs about it. One of my favorite lines from a song: "Is it a whiskey night?  Or just a couple beers?" (Chris Cagle, What Kind of Gone?)

But having a nice cold one isn't only used to attempt to erase a bad day.  Alcohol can be used to celebrate!   If you have had an amazing day at work (i.e. finished a big project, a promotion, a day without fire drills), then chances are, you want to go home and have a night cap.  A celebratory drink.  Engagements - toast with champagne!  Weddings - another toast with champagne, followed by several mixed drinks, and of course shots.  Birthdays.  Holidays (like a shot of crown royal at the Giovannetti Christmas party).

There is one aspect of drinking though that doesn't care if you are celebrating or erasing - and that's the hangover!!  I laugh with my friends at work all the time that we are getting "old."  We know this because the length of time it takes to recover from a night out has started to increase.  In college, I would have a headache for a few hours, but after some Panera soup or a McDonald's breakfast, I was ready to go.  Then after school, it would maybe take two meals and an extra Gatorade to shake it.  But now?  Looking at alcohol makes me hung over.  Seriously, I could have some wine with dinner and be hung over for two days.  And I mean completely worthless!!  What has happened??  We are really starting to show our age, and it sucks.  On Monday, we'll usually check in with one another to see who is still feeling the effects of Saturday night and who has recovered.  We are definitely starting to feel the effects for longer and it sucks.\

But even with the guaranteed hangover, I do love me some wine.  A big Italian dinner and an even bigger glass of Merlot and you have one happy camper on your hands.  I'd take a glass of wine over a mixed drink any day.  Maybe that's because I had some rough mornings in college after a few too many vodka-Sprites.  Maybe it's because I have learned to limit my wine intake (some times) to avoid that hangover in the morning.  Whatever the case is, I sure hope when I get to those pearly gates, someone is meeting me on the other side with a nice big glass of wine, and a smile.  Fingers crossed.