Alcohol alcohol everywhere but not a drop to drink

Alcohol Free Week: Day 3
Friday, November 30, 2007

The beginning of the week started out as any "normal" week. On Monday, I went out with friends to dinner and then some bars. I played kickball on Tuesday. After the kickball game things changed.

I did not go to the post game celebration (we always celebrate, even a loss*). There were attempts to get me to drink, but I am pretty stubborn when I put my mind to something. Plus, if I drank on Tuesday then not drinking Monday would have been a waste. I would have to start the week over and redo seven days without alcohol. This would give me eight days without alcohol.

OK, that last statement makes me seem like an alcoholic. I mean to say eight days of self-imposed not drinking, instead of a day of not drinking because I don't have the option. I guess I just proved I am an alcoholic.

No, wait. I have given up drinking for five days even facing peer pressure. Not an alcoholic. Final answer. That breaks the addiction definition. I think.

Moving on. Wednesday, I slept til about 2:30 PM. Stayed in bed an hour or so. Finally got up and had breakfast around 4. At 7 PM, a friend invited me over for dinner. This was a saving grace, as I probably was not going to feed myself. Instead I would just sit around my apartment doing nothing**. I had dinner, then read the Fountainhead. All of it (the last 100 pages I had left).

Thursday was similar to Wednesday. I slept in. Stayed in bed even longer. Barely ate breakfast before most people eat dinner. I never left my apartment.

Which brings us to today. It started the same as Wednesday and Thursday, except I ate breakfast and then ate lunch before leaving the kitchen. Eating a lot of food got me energized (I actually posted something in my blog and then started writing this). So energized, I feel like going out, getting drunk, and dancing! Just kidding, I am not drinking. I have something better to do tonight.

Midnight showing of Jurassic Park on the big screen! Best documentary ever! Who needs bars when you've got "Bingo! Dino DNA!"





*We have won one game. Lost many.

**I was actually writing my last entry and that is why it just ends abruptly. Sometimes ADD wins.

Alcohol Free Week: Day 3

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Day three...

People on the Internet are dumb (I would provide some reference, but I don't think it is necessary). People on Internet are people in real life. Therefore, people in real life are...

Bad logic runs rampant in our society. I am part of this problem, but I am trying to change this. It would be helpful if good logic was rewarded (it isn't).

I just read an article, in the Guardian, titled Ethical shopping is just another way of showing how rich you are. Some is truthful. I agree that rich people act green to show off (definitely not all rich people, most don't care at all). However, there seems to be a huge flaw in the part where buying "green" options is no different than continuing with the harmful status quo. "Green consumerism is another atomisation - a substitute for collective action. No political challenge can be met by shopping."



Sorry. I stopped writing abruptly and left my apartment.

Alcohol Free Week: Day 2

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Second day without alcohol...


Last night was rough. I got home at 12:50 AM, after making three pointless transfers on a subway that was never going to get me home (isn't this what drunk people do?). When I realized this, I decided to walk two miles. Now, most people would probably think that walking two miles and not drinking is a giant leap in the right direction. I disagree.

I got home and went on the Internet (yay for using the Internet after a week in the dark!). At 3:30 AM, I made my way to my bed. When I got into bed, I was not tired so I decided to read. Reading usually makes me sleepy. However, last night, reading made my brain race around. I had an orgy of ideas flying around in my brain. I should have gotten up and written everything in my notebook, but I figured if I fought this urge that I would sleep (wrong).

I have already realized the saving grace of alcohol. Alcohol clears my mind. Alcohol does not allow me to think (well I do think about boobs and more alcohol, but it does not let me think rationally). Alcohol does keep me saner. At least it makes me act and think normally (it allows me to think irrationally).

I need a drink. I don't want to think about what is going to happen in the next six days.

I survived day one... onto day two. Don't worry, day two is only kickball day*.



*Kickball involves two things: kickball and alcohol. Alcohol is the more important of the two.

Alcohol Free Week: Day 1

The Challenge
Seven days without consuming alcohol (not much to say, the rules are simple).

Monday, November 26, 2007

I finished the end of No Internet Week by drinking a 40 oz. and a bloody mary. It is now 1 AM and starting now I am not drinking for seven days. This should be easy...

No Internet Week: Day 7

Sunday, November 25, 2007
Last Day Without Internet...

The week without a computer has come crawling to an end. There have been many times when I wished I could do something real quick on the computer. Download a CD, check out places to go, check prices for things and then save money buying them online (my plane ticket back to California).

The Internet has become a necessity in our world or at least it has become a huge convenience. Fast information, cheap prices, and all while you sit around wearing nothing (I have clothes on while typing this, I cannot promise this at all times). Half the things on my to-do list can be done within minutes on a computer, which could take twice as long in real life (not including time for transportation). Sometimes the Internets* (happy Chin?) just make sense.

I realize I have an addiction to the Internet, but it is weak (ha). I am only addicted while I am using. I get stuck behind the computer. It is not the computer that sucks me in, but the lack of other things to do. I have realized this before and it has been my downfall while living in New York. I wish to play piano and drums. I want to take up skateboarding and surfing. I would like to go swimming everyday or at least a few times a week. I have bikes, books, stuff to write, and a video camera, although if I filmed anything I cannot edit it. I don't have a good excuse as to why I don't write more often. Well, there is a writer strike going on... and I should stop writing in solidarity (I am showing solidarity by striking from work or in being unemployed, whatever you want to call it).

Since taking a week off of the Internet, I decided it would be fun to keep doing weekly challenges. Some can be fun and others can be helpful. Some may push me forward and some will make me regress. That is part of the fun. I was not even sure if I would come out of this week sane, but I did. I think.

OK blah blah blah, in my writing this is where I realized I would do a challenge every week and blogging it... The next challenge will start when this ends.

I shall stop drinking alcohol for a week. This idea has been in my head all week, because the main thing that helped me stay away from the computer at night was getting drunk. I did spend a night or two reading a book, but then I finished it and alcohol took up the slack.

I would like to write more, however I am going to take a break and enjoy the last of my no Internet week by getting drunk with friends. Bring on Alcohol Free Week!

Oh I wish it was a FREE alcohol week...



*THERE ARE RUMORS ON THE INTERNETS! George W. got something right.

No Internet Week: Day 5

Black Friday, November 23, 2007

This is day five without the "Internet." I have used the Internet and I definitely have watched TV. My streak away from my computer lasted until I woke up on day one (I lasted about 9 hours, which coincidentally is the amount of time I was asleep).

I went to find the number for the unemployment office (this should explain this blog) and they had cleared my original claim, that was not finished. Filing for unemployment was the number one thing on my to-do list, and my to-do list was a major reason for turning off the computer. I wanted to get this done, so I turned on my computer and restarted my claim. I finished my claim, shut down my computer, and walked away.

On Tuesday, day two, I paid a bill online for my apartments energy. I also transferred money from different bank accounts so I would not overdraft. 36 hours into not using a computer and I have failed, not once, but three times (although I vaguely made it so that these uses would be exempted).

For those of you who are thinking that these uses are acceptable, I have a confession to make. Before I tell you what I have done, I want to state, I feel a little guilty as to breaking the rules. I also feel like it made me fight harder inside to battle the urge to use the computer for mindless activities.

Anyway, here it goes, I have this thing called an iPhone (are you done with your side comments? I am making a confession here, if you want the explanation on why I have an iPhone ask me another time). So yeah, I have an iPhone, I opened it up... and I clicked on the mail button. I know I wrote that I could do stuff on the computer or Internet with "time restraints," but this is inexcusable. I had one e-mail that I responded to. It was not completely necessary. I wrote back to one of my kickball team captains to say, I was coming to the game that night. Now this seems like a one time isolated event, but I pushed that mail button the rest of the week. Every time I opened it there was some new email about something that happened on facebook or myspace. When I did not follow through and see what had been posted on those sites I felt good for my rule breaking. I felt I had the power to see I was missing things on the Internet, but could control myself not to see what it was.

Moving on, I actually became quite productive throughout the week. Not having a computer standing by has made me just simply start things and finish them. No more procrastinating until the last minute (or if there is no last minute, not doing anything at all). Well, stating I was quite productive is a lie, but not procrastinating is true (except the bathroom would probably not be what it is today*). I have not done more work, I just did it sooner. I run out of things that I need to do and am left with "free" time. This weekend may pass slowly without things to do, but hopefully I will get creative and fill in the mindless Internet surfing time (with drinking, wooooooo!).



*Go to the average male college house and look at the bathroom. That was my bathroom. Six months without cleaning the shower or sink. The toilet bowl was slightly cleaned with the toilet brush and some chemicals, but some how the tank was disgusting. The bathroom after I quit the Internet was spotless (in male bathroom terms). I wish I took before and after pictures.

No Internet Week: Day 1

The Challenge
No use of a computer(the Internet) for 7 days.

Monday, November 19th, 2007

At 4:30 AM, I turned off my computer (It should have been 12 AM, but I could not stop the beast). I had decided to not use it for one week.

This is a bad idea and will not work. I wish I could say I will not use the Internet or television as well, but I will. My only exception for using the Interne is for e-mail to get stuff done (stuff with time restraints). I will try to keep track of these to keep myself in check.