we are led to believe that alcohol is the "elixir of life"

I remember my first drink - I stole a stubby bottle of Iron City beer from my visiting aunt's stash in our fridge.  I called up a friend of mine that I smoked cigarettes with and we took the bottle into the woods and split it - it tasted foul.  I was in the 5th grade. I didn't understand the allure of beer, it tasted terrible.

I remember the first time I felt the effects of drinking alcohol - I was in 8th grade and I split a bottle of Boones Farm Apple Hill wine with 2 class mates, it tasted funny, like nasty juice but at that point "peer" pressure had already started to sink in, we passed the bottle back and for an took swigs, I was in the middle.  I felt my first buzz, the effects of the alcohol on my young brain. That started my drinking career. That summer I drank an entire bottle of cheap wine and puked my guts out, passed out and woke up the next morning not remembering anything and feeling very ill.  Drinking was supposed to be fun?  I had my first major hangover.

I was told I just needed to learn how to drink - that's all I needed to hear.

As youngsters we learn to observe - we see adults drinking beer, wine, liquor and they go from being reserved to laughing, loud and having a good time.  It looks like they are having a "good" time.  We walk by the neighborhood bars in the summer, the door is open and it is crowded with music and laughter. What's the attraction, we wonder. 

Alcohol is all around us, it is the most heavily marketed product in the world.  It used to be cigarettes, but society has put the stigma on that addiction and banned TV ads.  More money is spent on alcohol advertisement than any other product.  Dilly-dilly.

What are they selling?  well they are not selling the highly toxic, highly addictive and terrible tasting fuel ingredient ethanol.  No they are selling - fun, happiness, friendship, romance, man hood, relaxation, reward, status, courage and a good time.  They are selling the product's, product's, product.

Taste's great - Less filling!  Let me clue you in - observe the average Miller Lite drinker - they are usually overweight, out of shape middle aged men, or fat women.  Sort of like the diet soft drink people - they believe in the "calorie" theory.  Let me clue you in - reduce the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage from 5% to 4.2% and the caloric factor in the same 12oz bottle drops, but it still tastes like old dishwater.  Miller Brewing hit on a genius product and marketed the hell out of it during the mid 70's eat less calories exercise more weight loss era, this produced generations of Lite drinkers.  I know one fan of Lite that can drink 18 Lite's in a day, but he can't run 25 yards.

Alcohol is marketed as the "elixir of life" - everything will be better with a little alcohol, the day, the event, the occasion. Hell when you're feeling bad - alcohol, when you're celebrating - alcohol, when you're bored - alcohol.

It's a trap - and it doesn't change.  We are unconsciously brainwashed that alcohol is a drink that will make us happy and will enhance any occasion.  Consciously we may have experienced some of the side effects of over indulgence in an "adult beverage'' but unconsciously we only remember the good times allure or the good times we had when drinking alcohol.  That is what I call selective memory and unconscious brainwashing.

Thus we continue drinking the "elixir of life" chasing the good times.  This elixir is highly addictive, it's the nature of the nasty tasting chemical ethanol.  As we "acquire a taste" for it our bodies miraculously build up a tolerance to the drug protecting us from the lethal effects.  The fan of Miller Lite that can drink 18 cans of beer, built up to that volume over time.  Now that is the standard for him, anything less he doesn't feel "right" anything more and he starts acting "strange", the I only smoke when I drink syndrome.

I remember when I was completely satisfied drinking 3 beers when I was in high school, if I drank more than that I either got sick or started speaking a weird version of Korean or acting strange.  By the end of high school I graduated to a 6 pack, and on rare occasion I would go big and drink Colt 45 Malt liquor, which had a higher ABV than Stroh's.  I usually got drunk or could not finish the 6 pack, but I had a good time, until I did something stupid or puked.

In the beginning we relate alcohol to pleasure, fun, having a good time.  It's also a social status - in my town drinking was a way of life.  It was considered a reward for working hard all day. 

I know a drinker that flat out states "drinking is my reward" for busting my ass all day at my job.  His job consists of driving around and visiting jobsites and working on a computer.  In my work career drinking was a staple at every networking event, the pre dinner cocktail hour, the lunch time drinks, the out of town trade shows that became nothing more than a reason to drink.

Drinking was the "elixir of life".  It made the cowards have courage, the homely into beautiful people and the shy person into a comedian.

Ah the good old days - normal drinking.  Drinking to be happy.

You are not one of them - you are a normal drinker enjoying the "elixir of life."

e·lix·ir

[əˈliksər]

NOUN

elixirs (plural noun)

1. a magical or medicinal potion.

   "an elixir guaranteed to induce love"

   synonyms:

   potion · concoction · brew · philter · decoction · medicine · tincture ·
   

   tonic · draft · potation

   • a preparation supposedly able to change metals into gold, sought by alchemists.
   • a preparation supposedly able to prolong life indefinitely.
     "at one point during the festivities, the river is said to turn into the elixir of life"
2. a particular type of medicinal solution.

   "a cough elixir"

   synonyms:

   mixture · solution · potion · tincture · extract · essence · concentrate

very few people want to talk about Alcohol

Let's talk about Alcohol.

Ohhhh - a dirty subject.  Yeah - beer, wine, hard liquor and the consumption of the beverage carrying the alcohol (ethanol).

Ethanol, also called alcohol, ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, and drinking alcohol, is a chemical compound, a simple alcohol with the chemical formula C 2 H 5 OH. Its formula can be also written as CH 3 − CH 2 − OH or C 2 H 5 − OH (an ethyl group linked to a hydroxyl group), and is often abbreviated as EtOH.  Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a slight characteristic odor.

Yeah - it's the same thing they add to the gasoline your put into your vehicle.  Imagine that, you are actually drinking a fuel additive.

So why am I talking about this chemical - well I just quit drinking it.  Stigma?  nope.

Ethanol is a highly toxic, addictive substance.  It is also deadly, drink too much of it in pure form and you will die, and it will not be a social and fun event.

We drink it as beer, wine and hard liquor and various other named cocktails.  But regardless of the delivery name we are drinking ethanol.  Without it you probably wouldn't drink the malt, grape or corn juice.

We are so brainwashed and delusional when it comes to ingesting this liquid that close to 85% of all adults drink alcohol laced beverages at some time. Hell - some actually believe the number one killing drug in Western society is "healthy" for you - drink two glasses of red wine it's good for your heart.  So when you have a heart attack, the first thing they do is serve you a glass of Merlot?

Let me state fact - alcohol is addictive. Period end of story.  You will build a tolerance to the drug like you will build a tolerance to any addictive drug (i.e. nicotine, cocaine, opioids etc.). What this means is over time you will need more of the drugs to achieve the same physical effect.   The "buzz" you received from 2 alcohol laced drinks will now be achieved with 3 alcohol drinks.  Addictive drugs and your body just work that way - it's your bodies defense mechanism against the toxic chemical and it's immediate effects.

My alcohol beverage of choice was beer - craft beer, although if needed I would pretty much drink any alcohol laced beverage (the "needed" will be explained later).  I could pretty much consume 8-10 craft beers before I would just lay down and pass out - great fun, huh?  Initially I would drink 2-3 very quickly (mini-binge drinking), then start "normal" drinking.  Hahahaha - what is "normal drinking?"  the pat answer is - it all depends. Normal drinking for me was 6-7 more beers over the drinking episode.  Sick huh?  Addicted - yes!

Quitting alcohol is believed to be "hard". And if you quit you may and probably will end up with the societal stigma of he's "one of them". You know, them - "the alcoholic."  The modern day leper.  Drink for a while then quit and people - your friends, family and acquaintances will look at you like you have a "disease" that could be contagious. 

I love being a Non-Drinker.

Let's talk about Alcohol - the next series of blog posts will do just that and explain my current alcohol free journey.

they lied, there is no global warming - it's COLD!

Al Gore the king of global warming - well he flies around in a private jet, nice mode of transportation for a life long politician.

Well it's cold outside - damn cold.  I fondly recall golfing in 65 degree and sunny weather a half decade ago, I played golf on Thanksgiving Day back when global warming was real.

Oh, they want to call it "climate change" today - duh?  The climate is always changing.

I don't get the mentality that the earth is under attack by human beings.

It is just a banal narrative of future government control or a tax.

But right now, we could use a little global warming here in Western Pennsylvania - it's too damn early for temperatures in the teens.

Al Gore is a liar!

all Bourbon tastes the same, but not all Bourbon costs the same

Spent two wonderful nights in Louisville, Kentucky.  If you ever get in that area and need a place to stay - pick the Brown Hotel.   Highly recommend this old property and the location is great.

Back to Bourbon.   This town has it, invented it and sells it by the barrel full.  Bourbon has to be made of 51% corn, after that the chemist can pretty much mix in whatever he wants.  Bourbon

This area of Kentucky is home to the biggest, greatest Bourbon distillers on the planet.   Louisville is the major city in the area.

When you first taste Bourbon you will probably think - "this is what gasoline tastes like if I was stupid enough to drink it"  yet, there was actually a "pour" of Bourbon on the bar menu for $250.00.

I'm going to guess a normal bar "pour" is 1.5 oz.  So that particular aged Bourbon was $21,333.00 a gallon.  What's the difference between that and W.L. Weller?

Cost.

Bourbon is good - it's alcohol.  I love Manhattans and I had one at the Lobby Bar in the Brown Hotel and it was excellent.  Bourbon makes the best cocktails in my opinion.

So it really comes down to cost.  Bourbon tastes the same but costs differently.

Bourbon "neat" is all the hip.  I personally prefer mine with one cube of solid crystal clear ice.  Neat - burns, and you'll get all the supposed flavors.

Here is my observation - a Mint Julep with any Bourbon will taste good if properly made and mixed.

If you want to enter the "neat" trail - order Bourbon flights and work your way down the line.  Be careful.  I had a flight of Four Roses at the BBC Brewery Restaurant and it kicked my ass.

All Bourbon tastes the same, and it sure doesn't cost the same.  Acquired taste has no price tag.

Education goes a long way.

the American dream is dead!

Living the dream?  The American Dream?  What a joke - we've been sold a joke and a scam.

Want proof - look at the state of our politics and rule of law in their once great Republic.  Socialism is for the people, not the Socialist.   The political elite that preach socialism are never going to live that lifestyle or ideology, they just want you to live it, yeah you the American Dream chaser.  The tax payer and law abiding citizen.

sometimes you just don't give a fuck, I'm GAF

Interesting day for me - I purposely slept in.  Brand new experience for me.  I never purposely slept in for 60 years.  It was a perfect Western PA fall morning, cold, damp no rising sun, no where to go, nothing to do (except my pull ups), fuck it - I laid in bed. Got up at 0712.

I don't give a fuck anymore.  I'm focused, laser.  On my life - I really don't care about anyone anymore.  I'm 100% selfish, at this age can you blame me?

I love my existence and I feel I can out live anyone that was born in 1958, a worth while challenge.  Becoming a Social Security millionaire is a worthy goal.  Being the oldest in my high school graduating class seems like a winning proposition.

The best thing about being GAF is you get very simplistic in your basic American needs very quickly.

food
clothing
shelter
transportation (if needed)

How much food can you live on each day? What is the cost of that necessity?

Do you have nothing that you do not wear?

Shelter is a human necessity, is yours adequate?

What type of transportation in necessary to provide your lifestyle?

GAF is an attitude and is easily achieved when you give in, give up and say - I've had enough and I am not taking it anymore.

Why do we keep listening to the lies of America?

Voting

Today is Voting day here in the good old USA.  You have two selections to make - Democrat or Republican.  Our country is run by the political elite class. Executive branch, Legislative branch and Judicial branch, 546 total people.  Executive branch (2 people) is elected by the states electoral college, Legislative branch is made up of the Senate (100 Senators) and the House of Representatives (435 Representatives) and are elected by the citizens of each state, the Judicial branch (9 Justices) is nominated by the executive branch and confirmed by the legislative branch.

It is not a perfect system and is ripe with corruption and collusion.  Most politicians are lawyers and produce absolutely nothing in their lives.  When it comes right down to it, 3-5 people run this country.  Most legislative branch members vote straight party line once they get to Washington DC. If they do not, then the faucet of money will be shut off for their next campaign and they will most likely lose their coveted position.  We only have term limits on the executive branch.

I've been following politics my entire life. I started to get interested in 1968 as I watched riots and the escalation of the Vietnam War.   I was in 5th grade at the time and I remember an announcement of a brother of one of the kids in our grade school was killed in the Vietnam War, that shocked me and I started reading the daily newspaper and watching the nightly news.  We were told that the war was to fight against the spread of communism, the domino theory - hmmm.

50 years later we have one of the major political parties advocating a form of government that we fought a war against.  Crazy times.

The Democrat political party is advocating Socialism.  The Republican party is not to far off either, they support socialist programs also.  The difference is the Democrats look at Socialism through the individuals eyes and the Republicans look at Socialism through the eyes of big corporate interests.  Both are Socialism - and Socialism leads to Communisms.  Both political ideologies are seriously flawed experiments over the past 100 plus years.

The United States is not a Democracy - it is a Republic and has a written charter or Constitution which specify the rules.  Here is the rub - the 546 people (3-5 important people) we have running the country do not follow the rules.  They also seem to be above the law.

Does your vote really count?  it is hard to tell now a days.

My war is this - I will vote, not for something but against something, I do not vote for a man (humans are flawed in so many ways).  I AM VOTING AGAINST SOCIALISM/COMMUNISM.

Final thought - Socialism is for the people, not the Socialists.