Sober, not somber

I went to that holiday party tonight. The one I was going to bail out of. My dad convinced me to go. "Cathy and Laura are both pregnant, so they won't be drinking. And I don't drink. Plus, you've got to learn how to be around people who drink. Just have some water, it's what I do." He's a smart man, my pop.

So I went, and it was fine. The boys were all drinking home brewed beer, and I had a moment of panic when they didn't have diet Coke, but I was fine with water and cookies. I think my cousin had A beer the whole time, and Mike maybe had two. So it was basically a sober evening. And you know what? It was still fun! We were able to laugh and play with my baby cousin without being drunk. We watched old movies and Yo Gabba Gabba.

Oh, and I ate my share of cookies. I had a sugar cookie, a chocolate chip cookie, one of those ones with a Hershey kiss in the middle....

Time to barbecue

I'm finally having a barbecue in my backyard, after 65 days of abstaining. It's just the four of us, my closest buddies, and I asked them to bring their own booze, if they wanted to. I don't think they will, but if they do, that's ok, too. At this point, I don't want to break my streak.

It's so nice to have people over. I like having the company of friends. It actually keeps me sober to have others around. And these guys are all really supportive of my sobriety. They've all said great and encouraging things, and have been careful to keep booze out of a lot of situations.

Every year we go wine tasting twice a year. I'm always the DD (drunk driver), because I drive better than the rest of them even when I'm sober. Amanda asked me yesterday if I should go in March (we're going to be at the marathon for the November one). I thought about it, and I'm not so sure. It might be tempting for me to drive from winery to winery with them (they have gourmet food tastings at each as well, and provisions for the DD's). I told her I'd think about being their real designated driver this time, but I'd have to wait and see if my sobriety is strong enough.

They say not to put yourself in unnecessarily tempting positions, so I think it'll be a no go. But I really enjoy those weekends. We get a house and sit around talking and eating. It's good fellowship, and a nice 3 days with good friends. We'll have to wait and see.

A fiesta it's not

I love to throw parties. Any excuse for a party, and I'm on it. Grilling in the backyard, hanging out with friends, getting ridiculously drunk.

My last party was Cinko de Drinko on Cinko de Mayo. I had about 20 people over in my little backyard and dressed it up in Mexican themed stuff. I even have chili pepper lights and some with sombrero's on them. It looked awesome. I started drinking while setting up the party, around noon. I shared a bottle of wine with the guy on the grill, and by the time people arrived at 3 I was primed and ready. I also had a friend in town who was leaving that night at 7 from the airport near my house. I had promised him a ride.

Progressively, I got wasted. I'm not sure how many bottles I personally finished, but there were about a dozen in my recycle bin the next morning. There were also numerous beer cans and about two pitchers of punch that I know I drank. Tequila is the official drink of Mexican themed parties, you know.

When it came time for my friend to leave, I got up and weaved to find my keys. Luckily, the only sober person there offered to drive him. I so would have. I was ready and everything.

The rest I remember of the night, I was tripping over my skirt and falling down in my house, and then I woke up the next morning in my pj's, in my own bed, with my ex-boyfriend. Again. I promised myself I wouldn't sleep with him anymore, and apparently I said some things that he took as me liking him still. I mean, he should have taken it that way. I said we might as well get married cause no one wants either of us. I'm a bitch.

My friend Mary called the next day and told me to promise not to tell him what we talked about. She said, I totally agree that he was really mean to you when you were dating, but he'd be mad if you repeated anything I said. I pinkie swore not to tell - I have absolutely no memory of talking to her.

So, how do I throw a party now? What will my guests do? Since all my friends drink, should I just let them get drunk and abstain? Labor day is coming up, and I'll luckily be out of town, but I have my annual Halloween party and then drunk Thanksgiving where I take care of all the orphans who can't fly home. How will we be social? How to lubricate a party on Shirley Temple's?