I hosted a birthday party at my place yesterday afternoon. It was by far the largest gathering I’ve ever had at my house. But more about that event later in this post.
Tuesday afternoon I did some shopping. Started out at the appliance store where I purchased this beauty:
I also purchased a new blender. I knew it was low-quality made in China crap, but I didn’t have much else to choose from. It was just $25 and I figured it would get me through until I could buy something more powerful. Nope. I burned out the motor on my first attempt to make smoothies. Damn it!
I also visited the DiviMart to pick up some cheap plastic chairs and a table to accommodate my party guests. I got what I was looking for and figured I was good to go so off I went. Unloaded my driver’s car and settled in for some season 7 viewing of Game of Thrones.
So the big party day arrived with the festivities scheduled to begin in the early afternoon. But the house started filling up with Filipinas in the morning hours and they set about preparing the birthday feast. I had a walk scheduled for 10 a.m. so I wished them well in their endeavors and set out for my trek.
In addition to my regular walking mates Jim and Scott, we were joined by Troy and his gal Jessa and a former Hasher named Harry.
When we arrived back at the house the party was in full swing. The celebration was by and for a Filipina so us guys weren’t really relevant to the gals in attendance. Still, we got to eat the food and drink the beers. Well, the beers were mine anyway.
Some of the Filipinas were drinking Emperador, a popular local rum. The rest of us were drinking beer. Lots of beer! I had 36 bottles in the house at the start. And then we sent out for 48 more. Had a few more people show up than I anticipated and they all came thirsty. Apparently.
Maybe not so coincidentally, the night did not end without incident. It began with an accident that may have been an omen. Those chairs and stools I purchased for the party? Well, I was sitting on one of the stools, until I wasn’t.
As curfew approached and the beer ran out (again) people started heading home. Most had walked to my place (or taken a trike). One guest drove though. I didn’t pay much attention to his condition when he departed but a little while later I got a message from his angry girlfriend. It seems my guest had hit someone with his car and kept on going. She said I shouldn’t have allowed him to drive drunk. And she’s right about that. He seemed fine to me when he left but then again, I’m sure I was drunk by then and wouldn’t have known the difference. Of course, I feel bad about it though.
So, this morning he tells me that he apparently clipped a woman’s arm as she walked. A woman who just happens to be a barangay official and is also acquainted with his girlfriend. The girlfriend went to the injured woman’s house last night and did her best to smooth things over. This morning he went to the barangay and was cited for a quarantine violation, driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. I’m not sure what happens next, but he wasn’t jailed at least. I expect a fine and compensation to the victim is in his future. Hopefully nothing more severe.
One of the last things I remember from last night was Harry passed out on the dining room floor.
I actually don’t know Harry that well so the morning encounter was a little weird. I offered some coffee which he declined. He said he was waiting for daylight before making his way back home and went to lie down on the couch. He left about an hour later without saying anything.
Meanwhile, I went to do my morning internet rituals. I had a bit of a hangover and low energy, but otherwise was feeling okay. And then someone sent me the last photograph taken of me at the party:
Not much else I can say in my defense. It was a good party. A nice break from the boring lockdown routines. And not something I’ll be doing again anytime soon.
Promise.
Alcohol. I just don’t get it. I’m not some prude who thinks drinkers are going to hell or anything like that, but seriously: where’s the fun in getting shit-faced and not even remembering what you did? I’ve never understood this, and it’s probably because I’ve never been a drinker. To be clear, I’m not making accusations, I’m not shaming anyone (the pics are pretty damn funny), nor am I moralizing. I’m just honestly curious, especially given the risks and dangers of alcohol consumption, such as getting into fights and car accidents.
Sorry to read about the shitty stool. I’ve had chairs break on me, too. ‘Tis the curse of being large in a country full of smaller people.
Given your post’s title, I thought you’d slap up this video.
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right.
—is that how the alcohol thing works?
John, looks like a good time was had by all (or at least most). LOL
Seems like the morning after is one of those times when you say, “Never again!” Until your buddy calls a couple evenings on and for some convenient reason, you have forgotten about the morning after.
Could thing you have the walks to sweat the stuff out of your system.
Kev, the title of this post did actually derive from my memory of the song. I even pulled up the video in anticipation of using it, but the lyrics just seemed wrong for the subject matter of the post. Thanks for noticing though! 🙂
Ah, demon alcohol. I’m not sure if that old saw “everything in moderation” was directed towards the use and abuse of spirits, but it certainly fits. Obviously, I enjoy drinking but I don’t like getting drunk. Once or twice a year I let myself go out of control and always wish I hadn’t. But that’s what you get here at LTG, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Also, the boring repetition that leads a man to drink!
As to your question about the attraction of alcohol, for me at least it’s a social thing. Prior to the lockdown I very rarely drank beer at home. Beer for me is kind of a tool–lowers my inhibitions some and helps me get comfortable enough to carry on conversations with people I don’t know that well. Having a “buzz” is a nice feeling, being drunk is not. Paradoxically, even though I enjoy the bars I don’t like being around drunk people (hence, I could never own a bar). Anyway, maybe there is just a drinking culture that attracts me. Some of my earliest memories are of my father taking me into the beer joints with him while he drank and held court. So I guess maybe it just comes naturally to me.
So all that said, you are right about the risks and dangers of overdoing it. I normally won’t drink until after 5 and I’m usually home by 9 or so (well, at least before there was curfew). I am very much opposed to drinking and driving. Back in the USA I kept a breathalyzer in my car and would always blow before driving after darts to make sure I was under the legal limit. I’m actually disappointed in myself for not interceding with Scott. The bottom line is to drink responsibly, which is something I usually do. The other day was the rare exception.
Brian, yeah as I mentioned in my comment above, getting “drunk-drunk” is a failure on my part. Happens rarely but I always do regret it. I’m lucky if the consequences are limited to sleeping on the floor I suppose.
Yesterday I wasn’t feeling up to the usual sweaty walk which is probably what I needed most. Ah well, I’ll try and make up for it today!