Today I was designated drinker.
On three occasions in my life, alcoholically speaking, have I come to a point where it's just easier to give in. Today marked the third such occasion. Under none of those circumstances have I done so under the influence (ha!) of that oft-warned-of scourge, peer pressure. No, on every occasion it has been supeerior pressure.
The first time was beer. This crazy Serbian scientist (who was teaching me how to use a scanning electron microscope) got it fixed in his mind that I should try his beverage of choice (he had two crates of this stuff in the laboratory stockroom, which looked more like a carport since it had a garage door and was messy, but he knew his way around it pretty well). He then got it in his mind that this libation should be further cooled (Belgrade is quite warm in the summer), and as he was a loss for liquid nitrogen (he regretted to me later), he used a fire extinguiser to take the liquid to a temperature at which gases are more soluble. Such an offering is not easily refused, and I found it worthy of a real sip, and a couple subsequent fake sips just to appease the guy. He really was nice. I'd have drunk the whole thing (it didn't taste good, but it didn't make me want to vomit either) if he woulda showed me how to use the transmission electron microscope.
The second time was at a party. It was again at the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Science (oh yeah, that's where the first one was). Anyway, the head of the whole lab asked me to sit at his table (how could I refuse?) and while I was there he poured me some sort of something (rather moderate, 120 proof i think, but it sure beat the alternative, red wine), and when we got to toasting, well, I had to be polite.
Today's revelation. You can't say "no" to the People's Committee. When the boss says drink, you toast, gulp, and grin back. Then you ask for your Fanta back, which was taken from you when the shot glass was thrust in your face in the first place. In my defense I was able to fend off the advances by the people from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, but when the real soldiers showed up, well I guess you have to pick your battles. (Well, there went all the vaunted bravado of my recently issued battle-indiscrimination policy. Instead of you teasing me about this, can I just give you points for being right in the first place?)
I guess it's something of an unwritten rule here (and also in Bangkok, so I hear, which means it undoubtedly extends even further): No drink, no work. If you don't drink, you don't get work. The other two ADRA employees I was with somehow managed to decline the officials, but I guess it was because I was so obviously young that they wanted to recruit me. I tried to tell them I was Buddhist, but I guess that only excuses me from meat (though I could have sworn it was supposed to give me R-OH exemption as well). On the plus side, the potent stuff I drank probably killed any of the germs that probably crawled over the rest of the meal.
My real feelings about alcohol: It's overrated. The people who think it's evil blow it way out of proportion. Yes, sure, fine, it can become an addiction and all that, and it does lead to rude, lewd, and reckless (wreck-full) behaviour, but it's not going to keep you out of heaven. It is not liquid sin. It is not inherently evil. Doug Bachelor, you do not have to pretend that Jesus turned the water into very tasty grape juice at that wedding. Besides, ethanol can be used to treat methanol poisoning.
BUT! It's way overrated the other way as well. The stuff tastes terrible. It smells bad. OK, it'll loosen you up, but I'm not really a fan of looseness. It causes much more trouble than it's worth as it hardly facilitates a) good conversation b) good manners c) good relationships d) good driving.
In conclusion, it is not an activity of mine (except under the most extenuating circumstances), in no way do I support consumption of alcohol, nor do I see a legitimate and rational appeal in it, but I refuse to be fanatical in my abstinence from it and I am tolerant of those who engage responsibly (does anyone actually know what "responsibly" means, besides having your pit crew take the tires off of your car when you arrive at a party or asking your drunk friend for his pants because they have the keys to his car) in such an activity. Actually, I just don't think it's as big a deal as everyone wants to make about it. Or at least I just wish the extremists on each end would stop all their foofaraw.
I'm a little irritable. I need to start getting at least 5 hours of sleep at night.
Dinner (my fourth meal in 3 days, but this is the simplest, so don't anyone go throwing a worry hissy. If anyone DOES mention how skinny I must be getting, I will take a picture of my awesome body, and post it, unless the comment was made only so that I would post a picture of my awesome body (Doug I mean you)):
3 Vege-Links
2 handfuls of almonds
1 small orange
A decent amount (by my sensible standards) of brown rice
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