The Hangover

I'm not a big drinker. Really, I'm not. I know that must sound ridiculous what with all of the happy hours and lipstick calls and the whole "drinking club with a reading problem" book club, but it's maybe one or two drinks a week, some weeks none. So, really, I'm not a big drinker. You know how when somebody says, "I'm not prejudiced" but they always are? I've never heard anybody say that one without having some truth to it. But, big drinker, me, nope. Well, maybe last night. I got the email from Louise that she would be driving to book club, ditching her cherry red VW and rounding up the troops in the old Suburban. I'm the one that usually drives. See - not a big drinker. I like to make sure the girls get home safely, keep the glasses of wine to two tops and the water flowing. But with the Louisemobile on the way, I popped open some Chardonnay for a couple of glasses for a pre-book club toast. Then, after giving up vodka after college, I recently decided to give it another chance. Cosmos are so pretty, you know, and there's all that fancy flavored vodka around now unlike back in the day. Well, I guess I don't know how to order correctly, there seems to be an art to it (like Starbucks, I've got that down - tall soy no-foam chai, or on a summer afternoon - grande passion tea, unsweetened) so the vodka hasn't been a winner with me lately. But last night with the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and tangerine juice staring at me I let it rip. We went late. I must have had three. God. Stumbled home way after bedtime. Didn't want to wake Shawn so plopped in to Shana's empty bed. Then remembered. We're one employee down tomorrow. Sleeping late isn't an option. Drank some water, woke up with a brain splitting in two. Threw the car key to Shawn for our drive to work, begging for a just like back at college morning stop at Burger King for some hangover grease and caffeine. Have you eaten a "hash round" lately? Disgusting.

Thanks for the lift, Louise. And thanks for the solar powered flower, too, but I'm driving next time.