The Case for Boozing...

Oh, I'm sorry...what's that you say? I'll die from drinking heavily?

Not so fast, says Time.

Moderate drinkers in this studey (1-3 drinks per day) tend to have the lowest mortality rates.

Heavy drinkers come in second.

Abstainers lead the shortest lives.

So grab yourself a brew.

BING. BANG. BOOM.

Exercise-Drug Relapse Connection?

I've long been of the thought that exercise is a very, very necessary evil. It's something I don't wake up thinking, man, I can't wait to do that but the benefits of it keep me trying to stay on a schedule. I say trying because last year I didn't do so great. Anyway, we all know about a lot of different benefits including a more positive outlook and better physical fitness in turn leading to better health.

Today, I stumbled across and article that combined those two benefits and takes exercise a step further. UGA and Emory University have been awarded a grant allowing them to study the link between exercise and the chance of a drug relapse. Basically, they are looking to see if people who work out are less likely to relapse. Because drug use is so closely linked to stress and exercise is so often considered THE way to destress, it makes sense for them to look into it. The most challenging aspect of treating someone with an addiction is to try to prevent a relapse and stress tends to send many people who are otherwise beating their addiction right back into its waiting arms.

I'm really hoping that this turns out to be something simply because I have dealt with addiction in my own family. Both my father and my step father are alcoholics. I believe much of the research into drugs could also be applied to alcohol addiction. My father has not had a drink in 21 years and spends a great deal of time doing physical activities like running, hitting the gym, playing in a softball league, bowling and playing wall ball. My step father has not gone more than 6 months without a drink in the past 10 years. He rarely exercises and has high blood pressure. Add that to not eating in a healthy fashion and it seems like he is destined to continue repeating this pattern. Imagine if I could back up what I have been saying for years with scientific research?

The researchers have been granted 1.9 million dollars over the course of the next 5 years and will begin their study with rats.

Monday Musings

Okay, so I need to get more serious on this whole BLOGGING thing. I mean I pay attention to two other blogs I write but this one is sorely lacking. Therefore, over the next week, I will be unveiling an actual format for this blog. We will start with today, a regular feature to be added to the blog- Monday Musings. Much like Random Thoughts On A (insert day here), Monday Musings will be whatever pops into my head or that I find on the internet that entertains me. However, now it will occur on the reg (your welcome Barbie). So, I bring you...Random Thoughts on a Monday aka Monday Musings:

• If you have to come to a complete stop so that someone in the other lane can get over, then you probably don't need to be letting them over. The point is for them to speed up or slow down according to traffic and then get over when they spot an opening. If everyone followed this rule, I believe we could shave 5 minutes off the morning commute. Something to think about. Also, it is not rude for me to yell at you or give you the finger when I finally get around your malingering ass. You stopped traffic, buddy, not me.
• Common courtesy, much like chivalry, appears to be dead. For example, this morning I walked past a woman in the hallway. I said, "Hello, how are you?" she responded with "Hi, I'm good." Well, that's nice. I didn't fucking ask you because I cared- I asked because it's common courtesy. And if I have to ask you, then you damn sure should be asking me. It's polite. Jeez.
• I'm contemplating a relocation. I hate Atlanta. There, I said it to the internet world. It's out there and I can't take it back. My uncle made a great pitch for Raleigh but I'm open to other cities as well so leave a pitch in the comment section and I'll take it under consideration.
• Hahahahaha, my boss just realized they have not been taking medical or dental out of my paycheck. Nothing she can do now that she closed out 2009. Ironically, for the two months I had free dental and health insurance I was not going to the doctor. So the joke is really on me, not just them.
• I just ordered a Blackberry Tour from Verizon Wireless. And I am stalking it through fedex. Literally, stalking it. How the fuck did it leave Memphis Tennessee last night at 6:44pm and it's not arrived at a GA fedex location yet? This is bullshit.
• Sometimes I say things via text that I probably should not say. Often times I am hammered when I do this. And I offend people. Or end friendships. In these instances, I have found that the best thing to do is to pretend you did not say it and then wait for them to approach you weeks later. They will say something asinine, you will say something asinine and the Earth will continue to revolve around the sun.
• My feet seem to get cold a lot recently. I have no idea if this means something but whatever. They are cold and I don't know what to do about it.
• Sign up for Groupon.com and get gift certificates cheap. Also halfoffdepot.com. Don't say I never gave you anything.
• If I don't get a sweet tax return VEGAS IS GOING TO SUCK. No really, that return is going straight into my Vegas envelope ala Bradley Coopers character in The Hangover. God, I wish I was a teacher with a field trip so I could collect money from the students.
• It is really obnoxious that my boss gets my emails.Sometimes they come to her first and then she asks me about them and I have no idea what the fuck she is talking about. It's creepy.
• I shouldn't laugh when my boss makes a mistake. After telling me it would be between us that she messed up my benefits, the minute I went upstairs to drop off mail she told her boss. Now I owe them $268 because she made a mistake. How bout we split it since you made the mistake?
• On behalf of my friend JLove I would like to bring a charity to your attention. If you are looking to divert some funds or build up some good karma, head over to http://www.thon.org/ and donate now. They work tirelessly to conquer childhood cancer and the group is student run which is pretty cool even if you aren't a student. Even Khloe Kardashian is out there promoting it. The money specifically heads to the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital.
• Sometimes you need to read about someone else's life spiraling out of control to realize yours is as well. I'm not admitting to anything but this book I'm currently reading has me thinking a lot about things that I thought were funny but can take a dangerous turn. I'm lucky I'm still here if this book is any indication. So I recommend to all of you From Binge to Blackout by Chris and Toren Volkmann. It's a mother-son combo that had to go through alcoholism together and is just a GREAT read. I think one should be given to ever Freshman in high school and their parents. Perhaps, summer reading? You can learn more by going to their website.
• I am currently wearing a Victoria's Secret Pink sleep shirt to the office. It is comfy and a pretty purple color and I don't care who knows it! Also, my company just blocked their website. Damnit, there went shopping for Valentine's Day.
• My boyfriend is back! Check out his latest hilarious video. Yes, I am kind of getting to the point of creepy now.
• Why do people talk on their cellphones in the bathroom? If you are looking for privacy to make your call the restroom is not the place. Privacy to take a shit? Public restroom is also not the place but at least you are doing what the restroom is meant for. Take your personal phone calls elsewhere please. Otherwise, I'm flushing the toilet a hundred times until you get the point.
• Rihanna has a song called "Breaking Dishes". Ironically, in it she says something about Fighting a Man (Imma fight a man, a man, a man...). So let me get this straight, Chris Brown beat the fuck out of her and stories come out that she probably was hitting him as well. Chris Brown looks like the dick and she looks like a victim? After hearing this song, I'm wondering if they were mutually violent toward each other. Don't get me wrong, Chris Brown is a dick and should be in trouble for violence toward anyone. But let's stop the Rihanna train for a minute and find out if she really deserves this halo we're giving her. She shouldn't be hitting him anymore than he should be hitting her. And now that the song played on my iPod, I'm wondering if she has some violent tendencies of her own... I'm going to get so much shit for writing this.
• Actor Rip Torn was arrested over the weekend. FOR ROBBING A FUCKING BANK. Okay, not entirely true. Actually, he just broke in with a loaded gun. But the funniest part is he was drunk and didn't even realize it was a bank. WTF?
• Apparently, you can only have so many tags for a blog. BUSCH LEAGUE, BLOGGER. I have hit the limit.
• Please see how hott Mr. Hamm looked on Saturday Night. SO HOT. Like the cover of a trashy romance novel.
• I'm sorry, I lied on that one. Not so hot. Damn you Sergio.
• If you don't watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia then you should start now. No joke. Nothing like a group of people who are so selfish they think they are helping the world when serving their own purposes. For example.

Happy Hour from 4-6

Oh afternoon drinking coupled with email. What could be better?

From: E
To: S; A; C; Tiny Ninja
Time: 4:25PM

I just want it to be known...that I busted open at bottle of wine at 420 on a wednesday. Out of control? Maybe. Worth it? Definitely.

Here's to happy hour!

From: Tiny Ninja
To: E
Time: 4:27PM

I got you beat bitch! I've been drinking margs for awhile now. And I have to drive home...

Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

From: E
To: Tiny Ninja
Time: 4:29PM

Tiny Ninja...I hate you. That is all.

Love,
Tipsy Tower

From: S
To: Tiny Ninja; A; E; C
Time: 4:29PM

Tiny Ninja where the hell are you at? Haha

I'm on my way home after a very awkward interaction with a coworker, tminus 3 hrs til wine time :)

Holllaaaa

From: A
To: S; E; Tiny Ninja; C

I'm blackout!

From: E
To: S; Tiny Ninja; A; C
Time: 4:32PM

Do share....

well, what had happened was, my throat hurt. I tried water. I tried milk...and chocolate milk just for good measure. And the only other beverage I had was wine. And weirdly enough, my throat does not hurt as bad. But the bottle is almost gone so I might have a problem. Wait not because I just drank the bottle- it was almost gone to begin with.

Oh, fuck it, I have a problem. Step 1 complete.

From: Tiny Ninja
To: A; E; S; C
Time: 4:33PM

A are you just trying to outdo me?!?! I don't believe you. And I am at willy's by piedmont with the puppies.I win!

Chop chop suckas!

From : E
To: Tiny Ninja; S; A; C
Time: 4:35PM

If you are drinking alone you have a problem. And puppies do not count as drinking with a crowd. I'm just saying.

Love,
The one with a problem.

From: A
To: E
Time: 4:36PM

Definite problem child here no worries! First step: admit u have a problem (checkkkkk)

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: Tiny Ninja
To: E
Time: 4:36PM
Don't be jealous. There is another human here drinking with me. But 2 + 2 = 4! So either way it beats your 1.

Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

To: E
From: Tiny Ninja
Time: 4:38PM

I spent the whole day in my sweatpants and watched tv while "working" before "drinking" while working. So chop chop tiny ninja.

What is step two? If it's stopping then I'm sticking with step one FOREVER.

From: Tiny Ninja
To: E
Time: 4:42PM

Step 2 is drinking more with a friend. I am that friend. And don't pretend to act all lazy and worthless. That is my daily life bia.

Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

From: E
To: Tiny Ninja; C; S; A
Time: 4:47PM

out of curiosity... I googled the 12 steps. Also, there are apparently 12 traditions that go with it? nuts.

These are the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

From:S

To:Tiny Ninja; C; A; E

Time: 4:49PM

Why do you keep going to Midtown and not contacting me bitatccchhhh

And the story is too long...needs to be told in person...but it was funny

From:E

To:S;A;C; Tiny Ninja

Time: 4:51PM

I don't see why you guys don't come visit me and Tiny Ninja in east bumble fuck more often. There is so much to do. My apt even has a playground. That's right, I went there.

From: S

To: A; C; E; Tiny Ninja

Time: 5:06PM

The last couple times I was at a playground I was either getting laidor on my way to getting laid. Gotta keep the tradition alive...soooono playgrounds for me any time soon :(

From: C

To: Tiny Ninja; S; A; E

Time: 5:49PM

1. all you chicks are crazy and I heart you all dearly!

2. I have been so busy today that I have not been on gchat or checked email (GASP!)

3. cute bartender boy that I gave my digits to want to do something tonight... WHOOP WHOOP! C's got her groove back! That is all...

From: A

To: C; E; S; Tiny Ninja

Time: 6:03PM

Seal the deal tonight C!!!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: S

To: C; E; A; Tiny Ninja

Time: 6:05PM

I concur with Tiny Ninja. Kadar can make it happen :) just don't go BACK to outback ;)
Love love

From: Tiny Ninja

To: S; E; A; C

I don't even know what is going on anymore. Traffic sucks. I'm never going to make it home. My happy drunk turned to angry bitter drunk. Congrats chloe. I love you all.

P.S. I may (I don't know the odds) get box seats for LSU. Eat that Timbo. Tiny. Ninja strikes again (maybe and most hopefully)

Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry