Drinking History
Taking this post from a long-lost friend (who is still lost/disconnected himself from the blogging world for a few years now) into account, I like to talk about my history in alcohol.
Hi, my name is Punzi and I have been sober since 18 February 2004.
(Hi, Punzi!)
I was your regular Catholic schoolboy from my elementary years to law school. Let's just say that the first time I was remotely drunk was in the summer of 1987 (16 years old, oops, that's an illegal age, but anyway, we're all anonymous here, right?), at our high school graduation farewell beach outing extravaganza. I did not achieve drunk status, as I can recall. Just a little tipsy/inebriated.
But I've seen the effects of alcohol on me and my classmates and I swore not to be like that (or like my friends who actually got drunk that night) anymore. Imagine, a classmate who got so drunk he started swimming in the beach... actually on the beach and he did not ever reach the water. Imagine a classmates who could not stop laughing at anything anyone said... another who was cursing Saint Michael the Archangel for giving us Ginebra San Miguel... and someone recorded what transpired that night. Okay, it was just an audio tape, but that guy was likewise so drunk he acted like a reporter interviewing every drunk classmate present.
From that time until the middle of 2002, I only engaged in what we call "social drinking." A few bottles here and there just as a favor to friends (and eventually, clients and coleagues at work) who invite me to parties and other activities. I did not want to loose control and pay for its consequences the next morning. Not even the pressures of law school while maintaining a tumultuous relationship ever drove me to drink.
To be perfectly candid, I started drinking because of my marital problems and all it encompassed. I like to be as brief as that because I don't want to go into any more details (even though I'm dying to tell you details) as I'm saving all of this for court. (Take me out for some drinks and I'll tell you all about it... oops!)
It started with a few beers a day. Then added more and more bottles each time... then to a stronger equine beer brand... then to ginpine (gin and artificial pineapple juice)... then to these cheap local brandy with a Spanish sounding name (there are many of them, take your pick, they're all the same)... and then to straight gin because I was running out of money but I still wanted to drink.
And yes, I have driven drunk. A lot of times. During these times, I don't even know how I got home. During another time, I did not even get to park the car at our garage because it was so narrow that I would surely damage the car given my condition.
And yes, I have lost control some of these times. And yes, Bea has seen me in this condition during those troubled years.
Fortunately, the urge to drink myself silly evaporated on that fateful day of February. That's the day we left my wife for good. No more reason to drink. Fortunately, I did not achieve alcoholic status. Nipped in the bud in the nick of time.
Now, I do drink occasionaly. But I know my limits now and I don't loose control. And I don't drink at home (although I was tempted a while ago to take a swig at the liquor my clients have given me that are all unopened up to now, but not anymore).
So what do I want you to get from this post?
1. You know you have a problem when you get drunk alone. A shot/bottle or two after a hard day's work is still fine.
2. Except in parties (or that shot or two), don't drink at home and /or let your children see you drinking or drunk. If you do take that occasional swig, be sure to explain what you're doing to your children so they don't get any ideas.
3. Don't drink because of problems. Those problems will not go away through your drinking.
4. Know your limits and don't drink past it. Don't loose control.
5. If you do get inebriated, the "I'm sick" excuse only works with your boss a few times. If you do have to drink, be sure to report for work the next day.
So that's that. Thank you.
(Clap clap clap clap....)
Hi, my name is Punzi and I have been sober since 18 February 2004.
(Hi, Punzi!)
I was your regular Catholic schoolboy from my elementary years to law school. Let's just say that the first time I was remotely drunk was in the summer of 1987 (16 years old, oops, that's an illegal age, but anyway, we're all anonymous here, right?), at our high school graduation farewell beach outing extravaganza. I did not achieve drunk status, as I can recall. Just a little tipsy/inebriated.
But I've seen the effects of alcohol on me and my classmates and I swore not to be like that (or like my friends who actually got drunk that night) anymore. Imagine, a classmate who got so drunk he started swimming in the beach... actually on the beach and he did not ever reach the water. Imagine a classmates who could not stop laughing at anything anyone said... another who was cursing Saint Michael the Archangel for giving us Ginebra San Miguel... and someone recorded what transpired that night. Okay, it was just an audio tape, but that guy was likewise so drunk he acted like a reporter interviewing every drunk classmate present.
From that time until the middle of 2002, I only engaged in what we call "social drinking." A few bottles here and there just as a favor to friends (and eventually, clients and coleagues at work) who invite me to parties and other activities. I did not want to loose control and pay for its consequences the next morning. Not even the pressures of law school while maintaining a tumultuous relationship ever drove me to drink.
To be perfectly candid, I started drinking because of my marital problems and all it encompassed. I like to be as brief as that because I don't want to go into any more details (even though I'm dying to tell you details) as I'm saving all of this for court. (Take me out for some drinks and I'll tell you all about it... oops!)
It started with a few beers a day. Then added more and more bottles each time... then to a stronger equine beer brand... then to ginpine (gin and artificial pineapple juice)... then to these cheap local brandy with a Spanish sounding name (there are many of them, take your pick, they're all the same)... and then to straight gin because I was running out of money but I still wanted to drink.
And yes, I have driven drunk. A lot of times. During these times, I don't even know how I got home. During another time, I did not even get to park the car at our garage because it was so narrow that I would surely damage the car given my condition.
And yes, I have lost control some of these times. And yes, Bea has seen me in this condition during those troubled years.
Fortunately, the urge to drink myself silly evaporated on that fateful day of February. That's the day we left my wife for good. No more reason to drink. Fortunately, I did not achieve alcoholic status. Nipped in the bud in the nick of time.
Now, I do drink occasionaly. But I know my limits now and I don't loose control. And I don't drink at home (although I was tempted a while ago to take a swig at the liquor my clients have given me that are all unopened up to now, but not anymore).
So what do I want you to get from this post?
1. You know you have a problem when you get drunk alone. A shot/bottle or two after a hard day's work is still fine.
2. Except in parties (or that shot or two), don't drink at home and /or let your children see you drinking or drunk. If you do take that occasional swig, be sure to explain what you're doing to your children so they don't get any ideas.
3. Don't drink because of problems. Those problems will not go away through your drinking.
4. Know your limits and don't drink past it. Don't loose control.
5. If you do get inebriated, the "I'm sick" excuse only works with your boss a few times. If you do have to drink, be sure to report for work the next day.
So that's that. Thank you.
(Clap clap clap clap....)
transcription by Punzi @ 5:35 PM
3 Objection(s):
One of my uncles was an alcoholic. He started drinking when he & his wife were having problems...he eventually left her, but continued to find comfort in alcohol. My younger cousins called him "drunken master". You could smell alcohol emanating from his skin at breakfast, he had tremors at 10am. He died an alcoholic at 52. I guess his problem was never knowing when to stop. Or he didn't want to stop...he literallly drunk himself to death.
hi, punzi, most of the time, i read people and have witnessed people get drunk because they have a problem. you're right in saying that one should not get drunk when she/he has a problem. that could lead to addiction.
i started drinking when Papsie started drinking brandy. we get drunk together. at first, it was just my way of getting along with him so that he can enjoy. but we learned that drinking sober is very different from drinking very drunk. thank goodness, we learned early. today, we get shots, maximum of 5-6 jiggers, to celebrate, not with some others anymore (because some others only wanted to drink free shots of Fundador he he but they dont want to share in the expenses ha ha).
I am just curious about what you said -don't drink at home and /or let your children see you drinking or drunk. my kids dont see me drunk but they see me drink. is there something wrong about it?
Hey Bing! Long time...
I'm just sounding of that saying "Ang mali nagiging tama kung ginagawa ng matatanda..." bit in past tv ads, because what children see gives a more powerful lesson than what we say to them.
If we ever show that we drink, we should show we drink in moderation and responsibly.
regards to all of you...
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