Hello, friends. We here at TMK decided to follow Bad at Life to the bar for the past few months, thus ignoring our call to post meaningless diatribes for other bored semi-professionals. I’ve finally sobered up, left BAL’s couch, and showered, so now might as well be the time to lose my blogging virginity again (still waiting for that to happen in real life).
On a flight back to DC earlier this week, I read a review in GQ for Everyday Drinking. Obviously this is a book that would appeal to me (as well as a few other drunks at TMK), since I start every morning with a glass of warm gin and some beer-battered donuts. Anyway, Everyday Drinking is a compilation of three smaller works by Sir Kingsley Amis, and in it, he argues for drinking (and got paid to do so, the lucky bastard). The book is full of hilarious and insightful nuggets of advice, ranging from hosting a party to battling hangovers (BAL can certainly learn a thing or two about that). Some highlights:
* While hosting a party and preparing a gin and tonic for a guest, put the tonic and the ice and a thick slice of lemon in first and pour on them a thimbleful of gin–over the back of a spoon–so it will linger near the surface and give a strong-tasting first sip, which is the one that counts.
* Drinking a beer with a piece of lime in it is “an exit application from the human race.” This also applies to Zimas and Jolly Ranchers as well. Nice knowing you, Token Female.
* Anyone like Harvey Wallbangers? I know, this isn’t 1975, but: Another Italian liqueur, Galliano, has gained a good deal of ground over the last few years, not as a drink on its own but as a constituent of the famous, or infamous, cocktail, the Harvey Wallbanger, named after some reeling idiot in California.
* To battle a hangover, draw a hot bath, sit in the bathtub, and then immediately stand up to take a hot shower (repeat as necessary). However, “do not do this unless you are quite sure your heart and the rest of you will stand it. I would find it most disagreeable to be accused of precipitating your death, especially in court.” Better keep the heart healthy and stay away from those all-you-can-eat bacon buckets at Wonderland, as well.
The book is hilarious and insightful (and includes an introduction by fellow drunk Christopher Hitchens). I may be biased, but the book is especially good because Amis references gin the most out of any spirit. I always knew I could spot a good drunk.
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June 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The human race has not devised any way of dissolving barriers, getting to know the other chap fast, breaking the ice, that is one-tenth as handy and efficient as letting you and the other chap, or chaps, cease to be totally sober at about the same rate in agreeable surroundings.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Wow, so we’re still doing this thing, huh? Fine, bring it on.
I’m not sure why taking a hot shower after a hot bath is supposed to be a shock to the system. Sounds a little like heaven to me.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
i thought i’d try the hot bath/shower combo this morning. not all it’s cracked up to be. and, like harrison ford in indiana jones, i thought that a little comeback for TMK was in order…just a little bit older, fatter, and i waxed my chest.