's motd Sat Dec 20, 2008 - Drinking

[Guest guest]

OH, MAYBE JUST ONE

Saturday, 20 December 2008

I was raised in the "Drunk Capitol" of the United States and really, I'm not joshing! Oh my hometown, New Orleans! There's Bourbon Street where you can just about drink yourself plain-old silly! In New Orleans, you can walk down the streets of the French Quarter with your drink in hand. Hey, not many cities in the US where you can do that!

A lot of people come to New Orleans just to have a good time and they really party it up in all of those bars in the French Quarter. I was back home recently to teach a class at Harrah's Casino. While I was there, we drove down Bourbon Street early one morning and there were people already out...drinks in hand. I'm not kidding!There are even little corner bars that sell all kinds of drinks in "go-cups" to take with you. They offer up everything from Margaritas to that New Orleans signature drink called the Hurricane. (Oh, the name even sounds dangerous!) It's shocking how many bars there are along Bourbon Street. And it all usually begins with a person having just that one drink. "Well, you know me. I'm not a big drinker. But I'll have just that one Cosmopolitan with you."

And the truth is that most people can't stop at just one Cosmo or an Eggnog Gin Fizz! You know how it is. You're someplace where everyone else is drinking and so you get into a drinking mood, too. And do I even have to tell you? All those drinks can take a toll on your body.Hey, people don't look good when they're drunk. To me, they look they've used an eraser on their faces. Their eyes are all droopy and the corners of their mouths get that sagging look, too. And isn't it great to hear someone trying to talk when they're drunk?But what's also bad are the calories and fat grams that come with those alcoholic beverages. Oh, the drink looks so small but don't be fooled. That cute little cocktail may contain quite a few fat grams and portions of sugar. And after having a couple of drinks, you will definitely see a weight-gain behind them and "behind" you! I know some of you are attending parties during this holiday season. But please, keep your guards up when those drinks are offered up to you. You can gain weight without even touching the onion dip and chips.

If you have a FoodMover, look in your Exchange Booklet to see which portions of food groups you'll be splashing down with those cocktails. And if you're a Clubhouse member, you can get all of that information in the online version of the FoodMover. Maybe some of you think you don't have to worry because you don't drink "hard liquor." But don't forget, beer and wine also contain plenty of calories and fat grams. One of the worse things about being drunk is not having all your senses belong to you. And the worse part of that and I mean the really horrible part is that some people get behind the wheel of a car when they know they've had too much to drink. How many people are hurt or even killed each year because of the very unwise decisions made by a drunk driver?So if you want to have a drink at one of the holiday parties you're attending, just remember what's in that drink. And keep in mind, if you're not careful, that one little drink can lead to two drinks and to your hips.

And if you're feeling especially dizzy and wizzy, have someone else drive you home. One for my baby and one more for the road? Hey, not if you're driving!Love,