— And For Me, It Was Easy

This is the modern, internet-era manifestation of an age-old characteristic of humans—when, at times, being on their best behavior.

Everybody has seen it. Everybody has done it. In times past, it was the telephone and before that, it was a personal visit; I’m sure.

It’s an imperative sometimes; for, there’s nothing more delightful than getting a call or visit from an inebriated friend. If you’re stone-cold sober, all more’s the fun. And as with all gifts, it’s always the thought that counts. Think of it: of all the people they could have picked to delight in, putting their heartfelt appreciation on display—“I love you, man”—only one was chosen, and you’re that special one.

Blessings are meant to be counted.

The telephone was my means of reaching out in the mid-1980s. Recently out of college, living in Japan, with a 17-hour time difference between myself and my friends and family on the West Coast, USA.

That meant that when I might already be many hours into whatever it was I might be drinking, by midnight, during a stage in home port, some fortunate body might just be getting up at 7:00am.

What better way to for them to start their day; I ask you?

… I might add that there’s a good reason that you do not phone up an ex at 7:00am when you’re in the same timezone…

First, the preliminaries. I have a whole post series where I’ve documented everything from day one that begins with my final drunk video, through my initial daily updates via post and video, then weekly, monthly, and finally, at 3 months. And now this post.

In terms of the content here, I’ve done a video. As I explain, I’ve developed a sort of rarin’ to go gig where I’m in bed between 9 and 10pm, up between 3 and 4am. Very rare you’ll catch me in the sac after 5am.

Rare indeed.

I’ve come to love the stillness of the early morning hours prior to sunrise and sometimes, I’ll head out on a walk—ending up at a convenience store to replenish smokes and grab a café Americano.

(Sometimes it’ll be around 5am and that’s when the local mosque has their morning call to prayer, which I love listening to…goes for the Buddhists as well.)

Here’s the specific topics I deal with in the video.

• That label! There’s a story to go with it
• Anger diminishment; and one’s baseline propensity to emotional anger or weepiness. Is regular alcohol consumption a factor?
• I’m moving far, far away! Pattaya? Bangkok???!!!
• Update on my Social Security and leveraging geoarbitrage
• How much moola does this member blog make?
• Starting a construction and development company

And it’s all in a fantastic setting: the morning calm of Nai Harn lake; and it commences at the crack of dawn.

… It’s some weeks now since I kicked off my offer of one-on-one sessions with a list of things in my substantial experience of 62 years that I will help you with. I don’t even recall considering including alcohol cessation in that list…goes to show how little and infrequently I even think about it. I’ve included it now.

But almost every inquiry and session I’ve done thus far is—you guessed it—on dumping the booze. I’m fucking good at it. If it’s of interest to you, try me and find out. If you’re not a member yet, grab that first, because that cuts the hourly rate substantially. Then, depending on which Membership level you choose, purchase an hour of one-on one with the corresponding coupon code.

How does it work? Watch the video first. Here’s a clue: you need not feel any guilt or shame, and I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, or, in the words of the Thais, talking “pākh̄wān” (ปากหวาน … ‘sweet mouth’). It’s just that there’s a better way to go about it. You’re drinking too much, too often. That is the behavior.

How do we fucking stop doing that?