Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche
"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
“You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier
"Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas
"Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex
Well, I spent the day teaching my twin brother about cars, “this is a camshaft, this is your crankshaft, this is an alternator, it charges your battery” etc etc.
Well worth it as he has an Ice Cream van to take from London to Mongolia. I’m hooking up with him I think to get through the ‘stans and Iran.
Should be fun.
There is a book you should both read. “Investment Biker,” by Jim Rogers. Rode around the world on a BMW motorcycle. Why he chose that brand and his particular model is as much about logistics as it is about reliability. I’m thinking you’re going to need both, and reading from one who has done it before certainly can’t hurt.
– Max
12 hrs bottle to throttle but maybe at our age and with all them dependents give yerself an extra couple. I’m sure Virg is of the “hair of the dog” variety.
Good luck with that, mate. There are easier trails to hack than the one you’re contemplating.
Cap -
Nursing a bit of a sore squash, eh? A budyy of mine had such an affliction after we went out for a night at a honky tonk and he decided to drink 7 Red Bull & Vodkas…
Me – I stick with the Guinness – never an issue the next day and a delight to drink as any true Irishman wil tell ya.
Ah that was me yesterday. Only not from the Russian Disease but from the red wine & bourbon don’t really go together too well virus.
I think I have the hanging out with friends all night, time change, no breakfast disease… It seems to have the same symptoms as the Russian, though. Sitting here in the airport and hoping food comes soon.
Sounds like a Manhattan would’ve scratched that itch. One of my own fallbacks. Although, err, can’t really claim there aren’t any side-effects.
I’m finally over the cold that had me fagged out for better than a week. What pulled me through was rest, lots of water, and a couple hot toddy’s for to coat the throat and all that.
I do like Stoly, though… especially ice cold shots of their raspberry version.
I’m finally over the cold that had me fagged out for better than a week.
Prolly the same crap that migrated to the PNW, and got inside my head and chest yesterday.
Considering the options: Prairie Fire to clear the congested sinuses, or Macallan Cask Strength with a bit o water to make it all better…for now.
I’ve had the Bombay Saphirre disease once or twice, know well the feeling. Rule #1 of drinking: Never, EVER drink the cheap stuff, you may not live to regret it.
Bombay Sapphire = maybe best drink ever. 6 to 1 with some Martini Rossi extra dry vermoth, a couple dashes angostura bitters and a lemon twist, all ingredients (save lemon) plus the shaker and glass put in the freezer for a while (short time on the vermouth, it will freeze), shake vigorously with LOTS of ice made from distilled water. When you’ve got ice crystals floating on the top of the Martini you’ve made it cold enough. I’ve discovered a Saturday night with that plus a steak and a funny movie is my “happy place.”
Now that’s the perfect martini recipe that I’ve been looking to make with Bombay, thanks!
So the fabled “Whiskey Front” came in low, fast and early last night at Chez Lex, eh? Guy I flew with always maintained hangovers made for smoother pilots/athletes–the desire to keep jerky head/body movements to an ABSOLUTE minimum.
Hair of the dog always makes it better. Takes the edge off.
Santa Barbara. Sunday Brunch. Elephant Bar. Bloody Mary’s.
Day. All. Better.
Byron: Concur. GIGO-Garbage In Garbage Out.
Oi, Kris. What-ever-in-the-world possessed you to do that to yourself?
Ah well…first of all I have a very low capacity for alcohol of any kind. I figure I drank my life’s allotment in college.
On Friday evening we went to a party at friends, who served a lovely red wine of which I had 2 generous glasses. But The Oracle had a bourbon instead – and it was tasty. I know, cuz I had several tastes of his. So much so that he had a 2nd one. These were poured generously so that it was roughly 4 fingers of bourbon in each glass – I reckon I had 2 of those fingers.
Things were a little blurry after that.
“Things were a little blurry after that”
I’ll bet
Never forget rule #2 of drinking: NEVER mix your booze; whatever you drink first that day, drink nothing but that. It’s sorta like mixing nitrous with gasoline: it’ll be fun while it lasts till the engine melts and blows up 
Well normally I subscribe to that rule entirely Byron. But the party atmosphere and a few sips of that damn bourbon throughout things…blurry is all it got though. Nothing more serious than a touch of confusion in the AM.
I am a bourbon man. The only thing I allow to go with bourbon is a glass of beer. I usually pour about 4 fingers to a glass, and sip that until it’s time for a refill. I will occasionally have a glass of beer alongside it. Depends upon what I’m eating.
But Byron’s advice is excellent: Stick with something, and don’t mix the liquors. Always ask for top-shelf.
And if you really want to avoid the headaches next morning, NEVER mix the alcohol with soda. Neat is best, water or juice if you must.
Come home and take 800 mg of Ibuprofin before heading to bed, along with as much water as you can drink. Take a large glass of water with you and place it on the night stand. You’ll be happy later for that.
My favorite line from “The Undefeated” is by Rock Hudson, who, playing a Confederate Colonel, and speaking to ex-Federal Colonel John Wayne says “Someday, when I find the time, I’m going to write the social history of Bourbon”. That one scene, with the two of them passing a flask back and forth is so honestly done, so well written, that I’d bet even money it was an ad-lib’d scene, and they were drinking real bourbon!
“Hair of the dog,” Mongo? Bloody Marys? Well, yes, but have you ever tried a cold mug of 1/2 beer/1/2 tomato juice? Can’t remember what it’s called, but works ” ‘jes fine.”
Oh my…. we used to drink those quite a bit, back in the day. Provided the young airdale with alcohol as well as various enzymes and electrolytes for to withstand better the ravages of youth, or the following morning, or something like that.
When combined with olives and pickled eggs, it was also often known as “lunch”.
Ustabe… it was “No Smoking 12 hours before the flight, and No Drinking within 50 feet of the aircraft.”
Not any more, tho.
“If I’da known I was gonna live this long, I would’a taken better care of myself.” -Mickey Mantle
HA HA, boy was Mickey ever right! With my life-style I never gave myself a shot at past 50. Yet here I am. What am I going to be when I grow up?
Old… like me. I told the mrs that I had to grow older, but I didn’t have to grow up.
Read the recent series in the New Yorker about going across Siberia. You’d better take a native or I don’t like your chances. Also, take a LOT of mosquito repellent.
Geez, I sound like a light-weight: A couple of Sam’s in a frosted mug while watching the Manny Pacquiao- Joshua Clotty fight and the under card on PPV. I feel, so, so…underachieving.
I had no idea there was a demand for Ice Cream Vans in Mongolia.
Yeah, sounds like it could work as a Travel Channel episode or a Paul Theroux travelogue.
Google Mongol Rally. It will answer your questions.
It’s all for charity.
So, If we don’t our heads lopped off in Iran or one of the ‘Stans it’ll be all good.
Should be right though, if I can be friendly with Turkish gangsters, a branch of the Russian mob and a black gang in Northen NYC I think I’ll be right….
Then there was that border crossing into Cambodia that got closed shortly after we went through (we were in the Golden Triangle) because some drug gang decided to kill someone at the crossing with a fair hail of AK-47 fire.
PS: If it was easy everyone would do it and it would be no fun!
virgil dear … I hate to tell you this, but I *still* wonder what I’m going to be when I grow up. And we all know how old I am.
Decisions … decisions …
Marianne
In 1975, having been eliminated from the Nevada State A division basketball tournament by a TALL, gunning team of Air Force brats from Indian Springs,(pre-Creech) we found ourselves a cabbie who made us a purchase of Black Velvet at a drive thru liquor store a couple blocks from Circus Circus. First time with hard alcohol. Mixed it with Coke from the vending machine at the motel. Puked on a cheerleader, puked all over International House of Pancakes the next morning, then rode 450 miles north in a school bus with my face pressed against the cool window glass. Kept that cardboard box right there just in case, for the looooooong ride home. That was it for me and hard alcohol. A hard lesson learned well, and not forgotten. To this day, a big sniff of whiskey gives me a gag reflex. It’s cold beer or nothing.
Vodka, sadly, does that for me. Remember having a few vodka-tonics before going out with some buddies in college to the local Irish bar, neglecting a dinner before hand. The five minute walk started off happy enough. I felt kinda tired the instant we entered the bar so decided to put my head down on the table for a little while to gather my strength for the night. Within *seconds* the waiter was telling my buddies I had to go! OK, I play by the rules. As soon as I raise my head I’m rushing to the head puking all the way. Ends up what I recalled as *seconds* was about two hours. Unable to walk I had to be carried back to my apartment/cardboard box where for the next two days straight I laid in tremendous headache pain and dry heaved pretty much on the hour. Since then Vodka is a no-no. Someone once tried to slip a thimblefull into my OJ one morning to help me loosen up. Next 24 hours dry heaving with a migraine like headache. Sigh.
No single booze has ever done that to me. It was the foolish combination that has always done me it. I also stick to adding only tonic water and a sliver of lime, as putting anything that contains sugar (like Coke or Seven Up) is simply foolish; it just gets you drunk a lot quicker. Now, that night that started with 4 Black Russians, the several straight shots of Jack, and ending up with 5 daquirris, we just wont talk about. Let’s just leave it at that I was proud I could make it to my room on the second floor all by myself
LOL!
G-d, I might try to drink a diverse array of alcohols but I’m a total lightweight compared to THAT! Of course, best thing about being a cheap date is how little you have to spend to get yourself buzzed
Stephen, my friend, that was me and Gin. To this day, I can pound down all manner of Whiskey, Vodka or Rum, even Tequila…. but just the scent of Gin will leave me with my knees a quiverin’ and my stomach not far behind. All because of an over-indulgence on my 22nd birthday, back in the Dark Ages, of which we shall speak no more. Sigh…
My Kryptonite is Peppermint Schnapps. Nasty encounter as part of my college initiation…there were bathing suits and lots of singing involved.
There are, thankfully, no pictures.
I still get a mild shake whenever I get near the stuff – even if it’s properly sealed.
A tumbler of Knob Creek as I lurk, cheers.
That’s a wonderful choice, it is. I always have a large bottle of Evan Williams to hand, but Knob Creek, or Makers Mark is a fine choice too.
Respects,
Pepsi never that effect on me.
LOL! These stories in comments are great. I’ve got absolutely nothing competitive to contribute to the list. I never had a bad experience with any particular alcohol, but I’m such a lightweight that a simple Irish Coffee has been known to put me away for the night…
I’m with Prowler…vodka and I have agreed not to get along.
For the most part, I am a cheap date. But there are nights where I can hold my own. I’ve not yet determined the cause…enough food in the stomach? Hydrated properly? Timing between drinks? Composition of drinks? Not sure. But there have been a few nights where I can actually handle more than 2 drinks before I’m toast.
I’ve had enough in the way of hangovers to be quite content to be the designated driver (and/or key master…) these days. Much more entertaining for me that way.