Wow, I've never started one of these before. Oh the feeling of power!!!

Seriously though, here's hoping you have a great day!

And it reminds me of the time one of my cousins said something similar to me in front of her kids, to whom she then had to sheepishly explain exactly what it was I was legal to do (smart little beggars).

But really, it's not all about me, I swear.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Lily!!! I hope you have great day surrounded by those you love.

And remember, as a wise man one said "Everything is good in moderation, especially moderation." Or something like that. :P

Thanks, guys! It was great; I had friends, a coconut cake, and a (virgin) pina colada. Because I am a coward. ;) :P (Not for their lack of trying, mind you. -_-)

out of curiosity, what were you afraid of?

Good for you! Believe me, there's nothing that great about booze. Fun on occasion but most of that fun is in the old "forbidden fruit" element which, once you turn legal is no longer an issue.

And it's nice that you have friends with a sense of fun but that they did not pressure you into drinking.

I'm glad you had a good time and the coconut cake sounds wonderful :D

Says who? When in Europe Alcohol got a hundred times better, cuz I could drink it in public. I could buy it, and not be refused cuz of my age. I think I had a drink with every meal except breakfast, and I enjoyed it. And I drank every meal because I was on vacation.

But yeah, Lily, I wouldn't have pressured you either and if you don't want to drink cool. I understand not everyone likes drinking.

Oh don't get me wrong, I like to have a drink. Nothing like an ice cold beer on a hot summer day while working in the yard (or on the roof or anywhere else that gets you sweating buckets), or a gin and tonic on a warm summer evening, or a dry gin martini when you're out with friends or a glass of wine at dinner or a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub with complete strangers. But, it's really no big deal if you know what I mean.

I think pre-legal there is such a big fuss made over booze and once you're legal that all goes away. All that mystic and edginess isn't there anymore. Like when you're a little kid and you have no money and everything comes through the adults in your life. Everytime you want a candy bar you have to beg. When you're old enough to get an allowance or a paper route or mow the neighbors yard and you have your own money you think 'Wow, this is great. I can buy a candy bar whenever I want one!'. And at first you do but as time goes by you find other things to spend that money on and those candy bars just aren't as appealing as they once were. Booze is booze, just like candy is candy.

Plus, at least for me (I became legal when I was 18), real life demanded my full attention, I no longer had time for parties and hangovers. I just felt the consequences of drinking outweighed the pleasures of drinking.

Ok that's fair. But I 've been able to drink in front of my parents and majority of my friend's parents for the last year, and my parent's knew before that I drank, and said I know you're going to probably drink, just don't get caught, drive, or do something stupid. So it's not edgy for me really, the only thing I hate is depending on others to go to the store for me and buy my booze, I can't wait until November when if I decide I want a case of beer or a bottle of Whiskey or Gin I can go to the store myself and buy it, and I don't have to drink nasty light beer since it's who ever's buying it's choice. I know I don't have to drink the light beer, but in that situation I drink to drink, because it relaxes me. Sober I'm a terrible people person, but if I get buzzed I can talk to anyone. Buzzed not drunk, though I enjoy that too but that's something I do rarely and only on weekends. For me I'm not saying I'm going to buy alcohol every time I go shopping but I am taking advantage of the fact that I can (Wouldn't be suprised if I did that either). It's always been for me on anything, is I want the freedom to do stuff, even if I decide not too. If I have that choice and decide not to do it's my choice, not some one else's.

At least for me it was never this "OMG! BOOZE THE DEVILS DRINK!!!!" or "hahaha I'm a rebellion against my parents. Muahahaha" I drank because simply I enjoyed drinking not because I was pressured to do it, hell most of the time in the beginning my friends wouldn't drink with me.

Nothing that's that big of a deal. I just know me pretty well, and colorful, ice-cold drinks have always been just a little too appealing. <_< Like, the drink itself is what's appealing and not the company or whatever, and that just seems like it has THIS IS A BAD IDEA splashed across it in big red letters. So I really kind of want to drink, but probably all that means is that I really kind of shouldn't. Disappointing, but there it is. ;)

Actually, the thought of giving up any control at all of my actions around other people is probably enough to stop me from drinking, ever, for all time. You should see me when I know I'm going to get put halfway, but not completely, out at the doctor's office. Or when I had my wisdom teeth out: "You mean, I can still talk during the surgery? To you? Like, anything could just pop out? And I'll never know what all I said in there? This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, whose idea was this?" It still stings. :(

If your worried about what you say while drinking, don't worry. Everyone says stupid things while drunk and you don't lose total control of your actions (you have to be schnockerd for that). And one drink shouldn't get you very drunk. buzzed maybe.

Though for me this is a bad idea never did have much effect on me. Except this is a bad idea and it's %99 likely I'm going to die/ get arrested does.

Well, the irony in me saying what I did--and also in my cousin saying what she did-- is that for a variety of reasons--physical and spiritual-- I don't drink at all.

I suppose if it fits your philosophy of life and you can handle it, e.i. keep it in moderation, then there's nothing wrong with it. On the other hand, there's also nothing wrong with not doing it.

Chances were though if I did drink I'd probably not be terribly fun; I'd probably get maudlin/weepy/ solipistic and then pass out completely judging from the effect medication seems to have on me.

As for colorful beverages, I do have that attraction. I fulfill it via Jone's Soda. Great stuff if you can get it. Really odd flavors too. There's the nearly florescent green Sour Apple, the Fu-Fu Berry is nearly hot pink, and Blue Bubble Gum is bright blue. There's also Berry Lemonade which is pale blue, and absolutely delicious especially when it's hot out, cherry-lime, Crushed Melon--sort of tastes cantaloup-y-- Cream Soda--sort of clear-- and Watermelon. When I had a job that involved going into an office I used to love bringing one of the wierd flavors for lunch and having everyone stare at what I was drinking trying to work up the courage to ask. This was also the job where my friends used to tease me about being drunk at work because I brought in the ocassional--non-alcoholic-- Apple Beer (this may be a Utah or Western US beverage). Of course the Jone's Soda people were also the ones who made Gravy flavored soda a few years ago around Thanksgiving, I just couldn't work up the nerve to try that one though.

I should quit hijaking threads I'm going to continue this in another thread.