Cold Hard Fact

There comes a point in every woman's life where she comes to accept some very real and true cold hard facts about herself.  This morning, I accepted one very cold hard fact about myself: I am no longer in college and therefore can no longer drink like I am in college.


Yes, I am a woman. I am no longer that cute 22 year old Senior who can go out Wednesday night for $1 Long Islands, Thursday night for 25cent drafts, and dance on the speakers on Friday and Saturday night at Sportsgarden.  Nope, it's official. I am old and I have to learn to drink as though I am old.


Last night I went out with a sister from college and one of her co-workers.  We talked the big game about how we three Yankees were going to spend our first big night out in Atlanta looking to charm a new Southern gentlemen.  We were just going to be ourselves; what Southern man couldn't resist our blunt Northern "charm?"


Needlesstosay there were very few gentlemen who were charmed by our Yankee-ness. Or perhaps the mixing of beer, liquor, and jello shots created a night that I can not fully recall. Regardless of the male company we kept or lacked, last night was a very fun night with two women who I am glad live near me in the South.  Us Yankees need to stick together sometimes and I stumbled upon a very fun night.  


So cold hard facts.  When you're nearing 25, it's all right that you can no longer mix your alcohol like you are 21.  And it's also right to go out and just be you...even if at the end of the night you're going home with your girlfriends. 

24 Goals Update

So it is now March...3 months into my 24th year on this Earth.  Figured I'd update you on what I have accomplished in the last 90ish days.

1. Rock my student teaching semester. Conquer it. Learn. Become a better teacher.This is definitely happening! I start my next placement on Wednesday but I rocked my first student teaching placement.  Both my cooperating teachers agreed I have chosen the right profession. My supervisor even said I am well on her [my] way to having her [my] own classroom." :)

15. Gain a more professional demeanor.
Still in progress, but I have certainly come into my own professional demeanor. This was specifically pointed out to me when I presented at a Social Studies conference this past Friday to veteran teachers.  Yes, a student presented to teachers.

On an unprofessional note, I'm totally bad ass & def got sawg.

17. Try 24 new beers, rather than the old standbys
Ok, I haven't gotten to 24 yet, but I'm working on it. What I've tried:
Ithica Smoked Porterhouse- tastes burnt/smoked. No thanks!
Sweetwater Brew 420- ehh it's all right
Sierra Nevada- LT said the draft was old, so I don't think I got the real flavor. Definitely have to try it again.
Brickyard Porter- pretty nice, I'd drink it every once and a while
Sam Adam's Pildsilfjdfj- I can't remember the name, but it's new & I don't like it. Too much after flavor.
Smithwycks- Had this on St. Patty's Day...definitely better than that first Irish beer I had that night!

I know I've tried a few others, but seriously I haven't been impressed. Molson Canadian is still #1 in my book.

22. See Luke, Lady A, and Dierks in concert.
Well I saw one of them- LUKE!! Actually won the concert tickets at the end of January! Freaking awesome experience! Read: Meeting  & Greeting Luke Bryan blog post.

24. Bring my 1.5mile time down from 13:30 to 12:00.I have brought my time down at the gym when I time myself on my sweet Ironman 30 Lap watch.  Currently running about a 12:05 1.5mile and a 16:25 2 mile. Go me!

Sorbet

I don't know if any of ya'll have ever read The Between Boyfriends Book by Cindy Chupack, but it is an amusing collection of essays about that time between boyfriend A & B [see: Take It]. In one of her essays, Chupack talks about the "Sexual Sorbet," who is a guy that you sleep with after a breakup...in order to cleanse your palate.

Her argument is that you need to put some distance between yourself and your failed realtionship. Now, hopefully none of you are appalled or shocked by this entry yet. I mean, let's face it, men do it...and we shouldn't be all virginal about the whole concept either. 

Now, neither Chupack or I am advocating sleeping around.  First off, protect yourself and be smart about this. Second, there is always old standbys that many women keep around for when they are lonely [fact of life, people, just move on, and accept this entry!].  Use one of them if the prospect of putting another notch in your bed post makes you cringe. 

And this isn't a means to enter into a relationship either. No, no, that's rebound and we are self-aware women and we know that we are not ready for that yet, emotionally. This is stickly a cleanser. Sorbet. Like one of those crazy cleanser-fasting diets that women go on to clean out the system.  That's all we are talking about here.

You need to put some distance between you and your ex. You need it, believe me. I'm not saying it has to happen that very night. I am simply saying that when you think you are ready to cleanse the palate, when you are ready to leave that taste in your mouth behind, get some sorbet!

Sorbet is better than Listerine...trust me.

Cold Beer Drinker

I'm a big fan of brown glass bottles. I'm also a big fan of frosted glasses. Hello, I'm Lorelai and I'm a cold beer drinker.

For me, one of the most satisfying things in this world is a nice cold, great tasting beer. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so.  Ben Franklin, yea the historical guy who is found on $100 bill, said: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Ben's right on this one (the turkey being the national bird of the country...eh not-so-much)! Hundreds of songs have been written about the tasty liquid and enjoying it in a bar, honky-tonk, and tailgate.

I shouldn't have to try to convince you that beer is amazing and by far the best version of alcohol in the univserse.  The calories are what make it taste so freakin' good! So enjoy them! And don't order a light beer. That's like ordering a piece of birthday cake...without the frosting. Sad.

During my 8 weeks at boot camp, I craved beer like no other in this world. And its not that I wanted to get loaded...I just wanted that smooth, lovely hops & barley concoction on my lips.  In fact, I don't use beer to get loaded. Maybe in my youthful, undergrad days, but definitely not now in my sophisticated graduate days. I think beer should be valued.

Did you know the reason beer is so popular in the more Northern European countries (ie: England, Germany, Denmark) is this thing called The Little Ice Age that happened between the 11th and 12th centuries?  They had orginially been more into wine, but the Little Ice Age happened and they no longer had a climate suitable to sustain a large grape crop that wine required.  So, they turned to what still would grow in colder temperatures; sturdy and hearty hops, barley, & wheat. 

That being said, I am not a beer connoisseur. In fact, I know very little about the creation of, the differences in, and the quality of beer.  What I do know is all from trying out different beers and finding the ones I like.  And I am a very loyal beer drinker. I know what I like. I know what I don't. But I am willing to try something new if someone recommends I try it...or it has an interesting name or label.  Going to resturants that have micro-brews is one of my favorite things. (Huske Hardware & The Mash House in Fayetteville, NC have a fantastic selection of micro-brews for the record.)

My favorites: Molson Canadian, Yuengling Traditional Lager, and Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.

I would love to visit the brewery in Montreal for Molson.  Yes, that is one of the things on my to-see list.

So, this Saturday, I'm going to go hang out with the boys, watch some college football at the bar and drink a few ice cold beers.  Yes sir, I'm a cold beer drinker.