Of Monsters... And Of Men

I am awake insanely early; I feel so hungover… but honestly did not drink that much… you’d think that my body would be able to handle alcohol better after having a month off? Clearly not…

I wanted to delete last night’s post or heavily edit it, but I think I’m overreacting. It could be that it just needs a follow up post. I tend to be too hard on myself. I try very hard to be “good” and to do what I should, but in my mind I’m failing. Even now, as I type I’m thinking “golly Sharon, no one wants to read this crap, make it funny” but it’s not funny, why do I need to be funny? Why do I need to edit myself? Who is going to get hurt by reading that I have a dirty wit and can no longer handle alcohol? If I scare people away by being honest, did they even really like me to begin with? I also tend to exaggerate a lot of things.

So, it’s 1 November, a week till my birthday, the end of no wheat and alcohol, and free of excuses. I usually count down to my birthday, very publically; I’ve done less of that this year. Obviously I’ve acknowledged it, but I’ve actually had comments from people about me not doing my annual count down from mid-September….

I feel like being sober again, I feel gross… my head hurts. I suppose it’s a balance thing? I know it is. I’m going to keep reasonably wheat-free this month too, I like the flatter stomach. And “No Excuse November”? Given that I am awake, should I be getting an early start and walking to work? No, headache says no…. but maybe I can actually be early for work and go for a walk at lunchtime (note, I’m committed now). I better plan a cute “walking during work” outfit – something wind appropriate.

Back to last night’s Monster Mask rant – I’m not fake, per say, I think I just judge myself harshly. I get tipsy, I flirt too much, I say things to shock people, I like that 2nd piece of cake, I buy lots of clothes, I don’t like washing up. But I think I’m getting a lot of things right – I can go a month without drinking, I can be single, I also say very nice things to people, I like to help people, I can be generous with my time and money, I do like ironing ;)

And now I feel I should say something profound, but instead I’m going to post this ramble and have a 30 minute nap.

Survival Tip: Alternative Party Drinks

I wish I could say that I did the Daisies without any form of stimulant... but I was totally downing Red Bull like a seasoned party animal... even though I've barely touched Red Bull in the last 30 years....

Apparently drinking two very fast makes me dance like an iTunes screen-saver (my description).

I had a heck of a lot of fun and have developed a love of electronic music. It was great to just dance and only feel a little dehydrated, with a small tummy ache. Viva the all night buzz without the morning pain!!

I would recommend a lot of water along with a high caffeine diet ;)

Here's To The Daisies Weekend Baby...

Dry Daisies....

.... Rocking The Daisies this weekend, and I'm going, and I will be sober!

It's it be fine... totally fine... I might have to tranqualise myself to get any sleep because I won't be under the sleepy spell of savigon blanc. I might starve a bit.... no burger rolls, pizza, sandwiches, pie.... remind me again why I'm doing this in October? Oh, right, because it's NOT easy....

I'm better off planning my festival wardrobe....

WANTED: Wine & Pizza

Arrrrrrrrrgh.... This week is lame and I want my comfort....

I wanted KFC (ok as I type this, I realise the crumbs are illegal), but decided to come home to my veggie soup. I was (still am!) really hungry, so decided to make scrambled eggs with my last two eggs. I opened a bottle of milk yesterday, apparently Best Before 5 October... it smells and tastes fine... who knows because as soon as the scrambled egg mixture bit the pan, my whole kitchen stank... of off milk, not egg.... I am cross.

I was going to start my Zombie training today, but I really don't want to - this week is too busy, I'm starving, I promise.... I will finish Spring Cleaning in lieu of exercise.... promise....

New Name, New Look, New Focus

I have grossly neglected my blog and my challenges, probably because I feel too busy, but perhaps because I wanted to do more than just focus on the challenges... so I present to you "Seriously Sharon?" - which not only covers my mad challenges... but also any stories from my unbalanced existence.

It is almost October again, which brings up the question "To Sober October, or not?" Obviously if I opt out, I look like a total alcoholic. So, I will indeed be doing Sober October again, and adding all of January's resolution goodness in there too... so NO WHEAT EITHER. Indeed.... *rubs invisible beard*

My brother will be Wheat & Alcohol Abhorrent for October too - how sweet. I'm hoping for a repeat of the drastic weight loss from January... my birthday is looming... It's a big birthday... I'd like to be less big... More about that later *shudders*

That covers the upcoming challenge... so how about a story now?

Sharon Runs Out of Petrol (in the rain) (200m from garage) (in traffic)
Need I say more?
Just as I'm thinking,"I will go get petrol, but not at Shell, I don't like Shell", I break down, on an uphill, just after the bridge in Gardens, it is pouring with rain, people are desperate to get home. I vainly attempt to single handily push my car up the incline (yes, it obviously is impossible).

The Strawberry Man comes to my rescue... whilst the Uno is super light on a flat road, it is horrid and lump-like on a incline... the car rolls back 2m... just then, could it be? The ambling frames of two young gentlemen? The three chaps easily push my car out of the way and into a parking. The young gentlemen high-five and all I can sarcastically think is "wow, you are SO strong.... you pushed an Uno". They do ask if I will be ok and then amble off.

Strawberry man seizes his moment to make a sale and cons me into buying his last punnet of over-priced strawberries "It's my last one, then I can go home..." He did offer to go buy my petrol but I was a little bit over him and was sure he'd expect a tip. I am so used to running out of petrol, that I carry a convenient bottle in the boot. So I stomp off towards Shell with my pink 5l bbq sauce bottle, the rain seeping into my very summer inspired outfit and pumps.

After buying my petrol, I could not resist Narona and squelched through the doors, looking like a wet dog. I order a pizza for take away, wiggling my bottle at the cashier and saying "I've got to go sort something out, I will be back"

Armed with a filthy Vida take away cup that I rescued from the gutter and my pink bottle, I squelch back to my car. Just then, Strawberry Man yells across the intersection to ask if I need help. Strawberry Man magically has 4 new punnets of strawberries - I respond by forlornly screeching "you lied to me!!!!!" across the traffic.

Back at the car I fashioned a funnel out of the cup (what a pro!), get most of the petrol into the car, pump the accelerator with all my strength until the Uno roared back to life and speed off. Yes, to get more petrol and my pizza.

The End

xxx

Progress... 26 days down

Ok.... so aside for me distracting myself with silliness of weird art and jokes....

This month has been... er.... eye-opening? difficult? creative? I hadn't stated all of my reasons for doing this sober month... so let's go through some of them:

Am I an alcoholic? - no, I just like wine and I'm lazy (as in, to find other ways to unwind), not addicted (and I'm not just saying that!)

Let's lose some weight! - er, nope, maybe like 2kgs!!! Nothing to write home about!

Improve appearance? - other than inspiring me to make more changes by going blonde? Not really...

Reputation? - very much intact, and after the first week my friends hardly batted an eye when I opted for sparkling water over chenin blanc

Creativity! - must say, this was unexpected, but I definitely feel more creative this month! Started a blog, a painting and redecorated quite a bit!

Work.... - Ok, maybe work that I brought home went faster and maybe a bit better without a glass of wine... Can't really say I have sprung out of bed any faster and after a few heavy days at work, I really did miss a glass of wine!

All in all, this has been a good challenge! Last few days will include... Halloween! Last year's Halloween was far from sober... so this should be... redeeming? ;)

Good Clean Halloween :)

Last Halloween got a little hairy for me... so looking forward to redeeming myself this year with some good clean fun. The Zombie Walk from the Company Gardens to the V&A seems like the perfect event AND in aid of a good cause!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205996119460730

30 October · 15:00 - 18:00

So, we're doing Zombie Walk again this year.
We'll meet in Company Gardens and Walk to The V&A Waterfront, dressed as zombies.

Terrorizing pedestrians is encouraged.

It looks like Mitchells is willing to donate 10% of their earnings to charity, the charity we're going to be sponsoring is The Lucky Lucy Foundation. Who take in neglected animals and rehabilitate them, then find them good homes. So come hungry...

Half Way There

So... half way there... and I have managed not to drink, but did dye my hair quite drastically.... here"s hoping that by the end of the month I don't have a body piercing or new tattoo... ;)

Just to be silly I Googled "things to do instead of drinking" - found a site listing 150 things to do! Notice they do suggest playing hairdresser (#90)!

http://sobersources.blogspot.com/2008/01/150-things-to-do-instead-of-drinking.html

picked out some of my favourites:
1. Read a book
6. Research your genealogy
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
85. Write a country-western song
93. Bake some bread
116. Tickle your kids
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
143. Set up a domino topple.
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.

"I was sober" - doing stupid things without alcohol...

Ok... blame it on the lack of a-a-a-alcohol baby... or that my 29th birthday is looming... so could just be a Quarter-Life-Crisis

I just dyed my hair... YELLOW... ok, bleached it blonde... here's a photo, before you ask...

I really don't know what I was thinking. I think I was honestly just bored! Instead of picking up a bottle of wine to help me unwind on a Friday night... I picked up a box of pre-lightener... and went neon? The opinion of a gorgeous bestfriend is "You really need to start drinking again..."

The girl below is TOTALLY pulling it off... so maybe I just need some good styling ;)



http://www.haircolorsideas.com/bright-hair-colors/yellow-hair/yellow-hair-color-idea/

You can, but I can't: Pinotage On Tap

Was actually so keen to go... but think the wine temptation would be too great :( come on, I'm being honest.

http://www.diemersfontein.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=180&Itemid=27

Cape Town (on the farm in Wellington) 22 October 2011

Prices:
R285.00 Fan Ticket (Ticket only)
R680.00 Fanatic Ticket (Ticket & 6 bottles of Diemersfontein Pinotage)
Tickets available at Computicket

Bands playing: Albert Frost, Hot Water and Evolver One

http://www.winelands.co.za says:

"Pinotage on Tap, the kuier of the winelands calendar, is back to launch the new vintage of Diemersfontein’s Original Coffee Chocolate Pinotage, at its home in Wellington.On offer are the essential features that fans have come to know and love, with some exciting twists in the uber-popular Pinotage party program.

Traditional cuisine will be offered throughout the event, including butter chicken, lamb tangine, Arrabiata pasta, ribs and classic braaivleis, while headline acts Albert Frost, Hot Water and Evolver One will ramp up the festivities.

At the forefront, the Original Coffee Chocolate Pinotage, consistently rated four stars in the Platter’s guide to wine, will be served on tap for devouring with fountains of chocolate and mountains of strawberries."

If you can't drink it....

... rub it on your skin ;)

Beer scented soap!

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brooklyn-brewery-beer-soap#!/photos/127531/1

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-organic-beer-soap

I gotta, I gotta, I gotta glass full of sunshine :)

Apparently this is a traditional South African drink? Never come across it... but sounds like sunshine in a glass :D

Pineapple Sherbet (Pineapple Smoothie)

Ingredients
1 medium-sized ripe pineapple (Canned may be substituted.)
8 cups water (approximately)
Juice of 4 lemons
Sugar, to taste

Procedure
Peel and core the pineapple. Cut up the fruit, and place it in a blender. Blend to a thick pulp. (Canned pineapple may be substituted.)
Place the pulp in a large pitcher, add the water, lemon juice, and sugar, and mix thoroughly.
Put the pitcher in the refrigerator to chill the sherbet beverage.
Just before serving, stir well. Serve over ice in tall glasses.

From a pretty cool site... check our more here: http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/South-Africa.html

Wavebender

Ok... so I was insulting mocktails before... but this one sounds yummy and summery :) think I need to hit the shops later:

Wavebender


30ml orange juice
15ml lemon juice
1 tsp grenadine syrup
150ml ginger ale

Pour the orange juice, lemon juice and grenadine into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well and strain into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Top with ginger ale, stir well, and serve. 


Recipe thanks to: http://www.drinksmixer.com, I just converted the measurements to metric

Dry Weekend(s) & Mocktails...

Looks to be a quiet weekend ahead... my cousin postponed our girly weekend together due to work - a likely story, I suspect that she just caught wind of my challenge and decided to wait a few weeks :P

Wasted some time last night researching Mocktail recipes online... some highlights:

- Seriously, surely "rum essence" is made of rum?
- Apparently combining pineapple juice, white grape juice and ginger ale = mock champagne??? *groan*
- Adding grenadine to any fruit juice makes it a Mocktail?
- "Mint Spinach Mocktail" is clearly a summer soup served in a glass, right?
- a "Julius" is a fruity milkshake (no comment), they come in peach and orange
- a "Purple Cow" is a synthetic grape Julius"

Bottomline... think I will stick to normal fruit juice.... :-/

TGFGT :)

Thank Goodness For Gin & Tonic

Ok.... it's the last night of Suip-tember (pahahaha... just made that up) and I decided a G&T would be the perfect "last drink", accompanied by a huge platter of sushi (of course). :)

I tried to google "non alcoholic alternative to G&T" and got this answer:
Juniper Dry Soda & Fever-Tree tonic water, with a wedge of lemon and ice

*clueless* yet another recipe that's impossible to make in this country - or am I wrong? I will need to research Mocktails further...

extra reading here on why Mocktails suck

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123879740183388057.html

Tick tock

Ok... Sober October is almost upon me... and I managed to spill wine in my brother's shoe... (he had his shoes off)... fabulous family fact: He is the ying to my yang... the sober to my drunk... yup... you can't hide the fact that someone's shoe pongs of cabernet when they don't drink at all...

This brings up a memory of me dropping a bottle of chenin blanc and flooding my shoes in PnP, in front of my long suffering mother... nothing lines you up for favourite child than wine feet in PnP...

Do I really want to do this?