3.) Drunk.
Looking back I don’t really understand it. Maybe this is what growing up is all about…you suddenly start using your brain. Why does it take 30+ years to realize that getting wasted every weekend is not all it’s cracked up to be?
And in some cases…we’re still learning.
“Finals are over!! I’m so glad, what are we doing tonight I need to get wasted!!”
or
“I’m fighting with my boyfriend, OMG let’s just go out and get wasted!!”
or
“I brushed my hair, LET’S GO GET WASTED!!”
We really didn’t need a reason. And it was always the same thing. We would meet up for drinks at one of our apartments, try on a thousand different outfits before choosing the perfect tight top, spend an hour on our hair and make up, and listen to Snoop Dogg while drinking horrid concoctions of punch and vodka that consisted of far too little punch and far too much vodka.
We would spend hours chatting and giggling and primping all in an effort to look perfect for our fun and crazy night out on the town. We would proceed to go out, make ourselves sick, stumble back into our apartments, and spend the rest of the next day barely lifting our heads from the floor to eat cold pizza and watch re-runs of the Real World. A reality tv show that followed seven of our peers doing the exact same thing in a different place but having a whole lot more sex.
At least we weren’t having sex.
That made what we were doing pretty admirable, no?
What I don’t get now, in my very wise age, is why in the world we spent so much time looking forward to, planning, prepping, spending money, and just plain giddy about a night that would ultimately leave us feeling sick.
“Finals are over!! I’m so glad! What are we doing tonight I need to throw up!!”
or
“I’m fighting with my boyfriend, OMG let’s just go out and puke!!”
or
“I brushed my hair, LET’S GO GET SICK!!”
Why did we not put these strange puzzle pieces together? Hmmm…when I go out and drink until I forget how to swallow, I wind up feeling worthless and lonely on my bathroom floor! How about Scrabble tonight instead!?!
I plan to share these thoughtful lessons with my children to help them avoid making the same mistakes I did.
When they turn 21 and think about celebrating with 21 drinks and a group of wild friends…you bet I’m going to bust out the board games,
“you youngsters don’t want that poison in your bodies…believe ME! Maile pour these good people some milk, Kainoa bring in that tray of cookies, Laina roll that dice! YAHTZEE!”
******************
Booyah's Momma says
I shudder to think of all the brain cells I killed in the drunken shenanigans of my younger years. If I would have known how much I’d need those extra brain cells once I became a mom, I doubt I would have touched the stuff.
Bruna says
Oh God, I don’t even want to think about my pre-teen drinking and puking!
Funny how, in hindsight, we see things differently. If we only knew then what we know now. You highlighted my younger years SO beautifully!
MommaResa says
I am continually glad that I was pregnant on my 21st birthday and have never really gotten the “let’s drink until we puke more than 2 nights in a row” bug. And I’ve only done the drunk weekend thing once (and have life long consequences “Hello Baby Boy”.)
Thank God for Maturity.
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
All I have to say is that I want that giant margarita you are drinking.
Nicole@MTDLBlog says
I {Heart} Snoop.
And yet another reason we’re kindred. :-)
Oh…and there’s the college drinking and puking thing too….I had stories to share, but…….
if we ever meet in person, I’ll buy you a shot and tell you then. :-)
Carrie says
I was never a huge drinker but I had my fun. My husband however can count on one hand the number of times he has been drunk…actually he only needs two fingers :p
Smart boy, he landed all the chicks by drinking a big mug of MILK at the bar.
Holly L says
It all seems so good until after…ugh! I do hope my son is a geek and at home playing video games instead of getting wasted…fingers crossed!
Monique says
This is my first time participating in your writer’s prompt so I thought I’d better participate the right way and leave a comment!
I have daughter who was born on New Year’s Eve and a son born on Cinco De Mayo so I can only imagine the party they think they’re having when they understand “21” {thank goodness they’re only 7 and 2}!
I went a little crazy in my day, I made everything an excuse for a party. I wish I could chaperone all four of my children’s “celebrations” – I’m most likely going to try!
Erin says
Those were definitely some good times…..well except the barfing, hung over, sleeping to rid myself of a headache! Oh yeah….good times! HA
I did post about a 22 tequila shot going away party that I actually did not puke on!
Holly @ Diamond Potential says
“I brushed my hair, LET’S GO GET WASTED!!”
“I brushed my hair, LET’S GO PUKE!!”
BAHAHAHA!!! That’s just so funny to me… Not the wasted and puking… just the whole concept of ANY REASON…
YES!! UNO!!! ;D
Marvi Marti says
OMG the thinking we had back then….and the swearing of never again on Sunday morning, then by Tuesday night ready to do it again! SO glad I don’t do that anymore, the older I get the fewer brain cells work as it is!
Jennifer says
Game night–what a great idea! I hope that works with my kiddos (especially the one born on Cinco de Mayo)! ;)
Kelly says
I’m with Rachel. That looks yummy!
I will say, though, that my body just can’t do that any more.
Thank. God.
Vicarious Chelsea says
Your words? Make perfect sense.
Those pictures though? Make me want to go drink.
Mrs.Mayhem says
This post is AWESOME! Thanks for the laugh.
Funkidivagirl says
All it took for me is 1 college spring break in Mexico to NEVER drink like that again!
angie says
Youth is a beautiful thing. It’s amazing what one can do to their body and STILL function. If my children do to theirs what I did to mine, I’m going to spend a decade in the fetal position crying WISHING they knew what they were doing and wishing they were NOT.
Dumb Mom says
Well, I hope your children enjoy their board games on their 21st birthdays. And then follow that up with a drink!
BalancingMama (Julie) says
Oh my, our children are going to turn 21? That is a frightening thought. Love your pics!
Los says
It was a way to blow off steam … and back in the day, we were ABLE to drink those amounts and recover rather quickly … plus, in a way, it made us feel like adults … truthfully, I miss those days a little … not the crowds at the bars and clubs, but the hanging out with friends and the lack of responsibilities!
JDaniel4's Mom says
I remember all the blowing off of steam in college and am so glad I am not there now.
Paula Kiger says
Oh boy, this post – if I had “chosen” #3 I was contemplating writing about being “drunk on happiness” or something! I didn’t sow a lot of wild oats – especially in high school (hellooooo Southern Baptists!) but in college I sowed a few (still not many) and my adult experiences that were the worst involved tequila. The less said about that, the better! Fingers crossed and prayers said that my kids spend less time on the bathroom floor barfing and more time around the scrabble board – pass the milk and cookies!
Cecelia Winesap says
I never understood the incessant need to “party” every weekend either… it’s probably because I was never invited to go anywhere to “party.” :)
Ada says
Truer words have never been spoken. It sure seemed like a good idea at the time, but in hindsight I have to wonder what the heck I was thinking. All that time puking could have been spend conquering the world! I suppose it’s lesson most of us have to learn by experiencing it, but I like your idea of luring your kids away with board games!
Dominique says
Glad to know that your #2 is fine and safe at home. I once had my #2 missing for a few minutes at a shopping centre as he went of somewhere with my parents maid. I really hit the roof and swear never to let the maid touch him or even take care of him ever. Period.
Annie @astonesthrowfrominsanity says
Why does it amaze me that I, like you, was incredibly stupid in my younger years?
How many brain cells do you supposed we killed??
Jen says
But, but, but… its a right of passage. Let them do it once so that they can clean up their own vomit and then hopefully they will never do it again.
This thought process worked so well for me. ;)
Peg says
And I see you’re off to a great start! LOL
Yeah, why DID we do that stuff? You should add why don’t we go burn all our money and THEN get sick?
Diane says
I look back on some of the stupid, stupid, STUPID crap we used to do while drunk, and I’m amazed we all lived to tell about it!
Pam says
Though I did enjoy partying my way through college (undergrad AND grad) I only got really, really drunk 3 times and Holy Cow it was terrible! After that, just to the point of tipsy for me! I am NOT fond of worshiping the porcelain king!
Dominique says
Dunno why my comments for Dumb Mom’s post got mixed up.. wanted to say I haven’t really experience being whoozy or drunk as am not a big fan of drinking
Sarafree says
Wondering how I can keep my children from repeating my stupidity. I guess talking and writing about it could be step one. I’m also working on making them big geeks!
HisBell says
So true! I love “Finals are over!! I’m so glad! What are we doing tonight I need to throw up!!”
Unfortunately… I still have some close friends… or former friends… still at that stage. They’ll learn. Some day.
Nice One says
How did my liver survive my twenties???
Shell says
Oh, God. I’m frightened about my kids repeating some of my mistakes. Nights I don’t remember.
I was still 21 when I realized that drinking like that was stupid. Yes, I was weird.
Not that I totally stopped, but I did stop doing it all the time.
Stephanie S says
Great prompts, as always – I’m kicking off a *special* flurry of posts at my blog, and your first prompt fit perfectly!
Thanks for being so dang awesome!
Mrs. Jen B says
My old roommate introduced me to a whole new level of drunk. Drunk to the point of passing out on a stranger’s bed – luckily, I only got shaving creamed for it (looking back I am still so embarrassed that I did that). Drunk to the point of “Oops I forgot there was a step down from the ladies room and rolled my foot over and fractured something but I’m just gonna walk all over the place anyway because I don’t feel it yet”. Needing sunglasses to step outside 2 days later drunk.
And now? He’s still doing it, though not quite as frequently. I, on the other hand, don’t even remember why I did and can’t imagine how much $$$ went towards feeling like hell the next day.
Teresa says
You’re keeping us on our toes with the prompts this week. I like it! Your post is a great lesson to be taught. I hope my son and daughter find something better to do to let off steam when they head off to college soon. I can still hope right?
vanilla north says
ok, first: “3.) Drunk.”
i guess i need some catch up to so here… :)
second: as much as I am a sucker for bourbon -and Cava when in Barcelona- I hate to feel sick, so I chill and take it easy when I drink.
I doubt that that lesson will affect MissAttitude and LittleDumbass when is their turn to drink…
liz says
Looking back, I think it’s ridiculous that we all spent SOOOO much time getting ready to go out. I met Craig in college, and I remember him telling that guys don’t care about that like we think they do, and that really, we were all just getting dressed up to impress our girlfriends.
Also? I’ve never got sick from alcohol.
Please don’t hate me.
The Drama Mama says
I love how you started one way, and then repeated it at the end using different words. I don’t understand what it’s all about either. I personally hate headaches.
Funkidivagirl says
I did that ONCE during spring break in Mexico (in college) and once was enough!
Emily says
Did you go to my college? You had me laughing. Hmmm, it seems quite a bit of us picked “Drunk” including me!
Khara says
Right?! How many of the times after would I say, “I’m NEVER drinking again!” You would think I’d learn a little faster, ’cause man, I hate puking!
Kate says
I was never a huge fan of alcohol but I did get totally wasted once. I happened to spend the weekend of my 21st birthday in Alcapulco (we were taking an intensive Spanish class in Mexico) and one of the nights the “activity” was going to a club (yes, this was actually part of the trip). There was a pretty high cover but after that drinks were free. The problem was that the bus dropped us off around 10 and the music didn’t even start until after 12 so we didn’t have anything to do for hours but sit around and talk and get free drinks. I’m still not sure how many I had (7, 8 maybe?) but it was enough to make me feel like crap and I have never been more than tipsy since.
the undomestic housewife says
I was never a big fan of getting drunk – and really don’t do it very often. Probably have been completely drunk only 2 times – but I hate the sick, woozy feeling that comes with it.
Loved this week’s prompts – If I had more time I would have written a post for each of them.
Jayme (The Random Blogette) says
SO I finally linked up for the first time ever!
I used to drink way too much on NYE. And I always said that I would never do that again on New Year’s Day! This year I only had an amaretto sour with dinner. It’s my fancy drink.
Erica says
See, I appreciate alcohol way more now that I’m a parent. Without it? No clue how I’d stay sane. Of course, my son does shout excitedly on my behalf every time we pass a liquor store, “Look Mommy! WINE!”
Emily says
I just have to say I LOVE your blog. I’m a 23 yr old recent college grad who is just starting to live in the “real world”. I know nothing about being married or having kids but your blog makes me laugh out loud every single day. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog, twitter maybe? But I’m glad I did! This post is by far one of my favorites – it’s so true. Every Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sunday Fundays we go out and get way too drunk. Every morning after we say we’re never drinking again.. but then by the time Friday rolls around we’ve obviously changed our minds. My mom always tells me I’ll learn… eventually. Thanks for entertaining me!
kisatrtle says
Sometimes I am amazed that I survived some of the stupid stuff I did.
MusingMom6 says
This was a very fun, enlightening and needed prompt for me.
Thanks!
B says
So many great prompts to choose from this week. I too went with Drunk.
My son has promised to spend his 21st birthday with me. I told him I’d take him to Vegas but I needed it in writing that he was spending it with me and only me.
Kim says
Funny: I just watched an Ellen show where she had Snooki on (whom I barely know anything about) and Snooki was talking about how it’s a great night if she doesn’t pass out from drinking too much – yikes. If your kids end up heavily in some kind of sport you may not have to worry about the drinking too much thing – the tennis and swimming commitments made me too tired to even think of going out to drink.
Scary Mommy says
This post made me want to get drunk.
Patrice says
This post pretty much sums up my life… because I’m 21. And in college. Too bad I didn’t pick this prompt. Oh yeah, that’s because my grandparents read my blog. Don’t feel like explaining my drunken escapades to them! ha
Kristi {at} Live and Love Out Loud says
I have a confession to make. I don’t think I’ve ever been drunk. Though I probably wouldn’t remember right? Who knows…
Oh well, in totally unrelated news I love your eye makeup. I always do! :)
ElizOF says
Happy New year to you Kat!
Yeah, this is a bit late in the day but I’d be rather late than never send good cheer.
Thankfully, for many who indulge, it becomes old hat and they move on to greener pastures. What worries me are those who don’t stop and then become a danger on the road…
May we all be divinely protected this year! :-)
Best,
Elizabeth
Tracee says
How sweet…this brought back so many memories. It was a Hallmark moment for me, so I emailed the link to my girlfriends. Some of them have high school aged children now.
nic @mybottlesup says
exactly
Varotica says
So true … so true what you write! I am a bit frustrated that I checked your blog only today so I missed the workshop thursday. Maybe I’ll write it anyways, I’ll see. But I am commenting for another reason – although this is a fun post and sounds oh-so-true to our “old ears”, there actually is a scientific explanation for this behavior as a teenager. I thought about this for a while because I do not want to “ruin” a perfectly fun post by a serious comment but in the end I felt like it cannot be wrong to point out that there is an explanation. So just in case you are interested: I do not have any idea how intense the studies were though. Just to mention the core argument from that study I saw a documentary about: In a teenage brain our reward centre actually works a bit different. It is way more intense and thus for teenagers it is a lot harder not giving in to short term satisfactory rewards than for adults. We are actually able to think more long term because our reward center does not get in the way.
Alicia @MommyDelicious says
So funny, but so true. I remember my undergrad years and it was like as soon as midterms and finals were done… time to drink! Too little punch and too much vodka brings up way too many memories. LOL. And sometimes we’d do it on too little (or no) sleep. Luckily, I’ve lived and learn before turning 30. Now I only have 1-3 drinks b/c I need to function effectively the next morning.
Cheers to growing up!