Day 27 without alcohol.  I'm genuinely shocked.  Can't even remember the last time I did that.  Pretty sure my age started with a 2, the year did not, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular was to blame (I was a Rockette...that gig is 16 shows per week and my team started at 9am).  But since then, never.

I'm actually bummed Dryuary is coming to an end...for the following reasons:

Skin - My face is looking chiseled again.  No more puffer fish.  I don't dread seeing myself on camera or feel the need to stay far away from the lens.  A few small eruptions from either too much coffee or my skin is jumping in to help my body eliminate toxins.  Probably both.

Scale - Read 131.8 lbs...lost almost 7 lbs exactly, and I still have 5 days to go!

Sleep - Never better...and that's huge for a bipolar bear like me.  Not too long ago, I was in the throws of the worst manic episode of my life.  I was getting 2-4 hours of sleep per night for 6 months.  Before that I'd get 8 hours spread out over 12 (sleep 4, awake 4, sleep 4).  Insomnia will drive you insane.  There's a reason sleep deprivation is used to torture and break POWs.  Turns out the most important things in life aren't money and power...they're pooping and sleeping.  Ask Elvis.

Savings - I saved about $300... I know.

I wish I had it in me to go the distance, whether it's 2 more months for the magic 90 days or forever.  I probably do.  This has been very empowering (powerless my ass...never tell anyone they're powerless...unless you have them tied naked to a bottomless chair and are about to swing something at their nut sack).  But I don't have the desire.  I can't wait to have an IPA during the Super Bowl, or to have Champagne during the Oscars, or to visit a local winery with my husband to taste their pinot noir and pick their brains for growing tips.  I still need to do that blind taste test between Grey Goose and Oregon Spirit.  I really do want to visit every winery, brewery and distillery in Oregon (scoot over Julie & Julia).

Dry January is kind of like your parents coming home early to find you're having an out of control party.   "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!?"  The music stops, the lights come on. You know you're fucked.  "YOU...OUT! YOU...YOU'RE GROUNDED!  ONE MONTH WITHOUT ALCOHOL.  EVERYONE ELSE CLEAR OUT!  NOW!!!"

And after a month you swear you've learned your lesson, you'll never do it again, "Now may I please go play with my friend?"

"Fine.  But be RESPONSIBLE."

"I will."

"We'll see."

I look forward to this Friday (my first dry day was January 5th, so I have to stay after school 4 days in February).  But I'm going to enjoy the heck out of this last week.  I highly recommend Dry January to any and all who love alcohol.  No seriously.  Being high helps.

On a side note, remember that MindBodyGreen link I posted by Elettra Wiedemann?  In it she stated that without alcohol, her PMS symptoms were so minor she almost didn't notice them...yeah...that DID NOT happen for me.

NOW GET OUT.