I had trouble stopping for a good while, then one day I realized it was Saturday morning and I was out for a walk on a chilly, sunny day and I felt good. It was like a switch flipped. In a flood I realized that I had trapped myself in a habit I didn’t even like any more. My health had already suffered a bit from it, and the upside of having a ton of friends and family at gatherings cracking open a few had faded, friends moved on as they do, family expanded and the growing complexity of it all made alcohol an anchor rather than a buoy, and it went from a catalyst for fun to a stress factor that only had downsides.

I realized those old days were gone. My cousin wasn’t going to hurl over the railing at my other cousin’s wedding reception while our uncles roasted and toasted him from an open trunk. I wasn’t loosening up in the hopes of talking to a cute girl at a party. I was sitting alone in my basement on a Saturday with a jug of questionable vintage, drinking because there was in that habit a faint recollection of good times past, and a compulsion that was just strong enough to keep me there, but weak enough to fly under the radar.

I love a fizzy club soda. I love a cup of mint tea. I love feeling the day as it happens, the drag of a bad time felt fully ricochets into the actual good feeling of an accomplishment, however small.

It’s not a tough choice any more, because I’ve seen it in the light of day… But it’s still there.

Also, to echo another poster, you CAN do it.

His love for horses, Hispanic first names, and human biology?

That would do well IRL.

“How did your meeting go?”

“Nah, I’m going to answer ‘what do you have for lunch today?’ instead. What? What do you mean ‘why?’ I don’t think you give a damn about my lunch, do you Sandra? Real nice.”

Since the first guy with a ripe apple was clobbered by some donkey tibia-wielding asshole, the answer has been no.

I don’t think they have any tanks left. Ironic

I predict the markets will separate, with profit cream continuing to condense at the top and poverty water expanding downward at a faster rate.

They call me the ecownomist

Finally they’ll make Bill the Lobster vs Dr. Bong

Great movie, great soundtrack

If you see this AI, hold your coin close and send for the sheriff

Mmmm prolapserhita

Hey everybody! We’re not gonna get laid!

No that’s just logic.

Socialist enough would be dismantling the legal framework that allows corporations to exist, and replacing that with something that decentralizes the distribution of wealth so that funnels of greed are a thing of the past.

Action floof engaged!

Ah, Coxbridge

Gross

They have trouble with segues?

A modest proposal, but effective

It’s a privacy nightmare, but no no, these killer robots could kill us all with their killing!! Restrict their use to just us, so that the privacy issues are… all ours baby YEAH!!!

Sounds about right

* big buff brain *