WAR IS OVER! (if you want it)

So I played into my whole "not fighting a losing battle" theory tonight. Met some friends for tacos after I went to the gym. We're sitting there...six guys...five beers. I knew that would probably be the case going in, and was completely comfortable. Tacos are delicious on their own-- Tacos do not demand beers.

So we all finish, step outside for a smoke, and someone throws out the idea of going to shoot a game of pool and watch the end of the Laker's game down the street. Now, I really like pool, and I like watching the Laker's...but I also know that for me at this point in time, shooting pool demands beer. Probably several beers. Tequila optional.

There will come a time when I can shoot a game of pool with the guys and maintain my sobriety, but I also know that time's not here yet. So I declined-- Told everyone I was just going home and going to bed. And here I am.

So the point is, I am keeping myself out of situations which are losing battles. I've had John Lennon's old sign, "WAR IS OVER (if you want it)" on my refrigerator for a good while now (politics discussed only upon request), and it strikes me that this is a good little motto to symbolize what I'm talking about.

I've mentioned before that I'm not playing alcohol's game anymore. I know who always wins. This is just the same mouthful of mouthwash swished into the other cheek-- Alcohol's Army is, for the time being, far biggerbaddertougher and packs more Weapons of Mass Destruction than my army. I'm not JUST retreating-- I fought where I could, and I captured Taco Territory. But I'm also going to stay savvy enough not to let myself get caught in an alcoholic ambush while worrying about the battle of stripes v. solids. For tonight, War is Over, because I want it.

So there it is. Overblown metaphor over. But I can remember this: I must pick my battles wisely when I can.

Deeply satisfied. In the jungle, the mighty jungle, this tyger sleeps tonight.

B'sT