Hey Murray, you remember correctly:-) Are you a photographer, your avatar is gorgeous. I am a painter, and drinking sucked my desire to paint right out of me these past three years...up until then I was able to keep painting.
Ironically, there is a stereotype of the tragic, alcoholic or crazy artist (think Van Gogh) which is actually at complete crossroads as to the reality of a working artist. If you read the history of artist lives, most were incredibly grounded (the ones I am friends with who are making it are pretty sober people). But having gone to art school in NYC, i think there are a number of people who are messed up to begin with who are drawn to the arts because of this stereotype.
I have started to paint again these past few weeks, but couldn't this weekend because I was at the parents...my Avatar is one of my paintings:-)