I understood drinking to be the gasoline of all adventure.

I had two speeds, which often varied with my blood alcohol level: fine with whatever, and never, ever satisfied. Where was the balance between these two?

It wasn't fair that my friends could stay at Captain Morgan's pirate ship party while I was drop-kicked into a basement with homeless people chanting the Serenity Prayer.

I had this great idea: I should get a job. Freelancing came with freedom, but maybe what I required was a cage.

People who quit drinking become terrified they will lose their power. They believe booze makes them the people they want to be...Alcohol is one hell of a pitchman, and perhaps his greatest lis is convincing us we need him, even as he tears us apart.