Anger Gene May Be Isolated

I’ve heard over and over again that alcoholism is hereditary. That’s why I vowed to never drink a drop as a teenager. I said to anyone who’d listen that there would be 7-Up at my wedding, and anyone who didn’t like it could just shove it.

I was a charming teenager.

See, my grandparents were both alcoholics; in fact, my grandfather died from his alcoholism (cirrhosis of the liver). Thankfully my grandmother stopped drinking after he died, though she unfortunately perished due to her other vice, which caused her to get lung cancer. Several of my other relatives have also been alcoholics, and it’s either sickened or scared me enough to know I don’t want to be one.

That said, I don’t practice abstinence from alcohol anymore. I’ve always been “the responsible one” and I don’t ever overdo it. I drink every few weeks—when I can afford a bottle of wine I like, or if I want to try a new flavor at a restaurant—and that’s about it. Of course, like many young adults, I did experience being drunk once when I was 21. I was a pretty confused drunk, I guess, and giggly, but I also got angry.

An angry drunk? Well, that wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve both met and shared blood with plenty of angry drunks.

It turns out that there might be some science behind being drunk and angry. Researchers say that a certain “red mist” gene might turn peaceniks like me into angry, even aggressive drunks when they drink. The gene, known as HTR2B, has been proven to stimulate very impulsive behavior in the people who carry it versus those who do not. It does this by affecting both the levels of serotonin and how serotonin is detected in the brain.

But hold your horses, defense attorneys; the gene itself may contribute to aggressive behavior, but the gene by itself isn’t enough to cause someone to, say, murder someone else. Other factors, including sex (females were not found to be affected, so I guess that rules out my hypothesis), are at play, too. When the gene does contribute to violent acts, the acts are typically both spontaneous and senseless—not premeditated in the least.

Perhaps, with further study, this gene could be used in defense of people who commit violent acts—though, if it is, I would hope that if released, such defendants would be required to abstain from alcohol completely in order to prevent the aggression from occurring again—and, if it does, perhaps the gene wasn’t to blame in the first place.

“City” life vs. “Country” life: Which do you prefer?

I was born in the “country” side, but ever since moving here to the Seattle area when I was a very small girl…I fell in “love” with the “city” life. Why? I do love the country side, but I find the “city” life more suitable for my taste, style, wants, needs, and the city life just seems more positive and fun. Of course, a “con” of living in the city area can cause huge amounts of traffic, stress, over-crowded population of people, and be extremely “busy.” But that is part of what the “city” life has to offer. More so, the “country” life is quieter, reserved, peaceful, but I will give them “kudos” for displaying a magnificent, beautiful view of the whole “country” side part of town for its nature, wild-life, beauty, and “laid-back,” mellow lifestyle.

I prefer living in the “city” life versus the “country” life. The reason why I chose living in the “city” is because there are much more fun, and joyful things to do in the city. For example, you can hit the nearest coffee shops which could be at nearly every street corner, crash at a bar for a drink, stop in for a pastry at a nearby bakery shop, nearby shopping centers, clubs, and so much more! Not only does the “city” life offer more activities and fun things to do…but is also amazing to meet new people. I love meeting new people. It is always nice and great to meet other individuals that are completely different from you. I always enjoy learning about other people and their types of culture, influence, background, and etc. I did read somewhere awhile back in a magazine article about Seattle being the #3 on the “worse traffic” list. Say what?? Even though the “city” life may seem fun and all, we “metropolitan” city-life people do have to deal with one of the worse traffics in the nation. Right? I must admit…traffic in Seattle can get pretty bad.

Living in the “country” side may seem a bit different for some folks. What I love most about the country side is how spacious, beautiful, and peaceful it is. The capital of Washington State is Olympia. I absolutely love Olympia. I remembered when I was in the 4th grade that I took a short field trip to the State Capital of Olympia and took many photographs of the senate seat, entrance, hallways, etc. It was a beautiful view. I loved it. I would absolutely go back again. Not only did I have a very good experience on the other side part of town in Olympia, but my field trip class did explore other parts of beautiful Olympia as well. The population of Olympia is fairly smaller then the high number of people living in the Seattle area. But for some reason, the “country” side just seems more natural, showing parts of the nature, wild-life, beautiful animals such as deer’s, laid-back people, and just seems a lot more mellow, calm, and less stressful.

I am sure many people have their own taste, style, and personal choice in either preferring the “city” life or “country” life. Whatever you may choose, I hope it suits your lifestyle. But I prefer the “city” life over the “country” side because it is my personal choice and decision to live in the “city” because of my taste and style incorporated into my lifestyle. What do you prefer? And why?

 

 

Hot Buttered Rum

I have to confess that the first time I heard about Hot Buttered Rum it sounded . . . odd. Rum? With butter? Even Bacardi 151 on a freezing cold evening in January after a day spent skiing sounded odd in the context of melted butter. Then, when a friend explained that it really did involve rum with melted butter and spices and sugar, I thought it sounded less than appetizing. Essentially, the traditional recipe for Hot Buttered Rum is a hot toddy made with rum.

Hot Buttered Rum is made by adding a batter to rum, and sometimes, hot water. You make the batter by mixing butter with sugar and spices. You add a few spoons of the butter mixture (usually referred to as Hot Buttered Rum batter) to a mug, and then add a shot or two of rum, and top off the mug with boiling water. Stir gently, and serve. Generally the recipes for Hot Buttered Rum call for a dark rum; my local experts recommend Myers Dark Rum. Some favor spiced rum variants, and at least one aficionado praises Bacardi 151 after a day of skiing and no plans to leave the comfort of hearth and home.

But when another friend told me about the Hot Buttered Rum variant that used ice cream, I was appalled. It sounded awful, and the actual batter looked revolting. I was wrong. Having tried the ice cream varient I am now a convert to Hot Buttered Rum, and plan on making them a Winter holiday tradition, along with Smoking Bishop.

There are of course lots of variations. Here's a very traditional recipe for Hot Buttered Rum. Here's version for the crock pot that uses heavy cream in the batter, and you top the mug with a scoop of ice cream. Here's a version designed for the crock pot, and here's one without the rum. A similar, but unrelated drink, is the Tom and Jerry.

While Hot Buttered Rum is traditionally served as an apres ski beverage, I'm thinking it's a lovely tradition to make a batch to enjoy while trimming the tree or decorating for the holidays. The batter will keep for some time in the refrigerator so you don't have to use it all at once. Many stores also sell pre-made batter during the winter months; look in the deli and ice cream sections. The recipe I'll be using, and the one that firmly convinced me that Hot Buttered Rum is a lovely beverage is this one, made with ice cream.

Congrats, Milwaukee! You're the Drunkest City!


 

Which cities in the United States are known as the drunkest? Can you proudly proclaim that the city you live in is one of the drunkest cities in the US? Being one of the drunkest cities, is after all, quite an accomplishment. It means that the residents have their priorities in order and that people know how to have a good time.

 

 

1. Milwaukee, WI
2. Fargo, ND
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Austin, TX
5. Reno, NV
6. Burlington, VT
7. Omaha, NE
8. Boston, MA
9. Anchorage, AK
10. San Diego, CA

 

The ratings for the drunkest cities that I saw appear to be fairly scientific on the surface, but probably couldn’t withstand a closer scrutiny from a bored and/or drunk statistician. The results, according to this site, were determined based on the following factors: average drinks per person per month; % of adults who are heavy drinkers, % of adults who are binge drinkers; and the number of deaths per 100,000 residents who die from liver disease (which is definitely not a statistic to be proud of or brag about.) 

No one familiar with “Laverne and Shirley” can be all that surprised that Milwaukee, WI was number one on the list. The city is known for breweries, so it should logically follow that people there like to drink beer. (My logic could be flawed here—it’s pretty much the same as my assumption that people in Iowa must eat a lot of corn.)

 

Likewise, I’ve never been to Fargo, ND, but did see the movie of the same name. I am guessing that there aren’t a lot of entertainment opportunities coming through Fargo even though the writer Chuck Klosterman lived and worked there.  Having absolutely crap-all to do makes drinking an invaluable hobby for both adults and teens.  I am guessing that Omaha made the top ten list for the exact same reason.  (Here’s my formula:   Nothing to do= Lots of drinking). Anyone who is so inclined can steal my formula to make a cute pie chart or graph. (This formula may also be a contributing factor in Milwaukee's snagging of the number one spot.)

 

The Gawker writer was disappointed that New York City did not fare well on the list and offered to do his part so that New York City would make the list next year; I was equally, if not more, disappointed that Seattle only came in at number forty. I blame Seattle’s pot smokers for smoking too much BC bud when they should be out drinking with the rest of us.

My “Martini”

I enjoy drinking. I drink occasionally and I love it. My favorite alcoholic drinks range from…sweet “martini’s,” margaritas, cosmopolitans, tequila shots, sweet beer….and the list goes on. I have tried “whiskey” in the past, but never ever had an acquired taste for it. So whiskey was banished from my list of “no-no’s” on my favorite alcoholic drinks. In the past, I’ve had many bad experiences from drinking. It all started from a former best friend from high school that pushed me to the “edge of the wall” to pressure me into drinking. I did not appreciate that and met great new people in my life who love to drink socially and at the same time…enjoy each other’s company. How fun is that?

With my many adventures of experiencing yummy, alcoholic beverages and drinks made me come to realization what my favorite “drink” was. And so I thought I wanted to create a yummy, delicious, but yet flirty, and fun drink for myself. I was actually over at my cousin’s house several days ago looking after his beautiful 5-year-old daughter who is such a “doll.” I love her to death. My cousin and I started discussing about our favorite types of drinks. He had a collection of amazing wine, champagne, vodka, and you name it…pretty much every good, tasting alcohol in his bar area. We decided to create and mix a flavorful, but yet with a twist of colorful fun to my personal “martini” drink. Coming up with a “martini’ name was going to be difficult. And indeed it was.

Luckily, my cousin had an array of colorful, yummy-looking fresh fruits in his fridge. Thank god…because without them, my personal “martini” drink would not have been finished without the proper ingredients for a great, tasting “martini.” What consisted in my personal “martini” drink was….

  • 2 oz. Raspberry vodka
  • ½ oz. of Cranberry juice
  • 2 oz. Raspberry liqueur
  • 2-3 small fresh raspberry fruits (optional)

This is my own personal, flavorful, but yet flirty “martini” drink. It’s a bit on the sweet side because I love my drinks sweet and flavorful. My “martini” has a hint of delicious, fresh raspberry fruits that are “oh-so-yummy.” Not only did my martini came out exactly the way I wanted…but deliciously perfect as well. My cousin even had a small taste for himself. After a couple sips of my yummy “martini,” he was pretty much “hooked” onto this favorite new drink of mine. Yes…I have successfully created a magnificent drink! My personal “martini” is a very “girly,” and “fruity” drink….so if you are not a huge fan of very sweet drinks…this is not the drink for you folks. Sorry. If you love sweet, playful, and flirty-fun drinks, give my sweet, personal “martini” a taste!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Favorite Red Wine: Barefoot Shiraz

I will admit I have a certain affinity for wine. I usually stick with the reds, because I’ve found that the white varieties contain far too much sugar for my liking. They also give me a bad headache the next day. My favorite red wine has to be Barefoot Shiraz by the Barefoot Wine Company. Reach for it if you like a dry red wine.

Initially, I will admit, it was the lovely barefoot orange label that had me reaching for it. As I held the bottle, I conjured up images of summer and walking barefoot in tall grasses, sipping this wine, without a care in the world; much like the French do. As I write this, I am overtaken with images of a good friend of mine spending a week, floating down the river in rural France. She was happily inebriated on wine the entire week.

The lavender aroma of this wine grabbed me immediately. It wasn’t until I actually took a sip that I became smitten. Tangy blueberry, cherry and blackberry flavors burst in my mouth followed by a velvety chocolate sweet finish. It had a very rich yet fruity, full bodied flavor. Though it does lack a bit in mouth feel; sommeliers would probably not be impressed.

With that being said, I have many memories of enjoying this wine with good friends in Wyoming. This was our go-to wine, because it was cheap (the liquor and wine prices in Wyoming are astronomical) and tasted good. I can recall some red wines being passed around that I just could not tolerate because there was no sweetness to them and my gag reflex would appear. We would drink a bottle of Barefoot Shiraz, however, giggling and getting gigglier the more the bottle was passed around. I remember it left a slightly spicy, then distinct vanilla taste in my mouth. It was lovely.

Given the fact that it’s cheap (I picked up a 1.5L bottle for $9.99) it doesn’t have much complexity to its taste; though it’s definitely a quality wine given the low price. If you just need a good wine that’s a bit of a step up from table wine, reach for this. This wine is dry, remember, so it pairs well with a red meat or chicken based dish or pizza. Then again, with its berry flavors, a tangy platter of salsa and chips would go well with this wine too. This also pairs well with sharp cheeses and hearty pasta meals—a very universal wine, indeed.

Whipped Cream + Alcohol = Whipahol


Who doesn’t love the guilty pleasure of doing the occasional Whippit? Reaching into the refrigerator, taking out the red and white aerosol can, and inhaling a strange mixture of whipped cream nitrous oxide…….mmmmmmmm, good. Maybe not good for you, but good old fashioned fun for the whole family.  If you are bored with Whippits, and like to booze it up on occasion, I have the solution for you.

Enter Whipahol, which is Whipped Cream with alcohol.

Whipahol is designed to be taken like a Whippit……directly into the mouth. As the AV reports, Whipahol is, “the ideal device to deliver them unto the waiting mouths and stomachs of the confused young girls gone wild of America.”

The four Whipahol flavors are: Spiced Vanilla, Amaretto, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Spiced Pumpkin Pie. For the AV’s discerning and pretty hilarious taste-test of the alcohol-infused Whippits, check out this LINK. In their review of the concoction, the testers noted that the drink is difficult to classify because it is truthfully not a cream. I believe the term that the creators prefer is “whipped alcohol.” The consensus was that Whipahol is best-used on “sticky sweet shots.” 

Whipahol is made by Whipped Lightning—the marketing director must have been a fan of Grease movie’s title track—and the booze is no joke in terms of alcohol percentage at nearly 20% alcohol.  The cost is roughly 10 bucks for a 375-millileter bottle of the very desserty-sounding booze.

 

Imagine the uses:

1.     Shot-toppers. Whipahol can be used on top of any shots using Baileys, Irish Cream, Kahlua, or similar kinds of alcohol. I wouldn’t recommend using the Whipped Lightning Whipahols for Margaritas or Gin & Tonics.

2.     On top of Pumpkin Pie. Yummy. I don’t know which flavor would work out best for use on a pumpkin pie—the pumkin pie-flavored Whipahol—which is in fact trademarked—might be a bit of an overkill on an already-scrumptious piece of pumpkin pie, so spiced vanilla might be the way to go.

3.     On top of Brownies or deliciously-moist pieces of chocolate cake—I like flourless chocolate cake and zucchini cake the best—mmmmmmmmm, delicious.

4.     Body Shots. Is there a better way to say Merry Christmas than an alcohol-infused body shot? If there is, I certainly don’t know about it.

5.     As a shot in and of itself. “Pour some whipped cream in me”—wasn’t that the 80’s hair band Def Lepard?

 

What other ways can you think of to use and abuse Whipahol?

Drunk Girl Stuck in Dryer: Do Not Try This at Home

Via the Stranger.

Drinking and driving is definitely a no-no. Now, as one unlucky college student found out, drinking and drying is also a no-no, too. Watch as this drunk, drunk girl tries to get out of the dryer with the assistance of her drunk, drunk friends. Please do not make fun of her granny panties as I am sure she wwould not appreciate that.

FDA Gives Warning to Alcohol-Energy Drink Makers

Christine Gregoire, the governor of Washington state, acted quickly to ban Four Loko after several college students ended up in the hospital as a result of drinking too many of the high-energy, high-alcohol-content beverages at Central Washington University. The FDA is also being pro-active and has issued a warning to manufacturers of four similar energy/alcohol drinks and has given the manufacturers fifteen days to stop making the drinks altogether.

 

In the convenience store by my home yesterday, the Korean grocer was surprised that all the remaining cans Four Loko had sold out, but said that there were some still available at other stores in the area.

 

A discussion ensued about whether or not the government should have a role in regulating the beverage industry—the man behind me who was asking for a can of Four Loko and the grocer both gave an emphatic “NO”, but I definitely have to disagree with both of them. According to THIS, each 24-ounce can of Four Loko is approximately the equivalent of 4-5 cans of beer, in addition to the caffeine that is added.

 

Imagine the effects of shot-gunning or beer-bonging a can of Four Loko and you will understand the dangers these drinks pose. College students typically don’t have the highest of tolerances and are already pressured into drinking more than they can while playing drinking games and participating in the “100 Club”. There is a huge  difference between playing  a drinking game with a can of PBR versus a can of Four Loko.

 

 

 

The FDA has a responsibility to the public to determine the safety of our food, drugs,  and drinks. Period. If the students had been sick because of eating a bad hamburger, the FDA (or the appropriate agency-I’m not exactly sure how the hierarchy works here) would have performed an investigation into the fast food restaurant.

 

Why should an alcoholic beverage be any different?

 

The FDA has determined that the consumption of alcoholic beverages with caffeine could lead to “life-threatening situations”, partially because the drinkers will stay awake longer and presumably drink more alcohol. 

 

College students are already known for copious amounts of binge-drinking, which has many health consequences and also leads to some dicey situations including drunk-driving and date rape. Is it really necessary to introduce drinks into the mixture that are both legal and even more dangerous than the average cocktail? Will the drinkers of alcoholic-energy drinks really have their civil liberties hurt that much by not being allowed to drink the dangerous drinks?

 

Actually, this is one of the instances where I am impressed with the decisiveness of the FDA for acting fast.  

A Shirley Temple!

I love Shirley Temple. I am not talking about the child-star actress, but the famous non-alcoholic drink called “Shirley Temple.” I fell in love with this non-alcoholic sweet beverage drink about three years ago. The “Shirley Temple” has this very sweet, but nice, delicious taste. Not only is this sweet light, red-orange colored beverage drink great tasting for adults, but for kids as well. The flavor ingredients in the Shirley Temple drink is absolutely superb, fun-tasting, and magnificent. It is believed that the famous child-star actress, Shirley Temple, went into a restaurant located in the Beverly Hills area and had ordered a non-alcoholic beverage drink where the bartender created a special drink for the actress. Aw, how sweet. The bartender working at the restaurant may have been a huge fan of the child star and wanted to whip a very special drink for her. Who doesn’t love Shirley Temple?

There are very basic, easy ingredients in creating a fun-tasting Shirley Temple beverage drink. All you really need is carbonated soda with lemon-lime flavor, grenadine syrup flavoring, ice, and maraschino cherries. Yummy! You can easily make this fun-tasting, delicious drink at home. This classic Shirley Temple is a fantastic party drink to serve at parties, outdoor events, weddings, birthday celebrations, baby-showers, anniversaries, and many special occasions or events. It has a very similar red-pomegranate Kool-aid colored drink, but very different taste. Kool-aid is much sweeter. The Shirley Temple drink is sweet, but has a very bubbly, sparkling taste. I love it.

The Shirley Temple is a favorite, classic beverage drink in my family. They love it. During special holidays, occasions, and celebrations such as, birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, the famous Shirley Temple drink is always served ice cold. I remembered my cousin brought his young daughter over for a visit late in the evening. His daughter was thirsty and wanted something sweet to drink. I asked her if she wanted a “Shirley Temple,” drink. She said in a very quiet tone, “sure.” Luckily, I had all the ingredients to whip up a simple, delicious Shirley Temple beverage drink for my cousin’s daughter. She loved flavored cherries too. I added a few yummy maraschino cherries in her Shirley Temple as well. I handed her the drink and she instantly gulped it all down. She loved the Shirley Temple. Ever since her first experience tasting the Shirley Temple, my cousin has always made his daughter her favorite classic beverage drink.

If you love a classic, delicious Shirley Temple drink, whip yourself up a very delicious glass of this yummy beverage! It’s a very popular, favorite drink amongst kids, but adults can still enjoy this great tasting Shirley Temple too! So, what are you waiting for? Drink a Shirley Temple!

 

 

 

 

 

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