Drinking and Driving

I just changed my Space name to Take your toubles solo, and I swear that after I complain here today I will. I drink and I drive. Almost exclusivly for a long part of my life. Was it smart? Maybe not. I always thought whats the worst that could happen? Ill hit another drunk driver. It was never a big deal really, everyone does it. At least everyone in the restaurant industry did. After work you would all go the nearest bar, or whatever bar was giving away 10 cent chicken wings. (RIP scoreboard) Or at some points whatever bar would serve you if you were not 21. When I went to live and work in yellowstone for one summer I met this girl from California. She had a different point of view on that. She told me she would never even think about drinking and driving. And its really the first time I have ever heard any express this point of view to me. I was also trying to impress her so I naturally agreed with her. She also had a similar view regaurding condoms so It didnt turn out the way I planned. It did however made me look out side of my bubble and think, There are millions of people out there surely they all can not be driving drunk. Not long enough to change any kind of bad habbits. I still liked to drink, and since I was out of HS in order to drink I usually have to drive some where. No way am I not going to stay home just cause I might have to drive back drunk later. Hell Im more focused when Im drunk. I try hard, And if worst comes to worst ill just bump a line. After all isnt that the cure all? I now know, how retarded all that must sound. Drinking almost became more important than the event. And I could never have 1 or 2 beers. The point was always to black out. I didnt want to be held responsible for my actions or comments. Hell "I was drunk" That always worked. I was more popular with the ladies. When you learn something while you are drunk, Like talking to ladies. They say you can only redo this when you are drunk again. Which is wierd, but probably true. Does that mean I have a drinking problem. I may admit to as much now. Alcohol was always important part of any function I would go to. Be it golf, Football game, Family event. I remember this one time in yellowstone there was this girl. She was a wicked big hippie. Very cool, but very much a druggie with a drinking problem. Again as a man I adapted to the situation. She was cute so what do you know here Comes Todd the druggie with the drinking problem. Im sorry I know how bad this sounds but my libido is the bane of my exsistance. She was so smashed and I was like ok let me drive. And she refused and shes like lets stop a LQ store. I was like hmm probably not a good idea. And she was like dont be a pussy. I remember she bought 2 bottles of wine. Granted we were smashed already. The rhoades in yellowstone are very narrow. Its dark. And are on cliffs! She was swirving. I remember her drinking and telling me how she has garuding angels watching over her and she will never die. It was at this point, I knew I was going to die. God damn hippie! . I told her we were all about to die, and that I did not have a guardian angel. She laughed and started talking about my aura and how was not a possitive aura and how I could change it. There was no changing her mind, So I figured i had to do something about the bottles of wine I couldnt let her drink it all and she was drinking fast. So I downed them my self. The more I had the less she could of. This kind of work cause I passed out so I wasnt scared anymore and some how we made it home safe. Even after this I never considered the harm in drinking and driving. Until I got my dui. Getting a dui has been the worst experience of my life. I lost my car for 6 months. I had to take the bus to and from work. Which took a total of 4 hours per day. I lost alot time of my life doing that. Most people only loose it for 3 months. In court the officer recommended 3 months for me the judge gave my 6 because I blew more then double the legal limit. Which is not fair. When you get a dui no one is help ful as to what your sopposed to do. So every step of the way I learned something new. You go to the Operator control. They say you have to turn in your liceance at the dmv. You do that you come back. They say you have to turn in your plates too. You do that you come back. Opps i have 2 registered cars. So you do that you come back and thats it. They dont tell you what else you have to do. So I wait the 6 months then they are like ok you need to do driver retraining. I sign up for that 350 bucks, I hear nothing about the classes for 2 months. Call them up and they say oh ok we sent it to the wrong address go to lincoln to take class. I Do that . Then I get something in the mail saying I missed my assment with a councler. I have to pay 50 fee for missing appointment. Tell them I didnt know anything about this. They dont want to hear it. Granted I have stopped drinking since the DUI for the most part and that was about 12 months ago. The councler Seems to think I have a drinking problem and recomends alchol treatment. This is bullshit. Here is how the conversation went with the councler. Him, How many beers do you drink at one time. Me, Oh I dont drink anymore sir. If I do it would be 1-2 beers. Him ok so you are saying 5-6. Me. Me no really, None if anything 1-2. him. Ok so Ill just go ahead and mark you down for 5-6. Then he ask, In the past year have you ever drank more than you planned to. The point is this test is designed to make you fail. So he recommends alcohol treatement for 3 months. Bogus. I call the place he recommends. They dont except my insurance. I call around found a place in woonsocket that says they take my insurance. I go and set it up and they keep telling me to wait a week, Cause of a waiting list. Then come to find they dont take my insurance even tho the billing debt said they did. So thats where I am. I recommend to anyone and everyone to avoid this situation. At all cost. It is not worth it. Truelly think before you drive. The penalty is stiff. Almost too stiff. It does not fit the crime. Thats just the way it is and will always be.I have learned some things tho. I know now that I did have a drinking problem. That was when I was 20-24 So I didnt really have a problem at the time of DUI at all. I never believed in things like ADD, Alcoholism, Depression. They were all made up diseases to me. After seeing this stuff first hand through friends and family. Maybe I am starting to believe. I do still think most parents over medicate children and ADD is a made up thing. I just really want this whole dui to be over with. So I can move on. And now it turns out Im a criminal.So please dont drink and drive people, It is not worth it. Next time you go somewhere see if you can have fun with out drinking. If not then you probably have a drinking problem. I have always pointed out to my friends that you cant smoke pot forever you have to quit sometime. Well as unpopular as this may make me. I am not drinking and driving anymore. And I havent since the arrest last easter. I Pretty much will not be drinking at all. The bar life is over rated. And drinking has effected my memory. I look forward to getting it back. People also want to know how many beers can you drink, to be safe to drive. This would ammount to 1 beer per hour to be legally safe to drive. Tuff to measure, and no one drinks this little. And a mixed drink is the equivalent to 3 drinks. The point is if you drink Dont drive.