Friendly Neighbors

I’m sitting at home recovering from what could best be described as a 3-day drinking bender that began on a boat along the Newport Coast and ended in the pool of our very own Melrose Place mid-rise complex. Although I am still an avid supporter of the 2 drink rule in theory, the reality is that those first two drinks go down far too fast and around my alcohol-driven friends, the tendency is to keep drinking! Let's face it, Ricca and Mike’s new residence could pose a challenge to the new healthy lifestyle I’m striving to adopt...

After a tame night of drinking and dining aboard the Majestic, I woke up Saturday determined to be "healthy". We were crashing the Toscana pool party so I grabbed my big black beach bag and began to pack. As I gathered up the necessary items, towel, sunscreen, camera, I found myself filling an empty water bottle with Malibu Rum. Okay, so that isn’t exactly “healthy” but this shin dig was being thrown by Ernesto’s new pocket gay pal so I was simply planning ahead. When I got to Ricca’s place, I discovered that she too had planned ahead for on her kitchen counter sat a mini Heineken keg… breakfast was served! With a cup of beer down and one for the road, we made our way over to Toscana. Within an hour, I had finished my beer, consumed two rum spiked beverages and eaten a hamburger. So much for being healthy. When the rum ran out, we headed home. I wanted to take a nap but instead I went to Costco with Ricca. We bought lasagna for dinner and pillows for me. Afterwards, we hung out in Mike’s empty room where I accidentally spilled powder sugar brownies on his carpet. “I’m SOOOOOO Sorry!” I’m such a klutz. We went back to my place where I threw the lasagna in the oven and let Mike borrow my dirt devil. Dinner was delicious and we were exhausted so our night came to an early end. I was in bed by 10pm.

Sunday morning I woke up to a breakfast invitation from Ricca. I passed and instead ate a Balance Bar on my way to Ladera for an open house. Bored out of my mind, I tried to convince the crew to drive down and join me but they were far too engrossed in a Paul Walker movie and when it came down to Me vs. Paul, Paul won! After two hours of reading past US Weeklys, playing Soduku and staring at the walls, I decided to lock up and head home. Is Ladera EVER going to sell??? Still attempting to be healthy, I changed and headed out for the gym only to notice that I forgot my iPod so I headed right back home. So much for working out! I was lying on the couch enjoying Celebrity Fit Club (which could very well count as working out), when Mike called. “We’re at the pool, want to join us?” Absolutely. As I walked into the pool courtyard, I was greeted by my three amigos sprawled out on lounge chairs with red plastic cups in hand and an insulated cooler nearby. I had 2 Coronas and a Vodka cocktail before Ernesto made us the best filet mignon I’ve ever had! Drunk and full, we decided it was a good time to swim laps but not before knocking on the door across the hall to invite Kevin, our newest neighbor friend. After swimming, we were wet and tired and prepared to go home but instead wound up sharing a bottle of wine at Kevin’s place. It was Sunday night, and once again, I found myself inebriated and well over my two drink limit.

So here I am now, prepared and raring to recommit to my new healthy lifestyle. I’m reclaiming the two drink rule and keeping my fingers crossed that I can stick to it. I’m entertaining the notion that it is possible to love thy neighbors without drinking thy neighbor’s beer. And if all goes according to plan, my lush tendencies shall begin to disappear and I shall find myself leading a bona fide healthy life amongst all my friendly neighbors!