Yesterday, since it was my first whole day off I got it into my head that I should take that opportunity and get smashed since I am 21 now so, I went to the liquour store (this is what I could remember of it) and after completely amazing the couple behind the counter that I had no idea what I was looking for other than I did not want to taste the alchohol I wanted something fruity or sweet. I guess other people who come in there after a fresh 21 know exactly what they want.

I walked out with a Pinot Noir and a sampler of Sutter, went home and sat down with Jean watching Star Trek for an hour while we waited for it to chill. I tried drinking that stuff but it was awful, no one explained either that you don't drink wine like you'd drink a soda...so half a bottle later with me nearly wretching up, Jean came out of the cage and watched me and it gets spotty after that. I remember periodically hearing my room mates upstairs, but in each of the memories (I want to state I am NOT a drinker and did lay off the heavier medications for that day just in case of an adverse reaction which seemed to have happened regardless) Jean was always watching me. I kinda worried about him at one point, god knows what drunken mishaps other peoples had had with their birds out of the cages while they were stumbling around. I ended up taking him from the cage and curling up with him, going in and out of memory and throwing up this awful mix of red wine and stomach lining of which I vaguely remember Jean being on my shoulder while I was bent over the toilet, he was talking to me.

I share this because, thinking back on what I remember of yesterday, I would have thought a parrot seeing their human in such a dishieveled and moronic state would have been frightened to come out of the cage because one disoriented move could maim them. I remember falling down the last few stairs too, but Jean didn't leap off me he just flapped his wings which made me half turn towards him and hit the opposite shoulder on the wall. I really, think I'm done drinking forever. It's not as glamourous as others say, and when I came out of it with Jean sleeping under my neck I think he realised he could stop molly coddling me and he bit me rather good on the hand before stomping back to his cage.

I'm really lucky to have him he stayed with me during it when my roomies took off on me, I have no idea where they went, but they knew I was new at the drinking I wish they'd stayed in case I'd had a far worse reaction to the alchohol.

One last bit of drunken terror though, I flushed the toliet after expelling some of the wine...Jean was sitting on the sink as I pulled back my hair and he went to jump on me and landed in the toliet head first. I half panicked and reached in there and managed to get him out but articulating my hands was hard to get the panicking bird out and even then trying to figure out how to hold him when he was still flailing on my lap afterwards when I couldn't get up at the time was another pain. I ended up just letting go of him and resting there in the bathroom for a while watching him.

The lesson I learned from this story is when you have parrots...you should probably never ever drink... even if you are 21, because you may not be in the position to help them if god forbid something happens, let alone yourself.

I hear you, girl.... thanks for sharing this story... I think it's an important thing you point out there - if you decide to drink, leave the birdies in the cage... you don't know what could happen.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with your first try on alcohol. I guess it's a good thing to an extent as you'll always remember where it can lead you.

I personally don't drink for the most part - a lesson that I learned the hard way. Alcohol and I are definitely not friends, but it took me countless experiences until I fully realized that. If I do drink, I only have a glass of wine or two - and that only with certain people (I'm one of those people who don't stop if the "right" people are around). And even then, the birdies have to stay in the cage - I'd be too terrified.

I hope the hangover isn't too bad...

I have patches of memory over the period of 7 hours yesterday that I can't quite remember. Today I'm just fine, Jean got a new toy as an appology and some new millet sprigs. I had meant to keep Jean in his cage it's just he wouldn't stay and trying to close it in the state I was in I gave up. It's not one of the usual lift and drop models you have to force the top shut which takes some doing when you're not sober. But, part of me I think felt guilty and alone...so that was another reason he probably stayed ut of the cage. But it scares me, the one brief memory of going down the stairs and falling sideways, if he hadn't caught my attention I could have crushed him. That scares me... he's my precious little guy and I don't ever want to risk stupidity like that with him again. You're very welcome for the story Moriana, I had thought to post this last night when I was sober enough to type but when I tried the sentances looked roughly like this, "sk i messd yowere serwse" my brain function came back first, motor controls second LOL.

I do think that in most cases (myself included lol) it takes the bad experiences with alcohol to truly form an opinion of whether or not it's a healthy idea for one's lifestyle.

I am glad that Jean is ok (you too!!) - I was kind of holding my breath as I read further down your post. I'm sure you've learned a lot from the experience, everything from your tolerance to keeping Jean in the cage (but while intoxicated certain sober ideas sometimes seem different!). IMO it's disappointing that your roommates weren't there to make sure you were handling the alcohol ok..

Wine is a first for me, I've had little bits of smirnoff, and very VERY light alchoholic beverages before with the family, but never more than one. The worst I got close to this was when my friend made Vodka Fruit Slushies...had two of those, but they were light in the alchohol I just had a minor stomach ache afterwards and couldn't taste the vodka. My friend took me out on my 21st and I had a Mango Dungaree at outback, couldn't taste the alchohol in that one really either, didn't get buzzed, it was a very nice drink.....I guess honestly though cause I've never been 100% blitzed I didn't realise that drinking was supposed to be this horridly wretched experence. My roomies are here with me right now but I feel reluctant to go upstairs and question them about this. I mean... well you know...it's their business as to why they took off on me, I do resent them a little bit for it but they had to have had a good reason, maybe they thought I Was kidding when I said I didn't have a clue about drinking other than when you feel that buzzed feeling you have to stop so your alchohol level will even out. Which I did even before it got to that point with the wine, I drank 1 glass (it was a big one) and when I was done all I felt was nausious, no buzz, so I didn't drink further thank god. I had half a mind to finish the bottle because I didn't want it to get poured down the sink, I'm thanking heaven right now that I didn't decide to go through with the second round.

Glad both of you are ok. I was getting real worried for Jean. The good thing is that you now know that alcohol is not the best idea.