Last night, after discovering that our movie was sold out, me & my friends decided to hit up a bar to see a couple of live bands play. This is the first time I've been in a bar since I was banded (on 5/29). My 1st reflex was to order a beer, but I froze in my tracks! I realized that beer was now off limits! My 2nd instinct was to order my beer back-up, a rum & Coke...ah CRAP!!! No Coke either! After a brief panic, I decided that it's the hard stuff or nothing. I ordered a Wild Turkey straight up on the rocks. I totally forgot what straight bourbon tasted like. When I took the 1st sip, my face shriveled up like when you suck a lemon. "Uh, this is terrible," I thought. After about three of those, I began to adapt to the taste. Then came the tequila shots...& some more Wild Turkey. I eventually got sloppy drunk! I'm not sure if it was from not having any real food in me belly or from drinking the "hard" stuff, or both. All I know is that I feel terrible today! (stomach is all gassy, too) I'll have to get used to putting away the hard stuff from now on & suffer the dangerous surly consequences or just safely stick to my other recreational habit. (see the "Marijuana Use After Surgery " thread in this forum.)