I need a new bad habit

April 8th

I have been really, really good about following my cardiologist’s order to hold off on alcohol – he did not give me a definitive answer on whether that was forever, or just until they figure out what’s going on. And I did not ask. That way I could still dream about opening a bottle of 2001 Chateau Montelena. Sigh. 

But after four weeks of abstinence, I decided to try a small glass of wine last night. The results were not what I was hoping for – I did not wind up in the E/R, but it was clear that alcohol is a trigger for my heart to get overstimulated. I’m not going to experiment again until I get feedback from the specialist (electrophysiologist…say that 5 times fast) I’m seeing at the end of May. I’m not overly optimistic about what she will say, since I’ve already had two doctors tell me to quit drinking alcoholic beverages.

It’s not like I’m slugging down shots of Tequila or Vodka every night (although some nights it seems like a good idea), but I do enjoy a glass or two of fine wine a few times a week. And I really missed my apres-activity martini on the last trip – the Lindblad ships have great bars and bartenders. But I did discover some really good non-alcoholic beers, and Jan and I had already dabbled with “mocktails” for the past couple of years. Still, it’s really depressing to think that I may have to become a teetotaler. Bummer. 

Now what should I do with all the wonderful Cabernets and Pinot Noirs I have stored in my wine refrigerators? Maybe I should add a wine bar to my home photo gallery. 

Peace