Hello 2011... Goodbye Wine

My new year began with nary a drop of bubbly. Ironic, isn't it?

I start a new blog, name it Boozy Tooth, and decide to lay off the sauce for awhile. That is so me.

It wasn't a decision I made consciously, though, but rather a whim that will hopefully stick for awhile. You see... even though I am a devotee of the fruit of the vine, I also know that looking the other way as the recycling truck lingers over sorting my wine bottles is probably a sign that I need to change up my routine and tuck my little vice away for awhile.

Kids, I drink wine like a camel drinks water and since my liver hump has remained sufficiently filled since I crossed-over into adulthood, I've decided it's time to kiss my Chianti goodbye like a forbidden lover. At least for a little while. With my genetic pre-disposition to Diabetes and my genetic pre-disposition to being Russian, I can no longer ignore that double-whammy and continue to throw back  like there will never be any negative consequences. Henceforth, I am drying out. I am doing the responsible thing and switching my focus to the benefits of imbibing pure clean water, mineral water, sparkling water, Perrier, Pellegrino, Evian. Even sewer water might be an improvement.

I know a few of you are setting your watches and hedging your bets on whether or not I make it to January 2nd without a glass of wine, but that's okay. This isn't so much a resolution as a choice, and every minute of every day gives us plenty of opportunities to make choices.

My goal is to get back to remembering the difference between desiring a sip of a fine vintage and the knee-jerk reflex of downing a bottle just because it happens to fall within my line of sight.

Some people go to the mountaintop. Some seek Gurus and Seers. Some go to therapy. Some go twelve steps. Me? I'm just taking a break and giving myself permission to refrain. Right now I'm refocusing on good health. Responsible behavior. Positive role modeling. And reminding myself that as in all things in life, I am in charge of my own destiny.