Best of the Blog

If you haven't read any of the blog yet here's a handy dandy "Best of" post, a sort of Cliff Notes version of Heather and Aaron Give Up Booze For Lent.

Mardi Gras

In a last meal of sorts Aaron will be enjoying Dewars whiskey, a couple of Dos Equis beers and maybe a Cuervo tequila shot. Heather has inked in a Ketel One martini and maybe a taste of whiskey.

If I've gained something by drinking ... I want to know what I've lost.

I'm kind of freaking out right now, as I sip my glass of zin. When was the last time I went this long without any booze? I was talking to my sister tonight and trying to figure that out. 20? Nope, I was living in France at the time, drank every day. 19? Nope, college. So I went back to high school and figured it had to be at least when I was 17, now I'm 30. That's quite a while.

Day 1

Asked around and found out that people who don't drink commute home and then sit for most of the night before going to bed. Seems like a dull routine.

With drinking, especially drinking with Heather, there is always the chance for a rambling argument that stretches past midnight or a falling into each other on the couch moment that ends with us sleeping with the TV on.

Day 5

Marquez weathered the storm though and then Diaz was cut above his right eye. Blood covered his body when he came to his corner and his corner guys didn't have time to wipe all of it off before they sent him back out there to get knocked out.

Day 6

Found out today I have big lungs. The chest x-ray tech. was impressed.

And I put them to use on Rock Band 2, murdering songs by Against Me! and Vagiant.

Really, the Rock Band vocal cues are holding me back.

Can't they invent a game that gives me credit for my vocal rage?

Day 10

And this is definitely the most dedicated we've been. We've tried it before. I made an ill-fated attempt to give up booze for Lent while living in D.C. as a 22 year old. Then happy hour came around. Then some friends came to visit.

I think I lasted a day? Pathetic. I did successfully give up coffee for Lent while living in France and suffered massive headaches the whole way through, so on the bright side at least there aren't bad side effects to giving up alcohol.

One time, I don't remember the year, we decided to forgo our vices for Lent. I was going to give up booze, Aaron was going to give up cigarettes. Wow, that was bad. Don't remember how long we lasted then either but I know it wasn't long.

Editor's note:'Bout two weeks

But I'm not going to whine.

Editor's note:Wait. You're not going to whine?

Day 17

About half way through "Five Easy Pieces." I don't know if I'm supposed to hate Rayette.

It makes more sense to see why Jack was attracted to the "About Schmidt" script after watching this but I don't know if that makes the movie more interesting or less.

I think I'd enjoy watching "About Schmidt" again.

Fog has rolled in and I'm drinking hot tea.

What's happened to Rayette? I think I missed the scene when she left.

Oh ... now she's back. She was in a motel. He hates her too.

This weekend we have absolutely nothing to do. How awesome is that?

Day 23

Predictably, Aaron grabbed the map and thought he knew where he was going. We quickly got a tour of the entire place.

During the tour, we saw the pool, balanced by an outdoor bar, the grass badminton court and the pristine desert landscaping.

We eventually found our room -- located right next to our car -- and here we are.

Day 25

We had Clamato on ice at the bar and then lime slushies with dinner. Would you like salt on the rim of your lime slushie. Yes we would.

Day 26

Heather and I, using Arnold Palmers to hydrate during the sun-drenched day, tried to will Roddick to a win but we couldn't help the Omaha, Neb.-native overcome Nadal's foot speed.

Day 27

In the women's finals, Vera Zvonareva used the wind to her advantage and she played a very smart match to beat Ana Ivanovic, the defending champion.

Heather and I were rooting for her in part because we know a Russian and we don't know a Serbian. And because there were a bunch of Serbs making asses of themselves during the match.

"Serbia! Serbia! Serbia!"

Really? Besides Ivanovic, what is there to be excited about?

Day 29

And Aaron and I have so many memories of different drinks at different times in our lives. Driving through Aruba on our honeymoon, Balashis in the cupholders (it's legal to drink and drive there). Beers on the beach. Beers at a baseball game. Sipping a Bombay Sapphire martini at our wedding reception while hanging out with the bridesmaids in the bar. Gin and tonics at The Owl, the night we kissed.


Day 30

We'd rather be having a whiskey and a glass of wine while we watch "Lost" but in many ways our evening tonight is same ol', same ol': attacking each other on the couch, Heather folding laundry, rehashing arguments that Heather lost weeks ago. Good times.

I think the biggest change from those early days is there is no more lingering feelings of "what if"? What if we can't make it? What if we're different people when we're not drinking?

Fortunately we've answered those ifs and now we're on the home stretch, still enjoying each other's company and having a good time together.


Day 32

In other news, Heather is drinking tea and she bought a bunch of tea accessories. She's mumbling something else. Something about laundry.

"Really wanted a drink. Really wanted to drink a beer. On 'Gossip Girl' they were drinking a beer with Japanese food. You can put on there too that I didn't go to San Diego because they were having a drunken fest."


Day 34

Note on the Vegemite: just a little bit goes a long way. I got a little caught up in the Australian Grand Prix excitement and I loaded up a biscuit with a centimeter think layer that ended up being the breakfast equivalent of too much wasabi on a piece of sushi.

Day 35

Aaron is obsessed. Now he's saying, "I don't think your fizzy theory holds any water."

Then he said, "Water. Get it. Water."

Apparently, he's not happy that I can tell the difference or refuses to believe it.

Day 39

As we set out on the course, two golfers asked a roving course attendant when the beverage cart girl would come back and we both winced when he said, "She'll be right back, she went to get some more Vodka."

"I want Vodka!" a not-so-little-voice said in my head. "And new shoes!"

Day 41

Dusty had done it, the Dodgers had won it, And Aaron read the opinion pages all the while.

Rock 'n roll was being reborn, Tecate, I had to scorn, And down on the corner, The national past-time was shown on 15 TVs.

We're talkin' baseball! Harang and Santana. Talkin' baseball! Branyan and The Kouz. The Bleeding Ulcer, the Backdoor Slider, and the Pine, They knew 'em all from the Canyon Country city line.

Especially Dusty, Wayne and The Clav.

Day 44

Since we're both big fans of mockumentaries --- Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, The Office --- we're excited about the possibilities of the show. And the meetings in Pawnee are exactly what Aaron covers in Temecula. A park being built is a big story in the local news. Hopefully, the Pawnee reporter isn't a complete tool.

Day 45

We have not forgotten one single day that we're in the midst of Lent given our huge sacrifice --- Jesus must realize that this isn't chocolate we're talking about! --- but today is Good Friday and that never fails to bring tears to my eyes and really remind me why these days leading up to Easter are the most holy for Christians.

The End

We did it.

The End

We did it.

As planned, we awoke early Sunday morning and popped into the kitchen. Wiping the sleep from our eyes, we indulged in the first drink to cross our lips since that oh-so-long-ago-day: a mimosa for me and a spicy Bloody Mary for Aaron.

Vita, my uncle's girlfriend, even made the trek downstairs in her robe, joining us for our first post-Lent drink.

She couldn't pass up a celebratory drink, she said. Glad to have you, we said, and we headed out to the back porch, drinks in hand.

My sister soon joined us too somehow when booze is involved everyone becomes a morning person.

"Welcome back to the drinking world," Chelsea said, as we all clinked our glasses.

"Glad to be back," we said with smiles.

The rest of Easter was perfect. Went to Mass. Headed back home for a couple more drinks and then it was off to the Madrona Manor for brunch.

The Madrona Manor for Easter Brunch is a Bremner tradition. It's a majestic, Victorian mansion built in the 1840s set in the vineyards in Healdsburg.

This year, uncles, cousins and our friend Kristen joined the core Bremner clan for brunch. The lamb was amazing. The Duck Confit was even creamy deliciousness (and it has the added bonus of having the name "confit").

While the kids rolled down the grassy hill and pitched pennies in the fountain, me and the girls sipped on delicious mojitos. Aaron ordered a Bloody Mary. We were happy that our first drinks out happened to be mixed up at a very classy joint, one that prides itself on high-end cocktails with fresh ingredients. And we were glad our drinks actually had that key ingredient: booze. Ahhhh. Delicious.

Next, our table managed to down six bottles of champange. The bubbly went down quite smoothly with my duck confit and Aaron's lamb. Did I mention yet that the lamb was amazing? Oh I did.

And, of course, paired excellently with my strawberry shortcake and Aaron's chocolate mousse.

Our post-Brunch plans also --- surprise! --- included booze. We headed back to my parents with the whole crew, hung out on the porch and drank red and white wine. My friend, Susanna who I've known since junior high and have had many drunken moments with, also stopped by.

My Dad, who also gave up booze for Lent and was happy to indulge again, brought Aaron some beer, a dark bottle of what Aaron described as "home brew."

We ended up spending the night Sunday, Aaron laid low in the guest bed with his boots still on. "Home brew" to blame?

I passed out next to him later and both of us slept soundly and woke up feeling great.

We're proud of ourselves for making it to the end, happy we can now say that, yes we can go without booze, but even more excited to say: never again. We did it. Success has been had. The end. Cheers and thanks to all who supported us throughout.

Day 46 (Blog update)

When we get settled on Tuesday night, we'll post our wrap up thoughts and a Best of the Blog recap post.

And then that's it. The blog will be archived for posterity. Ah, how our children will ignore it.

Thanks for everyone that has checked out the blog and those who have supported our Lenten sacrifice.

Day 46 (Holy Saturday)

While our epic display of willpower would normally take center stage at this juncture --- 46 days! Ha, ha Brian! --- we've been one upped.

Terry Bremner is being confirmed as a Catholic today. I failed to sell him on the merits of the Lutheran Church. Even Garrison Keillor wasn't enough to sway my father-in-law, a Keillor fan.

Congrats to Terry, he's been prepping for this day for literally years.

Day 45 (Booze Free Good Friday)

We have not forgotten one single day that we're in the midst of Lent given our huge sacrifice --- Jesus must realize that this isn't chocolate we're talking about! --- but today is Good Friday and that never fails to bring tears to my eyes and really remind me why these days leading up to Easter are the most holy for Christians.

I skipped out of work this afternoon and went to church. Good Friday is a somber day, a day to remember the sacrifices of Jesus, so it's easier to sacrifice today, given what He went through. The stations of the cross are a brutal reminder of the day He marched to his death, bleeding in the streets and dying for our sins.

But what always amazed me about the story, ever since I was a little girl, was that Jesus forgave those who pounded the nails in "forgave them, for they know not what they do." And I thought about that today as we reenacted the stations of the cross: If Jesus can forgive them, forgive us for all the sins we commit, we should be able to forgive others, and most of all, to forgive ourselves.

And, that's why on Sunday, as we celebrate the day he rose from the dead, this year especially I will also remember that it's a time for all of us to be reborn, cleansed of our sins. For Christ is Risen!

We're driving up to Santa Rosa now to see my parents for Easter and my Dad's confirmation. He's finally becoming a Catholic after all these years of attending Mass with our family, memorizing the Saints but still not going up to Communion. It will soon be official. It's a big deal for him and Aaron and I are excited to be there for him. And it will be quite odd to see my Dad head up to Communion with the whole family.

Day 45 (In our Element)

Tonight we're driving to No. Cal. in the trusty Kiwi Metallic Element.

I'll be listening to the baseball games and Heather will be sleeping. The destination is Santa Rosa, the city that will host our final night of sobriety.

Day 44 ("Parks and Recreation")

"What I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring loudly at me," says Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler's character after a roomful of townspeople complain to her about a variety of the city's ills.

Having attended many city meetings as reporters --- city hall, school board, etc. --- it was hilarious listening to the oh-so-accurate complaints. Aaron and I both rolled our eyes when the crazy guy tried to hijack the meeting.

"I have a couple things to say about Laura Linney ..."

After getting a round of applause by saying she hates politics --- another public meeting staple --- Rashida Jones' Ann Logan mentions an empty lot near her house. A developer dug a basement and lost the funding to continue, her boyfriend fell in and broke both his legs.

"Can you fix it?" she asks Leslie.

Leslie, her eyes lit up by the promise of a civic victory, vows to build a park there.

"This could be my Hoover Dam."

They did a good job with the opening scenes of the show too, Leslie surveying a kid playing in the park and then shoving a drunk down the slide with a broom.

There are tons of great lines in the show and I'm looking forward to the next episode. Aaron said he read so much about the show that he pretty much knew what to expect. So, he's looking forward to a surprise.

Since we're both big fans of mockumentaries --- Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, The Office --- we're excited about the possibilities of the show. And the meetings in Pawnee are exactly what Aaron covers in Temecula. A park being built is a big story in the local news. Hopefully, the Pawnee reporter isn't a complete tool.

In non-drinking news, it's pretty crazy that we're almost there. Seems like centuries ago that we started this experiment and now we're nearly done. Time to turn in the lab coats, mimosas and bloody marys on Sunday!