A.K.A. P Mac Insights — Who Am I? I have often pondered this question on existential terms. Who am I? I end up repeating this in different tones of voice, like a mantra or the caterpillar on ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ Whooo arrrrrre yoooooouuuuu? It’s something we all contemplate. Depending on our mood, life experiences, or backgrounds, we continuously…

Updating your understanding of the effects of alcohol. — Wait a second. I thought it took about 24 hours for alcohol to process through my system. You are right! And you are wrong. I used to think this was true too, but I neglected to look at my whole body. Let’s consider a few things together. How Long Does It Take For Alcohol to Leave Your System? The general rule…

On-going List of Programs, Courses, and Podcasts — **NOTE: This article was updated June 29th, 2022 Dear Reader, Have you googled how to quit drinking with a glass in hand? Perhaps you have tried to moderate your drinking and found yourself craving the next Friday, special event, or gathering just for that beverage. …

Seven lessons that changed my life — Do you find yourself wanting to drink only a glass of wine at dinner and end up consuming the whole bottle? Hey, no judgment here. I have spent much of my 30s in this predicament. I’ll start the morning with full intentions to not drink alcohol, only to find myself…

It’s simpler than you think. — If you were anything like me, you drank to alleviate stress. It’s not weird. Most people do that even though they don’t like to admit it. “Is it Friday yet?” as they bounce off to Happy Hour with their colleagues on a Wednesday to beat the stresses of work. When…

And it’s still relevant today. — Every summer in my 20s, I was invited to go along with my BFF to live on a houseboat and wakeboard in the red rock canyons of Lake Powell for a week. It was something to look forward to on dreary winter Idaho days. We were in our early 20s…

Not everyone who travels drinks. — Summer is right around the corner, and travel magazines get me excited. I love the pictures, reading the experiences, and imagining myself with them- having a glamorous time. But it’ll have to wait until this mom has the time to really give it a good looksie. My son brought in…

The consequences of inauthenticity. — Recently I watched the show ‘Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar’ adapted from the book, based on the column, ‘Sugar.’ The main character, Clare, is a writer who got a book deal eons ago but has yet to write the book. In an essay she submitted about how she grieved the loss of her mother, she was told to take out the “sad stuff” in her sexual escapades so it…

A journey with a sommelier in training. — When I was a banquet server at a fancy resort, I poured lots of wine. At weddings, business dinners, private dining, and on golf courses, I couldn’t help but calculate the bar tab. Varietals ranging from $20 to $150 added up quickly. I couldn’t help but wonder, where the heck…