How to avoid a hangover - after partying your ass off!

As spring and summer approach us it seems the world puts it's party hat on and goes rip roaring wild -after the winter we've been having with gas prices soaring to incredible new heights. We drink to forget! It's an expression of the giving up of the horrible memories (thank goodness) and moving on to a bigger, better and brighter tomorrow. And we're all so happy, we celebrate like pagans in some long forgotten wine fest drinking ritual. But if you're not careful there Dionysus, you'll be paying the next day and worshiping that porcelain god more than a few times in the night and maybe into the morning - for the drinks of yesterday! Here are some helpful tips to keep you from having that headache and nausea during the work day, sunday game or parade!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Milk
• A plan
• Bread
• Water
• A clear head
• A big friend

1. Start out the evening by making a resolve not to drink to much. Only you know for certain what that 'too much' is. Perhaps you agree to have only four drinks instead of the usual 12 to 14!
2. Eat a nice meal before heading out to that bar/party/ etc. If you have some food in your stomach, it will make it less likely that you'll be getting to where you want to be (a little tipsy) before you're ready. There's nothing worse than finding that you've passed out before the night is over and find out your friends have made your face up to look like a clown while your were sleeping.
3. Drink a glass of milk! I know, don't think you can stomach it? Well this is exactly why you should. Milk coats the stomach and will definately help!
4. As you are in the shank of the evening and eat hor's deorves and yucking it up with your friends, try to sneak a glass of water in between drinks. This will help to dilute the alcohol.
5. One sneaky way to avoid drinking too much is to have a mixed drink, such as a mimosa, or bloody mary or punch. You can alway switch to plain orange juice, or tomato juice or even gingerale or water (with ice and a lime) and people will not even notice that you aren't drinking.
6. After the evening has ended...drink plenty of water before going to sleep. If you've followed the above steps and have been careful, you should be fine for the events to follow with no regrets about what a fool you made of yourself at the party, or strangers in your bed..or a headache from hell! Or that itchy, scratchy feeling with unwanted pests in your groin. Remember, you are your own worst enemy, or friend. This season, try to be a friend to yourself!

Tips & Warnings

• don't drink too much
• know your limits
• don't drink and drive
• drink what you know, don't do shots of strange substances
• don't get to close to anyone you wouldn't feel comfortable climbing into it with
• don't count on friends to count your drinks. If you need to, keep the stirrers so you don't lose track
• stay away from shots between drinks, a surefire way to drunkeness in a hurry
• don't give in to peer pressure, it's better to act a little intoxicated than to become the big bad fool from the party, as in "that's that girl/guy from the party who got completely naked under a lampshade and then went off with ...(fill in the blank).
• avoid negative people, they'll make you drink more
• remember, while drinking may temporarily keeping you walking by open windows, it isn't a solve all repair all. We still have to face facts in the big bad cruel morning after
• Bartenders rarely give good advice any more