Email to Laurie

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To: [Laurie]
From: [Marius]
Subject:

Removing this from the journal system, as I am endeavoring not to flout my differing views from the staff too openly. When this vow is remembered to me, that is.

To answer your question, re: the fascination with drinking: I cannot say the appeal for others, but I myself was raised in a household where wine was the dinner beverage of choice since the point I surpassed the gentle sippy-cup. This is for reasons of Culture, as there is some rather aggressive French along my maternal lines. I find no mystery in alcohol, and I see little point in assigning a mandatory age to that time when one magically, mystically, becomes eligible to imbibe. Particularly since want of experience has often lead to regretable experimentation in those early days of permissiveness, but I digress. (Doug and Forge, incidentally, are excused from this statement as our bartender was rather outrageously having them on.)

I will not say I have never done anything foolish whilst under the influence, but this statement is fairly ammended to "I have never done anything foolish whilst under the influence that would not also have been done sober," so no worries there. It is perhaps not legal to maintain my habit here, but drinking is simply a part of my life, particularly in the social sense, as much as vigorous exercise and academia. It is not a pleasant experience to have such things removed at a seeming whim. I will abide by most every rule in this country -- but not that one. I will, however, attempt to be somewhat more vigilant in concealing the flaunting.

Forgive the directness of the private missive, but I thought perhaps this might be cleared up before my mates were subject to any more trouble for actions which are solely my own.