journal features

surfin' and drinkin'

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Sydney, 2001.02.17

We just had a great day up at the home of Sara's coworker Jo's parents. We went up last night, I had several home-brew bourbon sours (recipe below), needed to take a Cafergot cos of a mysterious headache that formed at 4 AM, then we headed to the beack. And I had my first surfing lesson from Jo and Sara's coworker, Rob.

It was lots of fun. I never attempted to stand, but caught one wave just right and it took me about fifty metres into the shore. Really quite amazing.

Recipe for Michael's bourbon sour:

1) Get a 'Stoly' (lemon Ruski drink produced by Stolichnaya) and quickly drink 1/3 of it

2) When 1/3 has been consumed, top up with bourbon

3) shake

4) consume

These get better as you go along. Or so it seems, anyway.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering