3-4 times a week?
how often do you think bukowski drank?
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From that afternoon in Jimmy Hatcher's basement, or was it Baldy, hell, I don't know. By about 1940, after his dad had chucked him out, I'm pretty sure he must have tried to drink every day. By the time he met Jane Cooney, it had to be just about every day until his gut busted open. Take a few weeks/months off, mix wine with milk, and fast forward to 1986 or so. By then, Linda Lee had him in control, but still boozing every day with her, only not balling whisky, just wine and beer.
So, from about 1940-1994, I'd estimate about 95% of the days.
Amen to that.
So, from about 1940-1994, I'd estimate about 95% of the days.
Amen to that.
i seriously doubt it was 95% of his days, if so, wow.
but i would assume maybe 3-4 times a week.
but i would assume maybe 3-4 times a week.
ROC
It is what it is
Yup, I can personally vouch for this kind of intake.
If you have a 'problem with alcohol', you drink 5, 6 or 7 days a week. Every week.
And when you don't drink, it's either because you can't get to booze or you are too sick from it to look at for a while... not because you want to lay off it per se.
Wow, writing that down was kind of weird.
Hic!
If you have a 'problem with alcohol', you drink 5, 6 or 7 days a week. Every week.
And when you don't drink, it's either because you can't get to booze or you are too sick from it to look at for a while... not because you want to lay off it per se.
Wow, writing that down was kind of weird.
Hic!
ROC
It is what it is
You don't agree with wot?
I was describing myself (obviously, I thought) and, as such, you don't have much of a leg to stand on - like me sometimes!
I really don't know how much Buk drank, of course... I'm just saying 5, 6 or 7 days a week is very definitely possible.
I tend to think (having read all his words) very probably the case.
Just me.
I was describing myself (obviously, I thought) and, as such, you don't have much of a leg to stand on - like me sometimes!
I really don't know how much Buk drank, of course... I'm just saying 5, 6 or 7 days a week is very definitely possible.
I tend to think (having read all his words) very probably the case.
Just me.
mjp
Founding member
He was not a binge drinker, though he would get more drunk than usual when faced with a social situation that he was uncomfortable in. I think that's clear from all the stories of him misbehaving at parties or other gatherings.
I would think it was unusual for him to not drink on a given day, and that quite a lot of "regular" people are the same way. Not drinking to slobbering drunkenness, but a few drinks.
I would think it was unusual for him to not drink on a given day, and that quite a lot of "regular" people are the same way. Not drinking to slobbering drunkenness, but a few drinks.
Spot on. Buk was, plain and simple, a drunk. Later in life, Linda Lee moderated him a bit, but other than those few weeks in '55, and when he quit in '93 I think it was, he probably drank every day if there was booze to be had and money to get it.
One of his classic stories was when his girlfriend (Linda King, I believe it was) kept breaking pint bottles of Cutty Sark, and he'd have to go down to the package store and get a new one, and then she'd break that one. I guess the stores closed for about 2 hours each night from ~4-6 AM, and he waited until 6 AM and got more. He then called her and told her "The liquor store will now be open for the next 22 hours" or some such. I think that bit was in "Women."
mjp
Founding member
Well, not exactly. 1949 - 1955 he only had one poem published, but that one publication suggests that he didn't stop writing completely. But even if he did, that's six years. After almost dropping dead in 1955, he hit the typewriter hard and never stopped again.
If you look at the timeline, that period is also where he worked many of the jobs he would later write about, at the lighting and other factories, and the art supply house.
1942 - 1944 is when he did his traveling, and it was the only time he left Los Angeles for any extended period of time - but he also wrote during that period.
There is a thread about dispelling Bukowski myths. You should check it out. ;)
As much as possible. Good on him
At least where I live, We Do. I'm not a binger though. I want to spread my drinking out over as long a life as I can.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
I lived in North Dakota. There is nothing else to do there but drink. Nice people, though and good fishing. You must drink with nice people and drink when you fish.
Based on what I've read about Buk's childhood - I think drinking was pretty much part of his life since he was a youngster. Seems like he drank to kill the painful childhood memories... there's an interview from the time he was writing 'Ham/Rye' (in 'Born Into This') when the interviewer asks about his childhood... and before Buk could answer - you see/hear Linda pouring him a tall glass of wine...
Reminds me of a Malachy McCourt book I read a few years ago when he wrote about his alcoholism:
"We spend so much of our adult life searching for the happy childhood we never had..."
Reminds me of a Malachy McCourt book I read a few years ago when he wrote about his alcoholism:
"We spend so much of our adult life searching for the happy childhood we never had..."
mjp
Founding member
The Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois - that group of connected states all take their drinking seriously. There are bars on every block. Everywhere.
Growing up in Minnesota I thought it was weird that my father was a truck driver, mechanic and bartender, while other fathers worked in offices (my step-father was a construction engineer - a mostly white collar gig).
Eventually I realized that most kids fathers were truck drivers, mechanics and bartenders. If not bartenders, their counterparts on the other side of the bar. That part of America is something else.
Gotta include Michigan in this group. a few years ago I lived in a town of about 2000 rednecks in the northern part of the state. well known for its fishing. (hemmingway, used to live and fish in that area) they sold T shirts at the local trading post that said: " Indian River Mi. , a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem". actually I always like that saying. Its so true!
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
and drink like a fish. that's what i thought you wrote.
there's a carver poem about viewing a photo of his father as a young man. the "old" man is holding a string of perches and a bottle of beer.
it ends something like:
father, i love you, but how can i say i like you.
i who can't hold my booze either
and dont know the places to fish.
i like that one.
Jim Harrison
I'm a big fan of Jim Harrison, who used to live up in the upper part of the lower peninsula. I myself live in the lower part of the lower peninsula. Hemingway fished and hunted in the upper peninsula. Both Hemingway and Harrison liked to drink as much as they liked Michigan. Well, Harrison still likes to drink.;)
I'm a big fan of Jim Harrison, who used to live up in the upper part of the lower peninsula. I myself live in the lower part of the lower peninsula. Hemingway fished and hunted in the upper peninsula. Both Hemingway and Harrison liked to drink as much as they liked Michigan. Well, Harrison still likes to drink.;)