I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it now anyway – I love champagne. It’s one of my favorite beverages. I can drink champagne any time of the day, any day of the week, for any special or non-special occasion. It’s a very versatile beverage. You can drink it straight, mixed with juice, in cocktails or even frozen in a slushie. What’s not to love?
That’s why whenever I have an opportunity to snag me a free glass of this fizzy, fruity delight, I’ll take it. However, there’s almost always a catch or a consequence when indulging in the “free” champagne. In most cases the catch involves money, usually in the form of purchasing one more glass of champagne, because, you see, I can’t have just one glass. Have you seen the glasses they serve this drink in? Small. Teeny, tiny, glasses. Barely four ounces in most instances. That’s like – what? – half a drink? Barely a taste.
However, on more than one occasion the “free” champagne has cost me a meal, or at the very least an appetizer. The “free” champagne is only served IF you purchase food. Well, okay, that’s fine. I’ll have a little something something while I sip my champage. You don’t have to twist my arm. Make it a charcuterie plate and I’m in instant heaven.
But then there’s the times when the “free” champagne has ended up costing me a couple of thousand dollars. That’s right. Four figures were doled out because I had to have “free” champagne. How does this happen you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.
If you’ve ever taken a cruise, you’ve probably happened upon, at least once, an art auction on one of those famous “sea days.” Guess what? They give free champagne at the art auctions. And, that’s how it all began. I wandered into the art auction, swiped my tiny glass of “free” champagne from the tray and browsed among the works of art featured for that day’s auction. I figured it’d be rude to just snag the booze and hightail it down to the Lido Deck so I stuck around. You know, to act “interested.”
The waiters kept coming around with trays of little glasses of my favorite bubbly, so I kept up my faux interest until I’d have 3 or 4 of those little drinks. Which in reality is 1 normal sized glass. Anyway, I was careful to dispose of my empty glass cleverly on a deserted table so that I looked parched every time one of the servers came around with a full tray. I’ve seen that done in the movies, so I gave it a shot. Sure enough, if you time it correctly, you can finish the last drop, sneak the empty glass onto a nearby vacant table and . . . voila, swipe yourself a new glass just as the server comes your way.
Well, when the auction started, I decided, what the heck, let’s just see what an art auction is all about. I know now. An art auction is about spending money. Lots of money. I strongly encourage you to gird yourself up when you walk through those gleaming doors otherwise, you’ll end up broke. Oh sure, you’ll have a glass or two or bubbly, but if you don’t get out quick, it will no longer be “free” champagne. You’ve been warned. Drink the free stuff with caution.
Are you guys suckers for free stuff? Will you take something just because it’s free? Have you ever ventured somewhere for something free only to end up spending more money than you intended because of it? Come on, you can tell me. We’re all friends here.
Word of the Day: Kleptocracy
Fun fact about me: I probably share more than I should.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, November 2021. Images by Google and giphy.com
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jansenschmidt 
I am not much of a champagne drinker, more of a beer, scotch or a new discovery – bourbon whiskey drinker. But no matter what spirit it is, it can do a number on your judgment. When I think of champagne, I always sing the line from the Mel Brooks movie, Blazing Saddles. The line is, ‘I get no kick from champagne, mere alcohol doesn’t faze me at all….’ Every time I see that movie, I laugh. The movie is definitely from another time and could never be made in today’s culture unless of course you had a glass of champagne or whiskey in your hand. Just saying’. Have a great day and a fabulous week. Peace.
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I LOVE me some bourbon as well. I discovered this awesomeness about a year ago when a group of guys stayed here for some Good Ole Boy convention. They all brought a bottle and at the end of the weekend they left the leftovers with me. I got to sample some really fine bourbons.
I’ve never seen Blazing Saddles in its entirety, but I do know about it. Some of us older folks can watch it in the privacy of our own homes and laugh our asses off all right. As long as we don’t talk about it in public afterwards.
Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week!
Patricia
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I prefer my champagne not free, but cheap. 😀
Your post brings me back to my college days, where art shows were always the place to be. Why? Free food! Most were put on by other budget-minded students, so no alcohol (or at least not champagne), but lots of yummy appetizers – heck yeah! And yes, I put on an art show of my own senior year and gave away plenty of food. Luckily, my parents subsidized it. 😀
btw I hate this kleptocracy we always seem to get in Washington…
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I love how you use the word of the day!! Thanks for doing that.
Free food is going to lure me is as well. I’m a sucker. And now that I know a little about art, I will go to an art show or auction just for the art.
Thanks for walking down memory lane with me. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Patricia
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I can honestly say of all the many different alcoholic beverages I enjoy, champagne will light me up the fastest. On the bright side, you should be thankful they weren’t auctioning off the Mona Lisa that day.
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I think it’s the fizziness that brings on the fuzziness but I like it just the same. Always have. And, after enough of those glasses of “free” champagne, they might have auctioned off the Mona Lisa, who knows? All I saw was “free.”
Thanks for popping (see what I did there) by. Have a great week!
Patricia
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