I read recently that the Tyrannosaurus Rex had a close relative that was a vegetarian, which makes me feel so sorry for the big guy. It must have been horrid having a vegetarian in the family when your arms are too short to cover your ears.

How refreshing then to hear from someone who has reached the ripe old age of 109 living life on his own terms. Healthy eating and no guilty pleasures? Not for Richard Overton, America’s oldest living veteran, who recently celebrated his 109th birthday party with burgers, cake and his favourite tipple in his home town of Texas. Here’s Gawker:

Overton used to start his days with some whiskey in his coffee, and he still adds a teaspoon from time-to-time. “It’s just like medicine,” he said. Overton smokes cigars daily, too…

“I may drink a little [whiskey] in the evening too with some soda water…Whiskey’s a good medicine. It keeps your muscles tender.”

Yeah, he only puffs on around 12 cigars a day because, you know, life on his own terms.

He has become something of a celebrity around town, apparently ferrying the prettier townswomen to church and snapping pics with fans on his porch. Overton has received a birthday card from Barack Obama, and the former governor of Texas Rick Perry visited him a few years back to deliver a bottle of whiskey and a hearty congrats.

You see folks all this ‘eat healthy live longer’ stuff may work for some, but for others sticking to drinking the good stuff and appreciating life’s little pleasures can keep the ticker in fine form. We salute you, good sir, may your 110th be just as memorable.

[sources:gawker&gawker]