By the time this post is completed, you will undoubtedly have seen the “way” before pictures that Ben posted on CrossFit New England. Strangely, I am not mortified. In fact, my mother often worries that my frontal lobe is not fully programed to understand danger or embarrassment.
I will tell you what I am embarrassed of: letting myself go while I’ll lived in New York.
If you have ever lived and worked in Manhattan, you know NYC is a supernova. It is truly one of the greatest cities in the world. Everyone should at one point in their life live in New York, or at the very least read E.B. White’s Here Is New York.
New York seduced me. I was performing regularly at stand up clubs all over the city. I met Margaret Cho, Judith Friedlander and even, Danny Bonaduce, who is gross, tweaked out of his mind and a horrible comic. He is just simply really red looking.
To truly be immersed in the world of NY comedy, there is a sub culture of drinking, drugs and sycophancy. I am not moralizing or offering any value judgment. You are either doing comedy, drinking nightly and bearing witness to Bacchanalia or you don’t get stage time.
I didn’t do drugs but I did drink. I drank 5 nights a week at least 1 rum and diet coke. Such drinking led to promiscuous eating. I said it. PROMISCUOUS EATING. “Hey, I crushed tonight!” “I’m going to reward myself with the club nachos!” Or, “Wow, I got an applause break (I’m that funny), so definitely deserve a trophy of the Comix’s sliders with curly fries.”
I remember going to perform in Wisconsin (don’t mean to brag)…in the winter…and performing phenomenally. People took me out for drinks, showed me ice fishing, took my pictures, bought me dinner. And, in turn, were wildly excited a woman could tell a joke about Brett Farve. It was a rush. In Wisconsin, I started to feel the wear. I was sleeping all day, got up at 4 p.m., got ready for club, did two shows and was out until 3 or 4 each morning. I also went to visit the grave site of Ed Gein. Strangely, I never found it and for that I am thankful.
You get the picture.
I won’t bore you with the details of why I am back in Boston. But, I am committed to health. It’s all one ever has. Perhaps, one of my most favorite comics is also the one with the most amount of tragedy in his life. He is recovering drug addict, drinker and is astounding brilliant. His career has spanned decades. And if you ever met him, you know you are in the presence of comic genius. Yet, in his pores, you see all the sadness of a man who watched life and health pass him by. I bring this up because I bumped into him not long ago and saw him drinking. It broke my heart.
Anywhoooo, today was clean and jerks. I maxed out at a Herculean 65 lbs, while Sargeant Harry pretended to be big man on campus with his 240 lbs.
Ate 2 apples, 8 raw almonds, gulped some fish oil, drank 8 plus glasses of water and am getting ready for some chicken and brocolli. Now, it’s time to watch True Blood.
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September 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Amanda, you’re awsome and your energy and smile that you bring everyday to Crossfit New England is something that I enjoy witnessing. Keep up the hard work because you and I know it will pay off! Take care, keep up the GREAT work and I look forward to seeing you in the box soon.
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September 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Christian
Thank you so much. And, your support is equally enjoyable. We all want to grow stronger together. And, I will keep smiling despite being tired and sore right now (and wanting Diet Coke BADLY)b/c these are the moments where we define ourselves: when we pick ourselves up and move forward and move with celerity.
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September 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
As Cortez said – BURN THE BOATS!!!
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americapeals Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Are you sure it was Chavez, Mr. Brown’s wealthy friend from Honduras, who said that?
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September 5th, 2009 at 5:19 am
girlfriend!!! lovin’ the posts
thank god you’re over that lifestyle. i think i got a rash just reading/thinking about it. cfne rules.
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September 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Nice chatting this morning …..here is a link to the blog I mentioned. http://amy-goodenoughisnot.blogspot.com/?spref=fb
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americapeals Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Thanks Johnny! Looking forward to reading it!!!
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September 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Amanda – keep gulping the fish oil and providing these awesome posts! They are great!
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americapeals Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Thanks Big Bri! Gulping the fish oil sounds Freudian but Im going to do some serious gulping and one day be a big (but not so big) dog. I just don’t want people to think of me like the reality TV show “Ruby” where this 400 pound chick can do shit.
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