America Peals

Where to begin today? So much has happened in our pop culture world. Kayne being Kayne. Beyonce demonstrating humility and class. Taylor Swift assuming a mature stance. Patrick Swazye RIP. Whitney dishes with Oprah. It’s almost too much for me to handle. Yet, strangely these celebrities all connect very nicely for me. They bring joy through their music, their bravado and their unquestionable genius as performers. And, not everyone who is a musician is necessarily a performer. Don’t get me started on the ass clown people like to call John Mayer.

I can hear the snarky elitism beckoning: “Oh, but Miss Amanda, they just singers and dancers.” You know what? We need more singing and dancing. Now, I don’t mean go out and deplete your 401 (k) on strippers in Cranston, RI. I mean find what inspires you and surround yourself in it. For me, as you well know, completing my daily CrossFit WOD at CFNE inspires me. In short time, with avid devotion and a stellar supporting cast, I feel alive again.

For example, at Ben and Heather’s lovely wedding celebration, I had an earring that just kept falling off (and, not a cheap earring, I may add). I picked it up off the floor nearly 10 times.

What was remarkable was that I squatted easily to retrieve the bugger. Now, to you fit, young, stylish Viragos, this may seem ridiculous. 2 months ago, I could not pick something off the floor without falling and or needing to be seated on the floor. I was that bad.

My life was filled with so much stress with my life in the NY media scene, that I was at my desk 14 hours a day sometimes with only one trip to the bathroom. I had systematically deprived myself of all FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT. And, I am fucking 35 years old! I have fancy degrees and am considered reasonably adept at my work. But, I couldn’t bloody walk to the subway station. I couldn’t dream of “being active on the weekend.” I spent most weekends on the couch in Williamsburgh watching people from my window being active at McCarren Park.

I do not think I can underscore enough how miserable I felt. With physical activity out, I became sluggish and I felt my work actually became harder. My brain was in a complete fog. I did not feel sexy nor motivated which those who know me, know that is not me.

Back to inspiration. Tom Terrific’s post injury debut against the Bills nothing short of miraculous. Brady hasn’t played in 53 weeks. The media predicted a blowout with King Tom’s return to the throne of the Foxboro Faithful.

So, when Brady started out rusty, fear ensued among the announcers. The commentators then heralded the the Bill’s QB as sublime. What I began to watch was the facial expressions of Brady; Tom Tom was pissed. And, in 73 seconds in the fourth quarter, the Patriots marched up the field, scored twice and won. Oh, and Brady also knocked off a few personal bests last night.

Tom Brady, to me, is pure gusto, inspiration and hard work. He willed this game back into his hands because he wanted it badly. Tom was a fourth round draft, he backed up Bledsoe. Brady worked his ass off at Michigan and then, as a Patriots’ back up QB.

Brady, despite the haters, deserves every iota of respect. Not only does he display an incomparable work ethic, Brady has anti-freeze in his veins. He wins the big games with big plays because he already won the game in his mind’s eye.

Now, I draw no comparisons between myself and Tom Brady, but I do know that I am out of hole and at least standing on the playing field. If I can only get that mind’s eye, to focus like a laser. I do not want to end up like this: