Wed 23 Jan 2008
oh, the places you’ll never go! (thanks to your drinking problem)
Posted by thejinius under eating and drinking, life in new york
I saw Madeleine Albright speak at the 92nd Street Y the other day and my crush on her escalated even more. Not only was she the first female secretary of state and the first American official to meet with a certain autocratic ruler of a highly isolated country, but girlfriend can leg press 400 pounds.
She also has a razor sharp wit. She told us this story about how she was invited to the White House for a dinner with former Secretaries of State and Defense, “Rarely have I ever felt so young.” and when she had a moment to speak with President Bush she said, ” ‘Mr. President, I don’t know why you act as if you invented democracy when you know I did.”
Luckily, he laughed at her joke.
After the lecture, I waited thirty minutes for her to sign my book. The ushers said that we could have her personalize the message or just get her signature. What the hell was I going to do with a book that was dedicated to me? Isn’t that lame? I decided to just get her signature. Everyone else ahead of me got their books personalized. Oh, well.
While I felt inspired and awed during the lecture, I couldn’t help but feel a little deflated afterward. I mean, I’m sure Madeleine Albright was not the type of woman that ever passed out in bed after a night of drinking. And I chided myself for not having the discipline to moderate my party habits and do something more with my professional life. Would I have achieved more success if it were not for my propensity to do soju shots and then curl up in fetal position on my bathroom floor?
Then yesterday I went to yoga class and ran into this girl I know. I hardly recognized her. She seemed so mellow, glowing from the inside out. “I haven’t had alcohol in 4 months,” she explained.
FOUR MONTHS.
Wow. No matter how many times I puke on the sidewalk or pass out at home, I still continue to drink alcohol like an indefatigable frat boy. But the minute I see that someone has better skin and a leaner body from not drinking alcohol, I want to jump on the wagon.
Vanity is a great motivator.
So, yeah, I’m thinking of curtailing the drinking.
Will you still love me when I am sober?
And boring?
January 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
don’t feel bad because albright has not ever passed out after a night of drinking. and don’t feel bad about not waking up at 4:00AM to write! hell-your life ALREADY sounds more interesting than mine.
nice to meet you–electronically, of course.
d
January 24th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
i wish i could see madeleine albright kick condoleeza rice’s ass. just a thought.
January 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Mr. Treuer, I am so honored to have your comment on my blog. But I am pretty sure that your life is INFINITELY more interesting than mine. And I’m working on the whole waking up at 4 A.M. to write thing. Except now it’s more like noon. On weekends. Not all of us are as disciplined and accomplished as you!
bluebired-yes, snl should do a condi vs albright wrestling sketch.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Wow, I wish I had known she was in town! She gave the commencement speech at my sister’s graduation a few years ago and it was unbelievable. Madeleine Albright rocks my socks off!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I was there last Sunday, too! I thought she was great. I liked her story about the guy at the airport treating her like royalty and the woman not knowing who she was.
Yay, kick-ass women!
January 26th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
for all her geopolitical prowess, i bet MA never mastered the reverse cowgirl - and we all know what an accomplishment that is.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
sabbie, your comment is going in the comment hall of fame.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
somehow i think a woman who can leg press four bills and had to deal with mostly boys for all those years can probably drink nearly anyone under the table.
however i fully support your curbing the cocktails for a while, you know, just to see what happens.