CCFA Comedy event at the Hollywood Improv

Hey guys!

This is an official CCFA LA event but I think that anytime that we can support the CCFA and can attend any of their events we should, especially one that provides hours of laughter and entertainment to give us better perspective about our own personal struggles with IBDs.

Ben Morrison performing at the Hollywood Improv.

What: Pain in the Butt (A comedy show about Crohns)
Where: Hollywood Improv
8162 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046
When: 5/19 8pm
Cost: $25 for the show--proceeds go to the CCFA
purchase here: laughstub.com

Details:

Pain in the Butt is comedian Ben Morrison’s critically-acclaimed show about the lighter side of Crohn’s Disease.

Chronicling Morrison’s journey from akward high-school-student to awkward high-school-student with a poop disease, Pain in the Butt is the funniest show about severe intestinal disorder, ever. Performed with live multimedia and photography Pain in the Butt is lovingly told with Morrison’s signature belend of stand-up and storytelling. With a comedian’s eye and a patient’s behind Pain in the Butt is a touching tale about a touchy tail.

Having been staged all over the world during it’s amazing 8-year run Pain in the Butt is the the countries premiere theatrical experience about laughing through illness. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind experience.

Pain in the Butt.

It’s funny, on the insides.

Just in Time for the Playoffs!

That's right as most of us have probably not noticed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for that barely heard of and even less understood sport from our cousins upstairs, Hockey, are in full swing. Chicago Blackhawks right winger is one such player that will be participating in them. He is also one of many that suffer the effects of ulcerative colitis. I found his PSA spot for LIVINGwithUC.com a helpful site from which I may borrow material from. Feel free to visit the site and remember that you are not alone in your battle with IBD. Be sure to take in a hockey game this post-season and Enjoy!

This weekend

This last Friday I attended a concert with friends and I am happy to say that not only was it fun but my body was amazingly cooperative. I admit that I apprehensive about going to the venue as it's often the case with me that the later the time of the day the frequency to go to the bathroom increases. The venue was scheduled to start at 8:30 pm and end sometime after midnight. It ended closer to 2 am.

However I had already bought the ticket and had already let my friends know that I was going to carpool with them since the venue was at the Troubadour in West Hollywood where parking is virtually non existent, and not being one to disappoint I decided to throw caution to the wind and go. After all I'm still young and it would do me no good to stay at home and then wonder about all the "what if's," so I went. I had a couple drinks (Jack and Coke, my go to drink) and enjoyed the music and atmosphere never really worrying about the possibility of having to use the restroom. That is not to say that I had not already mapped out the location of each and every single restroom but that was the furthest thing from my mind as there were better and much more interesting things to think about, the band for one and... well other things. Let's just say that blue hair was involved. But I digress.

Since my friends are really close friends with the headlining band we stuck around for an extra hour before heading out to Canter's Deli where at 3 in the morning I decided to pass on the pastrami, which although heavenly delicious was a bit too heavy for me, and went with a burger. I finally got back to Anaheim where I spent the night at around 4 in the morning and somewhere shortly after went to sleep, waking up by 8 with no difficulty nor feeling the pains and aches that I usually feel after a long night, which I suppose means that my body is getting healthier from where it was even a year ago and quite possibly thinking positively during the night helped as well.

I suppose that the moral of this story is to not be afraid and enjoy yourself. Be free of that fear that all of us experience when we are confronted with something that is outside our norm and simply go with it. Worst case scenario is that you crap you pants, best case scenario you leave with good and happy memories as well as new friendships and an experience well worth sacrificing your security net for the night. And yes I'm ready to do it all over again.

Thank you Darrin, and Some Famous People With Crohn's

Darrin so kindly forwarded a Crohn's newsletter with plenty of useful tips and information on how to go on forward living the new normal. I will in the next few days take bits and pieces from it and summarize them for easier reading and understanding. However as I scanned the newsletter and the information on it one particular link caught my attention. This particular link highlighted several well known people that coped with Crohn's and were not afraid to live their lives and tell their disease that it was they and not it that was in charge.

The list is:
1) Dwight D. Eisenhower: West Point graduate, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Europe during World War II and 34th President of the United States of America. He was general and President. A war general at that during the biggest, bloodiest, most critical war that this world has ever seen. And he was President. President and General of all the Armies of Europe. Let that sink in. Yes people you can do it. Babysteps and before you know it you too may be leading an Army.

2)Cynthia McFadden: Co-anchor of ABC’s Nightline and Primetime television news magazine shows. She does lots of work with the CCFA.

3)Dynamo: Magician. Does any more really need to be said? He's a magician! A magician! No, I have no idea where I'm going with that.

4)Mike McCready: He's a guitarist from a little known band named Pearl Jam. Heard that they are pretty good. Support them by buying their music so we can try and get them out of obscurity. He also works with the CCFA.

5)David Garrard: NFL quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Okay I know that the Jaguars aren't a real, real team. But he still plays against real, real teams so to his credit he takes his shares of hits and blows and to be honest a normal person would soil themselves if they saw four 400 pound gorillas coming after them, the fact that he has never had an onfield accident with his disorder tells you a lot about his character. He too works with the CCFA.

6)Anastacia: Singer. I have nothing. No seriously, I may have heard of her but I don't remember anything she has ever done and I'm far too lazy to Google her name and pretend that I know her songs or genre. So uh, if you know who she is then you know why she sings the songs that she sings.

7)Shannen Doherty: Actress better known for her role in the original Beverly Hills 90210 as well as her time on Charmed her occasionally erratic behavior and problems with the law. Then again those problems may just have to do with being an actress and less to do with having a medical condition. But at least she admits she has the problem... the Crohn's not the occasional trouble with the law. But uh... she was on a ghost reality show or something on cable a few years ago so instead of the poo scaring the her out she scared the poo out of others.

Comments? Suggestions? Let me know.