Strong Words, Softly Spoken

Three years ago today, Alex & I were on our way to Nashville to see Batman Begins at the IMAX theater. Three years ago tonight we had our first kiss and thus began this insanity we call a relationship.

There was a time when I would’ve said that I didn’t think I would ever be with someone for this long. I don’t handle vulnerability well, so the idea of being close to someone and trusting someone and opening up myself and risking being hurt by someone made me want to run screaming. I avoided it at all costs.

In retrospect it’s so silly that I ever felt that way. In all honesty, Alex has truly changed me and my life completely. I am a better version of myself when I’m with him and I can’t imagine there ever being a day when I’m not waking up next to him and facing life together with him. We are a team, he & I…and while it hasn’t always been easy, it has definitely ALWAYS been worth it.

Happy 3 years, Justinger. Here’s to me being able to put up with you for another 12 months.

Two topics of interest in this blog. The Sidewalk Scramble and…………

THE DARK KNIGHT

I’m not sure it’s really even possible to put my feelings and love for this film into words. It was absolutely everything that I ever wanted it to be and so much more. But let me start from the beginning.

I went a full week early to get our tickets to the midnight screening at Patton Creek. At that time, 3 of the 4 theaters were already sold out. We knew that meant it was going to be crazy and that we should get there early. So, we show up at 10:15ish and the line was already halfway down the side of the building. By 10:30 it was wrapped completely around the building. They let us in at 11:00 and it was like a mad dash to get good seats. By the time we walked in our theater was already almost full but luckily we got decent seats.

Now for the film…wow doesn’t even begin to cover it. I love Batman. He’s my favorite super-hero. I don’t read comics so I don’t know the characters and the villains like others I know (ahem, Ben), but out of all the big super-hero’s, Batman has always been my favorite. Probably because there’s not really “super” about him. He’s human. He has no special powers. He’s just a man with a mission and I relate to that much more than I relate to someone who can fly or can shoot spiderwebs out of his wrist.

I loved Batman Begins and I’ve been excited for this film for the past 3 years….counting down steadily for the past year. It was a masterpiece. Just epic. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I didn’t want it to end, and as soon as it did I was wishing I could watch it again that very second. Christian Bale is a perfect Bruce Wayne and Heath Ledger was an even more perfect Joker.

Which brings me to Heath and his performance. I think we were all expecting it to be great but he really was phenomenal. And watching him onscreen and seeing how much talent he really had made me extremely sad for the world having to endure such a tragic loss.

To sum this part up, if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to go immediately…and then another few times after that. Best film of the year, by far.

Now for part 2: The Sidewalk Scramble. All I’m going to say is Wednesday July 30, 2008 @ 7pm at Workplay. Prepare to be Red, White and BLOWN AWAY!

There are times when I really pride myself on being a grown up. On a daily basis, I really don’t feel like much of one, but I am one…and there are days when I really pat myself on the back for handing things in such a grown up manner. Today……………………….was not one of those days.

I’ve been having headaches over the last month or so…migraines…cluster headaches…and the doctor decided to do an MRI just to be sure these headaches are harmless. So, I was scheduled for an MRI this afternoon. I show up at 2:30 like I was told to and they lead me back to a room where I was pretty much given a locker and told that I needed to remove my jewelry and my bra. Now, I don’t think any men reading this can relate, but I’m sure the women can. For me, being in public without a bra is like being naked in front of a large crowd. I’m wearing a thin, light yellow t-shirt – not exactly the best thing to be wearing when you’re going to have to be braless in front of countless numbers of strangers. So, there I am, exposed to the world….and then they call me back……to get my IV.

*insert panic attack here*

IV? I’m getting an IV? WHY am I getting an IV? I was not told about this. I’m not prepared for this. I hate needles. I hate shots. I need time to mentally prepare myself for this idea. I can’t get an IV NOW! The last time I had an IV I was 15 and having my wisdom teeth cut out, and I sobbed like a small child while holding onto my mother for dear life. And this is where I realize how un-grown up I actually am. She’s setting up the little tray and pulling needles out of drawers and here I am, a 28 year old woman sitting in chair telling myself, “it’s ok. You are a big girl, Siobhan. You can do this. IT IS OK.” But while I’m giving myself this pep talk, I’m really thinking “why didn’t I let my mother come with me?” Sad, no?

One IV later, they lead me back to the MRI room and I’m told to lie down on this tiny little table. A couple of days ago they called and asked me a list of questions, one being “are you claustrophobic?” I answered no…because I’m really not. I can’t stand not being able to move my arms, so as long as they didn’t strap me down to a table I thought I’d be ok. Well, there’s something about being rolled up in a small plastic tube with about an inch of space between your head and the top that makes a person more claustrophobic than one would think. My first reaction was to panic. I felt my blood pressure start to rise and there I was, again, giving myself a pep talk. “It’s ok, Siobhan. Breathe, Siobhan. You’re a big girl, Siobhan, you can take this.”

My inner voice of reason prevailed, and I made it through. The process was actually very relaxing once it got started. If it weren’t for the very loud foghorn noises the machine made, I would’ve probably slept soundly through the whole thing. IV and all.

So maybe I really should be patting myself on the back for being such a grown up today. Because, hey, I made it through the IV without crying……I think that says something.