The Eternal Debate

So, of the many discussions that people get into, one of my favorites is the question: Who would you rather be, Batman or Superman? Its amazing what you can learn about somebody when they reveal the answer to that question. For example, recently my dear friend Julia and I were discussing Batman, and she said the following:

"I feel like that's the American way. A few billion dollars, a butler, and ninja teachers can make anyone into a superhero. I like that: I can potentially become a vigilante."

Doesn't that tell you a lot about Julia? And I promise, she would make an amazing vigilante.

So now I want to ponder this question, who would I be? Batman would obviously be amazing, its his brains that make him super. I want that in my life. Generally, I would think that being a klutz would automatically rule you out of being Superman, but as Batman, I could invent things to ensure that I don't fall down. Or injure myself daily.

The one thing I believe I have in the bag in being Superman, however, is the disguise. Really, how many people have watched those movies and thought, "Wow! Glasses! What an amazing disguise! No wonder Lois doesn't recognize him, if it wasn't for the fact that I saw him change into Superman, I certainly wouldn't have believed that Clark Kent is simply an alter-ego."

I, on the other hand, have an added bonus. The hair. You'd be amazed at the number of times I've confused people by straightening my normally curly hair. My own father, for example, passed by our pew at church thinking that somebody else must have taken our spot and started circling the church looking for me. Or there is the time that, sitting at my same desk, somebody walked into "Intern Alley" and asked where Emily was. Which led my coworker Curtis to describe my glasses and straight hair as the "Clark Kent look."

To prove my point, here are some pictures. Because apparently lots of people use blogs to show pictures.

Here I am, the quiet friend smiling in the middle of the pack:















But watch out, because take off those glasses, and I'm out to get the bad guys!





















And here is another picture to show how the straight hair plus SUNGLASSES would probably be my best bet at hiding my identity.

















So, all things considering, I think I could teach Clark Kent a thing or two about disguises. Or I could just become a vigilante with Julia. I just need to find the ninja teachers first.

Disney!

So, as some of you might recall, I went to Disneyland this past February. In preparation for that trip, my friends all decided to assign ourselves Disney characters, just because. I've also participated in this activity with FHE groups, mission friends, etc. Whenever this conversation comes up, Belle is always one of the first characters tossed around, as everyone tries to decide which of the brunnette girls should receive that honor. People eventually look at me and say, "Well, you could be Belle, but maybe we should try to think of something more creative for you." Really? Why must you try to be creative and think of something else? They say, maybe you could be Eve from WALL-e. Or, how about Maid Marion from Robin Hood? (the only reason I'm okay with that one was that I had a not-so-secret crush on Robin Hood when I was growing up).

So, in listening to "Beauty and the Beast" this morning on Pandora (yes, Disney songs DO pop up in my most-listened-to Pandora station), I decided next time this conversation pops up, I am sticking up for myself and insisting that I am Belle. Because, yes, I see myself being with friends that will analyze this, and I will make my voice known.

Reasons I feel connected to Belle:

• Her small town did not understand her and thought she was odd. I grew up in a community that acted like science-fiction is the weirdest interest ever. Am I odd? Yes. But so was Belle, and she got a prince because of it.
• Her theme song included the following lyrics: "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand to have someone understand, I want so much more than they've got planned." Is that my theme song as well? YES! Did I write out all of those lyrics from memory? YES!
• She loved reading.
• She had weirdos pursuing her (reference my entire dating history).

Um, I probably could go on, but suffice it to say, I think I have earned the right to be Belle. I am a little concerned that being Belle might mean I have a secret desire to fall in love with a hairy man. . .

Did you or did you not order the CODE RED?!

I've decided that Subject O-Matique should apply to my blog titles as well.

Things that are not cool:

• Putting the wrong solution onto your contacts before sticking them into your eyes. And subsequently crying all day from the pain.
• Rolling over your heel with your office chair and pulling off a huge chuck of skin. Turns out Achilles wasn't as much of a wimp as I'd suspected, heel injuries really hurt.
• Reading through a chain of emails at work and finding out that your first heartbreak works within your overall department, just in a different location. If we go on a site visit that would include his location, I may or may not call in sick that day.

Things that ARE cool:

• Dishwashers. Especially after not living with one for the majority of the last five years.
• Eating Navajo tacos on the Navajo reservation, in the middle of a sagebrush field, with a Navajo family, watching a storm roll in across the desert.