THE DAILY DIVERSION

There comes a time in a man's life that he has to do what's right, instead of what he wants to do. This time, for me, came yesterday. Personally, I wanted to "veg out", play XBox, and watch TV all night. That's my idea of a relaxing evening, even though playing XBox tends to get me riled up. However, now that I'm a married man, I have to think about more than just myself. It's about "us". We're a team in this battle (whatever the battle may be)!

So, I had my options... Do what I wanted, or do what was right. I made my decision very early. Actually, I had been planning it for a while, and, I thought, Adrianne would be surprised. Yeah, I was wrong about the last part. I can't get anything over on the girl. She's just too smart! That, or she just knows me too well, which could be a bad thing, because I won't be able to surprise her in the future with good things.

Anyway, Adrianne had been beating me up about taking her to see a romantic movie, just the two of us. She had even picked out the movie, long before it was released. All I heard from her was "I want you to take me to see 'The Lake House'! It's got Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. It looks so good."

I fought and fought. "Dammit! I don't want to see it. I have no interest in it. You know I'm not a fan of Keanu "Like Wow?" Reeves!" On and on it went. I can't even remember when the conversation started, but it had been quiet as of late. I was hoping she had just forgotten the movie was out, that way I could spring my trap. In my head it was all so perfect! I just didn't expect Adrianne to know what I was up to.

So, I had been planning to take her to see this movie as our one month anniversary present. We're striving to spend as little money as possible until she starts working. So far, so good! However, that means that I can't go splurge to buy her a real present (and she'd know anyway, since she tracks my bank account daily now), so I have to make due. I walked over to the Peabody Place 22 at 3:30 yesterday to pre-purchase our tickets. I will say this... Prior to moving here I'd never had the option to purchase movie tickets at a kiosk that takes debit/credit cards. It was always waiting in line, cash only. Now, I will never wait in line to get a ticket to any movie, when I have the option to "quick purchase". It only takes milliseconds. I can't understand why everyone doesn't do it. I just stroll up, insert my card, select my movie, via the touch-screen, my tix print out, and I'm on my way to watch my flick. Meanwhile, all of the peasants are standing in line wondering if they are going to make it to their movie on time. I love it!

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah! So, I went and picked up the tickets yesterday afternoon, while I was supposed to be at work. My co-worker, Kenny, walked with me. He was bored anyway, so why not take a short stroll?

Now I just had to wait until I got off of work to "surprise" her with the tickets. I get home just after five, and she's dressed to go over to Mud Island for a Pilates class with Mary Jo. I can't remember what she said that gave me the opening for my "surprise" (yes, I'm going to keep putting the word in quotes, because it wasn't really a surprise), but it gave me the opportunity to say (in my best "well, I did something bad" voice), "Yeah, about that..."

Her response, verbatim... "What now?"

Like I actually screw up everyday or something? Occasionally I make a bad decision, but I tend to think they are few and far between. Obviously she feels a little different!

So, I reach into my wallet and get the tickets out. She's working in the laundry room, getting some clothes out of the washer and putting them in the dryer. I walk in and say... "Yeah, about that" in a little different tone, as I lay the tickets down on top of the washing machine in front of her.

I didn't quite get the response I was hoping for, but she was happy nonetheless. I'm thinking she was already discouraged about the idea that I had made a bad decision or something, and couldn't quite grasp the idea that I was trying to surprise her. It probably didn't hurt that she was in a hurry to get the laundry moved so she could leave to make her Pilates class at 5:30.

So, she exits the apartment, leaving me up to my own devices. "Well, I guess the XBox is calling my name!" immediately comes to mind. "I should be able to squeeze a couple of games in before she gets back, then we'll head off to the movie. Yippee!" Obviously I'm thinking this to myself. If I were actually talking aloud, then I'd ask anyone reading to go ahead and come down and have me committed to a nut house (Ooh! Another non-PC term! I need to be a little more sensitive!).

I'm still not sold on seeing the movie. For some reason (and most men know the reason) I'm just not interested. It didn't help that there was a 10:15 showing of Superman Returns that night too, just to throw me off! However, I know that my Boo is the most important thing in the world to me, and if she wants to see this movie, then I'm going to take her.

I get into my games. I finish off the first one pretty quickly, and start up a second one. This one is taking significantly longer, and, before I know it, it's nearly 6:30. "Holy Shit! I forgot that we haven't eaten!" Again, in my head.

I start to scramble around looking for something to cook for our "anniversary dinner". I knew she would be expecting something. I usually cook on nights she goes to Pilates, so why would tonight be any different? I whip something up and, luckily, it is ready just as she walks in the door. "Whew!"

We eat rather rapidly (it was 7 pm before we got started) so we could change clothes and get to our movie on time. We get our acts together and head out the door at 7:30 (our movie starts at 7:50). <--Insert to story, see below--> We make it to our movie at 7:45, and are the only people in the theatre, yet Adrianne still tells me not to talk so loud. How, exactly does that work out?

We are joined by probably 8 other people during the previews. On a side note, I can't wait to see the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie! I loved the first one, and this one looks even better, if that is humanly possible. Besides "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", I have loved every one of Johnny Depp's movies. So, I guess I'm a fan of his?

The movie was actually pretty good. It didn't really have any of those "choke up" scenes where even the toughest of men think about crying. However, it had a good story. It did tend to drag a bit though. It was kind of slow in developing in spots, but all in all it was good. I'm not saying I suggest everyone go out and see it though. Don't get me wrong! Adrianne said we should've gone to see "The Breakup" instead. If that tells you anything? (she'd already seen "The Breakup" by the way)

So, we enjoyed the movie together and walked home so we could go to bed and start a new day. However, as we're walking home, we talk about the movie and things, and, of course, I ask the question "Were you surprised?" Her answer, while not necessarily put this way, was "No". I think she actually said "Well, I knew you'd come around for a important occasion." That's my wife! She's always a step ahead of me!

Yes, finally, that's the end of the story!

Here's my inserted story: I'd yet to have any real run-in's with panhandlers or bums down here. At least one's that made me feel uncomfortable. Well, that streak was successfully ended last night, and it really put me in a weird place for a while afterwards. I'm still thinking about it, which is even worse. Adrianne and I were walking to the movies and I saw him from a block away. He had just finished trying to hustle some other people and was heading across the street, until, of course, he saw us. He immediately made his way directly for us. When I saw his change course I said "Oh shit! Here we go!". I just have a nose for these assholes.

He walks up on us and immediately starts in with "Hey man, hey man!" and tries to shake my hand. I'm holding Adrianne's hand with my right hand and just kind of waved at him with my left. I didn't want to shake his hand, obviously. Before he can even get started in his rambling I say "Sorry man" and we're walking off. He grabs my left arm and yanks it. I immediately say "Don't fuckin' grab me!" and he's walking off yelling something.

See, this is shit I don't want tourists in my city to deal with. It's things like this that runs them away and keeps them away. They hear one story like this and all of a sudden Memphis is a dangerous town. Don't get me wrong, Memphis is a dangerous town, but not usually downtown, as much as other places. I put up with it, because I live down here. I've seen this guy probably five or six times before, and obviously he doesn't recognize me from the other times I've said "I can't help you, sorry". I'm just hoping he doesn't recognize me the next time either. Now I just have to figure out how not to make myself look like a tourist. I don't think that it really matters, because they see a white couple down here and immediately think we're stupid and will give them money. The funniest thing is that neither one of us had a dime on us last night.

Okay, I got it out, so I feel better. Adrianne told me to forget about it last night, but I couldn't. I was still thinking about it during the movie and when we went to bed. I guess I'm not really worried too much about myself, but more about her, if she happens to be walking around by herself. I wouldn't want one of these guys to be that aggressive with her, or my Mom, Sis, etc.

I guess what makes it worse is that it happened right in front of the Peabody, where a lot of people could see it, and there wasn't a police officer within earshot, for a change. Usually there are police officers everywhere around the hotel. This time I wish there had been one, but there wasn't. Oh well!