4. Awkward timing

I'm classifying this as "awkward timing" simply because I'm not quite sure how to put it. It all started when I watched 127 Hours earlier this week. If you haven't watched the film and don't want me to give away the climax (most people who have heard of the film know it by now), then you should probably stop reading. Stop reading and start watching. And by "watching," I specifically mean "the film."

Now that I've introduced the remaining readers into a pact of secrecy, I should note that this isn't the first time I've heard of Aron Ralston. I actually remember watching his interview on the David Letterman show. I specifically remember that no one knew him by name, so the announcer had to be like "Tonight! On The Late Show with David Letterman! A man who sawed off his arm! And Tobey Maguire!" It's rare to be introduced by your accomplishments rather than your identity. And even rarer to have your accomplishment be your identity (which, for the record, I do not think is the case for Aron Ralston).

It's an incredible story and a fantastic film that really makes you think a lot. This makes for rather awkward timing if you happen to have a doctor's checkup the next morning, particularly if the checkup calls for fluid samples. Usually when walking around carrying a cup of fresh urine, my thought process is simply Ewwwwwww..., which is a surprisingly good alternative to If I ever got trapped by a rock, I'd probably have to drink this. I'd covered my eyes during the climax of the film since I'd been warned it was very realistic and people had had visceral reactions to it. As the nurse tied a rubber band around my arm to draw a blood sample, I looked away. When she told me to look to the side and focus on the comics that had been posted specifically to take your mind off of things, I felt like I was watching the movie version of my life and I was covering my eyes. If only things were that simple.