Colossus View (179/365)

“I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a Ferris wheel.”

E. B. White (American writer 1899-1985)

TIME:  8:10 PM
PLACE:  Six Flags, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  View from the 18 story Ferris Wheel

I took my life into my hands and took my kids and an extra (my 1st cousin, 1 time removed and a good friend of DQ’s) to Six Flags today.  We did Hurricane Harbor, the waterpark, first.  I was a bit nervous when we entered that area of the park, what with my last experience at a public waterpark still fresh in my mind (and my gimpy wrist still in my sight), but bravely pushed ahead.  I managed to emerge unscathed and victorious.  After their fill of water slides, we ate a late picnic lunch back by the car, then re-entered the park for the amusement rides.  I was a non-rider or “kid’s stuff holder” most of the time.  StellaDella impressed me by going on almost all of the roller coasters.  The only one she didn’t go on was “Batman The Ride” (an inverting, looping steel coaster), because she did not meet the height requirement.  That coaster on the left side of the photo?  It’s the “Screamin’ Eagle” – a 110’ tall wooden coaster.  She rode that.  Those beams on the right?  Another coaster called the “Ninja” – a looping, steel coaster.  She rode that too – twice.  That’s my girl…no fear.

SkyScreamer (139/365)

“Go Big! Go Six Flags!”

Six Flags Theme Park Motto

TIME:  2:28 PM
PLACE:  Six Flags-St. Louis
SUBJECT:  SkyScreamer swing ride

MonkeyBoy’s school band had a field trip to Six Flags today and I was one of the chaperones.  It rained. all. stinkin. day.  AND it was cold.  Did that stop the kiddos?  Hell to the no.  The rode The Boss (wooden roller coaster), bumper cars, the Highland Fling (a ride that spins horizontally then vertically).  They were all completely soaking wet when they went on this ride (I was only slightly drier watching them under my lovely blue vinyl poncho with Bugs Bunny on the back).  It had to be quite brisk at those 23 stories above the ground and being flung around at 43 mph.  Then - because really, how much more wet could they get? - they rode the Log Flume about 8 times in a row.  While I waited for them I amused myself by taking photos of my feet…

 
(See the rain? Cold! See the edge of the blue poncho? Très chic!)

Cliff Hanger (136/365)

“Cliff Hanger, hanging from a cliff, and that’s why he's called Cliff Hanger!…Can't -- hold -- on -- much -- longer!"

Cliff Hanger, “Between The Lions.” PBS series-WGBH Boston and Sirius Thinking. LTD.

TIME:  1:41 PM
PLACE:  City park
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen and friends on Cliff Hanger ride

Today was the annual public school parade and picnic – it was feeling more like October (low 60’s) but we had sunshine - Yayaya!
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The logistics of this day for me were extremely ugly – I had to drop off MonkeyBoy at the Jr. High at 8 am for the band; come home and take StellaDella to school; drive to the picnic area; park the car; walk to the beginning of the parade route so I could walk the parade with SD; walk the parade; drive back to the Jr. High with SD to pick up MB as the band was bussed back there after the parade (DQ remained at the picnic with friends); return again to the picnic with MB & SD – wait in many long lines for rides; stalk DQ and her friends; text her occasionally to irritate her even more; spend entirely too much money on food ($24 for 2 orders of fries, one chicken on a stick and a jumbo hot dog? – insane!!!!); return home; find out MB’s baseball game is cancelled because of field conditions, therefore he can make Boy Scouts; drive MB to Boy Scout meeting; stay with MB as Scouts require adults to supervise as they take down flags from light poles on Main Street; walk Main Street (about 10 blocks up and back again) with Scouts as they take down flags; drive MB and 3 other Scouts back to the school to finish their regular meeting; return to the school at 8:30pm to collect MB; pick up a Blizzard ice cream from McDonalds (because I needed it!) and finally return home for the night.  Stick a fork in me, I’m done.

Vapour Trail (277/365)

 
“First you look so strong,
Then you fade away.
The sun will blind my eyes,
I love you anyway.
First you form a smile,
I watch you for a while.
You are a vapour trail,
In a deep blue sky.”

Ride. "Vapour Trail." *Nowhere*. Blackwing Studios, London, 1990. CD.

TIME:  8:55 AM
PLACE:  Parking lot at work
SUBJECT:  Condensation trails

I like to imagine where the planes and all the people on them are heading.  It has got to be more exciting than heading into the office on a Monday morning.
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~Click~ to listen to “Vapour Trail” by the band, Ride – one of my favorite songs from the 90’s.