End of the Summer
Well, Labor Day is about over with, and that, to me, is the signal that Summer-proper is over with too. (Yes, it's probably not really over till sometime this month, but indulge me, please?) I felt that in some ways this summer has had its ups and downs.
Downs:
not really going anywhere outside of the bi-state area, except Wisc. of course
sitting through hours of rehearsing Act One of Porgy and Bess ad nauseum over a six-day period
having to say goodbye to friends/colleagues in July
Ups:
cantoring @ Heather's wedding
seeing some great summer flicks: Knocked Up, Hairspray, Simpsons, Ratatouille
singing (und speaking) a role in Die Zauberflöte and generally having a good time in Gianni Schicchi
taking a trip to six flags...today, in fact
Yes, I finally got to Six Flags this summer...something I didn't get around to last summer. Though I expected Labor Day crowds to be unbearable and the lines to be way long, I was pleasantly surprised. (I think the longest I waited for any ride was like 20 minutes, tops.) Rode a lot of old favorites (Screamin' Eagle never ceases to amaze me with its growing rickety, yet still rideable state; Thunder River still has its 1980s charm). Rode some rides that, despite their unbelievable jerkiness (The Boss, The Ninja), you still feel you owe a debt to them for just being rollercoasters. James, who had been to Six Flags Over Georgia, but never STL, came along with me. We both enjoyed ourselves on the parks newer and newest rides: a superman-themed speed drop (no, it didn't cut our feet off) and a car-spinning-its-axis roller coaster (Tony Hawk's Big Spin). Both are great additions to the park. We also began and ended the day with the Batman Ride.
I have decided to come up with TOP TEN LIST of things you should attempt in order to have an appropriate Six Flags experience. If you haven't done at least three of these, something ain't right... :)
10. Take a whiff of that hot, baking asphalt paving the walkways. I shall forever link that smell to Six Flags no matter where I smell it.
9. Snicker (to yourself) at the women wearing mid-riffs (who shouldn't wear them) or anyone wearing something that makes them look absolutely gross/hoosier. Then feel better about yourself that you wore something sensible.
8. Have a turkey leg--something else I shall forever associate with Six Flags.
7. Spot some multicolored gum-litter adorning the walls/roofs of ride queues...or even a couple of turkey legs someone must have chucked onto the roof of a souvenir shop. (We totally saw the latter while walking out of Mr. Freeze today.)
6. Pooh-pooh The Boss for trying to beat out The Screamin' Eagle for the title of BEST. WOODEN. COASTER. EVER.*
*Ok, so my wooden roller coaster experience is limited to SFSTL and Cedar Point, but you gotta admit that The Screamin' Eagle is a legend in its own right...newly teetering coaster cars notwithstanding.
5. Ride a water ride...even if you don't wanna get wet...it's a cure for all that awful heat + black asphalt combo.
4. Eat an expensive ($12.95+) lunch with a HUGE, caffeinated fountain drink which will only make you thirstier for the rest of the day...and make you buy an even HUGER fountain drink at QT on the way out of Eureka.
3. Pity the poor suckers who wear the character costumes. (Especially the Daffy Duck...oy!)
2. If you haven't done #8 or #4 (as well you prolly shouldn't) and you've been good and frugal with your money all day, be sure to have a kickass waffle cone before leaving.
1. Leave the park bone-weary, sunburnt, and smelling of Nasty+Sunscreen... but all the while knowing that those are honorable signs of a kick-ass day at Six Flags.
...and now...my friends...I crash!
LATE EDIT (cuz I crashed, then woke up again): I forgot to mention to all of you who have patronized Six Flags in recent years that Tom's Twister is gone. That was always a little quirky part of the park that I loved...even when it made me wanna blow chunks. I didn't even stop to think that it was removed between 05 and 06 season for that new Bugs Bunny National Park (which, by the way, would be loads of fun if I were 3...and my nephew, who experienced it Saturday, gives it a "thumbs up"). R.I.P. Tom's Twister (1972-2005). Your centrifugal force is gone, but not forgotten.
Downs:
Ups:
Yes, I finally got to Six Flags this summer...something I didn't get around to last summer. Though I expected Labor Day crowds to be unbearable and the lines to be way long, I was pleasantly surprised. (I think the longest I waited for any ride was like 20 minutes, tops.) Rode a lot of old favorites (Screamin' Eagle never ceases to amaze me with its growing rickety, yet still rideable state; Thunder River still has its 1980s charm). Rode some rides that, despite their unbelievable jerkiness (The Boss, The Ninja), you still feel you owe a debt to them for just being rollercoasters. James, who had been to Six Flags Over Georgia, but never STL, came along with me. We both enjoyed ourselves on the parks newer and newest rides: a superman-themed speed drop (no, it didn't cut our feet off) and a car-spinning-its-axis roller coaster (Tony Hawk's Big Spin). Both are great additions to the park. We also began and ended the day with the Batman Ride.
I have decided to come up with TOP TEN LIST of things you should attempt in order to have an appropriate Six Flags experience. If you haven't done at least three of these, something ain't right... :)
10. Take a whiff of that hot, baking asphalt paving the walkways. I shall forever link that smell to Six Flags no matter where I smell it.
9. Snicker (to yourself) at the women wearing mid-riffs (who shouldn't wear them) or anyone wearing something that makes them look absolutely gross/hoosier. Then feel better about yourself that you wore something sensible.
8. Have a turkey leg--something else I shall forever associate with Six Flags.
7. Spot some multicolored gum-litter adorning the walls/roofs of ride queues...or even a couple of turkey legs someone must have chucked onto the roof of a souvenir shop. (We totally saw the latter while walking out of Mr. Freeze today.)
6. Pooh-pooh The Boss for trying to beat out The Screamin' Eagle for the title of BEST. WOODEN. COASTER. EVER.*
*Ok, so my wooden roller coaster experience is limited to SFSTL and Cedar Point, but you gotta admit that The Screamin' Eagle is a legend in its own right...newly teetering coaster cars notwithstanding.
5. Ride a water ride...even if you don't wanna get wet...it's a cure for all that awful heat + black asphalt combo.
4. Eat an expensive ($12.95+) lunch with a HUGE, caffeinated fountain drink which will only make you thirstier for the rest of the day...and make you buy an even HUGER fountain drink at QT on the way out of Eureka.
3. Pity the poor suckers who wear the character costumes. (Especially the Daffy Duck...oy!)
2. If you haven't done #8 or #4 (as well you prolly shouldn't) and you've been good and frugal with your money all day, be sure to have a kickass waffle cone before leaving.
1. Leave the park bone-weary, sunburnt, and smelling of Nasty+Sunscreen... but all the while knowing that those are honorable signs of a kick-ass day at Six Flags.
...and now...my friends...I crash!
LATE EDIT (cuz I crashed, then woke up again): I forgot to mention to all of you who have patronized Six Flags in recent years that Tom's Twister is gone. That was always a little quirky part of the park that I loved...even when it made me wanna blow chunks. I didn't even stop to think that it was removed between 05 and 06 season for that new Bugs Bunny National Park (which, by the way, would be loads of fun if I were 3...and my nephew, who experienced it Saturday, gives it a "thumbs up"). R.I.P. Tom's Twister (1972-2005). Your centrifugal force is gone, but not forgotten.