SUMMER VACATION'S OVER, BACK TO SCHOOL...

AUGUST 28, 2003

 

I know, I know...it seems like the longest time since I've said something. Honestly, since I last posted, I haven't felt like saying much of anything, and not much has happened. Now, let's see. My last moment of reflection was August 3rd, right? Right. So, I'll tell you what went on since then. Warning, this could be long. In fact, it is.

 

Well, the following Saturday (August 9th) since the last time I reflected, I had a good day that was the high point of my dull summer vacation. I went to Six Flags in St. Louis. I was in shock that I actually went. I didn't think I would actually go there. See, earlier in that week my mom had the crazy idea that she wanted to go, and she was so positive that she would actually make the trip there. All that time, I'm thinking my mom was shooting off noise. I'm telling her that she know for good and well that she wasn't going. Soon after, she's actually making plans...looking for transportation, hotels, and other mess like that. I'm looking at her crazy while she's doing all of that. I still didn't believe her, but see here's her major motivation. If I would pay, we would go. I always gotta be the one hit up for money. I did want to go, and I did say that it would be the best way to close out my summer. Ever since I said that statement, she would throw it in my face whenever I told her that I didn't believe she would go through with this. In a way, since she was making plans I did believe her, but at the same time I didn't. By Friday, it was official. We would go. At first, it would just be my mom and me, but then she wanted my sister to come too. I didn't really want her to tag along (I'm so mean, aren't I?), but whatever. Besides, she had her own little vacation by herself that last Saturday. She didn't go anywhere special...just to Nashville...lol. But anyway, on Saturday morning everything was set. We planned to just go and spend the entire day at the theme park and then return home. We woke up at like 4-something in the morning I think. About an hour later, we were in a rental car place so that my mom can get the car that she would use for the trip (she didn't want to use her own). At 6:12 am, we were on our way. It took about four hours to get there, and when we finally did I was somewhat surprised. I didn't expect to be at Six Flags, yet there we were. As planned, we spent pretty much the entire day there. The best thing is that we took advantage of the park's new Fast Lane/Q-Bot system and we didn't have to wait through long lines to get to the rides. Well, we waited through our first ride which was Batman, but then we decided to see what the system was like. For 15 dollars, we could register our rides with the colorful Q-Bot pager at specific kiosks and just wait until the thing pages us to come to the ride. It's cool to bypass all the long lines. We rode quite a few rides, some more than once. Let's see if I can name them all...we rode Batman The Ride, Mr. Freeze, Scooby Doo Ghostblasters (The Mystery of the Scary Swamp), and ummm...a few water rides, and a few other roller coasters...lol. Batman and Mr. Freeze were really good. Mr. Freeze was so quick though. It takes off so fast, takes you up to the top, and then right back down and return to the starting point. It was kinda funny. When I was watching the ride taking off, I looked at it crazy. The rest couldn't be seen, so I didn't know what to expect. My sister was saying that she had to get on this ride because when she got on it for the first time back in 2001, it got the best of her (in other words, the ride got her sick...lol). When I got on, I can see how it got the best of her. We conquered it though. That ride is not for the easy-queasy folks, like many of the rides here. The little Scooby Doo ride was potentially weak, but at the same time fun. It's one of those little kiddie-style rides where we're riding in a vehicle and you're going around in a little haunted house, so to speak. However, there was a twist. We had little laser guns in the vehicle so we could shoot things and rack up points. So, this was ride worth participating. None of us were doing so well at first. It was hard to aim at the targets at first. I got the hang of it though and I racket up a lot of points. I don't quite remember how many, but it was in five figures. I think it was 20,000 or something, but I might be off. My mom and sister weren't so lucky. Maybe their laser weren't really working...or maybe they sucked...haha. All the water rides were good in a way. The first one we rode was the Thunder River. From that title, I was expecting something big. It didn't live up to the title, but it was still good. It was "seven acres of the wildest white-water rapids in the Midwest"...yup. I didn't get too wet in that ride, but others had it worse. The second ride was The Ice Mountain Splash. It reminded me of the water ride back at the weak little Libertyland theme park in my hometown. Nothing too thrilling, but it had some twists. The granddaddy of all the water rides is the Tidal Wave. If you ride that, you are guaranteed to be soaked...and believe me, we were. Now, we rode quite a few roller coasters. Batman and Mr. Freeze were the really good ones, but the best one ride in that enitre park was The Boss. That is an insane roller coaster, and it is too good for words. We loved it so much that it was one of the few rides that we participated in more than once. We rode it while we were making our rounds through the park, and then it was the last park we rode before leaving the park. We left the park as soon as it closed which was at 10:00pm. Six Flags was so much fun. The only thing I didn't like about the theme park was the atrocious prices for edibles and beverages. I mean, come on now...$3.00 for a 20 ounce bottle of your favorite drink that you can get elsewhere for 99 cents? The only things I bought for myself was this cup of lemonade slush which costed just about as much as those 20 oz. bottles, and this big decorated sports bottle filled with Sprite. Yet, my mom did what she does best, hit me up for money because she wanted a lot of stuff. She did buy other things for herself earlier on in the day, and my sister piad for her own stuff too. I do have to say though...I didn't pay as much as I thought I would throughout the day, and that includes admission. So, that was a good thing. Leaving that park, I was satisfied. I had one fun day out of the whole dusty summer vacation. I wish it would have occured sooner, and I wish there were more fun days. In comparison, I had two last year and I know I told about one of them extensively. In the end though, it was a great way to nearly close out the otherwise drab summer.

 

What happened afterwards? Well, not too much. Sunday August 10th, I finally got a brand new computer. It was long overdue. I got an eMachines T482 model desktop computer with an AMD Athlon processor, Microsoft Windows XP, an upgraded GeForce 4 video card, 80GB hard drive, CD-RW and DVD drives, and all of the other necessary essentials. Plus, I got a 17 inch Envision monitor and a Lexmark X-75 All-in-one printer/copier/scanner (and fax machine as a bonus). In all I spent about $900 on all of this equipment. I felt weird having to spend all that money in one sitting (but I didn't buy the printer...my mom did). It is worth it though. I finally have something for myself, and I can do just about whatever I want with this computer. In this same week, I experienced my last days at work (at the Office of Planning and Development, in case you didn't know). My last day was Thursday August 15th, and as they always do, they gave me a going away party. I felt kinda weird about it this year though. I've gotten so many gifts from all of the higher workers in my office and surrounding offices. Then, they hooked me up with so much food when all I asked for was pizza. I mean, there was also chicken, side items, desserts, etc. I didn't eat as much as the others though. I know half of the food wasn't solely for me, but still the magnitute is still big. I really felt like I didn't deserve any of it. They have treated me so well throughout the past three years I have spent with them, especially this past summer. All of the compliments and gifts I received was almost too much, but I definitely appreicated it all. They're great people to work with, and I've had an overall great time there. During the weekend, I chilled a bit, played around with the computer, and did my packing to return to college, and by Sunday August 17th I was on my way out of the house and back to the dusty educational institution. I had mixed feelings. I didn't want to go back to college because...well, it's schoolwork all over again. On the flip side, I was anxious to be with everyone I've missed over the summer. Then at the same time, I was actually ready to get away from the house. I mean, no offense but...while staying in that house, there was unnecessary negative energy. I just had to get away, and I wanted to be on my own once more. I had to assure my mom that my urgency to get away had nothing to do with her, but with everyone and everything else.

 

Now, I think you are caught up to the present. I'm back in school, I'm living by myself again, and it might not be such a bad semester this time (in comparison to the previous one...my worst ever). However, I can't get too optimistic because as I've always known it to be, many things turn out negative when I sometimes think so positive. So, I just have to ride it out and just deal with it like I do everything else. Despite the obvious incentives, it felt good to be back. What? Happy to be back at school? Twisted, isn't it? Well, it's only because of the people. I can be in company of all my friends and potential "enemies" again, and so far it's been great. As of today, I think I saw almost everyone that were important to me in one way or another. So, these past two weeks have been catching up moments, and I don't think I'm completely finished.

 

Well, I think I told you everything that I meant to say. Hopefully I can pick myself back up from the laziness and the sheer lack of caring that I've experienced for the past three months. I know those two attributes won't completely go away, but maybe they won't be as prominent (or at least, let them apply in the right moments). Now that I've run out of things to say, I guess I'm about to disappear for now. Peace out.