Goodnight, Bruce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uALqMMC8mg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nKhPqQM4do&feature=relmfu

As part of my hubby Ben's life coaching activities, he does presentations for various chapters of the ICF, the International Coaching Federation.  This upcoming week, he'll be down in sunny Florida, presenting at a variety of chapters; I'll be going with (which is quite a blessing as it's been below freezing in Chicago for days now.  I look forward to my cracked knuckles healing).

Part of the fun of these visits includes downtime.  And, since I've been Cotton Candying, that downtime has been peppered with amusement park visits.  So when Ben said we'd be going down to Florida, I immediately thought of Universal Studios Orlando - and the "Jaws" ride.

I've mentionined in previous posts that I'm a "Jaws" geek.  It's my favorite film, I know all the lines, and don't even think of testing that prowess in the form of a drinking game, ending in a recitation of Quint's "Indianapolis" tragedy monologue and several rounds of "Show Me the Way to go Home" cuz I'll take you down to Chinatown and you'll have a gangster of a headache in the morning.

So it pained me to the core, knocked me flat against the wall, when I learned that Universal is closing the "Jaws' ride forever.  The "Jaws" ride is the oldest ride at the park; it's a classic and should be embraced and honored, like the Jungle Cruise at Disney.  But, no, in their infinite wisdom, Universal is closing it and so I say "Boo!" to their ass faces, as would a Corky Sinclair from "Waiting for Guffman".  Because I've been waiting to enjoy this ride for a very long time - and those bastard people took it away from me. 

Luckily, a shortened version of a "Jaws" experience still exists at Universal in California - I've seen that one and, although it's only part of the studio backlot tour, I guess it'll have to do.

For those who wish to relive the "Jaws" ride, the classic at Universal Florida, please follow the links at the top.  Or, for folks like me, watch and weep for the ride never rode, and give Bruce the Shark a solid round of thanks for leaping out at unsuspecting visitors of "Amity Island" for years.

Back from relatively sunny but ridiculously cool Southern California!

Five more parks down. That includes the holy triumvirate and two boardwalk parks. One was closed. One was rained out. More about that later.

If we had our druthers, I think Ben and I would move to SoCal. But we have various commitments here and a move would be a Very Complicated Event. So we savor our Cali trips, looking forward especially to wearing sandals in February.

This trip was different on many levels, including the inability to wear sandals in February, because the highest the thermometer got was around 60. And the evenings required flannel-lined jeans -- which I did not have with me.

Still, all that being said, the trip was magical. Very spiritually connected. I'll go into that in greater detail in the days ahead. Let's just say that when you revisit the three parks you visited forty years ago with your Mom on your only mother-daughter trip ever, she finds ways of making herself known. A whiff of nicotine, a perfectly made cocktail, free upgrades: the lady kept busy.

We drove from the John Wayne Orange County Airport down to San Diego and Belmont Park, then looped up to Palm Springs, west to Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Park (in a downpour), up to Universal Studios, down to Buena Park (Knott's Berry Farm) and then down the highway to Anaheim and our Happiest Home Away From Home, Disneyland.

As I said, more to come in the days ahead.. Lots to document,. But today I'll be transcribing my audio notes into actual notes in my laptop. I'm a terrible typist, so that should take about five hours. For about an hour's worth of jabbering.

For now, there's a pile of laundry that's as high as the Matterhorn (might even have an abominable snowman somewhere hidden inside...)


(Walt with model of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. My laundry pile is much larger)

My most recent Kickstarter update

Back in mid-November, the universe beckoned and I was granted my Kickstarter goal. I leave updates from time to time for the backers. This is my most recent update.

Friends, I bet you've been wondering, "What will that Pam put our pledged money toward? When will she conquer her next park? And when do I get even more swag?" Come on, you know you have. Well, let me amaze you with the details!

In mid-February, Ben and I will take off to ports south and west, Southern California to be exact. And there I'll visit a total of five parks! We'll begin our sojourn in San Diego at Belmont Park, an eighty-five year old waterfront pier park, one that's recently declared bankruptcy. I've emailed back and forth with the PR director and he assures me the park will be open when I visit. But beyond February, it's future is dubious. Consequently it's SO important for me to make Belmont a part of my RoadTrip.

My next park will be the Santa Monica Pier, so that makes two oceanside parks in one trip. And what will the last three So Cal parks be? The Holy Triumvirate of 1971, the three places I visited with my mom forty years ago this upcoming summer: Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland. You may ask, "But Pam, they're all so well-known!" Yes, they are, but they're also all over forty and, more importantly, that 1971 trip made such a huge impression on me, forming me into a Mid-Century fan even at a tender age. And it was the only "girls' only trip" I ever took with my mom. Mom's been with me in spirit during every single Cotton Candy park I visit, so I can only imagine her input while I revisit "our" parks a scant few weeks from now.

Your generous donations are making this five park journey possible, and will continue to aid me in April when I take in the park that withstood Katrina. But more about that later.

For those of you who pledged the amount that entitles you to postcards from three parks, be sure to check your mail in latter February!

Peace to all -- Pam