Random Rants

Current Mood: Cool & Playful

To begin with, the photos from this weekend can be seen by clicking on the Photos link near the top of the page.

So with everything that has gone on between Nicole and I, I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching, trying to find who I was and the happy Dan that everyone knows is deep down inside.  While this weekend did not get me all the way there, it was definitely a big improvement in finding who I am.  And not for the reasons you’d think either.  Let’s start with Friday night

Friday night began like every other one.  After work I went bowling as has been the trend on Friday nights.  Nicole keeps showing up, and I know she doesn’t care that it tears me up inside (for reasons that I won’t get into on this blog).  After bowling, I went to The Marina.  Karaoke as usual on Friday nights, but this night would be different.  Everything just felt right to party, so party I did.  With friends present, we can say that I got a little drunk.  Tequila shots were going down pretty smooth.  After closing, a botched first housing attempt, my friends and I wound up at one friend’s house to sober up.  Lots of bullshitting and more bullshitting would abound.  A 4 in the morning trip to IHOP, and I finally made it home by 6 AM.  A few hours of sleep and the day would begin again

On to Saturday.  After a trip into town to pick up the mail and some basics for my trip to Busch Gardens on Sunday, I got back to the house and settled in to some basic house chores (yes, I do actually do chores no matter what my ex says).  I got a call reminding me that Jon was supposed to take me out sailing.  I was on that like white on rice .  So I got into town and went sailing for the first time ever.  Now mind you, I have never ever been out on a sailboat before, so this in and of itself was kind of cool.  And the peace that can be found out on the water is just what it takes to see deep inside ones self.  After a ride home to cook dinner (steak, tater tots, and green beans), and I headed out to Karaoke.  After a few hours of karaoke with a few of my friends I headed home to climb into my cozy bed to dream sweet dreams of the next day. OK, it sounded better and less cheesy before I wrote it.

Sunday came in with a bang, well actually, I kind of woke up before my alarm.  So I got up, took my normal morning routine and made sandwiches for my trip to BG.  I decided this morning that I was going to take pictures from the rides (technically against the rules).  But I did want safety, so I had to have some way to keep my phone from flying off.  So, a Wiimote strap and things looked good.  But little did I know how amusing the day was going to wind up.  Off to the park then, spending almost the whole trip talking to my step-mother about my plans for the near future, what’s been going on in my mind, and other things not to be posted.  I got to the park at 9:45, off to get my Season Pass, and the day would really start to get fun.  Of course, Busch Gardens has a Sesame Street theme this year, which I’m not too enthused with, but hey, it’s in the England pavilion which I usually only see on the way in and the way out.  10:00 would roll on by and off to the Griffon.  Next to no line made it very easy to get on the front row.  Unfortunately, my phone is not that great and I missed my first shot.  So, after the ride, back on again for attempt number two.   With ease, I was able to capture the shot I wanted.  Of course, a quick pix message to Facebook and I’d be off to the next ride.  Well, you couldn’t go through to Germany until 11, so that meant walking all the way back the other way to Italy, and  of course, since I didn’t have anyone directing my pace, I decided to walk through the wildlife refuge portion and get some pics.  The wolves are looking really white this time of year, which just looks kind of neat.  A stop off to see the Clydesdales (and it should be noted, one shares my name), and I’d be off to Apollo’s Chariot.  I think I only got the ascent on Apollo’s Chariot as I wanted to just enjoy the ride, but I did get a pretty cool self pic.  After a quick detour to the Battering Ram, I’d head out to grab lunch (nothing big, just the sandwiches I’d made earlier in the day).  Now it was well past 11, so the rest of the park was open.  To let my lunch settle (and the Diet Pepsi I wound up buying), I’d do another thing I’d never done before, the River Boat.  Very peaceful, and I got some very neat pics of the Loch Ness Monster from the river.  But, pics from off the rides were not today’s target.  So off to the Loch Ness Monster, and a wonderful trip.  Front row, as seemed to be par for today.  Next to no lines was also the norm for today.  I screwed up my first shot but was able to reset in order to capture the second loop of the intertwined loops.  By far the coolest photo of the day.  Some more wandering and I caught the Pet Shenanigans show.  Just a chance to relax, and the female trainers are kind of cute .  On to Big Bad Wolf after the show (actually I was kind of just meandering and decided that’s what I was gonna do).  While waiting on the line, the wife of a friend showed up with her friends.  Seemed kind of odd she’d be there without her 4 kids.  So I let him know and enjoyed my ride.  Front row, I caught a great pic of the water as I was flying out over it.  Only one coaster left, Alpengeist.  After a long wait, probably my longest of the day, I finally made it into the front row.  The guy on the line asked me to put away my phone, even though it was strapped to my hand.  Doh!  So I waited until the car was moving and got it back out.  I got my picture (well, my hand was kind of in the shot, but I got a pic of the corkscrew).  But it would be my last of the day.  Yes, I finally got caught, and after a wait for Security I got escorted out.  But to be honest it wasn’t a bad experience.  The ride leader who pulled me aside was very nice, re-explained the policies I had ignored, and then we chatted about the Sox a bit as he was originally from Methuen, Mass.  The security guard showed up, I shook both their hands, and then went off with the security guard.  They weren’t asking me to give up my season pass as I had been very cooperative and the ride leader felt I wouldn’t do it again (which I actually won’t since I got what I wanted already).  Had a good laugh with the security guard and his supervisor as they took me out the back way.  In fact, they gave me a tour of the backlot of Busch Gardens, then we talked for a little bit about how things have been since InBev took over AB.  We also talked about the loss of Beer School.  So all in all, I can’t complain about how I was treated and I’m sure the security folks enjoyed not having a hard case to deal with (the pic of my Statement of Trespass Warning is also posted).  On my way home, I decided I would go out to eat since I had spent so little.  So when in Hampton Roads, I decided to go see Monica at The Taphouse.  Good times, had an excellent steak kabob and two beers and went home to relax for the rest of the night. 

What a weekend!!

Dan General Rants