Quick Thoughts on Valleyfair

Minnesota's amusement park, Valleyfair.  Nice place.  Big rides, lots of thrills. 

We spent over 7 hours in the park yesterday:  Large, two of his friends, and me.  The boys had a great time and were able to go on all the rides they wanted at least once.  They spent two hours in the water park.  Oh, the weather was absolutely perfect - 80 degrees, sunny, slight breeze.  Couldn't have planned that better, and being there on a Monday was best because the lines were short. 

One thing kind of creeped me out:

A family of seven people were going through the park with remembrance shirts on: black t-shirts with the image of a boy who'd died and the words, "In Remembrance of Joshua Michael Burns."  On the back was the date 7-15-07.  I understand remembering the departed and doing stuff in their honor (well, I actually don't understand that), but making it such a public display strikes me as more of a publicity stunt than of actual feelings and honor.  I guess I'm too cynical for that sort of thing.

Another thing was really weird:

A family dressed in identical tye-dye t-shirts with the cub scout emblem on the front and Pack 293 on the back were making their way through the park.  The father was a grumpy-faced ball of anger.  The mother kept screaming at the boys to keep them close.  The boys, ages 7 and 9, were alternatively crying about rides being too scary for them and begging to go on other rides.  In the Tilt-a-Whirl line I asked where the rest of the pack was and the mom said, "We were the only ones who made our fundraising goal." 

This was their reward.  Ick.

Gotta run - work time and I'm going to be late. C'ya.

 - rick

Comments

[a rose is a rose]

i'm glad large has friends in mn. of course for me the thought of 7 hours in an amusement park (with or without teenagers) is sheer torture.

around here, the peeps do memorials to dead friends on their cars. that is far creepier

[sugar]

Question:

Remember when you made a goal about taking me out on more(any) dates?
I like going on dates with you. Just so you know.

[Cele]

It's been so long since I've been to an amusement park, but a roller coaster sounds so good right now.

[sugar]

I would maybe like to see that goal attempted. That is all. I like Valley Fair, roller coasters are fun. I like going hiking and swimming and stuff.
I like going on picnics.
I like bike rides, but you don't have a bike, yet.
I kinda hate going to the theater, except for very special shows.
I don't mind going to fairs and things...but not like tractor pulls.
http://www.morecowbell.net
I like going to see art.
Music is nice.
I like good, really good food.
http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/search/?criticspick=1&page=1
I like going to see dance performances, but often have no patience or memory for buying tickets and therefore, I never get to go.
http://calendar.walkerart.org/index.wac
I hate clowns and do not want to go to anything that might be clown-centric.
Movies are good.
Spending time with my baby is super.

[CV Rick]

Sugar, are you trying to tell me something?

[sugar]

Nevermind.

[Jane]

It's fun watching this play out here in the comments section. Please continue.