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Saturday, July 09, 2005
Look, it's my old friend Yorick. (The tree. In the background.)
I'm bored, no one else is home.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 10:39 PM | shower me with attention
I'm bored, no one else is home.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 10:39 PM | shower me with attention
Dryblogging:
There's a semi-tradition we have of going to see a movie at Downtown Disney on the last day of our vacation. So we said goodbye to Steph, who had an earlier flight home, and me, my parents, and Kirsten all went to see Dark Water. We had no interest in the movie other than the fact that it was filmed in our neighbourhood, and indeed, takes place on Roosevelt Island in the building across the street from us. Armed wiith memories of large rain machines on Main Street-turned-film-set, we settled down to watch this presumedly cheesy horror flick. Actually, it turned out to be more of a psychological-thriller-cum-custody-battle, but it was sufficiently surreal to see the street I grew up on and the school I went to immortalized, as it were, on film.
I think the movie will really piss off Roosevelt Islanders. It starts with Connelly and her young daughter riding the Tram, and the girl whines, "Mommy, this isn't the city. That's the city." And she points across the river. "This is not the city." Since we were four of less than ten people in the theatre, I felt comfortable telling her, aloud, to shut up.
It was pretty funny to watch the sinister aerial shots of the island, darkened views of Eastwood through screens of fake rain and darkened lenses. And Eastwood itself (the real building where the movie takes place) was dressed down to look like a creepy, delapidated slum. I've never been in the laundry room there so I can't speak for accuracy, but some of my best friends growing up lived in apartments identical (in layout) to the one in the movie, so the residents are sure to take offense at the way they dressed it up.
My mom the DHCR rep snorted at the references to "rent control" and we all laughed at the line that was surely meant as a wink to island residents:
"You're here early!"
"The subway is much faster than the tram."
Which is only funny to us because people tend to assume that the tram is the only way on and off the island.
Anyway, the biggest laugh for me came from the film's recurring motif of a rivalry between Roosevelt Island and Jersey City.
"You expect me to take the PATH to the F train, are you crazy?! It'll take an hour!"
The ex-husband has moved there and wants Connelly and the daughter to find a place in JC; "There are plenty of cheap apartments, I got this one-bedroom for $800 a month," he says. You can see how I, a Roosevelt Islander until May and now a JCer, would find all of this amusing. It's especially funny because the idea in the movie is that Roosevelt Island is supposed to be great because of its astounding affordability (true, but the apartment building that Connelly moves into is, in real life, reserved for low-income; the waiting list is years long) but so grim and gloomy that no one would want to live there; in reality, and the only one-bedrooms in JC for $800 a month are in neighbourhoods much more dreary and depressing than Roosevelt Island!
Wetblogging:
Jiggety jog, another successful vacation. Dreams really do come true: I found the Alice wallet at the Marketplace right before we headed back to the hotel for the bus to the airport.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 1:26 AM | shower me with attention
There's a semi-tradition we have of going to see a movie at Downtown Disney on the last day of our vacation. So we said goodbye to Steph, who had an earlier flight home, and me, my parents, and Kirsten all went to see Dark Water. We had no interest in the movie other than the fact that it was filmed in our neighbourhood, and indeed, takes place on Roosevelt Island in the building across the street from us. Armed wiith memories of large rain machines on Main Street-turned-film-set, we settled down to watch this presumedly cheesy horror flick. Actually, it turned out to be more of a psychological-thriller-cum-custody-battle, but it was sufficiently surreal to see the street I grew up on and the school I went to immortalized, as it were, on film.
I think the movie will really piss off Roosevelt Islanders. It starts with Connelly and her young daughter riding the Tram, and the girl whines, "Mommy, this isn't the city. That's the city." And she points across the river. "This is not the city." Since we were four of less than ten people in the theatre, I felt comfortable telling her, aloud, to shut up.
It was pretty funny to watch the sinister aerial shots of the island, darkened views of Eastwood through screens of fake rain and darkened lenses. And Eastwood itself (the real building where the movie takes place) was dressed down to look like a creepy, delapidated slum. I've never been in the laundry room there so I can't speak for accuracy, but some of my best friends growing up lived in apartments identical (in layout) to the one in the movie, so the residents are sure to take offense at the way they dressed it up.
My mom the DHCR rep snorted at the references to "rent control" and we all laughed at the line that was surely meant as a wink to island residents:
"You're here early!"
"The subway is much faster than the tram."
Which is only funny to us because people tend to assume that the tram is the only way on and off the island.
Anyway, the biggest laugh for me came from the film's recurring motif of a rivalry between Roosevelt Island and Jersey City.
"You expect me to take the PATH to the F train, are you crazy?! It'll take an hour!"
The ex-husband has moved there and wants Connelly and the daughter to find a place in JC; "There are plenty of cheap apartments, I got this one-bedroom for $800 a month," he says. You can see how I, a Roosevelt Islander until May and now a JCer, would find all of this amusing. It's especially funny because the idea in the movie is that Roosevelt Island is supposed to be great because of its astounding affordability (true, but the apartment building that Connelly moves into is, in real life, reserved for low-income; the waiting list is years long) but so grim and gloomy that no one would want to live there; in reality, and the only one-bedrooms in JC for $800 a month are in neighbourhoods much more dreary and depressing than Roosevelt Island!
Wetblogging:
Jiggety jog, another successful vacation. Dreams really do come true: I found the Alice wallet at the Marketplace right before we headed back to the hotel for the bus to the airport.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 1:26 AM | shower me with attention
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Guy walking by us this steamy evening in Germany as the sun went down: "What, it's getting hotter?!"
I don't know if this was the hottest day ever, but it felt like it. My mom rented my dad a geezermobile (electric wheelchair) and he motored merrily around Epcot with a wet hat on his head and a wet handkerchief around his neck. We rode Soarin', which was spec-fucking-tacular (but which my Dad almost ruined with his constant bitching about his "equilibrium disorder"-- I was very angry about that.)
Then they went to the Magic Kingdom where Mom learned that you can't take a motorized wheelchair from one park to another. By the time they got there, they were all out and she had to push him around in the heat, which was completely heinous. By the time I met them to do the cermonial Snow White ride with my dad, they both looked ready to pass out. I bought them sodey and pushed Dad around. He and I went on Stitch's Great Escape and I was very excited that Kevin McDonald (as Pleakley) is the first voice you hear, and he guides the audience through the waiting area and into the main show area. That's two different rides now where you can find Kids in the Hall!
I went back to Epcot and rejoined Kirsten and Steph and we ate too much and watched Kirsten get roped into street theatre at the Japanese pavilion. She played the princess in the Tanabata play, which was very cute. Because it was Tanabata today, they had all these wishes, hand-written by park guests, tied to bamboo trees. We were too late to write down our own, but I read some of the wishes and it was really cool. Most of them were boring (peace on Earth, money, health), but a lot of them were funny or touching.
Anyway. I've been putting off buying an Alice in Wonderland wallet until the last moment and now I can't find one anywhere, which is very disappointing for me. I don't want a Sleeping Beauty one, I want an Alice one. Suckysuck.
Nevertheless, today was very, very exciting for me because today was CARB UP DAY. I ate whatever the hell I wanted and I ate WAY too much of it. I feel all bloated and sleepy and kind of sick and quite guilty and fat, but it was sure worth it at the time.
The nachos were a little too much though. I should've stopped with the margarita.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 9:33 PM | shower me with attention
I don't know if this was the hottest day ever, but it felt like it. My mom rented my dad a geezermobile (electric wheelchair) and he motored merrily around Epcot with a wet hat on his head and a wet handkerchief around his neck. We rode Soarin', which was spec-fucking-tacular (but which my Dad almost ruined with his constant bitching about his "equilibrium disorder"-- I was very angry about that.)
Then they went to the Magic Kingdom where Mom learned that you can't take a motorized wheelchair from one park to another. By the time they got there, they were all out and she had to push him around in the heat, which was completely heinous. By the time I met them to do the cermonial Snow White ride with my dad, they both looked ready to pass out. I bought them sodey and pushed Dad around. He and I went on Stitch's Great Escape and I was very excited that Kevin McDonald (as Pleakley) is the first voice you hear, and he guides the audience through the waiting area and into the main show area. That's two different rides now where you can find Kids in the Hall!
I went back to Epcot and rejoined Kirsten and Steph and we ate too much and watched Kirsten get roped into street theatre at the Japanese pavilion. She played the princess in the Tanabata play, which was very cute. Because it was Tanabata today, they had all these wishes, hand-written by park guests, tied to bamboo trees. We were too late to write down our own, but I read some of the wishes and it was really cool. Most of them were boring (peace on Earth, money, health), but a lot of them were funny or touching.
Anyway. I've been putting off buying an Alice in Wonderland wallet until the last moment and now I can't find one anywhere, which is very disappointing for me. I don't want a Sleeping Beauty one, I want an Alice one. Suckysuck.
Nevertheless, today was very, very exciting for me because today was CARB UP DAY. I ate whatever the hell I wanted and I ate WAY too much of it. I feel all bloated and sleepy and kind of sick and quite guilty and fat, but it was sure worth it at the time.
The nachos were a little too much though. I should've stopped with the margarita.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 9:33 PM | shower me with attention
Big Thunder and Splash Mountain both stopped working at the same time tonight, around 8:30 in the evening. I don't know what was wrong with Thunder, but some woman had some sort of accident on Splash and we saw them evacuating it, which was surreal. There was one log poised at the top of the drop that just never went over, just sat there and sat there with people in it. I would've been terrified if that were me. I wonder what happened. A little British girl ran by me and said, "It's shot" (broken) "for 'alf an hour, a woman's 'ad an 'accident!"
We had a big ole breakfast at Chef Mickey's for the first time in years, because Kirsten wanted biscuits and gravy. I don't normally enjoy the character breakfasts, but Mickey himself came to our table and kissed me on the head, and I must admit to giggling like a little girl. I wanted to ask Mickey (and Pluto, and Chip and Dale) what school she went to, but that would've been rude. I know everyone in those costumes is a teenaged or college-age girl (because they're the only ones who fit in them.) I also know that most of the people who work here are in the College Program, and I've read way too much about that den of debauchery...
On the way out of the Magic Kingdom, I heard a woman say, really angrily, "Fifty years of what?!" It was hilarious.
I finally saw the hidden Mickey at the end of Pirates. I'd been searching for years.
Oh, and I ate a whole lot today. A horrible lot. And yet, I didn't eat as much as Kirsten did today. To look at her, you really wouldn't believe what that girl can put away.
Oh, and look for this one in the gossip rags: the current insipid stage show in front of the castle is called "Cinderellebration", notable for its lack of any plot whatsoever: Cinderella's getting crowned a Disney Princess (please can that end?) and invites "all her friends" to celebrate with her: Snow White, Belle, Jasmine and Aurora.
Um. So, what did Ariel do, exactly, to deserve this snub? She's got legs now, ladies, it's okay to invite her to the party. Bitches. It's scandalous, isn't it? And I never actually saw Belle get married to the Beast, so for all I know she's living in sin. She ain't no princess until I see a wedding ring on that finger.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 12:34 AM | shower me with attention
We had a big ole breakfast at Chef Mickey's for the first time in years, because Kirsten wanted biscuits and gravy. I don't normally enjoy the character breakfasts, but Mickey himself came to our table and kissed me on the head, and I must admit to giggling like a little girl. I wanted to ask Mickey (and Pluto, and Chip and Dale) what school she went to, but that would've been rude. I know everyone in those costumes is a teenaged or college-age girl (because they're the only ones who fit in them.) I also know that most of the people who work here are in the College Program, and I've read way too much about that den of debauchery...
On the way out of the Magic Kingdom, I heard a woman say, really angrily, "Fifty years of what?!" It was hilarious.
I finally saw the hidden Mickey at the end of Pirates. I'd been searching for years.
Oh, and I ate a whole lot today. A horrible lot. And yet, I didn't eat as much as Kirsten did today. To look at her, you really wouldn't believe what that girl can put away.
Oh, and look for this one in the gossip rags: the current insipid stage show in front of the castle is called "Cinderellebration", notable for its lack of any plot whatsoever: Cinderella's getting crowned a Disney Princess (please can that end?) and invites "all her friends" to celebrate with her: Snow White, Belle, Jasmine and Aurora.
Um. So, what did Ariel do, exactly, to deserve this snub? She's got legs now, ladies, it's okay to invite her to the party. Bitches. It's scandalous, isn't it? And I never actually saw Belle get married to the Beast, so for all I know she's living in sin. She ain't no princess until I see a wedding ring on that finger.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 12:34 AM | shower me with attention
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Let's see. Today we woke up even later than yesterday. (We're going to try and reverse that tomorrow, but note the time stamp on this post.) We went to MGM, where something (I can't think of an adjective, Steph suggests "A Watershed Moment in Scaredy-Cat History", but I think that's a little long) happened.
Backstory: I rode Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a 13-story freefall-style ride, back in 1994 when it first opened. I vowed then never to ride it again, and when asked why, will always repeat, "My stomach is still up there." I'm not a big fan of the big-drop rides. (e.g. I love Splash Mountain, except for the drop.) Every trip since then, Kirsten and Steph (and, in the past, Amanda and Diane and Andrew) have tried to get me to ride it again, and I have steadfastly refused. I am very good at keeping promises to myself. (For example, I vowed at age 3 that I would never cut my hair again, and I've held to that for almost 23 years.)
Well, Steph finally found the key to getting me on the ride: she'd been telling me that they've redesigned the drop sequence since 1994, so that instead of one long drop, there are four or five shorter ones. Of course, people have no trouble lying to me about these things, so I have no reason to believe them. But then she told me that her mother rode it, and that gave me pause. Her mother rode it, and apparently just laughed.
That did it, you see. So I finally took the plunge, so to speak, and, ha ha, guess what?
It's AWESOME!
I was terrified and ever'thing, I mean reallyreally scared, and clung to Stephie's arm the whole time, but, yeah, the shorter drops are a lot better on the stomach. And, hell, it was worth it for the variety of lamps and light fixtures alone. I hit the jackpot in that place.
After MGM we did Magic Kingdom and I rode Thunder again, and did a bit o' Country Bear Jamboree for the sake of old times. Clapped along. I am unabashed.
The refurbished Small World meets my approval. The colours are brighter and prettier, and I like the new clock in the loading area. The only thing I really miss are the photos of Heinously Ugly '70's Children From Around the World that used to adorn the exit. I'll never forget you, Heinously Ugly '70's Children From Around the World.
Oh, also rode the front of the monorail and now they give you co-pilot cards as you exit! Whoo!
Why are you in Tavie's head? 12:56 AM | shower me with attention
Backstory: I rode Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a 13-story freefall-style ride, back in 1994 when it first opened. I vowed then never to ride it again, and when asked why, will always repeat, "My stomach is still up there." I'm not a big fan of the big-drop rides. (e.g. I love Splash Mountain, except for the drop.) Every trip since then, Kirsten and Steph (and, in the past, Amanda and Diane and Andrew) have tried to get me to ride it again, and I have steadfastly refused. I am very good at keeping promises to myself. (For example, I vowed at age 3 that I would never cut my hair again, and I've held to that for almost 23 years.)
Well, Steph finally found the key to getting me on the ride: she'd been telling me that they've redesigned the drop sequence since 1994, so that instead of one long drop, there are four or five shorter ones. Of course, people have no trouble lying to me about these things, so I have no reason to believe them. But then she told me that her mother rode it, and that gave me pause. Her mother rode it, and apparently just laughed.
That did it, you see. So I finally took the plunge, so to speak, and, ha ha, guess what?
It's AWESOME!
I was terrified and ever'thing, I mean reallyreally scared, and clung to Stephie's arm the whole time, but, yeah, the shorter drops are a lot better on the stomach. And, hell, it was worth it for the variety of lamps and light fixtures alone. I hit the jackpot in that place.
After MGM we did Magic Kingdom and I rode Thunder again, and did a bit o' Country Bear Jamboree for the sake of old times. Clapped along. I am unabashed.
The refurbished Small World meets my approval. The colours are brighter and prettier, and I like the new clock in the loading area. The only thing I really miss are the photos of Heinously Ugly '70's Children From Around the World that used to adorn the exit. I'll never forget you, Heinously Ugly '70's Children From Around the World.
Oh, also rode the front of the monorail and now they give you co-pilot cards as you exit! Whoo!
Why are you in Tavie's head? 12:56 AM | shower me with attention
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
We did almost the whole day at Epcot,mainly gorging our way around the World Showcase, dabbling a bit in Future World, back to the Showcase for A Salute To All Nations But Mostly America (a.k.a. "Reflections of Yanni Earth" + Fourth of July bonus fireworks) and then K and I jaunted over the the Magic Kingdom, which was open until 1. (Mansion, Splash and Thunder Mountain twice in a row. Nice.)
We never miss The American Adventure, but it's especially fun on July 4th. The Voices of Liberty (an a capella group that entertains in the waiting area) did this sort of salute to the armed forces thing that I found pretty moving, which is odd for me. They sang the songs, what're they called, for the Army, the Navy and the Marines, and before each song they asked members of the audience who had served in that branch to stand, and we all applauded for them. And we really meant it. It was something. That's about as patriotic as I get, at The American Adventure, and twice as much today. It made me really see what the flag-wavers are going for, because it's a powerful feeling, like a high. I just think (when I'm not in Epcot on the Fourth of July) that it's important to try and live up the ideals that we celebrate by questioning our leadership and striving to improve our policies and attitudes. There's no one more patriotic than those of us who are determined to see the country live up to the ideals that we're so fond of celebrating.
Audio-Animatronic Ben Franklin is so funny.
Oh, and, so, I got really scared during the finale of the Special 4th of July Bonus fireworks portion. I've seen many, many pyrotechnic displays at Walt Disney World. This is my 22nd year here and my 27th trip and the third or fourth time, at least, that I've been here on the 4th of July. But this time it was so bright, and so loud, that for a split second it was like those recurring nightmares of bombs and explosions that i have. It was a little upsetting. I know it wasn't anything like real bombs going off, and I'm terribly blessed not to really know what that's like, but it jolted my imagination a little too much.
Only lasted a second though.
Oh, I've taken 234 pictures of lamps and it was only my first day in the parks, and my mom forgot to pack a USB cord so I'd better slow down...
Why are you in Tavie's head? 2:55 AM | shower me with attention
We never miss The American Adventure, but it's especially fun on July 4th. The Voices of Liberty (an a capella group that entertains in the waiting area) did this sort of salute to the armed forces thing that I found pretty moving, which is odd for me. They sang the songs, what're they called, for the Army, the Navy and the Marines, and before each song they asked members of the audience who had served in that branch to stand, and we all applauded for them. And we really meant it. It was something. That's about as patriotic as I get, at The American Adventure, and twice as much today. It made me really see what the flag-wavers are going for, because it's a powerful feeling, like a high. I just think (when I'm not in Epcot on the Fourth of July) that it's important to try and live up the ideals that we celebrate by questioning our leadership and striving to improve our policies and attitudes. There's no one more patriotic than those of us who are determined to see the country live up to the ideals that we're so fond of celebrating.
Audio-Animatronic Ben Franklin is so funny.
Oh, and, so, I got really scared during the finale of the Special 4th of July Bonus fireworks portion. I've seen many, many pyrotechnic displays at Walt Disney World. This is my 22nd year here and my 27th trip and the third or fourth time, at least, that I've been here on the 4th of July. But this time it was so bright, and so loud, that for a split second it was like those recurring nightmares of bombs and explosions that i have. It was a little upsetting. I know it wasn't anything like real bombs going off, and I'm terribly blessed not to really know what that's like, but it jolted my imagination a little too much.
Only lasted a second though.
Oh, I've taken 234 pictures of lamps and it was only my first day in the parks, and my mom forgot to pack a USB cord so I'd better slow down...
Why are you in Tavie's head? 2:55 AM | shower me with attention
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Happy Independence Day!!!
I'll be spending it here.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 11:48 PM | shower me with attention
I'll be spending it here.
Why are you in Tavie's head? 11:48 PM | shower me with attention
Dryblogging
7.3.05
5:08 a.m.
Airport. This is ungodly. I think I got about 2 hours. I was finally starting to drift at about 1 a.m., after two hours on the cramped couch at my parents' home-- because the new occupant of my old bed doesn't believe sheets are necessary-- when said occupant barges in, making a lot of light and clatter. I finally retreated to the unsheathed bed and was woken shortly after 3.
Good times.
Whatever, I'm going to Disney World.
I'm an idiot: I forgot the book I'm currently reading and the Sunday Times mag with my weeklycrack crossword puzzle back at home, Oops.
People at home: feel free to read the magazine/do the puzzle. I can't wait a whole week. (Yesterday, someone in our building had ripped off my paper, so I ripped off someone else's Sunday mag. Yeah, bitches, I turn all criminal when you fuck with my crossword puzzle!)
Weblogging
7.3.05
4:04 pm
AHHHH VACATION!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!
No wireless access in room. (Good? It costs $9.95/day? Bad? I'm racking up local charges on dial-up? Whatever?)
Tonight: dinner at African Lodge. Mmmmmm. And, dammit, I'm getting an annual pass in an hour-- I can jaunt over to Epcot for a decaf if I feel like it! Complete freedom! I love this!
I LOVE this!!
Why are you in Tavie's head? 4:00 PM | shower me with attention
7.3.05
5:08 a.m.
Airport. This is ungodly. I think I got about 2 hours. I was finally starting to drift at about 1 a.m., after two hours on the cramped couch at my parents' home-- because the new occupant of my old bed doesn't believe sheets are necessary-- when said occupant barges in, making a lot of light and clatter. I finally retreated to the unsheathed bed and was woken shortly after 3.
Good times.
Whatever, I'm going to Disney World.
I'm an idiot: I forgot the book I'm currently reading and the Sunday Times mag with my weekly
People at home: feel free to read the magazine/do the puzzle. I can't wait a whole week. (Yesterday, someone in our building had ripped off my paper, so I ripped off someone else's Sunday mag. Yeah, bitches, I turn all criminal when you fuck with my crossword puzzle!)
Weblogging
7.3.05
4:04 pm
AHHHH VACATION!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!
No wireless access in room. (Good? It costs $9.95/day? Bad? I'm racking up local charges on dial-up? Whatever?)
Tonight: dinner at African Lodge. Mmmmmm. And, dammit, I'm getting an annual pass in an hour-- I can jaunt over to Epcot for a decaf if I feel like it! Complete freedom! I love this!
I LOVE this!!
Why are you in Tavie's head? 4:00 PM | shower me with attention
