I had the most amazing and fun day today. I just got home 30 minutes ago and just got out of the shower. About 3 days ago my friends Shawn and Billy (who work at Busch) invited me to go to Sea World with them today. They managed to get an extra ticket and I asked Jorge to come along. The boys were also bringing their friend Valerie, who turned out to be very cool and got me a 20% discount at dinner (more on that later). We were supposed to leave at 8:30, but I didn't want to leave that early and neither did Jorge. As it turns out that was a good idea because I got an e-mail from my last committee member about my thesis and I had to print stuff out and take it to the department. So everything is in! I just need signatures and I will graduate from this damn school and FINALLY have my master's degree. WOO!!!!
In any case, Jorge and I had breakfast at Perkins, where I got stared down by a young military-looking guy who must have thought I was a terrorist...gee, there is something new. We got on the road and 45 minutes later we hit Sea World, no thanks to some stupid ass traffic. We were to meet the rest of the crew at some underwater dining place surrounded by a shark tank. Ok, I have not been to Sea Worl since I was a kid and my memories of it are vague outside of the Shamu show. Now being Piscean I LOVE the water, LOVE the ocean, and LOVE marine life. But nothing prepared me for what I was going to see and do here. I had NO clue this place could be so much fun.
Outside of being caddy with Jorge, and pretending to be the GAYEST tourists around, I sat and ate while sharks swam in a tank that surrounded the entire restaurant (I never knew Grouper got that big...holy shit). The bar had glass aquarium tops with little fish underneath. Without having to narrate every single moment, here is what I did/experienced:
* Watched several theme park shows. One with sea lions. Which I loved,. made me laugh from beginning till end. A pet show with dogs, cats, rats, skunks, birds, ducks and more. Was very cool and intruiging. And then a virque-type show....which kicked some fucking ass. I LOVE aerial strap acts. Holy crap.
*Got to see and feed sea lions. Loud mothers. All the time, ibis are flying around trying to steal food and attacking people. Peaceful loking creatures my ass.
*Got to see dolphins for the very first time and had an amazing experience touching some of them and feeding them. I hated the idea of it because I about their "change" the minute they are touched by people. But I felt a special affinity and connectedness to them. It felt nothing like I expected. The tops are smooth like a rubber beach ball and the bottoms feel like soft pudge. It was amazing seeing them so up close and hearing them click and squeek. Something I will never forget. I don;t think I stoppe smiling once.
*A brief stop at the stingray tank. Those things are slimy, but amazing creatures. It was odd touching it knowing it would sting the shit out of me if it so felt.
*Seeing all kinds of marine life from birds to underwater creatures. Loved the shark encounter tube tank. AMAZING. Jellyfish and Lionfish. AMAZING. Screaming bratty kids and adults who are morons. Not amazing. But I can work myself through a crowd. Adult Day at theme parks anyone???
*Not really a RIDE parl. The water ride was standard cheezy story thing. Arctic circle was a quasi-Questor ride. Very interesting (seeing the penguins, beluga, and polar bears following it was cool). The best was riding Kraken, quite possibly the best coaster I have ever been on, four times in a row because we went later inthe evening and there were NO lines. It was absolutely thrilling.
* Watching the Shamu show was very cool. Did not sit in the spalsh zone but these creatures are just magnificent and HUGE.
* Going to dinner at Bennigans and Valerie bitch my waiter out because he got my order wrong and then was belligerent and unapologetic when I asked him about it. Got 20% off.
*Riding in the car to and from Orlando singing like maniacs to Dreamgirls. Jorge: My god, you ARE a black woman.
* Billy using a toothpick constantly and finding out it was some preventitive thing for SARS...I have NO clue.
And having a totally amazing day that was relaxing and fun and worry-free. I had such a great time and I can't wait to do it again.
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on Saturday, April 19, 2003 at 1:24 AM.
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