my moral standing is lying down

So... I'll be going to Disneyland on Friday with Rich. FUN TIMES, YES? If you have any ride recs, let me know. Basically have been told to ride anything with "mountain" in the name. =D Actually, I did go to Disneyland once before, when I was 17, but jeeeez that was a while ago and somehow I barely remember anything about it other than loving the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, and having a suuuuper fun time with Liz even though she dragged me on all the kiddie rides (she was 10 at the time).

So anyway... PARASAILING! In Marina Del Rey a few weeks ago. With likeaglass and another friend. elipie was supposed to be there but ahhhhh, the timing didn't work out too well. T_T

Hanging from a harness that falls into a seat shape, clipped onto a bar that hangs from a parachute... 800 feet in the air! It's a lot like skydiving once your parachute has opened. It's beautiful and relaxing and exhilarating. (Can something be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time?) It made me miss skydiving lots, though. But it was a lot cheaper since we had 2-for-1 groupons.

( Pics of FUN TIMES! (And seals!) )

Hmmmm. I wonder if I can come up with some sort of skydiving-related tattoo for myself. I'll have to ruminate on that one for a while.

This Saturday was a crapload of fun. I'm really glad I got to go to Astroland one last time before they close it down. I had intended to last summer and was very disappointed when I wasn't able to make it. Luckily, I had a second chance to make good.

I looooove spinning and upside-down rides, so the Break Dance and the Top Spin were right up my alley. Though the Top Spin was fucking scary -- being held, parallel to the ground, up in the air, hanging completely out of my seat with only the front braces holding me in, thinking "if this breaks, I. Am. SO. DEAD." It was AWESOME.

The Wonder Wheel was also a great time. I very much enjoyed being in one of the interior cars that slides along a track at two spots during the rotation.

And then there was the Cyclone. I've never been on it before; the last time I was at Astroland I was still afraid of roller coasters. But it was really great and to celebrate I went on it a second time.

It was a small-ish group including me, Judy, AJ, Maryann, Maryann's sister (Tina), Indira, and her guy Ilia.

And the day was complete with a candied apple! Hurrah!

And a ride in the back of a U-haul! ^_~

In other news, it looks like the move will take place in the beginning of July. This summer is so packed full of things that I'm going to be bouncing off the walls. I decided that it would be more productive to transfer my registration for Japanese classes over to the fall session (starting September) so that I would not be even more stressed than I already will be during the packing and moving and hurry-to-finish-cosplay stages.

So, no more classes from next week til September! I feel relieved that I won't have that on my plate as well (because I think I will be overextending myself as it is), but I'm sad to be taking a break. I don't want to lose the practice, but I'm already in dire need of practice and review anyway. Hopefully I will be able to put myself to studying before the fall session starts.

I still have some book reviews and other things to write about, but I suppose I'll get to that later.