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arms outstretched, back from the dead
Photo taken with my 1999 Olympus at the Huntington in Pasadena, CA
If I could return to the Huntington on a rainy day, I'd do it in a heartbeat. There was something immensely magical about it. Telling my friends who had been there before that no one was around (cue me thinking the Huntington wasn't popular) and them being shocked at it being so empty felt... so special. From opening to close, we were in the park trying to see everything and even then, we couldn't. The library itself was closed for renovations, another was closed for an exhibit just about to open in two days (Hispanic women!) and we skipped the Australian portion of the gardens. Even though we were going fast, we didn't run into many people and only took cover once or twice when the rain became exceedingly heavy.
Otherwise the gardens were empty. It was nothing except us, the occasional museum staff (who we saw very little of) and the distant sound of ambulances at times.
Koi fish pond in the Huntington
The trip was a week long. I made the intent from start to finish to be in the moment. And despite some issues (lack of sleep, work and personal drama happening on both my end and friends end), the trip was my most memorable. Day to day we just drove, on the road from one city to the next. We both experienced new things but I was overjoyed to watch my friend experience the beach for the first time ever. Granted it was at night and cold so we didn't go in but walking on the shoreline with the Queen Mary in sight, our next destination of the night right there, it was so peaceful. The sound of the waves crashing, my friend screaming at the cold water, our voices echoing in the dark still ring so vividly in my head and that trip was only two months ago.
"I had so many firsts, what was your first? Have you been on a boat before?"
"Oh... yes I have. But I guess I've never been on ocean liner before... so that's my first."
We had waited 30 minutes for the train to come around in Tomorrowland. Phew!!!
The best part was probably sharing my love of Disneyland with her. I've been back and forth with people on the terminology of what I am in relation to Disney. I grew up with the park, going to it once a year or so. I have really great memories with my family, would take friends to experience it too knowing sometimes this was their only chance. I went to college for animation, learned the history, revered the 9 old men, the 12 laws of animation, but actively fought with myths of both the park and Disney history (Ub Iwerks deserves the spotlight). Yet I don't adhere to falling at Disneys feet. I believe the parks should update and change but I don't agree that Avengers campus, reliant on character interaction, should have been constructed. I don't like how Tianas Bayou Adventure seems to have design gaps within the ride itself, showing blank walls where guests can see (it feels like a slight against my favorite princess). Additionally, the view of the ride itself is blocked by the train that goes around the park. Before you could see into the ride as you passed by, now it's just black. I don't like that they use digital faces or projectors for most newer rides--it ultimately feels like they're intentinoally cutting costs rather than focusing on what will be practical for a 10+ year maintenance run.
In recent weeks, I realized I'm a theme park fan. Not necessarily Disney. I will point out their flaws and what good they do but I also enjoy the fantasy theme parks provide to the visitor. In regards to Disneyland itself, it's the ultimate fantasy. You are encased in a small world temporarily then leave to the real world. I've seen what they can do, know what they're capable of but they just... have fumbled with it in recent years.
And during the trip I had to reiterate "I'm not a Disney adult--but let me share my joy and knowledge of the park with you." The knowledge went from what used to be in what area, historical bits peppered in and my favorite part which was sharing my quiet areas. There are certain points of the park I consider very special to me. They're just places no one goes to because they're corners that are uninteresting. My favorite being this one particular spot where you just sit with the Rivers of America, or another where you have to go particularly early now since it's in the Princess area. A little musical box sits there, the only remnant of a Hunchback of Notre Dame item. You have to go early before the princess shows start or... you'll be surrounded by small children and they also want a go at the box once it starts playing music.
Now that I'm a week into using my phone only as a tool (leaving it off otherwise) and my mind clearer from the use of chatbots, grief and the general chatter of social media--it feels like I'm being reintroduced to myself. Nothing is banned from me, I can still access everything, I just have to be intentional about it. Instagram is blocked from early morning till afternoon, then blocked again before bed. My sleep has...actually been improving too. I still struggle with it but my minds been so quiet. One night I slept 9 hours (whoa?), another was 7. I average 5 hours (rough) so to see anything longer than 5 and a half hours uninterrupted is already amazing.
Otherwise I'm mostly with my thoughts. Music is consumed primarily through radio, CD, cassette or my phone (on occasion). I still get the news when I decide to and found myself trying to gravitate to one or two overall summarized episodes (like Today, Explained by Vox) then I'm on to something else.
So thinking back to my week long trip and how I was so in the moment then to now makes me feel more connected. During that trip, I wasn't on social media much besides the drama. I kept the drama to the end of the day when we were settled in bed then caught up. Otherwise I was present. I can tell you vividly where we were, what day, what we possibly even ate, that's how present I was despite being so tired at some points. And damn did I pass out on day 4 in Hollywood. My body yelled, I physically could not do anything, I stared at a chicken burger at a 50's celebrity diner while the waiter and I complained about being so tired during midday. I ended up staring out the window, watching two men figure out how to put their tools into the back of their truck before they left the parking lot. So I stayed in the hostel after, just bed rotting while my friend opted to see a comedy show. That was also the night that rain would finally come and not stop for 3 days. It ended up causing our return home to hit almost all four elements and was some movie tier type shit that involved a diner. Seriously, I sent an email to my dad after going "what the FUCK did I encounter. I just wanted to go HOME."
Not sure why I was journaling in the first place, I just wanted to. My current intention for DW is to just... connect with people, read their stories, and be genuine like I used to be when it was 2005. Maybe that'll be my next task. How to approach modern day social media with this emerging mindset that works for me. It kind of makes it a bit more exciting, I guess.
Otherwise the gardens were empty. It was nothing except us, the occasional museum staff (who we saw very little of) and the distant sound of ambulances at times.
Koi fish pond in the Huntington
The trip was a week long. I made the intent from start to finish to be in the moment. And despite some issues (lack of sleep, work and personal drama happening on both my end and friends end), the trip was my most memorable. Day to day we just drove, on the road from one city to the next. We both experienced new things but I was overjoyed to watch my friend experience the beach for the first time ever. Granted it was at night and cold so we didn't go in but walking on the shoreline with the Queen Mary in sight, our next destination of the night right there, it was so peaceful. The sound of the waves crashing, my friend screaming at the cold water, our voices echoing in the dark still ring so vividly in my head and that trip was only two months ago.
"I had so many firsts, what was your first? Have you been on a boat before?"
"Oh... yes I have. But I guess I've never been on ocean liner before... so that's my first."
We had waited 30 minutes for the train to come around in Tomorrowland. Phew!!!
The best part was probably sharing my love of Disneyland with her. I've been back and forth with people on the terminology of what I am in relation to Disney. I grew up with the park, going to it once a year or so. I have really great memories with my family, would take friends to experience it too knowing sometimes this was their only chance. I went to college for animation, learned the history, revered the 9 old men, the 12 laws of animation, but actively fought with myths of both the park and Disney history (Ub Iwerks deserves the spotlight). Yet I don't adhere to falling at Disneys feet. I believe the parks should update and change but I don't agree that Avengers campus, reliant on character interaction, should have been constructed. I don't like how Tianas Bayou Adventure seems to have design gaps within the ride itself, showing blank walls where guests can see (it feels like a slight against my favorite princess). Additionally, the view of the ride itself is blocked by the train that goes around the park. Before you could see into the ride as you passed by, now it's just black. I don't like that they use digital faces or projectors for most newer rides--it ultimately feels like they're intentinoally cutting costs rather than focusing on what will be practical for a 10+ year maintenance run.
In recent weeks, I realized I'm a theme park fan. Not necessarily Disney. I will point out their flaws and what good they do but I also enjoy the fantasy theme parks provide to the visitor. In regards to Disneyland itself, it's the ultimate fantasy. You are encased in a small world temporarily then leave to the real world. I've seen what they can do, know what they're capable of but they just... have fumbled with it in recent years.
And during the trip I had to reiterate "I'm not a Disney adult--but let me share my joy and knowledge of the park with you." The knowledge went from what used to be in what area, historical bits peppered in and my favorite part which was sharing my quiet areas. There are certain points of the park I consider very special to me. They're just places no one goes to because they're corners that are uninteresting. My favorite being this one particular spot where you just sit with the Rivers of America, or another where you have to go particularly early now since it's in the Princess area. A little musical box sits there, the only remnant of a Hunchback of Notre Dame item. You have to go early before the princess shows start or... you'll be surrounded by small children and they also want a go at the box once it starts playing music.
Now that I'm a week into using my phone only as a tool (leaving it off otherwise) and my mind clearer from the use of chatbots, grief and the general chatter of social media--it feels like I'm being reintroduced to myself. Nothing is banned from me, I can still access everything, I just have to be intentional about it. Instagram is blocked from early morning till afternoon, then blocked again before bed. My sleep has...actually been improving too. I still struggle with it but my minds been so quiet. One night I slept 9 hours (whoa?), another was 7. I average 5 hours (rough) so to see anything longer than 5 and a half hours uninterrupted is already amazing.
Otherwise I'm mostly with my thoughts. Music is consumed primarily through radio, CD, cassette or my phone (on occasion). I still get the news when I decide to and found myself trying to gravitate to one or two overall summarized episodes (like Today, Explained by Vox) then I'm on to something else.
So thinking back to my week long trip and how I was so in the moment then to now makes me feel more connected. During that trip, I wasn't on social media much besides the drama. I kept the drama to the end of the day when we were settled in bed then caught up. Otherwise I was present. I can tell you vividly where we were, what day, what we possibly even ate, that's how present I was despite being so tired at some points. And damn did I pass out on day 4 in Hollywood. My body yelled, I physically could not do anything, I stared at a chicken burger at a 50's celebrity diner while the waiter and I complained about being so tired during midday. I ended up staring out the window, watching two men figure out how to put their tools into the back of their truck before they left the parking lot. So I stayed in the hostel after, just bed rotting while my friend opted to see a comedy show. That was also the night that rain would finally come and not stop for 3 days. It ended up causing our return home to hit almost all four elements and was some movie tier type shit that involved a diner. Seriously, I sent an email to my dad after going "what the FUCK did I encounter. I just wanted to go HOME."
Not sure why I was journaling in the first place, I just wanted to. My current intention for DW is to just... connect with people, read their stories, and be genuine like I used to be when it was 2005. Maybe that'll be my next task. How to approach modern day social media with this emerging mindset that works for me. It kind of makes it a bit more exciting, I guess.