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Bobby and I have an annual tradition of visiting Hershey Park for the holidays. It started nine years ago, during the first Christmas that we spent together, when we went with his family. We were sporadic in visiting after, but now that we have jobs where we can take time off and receive a semblance of income, we make it a point to go every year.
The northeastern US got a snow storm on Thursday into Friday. Bobby and I, though, were undaunted. Of course, Ellicott City got about three inches, not enough to keep us from doing what we would. We left in the early afternoon, around 1 p.m.
I don't know if Friday nights are always a dead time for them or if people were put off by the snow (Hershey had about 6-7 inches or so) and so didn't go, but there was no one there. Not that we minded. Large crowds of people make me cranky. People get stoopid in groups. So we arrived, checked into our hotel, and took a nap. Yes. Took a nap. Do you know the last time that I actually got a chance to lay down for an hour and take a nap?
By then, it was time for supper at the Hershey Grill, where we always make a point to eat, as the food is goooood. Felak had a mushroom brie bisque and pasta primavera then shared a chocolate creme brulee with Bobby. Gooooood.
We always, always have to ride the chocolate tour ride, dubbed the Dumb Ride because we have ridden it so many times that we have memorized portions. And apparently, they are redoing it, so we will have to memorize it all over again.
There was no one in the park, so we could just walk right up to rides and get on them. Some of the rides weren't open because of the snow, including The Claw, which is my favorite that stays open in the winter. So I didn't get to get tossed around in the cold until my tears froze on my cheeks, but most of the other things that we like in the winter were still open, so we rode those.
Oh, and it was cold. I came prepared this year, though, starting with a pair of Christmas socks and a pair of thick soccer socks over them to my knees, boots, my red leatherlike pants, one of Bobby's Underarmor shirts, a regular shirt, a heavy sweater, my floor-length faux-fur-lined wizard/pimp coat, a scarf, a wooly hat, and gloves. So only my face was showing to be cold, and I got a bit of windburn across my cheeks as a souvenir.
We saw the Dumb Christmas Show, which we see every year because it's a good chance to warm up. I teased Bobby about dressing up like a snowflake and dancing in next year's show. I even made up some choreography for him, but he wouldn't try it out. Damn. I know he can do it.
We bought each other trinkets, which for me was a pendant shaped like an ice cream cone and for Bobby was a tree ornament shaped like a beer mug. Then we went back to Chocolate World and he had hot cocoa and I walked on the wild side and tried drinking chocolate, which tasted like unfrozen bittersweet chocolate ice cream and came in the cutest six-ounce cup. It was good, though.
Not much goes on in Hershey late at night, and we were tired, so we went back to the hotel and lo! The Two Towers was on TNT. So we watched the last half of that, enough that Bobby got to hear me ramble about the Elves at Helms Deep and their cute ears and how much I despise that they killed Haldir and he got to hear me whine whenever an Elf got killed....
Why hasn't he divorced me, you ask? I. Don't. Know. :^P
Saturday, we had lunch at Duke's Restaurant and went to the Indian Echo Caverns. When I was a kid, the most common family vacation was to Pennsylvania (we were really adventurous) and I always wanted to visit the caverns so badly. Every year, I would beg my parents, and every year, it would get pushed back to next year, with the result that--fourteen years later--my husband and I finally went. (I have since realized that--with many things in my life--if my parents didn't want to do it for themselves, they didn't want to do it for my sister and me. Our Uncle Wodie was the one who took us to the movies and the playground and McDonald's, but I think the Indian Echo Caverns were a bit outside of his realm.)
But it was awesome. Of course, nerd that I am, I took mental notes the whole time about how Nargothrond and Menegroth would have looked in their early stages and how the Elves might have used the beautiful natural features along with their own architecture. A lot of the natural features do lend themselves to spectacular, soaring rooms, and the layered effects beg for lighting and gardens. Actually, the different layers were artificially lit, so it gave me a good idea of how lovely a few cleverly placed Feanorian lamps would be.
It was also an even 52 degrees in the caves, so it was a pleasant change from the below-freezing temperatures outside. It stays that way year-round, summer and winter. So I don't think that much temperature modification would have been necessary in the Elven caves. It was very comfortable underground and smelled so nice, so clean, like minerals. The outside world, when we stepped above ground, smelled filthy by comparison.
Of course, Bobby and I walked at the back of the group and made snickering jokes about "Lords of Caves" the whole time. (For those who don't know, I got the "Felagund" on my alias when, frustrated by my disastrous first reading of The Sil, I came upon the part where Finrod is introduced as "Felagund, Lord of Caves" and laughingly--more than a bit slap-happy--told my sister and Bobby, "I will henceforth be known as Felagund, Lord of Caves." Well, the name stuck....)
After that, Bobby and I went back to Hershey to finish what we didn't see the day before, including the zoo, grabbed a quick supper of pizza, and went to the Hershey Bears hockey game. They won, 4 to 1, which was a nice change from the Capitals games because--despite being my favorite hockey team--they seem determined to lose whenever I go to a game.)
(However, they need to win on 23 December, when they play Bobby's favorite team, the Montreal Canadiens. We have a bet going: If his team wins, I have to watch a hockey game of his choice on TV. If I win, he has to read the Silmfic of my choice.)
After the football game, it was unfortunately time to go home. But it was an awesome trip, and we'll be going back next year.
The northeastern US got a snow storm on Thursday into Friday. Bobby and I, though, were undaunted. Of course, Ellicott City got about three inches, not enough to keep us from doing what we would. We left in the early afternoon, around 1 p.m.
I don't know if Friday nights are always a dead time for them or if people were put off by the snow (Hershey had about 6-7 inches or so) and so didn't go, but there was no one there. Not that we minded. Large crowds of people make me cranky. People get stoopid in groups. So we arrived, checked into our hotel, and took a nap. Yes. Took a nap. Do you know the last time that I actually got a chance to lay down for an hour and take a nap?
By then, it was time for supper at the Hershey Grill, where we always make a point to eat, as the food is goooood. Felak had a mushroom brie bisque and pasta primavera then shared a chocolate creme brulee with Bobby. Gooooood.
We always, always have to ride the chocolate tour ride, dubbed the Dumb Ride because we have ridden it so many times that we have memorized portions. And apparently, they are redoing it, so we will have to memorize it all over again.
There was no one in the park, so we could just walk right up to rides and get on them. Some of the rides weren't open because of the snow, including The Claw, which is my favorite that stays open in the winter. So I didn't get to get tossed around in the cold until my tears froze on my cheeks, but most of the other things that we like in the winter were still open, so we rode those.
Oh, and it was cold. I came prepared this year, though, starting with a pair of Christmas socks and a pair of thick soccer socks over them to my knees, boots, my red leatherlike pants, one of Bobby's Underarmor shirts, a regular shirt, a heavy sweater, my floor-length faux-fur-lined wizard/pimp coat, a scarf, a wooly hat, and gloves. So only my face was showing to be cold, and I got a bit of windburn across my cheeks as a souvenir.
We saw the Dumb Christmas Show, which we see every year because it's a good chance to warm up. I teased Bobby about dressing up like a snowflake and dancing in next year's show. I even made up some choreography for him, but he wouldn't try it out. Damn. I know he can do it.
We bought each other trinkets, which for me was a pendant shaped like an ice cream cone and for Bobby was a tree ornament shaped like a beer mug. Then we went back to Chocolate World and he had hot cocoa and I walked on the wild side and tried drinking chocolate, which tasted like unfrozen bittersweet chocolate ice cream and came in the cutest six-ounce cup. It was good, though.
Not much goes on in Hershey late at night, and we were tired, so we went back to the hotel and lo! The Two Towers was on TNT. So we watched the last half of that, enough that Bobby got to hear me ramble about the Elves at Helms Deep and their cute ears and how much I despise that they killed Haldir and he got to hear me whine whenever an Elf got killed....
Why hasn't he divorced me, you ask? I. Don't. Know. :^P
Saturday, we had lunch at Duke's Restaurant and went to the Indian Echo Caverns. When I was a kid, the most common family vacation was to Pennsylvania (we were really adventurous) and I always wanted to visit the caverns so badly. Every year, I would beg my parents, and every year, it would get pushed back to next year, with the result that--fourteen years later--my husband and I finally went. (I have since realized that--with many things in my life--if my parents didn't want to do it for themselves, they didn't want to do it for my sister and me. Our Uncle Wodie was the one who took us to the movies and the playground and McDonald's, but I think the Indian Echo Caverns were a bit outside of his realm.)
But it was awesome. Of course, nerd that I am, I took mental notes the whole time about how Nargothrond and Menegroth would have looked in their early stages and how the Elves might have used the beautiful natural features along with their own architecture. A lot of the natural features do lend themselves to spectacular, soaring rooms, and the layered effects beg for lighting and gardens. Actually, the different layers were artificially lit, so it gave me a good idea of how lovely a few cleverly placed Feanorian lamps would be.
It was also an even 52 degrees in the caves, so it was a pleasant change from the below-freezing temperatures outside. It stays that way year-round, summer and winter. So I don't think that much temperature modification would have been necessary in the Elven caves. It was very comfortable underground and smelled so nice, so clean, like minerals. The outside world, when we stepped above ground, smelled filthy by comparison.
Of course, Bobby and I walked at the back of the group and made snickering jokes about "Lords of Caves" the whole time. (For those who don't know, I got the "Felagund" on my alias when, frustrated by my disastrous first reading of The Sil, I came upon the part where Finrod is introduced as "Felagund, Lord of Caves" and laughingly--more than a bit slap-happy--told my sister and Bobby, "I will henceforth be known as Felagund, Lord of Caves." Well, the name stuck....)
After that, Bobby and I went back to Hershey to finish what we didn't see the day before, including the zoo, grabbed a quick supper of pizza, and went to the Hershey Bears hockey game. They won, 4 to 1, which was a nice change from the Capitals games because--despite being my favorite hockey team--they seem determined to lose whenever I go to a game.)
(However, they need to win on 23 December, when they play Bobby's favorite team, the Montreal Canadiens. We have a bet going: If his team wins, I have to watch a hockey game of his choice on TV. If I win, he has to read the Silmfic of my choice.)
After the football game, it was unfortunately time to go home. But it was an awesome trip, and we'll be going back next year.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 12:54 am (UTC)I would love to visit those caves. One of the environments I haven't yet visited is a natural cave system. I've been in salt mines, which I imagine are fairly similar, but I would love to see and smell a real live natural cave.
Go Capitals! (Like I care about hockey teams one way or the other. . .) Have you picked out Bobby's penalty story yet, or will you do that when the Capitals smash their way to what will probably be a 1 - 0 victory?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 02:56 pm (UTC)Me too. I am not crazy enough to enjoy the truly dangerous things in life--like cliff diving--but am just crazy enough to like theme park rides. The wilder the better. (So I am one of those people for whom you are glad that such places exist!) And the fact that it's candy themed, for me, of course, is a plus.
I've been in salt mines, which I imagine are fairly similar, but I would love to see and smell a real live natural cave.
I've never been to a salt mine. Sounds interesting though! But yes, the caves were awesome. The closest I'd been to a cave before was a copper mine at the Soldier's Delight park near where I live. Incidentally, about once a year, someone uses it to store a body. Completely irrelevant but enough to make me reluctant to go exploring too close nonetheless.
Have you picked out Bobby's penalty story yet, or will you do that when the Capitals smash their way to what will probably be a 1 - 0 victory?
*evil cackle* No, I'll probably narrow it down to five or six stories and post a poll in my journal and let you all decide! And the more evil, the better....
(I wonder if all of AMC counts as one story? Nah, that'd be too mean.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 02:22 am (UTC)While it's a disappointment that you couldn't ride the claw, I'd say the crowd-free park more than made up for it. It's not often there's no lines at Hershey Park!
Was this your first time at Indian Echo Caverns? The most intriguing part of the cave for me was the spot where the roof collapsed, blocking further progress into the cave. That part of the cave is running in the general direction of Hershey... You have to wonder what marvels are lying under the town. While I was living in Hershey, a huge sinkhole opened up under Chocolate Avenue, just a block or so from Poser's; the thing blocked both lanes of Chocolate Avenue, and I've often wondered What would have been discovered if they'd dug that hole larger instead of filling it in. Perhaps Hershey could have launched a drive-in cave tour? :D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 03:02 pm (UTC)Apparently they're doing something to it. *adds voice to NOOOO!!!* They had a couple of the "exhibits" papered over with shoddy substitute pictures of the exhibits, so I don't know the true extent of the remodeling, but they are doing something to it. Fools they are if they think they can make the Dumb Ride any better!
While it's a disappointment that you couldn't ride the claw, I'd say the crowd-free park more than made up for it. It's not often there's no lines at Hershey Park!
True! The next afternoon, we went to ZooAmerica, and when we came out, the place was already packed and they were setting up long queues for all of the rides. I'm not much for herds of people, so I was glad that we'd done all we wanted to do the night before. Let the others stand in line!
Was this your first time at Indian Echo Caverns? The most intriguing part of the cave for me was the spot where the roof collapsed, blocking further progress into the cave.
Yes, it was my first time there. I'd wanted to go as a kid but my parents would never take me. And that *is* intriguing; they didn't tell us that during the tour! Caves have always fascinated me, and this opportunity didn't do much to quell that...guess it all comes back to that "Lord of Caves" thing! :^P
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-14 02:31 am (UTC)All I can say is, they'd better keep the free chocolate at the end of the ride. Changing the other parts is one thing, but that is sacred!
Caves have always fascinated me, and this opportunity didn't do much to quell that...guess it all comes back to that "Lord of Caves" thing! :^P
You'll have to treat yourself to a visit to Mammoth Cave someday. It makes Indian Echo Caverns look like a ditch (or a drain pipe).
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 12:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 03:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 03:04 pm (UTC)Why hasn't he divorced me, you ask? I. Don't. Know. :^P
Just curious, but does the hubby ever get jealous of your deep abiding affection for male Elves? I'm only asking because my husband's reaction to Elves is so *amusing*, and was wondering if it's just a "guy" thing.
I have gone seriously overboard with Elves and have pictures of them pasted all over the house. Usually this would draw the male chest beating nature out of my husband, and since it didn't, I just figured he must be maturing (where as I am obviously backsliding into teen idiot obsession)
So I asked him about it and he says, quote: "I just don't get why you think elves are so hot. They are just a bunch of skinny, effeminate, guys with pointed ears."
That crash would be my jaw hitting the floor.
Is it only women that can see the hottness factor that *is* Male Elf?!?!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 03:23 pm (UTC)1) Elves are hott in canon. I didn't make that up. I'm only repeating what I'm told.
2) The above goes for male and female Elves, so if he wants to obsess over Arwen or Aredhel, I'm behind him all the way!
3) They're totally made up. I can't run off with Feanor and he doesn't exist (in the sense that I see him anyway) outside of my head, so I could have far more harmful obsessions than something that keeps me mostly quiet, introspective, and out of his hair.
4) While I'm writing/chatting/squeeing, Bobby, you get to watch all the hockey that you want! :^P
Is it only women that can see the hottness factor that *is* Male Elf?!?!
My sister, who is also an LJ friend of mine, will occasionally through my LJ encounter Elf art either on my friends' pages or their icons. And she likes to tease me: "I saw a picture on so-and-so's icon but I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl." So apparently not all women understand!
Maybe it's along the lines of men almost solely appreciating E-cup bottle blonds in leopard hot pants and string bikinis a la the WWE? :^P
I would trust that Bobby would find this entry (he is also an LJ friend) and perhaps let you know what he really thinks, but he's scared of my "Elf friends." He's afraid to even comment on discussions of a political or entirely un-Elf-related nature, claiming that most of my conversations come back to Elves, like, "Bush sucks! Elves are cool! YAY!!!" But,
In the meantime, I had this idea that a support group should be formed for the husbands of we Elfanatics. They could have their own little email group kind of like Henneth Annun and complain about us all they wanted! :^D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 06:21 pm (UTC)*g* I'm going to have to remember that one next time the hubby starts whining. ;-)
And she likes to tease me: "I saw a picture on so-and-so's icon but I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl." So apparently not all women understand!
This is true. When I have my quilting friends over I have to rush around the house and locate all the elf pics and hide them. And change my screensaver on my computer, and the desktop pic, and.......I lead a double life. ;-)
I would trust that Bobby would find this entry (he is also an LJ friend) and perhaps let you know what he really thinks, but he's scared of my "Elf friends."
Lol! I don't blame him. We can be scary in our one-track-mindedness.Bush sucks! Elves are cool! YAY!!! See? already back on track. :D
I had this idea that a support group should be formed for the husbands of we Elfanatics.
In theory, a good idea, but you know how it would end up:
"Hey, Bobby, I hear your wife likes those skinny elves too."
"Yeah, Weird!"
"Weird. So how bout those Red Socks............." *pops can of beer*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 07:03 pm (UTC)ROFLMAO!!! Oh my goodness, that is priceless! I'm lucky in that most of my friends are nerds and like things far weirder and more nerdy than Elves. Like Initial D. *waves to
"Hey, Bobby, I hear your wife likes those skinny elves too."
"Yeah, Weird!"
"Weird. So how bout those Red Socks............." *pops can of beer*
Lol! True! Well, there goes that idea.... ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 06:25 pm (UTC)Jealous? Nah, that would be entirely ridiculous, Elves are make believe, and as far as some female obsessions are concerned, you could faint and scream every time one of those boy band idiots comes on TV, so I am not complaining about some fictional characters from a book. (At least it’s original) Although I do question the taste factor in the elf obsession sometimes because, from what I’ve seen, I agree with your friend’s husband in that most of them look like they belong in a hair band from the 80’s, case in point:
http://www.hoorayforanything.com/poison.jpg
Hehehehehehehe...But if that’s what floats your boat, that’s what floats your boat….who am I to deny the inner Poison and Def Leppard fan. (Just Kidding). Plus it’s like you said, while you are reading, writing, and doing arithmetic about elves, I get to watch/play all of the hockey I want without my wife bugging me to clean the toothpaste out of the sink or any of the other crazy litany of things that wives ask (I love you babe J.)
However, there is a warning here, unless you want me to start putting posters of Patrick Roy, the Calgary Flames Stanley Cup team, the Joe Juneau poster, and any of my other various hockey/football paraphernalia items all over the apartment, there shall be no pictures of elves all over the place in the house.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 06:45 pm (UTC)Ok, there will be absolutely NO "husbands of Elfanatics" support group! My husband hasn't caught on to the "I can say 'no'?" to the hot elf posters being draped all over the house.....and I don't want him getting any ideas! ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 07:12 pm (UTC)0:^)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 07:11 pm (UTC)(However, I can't resist a teehee because that is one funny-ass picture!)
I get to watch/play all of the hockey I want without my wife bugging me to clean the toothpaste out of the sink or any of the other crazy litany of things that wives ask (I love you babe J.)
Oh. I see. So you're going to go there. Never mind that men can't pee without dribbling on the floor (which I clean up) and leave their sweaty jockstraps laying around the living room (which I launder), but I ask you to wipe the toothpaste lugers out of the sink, and I'm Morgoth?? :^x *huggles Bobby hard*
there shall be no pictures of elves all over the place in the house.
Lol! But love, there's already two LotR calendars in the study.... ;)
But seriously, I can be content with my Feany sleeping on my desktop and the occasional Elf that I drop in my Photobucket. And the fifty or so Elves that my friend emailed me...hmmm...anyone think I need to redo the living room?
Ree, I still think you need to be nominated for sainthood for putting up with me. And see? You got into a conversation about Elves and no one hurled a vat of Maedhros-inspired drool over your head! ;)
Yet.(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 08:04 pm (UTC)Oh, and Initial D is teh aw3some, so meh.
*quietly slips back out into non-existence*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-12 08:20 pm (UTC)Yes, you must find the Metal Dust banner! I'll post it in my LJ for the laughter of all! Pleasepleaseplease.... *begins shameless begging*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 06:10 pm (UTC)Of course, nerd that I am, I took mental notes the whole time about how Nargothrond and Menegroth would have looked in their early stages and how the Elves might have used the beautiful natural features along with their own architecture.
LOL!!!!
I came upon the part where Finrod is introduced as "Felagund, Lord of Caves" and laughingly--more than a bit slap-happy--told my sister and Bobby, "I will henceforth be known as Felagund, Lord of Caves."
Lol! Well, you see, I was sober when I read The Sil...;D *runs*
If I win, he has to read the Silmfic of my choice.
Pick the longest one. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 06:39 pm (UTC)Why study when I've sent Feanor to take the exams for you? Or at least wave his sword around threateningly if the professors protest.
*snicker* Okay, Felak took that the wrong way..... >:^D
Lol! Well, you see, I was sober when I read The Sil...;D *runs*
Sadly, so was I! :^P
Pick the longest one. ;)
Hmmm...wonder if forcing one's spouse to read a 350K Silmfic is grounds for divorce in Maryland...?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 06:43 pm (UTC)It seems to be working...I got a nice email from my tech prof saying "You have enough points to have an A without taking the final. Excellent!" :D
*snicker* Okay, Felak took that the wrong way..... >:^D
Oh dear...*giggle*
I'd rather those, er, threats, be saved for me!Hmmm...wonder if forcing one's spouse to read a 350K Silmfic is grounds for divorce in Maryland...?
They'd probably say "Silmfic? What is that? Some kind of poison?"
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 06:30 pm (UTC)But it was awesome. Of course, nerd that I am, I took mental notes the whole time about how Nargothrond and Menegroth would have looked in their early stages and how the Elves might have used the beautiful natural features along with their own architecture. A lot of the natural features do lend themselves to spectacular, soaring rooms, and the layered effects beg for lighting and gardens. Actually, the different layers were artificially lit, so it gave me a good idea of how lovely a few cleverly placed Feanorian lamps would be.
Sounds beautiful. And pretty impressing, too. :-) I'm actually rather hard to please when it comes to caves. Years ago I've been to that fantastically beautiful, huge cave on Ibiza with all its shiny, glitterly stalagtites and stalagmites and subterranean lakes (Finrod would have approved, no doubt about that). Since then no other cave managed to impress me the way this one did. Not even Dikti-cave on Crete, were according to the legend Zeus was born. I stepped into it and only thought "Man, but it's soo small!" :-P
By the way, mushroom brie bisque and pasta primavera and a chocolate creme brulee sounds definitely like something I might enjoy. *feels now very, very hungry* :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 07:59 pm (UTC)Don't worry. I got punished for my fun by having a thoroughly craptastic day today. Hence the fact that AMC is late. Pah.
Years ago I've been to that fantastically beautiful, huge cave on Ibiza with all its shiny, glitterly stalagtites and stalagmites and subterranean lakes
Wow! That kind of makes Indian Echo a bit paltry. ;) It was my first cave so I was like, "Whee! 100 feet underground! Let's play Elves! Whee!"
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 08:12 pm (UTC)Don't worry about this. I usually don't even need crappy days to be late with writing/posting something. There's this one fic I've been talking about doing a year ago or so, and guess what? It's still not finished. Not even halfway.
Wow! That kind of makes Indian Echo a bit paltry.
It sounded impressive enough to me! And then, it was some time ago that I've been to Ibiza and although I'm pretty sure it's really beautiful it may be that I remember everything a bit shinier and bigger... though I would love to come back there one day and see that it's really that glittering fairy-tale cave I remember it to be. ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 08:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 08:21 pm (UTC)There were three "wings" of it to explore, plus
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 08:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-13 10:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-14 01:38 am (UTC)