Harry Potter and the Valley Fair of Profanity

I had been looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend after a sleep deprived week of work. I had been depriving myself of sleep because after getting home from work, and cooking, and eating, and washing up, it's almost always 8pm. There just doesn't seem to be enough time for myself. Thus, I tend to stay up, late, and get some me time.

When Friday finally came along, I was quite relieved. Finally a day I could sleep in. That is, until I realized I had to get up at 6:30 am on Saturday. Now, you may be confused as to why on Earth I had to get up so early during the weekend? Church service? I'm not that devoted, and plus God had the "Do not disturb" sign hanging upon the golden gates. No, it was something of more devotion: Harry Potter.

I won free tickets to a private screening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Only, the movie was at 8:30 am. Doors opened at 8:00 am, and I was going with 3 other friends. Thus, it was another early rise to get to Southdale mall. What can I say? The draws of Harry Potter and the word "free" can be very persuasive.

The movie was quite well done, but somehow it felt lacking. Knowing that the fifth Harry Potter book was a massive 900 page novel, the movie had to cut out lots of storylines. I went into the movie with that in mind, and was ready to accept it. Even so, the magic of Harry Potter couldn't fully take me into the world of Hogwarts and under the mistletoe kisses. Movies I enjoy are those that transport me from the seat of the cinema. I become fully engrossed in the flashes of color and moving pictures, and forget that I'm sitting on popcorn and my shoe is sticking to the ground after stepping in a puddle of spilled pop. This time, there were lapses in the movie magic, and I was fully aware of the people around me, and especially of the person sitting in front of me. All throughout the movie, one line kept popping into my mind: "Blimey, that's one large head!" I do think the movie deserves a second viewing, and I'm glad my non-book reading friend was able to enjoy the movie.

After the movie, my friend and I drove back to Shakopee to spend the rest of the day at Valleyfair, the local amusement park. I had been to Valleyfair twice previously, both times accompanied by my lovely but conservative parents. Their conservatism meant I get to spend the day on the Merry-Go-Around and the Oldsmobile car ride that went at a whooping speed of 10 mph. The ferris wheel was considered the vanguard of adrenenlin rush. However, this time would be different. This time would be my chance to break out, to go wild, to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I took my chance of losing bladder control, and gave into peer pressure. I rode, I screamed, I conquered. I rode on 6 different roller coaster, whose pictures on the park map make them seem like an invitation to the deep plunge of Hell. Yes Hell, because even God doesn't allow stupid people into heaven who die on rollercoasters. He doesn't appreciate stupidity. Alas, we survived, although not unscathed. By not unscathed, I mean get wet. By the time we decided on water rides, the sun was already on its way home. Thus, if we got wet then, we would be freezing for the rest of the day. Yet, we decided to risk it. Our first of two water rides was on the Raging Rapids. We sat around in a tube while traversing down a raging rapid, thus aptly named so. Only this ride was not without its dangers. Cold, skin prickling waterfalls awaited for its next victims. As the tube went round and round, it was all in God's hands to see who gets drenched. Knowing this beforehand, I thought I would take off my shirt, so it wouldn't get wet. Just as I was peeling off my shirt to show off my biceps (cough, cough), the lifeguard screamed,
"You must be wearing a shirt on this ride!" Darn it! Just when I was about to impress the girl too......

The other water ride we got on was a log ride. It was like roller coaster, only the deep plunge was into listerine-esque water. I had the best of intentions to tell the girl to sit in the front, because the final crescendo of waves will pour over the person in the first seat and drench everyone behind her. I was truly thinking of her interests when I forgot that there was a long ride up to the plunge. As the log bobbled along, it dived hard after coming to a low point. Poor Yezi became the windscreen as a torrent of listerine blasted her in the face. Her only, and natural reply was shout "Son of a Bitch" at the top of her lungs. Even the lifeguard couldn't suppress a smile. It takes quite an effort to get a lady to lose her cool, but it will forever leave a momentous memory for everyone.