Adventures in Anniversaries

This weekend, I celebrated my eight year anniversary with my girlfriend by heading south, back to Orlando, to experience the magic of Disney.

And the terror of a certain tower at Hollywood studios. The scoop: A year ago, we went to Disney with 3-day passes and I was treated to ominous quips about how on the third day of the ticket we’d go to Hollywood studios and she’d make me ride the Tower of Terror, her favorite ride. I’d never been to Hollywood Studios, but I’d heard of the ride. Enough to know I should fear it, anyway.

I don’t mind heights, but the idea of slowly climbing however-many-stories (seriously, I don’t want to know how many stories. The less information the better!) with the knowledge that eventually the cord would cut and you’d be dropped to your almost certain death went a little bit beyond not minding heights.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I let out a little sigh of relief when we spent the third day at Animal Kingdom instead. Fate, it seemed, had sided with me!

Of course, fate just isn’t that kind and knew that it would be better if I waited a little. I knew eventually I’d have to get on that ride, and when we ended up at Disney for our anniversary, well… how do you say no, then?

I’m told that the ride is less frightening than it used to be, but it was plenty for me. My only comfort was that we plunged however-many-stories (still with the not knowing) down into pitch blackness instead of having to watch the entire thing like I’d originally thought. Small comfort, but I take what I can get.

Terrorizing tower aside, we had a great time and even got to spend that night listening to Irish musicians playing at one of our favorite restaurants and after the second Guinness I’m pretty sure I would have gone on the Tower again without complaint.

A good, happy weekend spent with someone I love very much. You can’t ask for more than that.

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Back on the writing front, I’ve taken the opportunity of having a little bit of a breather between book work to write up some short stories and work on some For Fun things. Soon, I’ll be jumping back into work on the untitled Sherlock Holmes in Fantasy Land book, as it needs some more tuning up, still.