miss-behaved.net

So only half of my pictures on Flickr really tell the story that is my Texas vacation. I faced my fears, I defied gravity, I completed some of my 101 Things. But since I forgot to bring my new camera’s battery charger with me, I had a limited window that I could take pictures. So I saved it for the mostly important things. Oh, did you know they don’t have sweet tea in Texas? How ass-backwards is that?!

Charles came along with me (no surprise there), and we visited my family, most of whom I haven’t seen in about six years. We went to Six Flags for about twelve hours one day, but we also went to the JFK Museum on another, and I purchased a reprint of one of the newspapers that announced his death. (I want to start collecting those too!) Then the Dallas World Aquarium, where most of my pictures take place. And — here’s the big one — Zero Gravity. Oh my God, Zero Gravity. I am terrified of heights, if you haven’t learned already. Terrified. But we did all five thrill rides, surprisingly: the free fall (”Nothin’ But Net”), the Skyscraper (with Charles), the Texas Blast Off (with Charles), the Skycoaster (with Charles), and the bungee jump.

Bungee jumping doesn’t seem hard. In fact, we thought it would be the easiest thing. But, to be honest, it’s the hardest. On everything else, someone else lets you go, drops you, or lifts you up (in the Skycoaster, but you rip your own cord). On the bungee jump, you have to climb the stairs yourself and leap off the edge yourself. Being terrified of heights, I couldn’t fathom jumping off a ledge like that willingly — and in fact, I almost backed out. You’re told to cross your arms and jump, but I kept crossing and uncrossing my arms. I nearly jump off and catch myself, but I eventually suck it up and just lean forward.

Charles, on the other hand, got to do it twice, for free. We got videos of us bungee jumping, and she didn’t film him the first time, so he got to do it a second time for the camera. And he looks so ballsy, ’cause he just jumps off the second time with no hesitation.

I am so glad I was able to go down to Texas and see my family, especially since it’s been so long. Texas will always be home to me.

It’s already June, and God, the years are beginning to go by really fast. Summer always reminds me of parties, playing vidya games, and staying up all night for days at a time, either coding or just lounging around the house. I wasn’t able to do that last year because of my job (cough, sucked) and then-boyfriend (cough, sucked too). This year, unfortch, I will also not be able to do this. I have dedicated my summer to my better, gay half, since he will be a senior in high school next year and I will be a freshman in college, unable to hang out with him because of conflicting schedules.

I try to remember what else summer has brought to me, and I remember that my parents used to barbecue a lot. I also remember swimming at Mum’s friend’s house, playing with her daughter; the trips to Texas, Arkansas, and Florida, to visit family members and Mickey Mouse in Disney World (learning that the best thing in the world is a water ride on a 110 degree day); makeshift relief from sprinklers in your front yard; hating how the grass felt sticky when I sat on it; and riding my bike on a mini-city made from chalk…

What does summer remind you of?

Wow! I’m sorry for being gone so long, the month of May has been terribly busy. I went to prom on May 8th, which was pretty freaking sweet. I got to come down the staircase and they announced my name since I was a senior.

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