I got a good deal!

And almost barfed

This is a face I made this weekend:

Earlier this year, Costco had a really good deal on a Disneyland pass that included three days worth of tickets to the parks (Disneyland and California Adventure). Now, I thought about breaking down the value and savings of this deal here, but it involves a working knowledge of all of Disney’s absurd add-ons (Park Hopper! Lightening Lane!) and it felt like too much information to get into about what is a confusing, terrible system. Just know that it was an excellent deal, so we went for it and bought the Costco tickets for our family earlier this summer. And this past Saturday, we trotted on down to Anaheim for a day at the parks.

(I am including a gift link to a recent NY Times opinion piece, Disney and the Decline of America’s Middle Class, which I found interesting and accurate. Highly recommend!)

So yes, this is me on Guardians of the Galaxy around 11:30 AM, trying not to barf and clearly overcompensating. Guardians is one of those rides that flings you up and down in a free fall drop. I do not particularly enjoy it, but I do like going on it with my family, especially because my absolute terror seems to amuse them, and I will do literally anything for a laugh. And on this day, I decided to make this ridiculous face for the photo that’s taken in the middle of the ride and then sold to riders the second they’re off. Here it is in its fully glory:

Shockingly, it wasn’t this ride that triggered my motion sickness. About an hour before making this absurd face on Guardians, I insisted that our family ride on the giant ferris in one of its swinging cages. I have avoided this ride for years because sliding back and forth over a duck-shit-filled, man-made lagoon one billion feet in the air is legitimately terrifying. But something in me on Saturday morning was determined to triumphantly conquer this fear. It turns out, I’d also forgotten that this ride triggers my motion sickness in the most terrible way. Of course, the second the door to our tiny compartment clicked shut and we began swaying through the sky, my body remembered. It did not feel good.

I could be featured in this video:

When we mercifully returned to earth, I stumbled off the ferris wheel toward one of the fast dining spots and mumbled “please go buy me a coke and some food” to my husband, who returned with a plate of rice and beans and a giant soda. Yes, I felt like I was going to vomit and yes, I also pounded that plate of rice and beans and then declared myself up for going on Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a bad idea! But, it was a good deal. So...worth it?

The weekend before this, I went backpacking with three friends in the Eastern Sierras. I haven’t been backpacking in decades, and similarly, like this past weekend on the ferris wheel, I felt an urge to reclaim an experience I’d once had. Thankfully, backpacking had much better results.

It was an incredibly freeing, awe-inspiring experience, one that challenged me and also very quickly erased whatever little modesty I have left. My phone was in SOS mode, so occasionally throughout the weekend I would point my phone at the sky to try to connect to a satellite, and then text Anthony, “everyone ok?” and he’d write back “yup!” and that was all I knew of the world. I felt my heart rate settle a bit, relished in the joy of human connection, and tasted contentment in a way that so often feels impossible in the usual day to day. Dare I say it felt both mystical AND magical? Like dancing at the movies, if you will.

It’s a pleasure to return to the practice of writing/blogging here, as I am pretty sure I am in the process of slowly transitioning away from the regular use of most social media platforms. I re-downloaded TikTok last week for a moment, and the first six-to eight videos the algorithm showed me were of different people trying to sell me stuff. It went something like, “Okay I love these barrel jeans and I just found out they’re on tiktok shop” — swipe — “I am obsessed with this mouth tape” — swipe “I’ve gotten so many compliments on these new Crocs and they just came out on this new leopard print” and on and on. I love shopping and deals and recommendations, but this was not particularly enjoyable. It just felt like I was being talked at. (Yes, this is better than rage bait, which is the other regular feature of my feeds. But still, not great.)

But writing here feels good, and I appreciate your replies and conversations. It’s nice to remember that life, whether online or off, is not about engagement, but connection.

I want to sign off today with this video of my friend Jeff Hiller winning the Emmy for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series last night. If you’ve seen people screaming about Jeff’s win all over social media in the last 24 hours, and how much he deserves it, it’s because he really is one of the most genuinely hilarious, kind, and talented people out there. His memoir came out earlier this year, and it’s fantastic — so funny and poignant. I read the book but I can only imagine the audiobook, which he narrates, is incredible too.

Love,

Kate

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Where to find me this fall:

• Saturday, 9/20 - Fall Into Book Festival, Anaheim CA

• Thursday, 1023 - Romantic Comedy Panel with Joss Richard, Elissa Sussman, Susan Lee, and Falon Ballard, Village Well Books & Coffee, Culver City CA

• Friday - Saturday, 10/31-11/1, Steamy Lit Con, Anaheim CA