SeaWorld Wonders

We recently returned from a trip to Southern California. Part of our itinerary included a day at SeaWorld. One of the rides at this theme park is Shipwreck Rapids. Here you float in a raft-like over sized inner tube through waves and caves.

It is one of those rides where you may get a little sprinkle, you may stay perfectly dry, or you could get soaked. Only the Shipwreck Rapids River Gods (and S1 and DH pouring quarters in the water guns along the sidelines) seem to determine your fate.

As I was not in the mood for a wet t-shirt contest, I opted out of the ride and sent D1, S2, and D2 by themselves. Meeting them at the ride exit, after each trip they begged to ride again. After the third time through the ride, they were all very wet!

As we left the attraction I saw two young boys leaving with their mom. They each had an arm around one of her legs and were grinning from ear to ear. "Mom" looked as though she fit in the "get soaked" category of riders leaving the attraction. As they passed by we overheard her oldest boy exclaim, "Thanks, Mom!" It made one consider that perhaps "Mom" had been a not-so-willing rapids rider. Then the small family turned in front of us, and I saw a bit more of "Mom" then she probably would have preferred.

I can only assume that she did not consider that wearing blue thong underwear with white cotton shorts made for an unwise clothing choice, since when they were dripping wet, there was little left to the imagination.

You Can't Fool Me

A couple years ago, my younger sister Kim and I took our kids on a road trip from Utah to California. We had started out later than planned, and ended up pulling the Yukon over around 1 AM to sleep at a hotel in Nevada for a few hours, before continuing on at sun up.

In an attempt to save money, we decided to share a room at the hotel. However, with Kim and her three kids, as well as me and my three children, we knew most hotels would frown at eight people in one room. So we devised a not-so-subtle plan. I would check-in with the boys and the luggage, and Kim would enter a few minutes later with no bags, just the girls, and we would all meet at the room.

For the most part, things went according to plan. I registered at the front desk and then proceeded through the lobby up to the room with S2, Kim's two boys, and all our bags. I called Kim on her cell phone and told her our room number, and she delayed a few minutes by the car before proceeding through the lobby empty handed with D1 and D2 as well as her own daughter.

We were careful not to let on to the children about the plan, because we did not want them to think we were being dishonest. And we thought we had been discreet with our sneaky plot. But D1 who was ten at the time, was too smart for us and sensed something was up. As she walked through the smoke filled lobby adjacent to a casino, she realized, "I know why you and my mom don't want anyone to see us go to the hotel room all together. Kim grimmaced, knowing we were going to have to explain our dishonesty, but replied innocently, "Hmmm? What?" D1 nodded, "Yeah, you're afraid if we all go up together everyone will think you guys are gay."