Roads Go Ever On 16: We are go for theme parks
💻 what I'm up to 💻
I have been fully vaccinated for two weeks now. I didn’t know how I’d feel about the world and venturing into it afterwards. How could I know? We’ve been through some shit. Not that many months ago I dashed in and out of a gas station full of unmasked folks in Arkansas to use the bathroom, truly weighing my fear of the situation with my desperate need to pee (this was on the drive to North Carolina). And now I can… not be terrified? It’s difficult to just turn that off, which is why we should all be kind to ourselves and everyone as we re-adjust. For example, I’ll probably still be masking outside for a while because it makes me feel better.
But I do feel more comfortable than I thought I would. I live with only one other person, a fully vaccinated adult, so that’s a huge factor too. (I wouldn’t feel the same if I was regularly around unvaccinated adults or kids). I’m testing my boundaries. I sing it to the tune of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
I went to a movie theater to see The Princess Bride! That theater serves food, so I took off my mask to shove pizza and cider into my face during the movie. I went to a patio to have more cider (Asheville has a fair number of cideries, okay). I had brunch not in my house (pictured above). I ate french fries indoors.
And I feel okay. Every step back to doing something routine but for the first time in forever is a triumph.
I’ve decided that I feel so okay that I’m going to take a jaunt to Universal Orlando next month. A theme park! I’m excited! I thought I’d feel like the above image. Well, I still kinda do because I’m going for a press event to cover the VelociCoaster and roller coasters are very much NOT my thing, but when needs must. But no, I’m already mapping out my visit. I’m acquiring gear to survive Orlando in June and getting stoked about packing an actual suitcase again.
I cannot wait to return to a theme park and escape. Especially since they still require masks indoors and on all rides. The joy sparking in my heart at the thought of frozen butterbeer, and seeing dinos, and a roller coaster that could make me feel less than amazing… I didn’t expect this kind of optimism at this moment.
📘 my book things 📘
I am taking deep breaths. I had two books come out back-to-back at the end of April and the beginning of May. I have recorded a lot of podcasts and done some events. It has all been wonderful and I’m grateful. So I’ll share some highlights!
I’ve been stopping by Malaprop’s to sign pre-orders. Thank you so much to everyone who was able to place pre-orders. I’m popping back in to sign some more books soon so you can still place an order for a signed book, just call them. They have signed stock of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom ready to go. In fact, if you want signed copies of any of my books, past or present, Malaprop’s can hook you up (place your order by phone). You just have to be a little patient for us to set a time for me to stop by the store and sign.
That awesome podcast I teased in the last newsletter? Scott Trowbridge and I stopped by Carlye Wisel’s Very Amusing to talk about The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We had a blast. And this is a terrific theme park podcast everyone should be listening to.
📺 what I'm watching 📺
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Did I just rewatch season 1 of HSMTMTS before the season 2 premiere? Yes, yes I did. I don’t even have a huge nostalgia for High School Musical; I didn’t see that movie until 2019. But you know what? This series is charming, full of fun characters, and some solid performances. Plus there’s a whole behind-the-scenes drama aspect with two of the leads that made its way into an SNL skit that 1) I only learned about yesterday and 2) absolutely made my day (the skit, not the drama).
Mythic Quest
Apple TV+ keeps calling me back. I half-watched Mythic Quest’s first season (my husband watched it and I sort of paid attention). But with their quarantine episode and the season 2 episodes out so far, I found myself putting down my book and giving it my full attention. The series unfolds across the backdrop of a video game company with a lot of unlikable but evolving characters. Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) is my favorite. And Danny Pudi’s role and acting in Mythic Quest? Absolute gold.
📚 what I'm reading 📚
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Okay, I know I mentioned the first book in this series a while ago (From Blood and Ash) but I just read the second book. If you want a story about a kingdom divided by vampirism in a way you probably don’t expect, some lovers to enemies to lovers action, and cool lore, this series is for you. Def. start with the first book!
The Lost Art of Doing Nothing: How the Dutch Unwind with Niksen by Maartje Willems and Lona Aalders
Look. American society teaches us that doing nothing is a waste of our time and that we must “earn” the right to do nothing. I have a hard time pushing myself to ignore those long instilled beliefs. While I don’t know if this practice for me (doing nothing truly means that, not reading or watching something), this book was still informative and has some lovely illustrations.
🐳 something whalesome 🐳
I like wholesome things and the whale emoji is cute so: whalesome!
Walking upstairs on a human’s feet is the only way to walk up the stairs.
(Also! Part of me kind of wants to spin wholesome out into its own newsletter - would anyone be into that? Then I could regularly feature more whalesome things than only cute animals).
🍃 creativity corner 🍃
Here I’ll share tips and tricks that are helping me write, imagine, and/or stay productive.
Look at this weird little spot! It’s like an odd, abandoned fairy land. Or is it abandoned? I stumbled across this magical area at Biltmore Estate during a walk and it made me think of fantastical lands. I took it in and snapped several pictures and gave myself an assignment to write a very short story about it. If you want to stretch those muscles, see what’s in your immediate surroundings or what’s in the world the next time you venture out, take a picture, then write 100 words. It’s like hydrating before exercising? I think?
I don’t exercise much and I don’t know why I’m using those points of reference. It’s Wednesday. I’m tired.
📃 quote of the week 📃
“Seems like a part of me will always have to lose
Every single time I have to choose
Swore that it felt right, but was I wrong?
Is this where I'm supposed to be at all?” - Josh Cumbee, Jordan Powers, HSMTMTS
This is from the song “Wondering” in HSMTMTS. It’s a new tune for the show, performed by the character Ms. Darbus. Anyway, even though it is performed by teenage girls, it is 1000% relatable. Making decisions, especially big ones, sucks.
As always, thanks for reading. Please reply and share what you’re watching, how you’re feeling, anything at all. And stay tuned: I’m going to launch a Patreon soon for bonus newsletters and more! (Don’t worry, this twice a month newsletter will remain free!)
We are go for theme parks
Our journeys with Mythic Quest are nearly exactly the same. "Quarantine" and "Everlight" adding a human element to Ian really changed the whole series for me.
It's always a joy when your newsletter comes out! I watched the Mitchell's vs. The Machines the other night on Netflix and it's so wholesome. The animation is very vibrant and beautiful. If you haven't seen it, definitely a must watch :)