Silver Dollar City

This past weekend the hubby and I met my folks for a day at a local theme park, Silver Doller City. If you haven't heard of it, you're not from here. I'm told it's known worldwide, which may be true, but I just can't imagine anyone travelling any distance for the specific purpose of visiting the park. Don't get me wrong - it's nice - maybe it's just been that growing up in the vicinity of Branson takes away some of the thrill. SDC really plays up the down-home Ozarks image of music, shows, and crafts. Some aspects are pretty neat, and some sit on the border of lame and hokey. It's pretty much what you'd expect from Branson, catering mostly to tourists who want to see down-home "authentic" Ozark hillbilles.

Still, it's not a bad way to spend a beautiful late-September day. And, we had the added bonus of seeing Violet, my illustrious fiddle teacher, who has had her fiddles and herself displayed in a booth every year during the Craftsman's Festival in September and October for many years now. I even played a few songs with her, accompanied by her grandson on the guitar, and some other guy I didn't know also on the guitar. My ears only burned mildly hot with embarassment, and I actually felt confident in my meager playing abilities while spectators watched and clapped.

We soon left Violet to deal with her many admirers, in order to meander around the park, browse the crafts, and get in some thrill rides. Silver Dollar City isn't by any means well known for ultra-trilling rides, and in the realm of today's amusement parks, SDC's rides would be considered pretty tame. Still, now with real roller coasters and a giant barn swing ride, it's made great improvements. And it helps that neither hubby or I have extensive amusement park experience, as much as we'd like to. Neither of our ride resumes reach beyond regional parks, and unfortunaly we've never been on any of the big

famous rides featured on television.

My main goal of the day was to try out Powder Keg, which was new to me. There's a good reason this coaster is called "Powder Keg." Unlike most coasters which slowly pull off the embarking platform and inch up the first hill, keeping riders in anticipation of the first drop, Powder Keg pulls forward and stops on a piece of track which moves sideways and upwards to pull forward onto the main track. THEN, after a few tense seconds, the coaster cars are instantly blasted forward from zero to ninety (well, actually 0-53 mph), up the first hill to fall down a screaming drop, which you're totally unprepared for because you're still thinking about the unceremoniously quick start.

Unfortunately, hubby and I were not aware of this fact.

From our vantage point waiting in line we couldn't witness it and be warned, either. Instead we happily boarded, and I even remarked to Marden, "This must be a pretty pud coaster...it only has lap bars." He agreed. Our cars pulled out onto the movable track, putting us on the main track, where we sat. I presumed we were waiting for the last set of cars to clear a certain point before we started lumbering up the hill. Not that I gave it much thought...we were busy chatting and waving at Mom and Dad who were on the observation platform. Mr. and Mrs. Oblivious. I was in mid-sentence when we were unceremoniously jerked forward, leaving my innards in place while the rest of my body went screaming down the track. At least that's what it felt like.

I think my exact words were, "I don't think Mom has the camera turned onNNNAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" I can't type Marden's exact words becuase this is a family-friendly blog.

We rode Powderkeg three times, once waiting extra long to get seated in the front car.

I think we hit all the rides, which doesn't take long at SDC. We avoided the water rides, but made sure to hit "Fire in the Hole", which hasn't changed a bit since I was in early elementary school, when the ride was shortened. I barely remember the longer ride, but found more details on the old ride thanks to Fire in the Hole's very own Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_In_The_Hole_(Silver_Dollar_City)

It's pretty weak in terms of a "thrill ride"...but very nostalgic.

All in all, it was a great day, and we left happily exhausted. I hope I'm never "too old" for theme parks and funnel cakes.

More Vacation Pics

Southwest Revisited

Today I think I'm finally recovered...the last day or so I've been completely worn to a frazzle from spending a week on the road and in New Mexico.

A few weeks ago my friend Judith called to tell me of an amazing opportunity - she and her husband were planning a trip to meet some friends in Taos, New Mexico, but at the last minute he couldn't go, and would I be interested?

Does a bear use Charmin after it poos in the woods? I guess we all know the answer to that, and now you know the answer I gave Judith. If our trip was going to be anything like our Southwest adventure last year when we explored and camped the four-corners region, I was all in.

So, last Friday we loaded up with way too much stuff and eagerly pointed the Prius west. Judith is an easygoing travelling partner and we have a lot in common, including our love for seeing what's on the other side of the hill, a tendency to avoid Interstate travel, and a desire to simply fly-by-the-seat of our pants. We like the back roads, mostly because Interstates are boring, and you miss a bunch of interesting stuff. If we'd stuck to the Interstate and stayed on a rigid schedule like a lot of travellers, we would've missed stuff like getting disoriented in Tulsa, touring the "No Man's Land Museum" in the Oklahoma panhandle, stopping to get a bunch of green Hatch chilies from a roadside stand (making the car smell very chili-peppery), and nearly upending the car to see Historical Markers.

The theme for this trip was "I'm game if you are."

The first half of the journey was spent in an absolutely awesome rented house in Taos with some folks from Texas, who go frequently to the area to enjoy the artsy, hippie-esque culture and to paint landscapes. Well, the women do...the guys mostly seem to piddle around with their metal detectors or frequent the local casino. I took my drawing stuff, but I couldn't seem to get the time or inkling to sit long enough to draw - too much to see and do. While the others painted our first full day there, Judith and I travelled to the Three Rivers wilderness area to do some ambitious day hiking. I think it's safe to say that as much as we both love to hike, we got our fill on this day.

A few of the house guests played instruments, and against my better judgement I brought my fiddle on the off chance they wanted to taint their great music with the screechings of a scratchy, inexperienced fiddle. But, they insisted, and it was actually a lot of fun. Apparently it didn't sound too terrible, because we played for three nights and nobody's ears bled.

Second day in Taos we accompanied the group to Arroyo Hondo - for the ladies to paint, and for us to mess around hiking and searching for petroglyphs, as well as enjoying the hot springs. "Enjoy" may be a bit much, since on this day it pretty much felt hotter than blue blazes, and after a short hike to the site a bathwater temperature spring isn't high on the list to sit in. Still, we sat...it wasn't bad if a person stood frequently to cool off. Later we went to Arroyo Seco to eat at a tiny little joint, then back to the house to play more music.

The third day we dragged our tired butts out of bed and decided to spend the day mostly shopping and doing the less strenuous toursity things normal people do in Taos, so we visited the Kit Carson museum and the Taos Pueblo.

Day four we hit the road again and drove the scenic loop around Taos. Unfortunately it was raining so we couldn't do much, but I did encounter a lady who told me all about the UFOs which hover over the canyon. This nice lady went from her pleasant can-I-help-you visitor center face to wild-eyed alien abductee in .02 seconds, and with little prodding she went into detail. That experience alone was worth driving the loop. After nutty UFO lady we had a decision to make - head home, or do more stuff. After a very short discussion, we headed south for White Sands.

White Sands, like pretty much everything else, was awesome. We visited on a very rare rainy day, and the whiteness of the dunes I suspect was even more brilliant against dark rainy mountains, and it was surreal walking around in such snowy whiteness while not being cold.

Maybe it was the visitor center UFO lady that prompted us, but we decided we couldn't leave New Mexico without visiting Roswell. It was, actually, on our way. We pulled up to the International UFO Museum and Research Center unfortunately after they'd closed, and after some deliberation we decided we had to see that museum, even if it meant home would have to wait another day.

The museum was all we'd hoped for and more. I was especially gratified when I was placing the "where-are-you-from-pins" on the map and was greeted by one of the workers who asked how many were in my party visiting the museum. I said, "two", and he stated, "ahh...two humans" before ambling off. The museum was surprisingly professional despite the greeting and considering the subject matter, which covered in depth with newspaper articles and sworn affidavits about everything from the Roswell UFO crash to sightings/incidents around the world, weird inexplicable body implants and what little is actually known about Area 51. While I will remain an interested skeptic until I see a bonafide UFO and/or alien with my own eyeballs, I concur that the "Roswell Incident" is very very fishy.

It's a dreary pre-fall day back here in Arkansas, but thanks to some of the stuff I brought back the house smells western - like sage and roasted chilies. New Mexico is wonderful to visit, but I'm not sure I'd ever get used to living out there. There's a measure of comfort in big green trees and grass. The mountains are nice, but I don't think I could see myself permanently in the arid climate and wide-open spaces void of large trees, full of sage brush and desolate emptiness. I guess it's just all in what you're used to. Still, I'll be ready to go back.

More pics to come!

Warning - Political Stuff

Oh no! She's at it again...airing her political opinions. Give me a second to get up on my soapbox.

There are so many things to write about these days...so many things making me want to stick forks in my eyeballs out of frustration. I feel the need to explain myself...why does this stuff matter to me so much? Because I, like many Americans these days, feel more and more helpless, without a voice. We feel a strong, very visceral, feeling that our Republic is being changed right under our noses, our personal freedoms just about to be trampled, and most of us are too ignorant to see what is happening.

My desires are simple. No matter what political party, I simply want politicians to follow the Constitution, remember we are a Republic, and stay true to the expressed desires of the American people....and that hasn't been happening. For a WHILE. Our current administration doesn't get all the blame. In the past I've played into partisan politics, but I've seen the error of my ways, and I've officially resigned from the Republican party, for good unless they return to the principles I thought they stood for, and please - quit with the corruption.

All of a sudden, things seem backward. Marxism isn't viewed as being so bad. Socialism...hey, it works some places...we should try it here! We have politicians calling regular Americans standing up for a cause they believe in ugly names, not answering direct questions, while a congresswoman stands up and actually says that Fidel Castro is a great leader, and he's done "so much" for the Cuban people. Um...did you ask all the Cubans who are leaving all that greatness to float over to the U.S. in a raft? Michael Moore has a new movie vilifying capitalism - the very system that made him rich. When exactly did we all start losing our minds? We had an avowed Communist activist in the White House as "Green Jobs Czar", or, a special advisor to the President if you prefer. When did this become ok? Van Jones did resign of course, but all the media could talk about was how he called Republicans "a**holes", and how he's a "9/12 Truther." Um...that shouldn't have been the issues causing resignation...I myself have referred to Republicans in similar terms lately, and I also have questions about 9/11, though maybe not as far-reaching as the Truthers. How about...um...HE'S AN AVOWED COMMUNIST. Not to mention all the unsavory audio/video about changing our system, spreading the wealth, etc. Marx would've been proud. How did this guy make it into the White House???

Then, healthcare. The Pres says the debate is over, and we need to act. Huh? Do the millions of Americans who put the brakes on the bill not get a voice anymore? It's not like the Repubs and Blue Dogs are standing in the way just because they want to throw in a monkey wrench...there are a few actually LISTENING to their constituents. As it should be...as our system was designed. Unfortunately, so many in office now are of the same opinion as Bill Mahr...that we're too stupid to see what's in our best interest, and just ram it through already. Never mind the will of the people. Never mind that the politicians work for US, not the other way around. Never mind massive debt. Never mind that we have a healthcare system that CAN work if we tried some tweaks (Tort reform, interstate competition, tax breaks, vouchers, etc) - not the sweeping, massive changes being suggested....and you can't convince me these changes won't lead to more unsustainable debt (just ask the non-partisan CBO - Congressional Budget Office), and eventually socialized medicine. The words "I'm in favor of a single-payer system" came out of President Obama's mouth just a couple years ago, and so far he hasn't stated he has changed his mind. Republicans have offered no less than 35 reform bills just this year to the President, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, none of which have even gotten a hearing, and yet the President continues to say his opponents have given no alternatives to his proposed sweeping changes.

Then of course there's the cost - $900 billion. That's $900,000,000,000 proposed. Never have cost estimates on heath care been accurate - they are always at least doubled. Even Bush's Medicare Part D has blown away all cost estimates. Again, ask the CBO.

And the facts about who is for these changes keeps getting SOOO skewed, it's hard to know what's truth. CNN ran a poll the day after President Obama's healthcare speech, showing that 75% of people thought it favorable. At the bottom was fine print stating that of those polled, 45% were Dems, 17% Repubs. Think you can get a fair poll that way? No, but you can sure fool folks not reading the fine print.

Government keeps getting bigger and bigger, with more of a hold on the people. For any of you who are fans of big government - ever thought about how BAD big government might be when the party you oppose has the power?

We have a great country, a beacon of freedom for the world. It's my personal opinion that we really need to pay attention, consider what's being proposed, and stand up when we don't feel it's right. Republican, Democrat, or Independent...we all have so much in common we CAN agree on. But hey, I'm just a "nutjob", a "Tim McVeigh wannabe" who is "running around in a white sheet." Those ugly words were all heard on "unbiased" network news, by the way.

Today a bunch of regular Americans are marching on Washington to make their voices heard. Who knows if they will be. A significant chunk of our population is increasingly feeling alienated, ignored, and marginalized. Likely they will be ridiculed and mocked by the media, and possibly politicians also. They'll be called ugly and unfair names. They'll be the butt of jokes for late-night comedians. Regardless, I wish I could be with them...just a crazy nutjob looking for accountability from her elected representatives and government.

By the way, rebuttals are welcome. Someone prove me wrong. All I ask is for no name-calling - only the facts please.

Fiddle Update

My goal is to have a completed fiddle by Christmas, and I'll go out on a limb and say that I *think* it's actually doable. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Or rather, hearing the music. Here's an update on my recent progress:

Most of "dishing out", as Violet calls it, of fiddle backs and tops are done with a curved knife. But the knife leaves deep grooves, so the finish work is done with a scraper - a piece of glass or sharpened metal, and sandpaper. Violet says she and her Dad used to do most of their scraping with broken fruit jars. Here's me in the process of scraping the inside of my top with a piece of windowpane hubby's granddad and I had a lot of fun breaking.

The grain of the sassafras wood I'm using makes it a little tougher to get smooth. Joe, a guy who's also making a fiddle, is using soft maple. He smugly sits across from me and proceeds to cut it like hot butter. However, I seem to gravitate toward challenges. (I mean, look at my choice in husbands. Haha...just kidding Marden.) I've learned a lot by watching Joe, though. #1) Always listen to Violet, because if you don't you end up putting a hole in your fiddle back, cutting the wrong end off your finger board, nearly putting a hole through the fiddle top, making your sound holes too big, and a myriad of other issues encountered by not listening. #2), Always measure multiple times, and have Violet check your work BEFORE you glue. #3) is to pretty much do the opposite of what Joe is doing. While he's a super-nice guy, he is the proverbial bull in the china closet. He'll get his fiddle done, though...and we'll both learn a lot in the process.

After what felt like years of scraping and sanding (and tons of sawdust boogers), I was FINALLY able to cut the sound holes. It took me a good 30 minutes to actually draw them on, then a full hour to screw up the nerve to actually make a cut. Violet does her sound holes with a drill press, but I wisely chickened out and chose to start mine with a tiny hand drill, then (remembering Joe) slowly expand the holes with a well-worn but very sharp pocket knife.

That's it for now! Stay tuned for further updates.