We took the kids to Indiana Beach today. My grandparents used to take me there every year, and we stayed a few days to a week, so I thought it would be nice for the kids to have a similar experience. I thought it was kinda going to stink not being able to go on the rides with Joe (we went with my family in June ’01), but it was fun just watching the kids and joining them on a few rides. I still had an unused ride-ticket booklet and their tickets never expire. I went on three rides total – the Flying Bobs with Joe’s daughter, and the train and Gondola with Joe and the kids. Joe went on a couple of rides with his daughter as well, including her very first rollercoaster ride. I was impressed as it was completely her idea (she kept bugging us to take her) and she didn’t chicken out. I never wanted to go on a rollercoaster at her age (she’s almost 10). It did scare her a little, but she was ok.
I got a bit peeved when we first got there, though. I had purchased the kid’s tickets online to save the $4 admission, and one of the old guys at the gate was trying to tell me that he didn’t think they’d accept the tickets because they were copies. I explained to them that they weren’t copies; they were print-outs from my computer. He said to me, “I’ve never seen no black and white ones before. They have to be in color.” I sarcastically replied, “and how is that possible when I don’t own a color printer?” Luckily he just let us in and when we went to the ticket booth, I told the woman what happened and we shared a good laugh at his expense. She also told me she’d have someone set him straight so he doesn’t continue to misinform people. It’s true that they don’t accept copies, but what that means is that once they scan the barcode on the sheet, if you have a copy of it and try to use it again, it won’t work.
Anyway, I finally got to try Dippin’ Dots. I’ve seen them around for years, and after watching on the Food Network how they make them, I was curious. They were pretty tasty, but I prefer conventional ice cream.
Oh one funny thing that happened was this conversation I overheard as I was walking out of the giftshop – A girl went up the register and asked if she could have change for a dollar. The woman behind the counter asked, “What do you want?” So the girl says again, “change for a dollar” and the woman replies, “I know, but what do you want?” and the girl is like “Change for a dollar!” This is a perfect example how communication skills are a learned art. What the woman was asking was what kind of change did the girl want – i.e. nickles, quarters, etc. and the girl just wasn’t getting it. Neither one of them had much “cents”. LOL! I crack myself up!