So I went to an amusement park for the first time in let's-call-it-fourteen years yesterday. I have learned some things about myself in the intervening years:

I am not as young and recoverable as I used to be. We went on this "Nightwing" ride that got both of us sick and it really put a damper on the day.

Roller coasters are great, but maybe not worth screaming ALL the way through. My throat is killing me today.

Eleven year-old girls have no problem using profanity in front of strangers.

I really had thought it would be more crowded than it was (considering it was a Sunday and all). I don't think we waited more than 45 minutes for any ride - contrast that with the trips to Great America in my youth where I distinctly remember waiting three hours to ride "The Shockwave." I am glad we didn't buy the "Flash Pass," though. Would not have been worth it.

It's not really Aquaman or the Green Lantern. Just actors.

The "picture-taking-during-the-coaster" technology has really improved.

Why didn't I go more during high school? I really think I could have had a day-long romance at one of these places.

Speaking of romance, there was a cute girl in line, and I was all set to tell her how pretty she was, but no - I got stuck in my seatbelt and all suaveness disappeared. So the Universe is still against me. It's good to know some things are consistent. (Although to be fair, there's a strong possibility that she was a stripper, and maybe the Universe knows that I really couldn't deal with it.)