Coney Island: Take Two

The first time I ventured down to Coney Island. on the rattly N train, I was not in the best of moods. I can't remember why. I think it had something to do with wanting Emily, my best friend, to be hanging out with me, alone, and not with her cousin, an amazing girl, Louise. Now, it was silly of me to feel that way, because Louise is a lovely person and I enjoyed spending time with her, but I guess I was so desperate for familiarity, I just wanted my whole world to be full of Emily, full of home.

Or maybe I was just tired and wanted to sleep.

We arrived at Coney Island at around 11 in the morning, and despite the other tourists meandering around dully, the beach was quiet. Few shows were open and no attractions were running. The horizon was a dull, blurred gray. A sharp difference compared to Australia's gorgeous blue waters, relatively nice smelling beaches and crisp horizons. A perfect illusion of a split between light and dark blue. Yes, this definitely wasn't an Australian beach or, obviously, the Pacific Ocean.

We sat on a bench and stared out at the water. All quite silent. Politely sitting in our disappointment.

Eventually we walked further down the peer, stopping to marvel at the ghastly Shoot The Freak sideshow... or really, just to be gangsta.

Then we came across this hilarious quote on a mural of beach goers and other facts about oceans for the aquarium nearby. Poor George Tilyou. If he could see Coney Island now.

"If Paris is France, Coney Island, between June and September is the world."

Um, no. No, it is not. What it was in 2008 was a visual death-rattle. In my mind, when I though of Coney Island, was simply the clinking of three glass beer bottles and a creepy voice calling, "Warriors, come out to playyyy." Ugh, terrifying.

We quickly found our way back on the train, tipping out hats to the penguin lady as we scurried by, and took the train back up to Brooklyn.

We went through the art galleries and to Prospect Park, for Celebrate, Brooklyn! A fabulous treat of simply eye-fucking the shit out of this gorgeous drummer. It's all saved on my camera, too. One day I'll turn it into a joyous stalker video. Dear Drummer, I may call it. Oh please, I don't sound as creepy and as un-lay-able as you think I sound... well, maybe the latter part is true, but tell me that this man isn't a beautiful.

I think the real reason why I don't mind sounding like a complete and utter fangirl/idiot, is that a musician will never ever date me. It's just not in the cards for me. I was never attracted to musicians as a young girl and then a teenager. I found the ideas of their rusty fingers (guitarists) kind of gross, and it wasn't until a few years ago that I really started listening to music. Really listening to the layers and finding great joy out of discovering a note here or there that suddenly gave the song a whole new meaning. I've met a few musicians and we can talk, but I'm just not cool or laid back enough for a musician, and that's cool, because I really don't want to be buying those expensive t-shirts.

CAITLIN GETS BACK ON TRACK.

Yes, I am. So, when Josh M. suggested a trip down to Coney Island, I was up for it. I wanted to see what had changed and Josh had mentioned a new park and I am always keen for rides and silly fun, so we penciled it into our diaries and headed down one hot, muggy, slightly cloudy Sunday.

I wanted to get there early to beat the crowds and lines, and we did. Leaving at 10:30am, we arrived at the Coney Island just after 11 and it was already steamy. The so-called MTA deal is actually pretty shitty! I don't think I saved more than a few dollars.

Luna Park was empty and we had no trouble getting on to rides instantly by the time we had rode a few rides Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park opposite was quite crowded. I didn't ride the classic Wonder Wheel.

There was glitter everywhere from the Mermaid Parade the day before which I had debated going to while standing in the kitchen watching television. "I could just go down now." I'd say... but it didn't happen.

Most of the rides were really tame but fun all the same. You feel so safe in them that you can completely let go and enjoy yourself and trust that you're not going to fall out. I like feeling safe on those kind of rides, it's just pure fun.

It's the complete opposite when it comes to the Cyclone Rollercoaster - that thing is a beast and an ancient one at that. It's apparently brought born mutes to their voices and brought up other people's stomach contents, but it has a pretty decent safety record, so we gave it go.

We were there for it's third or fourth ride of the day and the line was so short that we got on straight away. It was rattly as all hell and I kept apologizing to my brain and boobs the whole time. Looking at the track is probably not a good thing to do because it looks like they just place planks of wood down wherever it seems to work.

Also if you do travel on this roller coaster, be sure to sit with a partner. Our friend Josh in the back was by himself and was flung completely to the other side of his seat. He swears he almost fell out of it.

The best part about the cyclone is that you can ride again for $5 dollars. So we just handed them our $5 while they held the coaster for us and I think we even switched to the very front, but my mind is shaken up now that I'm not sure. Either way I have a memory of being like, "Oh man, I wish I hadn't decided to sit in the front!" so maybe it did happen.

We were done for the day after that. I was had cried out in glee both rides but now I was feeling a little queasy.

I definitely recommend riding on the Air Race. Grown men squeal on this thing. I loved it. Eyes open the whole time, arms hanging out. It's similar to the Claw at Dreamworld so I guess I was prepared for the spins and being up and down. Definitely try it if you go there - it's so smooth.

As for the rest of Coney Island, they have their fried food and there condom and menstrual pad filled beaches - I don't want to relive it anymore than I already have, but if you want to give your kids a quick Sex Ed lesson, go no further than Coney Island's shore.

They also have there fireworks and I wanted to go on Friday night for Fireworks! but I didn't make it down for the rest of the Summer.

One of the famous things about Coney Island are the Freaks but I'm not really interested in the Freak Shows at Coney Island. If it was just a show full of Suicide Girls, I'd be more into it, but I saw the film, Freak and it was very disturbing. Awesome but disturbing.

Coney Island Take Two was definitely better. Thankfully people believe in the joy that place can bring and did a lot to spruce it up between 2008 and 2010 and more effort took place before then, too. I recommend being open to a day of fried indulgence and just knowing that there is always soap back home.

Cut!

Grace, Inaction, Print and Four Pirogi's, Fried

The red numbers on the computer screen depressed me to the point of immobility, not that it's hard for me to not do anything or stay still, why it seems that it's my ultimate past time in this city, but my doubt in action bringing change kept me upright on my vanity stool.

Little moans and whines escaped me and drifted through the bedroom door, but my neighbour, Brooke, preoccupied with Germany and getting to it, did not react. I did not expect her too, nor did I want any sympathy, since when she see's red I am impatient and offer blunt advice, however that didn't stop the whines coming out anyway.

I lingered mostly in my bedroom, said goodbye to Brooke who was leaving about 3 or 4 hours early for her flight, and went back to being still, not asleep, just still.

Eventually, after 2 episodes of Glee had been watched and a sufficient amount of guilt had built up, I got ready, sucked up the queasy feeling that has been following me for some time (don't even say it, it's more emotional than physical) and headed to work... At four in the afternoon.

The walk was long and hot and I was dressed for Fall not the last breaths of Summer, my t-shirt was tight and made me feel self-conscious. I like wearing it, I just always feel self-conscious while wearing "statement" t-shirts.

I saw Jake leave the office in his black leather jacket and cigarette in hand, stalking through the crowd to his many things he has to do to be responsible and awesome. I like watching people I know from far away. It's like watching celebrities or theatre. They are often in your life, but at this moment, you are nothing but matter to them. I like that feeling. The world feels wider.

Work... Or The Desk I Sit At was okay. I went through emails and found myself once again on WhatTheBuck's channel page, I haven't been on one persons YouTube page so frequently since I up an got a boner for Natalie Tran. Don't worry, it's a distant boner. Very safe. A wee bit less creepy.

I also told David about my weekend which you can read about here (will link soon) and he told me about his; it involved praying and really good Mum-cooked food, the best kind. I'm hungry just thinking about it.

I alerted Molly during our pre-show phone call that I was wearing her gift tee "Internet Enthusiast" not in an attempt to frighten her but as the last clean tee I could wear. I liked what I was wearing and everything else was in messy piles or needed washing and v-neck tees aren't doing it for me at the moment. Molly thanked me for making her gift-tee a last resort and said she'd take a photo of it, but she didn't have a camera. I suggested she burn it into her retina... and then I went to pee.

I was a few minutes early than the time we said we'd meet which is always a victory for me. My feet were hurting so I left earlier so that I could walk slower. It was an interesting walk, a path I don't often take in that direction, however the many people walking the same way as me made me uncomfortable.

I greeted Molly and Luke and we went in, I had packed this shortbread from England that my Mum had sent me and a Sprite from the office fridge, and Molly had already bought me a diet Coke and Luke bought popcorn so we were doing very well.

Only once while watching the film, The September Issue, did I feel weird for eating so much while watching thin women dominate the world and even thinner women make it look good. Then a particularly charming model bit into what looked like some kind of chocolate and berry tart or pie, and I grabbed another handful of popcorn.

I've decided to never again review movies in my usual way of a few adjectives strung together. In public lately, unless moved by others to speak aka blatantly throwing my opinion on their unprotected ears, I have taken to saying even less; this film was: "Interesting" and the last film I saw, Paper Heart, was "Nice".

So next time I mention a film I'll try to discuss it in different ways. Look out for it...you.

The cinema at the Sunshine was more crowded than I thought it would be and a woman behind us started coughing in short bursts just as the film began. I am usually okay with noise in the theatre but the person in question was silent for the trailers and just seemed to start when the film did and was also right above me; It made me feel icky. I didn't do anything about it, though I did find my head instinctively whip to the side on one particular cough and I didn't want to look like that jerk that jerks their head around to somehow protest the noise, so I made my head whip to the other side so the woman didn't think I was trying to make a statement with my head. Then Luke coughed and I whispered loudly without thinking, " Don't you fucking start," ...I have very little grace.

Grace Coddington however, is amazing. Her ideas made me want to go online and buy the old September Issue in question and I was left with more respect for the whole creative side of fashion. I did understand, as much as an ignorant girl can, Anna Wintour's choices of what shouldn't appear in the issue, but seeing such lavish photos so neatly chopped without so much as a lament made me realize how tough a woman has to be in a fairly easy world. I mean, heck, (I said heck!) these women aren't explorer's or doctor's or activists but so good at Distraction. It's not a good thing either, but I think this race needs it for now.

Afterward we walked up to Veselka and Molly and I had pirogi's, which were good... "Not that I know what a good pirogi tastes like," says Luke.

A sucker for the power of suggestion, I went by the stuffed news agency on Avenue A and picked up two Vogue's and a New Yorker magazine, a publication I knew I would always enjoy and I did, I like the writers styles, the cartoons and the first few pages are already covered in red circles and underlines.

A new roommate comes today to replace Brooke, I have a lot to do to make room for her, I have been very messy this month.

I need to play Pretend again. That's the only way I can fool myself into thinking that even having so many possessions is a good thing.

*image used without permission from this awesome person*