March will be/is/already has been a doozy! Gather ‘round folks and let’s get this show started.
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog was inspired by Doja Cat’s “Been Like This” from her album, Planet Her.
DISNEYWORLD
After 26 years, I returned to the most magical place on Earth. No…not that place. But the one run by the rodent in Central Florida. It’s amazing how much the area (Orlando – Bay Lake) has developed. I visited the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios (MGM Studios when I last went), Epcot, and the Animal Kingdom. The holy quafecta….? It was my first-time visiting Epcot (my parents thought I was too young in ‘96) and Animal Kingdom (didn’t open until ‘98). It was a bit surreal riding some of the same rides and walking some of the same avenues I did as a child with my parents. From the monorail to the haunted mansion, it conjured pleasant memories (more like snapshots at this point) of a bygone era (the 90’s, amirite?).
That said, visiting Disney as a relatively stable adult was baller. The new hotel, fancy restaurants, thrill rides. I could appreciate so many more aspects of the experience that I had no idea about as a child. The logistics alone took months of preparation – with much of that spent sifting through copious options. While I’m not much of an amusement park fan, I thoroughly enjoyed all 4 Disney parks. Disney, while relying on nostalgia and brand, does a great job of creating immersive experiences. I got a chance to ride all of the rides I absolutely wanted to (some of which I didn’t ride as a kid) and a few extra. The anticipation of the thrill made it difficult to sleep some nights, but that’s part of the fun.
Disney Springs was a pleasant surprise too, although I still think it closes too early. 11 PM? Come on! But I did enjoy walking around the property and I had some great food there. At least I had the opportunity to feel an energy I haven’t felt in almost 2 years. Yeah, I wasn’t totally comfortable being around so many people but it was nice to break my routine, change my scenery, make new memories, and relive aspects of my childhood.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA
On the other hand, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure felt a lot more like an amusement park in the vein of Six Flags. I spent the end of my week-long trip at USF, so I was pretty exhausted by then. But I wanted to go for one reason and one reason only – the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (AKA Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts). I’ve wanted to go to Universal ever since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened ~8 years ago. Of course, there were other cool rides too, but there’s nothing quite like seeing that Hogwarts Castle. CityWalk was a welcomed bonus and it closes AT 2 AM! GET IT TOGETHER DISNEY SPRINGS! The food was dynamite and the energy was electric. I especially loved taking the ferry every day from my hotel to the park – ducks, blue-green water, all vibes.
LPSC
For the first time in 4 years, I’m attending the 53rd Lunar Planetary Science Conference (virtually – it literally started the day I flew back from Florida). It has been wonderful to view so many sessions on Venus (there are multiple missions finally returning to “Earth’s twin”) and have fruitful discussions about the state of planetary science (both with regards to science and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility). That said, I definitely prefer virtual to in-person. I’ve never cared for conferences. I tend to find them draining and irritating, even if I do make meaningful connections, feel inspired, and enjoy visiting other places. That said, there are 2 volcanology specific conferences I still want to attend in person (because I’ve never been) and one of them is in New Zealand in 2023 *fingers crossed*.
JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE
There’s a scary undercurrent flowing just beneath the surface in the United States. Deep seated anger is brewing and it’s palpable…if you know where to look. Maybe I shouldn’t have been shocked seeing this in Florida (if you know you know), but I could not believe the number of people in Disney wearing blatantly political (overwhelmingly right-wing) shirts. What was more surprising were the dozens of hushed and heated conversations I overheard (usually between men) about politics. It’s the most magical place on Earth, shouldn’t you be spending time with your family? Instead, they were complaining about money, the President, pandemic protocols, and the state of the world. And that’s when I realized that I’ve really been isolated from the country for the past 2 years…and perhaps longer thanks primarily to the ivory tower of academia. There’s still a malignance out there even a year after the insurrection. And it’s ugly. I saw it in the way people spoke, the way they looked, and the way they behaved. I heard it on airplanes, in theme parks, on trains, and in the airport. People are angry. That in itself isn’t a problem, but it’s WHO they’re angry with and WHO they blame. When large masses of (certain) people get angry, they don’t direct their anger at the true culprits or the exploitive systems they’re trapped in. They choose scapegoats – the least of us – to exact their retribution. I’m afraid things aren’t getting better in America. And that will spell disaster this year, 2024, and 2025.
CURRENT SHOWS & BOOKS
Recently finished: Sweet Tooth (s1)
Currently watching: Bakuman (s3); Modern Family (s8); The Book of Boba Fett; Young Wallander (s2)
Currently reading: Wine for Dummies
Thank you again for wading through the waters of the web to read this writing. My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, April 7th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 