Lagoon and Preference

Today was a fun-filled day.  After waking up early to take a picture in Provo canyon for our English publication that another girl and I are in charge of, two-thirds of our dorm and some of our FHE sisters went to Lagoon today.  We rode Wicked and the Spider several times, and we also rode the Colossus, the Jetstar II (we squeezed three into one bench seat), the Rocket, Cliffhanger, the trans-park lift, and the Samurai.  It was my first time on the Samurai - every single other time I've been there it's been closed for maintenance.  I loved it.  It was so exhilarating, and wasn't even very nauseating like it looks.  We then went to a hypnotist's show at Lagoon and laughed hysterically at the antics of the unfortunate.  Trevor, our neighbor, went up to be hypnotized but it didn't take hold on him.  We went through a haunted walk-through with strobe lights, glasses that made the walls look 3D, scary costumes jumping out at us, and a very real, very good joker in the style of the recent movie.  The first hypnosis show was at 5; at 7 we went to it again.  This time Dallin and Richard went up on stage.  The hypnosis didn't take on Richard.  Dallin was hilarious.  Dallin sang a gibberish rap, tried to sell us shoes that he was wearing backwards, thought there was a cell-phone in the shoes, got very cold and very warm, smelt a range of odiferous pseudo-fumes, was amazed by the hypnotist turning invisible, and more.  Our rib cages will be quite sore tomorrow from laughter.  Overall it was a very fun night, with fun people and fun activities.

Then I got home and there were arrows from the door to the fridge and in the fridge was a plate of crackers and cheese with a note on it saying, "To figure out who I am answer the following:  This type of cheese contains all 4 letters in my name, one of which is repeated (3 different letters...).  It is an Italian whey cheese commonly used in LASAGNA.  Good luck."
Anyway, so that's fairly exciting!

Skydiving! *Video coming soon

(Beware - the problem with describing skydiving and friends is you quickly run out of different appropriate words like, "awesome", "exhilarating", "intense", etc...so there may be some repetition)

Well, I finally did it.  My dream that, as my mom pointed out, I would never have done before moving to Hurricane.  IT WAS AWESOME!  EXHILARATION! INTENSE! Lots of people have told me they would never do it because it is scary.  There is some truth to that, but I believe that it is NOT as scary as a lot of people believe.  Whoa!  As I'm writing this I keep reliving my favorite part of the whole deal, and that is the actual part where you jump out of the plane.

Skydiving creates a feeling that is really hard to explain.  Falling from 14,000 feet above sea level at 120 miles per hour is exhilarating.  The first mile and a half go by in about 45 seconds of pure, unadulterated joy.  The ripcord pull signal came WAY too quick for me, but I am sort of glad that it did come - another twenty seconds or so and I would have made a small crater.  Whoa!  I just keep feeling that feeling!

I got to the skydive place and there were two other people there ready to go - since we booked first, I was the first to go.  We received about an hour of training.  Most of that hour was signing legal documents and watching a legal video.  After that the instructions seemed really simple!  Jumping tandem is the way to go.  The awesome skydiver guy took care of everything and I just had FUN!

After the training the pilot warmed up the engine and we took off.  The awesome skydiver guy was videoing pretty much the whole time, too.  If you go, I would recommend paying the extra money for a video.  As much as I hate watching myself, I have to admit that it is fun, and good to watch with friends and future posterity.

The best part of the jump, for me, was falling out of the plane.  Being on your back, falling, looking up at the increasingly small plane, is a thrill like no other.  After three seconds I arched, like he told me to, and we stabalized.  Then we went into the free-fall part, which is so fun!  Too soon he motioned for me to pull the ripcord, and then the parachute opened.  When it opened the wind immediately died, and we could talk as easily as anybody can on the ground in calm weather.  It was so awesome.  I took off my goggles, popped my ears, and then proceeded to thouroughly enjoy the ride down, where awesome friends were waiting!  What a perfect way to spend your time!  I want to do it again, for sure.  (On my own funds, mom)

The place is really easy to get to, it's run by the same guy strapped to your back on the way down, and it's highly recommended.  The guy was amazingly awesome, fun to be around, and responsible.  He gives you personal attention and makes sure you understand before you jump.  He's had over 4000 jumps and is very experienced.  I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend skydiving and particularly this establishment as a form of exhilarating entertainment.  You have to be 18 though.  More information can be found at http://www.skydivezion.com.

I would especially like to thank my parents, who surprised me with this trip for my 18th birthday.  They are so awesome!  I love them so much and will miss them greatly when going off to college.  Thanks mom and dad!

 

Excited before going.

 

My funny shirt I thought was appropriate...

 

The awesome friends who came to see - thanks guys!  You are incredible!

 

In the air - thank Janessa for the good pictures.

 

After landing

 

The awesome skydiver guy and I after the jump - he was cool.