Mr. Ed's Wild Ferris Wheel Ride
Monday, 16. June 2008, 16:50:05
Melissa's recent posts talking about Malcom Lowrey's novel Under the Volcano
got me to thinking about the book again. In particular, it got me to thinking
about the ferris wheel scene. But it is strange the circular way things
sometimes have of coming before our perception; and so I got to thinking
about a ferris wheel ride I took in Dallas in 1985.
I was with my friend Jim. We had decided to go over to lower Greenville
to hit the surplus store and the bars. In the course of that we ran into
one of these little neighborhood carnivals that they will sometimes hold
in parking lots. We wandered through the little carnival and, having about
four beers in us each at that point, figured it would be a really great idea
to take a ride on the fairly good size ferris wheel they had.
We paid for our tickets and stood in the short line. Eventually we climbed
into one of the cage-type gondolas and the carnival guy made sure our seat
belts were nice and snug and slammed the gondola door. A few seconds later
the gondola moved forward a bit, and then stopped to load the next riders
into the gondola behind us.
Now, ferris wheel gondolas are designed on a hinge system that allows
the gondola to rock a bit but which keeps you basically head-up and
feet-down through the ride. But as they loaded the next people on, I got
a little bored. At the front of the gondola, and on my side, there was a
thin steel bar. Boredom led to curiosity. I reached up and pulled it.
Then the gondola moved forward again. And when it did, I realized that
the hinge mechanism on the gondola was now locked. I reached up and
grabbed the steel bar again and tried to slide it back into its original
position. But it wouldn't budge. "Oh this just CAN'T be good..." I said
to myself.
The ferris wheel started revolving. And Jim and me revolved also, but
when our gondola got to just over the top of the loop we were now head
over heels. "Mild astronaut training!" I yelled out to Jim. "Just mild
astronaut training!" Jim screamed back at me. I figured that eventually
the guy running the ferris wheel would notice that our gondola was locked
and stop the thing. But that didn't happen. Jim and me took the whole ride
that way.
I can say that neither of us puked or peed our pants. Which was some
consolation. And of course after our ordeal we just had to hit the nearest
bar and have another three or four beers to recouperate from our
"near-death experience."
I don't think that me and Jim were ever in any real danger. The gondolas
were enclosed, so there was no chance that we would fall out. The worst
that might have happened was that our seat belts would have slipped or
broken from the strain and we would have fallen a bit inside the gondola
and broken our necks. I have also wondered over the years if locking the
gondola might have caused some weight inbalance that would make the
ferris wheel unstable. But if that is the case, it didn't happen on that
particular ferris wheel on that particular day.
Looking back on it, it really is a wonder I'm alive today with some of the
stupid things I've done in my life. "But I am here" as Samuel Beckett wrote.
Yeah, I'm here. At least for now.
HELPFUL HINT: Don't touch ANYTHING on a ferris wheel ride. And I wouldn't
exactly trust merry-go-rounds, either.
I took a ferris wheel once with Michael after loosing a bet. I will never forget my stomach in my throat!!
How I ended up with two dare devils for kids,
it is beyond me!
I am delighted nothing happen to you both back then,
as for you having a couple of more beers afterwards,
I couldn't think any better way for you to continue!!!
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 17:00:00
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 17:04:54
this was one worth making a blog about !!!
So, do you still in touch with Jim???
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 17:32:48
I really don't understand what that bar that locked the gondola was ever doing inside the thing in the first place. And trust me, I asked myself that question with every revolution of the wheel!
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 17:42:32
I wish I could help you with your last question but I am the most ignorant person on ferris wheels. Maybe you got the card that the conductor supposedly had to use??? Well you did operate the system in your own way!!!
I do hope Jim did find the strength to over come his alcohol demons. I always feel for the people that suffer from it.
When I was working in Manhattan during lunch time I volunteered my time to a soup kitchen a couple times a week.
most of the broke or homeless tenants were alcoholics. Talking to them you realized how intelligent most of them were. I never stopped sympathize them. I am sure non of them wanted to be in welfare, food coupons or labeled as a loser. Still all of them,they had no other way to feed themselves. It is sad that no more treatments are available to these people. Very sad since they can contribute so much to society if sober.
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 18:33:28
Reading it I clearly visualized the whole scene. I imagined myself there, and I can honestly say that I am not sure about the hygienic standard of my clothes had I been there for real!
I would have yelled so loud that the whole "amusement" park would have come to a stand still.
By ricewood, # 16. June 2008, 18:45:31
@ Allan.
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 18:51:20
If you ever wanna try it again, Edward....
By Stardancer, # 16. June 2008, 19:32:22
They have one of those "sudden drop" elevator type rides over at Silverwood in Idaho. I'd like to do that one!
I think we're on the same page here.
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 19:34:37
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 20:13:52
By wickedlizard, # 16. June 2008, 20:21:01
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 20:22:50
By wickedlizard, # 16. June 2008, 20:42:38
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 20:45:20
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 20:57:22
Now, will you please tell my you don;t have the 6th sense!!!
I was preparing my current even post and you will be surprised as I was that the first roller coaster opened in America.
I did the post but believe me I did freak out by the co incidence! You are amazing !
P.S. do you think the hat will match the shoes you gave me ??
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 21:32:46
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 21:41:11
Always compensating with the naughty outfit ! I promise
I had some amazing pictures the other day but I had to reboot I can not find the link again !I was ready to place an order!
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 21:53:15
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 21:59:39
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 22:02:38
windows 98
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 22:06:27
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 22:11:32
I keep those open to do some entries when I enjoy life with my old OS
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 22:23:35
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 22:30:06
my young just said "Hello".
she was and still is very concerned...
so what is your OS ?? Mr Ed ???
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 22:32:14
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 22:34:45
I learned two things so far,
OS
take to the stake( I though to make me stakes
don't you love talking to an immigrant who happens to be also technologically challenged??
Still proud and still with a high self esteem!
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 22:42:03
I got it off my friend S., who is an IT (Information Technology) guy.
See how many things you are learning today? I just tried to learn a few phrases in Danish off of Allan. I think I'm going to try to learn. With Baron gone now I need something new in my life to try to fill that huge empty place. And I think that learning something new would be good. I can't write fiction all the time or I would go crazy. So perhaps I will (try to) learn.
I admire you very much for learning a new language. Look at it this way -- you know tons more English than I know Greek. So I think you are super.
It is my personal philosophy of not only life but of the universe that learning never ends. Without learning new things there can not be creativity, either. And since I think that creation is at the heart of Creation, well, you might figure that I would be highly into learning.
Two big
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 22:53:38
I don't do carnival rides anymore. Have you seen the people who run them things??
(no disrespect intended if any of you out there are actual bona fide carnies
By mlynnjohnson, # 16. June 2008, 23:09:07
I have to improve in my Spanish a lot!
I got today a link today from John in Spain(he is so brilliant) and I had to find the English site for something similar,
I find practicing French with Martin and Italian with Jill to help me a lot!
The Mexican guys I had in my friends list ended up being interested in different kind of communication so I stopped the practicing!
I can teach you Greek:)
The only language I master . I am sure with all the technological and medical terms you know it will be a breeze.
Michael spoke 6 languages fluently and I always admired it. My old is great with languages.
My young gets the high grades but I feel she is not into it at all.
I taught them both to read write and speak Greek from young age. I always had the fear if something happens to me and they have to move to Greece how they would communicate.
I know it is very painful to you loosing Baron and it will continue being if not for ever but for a long time. Just do not rush to change patterns of life on anything. It will drain you.
Do you collect any coins of stamps ?? Bringing old hobbies to life always helps me!
Also I think buying that telescope will be a fantastic idea!!!
XXOO A
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 23:14:19
@ Angeliki. Well, I do have a textbook, actually. It's called Athenaze. It's ancient Greek. Will that do?
I suppose that if I have a hobby it would be photography. And I have been thinking about getting another camera if I get this little Jury Duty job that I might have coming up. And of course, you are right, there's the telescope thing. But I would have to get a car first for that one -- and of course you know what is going on with all of that.
Well, we'll see. And I will take your advice to heart -- probably not good to rush and change things.
The two people who live upstairs just brought their two dachsies down to visit. I held one of them, who looks so much like Baron. And she gave me kisses!
I think I'll go cry now for a bit. But it was wonderful seeing the dachsies.
By edwardpiercy, # 16. June 2008, 23:46:26
I am sure she smells him in the house.
I have people on my floor they call them selfs godparents of my kids' cats...
when we go away they feed them and they clean the litter!
what about having once a week to walk the dogs?? being a godparent doesn't involve too much but you get the rewards!
as for the photography, it is a fantastic idea!!! the last bunch of pictures you took outside and inside the bar were wonderful!
especially the one of you in the class! I don't know much about cameras but if you do what it will be??
Also I always wanted to ask,
do you use black and white film or you have a digital camera and you photo shop??
The picture I sent with the frame, I did it in black and white as well...or if I do want a Hollywood celebrity I change it to black and white...
By ellinidata, # 16. June 2008, 23:54:59
I don't know which one you mean, really...??? Could you explain?
I have a bunch of cameras. I'm kinda old school and like B&W -- for the most part, there are some things that color is good for. I stopped using my old Nikon F100 film camera and my Olympus E-10 about a year and a half ago as they were just too big and heavy for me at that time with my heart condition. But since I've gotten the pacemaker I've gotten a little stronger, and now feel I could handle a bigger camera --- at least occassionally. My little Sony W100 really gives me the type of shots that I want in terms of style and mood. But it's a bear to try to get good results out of. So what I was thinking is switching from my F100 film camera to a used Nikon D series. I think that between the Sony and a digital Nikon that I would have what I needed for most situations.
So that's the way that is going right now. Perhaps by my birthday (August) I will have enough money to do something about the camera thing -- or perhaps I will put it into something else, like maybe getting the car/telescope thing going. I really don't know. I'll just see when the time comes around.
By edwardpiercy, # 17. June 2008, 00:21:09
and she wanted to know what a pus is ! I drive every body to drink with my typing! sorry guys!
I just came back from Manhattan and after 3 hours I got more than 30 msgs ...
The camera thing sounds like a plan! I do have an Olympus a Canon and a Pendax but I use now days a baby digital. the kids have their own digitals and they do miracles with them.I am awful As my friend Ravo says we are taking bad pictures with expensive cameras! If I take a picture like you I will knocking the New York Times door to sell it!
if you ever want a Hollywood colored picture to turn black and white let me know. I am good at photo adjustments.I just need links to find them
I will change my Avatar and picture to another Hollywood lady and I might need your help to choose
G/Night Ed!
By ellinidata, # 17. June 2008, 04:14:07
By musickna, # 18. June 2008, 23:56:58
By edwardpiercy, # 19. June 2008, 01:18:29
By musickna, # 19. June 2008, 01:59:05
By edwardpiercy, # 19. June 2008, 02:13:55