My new favorite mini-vacation

<- That's me!

I had a good day last Saturday--like a really good day!--and I can't believe I'm just now getting around to writing it up!

Sundays are usually my favorites, but in light (darkness?) of my drunken mishaps, I have to say Saturday won out. After all, I spent it with Thinky Face and her man-friend in Coney Island! I never once felt third-wheely either. I think the best couples to hang out with are couples in that awkward not-quite-dating-kinda-friends limbo for sure. I love you married folks, but seriously, it was so pleasant to hang out with a couple and not hear them talk about each other the whole time. Plus they were all cute and awkward, and it's fun to watch your friends be cute and awkward with man- or lady-friends.

Anyway, we had a great ride on the good ol' Q out to the beach, which doesn't take long from my apartment at all, and is actually quite pleasant, since most of the ride is outdoors and you can look out the windows. It's not all that exciting, but there's something to be said for sunshine. There were more than a few Mermaid Parade-goers in our car, even though we were very much late for the start.

Anyway, the best was yet to come. The crowd in the street was thick and teeming with folks dressed up like sea creatures. The sun beat down brightly on us and the moisture in the air was palpable. Women walked by us wearing nothing over their breasts but paint and glitter. Almost everyone was drinking a beer, if not something more potent. It was all so.... familiar! "Mardi Gras!" I shouted. "It's just like bein' home!!" I wished I had dressed up too.

As it was our beachcomber clothes were more than appropriate. It didn't take too long for us to get bored with the parade (which is not like Mardi Gras at all-it's more like Homecoming meets Halloween), and after a bit we hurried over to the Cyclone for a rickety ride on America's most famous roller coaster.

Thinky and I hop-skipped into the second seat behind a couple of Guidos (hey, it's Brooklyn) and man-friend settled into the seat behind us. We all threw our hands up as we ascended the first hill and then....screamed for our lives! Really!! That thing feels like it's going to fall apart underneath you! Despite feeling like I'd just lost a boxing match at the end ("Ow, my brain!" Thinky said), it was really awesome. I can't wait to go again!

After that it was off to the boardwalk for real live Coney Island hot dogs. I'm not much of a carnivore, and usually refuse even the choicest cuts of cows and pigs, but I am a sucker for an excellent hot dog. Especially with relish and ketchup! Yum! Ours were, frankly (get it?), the best weiners we'd ever tasted (bada-bing!).

We made our way onto the beach, which was actually very pleasant. I'm not much of a beach person, but I have to say it was a welcome change from the concrete jungle. We took off our sandals and wiggled our toes in the sand a bit, enjoying cheese fries and beer (Coney Island's version of health food) and then after a while we decided to wiggled our toes in the ocean instead. My! That was...brisk! I hadn't been in the ocean since ten minutes in Alabama more than a year ago and before that in the Mediterranean Sea in France. Neither of those instances could possibly have prepared me for the freezing murk at Coney Island. Still, after a couple of minutes it was nice, provided you don't mind not being able to see past six inches deep. It quite reminded me of Lake Erie, but with an undertow.

With the hem of my dress wet and salty I danced around the beach for a bit and then we all agreed it was time for more junk food. A feast was found at one of the less-crowded stands! It included onion rings, a corn dog, Italian ice, root beer, Italian sausage, chicken ke-bobs, ice cream, and beer. I enjoyed two of those things and shared the root beer with Thinky.

Our bellies were full and our energy was drained from the sun and the surf. It was time to go home. We packed into the car with some paraders. It just never got old to look at these blue guys...and they didn't just look funny, they acted funny too:

As the train rolled away I gazed out the window contently at pools and realized they belonged to a cluster of tall hotels--and I can't help but imagine the most adorable little overnight trip staying at one of those places. With boardwalk food on the moonlit beach for dinner and waking up to an amazing view of the ocean and the Cyclone... Now I just need to get a friend on board. It'll be so nice!