(no subject)

[chelseagirl]

It's been days since I've managed to get online for anything more than a quick email check, between days away and deadlines and computers acting up, so for all the interesting discussions I've missed, a sigh.

Yesterday I'd written quite a lengthy post, which disappeared when it was 3/4 done. As best as I can remember:

Since I decided to save the rest of Iron Council for vacation reading, when I can really immerse myself, I've been back at the George R. R. Martin books in my "free" time. queenofthorns, I've finally met your namesake and what a terrific character she is. I like the way these constantly unsettle the reader, and that there's a great deal of unpredictability about who may come to an untimely end. The shifting points of view are handled particularly well: I didn't feel like things were reversed, necessarily, as that I was seeing opposite and equally valid points of view. I'm not big on high fantasy, but I'll definitely make an exception for these.

Dinner with my old friend E., last night, who's in town for a bit. He was, as he always is, both fascinating and draining. There are friends much valued but best taken in small doses.

Over the weekend I went to Coney Island and the New York Aquarium with some friends. There was a simply marvellous walrus, who refused to swim about with the other walruses but lay on his back sunning himself and shifting about a bit, and covering his hands with his flippers whenever anyone tried to take his photo. The sea otters also particularly won our hearts, and there was an exhibit of jellyfish that, lighted and displayed in the rather dramatic way they were, were surreally and almost hypnotically beautiful.

I managed to resist the Lola Staar boutique, with its vintage and Mermaid Parade type t-shirts, but when they had a second stand up near the Cyclone and someone I teach with was working it (Lynn is a neo-burlesque performer and wrote her dissertation on sideshows, I believe), we all broke down and bought their fabulous ts. I did resist the Cyclone when my friends went on, as I've got a bit phobic of roller coasters, but we took the Wonder Wheel for the view, and the Dante's Inferno house of horrors does not take any imagery from the real thing (hey, it was research). Really enjoyed Sideshows by the Sea, though we stumbled onto it too late to go to the Coney Island Museum -- I want to go back and see the relics of Dreamland and Luna Park.

I'm feeling a lot of pressure about the dissertation; I'm supposed to finish the chapter before school starts, but we're away from this Saturday til next. Thanks to the late Labor Day, I have two weeks when I get back, but . . . I may not be around LJ much 'til I've pulled the chapter together, so if you want to get in touch, an e or a phone call is a more definite way of getting me. Thanks!

Comments

[sbgrl.livejournal.com]

Good luck with everything. G. and I are out of town for 10 days, leaving the evening of the 20th. When we get back we'll all need to go to Sob-ya and catch up.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Definitely! Have a great one, and see you when you get back . . .

[psycholibrarian.livejournal.com]

Good luck! And don't worry: what must be done wil be done, and then you can relax again!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Luckily, we've got our vacation in the middle of it; I'm bringing a pile of books but not the laptop, so I will come back semi-recharged and ready to go . . .

[karentoe.livejournal.com]

You'll get everything done. :) And have fun while you're gone.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

We will. It's going to be the first time M.'s spent so much time with my family (a whole week, instead of a couple of days) so he's a little nervous, but it's going to be nice and relaxing.

As for the work . . . must graduate. Therefore, must finish . . .

[trouvera.livejournal.com]

I was persuaded to play hooky from my planned scholarly activities on Monday and taken to Coney Island. It was more midway-ish than i expected, but very much fun. The area as a whole though looked generally like it had seen better days. A little sad, perhaps it is betteron weekends?? Went on the Cyclone twice, but I am a roller coaster freak who hasn't had a fix in about three years.

I didn't see the museum you mention, it sounds like a fun visit. I'll have to go back when I actually have play time.

Good luck on your dissertation stuff!!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Coney Island was working class New York's summer playground. I strongly recommend Kevin Baker's novel *Dreamland* which takes place around the turn of the century and is set there, in part. By the 70s, when my friend Eddie was growing up in Brooklyn, he used to go there, but he was a tough Brooklyn kid. He says that before they filled in under the Boardwalk, all sorts of interesting activities took place.

Now there's been a big revival of interest. I mean, Astroland never advertised on tv until a few years ago, the Mermaid Parade is a big event in certain circles(I think David Byrne was the first King Neptune, about 10 years back, and Moby was this year), and the Coney Island USA group, that runs the museum and the Sideshows by the Sea, is funded by a bunch of arts councils and stuff. And the Brooklyn Cyclones stadium has made a big difference too. Unfortunately most of the old stuff like Luna Park and Dreamland have long been torn down -- the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel are two remnants, and my friend at Lola Staar told us to go to Ruby's next door, where they have lots of old pictures of Coney Island in its prime. I'd been meaning to get out there forever, but this was my first trip. The midway definitely looked to me just the same as, say, the Erie County Fair or Brighton Pier in England, but there are traces of the Coney Island that was still, and I'm really interested in NYC history, so I want to go back and look for more of the traces!