When your eyes and lungs are burning and you feel like you must escape to Los Angeles (of all places) to find some clean air to breathe, you know two things:
- You live in Salt Lake City.
- It is winter and thus the air is completely unbreathable.
Utah has this lovely weather phenomenon called The Inversion where fog and dust and muck settle on the Salt Lake valley and unless a giant winter storm blows through to clear all that out, it just sits there, percolating into a fine pollution stew. There are no-drive days, your eyes and lungs burn if you so much as jog to your car, and the haze is so thick you cannot see the massive, 14,000 foot snow-capped peaks that rim the valley. It’s depressing.
Disclaimer: to winter-sport enthusiasts, those 14,000 foot snow-capped peaks have some of the best snow in the world, and as soon as you get to the mouth of any given canyon you are high enough in elevation that you are above The Inversion. Don’t cancel your ski vacation to Park City or Solitude/Alta/Brighton/Sundance/Snowbird/The Canyons (did I miss any resorts? I don’t think so).
I am one of the lucky ones, I have escaped! I’m relaxing in 70-something degree, sunny weather with clear(ish) air and no haze. I feel like I forgot to mention something. Something kind of big.
Um, I’m in Disneyland. Right now.
This was a very last minute trip that is counting as a “work trip”. Kind of. Vladd–the deaf, diabetic, autistic, vegetarian I take care of 90 hours a week–and I are here, staying in a swanky hotel, eating at swanky places, and generally having a blast. And not only is this not costing me a dime (thank you work Amex), but I am also being paid to hang out in sunny California. And go on theme park rides. And order room service.
Like I said, it’s Big. Huge. Seismic, even.
So far we have done little but check into a hotel and take a nap. (Well, Vladd is taking a nap, I’m blogging.)(clearly.) But, there are big plans for tomorrow. I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was eleven, I’m crazy-excited.
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I agree that the air sucks big time. I think it is the reason I am in the doldrums today. Or else the reason is Monday. Not sure.
My husband got to go to Disneyland a few months ago on a work trip, and I was insanely jealous. Now I am insanely jealous of you. Surely there is genealogical research that needs doing in the happiest place on earth?
Comment by Sherry 2010 January 11 @ 11:55 pmu r just one wonderful woman heidikins.
Comment by Dugi 2010 January 12 @ 12:10 amhave a fun time!
Fun! Except I can’t handle rides without wanting to hurl anymore. But there are some tame ones at Disneyland. Plus 70 degrees! So, fun!
Comment by Sra 2010 January 12 @ 1:15 amWell, SLC in the winter sounds awful, not that I’ve ever been there (summer or winter) but enjoy Disneyland! What a great place to go for a ‘work trip.’
Comment by Karen 2010 January 12 @ 2:23 amOoo, nice. Do you want to swap places, RIGHT NOW?
Comment by Allie 2010 January 12 @ 4:16 amThe Inversion is truly awful. I remember I used to go skiing just to escape it’s awfulness.
Have fun in Disneyland!
Comment by Jennie 2010 January 12 @ 5:24 amMaybe you need to convince Vladd to move to the California during the winter months and return to SLC when the weather improves!
Comment by SoMi's Nilsa 2010 January 12 @ 7:58 amoh, it’s time you revisited the mouse – hope Vladd enjoys Disneyland, I’m sure you will.
Comment by Heather W 2010 January 12 @ 9:18 am*cough cough CHOKE cough*
Comment by sov 2010 January 12 @ 9:31 amI was gonna comment but I’m having trouble breathing. Why does the air taste like diesel fuel?
This is awesome. But why didn’t you pay me to join you? WHY?
Comment by Jess 2010 January 12 @ 10:16 amHave a great time! Say hi to Minnie for me–she’s my BFF.
Comment by Liz Merrell 2010 January 12 @ 11:05 amGlad you could get a brief respite from the nasty, nasty air. Sounds like this job is awesome and you are loving it. And yeah for fun “work vacations!”
Comment by Lady Susan 2010 January 12 @ 11:16 amWait. Vladd is taking in Disneyland? Is the answer too obvious to ask WHY?
Comment by Cheeky Monkey 2010 January 12 @ 1:40 pmWow that sounds like the pea soup fogs we had here in London back in the 50/60s before they passed the clean air act! I wasn’t alive then but I know some who were!! Never been to Disney land hope you have a great time & it’s so nice to hear that things are going your way seeya hugya *G*
Comment by Grungedandy 2010 January 12 @ 5:10 pmTwo words: Indiana Jones.
Comment by Melanie 2010 January 12 @ 5:18 pmum please let me know if you’ll be in the silver lake or pasadena area today or tomorrow or however long you’re here because i’d love to see you! but yay disneyland, man i love that place. have so much fun!
Comment by katelin 2010 January 12 @ 5:54 pmI forgot all about THE INVERSION. It was pretty bad my freshman year at BYU.
Have a lovely time at Disneyland – I think it’s even more awesome as an adult.
Comment by Janssen 2010 January 12 @ 7:47 pmyou may very well have the best job on the planet.
Comment by julochka 2010 January 13 @ 3:45 amHow awesome. Have fun!
Comment by Isabel 2010 January 13 @ 11:23 amYou scared me for a tiny sec! When I read “the big mouse” I instantly remembered my childhood flu-fever-medicine-head-induced nightmares that involved a mouse with a 6-foot tall tail standing straight up rolling a giant sleeping bag at me to crush me while laughing in a squeaky high-pitched maniacal laugh.
Of course then I remembered my beloved “Big Mouse” stuffed animal that at one time was actually bigger than me. When I was about two years old.
Anyways.. you are lucky!!! Hope you are having fun. I’ve been enjoying the California weather as well although it poured down rain last night. I’m about 4 hours north of Disneyland on the Coast.
Oh, and I have a horror story regarding a deaf student I interpreted for and had to travel with. Another time, though, as it is a long story and this is already a long post!
Comment by Chiada 2010 January 13 @ 12:03 pmYES! You missed Snow Basin. The Giant Downhill was held there in the 2000 Olympics. (My dad was a volunteer. Maybe you saw him on TV?) You have to go up OGDEN Canyon to get there, so it doesn’t get the publicity. All three parking lots can be packed on a Saturday and you can still ski on any lift with only a minimal wait in line. The amenities in Ogden aren’t as nice as SLC, but do you go skiing for the amenities or the vertical feet? The best kept secret in Utah.
Oops.
Comment by Nan 2010 January 15 @ 10:35 amHave lots and lots of fun! You deserve it!
Comment by Stacy 2010 January 15 @ 2:22 pm