They’re starting to get the Ex ready and it gives me butterflies mostly, and some dragons
I work close by and last year I went every day for lunch unless it was pouring or scurvy was a concern because the closest thing to fresh fruit or vegetables you’re going to find is in the beer garden
You can get anything at the ex, including fat and sticky and broke and dizzy, and that’s only an hour in the middle of the day. Imagine what you could get up to on a day pass!
You can also get very sophisticated brooms that you look like an idiot carrying around but would be amazing to ride. You can get fried anything, and are likely to make extremely bad food choices because things sound what-the-hellish in a no-consequence, adventurous and fun kind of way until the adventure becomes finding a washroom or a place to nap or that sells Tums.
I like to go to the arts and crafts building which is not much about arts and crafts but certainly is about baked goods including buttertarts that are mostly syrup and the only thing crafty about them is the price
Then there’s those wide-legged (I cannot get the hang of these) linen pants and loose airy tops (ditto) and other things that look so much more comfortable than what you’re wearing except after they make you feel nice and free for a few critical I’ll-use-my-credit-card moments, you actually look like an old paper bag, or if you buy the black version, the broom is suddenly fitting (unlike your new outfit).
There’s some nice jewellery of average quality and workmanship, and all kinds of beautiful rocks that I can’t believe are real and also can’t resist. There are very good quality winter things with the fur and beads and all kinds of beautifulness but I can’t bring myself to part with a hundred bucks – even if the completely-worth-it regular price is two hundred – for a pair of big suede paws when it’s so so so hot out. There are gorgeous hand-made leather shoulder bags almost as nice as Marie’s, and I might buy one this year if it fits my laptop or maybe even if it doesn’t, and marble chess sets that I secretly would love for the backyard and that would make an excellent gift for me if you’re so inclined.
I promise I’ll act surprised and also I won’t let spiders near them
I always go on a ride or two as well, just a nice whirley one like the swings or Ferris wheel or the Alpine Way. Last year I did the drop zone a couple of times but that’s all I had time for because the free pass is up in exactly an hour and they don’t care if you’re one minute late – you won’t get your money back – which is the deal when you go for only lunch.
And forget the GO train quiet zone during the ex. I wonder how brooding man is going to handle it because everybody’ll be screeching and squawking and parents yelling and being weird both ways but I won’t mind because I can type as loud as I like and it’s fun to listen to in an I’m-glad-those-days-are-behind-me kind of way which I know is an unusual way of thinking about your kids but I like the way mine are now, all grown up and interesting and curious and brave and kind and surprising in a wonderful sort of way.
