Today I got to play hooky from work to chaperone my oldest daughter's end-of-year field trip to Oaks Park.

I haven't been to Oaks Park in a long time, and was surprised to find out they have finally replaced the grossly dilapidated Mighty Mouse roller coaster, with the newer, but lamer, Looping Thunder roller coaster. The Mighty Mouse scared the piss out of you because you fully believed that the whole structure would collapse. The Looping Thunder is not as big and has a loop, but it is very small and therefore not very scary. It's hardly worth waiting for a half hour in line for.

I enjoyed the Scream-n-Eagle much better. It's not so much scary, just that wonderful feeling of flying and falling that's so much fun. I could ride that thing all day.

I was coerced into going onto the Ferris Wheel (read, the Falling Death wheel) after I made the kids go onto the Carousel with me (I wanted to ride the chicken). And I was white-knuckled the whole time. It's not so much during the ride that's so scary. It's the time when people are getting on and off, where you're at the top trying desperately not to breathe just so the seat won't rock. Because if it rocks, you're going to fall to your death. At least this is how I imagine it.