The So-so Show on Earth!

Sunday, July 31st, Devin and I were banished from the house because Liana was throwing a baby shower for a friend of hers from work. I thought about the usual places that I take him – Travel Town, Disneyland, but as I was reading the newspaper that morning a fresh and exciting opportunity was presented to me – the Circus. That’s right Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey circus was performing at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. I thought this would be a good, different place to bring him and as always I would be ready for the worst as well as the best. The show started at 1:30 and we had to vacate the premises by 12 noon. I called my Mom to see if she would be home so I could install their new wireless 5.8 digital gigahertz phones – I know, I know – too much power for the two of them but it is the 21st Century and they were on sale at Costco and they did need new phones.

Devin and I got there in the morning and I went to setting it up – the setting up part went fine – the teaching how to use it got a little sticky – Mom was convinced that Dad wouldn’t be able to figure out how to hang it up let alone pick it up (you have to push ‘Talk’ to talk and a different button name ‘off’ to hang up.) I know, real rocket science stuff but we’re talking about Mom and Dad. Dad, a genius when it come to almost anything that’s cerebral but get into mechanical or electronic and forget it!!! While I was setting the phones up Devin was really mellow hanging out with Grandma and Papa. He also had fun fishing plastic toys and things out of the Jacuzzi that his cousin had tossed in prior. We still had time to kill so Mom and Dad took us to Wendy’s because they love the $1.00 chili, I don’t know if they like it for the taste or the price but Mom was having a good time picking out all the beans. Devin was really good the whole time – when he was done eating he got a little antsy but to be expected. After he hugged Grandma and Papa goodbye we headed out to the Circus.

I have a secret place to park at the Pond – it’s in an office complex right over the river bridge – they charge $5.00 and it is a short walk – no longer than parking in the parking lot and it is a quick exit – you don’t have to wait till hundreds of cars leave before you. So, we parked there and went to buy our tickets. It looked like everyone decided to go at the last minute because every box office window was open and each line was at least 20 people long. I got lucky because there was a planted tree that split one line so it’s almost hidden – I got in that line which went pretty fast when a family of six, all in line together, purchased their tickets and left the line. We waited in line for about 15 minutes with Devin flirting with the little girl in front of us. I asked for the best possible tickets and she showed me two which looked like the were in the second section about half way up from the floor and on the aisle – with Devin I figured ‘on the aisle’ was good – for line of sight as well as a quick potty exit – if needed. We got to the section where our seats were and I gave the usher our tickets – we kept on going and going and going until we were IN THE SECOND ROW!!!! Great seats right in front of the first ring and from where Devin was sitting there was no one in front of us.

We didn’t have to wait long for the circus to start – but then I soon realized this wasn’t Devin’s father’s circus. It got all touchy-feely. It was a combination of a Disney ‘Stand up and cheer’ show with a little cheesy Vegas thrown in. The preshow consisted of the clowns coming out and, to the baritone singing of the Ringmaster proceeded to get the audience to do exercise. THEY WANTED US TO DO A PRE CIRCUS STRETCH BEFORE THE SHOW. This is getting a little out of hand. But the circus began with a BANG as two people were blown out of a cannon and landed in front of us. Then the parade around the rings began and I was overwhelmed. Now, I thought the circus was fine the way it was, a non-singing ringmaster introducing the acts but now it’s more pizzazz then acts.

I will confess, however, that I got a little emotion when the animals started filing past us – but that stupid song kind of marched my mellow. At least we got a ringmaster that was at least a little of what the title defines, in the other show touring the east coast they got a “American Idol” reject chick doing the bit. Then they try to bring the audience into it by sending a shill into the audience and asking prefab questions that the ringmaster answers like he’s reading a teleprompter. At one point they had the minor animal acts in all three rings – in the center was the cute jumping dog act – in the third ring were the camels and in the first ring, in front of us were… wait for it … COWS! Friggin’s cows! And goats and a couple of llamas. You couldn’t really see the other acts too well so we were stuck with watching farm animals running in a circle, the only redeeming quality was this tall, blond German lady dressed in tight black circus animal training gear complete with high heeled boots, cracking the whip. I think Devin liked her best! Heh heh!

Devin was okay during the first half of the show, he was a little antsy during the slow parts and kept slightly kicking a woman’s seat in front of him. Once I think he clocked her in the head – she didn’t say anything but gave those silent stabbing looks that people give in dark theaters that really don’t work too well because it’s dark! Now, she had every right to be upset because she did pay $20 more to be in the front row. After the intermission she trade places with her big, biker looking husband and thankfully Devin was a little bit more under control. During the slow parts, Devin kept telling me it was done but when the act was to his liking he got into it. At the intermission he was ready for more – supplied with an Icee and a churro he was ready for the second hour which was a little more action packed with a high wire act, tigers and Russian women on the trapeze – the main act for this show is a clown daredevil named Bella, he was great especially on the spinning double sided wheel which was right in front of us. The show ended with another parade around the rings sung to a stupid song. Devin loved it for the most part and on the way home he showed his appreciation like he always does when he has a great time – he passed out!

Brian on 08.13.05 @ 12:48 PM CST [Read Comments] [No Comments]