Yesterday, as members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, my older son and I went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California to ride X2 multiple times for media day. The roller coaster doesn't officially open to the public until Saturday, but a number of coaster enthusiasts, Los Angeles County fire fighters and their families, and members of local Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs had been invited to help provide backgrounds for newscasters reporting on the ride.

X originally opened six or seven years ago, and I went to the media day for that, too. Since that time, the trains have gotten really rough and, more importantly from an operational standpoint, unreliable, so Six Flags contracted for a redesigned vehicle with a different company. It is significantly lighter so it should be less subject to breakdowns.

The new trains had been thoroughly tested with water-filled plastic dummies before any people are allowed on. Normally, the dummies are just vaguely anthropomorphic torsos, but these were fully humanoid, partly articulated plastic bottles. I saw a coaster train parked on a siding with the test dummies still on board as I walked the back way up to the ride, and they all appeared intact. I had some hopes that X2 would be as good as X was when new, and if that were the case, I’d ride it several times. If not, I planned to ride once and then just take pictures.

It had not been restored to youth, alas. The lighter trains made it run faster, which reduced my enjoyment of my favorite “sky dive” element, where the seat flips forward as the train plunges almost vertically toward the ground. A new, unpleasant “head bang” element had been added to the numerous “shoulder contusion” elements I remembered from my last ride on the old X. But at least I could walk when I got off, which was an improvement. Magic Mountain also fed us hamburgers, hot dogs, fresh fruit and soft drinks, so I had lunch and decided to try it again. Twice was enough for me, although one Coaster Diva of my acquaintance was working her way back the train so she could experience the ride in each of the seven rows.

We left a little early so my son could get to his afternoon class and I could get some still photos of a mosaic on a police station in Central Los Angeles for a student film he has due on Saturday. Fortunately, the fashion and jewelry districts (and toy, wholesale and flower marts) are near the police station, so after I had my shots, I went shopping.

I bought some pink silk cord for making a hand-knotted a rose quartz bead necklace, some Czech fire polish beads, a formal-length crinoline petticoat (to wear with my 1840's day dress), red cotton socks, three pairs of gloves (two purple, one red, in elbow length), and a small buckram frame on which to construct a hat to wear to theater performances (it will be low to my head so I won't have to remove it). I had hoped to get a frame or wool felt hood to make a bonnet for my 1840’s dress, but those would have been special order items.

I also went into a dress shop, but the proprietor of the store hit on me - very nicely, but very, very, obviously, so I didn't buy any dresses. If my chapter members think guys hit on me because I wear alluring dresses, they should have seen me today in jeans, t-shirt (albeit a girly one) and no makeup but sunblock. Maybe I’m too friendly with strange guys.

When I got on the subway, I had most of my purchases in a nice hemp shopping bag, but the petticoat had been stuffed into a black garbage bag. I had an SLR camera bag on one shoulder and my purse on the other, so I didn't exactly look like your typical bag lady. It was cumbersome, but at least if I bumped into people with my garbage bag, I didn't hurt them any.