MY perspective on 2001 season.

Okay so my plan here was to respond to Jeff Tobe's post with all of this, but it just got too dang long and I figured it warranted its own topic here.  So here you have it, my third and final year working at Cedar Point, from both the working and playing perspective.

Playing in the park:

The Gemini 100 probably stands out the most.  This day, I strengthened a lot of bonds with a lot of people, and also saw things in a new perspective as far as some others went.  I made a new friend (Sam is the best!) and hope to see her again sometime maybe next season!  Completing this was great, and I am glad I had this opportunity and finished it.

The two times before the Gem 100 that I played in the park were both pretty much marathon warmups.  I took 52 laps on Magnum with Dan and Jerry the day they got their 72 (I worked for a few hours that day and also went to eat, unlike those two warriors), and did 50 laps on Blue Streak on my day off the week after that. 

Other people I spent random time in the park with either on days off or around work shifts include Jeff of course, Joe E, Anne, Rob (of the Red Garter variety), Dan (that's MAGNUM Dan!), Jerry, various fellow employees, a lot of RRCers who don't post here (to my knowledge), and a few others (if I forgot you, feel free to post here and yell at me).

Working (everywhere I worked!):

Well, as far as this season went, I've said numerous times that it is my last.  I have loved my time working at Cedar Point for the most part (sure there have been some rough times, but they've been worth it here in the end), but it is now time to move on.  From the first day of cleanup week and cycling rides like crazy, to being the Assistant Team Leader on the Cedar Creek Mine Ride with the gosh-darn best mullet-hunting-Ned Flandersish-craziest-most tight-knit crew (Kevin Patterson will be back next season, I'm sure of it!), to the rather messed-up circumstances that caused my demotion, to being put on Mean Streak for a week and a half and thorougly being demoralized, to eventually getting to be a part of the giant dysfunctional family that is the Millennium Force crew (I do love you guys and thank you for accepting me as a crew member even though I didn't start there until the end of July), this season has been a rollercoaster ride in itself, and in the end, a very good one.  Not as good as Superman: Ride of Steel, but good nonetheless, and I am glad that each and every person I worked with this summer was a part of my experience. 

The NON-employees who said hello to me while I was working who stick out in my mind most are Majin Heero (you and your friends NEVER did that marathon on Mine Ride!), Disco Papa (thank you SO much for the complimentary thread!), the woman who I talked to by the MF crossing of the railroad (coastermama maybe, sorry can't remember all names!), GregLeg, loriu (GO LANCERS!), and of course our webmaster Jeff and his lovely wife Stephanie!  I'm sure there are others who've said hello or briefly introduced themselves who I'm forgetting, and I BEG your forgiveness and you didn't mean any less to me, it STILL made my day anytime anyone introduced themselves to me and made me smile so much....

Anyway, in all this season could best be classified as a learning experience, but the person who put it over the top and made it more-than-tolerable, well he knows it, and I already replied to his season in review post.  Jeff Tobe, you are the absolute best thing that's ever happened to me, and I can't wait for another season of coaster events and great times!  Thank you!

Please post any comments, angry remarks, or anything else here, I love to hear what everyone's got to say and if I left you off my lists, let me know, I'll compensate for it. ;o)

-Natalie
"For what it's worth
It was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you've had the time of your life"
Green Day "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

Even though I mentioned it in my TR, I'll say it again. Thank you Natalie... I can echo exactly what you said above, you've been the best thing that's ever happened to me too.

Very easily the best thing that happened to me at Cedar Point this year ;o)

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Jeff Tobe
tobejeff@pilot.msu.edu
Graduated to ENTHUSIAST :o)

That marathon day on Magnum was great.  Its ok Nat we all know that Superman in New England OWES its existance to Magnum.  :)
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Daniel "PING" Haverlock
'01: 901
Total: 2166

Nat-Sam LOVED you too! Thanks for being such an awesome ride partner and friend to her during the Gemini 100! When I told her how much you liked her she said "see Mom I told you I was cool!" :)
I could NOT get her to go back to the park with me again to see you, she had "more important things to do", Im hoping next year!
This was the 2nd year I had the pleasure of knowing you as a CP'er, you rock Nat. You were always so nice to me and any of the GTTP'ers.
You are one of the ones in my "I will miss" list!
Thanks again for letting me "borrow" your man Jeff to ride with last weekend-he rocks too! :)
Keep in touch!
Love from Sam! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)
Hoopers PIC :)
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

Actually I was just happy to meet your mother Natalie. Hopefully next year we'll finally get to some coaster events, now that you're not my ATL and not working at Cedar Point w/o that special someone ;-)  Don't worry Jeff, I'm as harmless as a fly.  Besides, Nat is a fat nasty ACEr, and that's why we love her :)
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Criss
Mine Ride crew/ATL 2000
Mine Ride TL 2001

*** This post was edited by Beast on 11/2/2001. ***

I said hello at Coastermania...great job at Magnum that night! :)

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MF count: 23

Thanks CP_bound, Coastermania was fun!  I hope everyone really enjoyed their days that day, I know I did, seeing a lot of old friends and meeting a lot of new people!  Maybe next season I'll make it to Coastermania....as a guest this time!

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99 (RIDE MINE!)
Thunder Canyon '00 (TC2K 0\/\/Nx0rZ j00!)
Millennium Force '01

I wanted to do the Mine Ride marathon but I was overruled after 7 laps... :(  It will happen though...  I'll be there a lot more next season.  Natalie I was amazed at how dedicated you were to that ride, you really made it a lot better at the beginning of the year.  Criss you were cool too.  It was fun getting my entire train to go crazy in the station!
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Break the scream barrier in 2002!
Wicked twists: 0
VertiGo flights: 4
MF thrills: 30

Natalie, remember Floridaguy2002? Me and Hooper doing a few laps on Mine Ride?? Thanks for cutting off the circulation in my legs with that lap bar!
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2002:Its gonna shock you!
Oh, wait, it already shocked me, its Tuesday..

The lap bar only locks in one place.  Wow, I'm almost over being REALLY sick of saying that.

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01
"When it's all said and done
It's real and it's been fun.
But was it all real fun?"

sorry...I meant the seat belt, I think...
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2002:Its gonna shock you!
Oh, wait, it already shocked me, its Tuesday..

Good memory Ride of Steel!  It was CoasterMama at the MF RR crossing.  After reading about the “Hard working, always smiling Natalie” I figured that it had to be you.  It was a pleasure meeting you.  CP was fortunate to have such a hard working employee.  You will be missed next year.

Yup, you do have a good memory Natalie!  I couldn't believe that you remembered me!   :)  Hey, I'm sorry you won't be coming back next year...the Mine Ride crew has a hard/enthusiastic worker to live up to.  Well, I'll check back in with the site later, and Cedar Point 2002, here I come.

- Eric

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Yeah The 2001 Season Was Great In it;s Own right<Yes even In Camp Shoot-Me> I Had Fun.I Think The 2002 Season Will Be Even Better Than 2001 Season.

BTW Dan, I Think EVERY coaster over 200 feet owes it's existence to Magnum.Yes Even Millennium Force.