I give you the top 5 things I miss about having a computer:
5. Wasting Time. Now when I have fifteen minutes before I leave for work, I wander around the house, harass the cat, read a magazine, or write some poetry. Before, I used to hop online and check my email or my blog, leave a few comments, and generally waste time. I know I'm a little more productive now, but I miss it!
4. Getting Hints. I am playing through an RPG on my DS right now (Magical Starsign if anyone cares), and when I come across a particularly tricky boss, I like to try a few things on my own and then hop online and see what other people have said works well against them. Now? I just shut it off and walk away, telling myself I'll look when I'm at work. I forget.
3. Watching Videos. Seriously. The Wii's internet browser is faulty, at best. It doesn't load videos, it freezes regularly, and everything on it is really inconsistent. One day something will load, and the next you'll sit there for ten minutes before it tells you there was an error. When I send myself a link from work (videos don't load there, either), I like to come home and watch it, and then delete the email from my box. Now they just pile up...I think I'm going to have to plan a day to clean out my inbox and watch stupid videos.
2. Having a Keyboard. This was going to be number one on the list. Do you know how hard it is to constantly type with the Wiimote? The boy still hasn't come through on his USB keyboard promise. And both of our computers are old enough that they don't have USB keyboards. So yeah...point and click and point and click and point and backspace and point and click. Ugh! 1. All of You! I miss you guys. I miss reading your blogs and commenting and hearing all of what you have to say. I thought it wouldn't be this hard to be away, but it really is!
So there you have it. My list of the top 5 reasons I want that computer back!
Everyone love ice cream! And if you don't, you must be one of those Commie Nazis. And sure, it wouldn't be hard to list your top five favorite flavors, would it? Cake Batter, Fudge Brownie, Moose Tracks...BORING!
No, no!
Today I am here to give you my list for the Top 5 Failed Ice Cream Flavors!
5) Spewmori
Spewmori is the offbeat cousin of an already questionable flavor: Spumoni (chocolate, pistachio, cherry). Spewmori is a tantalizing blend of three flavors we think you'll go gaga over! Pomegranate, Onion, and Chutney! Oooh. Yum! With real chunks of onion and pomegranate seeds (all the rage nowadays), you'll be a hit at any party when you serve this!
4) Dill Pickle
I know, I know. They HAVE this. It's true. Go to a very specialty ice cream stand and you'll be able to get a dish of this for $4. It's a delicacy. Yeah...right. So are snails, but you don't see me chomping them down. I'veh ad it, people. Don't waste your money. The combination of sweet and...dill...NO GOOD!
3) Al Gore-gia Peach
This delicious blend of flavors pays homage to one of the leading political minds of our time! Without his global warming scare film, people may not know enough to conserve our nation's natural resources, like the Georgia Peach! That's why this blend features Peach, Corn, and Toupee flavors! Mmm. Nothing says delicious like a Georgia peach combined with one of the U.S.'s most abundant natural resources! Corn? No! HAIR!
2) Beef Jerky Fudge Swirl
You love fudge! Who doesn't? And you love beef jerky! Why not put them together and swirl them just for fun!? The salty, chewy jerky combined with the sweet, chocolatey fudge will make instant memories at any birthday party! And with a base of vanilla, you can't go wrong! Serve it with cake or steak!
1) Neighborhood Stray Tracks
You've had Moose Tracks, Bear Tracks, Fox Tracks, Elephant Tracks, and any other tracks they've put out there. I can guarantee you've never had this! New, from the people who brought you all those tantalizing flavors comes Neighborhood Stray Tracks, featuring fur, caramel, and mystery chunks! People love mystery, and this carton has it in droves! Cat fur? Dog fur? Ferret? Rabbit? I certainly hope those brown chunks are chocolate and peanut butter! Slap this into a dish and call up yer kinfolk! It's time for fun!
And there you have it; the Top 5 Failed Ice Cream Flavors. Who knows, with the publicity they'll garner here, you may see them in your grocer's freezer the next time you're looking for a late night snack!
Disregard the title. I've been listening to the new Mika album nonstop. It's wonderful.
And...I accidentally posted Top 5 Tuesday on my other blog yesterday, so...I may as well do it here today, right? Nothing like missing the mark entirely! It took me 3 hours before I realized it was Wednesday yesterday.
In other news...I'm driving to see the boy at work and having lunch with him. I love being a good boyfriend. It happens so infrequently.
Anywho...Top 5 Tuesday: Pinball Edition
Guess what, friends? It's the triumphant return of Top 5 Tuesday!
I'm sure we've all spent a few quarters in a pinball machine in our lives. Me? I've spent more than anyone ever should. I could probably buy every machine on this list with the number of quarters I've used playing pinball in my lifetime. But some of you may not know where to start. That's where this handy list comes in! If ever you see one of these in an arcade, you'll know it's worth the quarters! I give you the top 5 pinball machines I've ever had the pleasure of playing:
5) Tales From the Crypt
I remember playing this game in the general store of a campground we used to visit every year. It's been probably close to fifteen years since I've played it, but I remember it being one of the most fun pinball machines I've ever used. The Cryptkeeper was your guide through the game, and despite his creepiness, he never fell short of having a good quip when you failed. The ball launger in the form of a doorknocker-representation of him was a nice touch! I also remember this game having the loosest match numbers at the end of the game of any pinball machine I've ever used...and that means more free games!
4) The Simpsons
This machine has eaten far too many of my quarters. I would say that of all the games on my list, this one is the most unforgiving. There must be something about the pastel paradise of Springfield under the glass that drives balls to the no zone. It's not a fantastic pinball game, but, like everything else that has the Simpsons' name on it, people play it no matter how much it sucks. I think maybe there was a little too much going on under the hood, but that's what makes it so much fun and captures the zaniness of Springfield.
3) Hook
This game lands itself on the list because it's the easiest pinball machine I've ever played. I'm no pinball wizard, but even I have trouble losing a ball in this one. And with scores totaling in the hundreds of millions, it makes even the worst player feel like a big shot! The skill shot at the beginning is a great touch and keeps me coming back to nail just one more launch. The fact that it has an instant replay feature which gives you one free ball if you truly suck or have terrible luck on a ball is enough to set it apart from any other game on the market. The icing on the cake? Hearing Captain Hook say, "I hate, I hate, I hate Peter Pan!"
2) Fire!
I know what you're thinking: A pinball game based on the Chicago Fire? How on earth does that work? Quite well, let me tell you! It's one of the only pinball machines that I've ever been able to figure out, goal-wise. You're supposed to bep utting out the fires and saving the citizens of the city one flick at a time. There's a rather loud fire bell on the top of this machine that rings every time you hit the multiplier, which multiplies your bonus at the end of a round by how many times you hit it. That means huge bonuses and free games for people who can keep the ball going. A great feature of this machine is a certain ramp that captures a ball and tells you a firefighter is trapped. You're tasked with raising the ladder to the burning building and launching the ball up the ramp, triggering a multi-ball, the joy of pinball enthusiasts everywhere! It's mayhem; it's loud; it's fun; it's Fire!
1) Taxi
We've come to the top of my list, the cream of the crop, the best damn pinball game there is, in my humble opinion. Doubtful? Let me tell you this, then: Nowhere else can you find Mikhail Gorbachev, Marilyn Monroe, Santa Claus, Dracula, and Pinbot in one place! In one taxi, no less! They're your targets in this madcap game with a sense of humor, and y'all know how I love a game with a sense of humor. Your bonus at the end of every ball depends on how many of them you can cram into your taxi without losing. Fill it full and take a joyride, and the points shoot through the roof! Each character has their own voice and will call out when you're close to picking them up, and each shot gives you points depending on how many times you can "spin out" in the ramp off the main shoot. It's a riot, and I've spent enough money in this thing to buy the machine!
So there you have it, my list for the top 5 pinball machines of all time. Have you played any of these? What would you put on the list?
So...you may have noticed that Top 5 Tuesday was missing yesterday. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't though...I sure as hell didn't...until about 11:00 PM when I was lying in bed and thought, "Shit..."
I guess you all get a week off. My apologies.
My entire blogging drive has been put into blah mode after a meeting with the Hardest Level team last night. Here's sort of how it went:
Leader: This post Justin wrote is a prime example of what not to do. Everyone else: Agreed. Yeah, whoever wrote this is an idiot. Oh, they're in the room? Moving on. Leader: So is this whole series of posts he's writing. In fact, don't write about any specific games. Don't write about anything retro or anything upcoming. And stuff that's out now? Don't write about it. Have fun! Everyone: So....what do we write about?
And that's where we're left. Writing about video games but NOT about video games. And that nixes EVERYTHING on my ideas list. So I'm pretty much fucked and not happy about it. At all.
Last night I was lying in bed in that insane place right before sleep (the same place in which I composed a letter to the Water Guy...but that's another story) and I just thought, "Why do I even do this anymore? What am I doing blogging. It just goes on forever and won't ever get me anywhere."
And then I fell asleep and had dreams that I was stuck on a mini golf course naked. Blah.
So...I'll get there, I'm...sure. But like everything, it can't just be fun.
After guest blogging for someone else last week, I really thought it would be cool to do the same thing on my blog. I haven't, in the five plus years I've been here, ever had a guest blogger. It's about time that changes, isn't it?
So, I picked the person who is nearest and dearest to my heart to do a Top 5 Tuesday post about the thing that's nearest and dearest to his heart.
Now you have to understand something. My boyfriend is a nerd. A big one. But not about computers, and not about video games (as much). No, no. He's a nerd about something most people don't think twice about!
Without further pish-posh, I give you Robb's Top 5 Tuesday list of his favorite ski lifts! And it's a doozy!
*round of applause*
5. 1975 Borvig center-pole quad at Villa Olivia, Bartlett, Illinois. www.villaolivia.com
This is the lift that I know the best from working at Villa. First off, it’s rare to see a center-pole quad chair.
As far as I know, only two companies made this style of lift: Borvig and Riblet. (If I’m wrong, please let me know). This lift has seen little modifications or upgrades to it. It still operates much the same today as it did when it was brand new in 1975. Right about this time in 1975, Borvig was beginning to use a newer tower design; this lift uses an older tower design. The tower itself is larger in size than the newer design, and the cross arms are thinner. To compensate for thinner cross arms with a heavy quad chair, Borvig used additional support to form two 90 degree angles on either side of the tower.
Typical of Borvig, this lift sports the company’s signature "hanging sheaves" and "snowflake bull wheel".
This style of lift was known for its exceptionally strong grips.
The only modification to the lift is the addition of snow making equipment and lights to the towers; this was completed after the lift was installed. The lift is also still using its original motor, but has a semi-newer gear box. Towers 4 and 5 are also switched; when installing the lift, Villa accidentally put tower 5 in tower 4’s place and 4 in 5’s place. Most people don’t realize this and you can only tell if you look at the lift as you ride: tower 4 is slightly taller than 5.
4. 1968 Hall double at Skyline Ski Area in Friendship, WI
Skyline is the ski area where I first learned to ski, and for that reason it will always hold a special place in my heart. For years I was terrified to ride this lift due to its speed and its steepness. At one time, Skyline boasted that this lift was the fastest lift in the state of Wisconsin; it was run at 7 ½ mph. Keep in mind that this is extremely fast compared to most lifts running at 1 - 2mph. Some detachable lifts don’t even run this fast.
Older Hall lifts that had two or four sheaves per cross arm had the sheaves standing on top of the cross arm.
Compare the older style of Hall sheave assemblies at Skyline vs. the newer style where the sheaves hung at tower arm level.
This lift has a steep climb for a portion of it, tower 5 perches on the edge of the drop off and sports a six sheave assembly. For six and eight sheave assemblies, Hall used a different style of cross arm.
This lift also has the older style of Hall bull wheels that have six support beams in it compared to the newer style of eight.
Unfortunately, Skyline has gone through several owners recently and is currently closed to skiing. The lift line has started to become overgrown,
and the cable is rusty. Hopefully a new owner will come along soon and restore this lift.
3. 1989 (?) Leitner-Borvig High Speed detachable quad. “Spirit Express” at Spirit Mountain, Minnesota. www.spiritmt.com
Spirit Mountain is currently home to an interesting “Frankenlift”. A Frankenlift is a lift made up of multiple components. The lift was originally built by Leitner and Borvig and later modified by CTEC. This lift is an early model of a high speed, detachable quad lift. Detachable means the chairs/gondolas actually detach from the cable in the station area for slower/smoother loading. Older detachable lifts sometimes had a separate motor house that sat behind the loading terminal.
The loading terminals and original chairs where designed by Leitner. Borvig designed the motor house, the bull wheels,
towers and sheaves/sheave assemblies.
The motor house is located at the base of the lift
and skiers line up under it and board the lift in the loading area. The original chairs had plastic seats and backs and had a clear plastic shell that could be pulled down over the chair to help keep warm. Spirit quickly got rid of the plastic bubbles on the chairs. Later, CTEC switched chairs on the lift from the plastic seat style of Leitner
to metal CTEC chairs (which were on another lift at Spirit Mountain). The original grips from the Leitner chairs stayed with the Spirit Express
When CTEC switched chairs, they also upgraded the controls of the lift. Currently Spirit Mountain has a modernization master plan which involves moving and lengthening the Spirit Express. Whether they will keep the same lift and modify it again has yet to be determined.
2. 1971 Hall Double “Eagles Nest Double” at Whitecap Mountain, Hurley, Wisconsin. www.skiwhitecap.com
This Hall double is unique in the fact that it is a partial two-way lift (most lifts you can only ride in one direction) and it crosses over a small valley. It is also unique that the motor house uses an older design
but uses newer style chairs, towers and sheave assemblies. It has two midway unloading points
on either side of the valley it crosses. On one side of the valley is another unique feature of this lift: its lattice type tower.
On the Eagles Nest Mountain side, the lift uses two depression towers to ascend the extremely steep incline of the mountain.
The other unique feature of this lift is that one of the towers sits at an angle. Most Hall towers sit like this: | where this tower perched on a rocky ledge sits at an angle / over the ledge.
If there isn’t a lot of snow, you can see the lake at the bottom of the valley that the lift crosses over; it has some amazing views from here.
1. 1966/1989 Hall Skycruiser gondola at Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen, Minnesota. www.lutsen.com
This is one of four remaining Hall Skycruiser gondola in the country. This lift was originally installed at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire and then part of It was moved to Lutsen In 1989. Lutsen bought the terminals
cross arms, and Skycruiser cabins and one original tripod tower from Loon. This particular lift requires an attendant to move the cabins around the contour and send it back on its way;
Newer gondolas use automatic rollers in the station and to speed the cabins onto the cable; this lift uses good old fashioned gravity. A lift attendant has to pull a cord to release the brake in the station and the Skycruiser cabin travels down a slight decline before being attached to the cable.
Lutsen kept the original, gravity powered coupling design and the original Skycruiser cabins and refurbished them to ensure a long life and a quaint, vintage feeling. The original Skycruiser featured Hall’s tripod towers
for extra support and stability. The gondola crosses over a creek and a goes down into a small valley
before making a very steep ascent into the summit station.
During this portion of the ride, you get some great views of Lake Superior and the surrounding land. I particularly love this part of the ride. The three break-over towers are perched right on the edge of Moose Mountain
It’s a very interesting feeling departing the summit station and looking over the edge of the mountain before going down the decent. The Skycruiser is a two way lift. Lutsen does sell tickets to non-skiers to ride the lift to the mountain top restaurant. While I was skiing at Lutsen, I fell and tore my ACL; I had to take the Skycruiser back to Eagle Mountain where my car was. I took this video of the Skycruiser on my trip to my car.
For the memories associated with it and the rarity of the lift, this one grabs the top spot on my list of the Top 5 ski lifts of all time.
*round of applause*
There, now, wasn't he great? We have a picture he took of that last lift hanging up in our bedroom. Having been with him for almost 4 years, I could sit here and tell you about Borvigs and Halls and Riblets (not on the list because he hates them) and all that stuff. I've definitely learned a lot from him, and I hope you all have, too! If nothing else, maybe you're geared up for winter now. God knows we're not going to get to see Fall this year...
This week I have the honor of guest blogging over at Tearing Up Houses. The gracious and lovely Kelly thought so much of Top 5 Tuesday that she suggested I share it with her readers. So, upon her suggestion--a good one, I might add--this week I'm featuring the top 5 places I'd love to live. It seems an appropriate subject to piggyback off of last week's dreams of future jobs. I mean, what good is being a backup-dancing runway model who teaches college lit and blogs on the side if you have to do it in a location you hate? Right?
So, without further prattle on my part, I give you this week's Top 5 Tuesday: Home Edition!
5) London
This one used to be at the top of my list, but a lot has changed since high school--finding out it's gloomy there as a rule sort of put a damper on plans for Oxford. Being solar powered, I need my sunshine. The thought of waking up to fog-coated streets and buildings older than my entire native country is romantic. And having the world's largest Ferris wheel can't hurt! Don't even get me started on the accents! I could listen to a native Londoner read from the phone book and I'd be content, no matter the climate.
4) Toronto
There's something charming about Canada. I haven't quite put my finger on what it is, but it's sort of akin to that kid in the neighborhood who you know is just different enough from you that you'd get along great. Maybe he wears bright yellow velcro shoes and smells a little like a pine tree every day, but he's charming! But Canada is a big country, and picking a place within it to call home is almost as difficult as picking a place in the U.S., but my money is on Toronto. They've got great nightlife, culture, that CN tower dealy, and, like the rest of the nation, healthcare. That's a huge draw for someone without health insurance. *points at self* Plus, I hear it's a really diverse city that's friendly towards the gay population. I'm always okay with that.
3) Chicago
But Justin, you might say, don't you already LIVE in Chicago? Well, sort of. See, although we visit fairly often, we're still about 50 miles away. Honestly, I live in a cornfield next to a Wal Mart. It's a good hour to where we like to be. If I could live in the city, though, I'd be there in a flash. They've got Wrigley Field, Comiskey (don't get me started), Boystown, the Magnificent Mile, and the best pizza you've ever had! And that's not even mentioning the museums and parks and great places to people watch--OH! And Nookie's Tree, my personal favorite restaurant. I could go on and on! And here you sit wondering what two places I could possibly love more than Chicago!
2) San Diego
If you'd really like to know how I feel about San Diego, start by clicking [here]. I just got back from spending two weeks in this place in July. Anyone who regularly reads my blog is probably going, "Oh, gawd! Not this again!" Well, this again. I would move here in a heartbeat, because San Diego is the most beautiful place I've ever been. The people are friendly; the weather is perfect; the bay is gorgeous; the ocean is close enough to drive to; and the city is just chock full of things to do. Want food? Little Italy. Want a great view? Anywhere--but the best view is from the top of the Hyatt. Want nightlife? Gaslamp District. Ghosts? Old Town. Adventure? How about a harbor tour? And palm trees, palm trees, palm trees. It's so perfect there, even the bums smile. They've got great public transportation and even better destinations! I can't say with enough emphasis how much I would recommend living here! It's my favorite place I've ever been.
"But Justin, there's one more on your list," you say. "How can that be your favorite if there's something else at number one?" Well...
1) Anywhere with the boy
Crappy apartment in the Bronx? Fine. High rise in Montreal? Okay. Flat in China? Bring it on. As long as Robb is there with me, any place feels like home. It's a funny thing, finding someone who feels like home. We always tell each other before a big move that we can deal with anything and make any place feel like home as long as we're together. I know, it's sappy. I know, you're probably going to send me a carpet cleaning bill from barfing up breakfast. But it's true! I would live in Alaska for him if that's where he wanted to go. And I know he'd do the same for me! Anywhere on earth is home, as long as I'm with the boy.
And there you have it. My Top 5 Tuesday list of the places I'd most like to live. Join us next week when who knows what will happen! Top 5 flavors of pancakes? Maybe. Top 5 country songs to play backwards? Who knows? As always, I'm happy to take suggestions for list ideas. Thanks for reading, and have a lovely week!
If you read my blog you know I hate my job. If you hadn't realized it yet, let me say it explicitly. I hate my job. So when lisguitarist suggested I do a Top 5 Tuesday blog about jobs, I jumped at the opportunity!
Are you making sandwiches for ungrateful jerks? Spending all day dealing with horrible customers? Answering the phone with your Lee Press-on smile? Serving food? This blog's for you! After careful consideration and much soul searching, I present to everyone my list of The Top 5 Jobs I'd Love To Try.
5) Professional Blogger
If I could make my money doing exactly what I'm doing every day around here, I'd quit my crappy job in a heartbeat! Leave banking for blogging? Sure! What's to lose? I'd have no customers, no rules, and no one to answer to except my fans (and those crazy people who seem to hate me for no reason). I can't see any downside.
4) Runway Model
The photo says it all. Who wouldn't want to be that guy? Personal trainer? Sure! Wearing ridiculous clothes? Why not! Having my photo taken and plastered all over magazines and the Internet? It's about time! I'd get paid to be pretty and walk. I mean, it's not much for personal worth aside from whatever you'd feel from being beautiful, but you get paid to walk twenty feet and turn around. I don't even have to smile! Sounds like the perfect job, honestly.
3) College Literature Professor
This one is probably the one I'm most serious about. It's been something I've wanted to do since college lit (more years ago than I care to admit). There's nothing closer to being a professional student than this. It would entail more school. Fine by me! I would have to talk in front of a group. I could get used to that, especially if it were something I was passionate about. And, to top it all off, I'd get to wear a sweet sports jacket to work every day! Getting paid to read? To teach others to love and appreciate what you love? Jackpot! I might have to look into grad schools...
2) Backup Dancer
Heck yes. Only because I'd love to bust out some moves and people point for different reasons than they normally do. Really, I just wish I could dance, and this is most definitely an extension of that desire. Bright lights and pumping music would be my new home, my blood, and my heartbeat. Yes please!
1) Editor at Hardest Level
Okay, okay. I'll admit this one is sort of a plug. But. This is something that could happen. I have a phone call today to talk with Eugenia about what an internship with Xanga's very own Hardest Level would entail. Reading and writing about video games? Count me in without one ounce of hesitation! Editing? Yes, please! And perhaps even boosting readership and building relationships with more people around the Xangaverse? That's, like, a dream come true!
So there you have it: a frightening look into what I'd love to do. Could I ever be all these things? Perhaps. Although I'd have to learn to sleepwalk like a model and blog at the same time...this could prove problematic. Not to mention the trauma from teh people that would have to see me both disrobe AND dance. Eek!
What about your top five?
Until next time, friends! Remember, submissions for Top 5 Tuesday blogs are always welcome. Who knows, you could see your own idea on this very spot next week!
Thus far I've graduated college with an English degree (read: I work in a bank), come out to friends and family (read: I'm gay), accompanied my boyfriend of seven years to all kinds of sweet events (read: I'm taken), and managed not to make too many enemies in the whole process. Life is...
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