I love arcades

A big part of my childhood was spent hanging out in arcades playing video games. And not only playing video games, but watching friends and brothers play games. We used to have my mom drop us off at the University Mall, to spend hours on end at Fun-Uv-It, playing Street Fighter 2, Spy Hunter, Arch Rivals, and many other classic arcade games. If it wasn't the Fun-Uv-It, it was playing games at the movie theater, or at our gas station hang outs such as 7-11 or Will's Pit Stop. If I had all the quarters back that I pumped into those machines, I'd have about $20,000 dollars to go buy a new car. I miss those days where you could take three bucks to an arcade and play forever. Now, three bucks will last you about 10 minutes. It's ridiculous. Video games should cost a quarter. Period. Oh well, memories.

The reason that I bring this up, is that on our recent trip to Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, California, we stayed at the San Simeon Beach Lodge, with an adjoining restaurant and lounge. Now, the lil wifey and I love to play pool, so we decided to head on over to the lounge for some 8-ball, when I encountered the following:



I got a kick out of this beautifully crafted, fancy neon sign, right above ONE video game. I suppose that you could say that the pool table is part of the arcade, but I'd like to think that they spent the money to create this nice, cursive "Arcade" sign for just this one game. Personally, if I were to include the pool table in with the video game, I would have titled it Game Room, not Arcade. I wouldn't really consider a pool table as an arcade game, but that's cool.

Pop quiz

What does the following look like to you?

a. A head of hair.
b. A bird's nest.
c. None of the above.



See, I would have said that it looks like my hair, but today, at approximately 1:15 pm, as I was walking to get a burrito at Roberto's, a bird mistook it for a nest and dove at me. I felt like a worm or a field mouse as it swooped down and tried to grab my hair.

Was he trying to land in it, or was he trying to use part of it for his nest? I am not entirely sure, to be honest, and I don't know that I'll ever have the full truth. What I do know is that it must have provided quite a sight for all the people sitting outside at Sam's Pizza and Roberto's. They got a free show with their lunch. Lucky them.

Airplane signage

One of my favorite things in life is airplane safety signage. I especially love the illustrated variety, whether it's the safety pamphlet, or exit row signs, they rarely disappoint.

I flew to North Carolina recently, and was fortunate enough to sit in the Exit Row on the way home (yeah, leg room!). The following was posted above the exit door.



I am fairly certain of the sign's intended meaning, but I chose to come up with my own interpretation. It goes something like this:

If you stare out the window for too long, you will shoot a laser from your eyes. The glass will magnify said laser, and immediately start anything on fire which comes in its path. This even includes clouds. Caution, whatever you do, don't look at the door!

If any of you see your own awesome illustrated signage, please feel free to send it my way.