Favorite Place Growing Up.
This is the view (well, maybe if you're really tall) as you enter the HI-VI Arcade at Ameristar Casino in St. Charles. Most kids in middle school are more interested in loitering at the mall, but I spent my Friday or Saturday nights at the HI-VI with all the other kids who, I assume, were dropped off by their gambler parents. I was reeeeeaaallly big into DDR. And I hate to be that hipster who says "I liked it before it was cool".... but I did. I started playing like, back in 2000 or 2001.
Anyway, now that I'm off my soap box, I used to hang out at this arcade with a bunch of hardcore DDR nerds and... it's one of those experiences that's hard to explain in words, but there was a competitive yet friendly aura about the place. Regardless of your skill level, you came in, you cashed out everything in your name for some tokens, and you took turns having the time of your life on this retarded-looking flashy metal box for 7 hours or so. There was this weird connection to the game, to the players... it's hard to describe, but it's that feeling of being part of something. I know it's not exclusive to arcade junkies... it's something universal that you can feel with any sport or hobby you're passionate about.
Favorite Place Locally.
I've lived here for about a week. I don't yet have a favorite place locally. So I chose what (I think) is sort of ironic but not entirely out of the specifications of "locally" -- my bedroom at my apartment.
NOOOOO it's not some artistic statement about being homesick (As a matter of fact, my room here doesn't resemble my room back home at all). It's just a comfort zone thing.
