For some time now In Between Place has successfully catered to the young imagination of kids from the ages of preschool to pre-teen. Somewhere in there, my maturity level fits in perfectly. It was on their porcelain throne that my mind wandered into a magical, fairytale place leading me toward thoughts of Tacoma. I recalled the recent discussion over a letter that everyone including Santa Claus received about the upcoming visit to the Pacific Northwest from Food Network’s Diners Drive-Ins and Dives television show. The discussion via comment section coaxed readers into listing their top local venues who deserved a visit from this popular foodie show. As I sat upon In Between Place’s potty, I began to mentally create other lists of favorites.
A la Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity book (and later movie starring John Cusak), I have become quite fond of making “Top 5” lists. Most of the time it is extremely hard to limit categories to only five favorites, thus creating the need for sub-categories. Is anyone else as crazy about this as I am?
The worst part is, I’ll make a list only to find myself editing entries within a couple of hours of making them, or after hearing someone else’s entries. If you make these lists like I do, you know what I’m talking about. It’s the part where you say, “Oh, Crap! I forgot about that one! Wait, now I have to start all over. Grrrr!” Or, “Can’t I make it my ‘Top 7’?”
So here we go, guys. I’ll throw out a tiny taste of my “Top 5” lists — and you throw in your two cents. Tell me your “Top 5” from these categories. No one is wrong, no one is right — it’s all opinion. Except for me. I’m always right. But then again, I could be wrong about always being right. What a conundrum. Great. Now I’m all confused, so I’ll just say: Marlon Brando.
EASY: Top 5 chocolate candy bars found in a 7-11
- 100 Grand
- Snickers
- Rocky Road
- Peanut Butter Twix
- Skor
INTERMEDIATE: Top 5 pranks on Dwight by Jim on The Office:
- Sends Dwight faxes from “Future Dwight”
- Hides Dwight’s cell phone in ceiling tiles, then Pam calls it all day
- Jim dresses as Dwight (my favorite)
- Puts Dwight’s desk in men’s restroom
- Places Dwight’s desk items and wallet into office vending machine
DIFFICULT: Top 5 most monotone Top 40 (pop) male singers (minus hip-hop and country artists).
This category could easily create so many sub-categories
- James Blunt
- Bruce Springstein
- Ben Gibbard
- David Hasselhoff
- Bob Dylan
OK — I need two more spaces — this one’s hard. Lemmie add Chris Martin and Chad Kroeger.
Now, just like being at In Between Place, use your imagination and be creative. I challenge you — What kind of Top 5 lists can you come up with? C’mon, you know your mind is already on Thanksgiving vacation. What else did you think you would do today? Work?
[In Between Place, 208 N State St (Above Rector's Antiques, off Sixth Avenue), Tacoma, 253.278.9035]