Some Top 5 lists

[saxikath]

A few to start with:


These are all kind of different, so it's hard to rate them. So, in no particular order, my top five:

• "Traveler's Nightmare," a cryptic crossword. This is only half mine, really; tahnan and I did it together. But it was the first cryptic I ever did, and it proved very popular.
  
• My performance as Little Buttercup in HMS Pinafore in 2001. While I'm proud of most of my performances, I think this was my personal best in terms of both music and acting.
  
• The cross-stitch sampler that hangs in my kitchen. I'm a dabbler; I tend to start things and never finish them. But this one, I finished.
  
• A photograph I took of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. (I don't have it handily online to share, alas.) It had wonderful striations that showed up very well.
  
• The character of Sinduri. My first LARP character, and one that has really developed into a well-rounded person over time.
  

5. Whoa -- I Know Dialects! (2003; Jeffrey Chan and Jofish Kaye) -- Cockney rhyming slang meets the Matrix. Had a blast solving this one.

4. Cross Breeding (2002; Brian Tivol) -- This one is a favorite primarily because of the memory of the skit we had to do as a result of it. I will never forget qaqaq's wonderfully over-emoted "This relationship is OVER!!!!!!"

3. Art Gallery (2003; Lance Nathan and Jofish Kaye) -- Brilliant, brilliant art reproductions starring members of Acme.

2. We Have Enough Twists, Thank You (2001; Andy Latto and Cally Perry) -- I was on the team running the Hunt that year, but I had such a great time testsolving this one. I still think it's one of the best workarounds for the "the Web makes trivia quizzes too easy" problem.

1. The Duck Konundrum (2000; Dan Katz) -- I know Dan said he prefers D2 (which I also very much enjoyed), but I'm partial to the original. The laughter involved in solving it made it one of the best Hunt moments for me.

Runners-up include Squiggles ("That's my brain leaving out the back door while my face distracts you."), Company Picnic (flaming Bananas Foster!), Vial Odors (identifying spices), Grounded for Life (kiwis!), The Private Diaries of..." (a meta I had a good time with), and many others.




Again in no particular order:

• Go for a walk. Preferably someplace that's at least a little wild-looking.
  
• Play tempestuous music on the piano, followed by Aaron Copland's "Saturday Night Waltz" to calm down.
  
• Pick one thing I need to do -- paying bills, doing dishes, something of that level -- and go do it. I always feel better afterwards.
  
• Call or IM a friend.
  
• Put on good lively music and dance.
  

More to come later.

Comments

[tmcay.livejournal.com]

Your mention of the puzzle "Art Gallery" reminded me of something:

My dad and his wife recently bought a new house, and I saw it for the first time at Thanksgiving. When I was on the grand tour, I noticed that they had purchased a print of Picasso's "Guitarist" to hang above their headboard, but they chose to hang it sideways so that it depicts the figure lying on his back. Ann explained that they thought the figure's traditional pose looked too strange and preferred the sideways orientation.

[kayre]

the 'relaxing' list is identical to mine except for dancing (and different musical selections).