OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please don't read, if you aren't interested.
I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards. http://www.ssbilliards.com/
I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a deal to most, just milestones in my life.
I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in the door and off I went.
Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better than this".
About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get any better than this.
My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you think it didn't get any better than this.
When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. Doesn't get much better than this.
The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't get much better than this.
October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, the bar.
I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, it is appreciated. I wish you the best with everything and know you will have the chance to appreciate many more anniversaries. In recognition of your work, here are a few LTG pictures from the archives:
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts > on Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards. > http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to > thinking. I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the > city park in Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a > polka band and eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't > get any better than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of > wood. Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I > could find to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile > my Dad would come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a > long time, every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't > squeeze anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got > real bug eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following > years ) and tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being > dangerous. Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One > very hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with > sweat, dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music > out front. The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all > it's splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't > get any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite > evident there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This > gallery wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I > always looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always > made me feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. > Paint it, step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at > it. Made you think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in > and the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. > Later we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less > air into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less > air was going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next > morning, my Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. > He told me to go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel > imbedded into the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked > like a small grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish > I'd seen it. Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing > their routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right > after disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. > Got it up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me > to thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest > to make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, > and they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about > a week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it > doesn't get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten > years ). With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, > Todd Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled > at the sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. > Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of > July day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. > Then the long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on > one of their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. > Couldn't help but think not too many years before I was sitting there with > my wife and how happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up > and left. I was thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or > breakdown, over five hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped > the fireworks. I drove about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake > I discovered and fished, too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of > that spot. Thought of happier times. Heard a moose calling from across the > lake. Got me to thinking if I hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I > would have never returned to that lake. Man, it doesn't get any better > than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, > when Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he > knew Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true > love, the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Lloyd Olson wrote: > OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards. > http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
I just met you a couple weeks ago, but in that time you have come to be one of the nicest, warmest, most sincere people I have ever known on the internet, and I've been posting on forums for over 15 years now. This group would not be the same without you. It would be great if you got paid to be on here hehe. Thank you for everything you do for all of us. I wish you nothing but the best, you are one hell of a good man.
I know every time I make a post, I am hoping you will find it first. It's hard being a noob to pinball ownership. Luckily you are around though and you have never insulted me or made me feel dumb. I appreciate everything so much. Thank you Lloyd for being who you are.
On Sep 19, 11:35 pm, Rockotaco <bizma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I just met you a couple weeks ago, but in that time you have come to > be one of the nicest, warmest, most sincere people I have ever known > on the internet, and I've been posting on forums for over 15 years > now. This group would not be the same without you. It would be great > if you got paid to be on here hehe. Thank you for everything you do > for all of us. I wish you nothing but the best, you are one hell of a > good man.
> I know every time I make a post, I am hoping you will find it first. > It's hard being a noob to pinball ownership. Luckily you are around > though and you have never insulted me or made me feel dumb. I > appreciate everything so much. Thank you Lloyd for being who you are.
Dude Who can miss the LLOYDSTER! He is bionic poster! and a TON OF HELP TO EVERYONE!!
> On Sep 19, 11:35 pm, Rockotaco <bizma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I just met you a couple weeks ago, but in that time you have come to > > be one of the nicest, warmest, most sincere people I have ever known > > on the internet, and I've been posting on forums for over 15 years > > now. This group would not be the same without you. It would be great > > if you got paid to be on here hehe. Thank you for everything you do > > for all of us. I wish you nothing but the best, you are one hell of a > > good man.
> > I know every time I make a post, I am hoping you will find it first. > > It's hard being a noob to pinball ownership. Luckily you are around > > though and you have never insulted me or made me feel dumb. I > > appreciate everything so much. Thank you Lloyd for being who you are.
> Dude Who can miss the LLOYDSTER! He is bionic poster! and a TON OF > HELP TO EVERYONE!!
> God bless you my man!!!!
> ~Train/Justin > Sacramento, CA
Lloyd- I've been around here for around 7 years. I don't post very often, but I learn a lot and obviously you are an important part of most of it. I think that even when you haven't yet posted a response to someone's problem, everyone sort of waits-anticipating your answer. This is the only site I have participated in that has a sort of omnipresence like that. Pinball itself is cool- you help this place make it that much cooler. Thanks and happy anniversary (if you actually have the date right now!)
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards.http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Wow Lloyd, you have outdone yourself. Thanks for reminding me to regularly take stock to appreciate how good life can be. A very happy anniversary to you.
Edward Cheung CARGPB26
On Sep 20, 7:35 am, yzfguy <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote:
> On Sep 20, 4:03 am, PinTrain <fattr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sep 19, 11:35 pm, Rockotaco <bizma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I just met you a couple weeks ago, but in that time you have come to > > > be one of the nicest, warmest, most sincere people I have ever known > > > on the internet, and I've been posting on forums for over 15 years > > > now. This group would not be the same without you. It would be great > > > if you got paid to be on here hehe. Thank you for everything you do > > > for all of us. I wish you nothing but the best, you are one hell of a > > > good man.
> > > I know every time I make a post, I am hoping you will find it first. > > > It's hard being a noob to pinball ownership. Luckily you are around > > > though and you have never insulted me or made me feel dumb. I > > > appreciate everything so much. Thank you Lloyd for being who you are.
> > Dude Who can miss the LLOYDSTER! He is bionic poster! and a TON OF > > HELP TO EVERYONE!!
> > God bless you my man!!!!
> > ~Train/Justin > > Sacramento, CA
> Lloyd- I've been around here for around 7 years. I don't post very > often, but I learn a lot and obviously you are an important part of > most of it. I think that even when you haven't yet posted a response > to someone's problem, everyone sort of waits-anticipating your answer. > This is the only site I have participated in that has a sort of > omnipresence like that. Pinball itself is cool- you help this place > make it that much cooler. Thanks and happy anniversary (if you > actually have the date right now!)
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am > truly blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my > dream. It doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Happy 37th, you old mop top! (or have you gotten a haircut lately? :) )
-- Have a home video that's trapped on your camera? Want to share it on the web or on DVD?
> Wow Lloyd, you have outdone yourself. Thanks for reminding me to > regularly take stock to appreciate how good life can be. A very happy > anniversary to you.
> Edward Cheung CARGPB26
> On Sep 20, 7:35 am, yzfguy <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote:
> > On Sep 20, 4:03 am, PinTrain <fattr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > I just met you a couple weeks ago, but in that time you have come to > > > > be one of the nicest, warmest, most sincere people I have ever known > > > > on the internet, and I've been posting on forums for over 15 years > > > > now. This group would not be the same without you. It would be great > > > > if you got paid to be on here hehe. Thank you for everything you do > > > > for all of us. I wish you nothing but the best, you are one hell of a > > > > good man.
> > > > I know every time I make a post, I am hoping you will find it first. > > > > It's hard being a noob to pinball ownership. Luckily you are around > > > > though and you have never insulted me or made me feel dumb. I > > > > appreciate everything so much. Thank you Lloyd for being who you are.
> > > Dude Who can miss the LLOYDSTER! He is bionic poster! and a TON OF > > > HELP TO EVERYONE!!
> > > God bless you my man!!!!
> > > ~Train/Justin > > > Sacramento, CA
> > Lloyd- I've been around here for around 7 years. I don't post very > > often, but I learn a lot and obviously you are an important part of > > most of it. I think that even when you haven't yet posted a response > > to someone's problem, everyone sort of waits-anticipating your answer. > > This is the only site I have participated in that has a sort of > > omnipresence like that. Pinball itself is cool- you help this place > > make it that much cooler. Thanks and happy anniversary (if you > > actually have the date right now!)- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
Very happy 37th anniversary to you LTG!! Your post is a great reminder to stop and smell the roses!! ;-) Thank you for everything you do to help so many each and every day! I hope you have a Wonderful day!! You deserve it!! Enjoy! ;-)
> > I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am > > truly blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my > > dream. It doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
> Happy 37th, you old mop top! (or have you gotten a haircut lately? :) )
> -- > Have a home video that's trapped on your camera? Want to share it on the > web or on DVD?
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
> > > I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am > > > truly blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my > > > dream. It doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
> > Happy 37th, you old mop top! (or have you gotten a haircut lately? :) )
> > -- > > Have a home video that's trapped on your camera? Want to share it on the > > web or on DVD?
> Congrats on the 37th Lloyd! Keep them coming! I've only met you on > this newsgroup but you certainly make it a better place. Your help has > been great!
Very nice story, Lloyd Thanks for taking the time to answer so many posts and help us less experienced folks out.
I always appreciate the ops. Brings back memories of being an 18-yo kid just off to college at a large university where I only knew 1 soul. It took me a week or so to discover a great coin-op arcade downtown (Playland, State CVollege, PA) that helped pass some initial lonely hours and soon became a hangout with new found friends. I remember the two men that ran it were good guys and once/wk on Thursdays, they would set out a couple large trays of pizza at noontime for the student customers to munch on while in the arcade.
I remember changing fuses in a Dodge Caravan, on a cold Minnesota winter's night...thinking. "It's gotta get better than this"
;-)
It did! . . .
Stories and memories made with friends are what makes life worth living. Lloyd (my friend), you have more stories and memories made with friends than anyone I know. That post barely scratches the surface!
I've had the pleasure of meeting you and playing pinball in your establishment, as well as meeting some of the other Minnesota Pinball crew. It's nice to see such a great group of people and the passion and enthusiasm they have for the hobby. Thanks for doing your part to keep this going Lloyd....can't wait to see you all again!
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards.http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Happy Anniversary Lloyd, Great stories. I enjoyed them. Don't feel lonely, you have almost 6000 RGP'ers right behind you all the time. You are truly one of pinballs all time top ten greatest.
> On Sep 20, 1:28 am, "Lloyd Olson" <l...@ssbilliards.com> wrote:
> > OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> > I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards.http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> > I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> > I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > > the door and off I went.
> > Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > > than this".
> > About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> > Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > > any better than this.
> > My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > > think it didn't get any better than this.
> > When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > > Doesn't get much better than this.
> > The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> > In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> > The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > > get much better than this.
> > October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > > doesn't get any better than this.
> > 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> > September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > > the bar.
> > I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
> Lloyd,
> Your post...it doesn't get any better than this.
37 years is along time to do anything and in business it's a testament to hard work and perseverance. Congratulations to you Lloyd!!! And thanks for helping everyone on RGP (especially us dumb ones...)
Wow, 37 years! Happy Anniversary to Lloyd and SS Billiards. Every time I read a post Lloyd writes about happenings in his life, I think, "it doesn't get any better than this". :) -S (CARGPB1)
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards.http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Wow. I can tell it comes from the heart. Many of us have thoughts like this but few of us put them in words. Thanks.
Congrats Lloyd. I would not have kept collecting pinball machines if it was not for all of the help from you and many others on here. You've helped me many times with issues on games in the past!!!
> OT kind of. Though my life is interwoven in coin op and pinball. Please > don't read, if you aren't interested.
> I'll be heading home shortly, to get some sleep before my work day starts on > Sunday September 20th. My 37th Anniversary with SS Billiards.http://www.ssbilliards.com/
> I was debating making an anniversary post on RGP this year. Not that big a > deal to most, just milestones in my life.
> I snuck out earlier to go get dinner. Put my "back in ten minutes" sign in > the door and off I went.
> Heard a polka on the radio as I was switching channels. Got me to thinking. > I was about four years old, sitting by the band stand in the city park in > Chaska, Minnesota ( my Mother's home town ) listening to a polka band and > eating a bag of cherries, I remember thinking "it doesn't get any better > than this".
> About this same time I built my first EM pinball. I had a big piece of wood. > Screwed down every stepper unit, score motor, relay, anything I could find > to it. I wasn't allowed to solder yet. So every once in awhile my Dad would > come over and solder wires where ever I wanted them. After a long time, > every thing that could have a wire to it, did. When we couldn't squeeze > anymore wire onto it, I said to my Dad "lets plug it in". He got real bug > eyed and shocked ( a look I saw many times in the following years ) and > tried to explain that we couldn't and some crap about it being dangerous. > Got me thinking, "man, it doesn't get any better than this".
> Working at the shooting gallery he ran at the Minnesota State Fair. One very > hot August evening, I took a five second break. I was covered with sweat, > dust, graphite, gun oil. Juke box in the back cranking out music out front. > The front of the building was facing West. I saw the sun in all it's > splendor starting to think about setting. Got me thinking "it doesn't get > any better than this.
> My Dad's arcade was the Rifle Sport, located at 812 Hennepin Avenue when I > started working there for him. The smell of Luminal paint was quite evident > there. I used it to paint the 22 caliber shooting gallery. This gallery > wasn't even one fourth the size of the one at the state fair. I always > looked at that gallery as work. The one at the Rifle Sport, always made me > feel good when I worked on it. Clean out the graphite, grease it. Paint it, > step back and admire how great it looked before anyone shot at it. Made you > think it didn't get any better than this.
> When the Rifle Sport Arcade moved to 604 Hennepin Avenue, upstairs. A B-B > gun range was added. That thing always leaked air, and the air compressor > was always running. I came up with the idea to put a bigger pulley on the > pump so it would fill up quicker. Worked great. Well almost. Later that > evening my Dad went into the kitchen area ( used to be a nightclub up > there ) to heat some water for his instant Folgers coffee. He walked in and > the pump was glowing cherry red, he ran back out just as it blew up. Later > we found out that the faster it ran, the hotter it got, and put less air > into the tank, each cycle running longer and longer as less and less air was > going through the pump until it blew up. When I came in the next morning, my > Dad was on about something. His usual screaming and yelling. He told me to > go look in the kitchen. There was a fair amount of shrapnel imbedded into > the walls and stuff around the air compressor tank. Looked like a small > grenade went off. Got me to thinking this was cool, I wish I'd seen it. > Doesn't get much better than this.
> The one year I worked for about the largest op in the Midwest. I got to be > in on delivering the juke box to the high school cheerleader party for the > state basketball and hockey playoffs. When I was done I got a pop and was > sitting watching all the cheerleader warm ups, stretching, practicing their > routines. I knew it didn't get any better than this.
> In October 1987. Just got done with getting the new rug in. And right after > disassembled a Sega sit down Afterburner and reassembled it inside. Got it > up and running. got a Pepsi, watching customers playing it, got me to > thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this".
> The first Goose pinball party was on March 2nd, 2001. All by accident. I'd > been trying to do leagues or tournaments and there wasn't enough interest to > make them happen. There was a pinball tournament in town on March 3rd, and > they only had access to the area they were using on that day. So about a > week and a half before Paul Madison stopped by and told me that the guys > coming up from Chicago for the tournament would probably stop by here and > practice on Friday. I thought we should have a small party. Order some > pizza, let the out of town guys meet and play the locals. Just got in High > Roller Casino and borrowed Greg Kemnitz's Big Bang Bar, got some mugs > printed up for the event, and had the Launch Those Geese party.Watching my > business packed with people, I couldn't help but think that man, it doesn't > get much better than this.
> October 21st, 2002, I was celebrating my 30th Anniversary with the Bolshoi > Goose party. ( back some years before on the 20th or 21st anniversary I > started celebrating my anniversary on the wrong date for about ten years ). > With the help of many. Greg Algaard, Jim Hallock, Greg Kemnitz, Todd > Andersen, Dave Slabiak. I was sitting talking with Dave and marveled at the > sound of 40 pinball machines all being played at the same time. Man, it > doesn't get any better than this.
> 2007, the last chance I had to get up to Grand Marais, MN on my 4th of July > day off. To rest, unwind. Have a good dinner, watch the fireworks. Then the > long drive home. I ate dinner at Naniboujou lodge. Sat outside on one of > their Adirondack chairs by Lake Superior. Just enjoying life. Couldn't help > but think not too many years before I was sitting there with my wife and how > happy I was. All of a sudden I got very lonely, I got up and left. I was > thinking this is a pretty poor time to feel lonely or breakdown, over five > hours from home. Unbeknownst to everybody, I skipped the fireworks. I drove > about an hour up the Gunflint Trail. I found a lake I discovered and fished, > too many years ago. I looked at the beauty of that spot. Thought of happier > times. Heard a moose calling from across the lake. Got me to thinking if I > hadn't been feeling sorry for my self, I would have never returned to that > lake. Man, it doesn't get any better than this.
> September 20th, after my day's work. After the 37th anniversary party. The > last people will leave. I'll be all alone. Feeling pretty pathetic. The > parties are pretty tough on me. Check my email and the newsgroup in case I > can try and help anybody that needs it with their games. And head out. > Wondering why I do it. And I'll think about the last episode on Cheers, when > Norm was sitting having a beer, and talking to Sam. Norm tells Sam he knew > Sam would return, because he wouldn't be unfaithful to his one true love, > the bar.
> I want to thank each and every person I've met along the way. I am truly > blessed. I am the most fortunate person alive. I am living my dream. It > doesn't get any better than this. LTG :)
Lloyd, it inspires me that someone who has led a pretty tough life has the depth of character to focus on the good in it -- to recognize that a whole lot of seemingly small things (and a whole lot of friends who think a lot of you) ultimately add up to a wonderful fulfilling life.
Consider the hundreds (thousands?) of people you have helped in so many ways over the years, with technical advice and life counseling. Think about all the guys like me, who you've never met in person, but who consider you a beacon of our hobby -- to be one of the most helpful and kind-hearted people we know.
Thanks for sharing some of those memorable moments.
