The Puck Stops Here

A perfectionist rarely appreciates something for what it is. Enormous negative connotations and drawbacks exist for this personality type. Allow me to expound on a positive element of perfectionism. I often look at something and idealistically try to improve on its existing condition.

Three years ago, I purchased a secondhand Super Chexx bubble hockey arcade game that came off a shore point vending route at the end of summer. The dome proved virtually scratchless to the naked eye and wear and tear on the gears was minimal. Although the eccentric acquisition was a steal at a discounted price, it exhausted my disposable income for quite awhile. Nobody is perfect.

Readers familiar with this popular arcade game know that the manufacturer, Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, only produces two teams, USA vs. Canada. I decided to customize the game. I made an all Pennsylvania bubble hockey game pitting an all-time greatest Philadelphia Flyers verses an all-time greatest Pittsburgh Penguins team. Of course, I rigidly assigned the players their natural position on the ice without any deviation. After two sleepless nights deciding which players should take the ice based on downloaded statistics weighed against personal preference, I cleaned and polished the game inside and out. I then removed all the moving parts and arduosuly handpainted the hockey player figurines to represent official team colors. Using a dainty brush, it took me 30 hours over four weeknights to painstakingly paint, shellack, decal, and nametag the hockey players into playing shape. Everytime my wife came down the basement to check on me I was burning the midnight oil brushstroking another bootstrap to a marvelous sheen.

The custom Super Chexx game is a real conversation piece for parties. I couldn't be happier with the results although I must endure other people's scrutiny about my need to be so meticulous. So be it. The game came out absolutely perfect. That is until this very moment. I just remembered that when this game came off its vending route I forgot to remove a handful of errant quarters in the base. So I got that to do tonight.