Necessary Mutilation

Weight: 194.7 lbs.

I am so off track I may as well not have even had surgery! I spent all yesterday eating whatever, whenever. It all started with the brunch. When we arrived at Pete’s after 10:00. he had left to watch a race down the street, and wasn’t even home. And as usual, his house wasn’t set up, meaning that those of us who arrived starving and hoping to eat soon, had no choice but to clear spaces, set up furniture and cook the food, if we hoped to eat! Debbie and I in particular were so hungry (and annoyed!) that we decided to toast and eat a bagel while we worked, rather than wait for all 8 of us to be settled and all the food to be done. I have never resorted to this before, nor have I started a meal with a pure and bad carb choice, but gave up the ship early when it was apparent that it was this or starve until Pete returned and everything was done.

Note to self…arrive even later for future commitments at Petes!! And don’t arrive famished!

Anyway, once the tables and chairs and food were up and available, the porch eaten brunch was nice, and there were many more delicacies to accompany that darn bagel. So at least I got some belated protein in as well. And lots of talk, coffee, laughter and visiting.

On the way home, Tom and I spoke of how weary we felt, and our desire to have a “calgon take me away” time at the casino. As Sue et. al. were doing other things the rest of the day and it was only 1:00, we fantasized about going to the air conditioned casino and abandoning all responsibility, for the rest of the day. But, alas, I had tons of shopping in prep for today to do, and Tom had to trim the bushes and other stuff so our yard isn’t too shaggy for guests.

We went to three stores and spent nearly $100 on Memorial day food for 100 (even though only like 20 are actually coming!). I got all the usual crap, plus some lucious looking strawberries, melons and blueberries that we then cleaned and cut up and have put in nice bowls, already ready for munching on. And of course, I started early not just on this, but on other stuff there is clearly too much of. We ended up nibbling and munching while prepping, and then in front of an old movie. While we did 4 loads of laundry.

And THEN went to the casino! At like 6:30.

We stayed until about 9:30, and saw a bored and snotty looking young woman, competing with thousands, win the $30,000 car drawing. You’d think they could have drawn a more enthusiastic looking winner…like me!

Anyway, as we only had little money, we set a firm limit on playing, divvied up, and set off to our favorite quarter machines. And I won and won and won!

I mostly played a machine called Bonus Times where sevens and cherries and bars can get multiplied by 2x, 5x and/or 10x. If you get a mixture of the three, it pays 1,000 quarters. If you get three 10’s, it pays 10,000 quarters. Three 5’s pays 2,500 quarters, and three 2’s pays 1,600 quarters (or $400).

Moments into playing, I got two times ten times double bar, which was 400 quarters or a hundred dollars. I used some of this money to then get the three 5’s for 2,500 quarters, drawing quite a crowd. Moments later I hit the three two’s! I’ve never gotten the three fives before, and now I got them and the twos!  And then I got the three two’s again!!! Several people, mostly oriental, were watching and rubbing me and bringing over relatives and I suppose telling them all about it (as I couldn’t understand a word!) One woman just sat right down next to me, and watched me for the remainder of the time I stayed on this machine.

After the meter started to creep down and I figured I had already set some kind of record, I moved to another machine of same type, and immediately hit for 5 x 5 x triple bar, or 750 quarters.

And grabbed Tom, and went home!! Richer, I might add!

I am especially happy as there are two charity events I would like to use some cash for this week, and now won’t have to scrimp as much. Not to mention that our air is still out and needing fixing.

We are also in the process of a dispute with the company who installed it and soon the manufacturer (Heil), as the core rusted out and leaks after just 1 1/2 (Buffalo!) summers of use, and this is ridiculous. The company who installed (Zenner and Ritter) have not been willing or able to give us an estimate on labor to replace it, and have been rude and nasty when asked. We are not sure if it will cost $50 or $1,000, but either way, we are angry to have to be in this situation or to have to pay anything (only parts is still covered by warranty).

So, I guess the moral of the casino story may be “easy come, easy go”….but not if I can help it.

And soon I will need to fight as hard so my weight also stops creeping up, and I am as good an advocate for my health, as I am for our money.

Eeeepp…or not!