Creepy Old Women, My New Slot Bitch, and More From El City de Atlantic

Well, for the first time in the last six gambling excursions (including my checking account-bleeding trip to Vegas), I actually came back a winner, this time from my home away from home away from home, Atlantic City. (The other homes being Chick-Fil-A and...well...home) I went with my Dad, my sister, and my Mom-Mom. My Dad's initial plan was for us to meet at his house at 7:30 in the morning, which was greeted with a hearty "Um, no" by me and Rachel. So we met up around 9:00-ish (ish = we were late), grabbed breakfast at Java Joe's, and went on our merry way.

Some of the highlights, in BULLET FORM (oooooh, aaaaaah):

• Upon signing up for a Showboat Rewards card, I earned a free 12-pack of Diet Coke, as did my sister. My reaction was roughly the equivalent of finding out that I hit the jackpot at a slot machine. What can I say...we're thirsty freeloaders.
• As I stood at a quarter slot machine for a few minutes, I has the "pleasure" of having a 95-year-old woman staring at me playing the entire time. When I won $75, she said, "You did well, young man." Thanks Yoda...now stop creeping me out.
• The Wheel of Fortune nickel slot has supplanted The Price is Right nickel slot as "my official bitch."
• An elderly Showboat security guard gave my sister beads as she was trying to ask where the bathroom was. When I later explained to her what receiving beads meant in a Mardi Gras Themed Casino, her face turned four shades of red.
• The Price is Right Stage Show was fun, though none of us got called up. I swear though...every other person called up on stage was named Lorraine.
  
• Mark Walberg was the host of the show (Russian Roulette/Temptation Island Mark, not Marky Mark Mark). I always thought he came off like a douchebag; seeing him in person did nothing to erase that notion.
  
• For anyone who goes to Atlantic City with me from here on in, parking is on me*.
  
• If you ever want a good laugh, watch my Dad get yelled at for making every illegal bet known to man on Roulette. None of it was intentional...it's just hysterical seeing the dealer (who can barely speak English) scream, "You can't do that!" every other spin.
• No one carded my sister, thus taking the fun out of flashing your ID legally for the first time in a casino.
  

I end this blog with words of wisdom dispersed by the curators of the Atlantic City Expressway...

Stay Alert...

Stay Awake...

Stay Alive.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Until next time...
Dan

* With my Showboat Rewards Card, parking is always free.