Signs, Signs, Everywhere Are Signs, Bringing Val Comfort in This Family Time

Genius and Friend were the first to arrive at the CasinoPalooza 3 hotel. They had their own room, courtesy of Genius's free night offer from when we stayed there in May. My sister the ex-mayor's wife, and her driver, the ex-mayor, were second. Then The Pony and I parked in the guest lot, where Hick picked us up with our luggage, and headed for valet parking. Genius was texting to see where we were, then said, "Oh, I see you pulling up now. Never mind." He had a good view from his 9th floor room. He was trying to find out if he had time to get a drink and roam around, but we only wanted to put our bags away and get going.

It didn't take us long to hit the road to other casinos. It's about a 20-minute drive to the first one. Sis and the ex-mayor took their own car, and we piled The Pony and Genius and Friend into A-Cad. Yeah. The Pony got the short end of that stick, and had to ride on the third seat. Not that there's anything wrong with that. He's young and spry.

We were about halfway to our first casino, following Sis and Ex-Mayor's white SUV, when it came on the radio: "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," by Steve Wariner. The song The Pony and I associate with my mom. "Pony! Hear it? It's our song!" He did. It was a nice surprise, all of our family there together on a trip, and hearing this song.

Later than night, at 12:12 a.m. (according to the time stamp on the picture), I was alone, gambling back at Downstream, where we were staying, when I decided to get a soda at their grill. Downstream doesn't have free soda stations, though Genius says they'll give you one free at the bar if you ask for it. Anyhoo...there I was, in line to get a soda, when I saw it on the floor:

A PENNY! I don't know anything about the time of 12:12, but maybe that penny had been laying there since 11:11 waiting for me. I was itching to pick it up before somebody else got it, but I wasn't about to bend over and put my head by that gal's butt. Val is no weirdo!

Thankfully, those people got their order pretty quick, and I could get a closeup and snag my rightful 2016 penny. I was really feeling connected. A special song, AND a penny! Forget that I was losing, this gave me a warm feeling.

The next night (or technically, the same night, since this one was found after midnight), we were again back at Downstream. Genius and Friend were hitting the bar (with outrageous prices this time, them not liking the special of a Fireball shot for $2) and wandering around, low-betting. I couldn't get on my Buffalo Gold machine because some really obnoxious people were monopolizing all four seats. More on them another day, perhaps.

I'd been looking for a Wonder 4 Tower slot machine, but hadn't seen any on this trip except at Indigo Sky. We left there before I got my fill of play on it. Friend and Genius found me sitting at a Buffalo Grand machine. I don't really like them. The seat is built in, and it vibrates when you hit enough buffalo. This one never gives me any wins, but it's better than no buffalo. Anyhoo...Friend said he'd found a Wonder 4 Tower up front. I cashed out immediately, and said I was going to get a soda, then go look for it.

No penny this night at the soda counter. I got my beverage (free refills all night, too) and went in search of the Wonder 4 Tower. I couldn't find it. I checked all the landmarks they'd pointed out, but still no Tower. Kind of in a huff, I slogged back to the area of the grill, where Genius and Friend were playing a giant money wheel machine. My knees were on their last legs at the end of this day, and I was disgruntled over the wild Tower chase. Friend apologized and said he'd take me there.

That was really nice of him, but it meant more walking. I said I might just play that Buffalo Grand again, but IT WAS TAKEN, along with the one beside it. So I went with Friend up front for the Tower. When we got there, all the seats were taken! TAKEN! So I had to walk back to my Buffalo Grand, in hopes of it being open. AND IT WAS. But that's not the best part.

Right there on the control panel was a PENNY! Left just for ME! I put down my soda and got out my camera.

A shiny 2015. Doesn't bother me a bit that it was face down. Though in retrospect, maybe it was bad luck to pick up a face-down penny. NO! NEVER! Every penny is a good penny for Val, in her quest to become a Future Pennyillionaire.

Anyhoo...there's more to Val's madness, so random that it deserves its own post tomorrow. For now, let's move along to the ride home.

We weren't very far out of Joplin when Genius called. Being a new grown-up, he'd been checking his American Family insurance app, which said that he owed on his car insurance. Which he does NOT, because we pay it for 6 months at a time, and it's good until March, when he will take over. Anyhoo...there must have been a snafu on the way the statement reads, because he just got himself linked to our multi-car discount when he got his renter's insurance. He doesn't owe anything now, but we will in February for a couple of different cars. Hick talked Genius down from the ledge, telling him to call the gal at our insurance office and have her explain it. That satisfied him.

While I was talking to Genius on the phone, another of my special songs came on the radio: "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye," by Patty Loveless.

Yes. Val had an excellent adventure on CasinoPalooza 3. It's not all about the money, you know.
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These were pennies #76 and 77 for my Future Pennyillionaire fortune.
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