Val Does Not Live By Gambling Alone

Our wallets did not grow fatter on Oklahoma Casino Minipalooza, but our waistlines most certainly did.

On Wednesday, the day our quest began, we were not overly concerned with sustenance. I'm not sure what Hick grabbed for breakfast that day, but I had none, seeing as how I have to coordinate my morning thyroid medicine with a period of non-consumption of food. Not a problem, though, because we hit Lee's Chicken before noon, and grabbed something fowl to eat. I had a two-piece oven-roasted meal with cooked apples and SLAW, and Hick had a three-piece fried meal with mashed potatoes and beans. Each came with a biscuit, too.

Supper Wednesday was around 6:30. We originally planned to eat much later, but our itinerary was adjusted, due to an ice storm hitting only an hour into our casino tour. We saw the precipitation starting, and headed back to Downstream, where we were staying, to gamble on site the rest of the night. We ate at their grill on the casino floor, both of us having the grilled chicken/bacon/cheese sandwich, and fries.

Thursday morning began with a change in breakfast plans. We LOVE the buffet at one of the Downstream restaurants. Problem is...we love it TOO MUCH! So we'd decided to grab something quick at the coffee shop. While waiting in line, Hick yearning for a bear claw, and me waiting for a bagel bomb (cream cheese filling with some veggies cooked inside a ball of bagel about the size of a tennis ball), we changed our mind. That's because we were in line behind about six Millennials, who were chatting and coffeetizing with the gal working behind the counter.

Hick and I looked at each other, and with a quick nod agreed to head for the restaurant a few feet away. We did NOT, however, partake of the buffet. We had initially decided on the Old People Breakfast (actually called the Senior Breakfast) of a slice of toast, two eggs, and bacon or sausage. It was $5.59, which would have been nearly the same as our coffee shop treats. Then Hick flipped the menu, and found THE QUAPAW BREAKFAST.

I think it was $7.49, but since I wasn't paying, I don't remember. Anyhoo...that's mine, after a couple of bites, when I decided to share. With you. By picture. There was no actual sharing of food! It was quite filling. Three eggs (I chose scrambled, Hick had over-easy), a ham steak, hash browns, and a biscuit with gravy. I preferred water as my beverage, and Hick had water and orange juice. That's my gambling purse carelessly laid aside. Don't worry. My money was safe. It was all people older than us in that restaurant, and Hick could have chased down any cane-wielder or walker-shuffler who might have grabbed it.

That breakfast stuck to our ribs for a good long time. We didn't have lunch until 3:30, at a deli in a different casino. The girl at the counter talked me into the day's special, a Cuban sandwich with fries. I splurged and also got (at additional charge) a cup of SLAW. This sandwich was HUGE, and I shared a portion with Hick, but not a whole half!

I also shared the fries, and we still didn't finish all of them. Hick had the cheeseburger that he always gets, and their home-made chips. He did not offer me a taste.

From there, we headed to another casino for their free play, and then it was back to one of our favorite new discoveries, the PRIVATE PARTY

at the casino where we've enjoyed their free monkey and free dog promotions in the past. Stuffed, of course. The promotion animals. We had digested our lunch by the time the free food was served at the PRIVATE PARTY. After earning 20 points during slot play, we were given the bracelet for admission to the PRIVATE PARTY, plus $20 in free slot play. We each also had $15 of free play there, and I had another $10 of birthday-month free play. So it was worth our while gamble there. Plus, the free food and drinks!

The PRIVATE PARTY was actually just behind a big curtain. We were in that area at the right time, and were among the first dozen people in line. In hindsight, I would have taken TWO plates (they were pretty small, actually) instead of piling everything onto one. I didn't want to look like a hog, though, with a big line behind me. It's not like they'd run out. They always replenish the table during the two hours that the event runs. And you can go back for more any time. Same with the open bar. Hick had a Coors Light, but that's all. Neither of us got our money's worth of drinks like Genius!

I had a pasta dish that they'd put sliced carrots in this time, instead of cherry tomatoes. Not a big fan of the carrots. They were too crunchy for that pasta. So I only had two servings, when Hick returned to the line and brought me more. I also had some of the big sandwich, a couple of pinwheel thingies, cheese and crackers, and a spinach dip that was delicious! My plate does not look very appetizing here, since I had already been rooting around in my food. I had a Diet Coke to drink.

We will probably plan future trips to take advantage of this Thursday night PRIVATE PARTY (I emphasize that, because that's how my sister the ex-mayor's wife kept saying it, when she went with us for CasinoPalooza 3, and doubted my description of the event that I read off their website). I have only one criticism (besides the carrots), and that is the sweet pickle slices on the big sandwich. That's just wrong. Nobody does that! It should be dill pickles, or no pickles.

Whew! Just looking at those photos makes me feel full again.