What Old People Do on a Wednesday

Last Wednesday, we took a surprise trip to our new favorite casino. That means we didn't plan for it, just decided the night before that we'd use our cash comps good for the week, and have the buffet. Huh. If I'd known then what I knew when we walked in...I might have declined that casino trip.

The lobby and customer service counter was full of OLD PEOPLE! And by that, I mean people older than US! Well. I knew right then that having lunch at the buffet would be a problem. Lunch is served from 11:00 until 2:00. We arrived around 11:30, thinking we'd have time to gamble and then eat and then gamble some more.

When Hick and I met up front at 12:15, only three people were in line at the buffet desk. An old lady with a walker and oxygen, a probable-daughter, and maybe the daughter's husband. After getting their payment squared away (with the Probable Daughter thanking the Walker Lady for buying, out of her 800 points of casino comps), I noticed that the seaters stood that group of three along the wall. When they make a Walker Lady stand and wait, you know you're in trouble.

In fact, the buffet desk lady said to Hick, "I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to seat anybody else yet." We could clearly see all the tables were full, from the initial lunch rush of the THREE BUSES OF OLD PEOPLE. You know how old people are at a buffet. They are not in any hurry.

Hick and I looked at each other, and he grabbed his card back. "We'll come back."

No need to waste time standing in line for a buffet if you can better use that time to gamble! We returned at 1:15, with enough time that the buffet was still being stocked, yet no line.

I must say I enjoyed my meal. I DID limit myself to one plate this time, but I can fit a LOT on a plate. I had two chicken thighs. Or so I thought. However, one of them turned out to be some cut of the breast, but shaped like a thigh. Still, it was surprisingly juicy for being white meat. I also had two smoked ribs. They were good, but I didn't get barbecue sauce because that would have been too messy. I also had about half a cup of beef tips, which were a little chewy. And a coupe tablespoons of Mongolian Beef, with an accompanying couple tablespoons of rice to cut the heat. It didn't. For dessert, I had one Cheesecake Bite, strawberry flavor (the size of a petit four), and one homemade peanut butter cup.

Let the record show that I was STUFFED, even though I didn't finish the beef tips. Usually, if I'm having the buffet, I pull out all the stops. I don't know how I fit it all down. I guess this time, I had so much MEAT on my plate, it filled me up too fast. I'm no Fred Flintstone, but he would have appreciated my plate.

I lamented the fact that there was no FISH on the buffet. It's delicious. My second favorite thing there, after the fried chicken. Hick even asked if they had any fish, and the guy said, "We did earlier." Dang those old people, satisfying their fish-tooth while Val went without! They had fried clam strips in place of the fish. Nope. Your gal Val is NOT eating clam strips. No siree, Bob! Not in Missouri, which in case you are some kind of geography simpleton, is LANDLOCKED in the middle of the country. Sheesh! I'm sure better clams can be had in England, tucked in between France and Germany, along the coast of Europe! I'm not eating clams at a casino on the banks of the Mississippi.

Also, those old people must like pulled pork, because that was absent from the buffet as well. I didn't even check out the dessert bar, which is as long as the regular hot foods bar. Hick had some ice cream with assorted toppings, but passed up the bread pudding, which he normally loves. By the time he went back from his second plate to get dessert, the only Cheesecake Bites left were plain. Maybe I should have snagged him the chocolate chip one I saw when I got the strawberry. That's the trick, to get everything you want the first trip, and sit down with it. It works for everything but the ice cream.

Anyhoo...we went back to gamble a little more. Neither of us were winners, but I left with over half the gambling stake that I had been prepared to squander. Quick Hits was my savior this time.

I went by to pick up a mini water bottle on my way to meet Hick as we left. Huh. The top of that icy cooler was closed, with a sign on top that said NOT FOR GUESTS! Hick has always told me (and Sis and the Ex-Mayor) that this water is free for the taking. We always grab one. I suppose that violates the health code, for random people to plunge their hands into the water those bottles float in. More likely, though, the waitresses don't get tips for people grabbing their own water. Besides, you can get a cup of ice water from the free soda fountain. This casino even lets you carry out a cup of water or soda! That's unheard-of! They'll probably get a fine for it one day, from a secret ATF shopper, and put an end to it.

Another unusual thing about this casino...they had handouts of their payouts! That sure wouldn't happen in the Oklahoma casinos. Probably not the St. Louis ones, either, though I haven't been to them in many months.

Here's a picture, to prove it happened. Looks like they must do it every week.

This is much better than trying to look at pictures of their winners, and figure out which slot machine they're standing in front of.

I don't know if this list of Hot Slots could be a benefit, or a hindrance. 

Do you play the machine that has demonstrated it will pay out? Or shun it because lightening won't strike twice? Good thing I didn't notice these handouts until a half hour before we were leaving. They were on the Cashier's counter, when I was cashing in my comp coupons. Which are given in CASH here, and not in free play.

I wish we could figure out what day somebody is bringing THREE BUSES of old people to the casino, and plan around it. You'd have thought they would do that on Mondays, which is designated as Old People Day. Or as their promotional material calls it, Better With Age.