CasinoPalooza 3 Begins

This year CasinoPalooza 3 was without my sister the ex-mayor's wife and the ex-mayor. They had family matters that needed tending, but hope to put together a forthcoming CasinoPalooza.

Hick and I met up near Joplin on Saturday, with The Pony, who traveled 4 hours from Norman, Oklahoma, and Genius and Friend, who rolled in from Kansas City, a 2.5 hour drive. Hick and I hit the road at 6:30 a.m., since our journey takes 5 hours, plus pit stops. It was our Christmas holiday family retreat, a tour of 7 casinos. We'd all been a couple years ago, and Genius asked to do it again this year, preferably over a weekend, because he's a real working man now, and doesn't get a month off at Christmas like a college student. Of course it was a hardship for me to devote a weekend to a casino tour, but I got through it.

Just as we stopped for gas before entering the dead zone where cell phones don't exist...The Pony sent a text that he was running a little behind, and would arrive at 12:30 or 12:45, rather than noon as planned. Well. Hick and I couldn't drive back home for that extra half hour of sleep. I debated on telling Genius, so he could delay his departure. However, in the dead zone, that was impossible.

After Hick and I treated ourselves to a McDonald's Sausage Egg McMuffin in St. James, we heard from Genius. Who said they would be leaving a little late, since Friend had misplaced something, and time had been taken up finding it. Well. These things happen for a reason, I think, and that put Genius and The Pony arriving at Downstream Casino at about the same time. Hick and I got there by noon, and went inside for a bit of wagering while we waited.

Check-in was not until 4:00, but I asked the desk clerk if we could possibly do it earlier, and she said 2:00. The boys all arrived by 12:45, so we had lunch at the grill inside the casino to kill some time. I had the Grilled Chicken Bacon sandwich, which was burned to a crisp that one time, and fries. The sandwich was cooked well this time, except it had a section of chicken like rubber. Even I couldn't eat that part! Plus, I gave the majority of my fries to Genius and Friend, who weren't really hungry, they said, and halved a quarter-pound hot dog. I think they were under a bit of a hangover. Hick also had the chicken sandwich, non-rubbery, with fries, and The Pony had a cheeseburger and fries, which he pronounced delicious.

Downstream doesn't have a free soda fountain, but this grill place gives free refills. In fact, the counter girl cautioned us not to set our cups down, or throw them away in their trash, as random people dig them out and ask for refills. I don't know how she thought we should dispose of them! However, I kept all three cups from Hick and The Pony and myself, for future refills!

Genius and I went to the hotel counter to check in, since I'd put his name on one of the rooms. I'd asked for one on a high floor, since that's what he prefers, but the gal said she didn't have any ready yet. That she'd give us a high room when we came back later. Genius wasn't having that. He wanted to be sure of a room. The gal asked if we wanted rooms together, and we both said, "NO!" Yet she gave us rooms right next to each other.

We had barely wheeled our suitcases in when Genius came knocking at our door, asking if it would offend me if he went back to the desk and asked for a different room. Nope! Not a bit. He got a higher room. On the 3rd floor instead of the 2nd!

From there, we headed out to visit 5 other casinos Saturday evening. Downstream itself was decorated for Christmas.

Behind the tree, where you can't see it, built into the wall, was a fireplace with a real fire. Nice and cozy. The way to the casino is to the right of this tree.

All lit up in its own way! We didn't spend too much time there Saturday night, but made up for it Sunday. Sorry to those random people I caught in my photos! They'll never know...