Tuesday, January 2, 2018

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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16 comments:

  1. Pennies falling through a hole in Heaven.

    Please tell me that there were not four people hogging chairs of four machines but just watching one player...I've seen that on my dancing leprechaun machine and it bugs me no end.

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    1. Don't get me started on the chair-hogging!

      WAIT! Yes, DO get me started. I'll tell that tale on Saturday, unless I have a backlog of pennyillionaire pictures. There are already three more coming down the pike. If you're an antipennyite, RUN! Far, far away from the pike.

      I played a couple of dancing leprechaun machines, Wild Lepre'Coin, and he barely tossed a coin my way! I think I might have won $40 on one of them. After spending $40. His cousin Uncle Sam at Wild Ameri'Coin, and that cowboy guy I don't know the name of, didn't give me anything, either!

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  2. It sounds like Hick behaved himself. Or are you saving those stories for another post?

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    1. Actually, Hick was so well-behaved this trip that he was let off his leash.

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  3. You're on your way to reaching that hundredth penny, and soon I bet.

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    1. Sooner than you thought when you typed that!

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  4. You've used that Five Man Electrical Band song before. Don't you have some new stuff?

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    1. WHOA! When were you crowned Queen of the Outdated Song References Police? Surely you don't think I have listened to enough music in my life to come up with a FRESH SONG REFERENCE whenever I feel like it.

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  5. By the way, the Blues are playing the Devils tonight.

    The Devils! The Devils!

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    1. Well, I'd better get to body-painting. And maybe put on my 8-Ball jacket. And tune in T-Hoe's radio to Christian rock stations. At least I don't have a Jesus fish for some gal with a face like a frying pan, big wall of hair to steal.

      Oh, wait. I can't do any of that. Genius is a big Blues fan. We even have a bathroom decorated with that theme.

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  6. I've heard How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Trisha Yearwood, it's such a sad song, I took it off my playlists temporarily and haven't gotten around to putting it back on yet.
    Nice of someone to leave a random penny on the machine for you.

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    1. It is very sad. I have it on my playlist, but can't listen to it at home. It's a nice surprise when I hear it on the radio. But still sad.

      Obviously, that penny WAS meant for me! The machines don't spit out pennies, you know. Only paper tickets.

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  7. Serendipity, Val, that's what it is. So you have the offspring drinking and gambling? My, oh my, wish you'd take me sometime. LOL

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    1. The Pony is only 19. Even Oklahoma casinos won't serve him. Not that he asked.

      Genius picked it up on his own. I've been a teetotaler since (before) he was born, and Hick imbibes a couple times a month. At least Genius is responsible and uses a designated driver, or Uber. And he's managed to graduate and obtain gainful employment!

      The gambling? I take full responsibility for their indoctrination. I used to buy scratchers when they were elementary age, and let them scratch.

      Hick and I are going to RC on Friday. Don't know what time yet. You could always join our convoy to Oklahoma next trip (after we save up spending money again). It's a five-hour drive for us, probably close to the same for you. Only 10 miles from Joplin.

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  8. ♪♫ Every time it rains it rains pennies from heaven... ♪♫

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