The One Armed Bandit...what Fun!

So my Dad took this week off from work, he wanted to get a vacation in before the end of the year and he had 2 weeks left, so he has taken this week and a week near Christmas off. He really wanted to go to the Mohegan Sun Casino, he LOVES the buffets, and wanted to do a lil harmless gambling...harmless meaning all we ever do is slot machines...and usually the quarter ones.

My Mom couldn't go because she had work and Dad wanted to go early...which was FINE with my Mom, she hates the casinos, they wreak of cigarette smoke and are really boring once you are done eating or throwing money away. And seeing as how my sleep patterns are worse than ever, I considered not going...but the whole "daddy-daughter" day, made me decide to go. So I got up early...for me...and we drove over to Kat's school to meet her, she had morning classes, and had to teach belly dance classes later, so we met her halfway and took one car. I was in the zone with my IPOD, lying in the backseat with my legs on Kat...I was comfy.LOL. So we finally got there and went inside to search for the Sunburst Buffet. Sandy decided to lead the way. As we started making our way through some of the casinos, we decided if anyone got lost, we would meet in front of this car on display...and so we walked...and walked...and came upon a suspiciously familiar car on DISPLAY!! Ahhhh...we were hungry by this point. Sandy is still claiming she followed the map, but I think she is LYING. We saw some pretty statues ad displays once we were on the right track. The wolf moved and howled. It stood over a baby waterfall too, so it was cute. This statue made of glass was gorgeous and went SO high up. I was very impressed...thus the picture! And so we finally got to the buffet and Sam and I were able to use our "special" cards, our surgeon gave us. It asks people to allow us a discount or to order off the children's menu, because we had WLS and out stomachs are the size of golf balls. Most people are good about it...only a few run ins...and it even has our surgeons name and number on it...very cool Doogie, thanks. So Sam and I got in for $10 each. Good, they didn't even have food I like...or can eat. They had a ginourmous pasta station (the only pasta I could try was gnocchi and it was cold...not supposed to be cold) and a huge fish station (it has taken years, but I only eat battered haddock or cod filets), a dessert station, a salads station and a meat station. Unfortunately they had no chicken or turkey, only red meat and chicken wings or chicken pot pie, I am a fan of neither. So I had a few bites of baked potato, a few of cold mashed potatoes, a few cold gnocchi and a few bites of salad. It was sad...I told Sandy I felt like $10 was a waste of money on me...she agreed for herself too. I had a few bites of jello for dessert and a bite of brownie and a bite of magic cookie bar (Sarge allowed only a bite)...we snuck 1 of each home in a napkin for Mom...she loves magic cookie bars!!

So we decided it smelled in every casino, the smoke free one is not seperated by ANY wall, etc. so they ALL smell just as awful as the others. So we just went in the first we found. Dad declared we weren't to spend our own money, he had saved up for today and gave us each $45...I KNOW! Sweet! Now I usually suck...it is usually Katie that makes out like a bandit or at least breaks even. So I went off by myself and chose machines I liked the look of. Now, they don't take quarters anymore, OR $1 bills, it has to be 5 bucks or more. And no, if you win, you don't hear the sound of coins or chips falling, you now get a ticket. As soon as you put your money in (we did $5 at a time) you no longer have cash you have a ticket, so if you decide, MAN I am losing on this machine...gimme what money I have left...it prints you a ticket with the money left and it has a upc code. So you then go to either another machine and it takes it like cash, or you put it in a cashing out machine at the end and take your REAL money home. So I spent $2.50 of my first 5 and was like...this machine isn't even pretty or special...so I went and found a machine with marashino cherries on it. CUTE. I put my ticket in, pulled once (25 cents) and won a ticket for $15! I took that sucker and put it in my pocket...that was so a keep til you cash out ticket. I continued doing really well in the sense I would be using the same $5 for like 25 minutes, I would win a buck and lose it, then win it back, etc. I was doing this for AWHILE. Kate and Sam walked by, they had lost their first $20 awhile ago apparently. I went and found Dad...he lost $5 on the penny machines...that means he lost 500 times....ROFL...so sad! So I tried a few machines, they weren't liking me, and I saw a Phantom of the Opera one. All of a Sudden I thought of Tiff and how she had just seen Phantom so I sat down. Dad grabbed my $4.25 ticket and gave me his $19 ticket...sweet man! And I started playing...and was there a LONG time...I must have pulled that handle 100 times, the money was going down, up, etc. The girls walked up...they were not happy. They had decided to use their last twenty (each) and play the $5 machines...for some reason they assumed it would be more likely to win, if you bet more. Yeah...if that were true I'd have gotten money out and done the $100 machines (yes, they DO exist)...they lost their money FAST. So they were all sitting around...me.LOL. I finally got that $19 ticket down to like 2 bucks and they were saying cash out, go to a different machine (they couldn't believe I still had another $15 to gamble from Dad. I was like one more time, the Phantom machine was cool, it made sounds and cackled,etc. So I pulled the handle one more time and got $18.25!! SCORE! They proceeded to follow me as I went back to my other faves...I lost most but at the last dollar I made $6.25 so they YELLED cash out! SO I did. Sure I spent like $59, and went home with $38.50, so I was DOWN, but that was all money I had WON!! I thought it was cool!!

We went in a few shops on our way out...we have to go back, just to check out the stores. And they have a Johnny Rockets! Only seen one in Florida! It's like s malte shoppe from the 50's!!We need to eat THERE! Sam made us stop and take this pic though...such comedians aren't they? Three Lil Wenches and a Bear.

So that was my day with the one armed bandit...hey I AM a good Mormon, I just like to pull a handle on a machine, okay?! Don't tell me you have never done it!! I've got my eyes on you....