A Casino Date with My Husband!

This morning we went on one of our formerly favorite dates: a casino breakfast! Here's the brief background:

When Pete and I got married neither of us had ever been to a casino. So we decided to go to Soaring Eagle for our honeymoon (which was a short 3-day weekend). We thought it was pretty fun, and have been back a few times in the last 8 years. The first few years we went several times each year, then just once or twice for a few years, but we haven't been back for a couple of years now. Just busy (or broke), or plain not in the mood.

So we typically get up early on a Saturday morning and get there 7:00/7:30ish, before it gets crowded although today we didn't get there until 9ish. We pretty much have our pick of machines on which to play, and after an hour or so (we're nickel players, $20 each to spend but more on that later) we go to the Firefly Buffet for a breakfast that sticks to our ribs all day long!

Pete and I have different playing styles. Previously, he would put his nickels in a bucket, adding his winnings to them, and continue playing until everything was gone, always searching after the elusive big win. OTOH, I would carry 2 buckets: in the top bucket went my original 400 nickels; in the bottom bucket went my winnings. When the top bucket was empty I was done playing. So I always left with at least some money left from my $20, and sometimes even more than I started with.

Now, however, they have gone to a system of tickets. That makes so cumbersome so as to be nearly impossible to leave with winnings, unless I carry a calculator and a scratch pad - or N8 :). (Gone are the days of keeping the numbers in my head.) If anybody has a way to do this, I'd be happy to hear it...not that I'll probably be at the casino again anytime soon...well maybe for our anniversary next month :)...but I sure do miss those buckets!

But it was fun. The good thing about a buffet this size is that there are plenty of low carb choices, with eggs and meats, yogurt, melon, berries, whatever. Today I did get some bread pudding which is a MAJOR cheat but since it was my only meal of the day, and followed by lots of exercise I'm not worried about it. (I wouldn't worry about it anyway, just look forward and go on...)

After leaving the casino, Pete and I went shopping. A trip to Mt. Pleasant usually includes a stop at the Greentree Co-op, the Salvation Army and Good Will thrift stores, GFS, and Soldan's. We didn't need groceries or pet food today though so we skipped the last two places. Found some cute outfits for my almost-16MO grandson at Good Will, and some great toys at the Salvation Army store.

But it was all about spending time with my Petey, who is my best friend, who makes me laugh, who is so easy to talk to, and to listen to...who "gets me" totally, and I never have to pretend with him. He has such a different way of seeing life (once I mentioned that he marches to a different drummer, and he replied, "Drummer? What drummer? I've been following the guy playing the kazoo!") and expressing himself that he still fascinates and entertains me. I can't get enough of him, and these dates where I have him all to myself I totally cherish!

Anyway, writing about our date is my way of reliving it, and my time with him :). Now we're watching some awesome Southern Gospel music on TCT, just our companionship of sharing a simple activity based on our mutual love of music and of course of the Lord we serve, and each other...I love being married to Pete, and I am so thankful that God brought us together!