ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY CURED??

I have mentioned before that  I have an addictive personality. First cigarettes, then quickly to follow--alcohol. I have my suspicions about food being an addiction also but still think boredom is my nemesis there. 

Cigarettes and alcohol were serious addictions I eventually kicked.   However, I haven't really been tested with gambling ---till my sister's get away to Florida. Could that be a new problem to tackle?

Kid sister Jan, cousin Carolyn and I thought it would be fun to check out a casino the day before we left for the Keys. I had only briefly been in a casino years ago in the Bahamas and thought it would be fun. 

The now defunct (darn it) TV show "Vegas" (set in the 60's) was a real "must see" of mine this year, largely due to the three leading men, Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, and my favorite Jason O'Mara. However, did I really like the  show for the cool songs, neat old cars, the hunky guys, or did the premise of gambling lure me in??

There was a small nagging place in the back of my mind that I might like gambling too much but thought, "what the hey." So Jan drove us to a casino in south Florida and the test was on. 

Jan is a very minor gambler but my cousin is a bit more dedicated.  When we hit the door, Carolyn dismissed us with out a word, put her head down and barreled single mindedly towards the slot machines like there was a magnet in her chest.  We never saw her again till ready to leave.

Jan prefers blackjack and hunted for a table she thought lucky. Fascinated, I became a spectator.  I would not have known the hand signals or how to bet but Jan was comfortable and did quite well.  

One thing that was impossible not to notice about the casino was that the lady dealers were required to be at least a Double D and must wear push up bras to work there. Enormous cleavage was mandatory. And here I thought it was all in the card handling and math skills. There went any thoughts of my ever becoming a  casino dealer. 

Now Jan wasn't breaking the bank but her pile of chips steadily increased. I watched for a long time, then eventually wanting a place to sit, I left my sister to look around. I saw a penny slot machine and thought I could handle that. Besides I had 5 singles burning a hole in my purse and felt I could easily spare them. 

The slots looked different from the older movie versions. All were computerized.  Just feed in your bills and push buttons. With no handles to pull down, there went the little bit of arm exercise that gamblers of old at least enjoyed. No longer is there even a minor health benefit to gambling unless you consider a muscular pointy finger a good thing. 

I understood none of the flashing lights on my machine. Gone were the three dials to watch spin. It was a mishmash of many dials rotating  and the winning combinations were listed to the side. 

I didn't know if I were winning or not by the dial arrangements and winnings no longer pour noisily into a tray. When you are through, you press another button and any winnings you have earned are listed on a stiff paper print out that can be cashed in at a bigger machine. 

So I just watched the tiny print near the bottom that told me either that I had won 60 cents or lost 40 cents.  I only bet one penny at a time so my money lasted a long time.   The chairs were comfortable so I was fine and well entertained. 

Jan found me and informed me that she started losing all her winnings plus her allotted limit soon after I left. Ooh, ooh, maybe I can't be a dealer but there is a possible future for me in casinos as a good luck charm.  Sorry sis.  Who knew I had secret powers?

I checked out for $6.25, a whole buck and a quarter ahead. Yea!! I was feeling pretty smug.  Carolyn said she had won $150.00 and Jan lost her predetermined hundred thanks to my deserting her.

The best thing I learned on that gambling junket was that gambling for me was entertaining but not something I could get hooked on.   Normally, one ticket a week for Lotto and a $5.00 limit at a casino does not scream "problem." Phew. Another addiction avoided. Maybe my addictive personality is cured??  Don't think I will test it further however. 

 On the way home from the casino I did learn something useful from my companions that I wish to share. You may know about this all ready but I sure didn't. Did you know the Wendy fast food chain  gives seniors free drinks? They won't offer.  You have to ask for the "senior drink" when you order. It is a free small drink which for me is the perfect size (New York's exiting Mayor Bloomberg would approve) and absolutely the perfect price. Hope that is useful news for some of you older sorts and if you aren't old enough to qualify, your parents might find the info useful. My last tip for 2013.

Hoping 2014 treats you,your family and friends  to sound health, ease of mind, comfort and a huge dose of happiness.  

Happy New Year to all my blog buddies. You've certainly made my year special.