DLand - Playing to Win for a Change

So I've been practicing for Atlantic City. Tomorrow night I will be leaning over a craps table yelling “Come on, sevens. Mamma needs a new privacy fence!” Yes, I am going to Atlantic City to win myself a privacy fence so I don't have to look at my neighbors anymore. Must have priorities.So by Sunday I will either be independently wealthy or eating ramen noodles for the rest of the pay period. Let's hope for the winning streak. So far in my practice runs of Double Double Bonus, I've been failing miserably. I've found that with video poker, there is at least a bit of skill involved. One must know which cards to keep in order to maximize one's chances of winning big. Sure you can keep the two 8's and hope for a three of a kind (pays 15) or you can keep the four spades and hope for a flush (pays 30). I seem to have pretty good luck with holding the Ace and drawing three more and a 4 to make the machine light up (pays 2000). And never ever try for an inside straight unless you want to throw your money in the street. It's all a matter of risk versus reward. Sometimes the house just deals you garbage, though, and you have to close your eyes and pick a lucky card. And you should always bet the max bet. Sure, the money goes away a lot faster, but there's nothing more bittersweet than getting a royal flush that only pays 250 instead of 4000. Man, if losing money is this much fun, I don't know what I'll do when I win. I'll find a way to cope. To paraphrase Donald, I won't be “playing to lose” this weekend. I'm much better at video poker than hearts anyways. Woohoo! I just won 2400 credits. On that note, I'm getting out of here. Have a great weekend, y'all.

DLand - She is the Boxer ...

So I was looking for this particular cd in Planet Music last night. I knew the song was called “The Boxer” but not the Simon and Garfunkel one (although a good tune as well). And I wanted to say the artist was called Coal Flats or something. But couldn't be sure.So I asked the guy at the counter. He looked in his database but no dice. So then he started calling every radio station in town. He was a man on a mission. I asked if he had web access from the info desk and he frowned and said no. Bastards. I knew I should have looked this up for sure before I came there, but I was hoping luck would be on my side. Info Desk Boy was unsuccessful and looked actually really disappointed. I told him I would let him know if I found it in the store. And then I used the web features of my cool cell phone - specifically I called Bossman and had him look something up for me online. I told him the limited info that I had and he said he would call me back with an answer. Three minutes later, he had an artist, album and record label. The band is Carbon Leaf - not Coal Flats. Whatever. And they only had one copy of the cd in Planet Music. It's now mine. I went over to show Info Desk Boy and he was shocked. I then explained the perks of my great web phone. I also suggested they do something about their database in the store. Maybe my company can design one of those too. And the cd is excellent.

DLand - Daddy's Little Girl

Daddy's having a hard time these days. His job is giving him the runaround and he is working to keep that job while not be completely trod upon. Easier said than done at times.I am, for all intents and purposes, a Daddy's Girl. We are very much alike in many ways (both good and bad qualities) and I can see so much of myself in him everytime we interact. One thing that has most impressed me with my father is his self-sacrificing nature. He has never denied anything in his power to his family or friends and even to many strangers. I have always found it to be one of his best qualities, despite the frustration it can cause him or the rest of the family at times. When my father lost his job back in 1994 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a hard year for the whole family. I had just left for college and it was my first time out “on my own.” I can only imagine how my father felt that year. The mortality of his wife - the love of his life - and the absense of his little girl weighed heavily on him. Adding to that was the fact that he was without a job (or two or three) in almost 50 years. I became accutely aware of my father's vulnerability and weaknesses in addition to all his strengths. He was not as perfect as I had always imagined. He and I butted heads on several points during that year. I can remember a very painful conversation with him on the phone where I actually hung up on him in anger and frustration. Much like tugging on Superman's cape or spitting into the wind, one does not hang up on my father. Wow, that was a long night. Eventually we worked all of these differences out and he supported me in my decisions despite his reservations. I love him dearly for that. And that year for us really opened my eyes to his distinct personality and humanity. I am closer to my father now than ever before. And I see us only getting closer. We seem to be on the same “wavelength” in many ways, able to communicate in some unspoken language even at times. So I just wanted to tell you, Daddy, that I love you. I know we don't say stuff like that much in our family and we don't hug much or send cards and flowers. But we still show our love in other ways that count. And I cherish your love and support every day. I'll always be your little girl.