Beautiful week in Charlotte, got over 80 on Wednesday. Played golf with my buddies, soaked in the sunshine, birds were singing, saw my Blue Heron on number 12. We were all wearing shorts and a couple of the guys got sunburned. I'm thinking, "Spring is finally here!" Not so fast!! Friday, I made the drive up to Cherokee, temperatures dropping the whole ride, rain and then all of a sudden it's snowing... Welcome to Spring in North Carolina. Cashed my Kansas future bet, printed out my vouchers and waited for a spot to open at the craps table. There were only three tables going, one of them was crapless. As seems to be the case lately on a Friday, half the crapless was "reserved" for this one guy (who wasn't there) and the other half was $100 minimum. No thank you. Of the two remaining tables, one had people all spread out on stools, elbows blocking empty chipracks, hogging up space (and sucking up energy). There was even a dog on a stool behind one woman, draped over it like a cat. No leash. No "service animal" vest. Give me a fucking break. I looked at supervisor Jackie and rolled my eyes. He gave me a "I know, I know" look at hooked his thumb over his shoulder at the last table. It was full, so I sipped my coffee and waited. Old guy goes on a nice long run, I know folks will color up afterward so I don't have to stand like a vulture behind the guy with the fewest remaining chips; spots will become available. I shoot the shit with regulars who are drifting around. One tries to get me to play at the crapless: "Just set yourself a 120 six and get started." Again, no thank you. I tell him that table is the Devil's Candy and just watch the older gentleman roll. I'm told a new table will open at 1pm and people are already putting their players cards on the rail to reserve a spot. But I like this crew: Tim, Elaine, Danielle and Jeff. Danielle has died her hair purple and is definitely my favorite of all the Cherokee dealers. She knows I take care of them and treats me accordingly. The payouts will be fast, accurate and the dice will move quickly even on a hot roll with lots of money to pay between throws. And the banter will be excellent. I get my spot, one from Danielle (and later move to straight out, my preferred position) when it opens. From Noon to 4pm it is a dull session, stair stepping down, draining funds. My first two rolls are POS. Nothing more frustrating. I change dice sets and have marginally better success on rolls 3 and 4. Roll 5 comes along and I get some traction. I've got everything pressed and the hardways are starting to hit. I have piggyback 5 n1 on all the hardways. Hit hard 10, parlay. Come right back with it. Press it another quarter. Serveral rolls later, hit it again (65 pays 455) and my Buy 10 is up to 300. I hit the small side for 300, and my 6 n 8 are up to 240 apiece. There's lots of chatter around me, but my attention is totally on my little space. Hat brim pulled down. Dark glasses. I hear the music, and try to make it to the end of each song. Most of the songs are terrible, but I get a good one with a rhythm (Addicted to Love) and that's something I can set the dice to. Side of my hand bangs the dice against the rail to school them. As long as it's not a 7 I set them to 6/5 6/4, roll the right die forward 45 degrees, check my landing spot for money/hands and then throw. Rinse, wash, repeat. I hit the All and my chip rack looks like this after I pass the dice. I hang around for another 45 minutes after my roll, but I know that's going to be my zenith for a daytrip, so I color up and head to the sportsbook. I like to make a bet on a game to listen to on my ride home. Makes the drive much more enjoyable. I pick what I think should be an easy opening day win and walk to my car. It's raining and I have a choice as I leave the casino: take the curvy pass straight over the mountain to Maggie Valley, or take the bypass which is 11 miles longer but takes exactly the same amount of time to drive. I choose poorly... So this picture is looking straight down the steep hill, there's a long line of cars stopped at the curve. Tractor trailer has jacknifed, cars are all over the road. I am going 1 mph and still sliding.... And the Blue Jays are already down 7-0. It takes an extra 45 minutes to make it 5 miles down to Maggie Valley and by the time I pass Hickory, the Jays have rallied to tie it. A stressfull ride home, but all in all a solid day.
Tampa Bay has beaten the Orioles 14 straight times. I’m sure that you know that. Another dynamite recap. You do resemble the late, great Robert Palmer.
I’m not a music guy. My wife rarely comments on guys’ looks, but she really liked RP. White boy’s got soul too. Listen to Every Kinda People. To say that RP had the coolest music videos ever is insulting to their great appeal. Gorgeous BABES like never before or since. Can you please post Simply Irresistible too? Thanks. Try making them today without any POCs or Trans.
