Don't Burn The Building Down

 Mother Nature is having hot flashes.  Our lows are once again high ... and our highs are HOT.  I'm pretty sure that brings out the crazy just as much as the full moon.  Oh wait .... is it a full moon????

No it's not ... but it sure felt like it.  You know instantly by seeing NO pictures, that it was a stressful night.

Here's how it went.  I arrived in time to catch the Club Manager in order to discuss the Vendor Fair happening Saturday.  It should be canceled due to absolutely NO planning or preparation.  To make it worse, the person who set this up has to work all day, meaning everyone is just hanging out there on a ledge.  

Next up ... one of my favorite Knights is sitting at the table looking green.  Please go home ... you don't look well and we don't want to get sick.  He went home.  That's when I got the text messages.

I'm in Arizona ... I won't be there.  Ummm you're telling me this 2 hours ahead?  Ding ding ding ... I'm driving to the airport to get my kids.  I won't be there.  

YIKES ... we're three men down.  Make that FOUR since the best caller has to work late.  Oh heck ... let's just make it FIVE!  My cashier called me fifteen minutes after she was SUPPOSED start selling, to say she was out of town.  Nice!!

The good part was a gal I used to work with had volunteered to learn the cash register.  She thought she would just watch, then go play.  OH NO my friend ... have a seat.  The best way to learn is to do it.

It was the perfect night.  For whatever reason, one player the week before told everyone we would be closed on this night.  We started off with barely 50 people, which made it less stressful on my Lady in Training.  She did a fabulous job.  I mean really, no one even complained one bit!!!  That's a miracle.

Now we're up to SIX missing because the guy who helps me set up didn't show up either.  Good grief.  I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I had to move the seven boxes of Christmas decorations out of the way in order to set up the Bingo table.  One TV gave me fits, but I finally got all six to work, which was a blessing!

Just as I sat down, I was up again.  A sweet young girl walked in and said she wanted to volunteer.  HECK YEAH!!!  I immediately walked her back to the kitchen.  She says she can work a few hours on Tuesday nights, and coincidentally we need a cook one Tuesday a month.  

I took her back and got her started on hand washing rules while introducing her to one of our best cooks.  I told them to stand back and just tell her what to do.  Watching doesn't get it ... it's easier to learn if you DO it.  And she did!!!  

Everything kind of went okay until the King had to actually call Bingo.  He doesn't hear all that well and the machine makes a very loud noise blowing those balls around in the box.  Someone yelled BINGO.  The verifier raised his hand, but the King thought it was for something else and he called the next number.  

OH MAN .... THE UPROAR!!  They were throwing knives, machetes, spears, pitchforks and rocks!!!  Because the very next number would make someone ELSE the winner.  To make it worse, he forgot how to push the balls down in order to record that number ... so one did not show up on the board.  

Okay players ... DON'T BURN THE BUILDING DOWN!!  The King rules!  He finally called the first guy a winner and continued on to the next game to the cat calls from the crowd.  

To end the night on a good note, I didn't balance.  In fact, I'm not sure what the new cashier did, but the tape said we made $5,000.  I fought with the infernal machine to finally find we made $5.00.  I think that's the closest I have ever come to zero.  That's of course because I pay out everything we make on selling cards.  It's the pull tabs that make the money.  

I literally RAN out the door.  We got through the night, but I think that's the worst it's ever been.  Oh but wait ... a late volunteer wanted to pick up their turkey that was still living in the LOCKED walk-in freezer.  Big sigh ... back I want, froze half to death digging through the boxes, before quickly locking it back up and sneaking out the back door.  

All in a day's work at BINGO!!!  The good news is I have absolutely NOTHING to do today.  YAY FOR COUCH SITTING!!!

May your turkey be thawed by the time you need to stuff it in the oven!!!