The Magic Kingdom Rides Again

 I was late for a very important date!!  Some of the Bingo crew meet in the Castle Keep prior to dealing with the peasants.  I'm not saying everyone needs some fortifying refreshments in order to deal with the pitchforks, but it helps.  My coke doesn't fortify, but it gives me enough energy to get through the night without falling asleep ... mostly.  

Sometimes the machines do their thing and sometimes they revolt, just like the peasants.  That in turn, causes the peasants to revolt anyway.  When the machine throws up the little numbered ball, it is placed in its corresponding number home, which triggers the two big boards to light up like a Christmas tree.  That is so those who are playing eight cards can see what the numbers were, even though they are behind in the ink stamping of said numbers.

On this night the machine revolted and decided not to post several of the numbers.  It started as a low rumble, and immediately turned into pitchforks and torches!  Everything came to a screeching halt while one of the Knights tried to get it fixed.  Luckily we have some handy Knights.

Suddenly there was an even bigger uproar!  If you pay $2 extra each night for Hotball and win Bingo with that specific number, you win both pots.  The place erupted in a standing ovation.  The lady just won $1,699.  Since she paid for many of her cards with dimes and quarters, I'm hoping she uses it to buy Thanksgiving dinner for her family!!  I'm not holding my breath, since jackpots always seem to wind up at the local casinos later in the week.

I was a little concerned in the beginning since many peasants were smart enough to stay home and not lose all their money.  That meant we might not have enough money to actually MAKE those payouts.  Our usual numbers in the 125 range fell all the way to 88.  It was nip and tuck for awhile until we finally gathered up enough of the green to make the minimum payouts.  Still, it came to over $4,000.  That does seem to make the peasants happy.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, you all probably saw this on the internet.  It's exactly my idea of how to eat pumpkin pie.  Oh I love the pie, but I like the white fluffy stuff even better.  Sadly, it doesn't like me, as evidenced last night after eating a small slice of pie from the kitchen.  Tums are my buddies.

Another interesting thing happened at the dungeon ... the Red Cross gave the Elks Lodge literally hundreds of these Covid at home tests to give away.  At our Lodge dinner the other night, everyone took home five boxes each (and each box has two tests).  I would say that's nice of someone to do this, but as you all know, it's coming out of YOUR pocket ..... and mine. 

They had so many left over that they handed them out to the peasants last night.  Surprisingly, hardly anyone was interested.  

At long last, after somewhere in the neighborhood of 38 yawns, I balanced the infernal machine who actually played nice for once.  I put everything away and raced out the portcullis (big gate) and across the moat to my waiting chariot.  

Someone was very happy to see me walk in the back door since I had completely forgotten to leave any lights on in the house.  We spent maybe ten minutes snuggling on the couch before hitting the hay.

I'm up very early this morning contemplating the smoked turkey.  I'm having second thoughts.  There is no gravy with smoke and gravy is a must with those mashed potatoes.  Why are the simplest decisions the hardest??  I'm posting this picture with the thought that if I visualize it long enough, it will actually happen in MY kitchen.

I hope you all took your turkey out of the freezer yesterday, otherwise you are in trouble.  Today I will also contemplate the couch!!!