Accidental Syrup and BINGO!!

 It's Tuesday ... and you know what THAT means!  The Magic Kingdom of BINGO is once again in business.  But first ... a quick lesson in jam/jelly making.  Truly, I was happy with the syrup, but since I have another batch to make and prefer jam, I called one of the Elks Lodge gals.  I know SHE knows because once a year at our Vendor Fair, she sells jam.

She asked me a hundred questions ... but the final result was TOO MANY BERRIES and NOT ENOUGH PECTIN.  It doesn't help that there are very few recipes around for boysenberries ... and every type of berry has a different recipe.

We're talking old time here, so truly, there are hardly any recipes to be had in the first place!!  Sure-Jell used to have an insert ... but not any more.  The good news is I can reprocess that if I want, but by the time I HAVE time, I think it will be too late.  Better luck next time which will probably be Saturday!

And so .... on to the Magic Castle!

SO MUCH work today ... sign checks, figure out how much we pay in credit card fees, do a safety inspection because .... oh yes .... once again we have no one to do it, so I'm stuck!  Funny how they only want to volunteer for the FUN things!

The best part was I got to set up the Bingo machine and pull the balls for the Bonanza game.  This is a blackout game where we pull up 50 balls and place them on the board, which projects them onto the screen.  When the game is called, they only have to get what remains on their card to win.  I actually got a feel for the placement and discovered it was easier than I thought ... they are color coded.  Who knew??

Too bad I didn't get the pleasure of calling on this night (or maybe lucky since it's going to be pretty nerve wracking) because there was no one to operate the infernal cashier machine.

It all went pretty well.  I have to admit, I get frustrated with some of them.  We have one lady who comes in with a mask every single time and has to spread out fifteen cards on the table, staring at them for at least five minutes before finally actually making a decision about which ONE to buy.  Then she walks away leaving the table an absolute mess.  Why do you do that??

We try to run folks through as fast as possible so they all get their cards and have a chance to find a table and sit down before the calling begins.  There are TWO ladies who just take their own sweet time.  I could run FOUR through in the time it takes them to pick their four cards.  Everyone gets antsy .. including me!  Then she comes back for four more ... and back a third time for cash ... and back a fourth time for two more!

Is it a full moon?  Three ladies ... it's ALWAYS the women ... cut into the front of the line.  "I only want a dobber" ... and they hand me a $20 bill so they require change.  I'm sorry, but you have to go to the end of the line.  I get the DEATH STARE instantly!  I'm sorry, but DON'T CUT IN LINE.  You know better!!  Oh my gosh ... you should hear the ranting and raving!  I just ruined their chances of winning they yell!!

With no way to get a break, I have to eat on the go.  This time I ordered a BLT from the kitchen at noon, and left it in the walk-in until 7:00.  Oh yeah ... the bread was so tough I actually could not take a bite.  I had to tear off the crust and grind my teeth to get through it.  Note to self ... order something else next time.

Then it happened ... I could hear the ruckus.  Too bad the King was calling Bingo and the Vice King was in Hawaii.  SPLITTING CARDS!!  That's all I heard for twenty minutes.  Good grief!  If they aren't complaining about their OWN cards, they are complaining about someone ELSE'S cards.  

You have to buy two packs of regular games each.  That's not true of Early Bird games.  These two nice ladies were playing one each Early Bird ... and so were instantly accused of splitting their packs.  Even if they did, they were already on game five of five.  It's a little late.  And even if they DID ... it meant a whole $3.00 expense.  I looked at their receipt, said they were just fine and I put in $3.00.  These players ... they are BRUTAL to newcomers!!

All went well until one lady paid for her cards with ALL QUARTERS.  I hate change!  So I had to sit there and count out $22.00 in quarters.  Yeah, that was fun.  

At long last the appointed hour arrived ... 30 minutes late once again because our caller thinks we all just LOVE being there.  Lucky for me, I balanced to a T and was out the door as fast as I could run!!

Today is a hair appointment ... and company ... but no jam making.  I'm just too tired.  There's stuff going on every day and I have to take my big sewing machine for a boat ride.  More on that later.

Have a great day everyone ... I'll be in the garden trying to reclaim my patience and not be such a grump!!