An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for 4 June 2008
A Real Expert
No Morning Coffee
Why? Well, DUH! Cuz it’s not morning, and I’m not drinking any coffee. Are you kidding? I’d be up all night, visiting the toity! But here’s a few headlines I’ve come across since I’ve been back in contact with the “real” world:
Climate bill stalls in Senate after dispute
A Senate debate over a bill to combat global warming came to a halt Wednesday after Republicans demanded a reading of the 492-page document because of a partisan dispute over judicial nominations.
The partisan squabble spilled over to a disagreement over how many amendments should be allowed, threatening to cut short likely consideration of the legislation once it gets back on track.
Say whut? Global warming? Judicial nominations? How many amendments? Are they freakin’ kidding? The sad reality is that this disastrous bill is even being discussed at all!
Clinton Expected to Drop Out This Weekend, Endorse Obama
Hillary Clinton plans to drop out of the Democratic presidential race this weekend and throw her support behind Barack Obama, sources say, closing out a hard-fought and protracted primary after her opponent clinched the nomination with an avalanche of superdelegates Tuesday.
The Clinton campaign announced late Wednesday that it would be hosting an event in Washington, D.C, to “thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity.”
Dang. There goes the fun. I guess the real work starts now. Reckon I’m going to have to actually support *gag* McFeingold *gag*! sigh….
Fund-Raiser Convicted in Illinois Bribery Scheme
Antoin Rezko, a once-powerful fund-raiser who helped propel the career of Senator Barack Obama, was found guilty on Wednesday by a federal jury of 16 counts, including fraud, money laundering and bribery in an influence-peddling scheme that touched the highest levels of the administration of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois.
And this is who your nominee hangs out with? The hits keep coming, but you bozos aren’t paying attention. STEP. AWAY. FROM. THE. KOOL. AID. NOW!
Obama Comment on Rezko Verdict
“I’m saddened by today’s verdict. This isn’t the Tony Rezko I knew, but now he has been convicted by a jury on multiple charges that once again shine a spotlight on the need for reform. I encourage the General Assembly to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these kinds of abuses in the future. – Senator Barack Obama
Pfft! No doubt he’s actually praying no one finds out just HOW connected he is with the criminal element…along with the racists, anti Semites, etc.
Al-Qaida’s No.2 urges holy war over Gaza Strip
Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader called on Muslims to launch a holy war to break Israel’s economic blockade of the Gaza Strip, in an audio recording posted Wednesday on an Islamic militant Internet site.
In the 11-minute tape, a voice purportedly belonging to Ayman al-Zawahri says in Arabic that the “salvation of the Muslim nation is through the march of its sons on the path of jihad.”
Will this garbage pail never die? I guess since al Qaeda in Iraq isn’t doing too well, he’s got to do something to occupy his time. He could become a pig farmer….that would give him something to do.
Well, there’s a lot going on, but hey, I’m tired, and don’t really give a happy crap right now. 
Verse of the Day
1 Chronicles 29:11
11 Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Today’s Travel Update
This morning I actually slept later than usual, which means we didn’t have time to do any money shredding at the Gold Strike. Check out time is 11:00 and by the time I got one eye open, it was time to get a move on. The bellman actually called and asked us if we wanted them to bring our car around so it would be available when we checked out. I thought that was fairly nice. Strangely, within less than five minutes, he was at the door with a cart to carry our luggage down. Well, shoot, I hadn’t even gotten the remainder of my female bathroom necessities thrown in the suitcase yet. He politely said he would wait. Interesting.
He was a very polite young man, who evidently, is one HUGE Packer fan. Of course, the conversation focused on football for a few minutes, while we were waiting for the car to come around. Then, me being me, I had to ask about the lack of internet connection in the rooms. It seems, from his understanding, that the ‘powers that be’ think they won’t make as much money from gambling if there is the availability of internet access in the rooms. What planet are these people on? They’d make a whole lot more money from gambling if they’d learn how to regulate that ice box they call a casino! But, he did say he’d pass along the request. I toll him that we’d love to come back and spend a few days with them from time to time, but the temperature and the lack of 21st century technology would probably prevent us from a future visit.
Since it was fairly early and only a 3 hour drive, we decided to head over to Harrah’s. Neither one of us were hungry yet, so we thought we put a few bucks in the shredders for a bit. I put in a $100 and took out $403. Hmmmm…. Time to eat.
I gotta tell ya, it’s not often I’ll go back for seconds on chicken pot pie, but that had to be the best I’ve ever had in my life. My mom did a pretty good home made version, but this put that to shame. Evidently, this lady is fairly well known in the cooking world. I’d never heard of her, but hey, I’m not much into cooking, so it’s no big surprise. Paula Deen? Of course she doesn’t do all the cookin’ herself, but I did hear she has been known to pop in from time to time, and is quite a hoot. I just might have to check out her show….out of curiosity of course.
Instead of jumping in the car to head home, we had to let all those delicious tidbits settle. Back to the money shredders for a little while. I put in another $100, ran that down, put in a second bill and took out $291. Reckon that means I came out ahead $91?
It was definitely time to head home. We get past Olive Branch, and that little PT decided to start doing it’s shake rattle and roll act. Sigh…. For 20 flippin’ miles! We stopped, got out, looked at the tires, thinking maybe there was a bubble or something? Nope, nothing. There’s just so much two non mechanical types can check out on a vehicle, don’cha know. Finally, the earthquake stopped and we made it home, mostly in one piece. When I take it into the dealer…..again….if they tell me there’s nothing wrong with it….again….at least I’ll have a credible witness.
Hmmm….maybe that sweet man will realize I REALLY do need a new truck?
So, all in all, except for the car problems, the being a tad ill the first 24 hours, the lack of internet yesterday, and frigid temperatures, it was a pretty good trip! We’re home, and I’m happy to be here, alive!
Yesterdays (Tuesday) Shennanigans in Tunica
Well, we checked out this morning, went to reclaim my car from the valet….and the sucker was dead. As a door nail. The hits just keep on coming! 30 minutes later, they had gotten it charged up, and were informed it’s probably my alternator. Yippee! See, told him I needed that cute little truck. Heh. Ok, so we’ll talk to the mechanic neighbor when we get home, and see what’s what.
I took the long way around to the Fitzgerald, cuz the Mr wanted to check it out. Nice enough place, but the pay offs on the slots seriously suck! I mean, I didn’t expect to hit a jackpot or anything, but a bloomin’ cherry would have been nice once in a while. One major plus was the buffet. It wasn’t a real big one like a lot of places have, but it was by far the tastiest, and with a bit more of a variety. Naturally, the deserts were too numerous, and I was already fairly full, so didn’t get to try a little of this, or a little of that. Thank goodness! I’ve got a wide enough load added thanks previous trip to numerous buffets, AND to that drug I’m taking. 
So, we finally mosey on over to the next hotel where we have a reservation. Nice check in area, but it’s flippin’ freezing! When it’s 90 degrees outside, ya don’t expect to see frost when you breathe! We get up to the desk and start checking in….”No, we don’t have internet access in the rooms.” WHAT? What kind of second rate joint is this????? “Oh, there’s dial up, but you have to have your own cords.” You mean DSL, don’t you? “No, it’s dial up, AOL.” Holy crap. I’m in hell! Icicles and all!
After simmering in the room (with a lovely view of the parking garage) for a bit, we went back downstairs, just to, y’know, ask someone who appeared to have a clue. Sad to say, no one we spoke to had one. A clue, I mean. “Oh, you just have to plug the phone cord in your computer, it’ll come right up.” Uh….excuse me, but have you ever even OWNED a computer? That’s NOT the way dial up works. “Are you sure you turned it on?” Let’s put it this way, if the man hadn’t been twice my height, and a third my age, he might have learned a new definition of Tasmanian Devil!
One young fella even offered to get me a complimentary bathrobe if I decided I needed to connect in the middle of the night, and had to head down to the café Wi-Fi area. Pfft! Not bloody likely.
Discretion being the better part of valor, the Mr stood by and just smirked from time to time. After we walked away, it was decided I wouldn’t go into catastrophic withdrawals if I went 24 hours without an internet connection. The jury is still out on that one.
With the slot machines calling my name, I decided to let it go. I have to tell you, the Gold Strike is nice, and all that, but someone needs to learn how to regulate the temperature. Seriously, you aren’t suppose to have ‘cicles hanging off your nose while you are shredding your money in those infernal machines. Moving from frigid spot to a not so frigid spot, I plopped in a $20, and took out $168. It was still too cold, so we decided to go back over to the Horseshoe. I stuck in a $100, and took out $228. Cool. Since the Sheraton is the third, and final hotel in this complex thingy, we decided to wander over there for a bit.
On the way out the door, we passed the gift shop, and thought, perhaps, they just might have a jacket or two for sale. Well, they had some sweatshirts, but I have this thing about free advertising (pink, HORSESHOE in gold glittery stuff). And besides, who wants to buy a bloomin’ sweatshirt when it’s 90 degrees outside. (Note to self: Next time, BRING JACKET!)
We did, however, find some really nice shirts for the Mr, at an extremely reasonable price…..with pockets. The Mr has to have pockets!
I also spied a really little suitcase. Like we really need another one? But this would have been great for those little overnight things. However, unless it packs itself, and does the laundry when you get back home, not to mention the dishes, scrubs the floors, and feeds the cats, ain’t NO way I’d ever pay FIVE HUNDRED FLIPPIN’ DOLLARS for an overnight case!
He decided to return to the room with his purchase, and I headed on over to the Sheraton. I sat down at the first machine, which was fairly generous to me yesterday. No such luck today. After $40, I thought it wise to move along. My next foray was a tad more profitable. I stuck in $100 and took out $376. Not too shabby, eh?
I tried a couple of other machines, but they weren’t doing much for me. The Mr was playing video poker, so waiting for him to finish, I thought I’d throw a $20 into a penny machine. What a total rip off those things are! You bet the max (this particular one was .90) and you get .40 back. Or .20. How people can sit there for hours on end playing those is beyond me!
We decided it was time to use the two free buffets coupon, and headed back to the Arctic. After eating too much, as usual, and since it was getting late, we thought it best to throw some money away here and then head up to our room. The first machine was another rip off. Well, ok, they are ALL rip offs, but some, more so than others. Bet 5 credits, get 3 bars, win 3 credits? In this case, it was a quarter machine. Bet the max, a buck twenty five, get a whopping seventy five cents in return for you effort. What kind of crap is that? Well, long story, still long, I broke kind of even for the after dinner session, perhaps $10 or $20 short.
*By George, I do believe the Mr just got propositioned at the ice machine. Heh.
