Getting Lucky...

With three kids between us, aging parents, working full time, and the normal complexities of life, Tony and I know all full well, that if we don't make time for each other, no one will. So, on a somewhat regular basis, Tony and I will do just that.  Ideally, we will grab a sitter and take off for the night, but even if it is just for a few hours to have dinner to ourselves, we try to do this at least once a month.  We were successful at this for about the first 6 years of our relationship. We took in many concerts, sporting events and movies, usually on my ex-husband's weekends.  About two years ago things went south for him, he lost all his over night visitation, and we lost our built-in sitter, and now of course, he's deceased. Still determined, we still try though to have date nights and get away, just the two of us.

Until we got married.

And for the last six months we have gone NO WHERE without children.

Not even to dinner.

So, with Valentine's day upon us, and also our six month wedding anniversary (was that not the fastest six months ever???) we decided to get away.  Twenty four hours of not worrying about anyone else but ourselves.  No fighting kids.  No talk of work.  The ability to watch whatever show we wanted on TV, at any hour of the day. The ability to walk around in our underwear, or no undies at all.

So, on Thursday we headed for the state line, armed with only toothbrushes and a teeny tiny working class wad of cash.

Foxwoods Casino, here we come.

After safely checking in to our hotel, drawn by the daunting neon lights and jingling of slot machines, we headed to the casino.  Having skipped lunch, we decided to splurge on a nice early dinner. We dined in a corner booth doted on by several wait staff.  He chose the baked cod with lobster, while I indulged in the special of the day, a nice porter house with garlic mashed potatoes, with a side of spinach topped with pan seared scallops.  It may have been the best meal I had ever eaten.

After dinner we decided to try our luck at the slot machines.  He won a little, I lost it all.  He won some more, I lost some more.  He won again, and we decided to cash out and see a comedy show.  Sitting in the high top tables in the back was nice, as you're too far to be heckled, and yet still close enough to see the stage.  And it was dark enough to still snuggle like teenagers.  After the show, we wandered the tables a bit before returning to our room and the peace and quiet of each other.

Sunlight poured through the tiny crack in the black out style drapes at the lovely hour of 7am.  Gazing out the window revealed a snow covered landscape, steep in contrast to the fifty degree day we had just had.  We returned to the casino, hit our usual buffet for breakfast before again, heading to the tables after a quick stop at a photo booth.  Having found his favorite Let It Ride table, Tony settled in nicely while I walked the resort.  I window shopped for a bit as nothing was open yet, and eventually plopped myself in front of yet another slot machine.

It was a Sex In The City penny slot machine.  It had four screens, each played twenty lines, and it had some sort of video screen on the top that played clips from the show, as well as boasting some sort of progressive payout for each of  the characters.  Careful inspection of the machine revealed that if I was not careful, I could in fact bet $12 a hand on this "penny" machine.  I decided to start out slow and only play the first screen.  After a couple of spins, I got bold and played all four.

And then the lights went off.

The video screen on top started talking and spinning a wheel.

It landed on Mr. Big.

Then it told me to pick a case off the screen.

The case opened.

More lights went off.

Firework noises sounded from behind my head.

And the bells, and dings ticked off for a long time.

CASH. OUT.

CASH OUT.

CASH OUT!!!!

I could not hit the button fast enough.

I returned to Tony just as he was leaving the tables.  He had done well, doubling his money. He attempted to give me half, as this was what we have always done, but I refused.  As we walked to the car, we tallied the gains and losses of the weekend.  So far the weekend was by far our cheapest (less than $400 spent) and we even broke even on gambling.

When we reached the car, I gave him his half.

"What's this?"
"Your half"
"My half of what?"
"I hit the progressive payout on a penny slot machine."
"WHAT!  GET OUT! YOU'RE KIDDING ME!...NO WAIT! YOU'RE SERIOUS. YOU JUST HANDED ME MONEY!!!!!"
"I won $1,131"
"I can't believe you kept a straight face this whole time.  I'd have been running through the casino, ticket in hand, screaming "HONEY! LOOK WHAT I WON!"

We laughed a lot on the way home and I couldn't help but think how great it was to spend this time with him.  And while I am no fool, and would never turn down a thousand dollars...

....he truly is the best prize of all.