Brad and I had a wonderful visit with our family in Columbus, GA. It was great to forget about fuzzy casino promotion details and complex Free Play schedules – and I barely touched a computer keyboard.   We mostly just plugged into the family’s busy routine.   It was fun to celebrate Zachary getting his driver’s license, which Angela and Steve viewed with mixed emotions – help with the family taxi duties, but a little more worry too. And they won’t get a break from worry - Kaitlynn is counting the days until she gets her learner’s permit in August. 

Their household is rich in friends who stop by, from Angela’s work and especially Steve’s old military buddies. And I especially enjoyed the teenage friends who hung around. They can run up a grocery bill big time, but Ang and Steve have always wanted their house to be a welcoming haven for their kids’ friends.   So when Steve fires up the grill, you never know how many will show up!    It was always fun bedlam.    

But after a week of living in “Grand Central Station,” we were ready to come home to a quieter environment, albeit almost as busy. I had a stack of mail to go through – lots of August casino offers coming in already so there is intense calendar work to be done. (I like it when casinos plan ahead because I like to plan ahead!) Advance planning and organizing is probably one of the most important keys to successful gambling. Although I imagine most gamblers now make up their schedule on a computer calendar, I do mine the old-fashioned way – on a hard copy monthly DayMinder. I do it in pencil and go through a lot of erasers as things change throughout the month. I guess I’ve just been doing it this way too many years to change. 

Brad had a busy day today, with 6 casino stops to pick up free play that would be expiring tonight. And then came a quick stop at our nearby Food For Less, the store (along with Wal-Mart) with the overall cheapest grocery prices. Contrary to what many people think, we don’t eat in casinos all the time, so grocery trips are a part of our routine. 

We plan to go swimming in our condo pool tonight, unless predicted showers interfere. 

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