Out With A Whimper

Well, here we are, the end of another year.

2008, I gotta admit, was a pretty good one for me. Of all the things that went my way this past year, the job upgrade is first and foremost in my mind. I think if I were still dealing Pai Gow every night, with the occasional foray to the $5 blackjack table and the annoying dice game, I'd probably be kinda bitter about things. Especially since I left the pit, and the nightly average tokes are down about $25 each (causation or correlation???). Oh, yeah, I'm still a little bitter about a few things, but overall, I can't complain too much. I know how lucky I am.

And I've got much to look forward to this year--March Madness with my buddies, a likely trip back to Nashville for my birthday, a family cruise this fall, and a promise of time off next Christmas. I'll probably make it out to Phoenix at least once or twice to see my old gang, too.

So life ain't too bad in the grand scheme.

On the other hand, the day-to-day grind somehow manages to take my mind off the bigger picture, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who suffers from that affliction.

Anyhow...

I'm quite well-rested today, and will probably get a lot done before I head back to the casino tonight. I went in last night, got there about 15 minutes before my shift started, and just as I walked up to the poker room, the only table we had going broke up and closed. Suddenly I had less game Drew Peterson standing in Jerry Maguire's living room.

I never even took my jacket off. I hung out for a bit, went over and talked to Kimmy for a second, and then came on back home. I tried to stay up and read, but I didn't make it an hour before falling asleep. I'm hoping tonight is juicy, because it's pay-the-bills time again on Friday. Normally, I can anticipate the swings of good nights and bad nights, but to make zero dollars ain't much fun.

So that was my last shift of 2008, as it stands right now. I'm scheduled to go in tonight at 1:00 am, which isn't exactly ideal, because that means I can't really go out and do anything, and I certainly can't go out and get silly before work, either. I'm just hoping that it's so busy tonight that I get called in a couple of hours early. If I can't be out having fun, I might as well be working... Besides that, I really don't want to be out on the road at 12:30 am on New Years in the World's Drunkest City.

I may post again later today, not sure yet. We'll see how the afternoon goes.

Mikey