not so hot

Had a nice vacation in the OC -- not profitable by any stretch, but nice. Mom and I went on the annual gambling junket with the aunts and the uncle, but no Vegas this year because gas is too pricey. Instead we went to Pala, which is cheap, fast and filling. It's sad to think that last year in Vegas we were putting our dough into quarter slots and this year it was all pennies. In fact, twice I ended up on nickel machines by mistake and freaked out at how fast $20 could disappear. When we weren't gambling or eating or crying in the room, mom and I were getting sunburnt by the pool. That's always the best part of the trip. We just relax, get fried by the sun, smoke Virginia Slims, and drink margaritas. Honestly, there's nothing that tops a week of gambling, smoking, drinking and burning.

Sort of like Burning Man, I guess, but with slot machines and drinks ... and clean folks. Although some machines had an odor-linger. Boy, nothing clears your luck faster than a stinky machine.

Highlights:
- "You're not bringing that on the plane, are you?" spoken with disgust by a girlfriend to her boyfriend who had a McDonald's bag. Girlfriend was wearing gold, spangled Mickey Mouse ears.
- The Monkey Lady, who would flat-hand slap the slot buttons and appeared to be irritated when she won bonus rounds. I kept waiting for her to beat the top of her head and show her teeth. "Jackpot party? weeee weeee weee aarhhh ahhhhhhhhhh!"
- Driving Pop's super monster Truckasaurus. This thing came with 2 zip codes and a stewardess. It was great fun to barrel over the top of Miata's and Audi TT's. It was, however, a bee-otch to park.

(ha! the cousin has just been waylaid by a missionary at the door. sorry, honey, we're all definitely broke here.)