...And That's My Grand Casino Story...

Last week was quite a toughy!  Therefore, Mom decided to head north on Saturday to hit the casino for a bit.  I tagged along, since I thought I could use some mindless fun, too!

On the way up, we stopped at the North Branch Outlet Mall.  I had to return something and had to use a free $10 thing.  Well, I scored at the three stores I went in...that never happens!  I exchanged my little wallet at Rue21 and picked up a few items for myself.  I went to Carter's to use my $10 card and for $.98 got her a new pair of jammies (with Panda Bears and polka dots!) and a polka dot skirt.  At Bath & Body works I got some delightful smelling soaps and candles for cheap.  I rule!

When shopping was complete, we headed up north to the Grand Casino Hinckley.

While we were walking in, a bunch of people were walking out with silverware sets.  My mom said she hadn't gotten a coupon for a free one (they send coupons for free stuff to her all the time), but that if you earn 50 points in a day you can get one.  I laughed and said, "Psh...like either of us would ever earn 50 points in a day..."

About a half hour into the slot machine party that is the penny machines, I was already down $25 of the $40 I had brought along.  I knew this was going to be a short trip after I talked to Mom and realized that she was in the exact same boat.

*waa*waa* <---That is one of those sad trumpet sounds and not a baby cry...

She was going to try another machine...'Ole Jalapeños!'...and so I told her I was going to mosey around and find something new to try.  I put a few dollars into some machine and hit a bonus game right away that gave me some free spins.  As these free spins are going, my cell phone rings.  It was Mom.

Me: "Hey...I'm on some machine by the first cashier cage and..."
Mom: "You have to come here!  Quick!"
Me: "What?  I can't I'm in a free spin bonus round."
Mom: "Now!  Come here!"
Me: "I can't.  I'm winning.  I'll cash out as soon as this thing is down spinning and..."
Mom: "I think I just won $514 on one spin!  COME HERE QUICK!"
Me: "WHAT?!?  I'LL BE THERE AS SOON AS I CAN!"

I have never wanted a bonus round to end quicker than I did at that moment.  As soon as it was done, I quick cashed out and ran (yes...picture crazy woman running through the crowded casino...) and found Mom.  She was laughing and was STILL waiting for the credits to finish running on her machine.  It was awesome!  Once everything was said and done, she had 52,080 credits/pennies...a nice $520.80!  She cashed it out, made me put the $500 in my pocket for our trip to Europe, and took the rest to keep playing.

From that point on, we didn't win a bunch of money, but we sure played a lot!  We'd go up a bit and then down a bit.  Either way, we got to play for a long time.  I was having a lot of fun on this one machine when I realized that I thought I had 42 points (I had been watching for fun).  I told Mom and she said we should find out how many she has.  I told her to go to the desk to find out in a little bit.  It was 8:42.  She said we had to go now since you had to have the points by 9:00 p.m. to get the silverware.  I was bummed because I totally thought I might reach it with all the up and down.  We went to check our cards.  She had 62...enough to get her free silverware.  I did, in fact, have 42.  Mom told me she was going to run and get her silverware and that I was to go find a machine, plunk in some of my money and play like a fool and get those points in the next 15 minutes.  By the time she got back, I had 44 points.  She grabbed my card and went to another machine.  It was 8:49.  Mom started spinning the wheels like crazy as I watched and counted my points.  At 8:57, I needed 1 point.  As that one point came up, I grabbed my card and took off for the free silverware line (yes...picture crazy woman running through the crowded casino for the second time in the same night...) as it was 8:58.  I made it just in time and they cut off the line two people behind me!

When I get back to Mom, she was winning again and we had a good laugh about the race we had just completed:

Mom: "Did you make it!?!"
Me: "Yep!  Only two people after me made it.  She said I was right on the nose with points."
Mom: "Great!  Can you believe our night?  $500 for our trip and you got two new sets of silverware."
Me: "Not at all!  Remember how I said there was no chance of either of us hitting 50 points tonight?!?"
*cue lots of laughter*

After a while...
Mom: "So...uh...did you even need silverware?"
Me: *laughing* "To be honest, I have no idea...I guess I don't need any now!"
*cue more laughter*

We played some more and then headed home.  It was one of the best, if not THE best, night at the Casino with Mom.

I'm Katie and THAT'S my Grand Casino Story!

XOXO