I need a break. I need a break from talking about my delinquent child. I need a break from trying to keep the peace in my home all the time. I need a break from my extended family drama. I spell my break like this:
B-I-N-G-O
Yes you read that right. I'm playing BINGO tonight. Go ahead. Laugh. Get it out of your system. I'm aware that the mere mention of BINGO elicits thoughts of little old ladies with blue tinged beehives who can't see over the steering wheel. And yes, I'm aware that I'm only 34 years old therefore I shouldn't be excited to play BINGO tonight, but I am.
It's Jessie's birthday today and this is what she wants to do. Isn't it funny how your "entertainment" changes as you get older? It used to be that when it was someone's birthday we went to clubs. Then it was bars. Now it's BINGO. Go figure! The first time I went to BINGO I was 18 years old. I went with my ex-sister-in-law and her neighbor. It was a way to spend the evening without a crying baby, but I remember being 18 and thinking that this was stupid! This was how they spent their time?! I couldn't fathom BINGO being my main form of entertainment.
A couple of months ago my friend Gina asked me to come to BINGO with her and a co-worker of hers. I had nothing better to do and needed a night out so I did. I didn't remember BINGO being that much fun!! I had such a good time that we made plans to do it again the following month. And the month after that! The third time I brought Jessie with me and when Shelly found out we went to BINGO without her she was FURIOUS! Unfortunately, we hadn't been back since then due to financial reasons, but we're going tonight. For Jessie's birthday. And I cannot wait!
Playing BINGO with Gina can get expensive. Gina loves to gamble and BINGO offers tons of opportunities to gamble. She plays all the games, and she plays the pull-tabs (they're like lottery tickets), basically she'll play any game that offers her a chance to win money. She's a blast to go with, but she's hell on my bank account. It's hard not to catch her enthusiasm for the games and want to play, too. Jessie picked BINGO because if you only play the game and not all the side games it's relatively cheap to play. I think the smallest packet of games is about $15. Give or take a couple dollars. Of course the cost of drinks too, but since I'm driving that won't be a lot.
The nice thing about this place is that they have a main area where everyone sits at their BINGO tables, but they have a little bar area as well which you can sit in and play (everything is announced over a loud speaker), but you aren't bothering the "hardcore" BINGO players. That's where we're hoping to end up tonight so that we all can sit together and enjoy ourselves, but not bother the older crowd who will not hesitate to beat you with their canes and walkers if you mess up their BINGO experience. I think Jess said she was expecting about 13 people so it should be fun!
My kids are gonna make bank tonight as well. They're both babysitting at Jessie's house for all the little ones. The kids will range in age from the youngest who is 11 months old to the oldest who are almost 8 years old. There will be three 8-year olds, one 3 or 4-year old, one 2-year old, and one 11-month old. L will handle the littlest two and K will play with the oldest four. I'm hoping that it goes well....
