Who doesn't like free stuff ? Everything from pens that never write, stickers that don't stick and advertising key chains that break in the bag on the way home. We all have visited the home shows etc and collected these treasures, me being one of the worse. Love my freebies !
Being a bass fisherman I used to love going to the Bass Masters Classic, a national tournament with a spectacular three day show in which free lures, key chains, hats, everything imaginable fall from the dealers hands like rain from heaven, and no admission charge. Never mind the nominal cost of the trips to Virginia. Baltimore, New Orleans, North Carolina and a few other places I can't remember right now... small price to pay for free stuff. Plus the bonus of the little shampoos and conditioners from the hotels. (and it 's obvious how much of those I use over the course of a year...shaving creme would be a better bargain)
BUT... Life has a way of getting it's revenge. A while back, as fate would have it, they built a casino close (much too close) to our home. Now .. anyone who has ever visited one of these money laundering establishments knows that they they are the masters of the art of luring a person in with free gifts (I can feel the hook already sticking in my lip) Now over the years we have built up quite a collection of 'free' umbrellas, clocks, cups, fleece blankets, towels and an entire wardrobe of T-shirts and hats. A conservative estimate of sixty to a hundred dollars per 'free' gift is offset buy the huge amount of fun (frustration) one gets while meeting the point quota for these treasures
Fast forward... free buffet. Ahh me and food.. they found my weakness. Each month we each get a nice coupon book that includes discount room rates (5 min from our house) a calender of special events that one wouldn't dare miss and the Holy Grail.. buy one ..get one free buffets. They used to be free when we played more.. but the recession has taken it's toll.
Now to understand how a buffet works one must know the rules.
First rule..leave all health concerns and dinning etiquette in the car. It's all about volume.
Second rule... Everything goes together..yes one can eat roast beef, shrimp, chicken, steak
potatoes, veggies and even those neat little rye rolls I love so much in one setting if done in moderation
Third rule...Leave room for deserts (yes that's plural) I recommend the lemon pie, although the cherry pie and black forest cake sometimes call my name Stay away from the fresh fruit and Chocolate fountain.. way too messy..at least for me
Last rule... Leave a moderate tip on the table...and deposit your one hundred dollars or so in the slot machines on the way out (hang on to a five for alka-seltzer) Let your belt out one notch and hold your head high as you walk out knowing you beat them at their own game.
Heck... even the valet parking is free... but don't forget the tip !
Quote of the day...
Tough times don't last.... Tough people do !
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