Big Win

My "Big" win!

Netherlands won big today (well, yesterday in my blogsphere) in the World Cup semi finals: 3-2 against Uruguay.  That strike from #5 (I only know most names of the US, England and Germany teams) was why soccer is called “The Beautiful Game”.  The family is all ready to support Germany against Spain tomorrow.

I also won “Big” on our trip to Las Vegas this weekend.  As you’ve read, we went to Mesquite, Nevada, a tiny little town about 1 hour north of Vegas.  My son stayed with the grandparents back in Vegas.  After arriving at the “resort”, my husband played golf, which prompted him to treat me to a massage and pedicure.   We have our preferred ways of relaxing.

Afterwards, we headed to our room at the Casablanca Resort and Casino.  I had not heard of it before, but I had to stop and marvel at it as we almost passed it by.  I stood there, thinking, “This is definitely the only way to get me to gamble…”

SATC Video Slot Machine

May I introduce you to the Sex and The City video slot machine.  Apparently it came out December 2009, and my mom said that she’s already played it, but doesn’t like the bonus rounds.

I live for the bonus rounds on this machine.  First of all, when you get the bonus round, Mr. Big says “Go ahead, touch the heart to make a spin”…who can resist Big telling you to touch anything?  I can’t.  Also, they have big comfy chairs, not those little good for nothing stools at the other slot machines.  This set of machines lure you in, get you comfortable, then seduces you with Chris Noth’s voice.  The sensory overload was just too much.  I had to play.

We went to sign up for their rewards cards and received $20 worth of free play.  My husband went to the Black Jack table and said that I should use our $20 to play the SATC slot machine.

I did, and I won!  I won a total of a little over $200.  Not a lot, but enough.  Basically, my bonus round included picking one of the 4 girls to dress.  They range from “Valuable” to “Most Valuable”, which means the point value increases.  I picked Carrie and Big says “Oooh, my favorite”, which just made me all the more giddy.  Then you touch the mirrors to try to get a match.  The longer you take to make your match, the higher the multiplier.  Because I only bet 200 points per screen (4 screens) and not the “progressive”, my point value was a little lower.  However, because I had picked the “Most Valuable” choice at the time, my highest points were 1500 and I received a multiplier of 10.  That netted me 15000 points, or about $150 (in the picture at the start of this post).  Later, I won 2 more times, getting an additional $80. 

The hubby won, too.  While he won back the hotel stay, golf and spa, I was left with my winnings to shop with!  No, no shopping in Mesquite where the only store “in town” is a Wal Mart.  We went to the Fashion Outlets at Primm on the way home on Monday and I got a couple of things, which I will explain in another post.

After we returned from Mesquite, we celebrated the 4th at a family friend’s house back in Las Vegas.  She has a pool and my son took to it like a fish to water.  After the little party, we went home to the grandparent’s house to light fireworks in the street (certain kinds of fireworks are legal in Nevada).  My little boy sure did not like that at all.

These last 2 images are my son in his little swim outfit, then of him and how he felt about the fireworks.  Overall, a fun, profitable and safe 4th.  Hope you all had the same.

Photos by Cyrillynn Chen

Old Navy shorts, OP shirt and pool shoes, hat from grandma (during her trip to St. Marten)

"Mommy, please tell Daddy no more fireworks!"