So I just spent the last couple of days in Louisiana, Shreveport to be exact. Though not the most beautiful city, a bit industrial, it has a certain charm. There is just something about a place where you can lose all of your money and then stroll through fancy hotel lobbies looking at old Hollywood memoribillia. Let's just call Shreveport Las Vegas Lite--all of the charm of the original "Sin City" without all of the glitz!

I come from a long line of gamblers but it must skip a generation here and there because the thrill of gambling is completely lost on me. I just don't see the point of spending lots of cash on a game of pure chance and reeping little to no pay off--literally! I know that there is logic and skill inloved in a game of poker or black jack but as someone who can hardly bare to spend five bucks on a machine, there is no way I am paying ten times that just to get inot a game of cards. The main attraction at the casino is the slot machine and the draw of that is pretty much the sparkly lights and the power of pulling the arm to take a spin at your chance to be an instant thousandaire! But these days, even that thrill is gone as most machine have opted for buttons to spin instead of the arm...I suppose that it is easier to push your money away than to pull. I must admit that I even got sucked in to Regis' attempt at the slot machine version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? I was able to work my way up the ladder to 100 nickels but without a lifeline I was soon left with zero nickels, and I didn't even get to shake his hand! I must hand it to the gamblers anonymous folks though, their billboards are not lost on me!

I'm planning a trip to the original gambler's hot bed, Las Vegas, this summer. For me, it's more of a chance to hang out in a fun place then gamble my money away. Although the free drinks are a nice perk, I definitalyprefer to pay for my own drink and enjoy it than loose all of my cash on a machine that doesn't gaurantee a buzz!

Till next time...