"Goin' to Atlantic City, Atlantic City Here I Come"
(sung to Wilbert Harrison's Kansas City).
I awoke this mornin' before Rockin Robin (Bobby Day), walked Hound
Dog (Elvis) around the local golf course and did my rendition of
Splish Splash (Bobby Darin). I was ready, I was packed, and I was
missing Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison). Ms. Westie was Dream a Little
Dream (Mamas and the Papas). I called out Wake Up Little Susie
(Everly Brothers), but she was more interested in Roll Over Beethoven
(Chuck Berry). One hour and fifteen minutes later, we were ready for
Old Time Rock' N' Roll (Bob Seger):
Still like that old time rock'n'
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock n'roll
We customarily limit our stays in AC to the 2 free nights offered by
Borgata, but we added an additional night at the casino rate to
Celebrate (Three Dog Night) my 58th birthday. For those counting, I
hit 60 a few bumps in the road ago, but I have since put that
particular engine in reverse. After dropping Max-the-Schipperke off
at the Hotel California (Eagles), we were prepared to do our version
of the Cannonball Run (Chuck Mangione). Absent twin Harleys, we took
the Accord and officially started the trip.
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
(Steppenwolf)
Alas poor Yorick (Billy & The Shakespeares), the confluence of bad
weather and traffic conspired to turn a 4½-hour trip into a 6-½ hour
Mule Train (Frankie Layne). Early on as we sat mired in traffic, I
looked over at a construction site and saw a port-o-toilet with the
company name of "Royal Flush" a sure omen of good things to come or
so one would think. My biggest mistake of the entire trip was my
decision to use the George Washington Bridge, aka Bridge over
Troubled Waters (Simon & Garnfunkle). Stop, go, crawl, slow down,
and stop again, ad nauseam.
After a few pit stops for de-fueling, we arrived at the Shop-Rite in
Absecon where we purchased milk and NJ blues, the latter no doubt
picked on Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino). We finally pulled into the
Borgata parking garage at 3PM and I headed directly to check-in. We
went to our bay view room on the 31st floor with bags in hand and
then I returned to the car to unload our snacks, beverages, pillows,
cooler, and water. Oops! That second gallon of mountain spring H2O
turned out to be oral hygiene water for Bird Dog (Everly Brothers).
Max-the-Schipperke has a nasty tartar problem, but refuses to floss
daily so he is on a special dental program. On the upside Ms Westie
and I are now sporting bright smiles.
In spite of being exhausted from the drive, I decide to make my
initial charitable donation to BAWF (Borgata Always Wins Foundation)
by playing some quarter 9/6 JOB VP. I manage to hold on for about an
hour using our free bonus slot dollars and return to the room a few
dollars ahead. After a short nap, Ms. Westie made her initial
donation to BAWF while I got some needed exercise by walking to
Harrah's along the waterfront walkway.
We dined at the Old Waterway Inn, an old favorite, after finding a
2/1 coupon in the AC Weekly. Ms. Westie chose the Tuna Mediterranean
accompanied by red bliss potatoes, spinach, asparagus, red peppers
and artichokes. I opted for the Polynesian Seafood bowl lump back
crabmeat, sea scallops, shrimp, and bok choy in a green curry sauce
over angel hair pasta. Both meals were very good, but the flavor of
the coconut milk in the green curry sauce was hard to detect.
Service was below average as our waiter failed to check back with us
until after we finished our dinners.
Our evening VP session resulted in a draw so we, me first, returned
to the room and settled in for the night.
The next morning I was awake at my customary 4AM. This session was a
good one and I actually made some decent Money -That's What I Want
(Beatles). I started to head outside for my morning constitutional,
but AC was again experiencing Stormy Weather (Billie Holliday) so I
settled in at the Living Room with Harlan Coben's latest, The
Innocent. I returned to the room shortly before 7AM and was stunned
to find Ms. Westie awake and doing the Shimmy-Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop
(Little Anthony and the Imperials) as she toweled off. I again
checked the wide screen TV outside our window only to find the rain
falling even harder than before. I figured another few days like
this and I would be in the market for a Yellow Submarine (Beatles).
We decided to cut bait rather than fish so we called downstairs to
cancel our last night's reservation.
After breakfast in our room, we decided to play a little 5 cent 9/6
JOB at Trump Plaza. There are a total of (8) machines located in the
nonsmoking, East Tower. My money and I were becoming estranged so I
waved the white flag and surrendered after only an hour. Ms. Westie
was holding her own so I toured the Boardwalk in spite of the light
mist that was falling. As I did the Stroll (Diamonds) past Ballys,
music began to blast from Johnny Rockets so I slowed down to Stop,
Look and Listen (Marvin Gaye) while the restaurant's staff danced to
Think (Aretha Franklin). I quickly looked around to see if a Blues
Brothers sequel was in process of being shot.
Later Ms. Westie joined me for a walk on, as opposed to Under the
Boardwalk (Drifters). We joined 3 others in applauding the winner of
the recently concluded Race Across America. It was around noon so we
walked over to Arctic and split a half of a regular cold cut sub at
the venerable White House Subs. My afternoon VP session was a good
one with several quads and an increase in Team Westies' net worth. I
walked to Harrahs' and back in the late afternoon under Cloudy Skies
(Allison Krauss) while Ms. Westie took a turn on the VP machines.
We had a few comp dollars at our disposal so dinner this evening was
at NOW (Noodles of the World). We split a chicken satay appetizer
and orders of Chow Main Fun and Peking Chicken & Shrimp. Everything
was, as usual, delicious, but it proved to be too much food. We then
headed for the B-Bar, which was relatively empty. I caught the
bartender's attention, no mean feat, and asked to make it One for My
Baby (Frank Sinatra) and one more for the road. The cards were
frigid so I elevated back up to the room with a glass in hand while
singing There is a Tear in My Beer (Hank Williams Sr. & Jr.). It was
Ms. Westie's Last Dance, (Donna Summer), last chance for a royal so
she played long into the night.
I approached this morning's pre-dawn VP session with trepidation. I
have a history of entering the latter stages of a trip modestly ahead
only to watch my hard fought gains Blowin' In the Wind (Bob Dylan).
Today, however, I caught a fair share of quads so the Westies
returned home a few dollars to the good. On the downside, we can't
get no Satisfaction (Rolling Stones). We have spent 30 nights at the
Borgata since November 2003 without hitting a royal. I can only
conclude Life is a Lemon and I want My Money Back (Meat Loaf). I am
certain Borgata will honor this request in the not too distant
future.
Our return trip home was largely uneventful. To those who have
chosen to sing along to this TR, I offer my humble thanks and a wish -
Happy Trails to You (Roy & Dale).