Saturday February 28th

Pretty good day at the machines...but they seemed a lot tighter than the previous two days.

Total haul $1,440

Driving to Denton tomorrow...looks like the chances are the roads will be ok

Will be staying at the Best Western Premier in Denton

more later...

Friday February 27th

Nicely settled in to Harrah's. The beds are nice and comfortable and the rooms are clean. Here is a picture from our room looking across the river to Omaha City, Omaha. What you see in the foreground is Harrah's outdoor amphitheater, where they hold outdoor concerts when the weather is good.

Had a good breakfast in the restaurant downstairs and then went into the casino. It's nice in the morning because it is not too crowded.

The morning was good...how good I'll explain in a few minutes.

We took the shuttle to the Horseshoe in the afternoon...funny part is Katie seems to do well at Harrah's and I seem to do well at Horseshoe. This is not the first time this has happened.

To make a long story short...between yesterday and today...with me pulling my weight for a change at the Horseshoe....we are net profit of $1,160.

Now on to other news...

We have been watching the weather for driving purposes. Things not looking good for Saturday. They were pretty terrible on Friday afternoon in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Freezing rain, sleet and snow, a couple of the Interstates including ours shut down, and 20 car pileups. Snow and ice predicted for Oklahoma City for Saturday as well.

Katie and I discussed it, and although we could probably make it, the risk is not worth the reward. Last thing we need if for someone who doesn't know how to drive in this weather to do something stupid and cause a major accident. Not only would we not be able to get the car fixed right away, but we could be injured or killed.

Looking at the travel weather on Sunday, looks better than Saturday, with the temps warming up a bit. By the time we get to Oklahoma City looks like it will be over freezing so that the roads should be melting, along with the cars on the road, and the fact they plough the highways well.

So we got another free night here at Harrah's, and to thank them for that, we will try and take some more of their money.

Hoping that travel to Denton Sunday looks good enough.

more later....

Thursday February 26

We intended to get up at 6:30 this morning, but instead woke up at 5:30. We got ready and went downstairs for the breakfast. Had the scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, they were offering. Haven't had real bacon for a very long time. Katie and I eat turkey bacon. They also had lots of other options including fruit, hard boiled eggs, the usual cereal choices, waffles etc.

We checked out, went across the street where there is a subway and got a couple of 6 inch subs for the road. Filled up with gas $2.15. Very cold filling up with gas as the wind is wicked.

We were on the road by 7:50. Now for the drive to Council Bluffs about 6 hours or so. It's a little faster than normal because the speed limit is 75MPH almost all the way. Driving conditions were great with very little traffic. Stopped for gas three or four times to make sure we weren't going to run out in this type of weather, and each time was miserable standing at the pump with the wind blowing...but we survived.

Got to Council Bluffs around 2PM, checked in to our free room for the next two days. The rooms are very nice at Harrah's, but they don't really want you to be staying in your room much. TV is large, but there is no desk for sitting at a computer. They charge $10.95 for the internet for 24 hours. They always find a way to get $$ from incidentals.

After we got settled we went downstairs so Katie could start her "work". We both did well at the beginning, but that soon stopped for me, but didn't for Katie as usual. We played for about 4 hours and ended up with $384.50 profit, all Katie's "work" I might add.

We went for supper to the buffet. It is $16.50 each with a players card, but you can also convert players points accumulated by playing into $$. The food and the selection is MUCH better than what is offered at the casinos in Winnipeg.

Katie and I decided to just relax the rest of the evening, and we did. We used my video player which we attach to the TV and watched some TV shows I had downloaded previously.

Then it was time for bed. We will be taking the shuttle over to Harrah's other casino called the Horseshoe, which we like, tomorrow.

and so ends another day on the way to Paradise. Paradise Park that is, our home away from home.

more later...

Wednesday February 25th

We took our time packing this morning, as we knew we only had to drive to Fargo. No problem at the border other than the guy asking the questions being the typical grump face,

Roads were just fine, and we arrived at our hotel, The Best Western Plus Kelly Inn and Suites. We stayed here before and liked it just fine. Booked it through Airmiles, as they now have expiry dates on miles one has accumulated.

The managers reception was on when we arrived, we didn't have lunch so a little snack was great. Free beer and/or wine, meatballs, cheese platter, garlic cheese toast, pretty good.

A tiny bit warmer than Winnipeg, but not a lot. Wind is pretty wicked.

Had some running around to do. I had previously purchased a Tmobile hotspot from Ebay, brand new with a new sim card in a sealed package. I phoned Tmobile to get the sim card activated, but I was informed the sim card is on "the cold list". That means because it was not purchased directly from Tmobile or one of their authorized dealers, they will not activate it. What a rip off! Just another way to get some $$. It is their product and brand new.

So Katie and I tried to find a Tmobile store to get a new sim card. No store in Grand Forks or Fargo, matter of fact no Tmobile stores in North Dakota period. Great! what marvelous service.

Funny part is I have had a Tmobile Sim Card for prepaid calls not data for a couple of years. I only have to top it up once a year for $10. Works just fine, just stick it in my unlocked phone and good to go.

We have a Tmobile store close to us in Texas, but that doesn't do us much good here.

Oh well, another lesson learned.

Breakfast continental breakfast at this Hotel for tomorrow...Scrambled eggs, Bacon, and Hash Browns...nice!

Off to Council Bluffs tomorrow, about a seven hour drive.

more later....

Tuesday February 24th

Tomorrow starts the adventure for 2015. We will be driving to Fargo and staying there overnight. On Thursday we will be driving to Council Bluffs Iowa, and staying at Harrahs Casino for a couple of days seeing as they are kind enough to give us two free nights.

more later....