Lady Pink Saw Red

While visiting Hamley's Saddle and Leather Shop, we discovered the new Hamley's Steak House. Since we had not been out of the casino resort for the whole week, we had tried every eatery they have. Lady Pink likes French Onion Soup and had it at Plateaus, the gourmet restaurant almost every night. It is a big and hearty helping so that is all she had. She decided it was time for a big juicy steak so she invited Lori and I for a steak dinner that night. Sounded great. I was out of the tournament early that day and decided to play on line. I got into a $5.50 tournament. There were 168 players but it also was only 4 PM. I figured, even if I won it, it would be over by 7 PM. I was way below average at 6 PM when Lady Pink arrived. She had a drink with me (I had stored wine and Barcardi Limon in my room.) So, we visited, laughed and talked while I played. At 6:30 she reminded me that our reservation was at 7 and that Lori had to get back to work so I decided to blow my chips off. I called an all-in with a 5-6, won the pot with a straight and doubled up. I moved in with a Q-5 off-suit and doubled up with a pair of fives. Before I know it, my bad play had pole-vaulted me from the lowest chip stack of $22,000 to the highest at 332,000!

Doralee was getting into the game and laughing and high-fiving me as my chips accumulated. I heard her on the phone with the restaurant, trying to change our reservations to a later time. They had decided to close at 8:30 because they weren't busy (life in a small town, after living in Las Vegas takes some getting use to.) She was determined to have a Hamley's steak and this was her last night. I tried to get her to go without me but she wouldn't hear of it. I kept on with the chip lead and I heard her on the phone again. Next thing I knew, Lori was here and three steak dinners from Hamley's were being delivered! I thought I heard her say, "And throw a bottle of red wine in the bag," but I wasn't sure. In deed, a nice bottle of Cabernet was with the order. Lady Pink had "set the table" with linens - a beach towel for a tablecloth and washcloths for napkins. She looked around my room, thought she had found a small candle but it was my secret stash of peanut butter. The steaks were fabulous and still hot, the Caesar salads were cold and delicious, the baked potatoes were great and the cheesecake and carrot cake, divine. The wine was terrific. I'd like to say I won the tournament and $1500 for my $5.50 investment but I didn't. I won $55.00 after changing gears and playing good and getting beat! So, as we had our fine dinner picnic in my room, I said, "See this is a new experience! One we will talk about and laugh about for years to come."

To which Lady Pink said, "I have been living on French Onion Soup for five days and I told you I would have a steak dinner from Hamley's tonight! However, I did not know I would be sitting on the floor, eating out of a cardboard box, using plastic utensils, and drinking fine wine out of a Dixie cup! Don't think Lady Pink is not seeing red! Be glad we don't have any steak knives!" We did talk, we did laugh, and we did have a memorable Hamley's steak dinner! Thank you Lady Pink, you are a smile maker and a "Rae" of sunshine!