Friday March 12

TWO WORDS: HAM BINGO

That's right, Thursday evening I drove to Trenton (which is downriver for us east siders) to joing Downriver Shrine Club for the Annual Ham Bingo Dinner. When I was a kid and we drove south on I-75, I was always told downriver was the place where the freeway rises over an immense series of factories and large round sports-themed decorated reservoirs. Did I mention that it always smelled in the car for about 5 minutes when we passed this area. It is amazing that one small incidental event, repeated over the years has blinded me to the real nice community of Downriver Metro Detroit. Of course, since my beloved's entire family comes from that area and I have been going down there for several years, my impression has changed.

Anyway, I walk into the Trenton Community center and was greeted by over 100 Nobles, ladies, friends sitting down for an enjoyable evening. I had the pleasure of sitting next to two past presidents of the club and had a nice conversation throughout the evening. Dinner was very good, a delicious honey baked spiral ham (I talk about food alot don't I, well that is one part of the Shrine). I had an opportunity to speak to the gathering about our upcoming fundraisers for the Shriners Hospitals for Children and of course the Circus.

And now to the featured item of the evening: HAM BINGO

Well it is bingo, actually 9 separate variations, and the winners of each game (sometimes 2 per game) get a ham. I stayed for the first 5 games, did not win, and because I knew I had about an hour drive, bid farewell and left.

On the way home, The Circus Director called me and said he found a local watering hole that served Camel's Milk near the site of the Shrine Circus, so I stopped by and said hi to the troops. A place next door to the Circus, with new management, and really, really good pizza and burgers. I can see many Shriners partaking in the next week.

I get home around 10:30 and talk to the First Lady for a while. Besides for a few minutes on Friday Morning, I will not see her again until Saturday. After work Friday, I am picking up another Noble and driving down to Taylor to work the 5PM - 2AM shift for some Charity Poker. Wow, two days in a row, Trenton and Taylor, I can see the smiles on the faces of my in laws, have I mentioned that My Beloved was born in Taylor, and the old adage is true, you can take the girl out of Taylor, but you can't take Taylor out of the Girl (like I said I will not see my Beloved until at least Saturday morning, so maybe she will forget that last dig). You think?

Have a Great Weekend