So recently I've just lost the urge to write. It's a sad thing. Before I had so much to say, but now I lack that sort of inner splendor that would let me bloviate so profusely upon this ephemeral page.

But life is normal now, more than before. I need to get back on track, but things are slow. I'm typing at the edge of my seat right now. Tonight I went to a casino, with the intent of drinking. I had a guiness at the dubliner and a slippery nipple at Lucky's. I love that place. It's classy, yet not. We were sitting at a table, the kind of table where you expect to see low lives sit at in movies. We craved smoking implements like cigars and cigs, and we talked about all sorts of things that did not matter. There was rap from the mid 90s in the background, and we partly sang along with the tunes, reminded of years past.

Brian almost lost his ring, but we saw it just in time to save it.

I went to the cash window and there was a woman with long black hair there. She reminded me of Esther, my brother's former ladyfriend, her hair looking wet. I cashed 5 dollars into quarters, and boyishly took my bounty to the machines. I walked around for a while, trying to feel something. I felt it from one machine, not the corner, but one machine in. The machine was mine, a slot machine, one arm, a row of buttons. I sat down, and dropped a quarter in.

Nothing.

I sat for a second and thought. While thinking, I continued to drop more quarters in. Single shots, one at a time. Nothing was happening.

Was I cursed?

I thought back to my slot machine. In my basement, thanks to an auction, my family has a slot machine. It is from Osaka, I believe, and is a lot of fun to play with. I learned something from it. The more money you put in, initially, the greater your chances of winning. This seems to be based on the idea that if you win early, you'll keep playing, paying at a high rate. The casino makes more money out of its initial investment in you than you will out of them.

Simple, eh?

So I dropped 3 in at a time. Nothing. I did it again.

Ring ring ring, 7 7 7, red white and green. My Italian heart swelled with pride. My family must be dancing right now...

On a 5 dollar investment I earned back 33. Not bad for 3 minutes work.

I came back to the young lady, the nice one with the wet looking hair, and I had a bucket of quarters.

"That was quick"

I left with all the money that I won.

-ccm