Casino Hell

So I'm doing a gig up at a casino in northern Michigan today. Sounded like it could be a way to get up to the U.P., bop around a bit, and then play an easy show, make some decent money and take my time heading home back over the bridge. All in all a relaxing, paid, get away.

It hasn't quite turned out that way. I've decided I hate casinos. They feel so incredibly gross, inside and out. Everywhere you turn, a casino is one big smoking section. People smoke everywhere, and you can never seem to get away from the lingering stench of cigarette smoke. And the people who inhabit these casinos depress me. They're all retired folks, and it's a pathetic sight to see aged people bent over a slot machine, as if this is quality entertainment.

The show is with a singer from the 60's, Bobby Vinton. He's still a good entertainer, but there's something sad about seeing this former star crooner stuck playing gigs in casinos in the desolate regions of the U.P. Sad, if you ask me. But the man likes to entertain, and he'll have an appreciative audience, I'm sure, so I guess it may not be as sad as I think it is.

And the band is pretty bad, actually. I'm just going to put earplugs in, and think of something else. Intonation is literally a crapshoot (how appropriate), and during the show, I'm just going to turn my ears off and go.

I hoped to drive over to Tahquamenon Falls this morning, but the weather was pretty dreary and dreadful, so I decided to play it safe and stick around, and just stayed in bed a little while longer. The one good thing about the trip is I've been able to catch up on my sleep. And I always look forward to a road trip, regardless.

I have to leave at an insanely early time tomorrow morning, since I have a gig down in Lansing at 10:00. When I said yes to this gig, I thought my gig on Thursday was at night. It just means I'll be getting up at around 4:30 a.m. tomorrow. No late night gambling for me tonight!

I'm about to logoff the computer, and get out of this hell hole for at least a little bit, and try to grab some dinner downtown of some fresh whitefish. I get a free meal here if I want it, but I don't think I can stomach staying here any longer without a break for my own sanity.