Three Beautiful Things 08-23-2025: No Grumpy Old Men at Breakfast!, My First Ever Jackpot, Grooming Copper

1. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, Ed invited me to join him and Mike Stafford for breakfast in Cda at The Breakfast Nook. He also invited Stu. The four of us met and had a relaxing breakfast, replete with generous portions, friendly and efficient service, and plenty of news. We all have good lives and enjoy time with family, do some traveling when we can, and always enjoy a good laugh about different things. We weren't four grumpy old men. Aside from some observations about inflation, we kept our yakkin' positive and supportive of what's happening in our lives. 

2. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, Ed also invited me to head south after breakfast. He wanted to stock up on chew at Fightin' Creek and wanted to spin some reels at the CdA Casino.

So, we headed down.

I started playing some favorite machines and my bank was dwindling. 

Given the amount of money I bring into a session, I do not make maximum wagers on most machines. But, there's one exception. Both CdA and the Wildhorse have machines called Quick Hit with dollar fifty max bets. I always reserve a little money to play these specific Quick Hit machines (most Quick Hit machines' max bet is six dollars). The odds are very long, but handsome payouts are available if a player hits 7, 8, or 9 Quick Hit symbols with a dollar fifty bet. 

So, I was playing the 24 Karat Quick Hit machine and my bank was down to a dollar seventy. I had one spin left. I was resigned to either not playing any more or making a modest ATM withdrawl. 

On that last spin, I hit the game's bonus which gave me five free spins and the added bonus of added Quick Hit and Wild symbols to each free spin. 

Well, for the first time in the twenty-one years I've been spinning reels, I hit a jackpot. 

I hit eight Quick Hit symbols and the prize was $1548.59. 

I was astonished. 

I played out my remaining free spins and then the screen flashed this message: "Jackpot Call Attendant HAND PAY

I'm not sure what the threshold is for when an attendant comes out to pay off a win by hand -- 1100 dollars maybe? (If anyone knows what the figure is at the CdA Casino, please let me know.) 

So I pushed the service button on the machine and waited. 

A most amiable attendant came to my machine about ten minutes later, confirmed my identity, and asked me if I wanted the taxes taken out today.

I did. 

He left for a few minutes, came back with a W2-G form filled out and printed, and with a stack of bills which he counted out in my hand.

I tipped him. 

He wished me more good luck. 

And I went to the refreshment stand to pour myself a Coke and let my good luck settle in and let my baffled head clear a bit. 

Now I know how it feels, after all these years, to hit a jackpot and receive a hand pay. 

It's pretty good. 

3. Copper is a long haired cat and his fur mats easily. He's tolerant up to a point of me untangling his fur and cutting out mats, but he has limits to his tolerance. 

I ordered a dematting comb to see if it would help my efforts to home groom Copper and it arrived today. 

I spent time learning how to use the comb on Copper today and I might be getting the hang of it. 

If I let Copper bite any grooming tool I'm using, he's more willing to be combed or snipped. 

I succeeded in dematting some of his fur and I'll keep at it, in short sessions, but, believe me when I tell you: it's an uphill challenge!