Ah, Saturday....already a distant memory.

Hurray for the first hockey practice of the year. Nothing says summer like ice skates and pucks.

I escaped went to Connecticut yesterday to drink and gamble spend some quality time with my stepfather's family (who were visiting from New York).

I had absolutely no intentions of either drinking or gambling but I was powerless to resist. The family met up at my stepfather's parent's house and after some "How are ya"s and "Where are the kids??" we headed here. It's approximately 7 minutes away. I grew up relatively close to this area and have no love for the casinos. Great for jobs but mostly they suck the life out you. I haven't given any money to the Great Cause of the Mohegans or Mashantuckets for many years. They have plenty of cash and I work too hard to give them more. I'd rather have new shoes.

This side of the family used to meet in Saratoga Springs for the Traver's Stakes race. We hung at the track, eating laughing and drinking the day away while wagering on the ponies. The NYRA is kind enough to put TVs in the trees outside so that you can spend your time and your money foolishly while still enjoying the fresh air. Thank you, New York State.

My stepfather's dad is ill. Recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He wanted to spend Traver's Weekend with his family in New York but it was not to be and so the family brought Traver's Weekend to him. Although one of the family is a former bookie, no real wagering took place at the house - we needed betting windows and tickets so off to the Mohegan Sun we caravaned.

We found the racing area and drinks in hand, made our wagers. Oh, we've got some time before the big race? Howsabout that martini bar? One potent watermelon martini later we receive a phone call....can you box that quinella for the Travers? Shit. That's a fifteen minute walk from here and well, bottom's up. We box the quinella and the only winner was a bet placed mistakenly.

My stepsister and I ordered more drinks before the rest of the bunch told us it was time to go. So we stayed. She is young and very, very pretty and there was some male attention. So we stayed. They chatted and I played winggirl and hung out and talked sports with the buddies. They offered drinks, we declined and laughed like fools all the way to the valet parker.

Off to lunch with grammy now, enjoy your Sunday.