BINGO!

Coming into the city of Minot, Christopher and I witnessed a beacon: Bingorama. Actually, it was just a billboard for Bingorama, but nonetheless a beacon.

Then, as we rolled into the city proper, we saw a giant beaver. Apparently the college, Minot State University, thought it would be a smart plan to hold an admissions recruitment event in a parking lot. In the city where the university was located. And not advertise it. So we just popped on by and they literally threw us a crapload of food. Then the admissions advisor tells us of more bingo on the other side of town. BINGO! Shazaam.

So the next day we had off, the majority of which I spent writing that tome which was my previous post. That evening, Christopher, Kristen, Craig, Kate, Shawn, Jessie and I stormed Bingorama. I knew it was going to be priceless once I saw the building: a massive warehouse with a parking lot full of Buicks outside.

We walk in to find the most drab scene ever: about 150 bingo zombies mindlessly blotting bingo cards as an announcer monotonously rattled off numbers in the background. We were going to have a great time.

Basically, we were the boisterous upstarts that were actually excited about the bingo prospects. In the first round, Craig’s card was doing smashingly (and a prize of $5700 was up for grabs) and all our hearts were racing wildly. It was a lot more exciting than one might expect: probably the biggest adrenalin rush you can get without ever leaving your seat. Maybe that explains the demographic.

In the midst of all this, Christopher and Jess were getting rather competitive. Why, I have no clue considering the game of Bingo requires no skill whatsoever. That is of course if you don’t count staying awake, something I fear some people in the bingo hall were unable to do. We couldn’t really understand it, no one yelled, “BINGO!” Even at the end, when a woman won $1700, it was this half-hearted mumble. If one of our group had won that, we would have screamed, torn off our shirts, and run around the room. The same applies to winnings of $50.

In bigger news however, we are facing a real-life costume contest. Our van broke today, leaving us to forage out on the road for lunch and without any of our stuff upon arrival at the church. I ate it up, frequenting the local rummage sale for clothing to change into once showers were done. Right now I am sporting a massive Indian horse sweatshirt and a pair of baggy grey shorts. What’s best about the sweatshirt is that it doubles as a towel And a sleeping bag. I am set for the night because about ten minutes ago, the news got worse: the transmission on the van is broken. At least 3 days for the fix-up. SHAZAAM! The leaders will figure out something of course, but right now I’m loving the limbo we all now face.

Well, I have to sign off since I am starving and need to try some frybread. Apparently we’re on a Sioux Indian Reservation, so I need to see the sights.