Today

Now we are retracing our steps again, back through Omaha from Sioux City (SiouxPerior Indeed) and then over Wichita through Dallas. In the Omaha airport, some of our brethren fell under suspicion for leaving a handbag (a handbag?) at the table next to them while they played Galaga/Ms. Pac Man at the munch’em snack stand. Actually, this stand was called “Krack Attack” in red neon above it, no possible explanation for this other than a particularly straight-shooting proprietor who apparently has never been to a gay bar, Detroit or Laramie and who doesn’t have any clever friends. Or a TV. The pair of musicians were questioned briefly (“is this your bag?”) by the police and set free.

Last night at the Clarion I overheard a devastatingly trashy and good looking woman in a cowboy hat talking to her Tim Mcgrawey husband about the Casino shuttle, which was due to arrive soon and remove any who were tired of the hotel bar to the River Boat casino just down the road. I assembled a posse of winners and high-fived the man in the cowboy hat a few times and off we went. The casino was tiny and the river is very low, so the checkered gangway to the entrance was very disorienting. We found the old Bonus Frenzy and Blazing 7s machines and started yanking. I discussed with the bartender about how the drinks are not free and then was escorted back to the bank of slots by a waiter because you’re only allowed to carry one drink at a time at this casino. This is a policy beyond reproach in every way, preventing spills. Sitting at a slot machine with a cool tonic I find to be very calming, for a few minutes.

We arrived back at the hotel bar soon enough and finished off the night with a jolly game of “do you know this person,” which I’m not very good at. Then I discovered that we got Comedy Central and so I watched some Reno 911 until very late.

Out the airplane window I just saw the huge theater we played at in Wichita a few nights ago, far below.