Cuttin' Back

We're is such a good place financially that I've decided to quit my part-time job as a Blackjack Dealer. Its been a fun two years and the extra money was awesome (even moreso with our new union contract). But the time is here for me to enjoy the summer and welcome our new baby and get a few more hours of sleep per weekend.

So, when I go in tomorrow night I will give two week's notice. I'm pretty stoked about it.

Casino Tales

Good title? Casino Tales?

Except I don't really have any.

I really thought working at the Casino for 16 hours a weekend would get me some good blog fodder. But it really hasn't.

Its a drag to get there. I miss looking forward to my weekends knowing I have to work Friday night into Saturday morning and then Saturday night starting it over again. Having said that, once I'm there its fine. The time totally flies by and I really love that direct deposit on Fridays.

My most obnoxious player so far, believe it or not, has been a drunk lady of about 70, who when learning I had to put some new cards into play (which takes a couple minutes to inspect, wash and riffle) asked why I can't just "deal the fucking cards". Took me by surprise. I thought she was just being funny at first, but she wasn't. From then on I silently rooted for her to lose, just as I do other people I think are obnoxious or a pain.

Last weekend I had a drunk guy of about 30 who didn't understand how to play BlackJack but was funny and not offensive despite the fact he referred to the older Asian woman sitting next to her as Feng Shui and high-fiving her three or more times.

The night before that was sort of slow. I had a bunch of players who just stared at the felt indicating hit or stand but showing no emotion. At one point I'm thinking, "Lady. I just dealt you two Blackjacks, its really okay to smile." I'm sure you've guessed that table didn't tip for shit either.

A few weeks ago I paid a guy $4000 on a bonus hand win and he tipped me $500! That was nice. We pool our tips, but it was still nice nonetheless.

I'm into the rhythm of the place and most of my floor supervisors have been pretty cool.

Upon reflection, I'm thinking perhaps its a good thing I don't have too many stories then. It might be that that makes my nights all that much tougher.

Going for It

Well, I'm going to go for it. Dealer school. Its going to be a tough 3 months. Real tough. But the more I think it over, the more I want it.

What's especially encouraging is how many of my friends and family are so excited for me, even to the point of jealousy. Class starts two weeks from tonight. Wish me luck.

Dealer No Deal

With both my wife's and my car getting up there in mileage (both over $130k), the thought of a new car payment, or payments, has made me nauseous. Combine that with the fact that we aren't nearly saving as much for the Little One's college as we would like and extensive, yearly house improvements have worn out some raised-plastic letters and numbers, I'm feeling a money pinch lately. At the very least, I can foresee future struggles if one, or both, of our cars suddenly dies. Lastly, there is nothing I want my family to ever feel like they have to do without and if that means I have to work harder, or longer, than I'm up for the challenge.

In the past I would make extra money through bonuses, overtime or even weekend work for the partners at my work. But that has dried up considerably in the past few years.

So, after some soul-searching for what kind of part-time job I would be willing to do, I thought about a casino dealer. I simply cannot imagine myself being a stock-clerk for $10 an hour or being a server at the local T.G.I.F. Perhaps I feel I'm "too good" to work such jobs but I also don't think my free time is worth less than $18 an hour or so.

I could easily be a Blackjack dealer I think and I'd love to learn their other house games of cards or the spinning money wheel and the like. Since I have such a patron's interest in the games and I enjoy the excitement of the casino atmosphere, why not? Plus they pay between $18 and $25 per hour depending on tips. Lastly, one can work only weekends and/or holidays and the scheduling seems quite flexible to accommodate my current job.

Don't get me wrong, I make a good living. But I also like nice things and I hate feeling like money is tight. It definitely would be tight if we suddenly took on two more car payments. I suppose one would say "then just get a crappy car" but I love cars and I like driving a nice one. I guess I'm shallow that way, but at the same time I'm willing to work hard for what I want. Maybe my current car will go forever, too. That's be great! Then I'll try to sock money away until its needed. I'm mostly concerned about some extra stress for my wife and time away from her and my daughter.

Also, casino dealer is quite a marketable skill that would come in very handy if anything crazy ever happened with my job, which can be dependent on the economy. There's even rumor of a planned casino in Massachusetts only 25 minutes from my home. So, that's a future consideration as well.

Pursuant to all that, I applied at Foxwoods Casino. Gladly, I passed Phase I and Phase II of their employment process and they tendered me an employment agreement. Phase II was a rather lengthy math test which, from the sounds of one of my interviewers, I aced. Funny. There was slight trick question in it that I suspect many miss. Basically, the trick was a multiple choice word problem involving money such as $48.23 is two twenties, a five, three ones, two dimes and three pennies. Well, I spotted another one that equaled the $48.23 in the same question, but the money was laid out differently. Many, I suppose, move on to the next answer when it works. Perhaps its how they test your attention to detail and I'm glad I noticed.

Next, I have a drug test which won't present a problem unless Bud-Lite has crystal meth in it and I have to pass a background check. Again, not a problem. I've never had any issues with the law short of driving too fast on occasion.

Assuming that goes well, then there's dealer school. And that's the hard part. Mrs. Blogger and I need to sit down and decide if I should proceed. First, its over an hour from my house. Second, its Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to midnight for twelve weeks and there's no guarantee of passing, although I'm sure I will. The schooling will certainly put a strain on my family which would defeat the purpose of more income, no? But then, nothing good comes without hard work and sacrifice either. Plus I would have a few hours, from 5 to 7:15 every day, with my Little One. So I won't miss her too much.

After passing, I would be able to work weekend days, nights or overnights. That's pretty ideal as far as I'm concerned and knowing me, I would forego sleep to spend more time with my family. Sounded, too, like I could skew towards overnights as well, so as an insomniac I would still have quality family time.

I don't know. It sounds kind of scary and it sounds kind of exciting at the same time. I would make an excellent dealeras I like the whole thrill of gambling and gamblers and I'm good with math and I would make it a fun time which I'm sure would make me a desirable employee.

I haven't received all Mrs. Blogger's input just yet so I'm not sure whether I'll definitely proceed. We're a team and we'll make this decision as a partnership, but I think if she approves I'm going to go for it.