A Weekend of Firsts

I have no pictures to post still because my camera is still on the fritz!
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So I told ya all I bought my first Amtrak ticket. It was $23.00 from Chicago to Champaign. Chris took me to Chicago because the commuter trail was all booked up. As soon as we walked into Union Station, Chris' eye lite up like a little boy at Christmas morning. He asked me before we even got to the counter to collect my reserved ticket, "Would you mind if I rode with you and I'll just come back on the next train?" So we both took the train.
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Once we got in Chamapaign, mom picked us up and we went to the mall to see Rebecca's new store she had just opened earlier that week. A nice conversation and about 15 minutes later we were finding our way to my favorite Champaign mall food station, SARUKA- JAPAN. I love the Chicken Teriyaki there- won't find none better. But before we got to the food court mom and I stopped by Limited Too to buy some Christmas Goodies for the girls since they were having a huge clearance sale.
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Then mom and I dropped off Chris back at the train station to take a nap and work on his lap top while he waited for his train back to Chicago. Mom and I headed off to Peoria.
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In Peoria mom and I hit up the Casino Boat, Par-A-Dice. I had no clue what I was doing because I had never been before. But I can tell you, it was a bear trying to get me through security! The lady spent 2 full minutes looking at my license- comparing it to the book and then she held it under a light, then she put it under a microscope light thing and made me look at the camera for a full minute before deciding the ID is real, and yes it really is me in the photo!
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Mom give me $20 to start with. I won $33.75! Then She gave me $50.00 and I invested $20 of my own that I had planned to spend anyway. So I played a whole $90.00 and lost $7.25- I walked out with 82.75. Bummer dude, but it was beter than going home broke. But it was great fun! Mom blew her chance of getting $2000.00! She was playing the Slot Machine for only a short while had like $2.75 left in credits and then she cashed out, got up and another lady sat down a few minutes later. TWO PULLS, TWO PULLS later Flaming 7, Flaming 7, Flaming 7 - and the bonus spinner thing- X2! It was insane- we went to the other side of the boat for some more slots.
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After we were done on the Gambling boat we went to eat at EuroJacks. We shared a RoastBeef thing (so yummy!) and then we walked over to the civic center for Dancing with the Stars Live! I will have pictures as soon as my mom emails them to me! It was awesome. So much dancing and singing- it's a good thing we like Joey McIntyre because Drew Lachey had what we were told was a family emergency and the whole first half was pretty much the Joey Mac show featuring Dancing with the Stars. But Joey Lawerence was there and my personal favorite- Joey Fatone was there! They were awesome. They sang and danced. I'll hopefully get those photos posted sometime this week. I have a VERY BUSY schedule though so we'll see.
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Mom drove me home Sunday and then Chris and I went house shopping....again, again. Still haven't found anything that blows us away. I love the house in Kokomo I hope we find one similar that maybe needs less work....??
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I'm outta here for the morning! I got to get ready for work I am working MIDS all week but Thursday. They really suck because you have no morning and you have no eveneing. By the time I get off, restaurants are ready to close. Anyway- have a great day!