The annual retreat for the Greater NYC steering committee of HRC took place this month. They group hits a different area of the region each year to come together, make plans for the upcoming year, define role and objectives, and let's face it - have a bit of a fun weekend.
Constant contact with a number of people while en route: Jo, Rick, Champ, and Chris were already making a name for themselves at the bar. We checked in, threw our bags down, and headed to the Mountain Bar. Chris and Vern met up with us at some point.
Lori will be continuing as co-chair with Brian going forward this next year as well, and she is also on the Board of Governors, liaison to a few committees, and a Major Donor to boot. Why yes, I believe 'overachiever' sounds about right.
The people at Harrah's are just amazing, and gave the group a block of comp'd rooms on Saturday night along with making the meeting process and social events as perfect as can be. Everyone was extremely appreciative.
So! We worked on Friday, packed up the car, pulled off the Parkway for a bit to drop Cooper at Grandma/pa's, and then continued on the last '50 minutes there' to Atlantic City.
Constant contact with a number of people while en route: Jo, Rick, Champ, and Chris were already making a name for themselves at the bar. We checked in, threw our bags down, and headed to the Mountain Bar. Chris and Vern met up with us at some point. Lots of drink specials. Lots of drinks. And lots and lots and lots.
How many rounds? We think the final count was 10. Scandalous. All we can remember: we had an unfriendly waitress, Maria drank faster than Jo, Rick has one set of dance moves, chicken wings hit the spot, Lori has made many a friend on Grindr, Champ bought the first round, Chris smokes too much, the drinks were watered down, and Lori/Maria sponsored the better part of this illustrious night out. The most humbling moment of the night? Getting back to the rooms after 3am and knowing everyone (except Vern and Maria) had to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the meetings the next morning.
Maria had plans to go see Jeanne/Matt and the kids on Saturday afternoon, but first needed to rehydrate. Badly. Grabbed a Pepsi to wash down the 4 tablets of Advil she desperately needed. The woman in the Bally's gift shop was sweet.... She gave Maria the head's up that the soda cost $3.75 there. Maria's reply? "Ma'am, if you told me it cost $12.75 - at this point, I would still buy it." Yes, you could say that Maria was a wee bit fragile that particular Saturday morning.
How many rounds? We think the final count was 10. Scandalous. All we can remember: we had an unfriendly waitress, Maria drank faster than Jo, Rick has one set of dance moves, chicken wings hit the spot, Lori has made many a friend on Grindr, Champ bought the first round, Chris smokes too much, the drinks were watered down, and Lori/Maria sponsored the better part of this illustrious night out. The most humbling moment of the night? Getting back to the rooms after 3am and knowing everyone (except Vern and Maria) had to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the meetings the next morning.
Maria had plans to go see Jeanne/Matt and the kids on Saturday afternoon, but first needed to rehydrate. Badly. Grabbed a Pepsi to wash down the 4 tablets of Advil she desperately needed. The woman in the Bally's gift shop was sweet.... She gave Maria the head's up that the soda cost $3.75 there. Maria's reply? "Ma'am, if you told me it cost $12.75 - at this point, I would still buy it." Yes, you could say that Maria was a wee bit fragile that particular Saturday morning.
After Lori suffered through her all-day planning meeting with the other 25+ that are involved, the group met at Mia in Caesar's for an open bar cocktail hour at 6pm.
While at Mia's, Maria soon found out that ALL of her "friends" from the night before had thrown her under the bus! Apparently, everyone's hangover was due to Maria and her bad influences and feminine wiles. Blasphemy!
The cocktail party ended around 8pm, and groups split up to enjoy the varied restaurants that Caesar's and beyond had to offer. We ended up with the more low key group, and enjoyed a great many fried foods at the sports bar Game On. Fine with us! We didn't need any fancy shmancy place in Atlantic City.
Even more splintering after our transfat-ladden meal, some went to gamble while others went to get a drink. After the cool kids decided not to sit at a face-lift'ed Denny's look-a-like for a glass of wine, we settled on the same Mountain Bar that was the true culprit in our demise the night before.
The gamblers went from high to low WAY too quickly. Lori lost $200 at craps and called it quits when nothing positive seemed to be on the horizon. Maria took Jo up on playing some Blackjack. Maria changed $100.... Gone pretty quickly. Lori went to bed. Maria changed another $75.... And was down to only $10 in record time. She stole $5 from Jo so she could manage the $15 minimal bet at the table. Then? Then? Then? Maria's luck changed for the better....
YEAH BABY!!!
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