Season's Greetings from Glitter City ....

... to all of you from all of us (including Calamity, Gaius Maximus, Antonio and Noah), with this contribution from Guinevere the Druid Goddess (and with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore) ....

'Twas the night before Solstice, and through Caesar's Palace

Strange creatures were stirring, some laughing, some callous.

The casino glistened and hummed with the prayer

That fair Lady Luck would soon visit some there.

The children were scattered, the pets home abed,

While visions of jackpots danced in our heads.

And Yahn with his Scotch, and me with champagne

Were just settling in to enjoy a game

When from the roulette wheel arose such a clatter

We sprang from our seats to see what was the matter.

We flew to the wheel, we moved in a flash ...

Saw Bubba from Texas walk off with his cash.

The lights and the tinsel put on quite a show

And gave bright luster to rooms all aglow.

Then what to our wondering eyes should appear

But Caesar, and Cleo and tribunes ... so near!

A little old lady, so lively and charming

Was stuffing her bills in slots so disarming.

More rapid than eagles the slot reels all turned,

Just chiming and flashing while money was burned.

"Now Double, Now Triple" ... her play quite excessive ...

"Now Ten Times the jackpot ... Now hit the Progressive!"

First stroke the machine, now slap it and hit it ...

Now quit with the winnings and cash in the ticket.

Dancing as fireflies on warm summer nights

The players cavorted, and reached for new heights.

From table to table, to slot and to wheel ...

Some winning, some losing ...the scene so unreal.

And then in a twinkling I heard in the din

"Omigod, Megabucks!!! Oh, man, did I win???"

As I craned my head and was turning around

Down the aisle the floor super came with a bound.

Dressed in his tux, from his neck to his shoe,

Color-coordinated, three shades of blue.

A bundle of money arrayed in his hand,

Form 1099 ... the crowd started to stand.

His eyes how they twinkled ... the gleam of his teeth!

With goatee and mustache, suggesting a wreath!

His tight little mouth was pursed in a bow

Framed in his whiskers, white as new snow.

Red-faced with glasses and wide eyes to boot.

He looked like an owl getting ready to hoot.

Professionally jolly, a surrogate elf ...

I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

Cocking his eyebrow he checked the machine ...

A tight little laugh, between funny and mean.

With a roll of his eyes and a clearing of throat,

He turned to the player and straightened his coat.

"Sir, don't you know that when playing the slots

Only "Maximum Bet" wins "Progressive" jackpots?"

He paid out some hundreds, then left with the money ....

It could have been millions ... so NOT even funny ....

But I heard him exclaim, as he flew up the aisle

"Amateurs! Amateurs!" Then he started to smile ....

)O(