Stinky Stinky

The Trane meeting was held at a hotel attached to a casino in St. Charles, MO. Walking through the open halls to get to the conference center, the stench of cigar and cigarette smoke permeates every surface. What was strange was there were no obvious ashtrays and we saw no one smoking. While waiting for the lunch break the time was spent watching people as they would enter or leave the casino. Weird but very few of the hundreds of people going in or coming out looked like they were enjoying themselves, most had a scowl or worried look, even those going IN. One lady comes out of the casino, calls someone on her cell and tells them she lost it all but it would still be ok as they planned for this! Trane reserved an entire restaurant for lunch and the buffet was very elegant and delicious. Almost like being on the cruise ship. Fresh fruit, thin sliced meats and cheese, different salads and breads and a wonderful clam chowder.

The dessert bar looked great also.

When we got up to the line we were each handed a pack of cards as a souvenir
I almost hid my hands behind my back but instead took the cards or as the kids would say: 'devil cards' and left them on one of the tables so as not to insult the man handing them out. Funny thing was they were not even new, each pack had a date they were used from the casino and a hole in each card. Some souvenir, used cards with holes in them.
After lunch Mark went to the meetings while I found a nice comfortable couch in the hotel lobby and yes even that stunk like cigar, finally got a chance to start reading. I finished the 4th book in the series Chronicles of the Kings by Lynn N Austin and got half way through the 5th and last book when Mark came. He was not feeling well and decided not to stay for dinner so home we drove putting 389 miles on the car with only $24.00 worth of gas. Glad to be home.