We have all heard the saying “There’s no free lunch!” It
dates back to the 1930’s and 40’s when saloons would offer a free lunch in
order to attract customers in to their establishments. The hope was that once
in the bar they would stay and spend their money on beer and liquor. It must
have been a successful business strategy because people still go drinking in
bars.
The same principle is at work in modern day Las
Vegas . The flights and hotels are pretty cheap
(relatively speaking), the food is quite reasonable and drinks are free just so
long as you are gambling. I suppose the theory is that if you are drunk it is harder
to win at the tables. I can be stone cold sober and I still can’t win at the tables,
but I do appreciate a cheap buffet breakfast. The best I have found is the Paradise
Buffet at the Freemont Hotel on Freemont street
in downtown Las Vegas . Be sure to ask
if you can sit in M.J.’s section, a wonderful lady that treats you very well
and also visits friends in Calgary
a couple of times a year.
The “No Free Lunch” doesn’t really apply in Calgary
at this time of year. During Stampede, not only is there a free lunch, but
there are free breakfasts of pancakes and sausages all over the city every day,
BBQ’s held by corporations and drunk tents dotting the city. Every bar in the
city is busy, but I seriously doubt that anything is given away. Today was Kids
day at the Stampede grounds and it was expected that they would serve 20,000
breakfasts by 9:00AM . On the news this
morning they were interviewing a mom and her three kids that were the first in
line for the breakfast. They left their house at 4:30AM !
What kind of nut fucker would get herself and the three kids up that early for
two pancakes and a couple of cold sausages?
I guess there will be about 20,000 of those “nut fuckers”.
It kind of makes me wonder if I am not the crazy one and they are sane. It is
possible I suppose, and probably more than likely. I am just a little
suspicious of free food. I don’t take samples at the Costco unless I think
there is a real possibility that I will buy that particular product. Since I am
…frugal, I generally don’t sample. I stay away from the pancake breakfasts
unless I have someone that wants to go and then I generally will have a good
time. I went with Hurricane and Tornado last year, and that was a hoot. I don’t
think it will happen this year.
If you ever get a chance, everyone should take in the
Stampede if they can. It is a fun time and the city kind of relaxes for ten
days. Is it correct to say “relaxed” when you are drunk? So, come on down to
the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, one of the few places where there is definitely
a free lunch.
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