Thursday 15 August 2019

Good Bingo Juju


In Vancouver, we visited My Rare One's Auntie Olga, who is a big fan of bingo. So one evening we tagged along to the Croatian Community Centre and played bingo with her and about 500 other hopefuls. Here we are setting up and waiting to buy our bingo cards. Thank goodness Auntie Olga was well supplied with daubers so she had more than enough to go around.

As you undoubtedly know, all bingo players have little good luck charms and tokens that they set out on the table to attract good bingo juju. So I dug around in my purse and managed to come up with my own little collection -- part of a Moon Card from the Voyager tarot deck, a Thor's hammer pendant, a triple-spiral goddess rock, a key to some long forgotten door, and a rather grimy little quartz chip. You will note that I also hogged the rainbow dauber, of course.


My Rare One and I were comfortable playing up to six bingo cards at a time but more than that did not go well. When playing nine cards, we'd get behind and miss numbers. Auntie Olga played a dozen or more cards with ease, of course.

Alas, the bingo gods did not smile on us that evening. We won nuttin, my friends, NUTTIN. But we had a good time with Auntie Olga and that's the important thing!

[Photos by My Rare One, August 2019]

48 comments:

Rommy said...

I don't think I'd be able to manage multiple cards either. The last time I played bingo it was at one of Philly's Gay Bingo events (the theme was Hairspray, the musical). Ah the hilarity that ensued when O-69 was called. :D

jaz@octoberfarm said...

this really made me chuckle first thing in the morning! i'm so impressed that you had all of the charms in your purse. i never carry a purse. i hate them. i would have been screwed.

^.^ said...

:) Love, cat.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

You have a purse like Mary Poppins' carpet bag!! I was thinking what I might be able to set out as good luck charms. Lip balm? Free dental floss from the dentist? A Kleenex? -Jenn

Marie Smith said...

I hate bingo but went with my mother on occasion. I was thrilled when she decided to save her money and stay away from it however. The time with her was worth the torture though.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Well of course you didn't win.. no unicorn charm! That's your downfall, you probably more than likely offended the bingo spirits!

Leanna said...

Good charms. I think you have to get blessed by the Bingo High Priestess before you enter the bingo hall. She speaks in tongues near the cards and she plays about 100 cards at once all smeared out on the table. Word of caution, if you don't come early enough to be blessed, she gets drunk on power and uses it all for herself. That's what I heard.
It's so good to have you back.

Kirk said...

My mother would have loved your Rare One's Aunt Olga.

Jenn said...

Bingo is serious business...I don't think I could do very many cards at once...I'd end up getting frustrated and flipping the table hahaah j/k

anne marie in philly said...

did not know there were rainbow markers! how cool!

I have not played bingo in a long time; but it IS fun!

e said...

Good old Auntie Olga! That sounds like fun...
My daughter and I had a roommate for a while who enjoyed the Bingo and we tagged along a few times. I couldn't keep track of more than two cards! Shelly, the roommate, and ALL the oldsters had tables-worth of cards going at the same time. Crazy!
I'm impressed that you managed six!

DEZMOND said...

I have a spider named Olga who lives in my bathroom ceiling with her kids!

BootsandBraids said...

"Six cards" … impressive. I get confused with just one. P.S. Love the rainbow dauber.

Morgaine Pendragon said...

I haven't played bingo in YEARS! There are times when I'd love to go and play again.
I can remember all the people that had their "special" seats and all their good luck charms placed around their table space.

Susan said...

You two know how to have fun!

mxtodis123 said...

Whoa. Lots of people there. They play bingo 4 times a week at my center. I don't play. I spend the time working in my puzzle book or playing an online game on my phone.

Old Lurker said...

Gambling?! Auntie Olga is a bad influence on you. What's next? Social dancing? Playing cards?

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Ohh bingo is fun!
I did go to Drag Bingo once in Pittsburgh and it was a blast!
In that pic looks like that that joint was jumping
XoXo

Guillaume said...

I don't have patience for bingo.

This N That said...

OMG..haven't played Bingo forever..Interesting tokens that you came up with..I don't think I would have been as lucky..Sorry they didn't bring you any luck..A dozen cards!! Good grief..A Bingo pro for sure..

Bea said...

Auntie Olga sounds like a pro. I don't think I could manage more than I few cards myself.

The good luck charms are fab.

Joanne Noragon said...

I would so enjoy playing bingo with an older relative. Now I am the old relative.

Barbara said...

Oh that sounds like so much fun. I haven't played bingo in so long that I can't remember the last time. I'm going to look around and see if I can find a bingo parlor near me.

Adam said...

They cancelled bingo at the main library here. A new girl took over running it and she was not happy getting chewed out by old people.

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, You sent me your lucky stone--no wonder you lost!
--Jim

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Parnassus (Jim) -- D'oh! You're right! All is clear now!

yellowdoggranny said...

bingo smeenjo..I'm just thrilled to see those 2 beautiful faces..love those faces..

G.B. Miller said...

Haven't played Bingo since my now wife and I went on a date set up between our respective mothers. Did it for a few months, on and off, but haven't played it since.

Moving with Mitchell said...

I went to a bingo hall once. Glbtq bingo in San Diego. I was overwhelmed with TWO cards!

baili said...

Auntie Ogla sounds excellent player dear Debra :)

thank you for sharing your happy times of family gathering
i loved your photos :)

Bob Johns said...

Awe how cute is this! My grandma was a Bingo master as well I could not keep up with on card let alone her handful!

John M said...

I haven't played bingo for over a year. It can be fun.

Rain said...

I played Bingo once and I couldn't even keep up with 4 cards lol...these Bingo players are such pros...it's so much fun!

Bill Lisleman said...

Oh it's the thrill of the game that counts. With those fancy daubers you look like a pro.

Magaly Guerrero said...

I can't remember the last time I played bingo. Perhaps, because I've been trying to forge it--I did probably as well as you and your Rare One and won just as much. Yay! for Auntie. Maybe we need better bingo juju.

Powdered Toast Man said...

That key opens Pandora's Box where all the winning bingo cards are kept.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Powdered Toast Man -- Damn! NOW you tell me!

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

OMG that takes me back. That Saturday night Bingo they had on TV. And you had to buy your cards at the gas station and my Baba would play a dozen cards like a test pilot. Where is the troll doll? I thought all you Bingo addicts had a troll doll. I of course won't play Bingo because I choose to not mix with those type of people. Troll doll owners I mean. Something off about them. But you are troll doll free so we can remain friends.

Liz Hinds said...

My friends are I were hysterical when we attempted to play bingo. I don't think we had six cards yet we still struggled and were given dirty looks by the regulars! And we didn't win.

Carol Blackburn said...

I'm afraid I would need to write the numbers down as they are called while looking for them. It's a good thing I am ambidexterous and can write with both hands.

brewella deville said...

A Croatian community hall. I assume dumplings were to be had? I know you're on vacation, but I need my dumpling roundup.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ brewella deville -- Ha ha yes, I believe they were on the menu! We had sub sandwiches for dinner, though.

Ur-spo said...

Really? I did not know this viz. the charms and god-like circumstances around a BINGO parlor.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Glad you came out winners in spite of the Bingo outcome.

The Captain said...

My Morticia used to go to bingo with her mum years ago, she's not been for a long time though. I've never been, I've heard the regulars can get aggressive if newcomers win.

Love your Mjölnir, I wear one all the time.

Doctor Z said...

YAY! Bingo!!! I never win because I'm too busy watching all of the folks around me, especially the old Italian ladies. They are masters of the cards and colorful language, sometimes in Italian-ish. Sometimes there are arguments over who called bingo first, but they mostly yell at the caller for "not calling right." HA!

Magic Love Crow said...

I haven't played Bingo in ages! I should see if mom wants to go!! This is such a cute post! You look great with Auntie Olga, Debra!! Love all your little tokens! Big Hugs!

Fundy Blue said...

What fun! I have good luck charms when I play blackjack in Vegas, not as impressive as yours though.