Bingo!

I volunteered at Bingo tonight, helping to give out door prize tickets and sell "specials" (the extra game cards available in addition to the regular 12 games). I enjoy people watching, and Bingo is a great opportunity to do it. There are the serious Bingo players, who come armed with their daubers and desire near total silence while the calling is happening. Many of these are locals, who play every week. Then there are the visitors, who either use the crayons provided or purchase a dauber after they arrive, and whose chatter drives the serious Bingo people crazy. But the two groups manage to basically get along, and everyone seems to have a good time.

Tonight, Emmet won the final special game (a total blackout), but he narrowly missed getting the $500 jackpot, winning $50 instead. Why? Well, to win the jackpot, you must "bingo" within a certain number of calls. Tonight, the bingo had to be completed by the 59th number called, and Emmet got his on the 60th. He still seemed happy about it though. The requirement increments by one when the jackpot is not won, so next week, it will have to be won by bingoing within 60 numbers called. I'm told that the bingo typically happens between 60 and 64 numbers having been called, so next week (and possibly the following week, if it doesn't happen next week) would be a good time to play!