I really miss the limo they always send for my wife. No limo, schlepping my bags back & forth, standing in long lines for check-in, no fruit bowl, or wine in the room.
I REALLY miss my wife. I did pay for round trip ticket for the shuttle in case I run out of money

For any Casino trip, I write down a plan, an agenda. My memory on the run isn’t what it used to be, and discipline for our game is really tough. Goals to achieve, $$ management, etc. All done prior to trip.

Lately I have done very well, and exceeded my goals when I played. This trip was really going to be a challenge. Main goal, in my mind, get my shot ready for FRI @ 3:30. Crisp, smooth, and soft. Wife had other ideas. She had just started on-line classes for grad school (medical) and had "needs." She handed me a list, with the costs, before I left home. Tuition is HOW MUCH?!?! Block it out. Block it out.

First day for me is to walk, look, and walk some more. Breathe it, hear it, see it, taste it. An early check in lets me work off the "getting there", nerves & excitement. My hips give up on me, and I come in a little earlier than I planned.

Pre-play ritual is the same as always, and part of who I am. 1.) Hot soaking bath, reading something unrelated to craps. 2.) Dress correctly. 3.) Read the "plan " for the day. 4,) Practice with my travel board, until comfortable. 5.) Put session $$ in pocket. *For me $$ set up before trip. **Hard lesson learned, I have weak $$ discipline. Getting better.

GET THE HELL OUT THE DOOR!

For all of you with great Vegas memories..add a layer for me. This was absolutely the BEST trip ever. My wife said, "you sucked the marrow right out of the bone!" I did, and enjoyed every single minute. Hours, and hours of walking, standing, and playing with absolutely NO, that’s right, NO HEAT. Talked with every dealer on every table about….."how do you play?" Then listened. My explanation about "qualifying" a shooter, and looking for a "trend" was totally accepted. After listening to some interesting stories & ideas of play, my question of , "you winning anything?" was answered most every time with….."oh I don’t play anymore……" The only semi-heat I caught was once during a very long roll, at a Casino I had played several times, & tipped dealers well. "David would you hit the back wall a little harder please?" His words, but I think the 2 suits standing with him were his bosses.

With out proper notes, that much play is a blur. Hours and hours of different tables, people, sounds, and I loved every minute. Couple of things, other than the normal crazy stuff, stood out to me. First, at a premium property, I think they have the absolute best tables anywhere, the dice were passed to me twice in a row. It was after a decent hand with no trash. $15 table is a little stronger than I am comfortable with, normally. Two nice hands and I said "I have to leave guys, color me up." I think 3rd time was coming and I had just 6/1 out. They were players, and I was getting uncomfortable. Then another day after just finishing a really long 5pts to the "fire" hand. Tips. I have had many tips before, thrown "for the shooter". These were carried from the players by hand. Reds, some whites, and finally 2 greens. Green chip guy said, "if you had hit that 6th number, I would have give you another green one. hahahahahah" He had just won $1,250 on the fire. It all added up over $100. Box/Pit lady walked up and said, "never seen that before."

Break time. Father just called out across the road…."TIME TO EAT" This is Skettie night at his house

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