Since we are in Palm Springs for a few days, drying out from the Seattle rain, I thought I'd make a chip run to fill out some holes. Since I didn't give a rip who won the Super Bowl, Sunday seemed like a good time to do it. WRONG! Every casino was loaded and I got more miles walking in from the parking lots than the refs did on the field. Now the bad news.

SOBOBA: After driving out into the boonies, I discovered that the casino has closed their poker room and discontinued using $1 chips (tokens only). No chips under $5 now, but they still have the other chips, in case they reopen the poker room. Had to settle for a couple of their current house $5 chips.

SAN MANUEL: Chipco Rack is not on their tables.I was told that the "camera" could not tell the difference in some of the chips. No LEs available at cage. Wasted trip.

CASINO MORONGO: Bud Jones Rack nowhere to be found. I talked to their Poker Room Manager, a chipper friendly guy, but he did not know why they weren't out. Also, this casino still extracts a $.50 charge "for the house" on every blackjack hand.

SUMMARY: Drove 100 miles, walked another 5, had an excellent but overpriced meal at Casino Morongo, and only got one new chip for my collection. A typical day chipping.