My first convention, and it was a bit different than what you'd expect, as I'm out of work with almost no money to spend on chips - talk about TORTURE! Cashed miles for the flight, used an inexplicable 2-day comp at Wynn (earned from $200 of quick play Opening Night - proves a slot card can come in handy).

Busted out first in the Blackjack Tournament at the Palms, snuck into the Pool area and had a drink at the SKIN bar - NICE! Toured the spa (for future reference), and got the sales pitch at Palms Place. BTW: all the 1 bedrooms are gone, and they started at $1mil each... Penthouses will have clear-bottomed balcony swimming pools hanging 50 stories in the air. Ate at N9NE - incredible food; I passed on the $69 Margarita and $145 1 3/4 lb Australian Lobster tail...

At Wynn, it proves that complaining WORKS. A golf course view miraculously was upgraded to a corner strip view; out of one window was Circus and Stardust, out the other was Frontier to Caesars - Luxor light visible at night... Electric curtains (shear & blackout), covering ceiling to floor windows = SPECTACULAR 50th floor views. They had to call the Sheriff to pull me out of that room...

Chip Floor: since I had little money to spend (being out of work), I planned to only spend 4 hours on the Floor. This was fine with me, as I was COMPLETELY blown away by the size of the hall and the number of dealers. You simply have to know what you want, or you will go completely GA-GA in that place. Next year I hope to have some money to blow, and will plan accordingly BEFORE showing up on the Floor... Met some cool people that I had gotten to know a little bit on the Board, but there were many that I wanted to meet that I simply couldn't find in the mass of humanity at the Show! NEXT YEAR!!!

JACKPOT: got voicemail while having breakfast in bed at Wynn (gotta do that once before you die) - DREAM JOB OFFER!!! Looks like I'll have money for next year's Convention. Sister had champagne sent to my room; the rest STAYS IN VEGAS!