Claire and I checked into Circus Circus last night. If memory serves, Circus Circus only recently built the hotel. We had two queen beds. I would estimate that Claire and I have had sex about a dozen times and a friendship thing. In Vegas, not in the cards. Ha. Vegas cards.

Gambling is not one of my vices, but I did anyway. I started with video poker. If you play video poker long enough, you will win money. How can casinos allow this game? By making mind numbingly boring. Go to the tables have some fun! Discipline, discipline.

I eventually won enough money. I took a place at a craps table, because the odds on this game are better than other games. I had an idea of how much I was going to lose before I walked away. I won a little, lost a little, won, lost, about even all the way though. Then the shooter fight before me got hot, and I rode along with him. Finally, it was my turn with the dice. "New shooter coming up! New shooter coming up! Does the new shooter feel lucky?"

"No, the new shooter does not. He is walking away."

"Good move, friend. You know you'd never beat me!"

The banter and trash talking make craps fun. This does not happen at blackjack, where I decided to lose it all. I win a little, I lose a little, I lose a little more, time to walk away... I reflexively count cards, though it does not really change the way I play the game. The count was very positive. I bet almost all I had in the chips I have won, and am dealt a blackjack. The deck is very positive, so I bet the table max. Ten, four, three, hold. The dealers shows a jack, then a five, busts with a nine. I throw a few chips to the dealer, and walk out of the casino quickly.

I found Claire in our room, she had had enough.

We were comped a discount on our room, the mini fridge, and a free meal at a Mexican restaurant. Perfect for a Friday in Lent. You can always get some tasty vegetarian. I picked up a six pack of Lite tall boys. since there is never enough in the mini fridge. Which we damn near emptied.

In the morning, we checked out early, put our bags in our cars, had breakfast at McDonald's, and by then the bill had been tallied. Then we walked around the strip, had $1.99 foot long hot dogs for lunch, walked around some more, until we got the text telling us the plane had landed.

Nice weather in Vegas, even better in Havasu, as twilight closes in. Which means the party is about to start.