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- Mike S started the trip with a rubber band around his wrist to remind himself not to go crazy. And if anyone else saw he was going crazy, that person was supposed to snap the rubber band.
- The Flight to Vegas
- Frank spilled his mixed drink.
- Mike C did not vomit on anyone nor on the window.
- At dinner on the first night, everyone who had gambled so far (Mike S, Frank and Paul) was up.
- Questions That Came Up During the Trip
- Frank wanted to know which U.S. state had the smallest population. Answer: Wyoming, with just under 500,000 people. (Mike C got it right!) California was easily the most populated state with over 33 million people. Nevada was the 35th most populated state with just under 2 million people.
- Paul wanted to know how many countries there were in the world. Answer: Just under 200.
- Mike S wanted to know why the Maxim Hotel in Las Vegas no longer had a casino. Short answer: The Maxim had been losing money and was forced to shut down in November 2000. When they were able to reopen the hotel the following month, the company holding the casino's gaming license had declared bankruptcy, so the casino remained closed.
- During a craps session at Caesars Palace, every time the shooter rolled a number that Mike S didn't have money on, he'd chuck a one dollar token into the trash can in the pit area. Eventually the pit boss said, "Hey, come on!"
- Dealer Mistakes
- Paul was playing two hands of blackjack for $75 apiece. He had 17 on one hand, and 20 on the other. The dealer hit to 21 and collected Paul's bet on the 17... but she paid the bet he had on 20. Mike C and Mark D, who were watching, also noticed it. Later when Paul was cashing out, he said, "Sometimes 20 beats 21."
- At craps, I got paid $35 twice for a single place bet on the six.
- Again at craps, I got paid $70 for a place bet on the eight when he should have gotten paid $35.
- During a craps session, one of the dice landed behind a stack of chips where the stickman couldn't see it. This is a common occurrence, and the stickman asked another one of the dealers to call the roll. Before the dealer could find the die to make the call, Mike S loudly announced, "Six, hard. Hard six. Front line winner. Pay the line." Impressed, the boxman said, "Hey, you call it better than the stickman."
- While walking along the Strip, Mike S came up behind a man and a woman who were arm-in-arm. The man quickly released the woman for some reason, and when she turned to see what was going on, Mike was right there. He held out his arm and said, "I'm taking over now."
- While Mike S, Phil, Mike C, Frank and I were playing craps at Caesars Palace, a small child cried out with glee from across the casino. The dealer said, "The kid must be catching a hand!"
- While we were at the XFL game, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake hit Las Vegas, centered about ten miles west of downtown. None of us felt it.
- During a craps session at the Bellagio, Mike S's back was hurting, so he grabbed his right foot and pulled it up towards his waist to try to stretch out his muscles. While he was doing that, a cocktail waitress accidentally bumped him from behind. Mike's foot got shoved onto the shelf underneath the crap table where players put their drinks and ashtrays, causing Mike to lose his balance. He fell backwards landing on his back and taking the cocktail waitress down with him. Her tray had no drinks on it, but her tip tokens went flying. The pit crew came running over to help Mike up. Mike was embarrassed but otherwise fine.
- While playing at a $100 Pai Gow poker table, Paul played the following hand:
Note that he should have played the kings up top. Paul later stated that he didn't see the pair of fours, so he thought he only had kings and tens. Then the dealer turned over the following:
Paul had a push, whereas he would have had a win if he'd played it correctly. Upon seeing this, the dealer called the pit boss over to see if Paul's hand could be changed. Ironically, the pit boss said that if Paul had fouled the hand, they would allow the hand to be changed. But since it was simply a "strategic" mistake, the hand would have to stand.
- Phil and I saw actor Peter Falk hustling through the corridors of Caesars Palace. He looked old and disheveled.
- Apparently Mary and Ike were also in Vegas while we were there, but we never saw them. Mary said they were sharing a room downtown at the Golden Nugget.
