75. With Mike Stefanidis and Helen Blount - Harrah's, October 10-11, 1998

• Mike and I were sitting in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot before the Padres third game against the Atlanta Braves for the National League Pennant. It was a Saturday night game, and we also had tickets for the game the following night. Someone suggested we go to Las Vegas between the two games. That's what we did.

74. With Mike Stefanidis - Harrah's, July 2-5, 1998

• We went on the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. Very fun.

• We went to a Las Vegas Stars game, but it was way too hot, so we walked from the ballpark to the Horseshoe downtown.

73. With Sherry, Mom, Dad, Dana, Sue, Karen, and Vic - The Mirage, March 8-10, 1998

• This was a great trip. Lots of fun and lots of good food.

• Of course this was the annual trip for Mimi's birthday, so we went to the Official All Star Café. Those in attendance (in addition to those listed above): Jody d'Assalenaux; Bob Sheppard, Jan d'Assalenaux and Kate & Kevin Sheppard, Jane Sheppard, Ric & Theresa d'Assalenaux, Bill & B.J. Blakeley; Chris, Betsy, Lauren & Will Blakeley.

• Dana got two fake magazine covers made, one of them a sexy cop.

• We went to Hoover Dam (first time for me).

• Sherry bet five dollars at 20-1 on the Padres to win the National League Pennant. (And they did!)

72. With Mike Stefanidis, Helen Blount and Paul Huyser - Harrah's, October, 1997

• This was Paul's trip. He won close to $10,000 playing blackjack, drunk most of the time.

71. With Sherry - September 19-20, 1997

• This was an unexpected layover at McCarran Airport (due to bad weather) on our way home from a trip to Illinois. I played a little video poker.

70. With Sherry, Mom, Dad, Dana, Sue, Jody, Mimi, Karen, and Vic - New York, New York, March 16-18, 1997

• A very stressful trip. We decided to drive, and that turned out to be a mistake. With this many people it took us forever to get to Vegas and back. Even though the trip took three days, we were virtually only in Las Vegas for one.

• This time it was my turn for the fake magazine cover: Elvis in front of the MGM Grand.

• We stayed at New York-New York for the first and last time. (No ice on some of the floors, lengthy wait for bell service, etc., etc.)

69. With Mike Stefanidis - Caesars Palace, July 27-28, 1996

• Finally stayed at Caesars. The excuse for the trip was Helen had just dumped Mike. After the gambling, Mike had TWO things to be depressed about.