I flew into Las Vegas about midnight Friday night, found the time for a "quickie" convention junket and I'm SO glad that I did! I would have been kicking myself for a year if I had totally missed this year's convention.

I was able to get together with almost everyone that I wanted to. It's tough when you only get the chance to see some of the wonderful people in this hobby only once a year...

Some highlights...

Thank you Ralph Myers, Jim Follis and John Yee! You guys saved me MANY hours of casino hopping by buying my excess Las Vegas/Laughlin chip inventory. Thank you all again, it meant a lot to me!

Our friend from Belgium, Bob Hermans, gave me a personal showing of the plaques and jetons he brought with him in his room at the Trop. He held on to a couple plaques that I really wanted at the convention last year. He didn't profit from the sale of the plaques to me this time around, just did it as a favor to a friend. Thank you so much Belgian Bob! ....and wouldn't you just know it, the Trop put him in a room that overlooked a runway at McCarran. I guess they didn't want him to miss his job during this visit to Las Vegas.

Katie, I'm sooo happy we had a chance to sit and talk. I just realized I hadn't seen you since last August. That's way too long!

Andy Hughes, Tyrus Mulkey, Gene Trimble, Jim Perlowski, Larry Hollibaugh, Paul Sax, Jim Episale, Jim Pierre, Jim Reilly, Greg Susong, Pete Sanders, Josh Shore, Jim Kruse, Mel Jung, Charles Kaplan, Bob Pardue, Neal Silverman, Sunday Silverman, Rich and Marri Figarotta, Archie and Brenda Black, Wayne Thomson, Dick Covington, all of the "usual suspects" , as always, it was great to see you all! I'm sure I've left off a couple names, please don't feel offended if yours is one.

Allen Banick, Dean Porter, Bobby Hayden, Bob Clay, Bob Ensley, Colorado was well represented by my homies!

Mark Lighterman, you are always fun to talk to, hope the stuff that was stolen earlier this year begins to surface and the culprits get caught and thrown into jail. Those HCE molds are TOO COOL!

A few "finally I can place a face with a name" friends this time around. Bob "this space for rent" Whiteman, Randy Daniels and SKIP, great to meet you all in person!

Jill Bitner, you are a gem! Its getting harder and harder to find Harrah's stuff that you don't have, but that's not going to stop me from trying!

Marty Kaplan, thank you for the conversation we had last night at the last dance, and do keep in touch.

That was the first time I've made it to the last dance, I was "chipped out" by the time the final swap session came around at my previous three conventions.....maybe a one day convention is the way to do it.....nah!

To those that I missed by only being there yesterday.....Chuck Smorse, I brought something special for you, will have it in the mail tomorrow, but I wanted to see the look on your face. Oh well, maybe next time. Pat Lamb, ditto what I said to Chuck. I have something that I know you don't, watch your mailbox sweetie!

It was a terrific convention, at least for the one day that I was there. Thanks Wayne and Belinda and all of the volunteers! George isn't filling large shoes, the shoes have grown into boots!

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