Hey Cary,
Yeah that was a lot of fun that day! I was just thinking yesterday morning when I woke up I wanted to call Joe, hard to believe he's gone. Thanks for sharing that info about the El Cortez. Joe sure made this hobby fun and a competition as to getting the chips as well. He always told me all the new releases of chips and dice. He went out of his way and gave me the Palace Station $5 Rooster Chip, something that kind of surprised me. I actually had a premonition about Joe, and then you sent me that text email on my Ebay, I thought it has to be a sick joke. I still have a hard time believing it. I lost my best friend at 21 so I don't spend too much time with people as loss is such a hard thing, but I'm glad I got to know him. He first introduced himself at the Super Bowl Show in 2011 and became instant friends as he was the kind of person to talk to many people and wasn't shy at all. We spent many times at the Sahara and going through picking and collecting things there, Joe got the Camel Lamp with the clock, he was so proud to get. Then we went through the Riviera many times and we got the Door Handles from there. Joe was fortunate to get the best of the best things when it came to collecting! I loved to hear about it as he would text me pictures of all of his findings and I would send him things I found and it was so so much fun. I will miss sending and getting texts etc. But, I will cherish all the fun times we had in collecting all this fun stuff. I know it won't be the same for me. Joe was always so kind and a fine gentleman as he was so respectful and would introduce me to all the fine folks he knew from the board, etc. Many of you who may read this. I only have kind words for him. I still have a message on my voicemail that he left me asking "if I was ok and that he was kind of worried about me", wow. It was very nice to meet all the people that he introduced me to. Cary, I look forward to visiting you when you make it out!
Remember the fun times! Rob Perrault