(Please read it all, but especially the 2nd half - believe me, it could have been a lot longer. *G*)

There has been a lot of discussion during the past few months regarding the Riviera, and its role a host for our convention. I applaud the efforts of the convention co-chairs, the Club President and the rest of the BOD, John Reynolds raffle idea, and Steve Margolis’ share a room idea (both are excellent ideas), to encourage as many members to stay at the Riviera as possible.

Staying at the ‘host’ casino has many benefits, most of which have been belabored on this board, as well as the club website, and through other sources. But because I am long winded, and some may be disappointed if I was brief unnecessarily, I will list just a few: the ability to store items in your room, a close bed after getting busted at the poker table at 2a, close proximity to the early morning seminars (which sound like good ones), and just being in the middle of all the fun. These would apply to any casino/hotel hosting our convention.

I have myself stayed at the Riv the past two years (more on that later). Although I have tried to be a good soldier, and support the efforts listed above (either by voicing support for staying at the host facility, or by keeping my mouth shut, I have reached a level of frustration which I no longer can avoid or put off.

I dispise the manner in which the Riv has played one official against the other. I say this because I know Pasternack and the club President well enough to know that they are sincere when relaying their discussions with casino officials. But it seems like they tell Mike one thing, and the Pres another. The fact that our members gamble in their casino, notwithstanding the poor table odds, poor table service, and mediocre dealers, and they do so at a rate sufficient to achieve comps, should serve as a motivator for the Riv.

But there is more. When our members stay at the Riv, or are at the convention, they eat, drink, and spend money otherwise there. Heck there is a McDonald’s across the street, a classic restaurant just a few doors away, and a pizza hut is the culinary highlight of the hotel.

I have heard a great deal about updated rooms recently, and for those who will be staying there, I am glad. The rooms in the past were adequate, but not special, nor worth the cost they were getting for the conv rate. I need a wheelchair accessible room. Interestingly, this came with a long narrow hallway, but fortunately the room was large enough to turn the scooter around. But the grab bar (that you use to keep from falling) was not connected to the wall my first year. I told the cleaning staff about it, they just stuck it back up on the wall. When I mentioned this to the staffer at check out, I was chastised for not telling the correct person. I didn’t get much of a chance to check out the room last year.

Even having said all this, if my ‘other business’ with the Riviera was complete, I would stay at the Riv during the meat of the convention. Both for the reasons I listed above, and to support our club. But I can’t help but hope we end up someplace else next year.

But none of the above is why I hate the Riviera. MY ANGER is more personal than that. As most of you are aware, I was hurt at the convention last year. The aftermath of that event is why I hate the Riv.

I was fortunate. It looked like I might need surgery to have any use of my left arm, which would have been high risk. But it healed well on its own, and I continue to do the PT in hopes that I may regain more than the current limited use of the arm. The injury did leave me unemployed with what financial assets I had going to medical bills and meds. I have yet to find gainful employment. My options there are also limited by the injury and increased limitations to my mobility.

But I decided that I wanted to approach this not as a crazed plaintiff with thoughts of owning the Riv in my head, but with a professional demeanor, aware that the actual resolution will be far from that. I foolishly believed that the Riv would want to resolve this matter expeditiously in a reasonable manner. Instead they have handled my matter similarly to the manner in which they deal with the club. My lawyers have received a bill for my damage to their elevator. So now the lawyers are playing their games, and the matter will not be resolved before the convention. Hence, I will not be staying at the Riv during the convention.

But worse, I may not be attending the convention at all. I had originally expected this to be resolved quickly, and so the convention would be no problem. When it began to drag, I began to consider other options, but sadly they have all fallen through. It was during discussions with friends in the hobby, that I began to realize what I was so angry about.

The Riviera costs me the last convention, it will now (in all probability) cost me this convention as well. Since I have been layed up, only recently getting to the point where I could drive again, I have had little to motivate myself except the prospect of going to this convention, and enjoying my friends and my hobby. Thanks Riv for screwing me out of all that as well.

So I get to spend more time, contemplating my arm-which still hurts, and is damn useless. Hell I can’t even use this time to organize and record my chips since they, and my other collectibles are at the back of my freakin storage unit. But in this very unfair world, while flights seem to be skyrocketing for everyone else, the flight I would have taken is still cheap, even with the fat tax. If I wasn’t being screwed, it would be going thru the roof.

I suppose, technically, I have another week or so before I have to accept that I will not be at the convention this year, but I needed to start giving a heads up to some folks. If it sounds like I am bitter and pissed, Iam. I am really going to miss all of you.

I did call all my aunts, and told them to go thru their jewelry boxes. The only chip any of them found was a Peacocks can't fly chip which she obtained in trade for a Lasagna and a banana cream pie. So I am open to other suggestions. I hope all of you have a wonderful time, but I REALLY HATE THE RIVIERA!