Things that really didn’t fit anywhere else:

• On my last night, I noticed a distinct change in the clientèle at Imperial Palace. After some research, I discovered that a roller derby convention started on Wednesday. Let’s just say that the hookers who troll the casinos wouldn’t have any competition from these “ladies.” Mullets and tattoos everywhere.
• Besides the drunken idiot I described in my poker post, I saw two other incidents in poker rooms. One night at the IP, a guy went all in and his trip queens lost to someone else’s trip kings. The loser pounded on the table not once, but twice before storming off. Good thing he lost all his stack because I don’t think he would have been welcome there any more. The funny thing is, he was never ahead in the hand so I don’t see why he got so upset. Sometimes, good cards beat you. The second incident came at Harrah’s during my first tournament there. At a cash game next to us, a guy and a chick were arguing non-stop. She said he was being sexist and demeaning. He said he was just having fun. I did hear a few things he said that weren’t so kosher, but she just wouldn’t let it go and eventually started accusing him of saying stuff when he never said anything. The floor people and dealer did a great job keeping things from escalating.

• While taking photos outside Paris one day, I saw what looked like a homeless local speaking very passionately to some young tourists. I felt bad for them.
• I took the monorail for the first two times ever. Both times, I was at MGM and didn’t feel like walking back to the IP. The $5 one-way fee is a little steep, but in late July, I just sucked it up instead of braving the heat. One tip to the monorail folks – put more benches at the stations. We’re riding your trains because we’re tired so don’t make us stand and wait for the next train.
• I had planned to go downtown, but just never fit it in. Maybe next time. I had a good time there last year so don’t want to pass that trip up every time.
• If you go to Vegas, make sure to sign up for player cards, especially at the casinos not owned by MG/Mirage or Harrah’s. I got $5 in free slot play at Planet Hollywood which I turned into $20. At Wynn, I used my $10 of free play to win a little, which I used on the Top Gun machine to work toward 25 player points. I used more of my money for that and, after I hit the 25 points, I “spun the wheel” at the player’s club booth and won $10 more in free slot play. I took that to a Wizard of Oz machine and won back a little of what I used on Top Gun.
• When I was looking around my suite at all the cool stuff, I opened a drawer and found a surprise – about a dozen of the porn cards which are passed out so liberally on the Strip. I don’t know if the previous occupant left them or the maids were trying to hook me up.