Turning 40 can be a scary proposition for many folks, but we decided to brave it together and see how a trip to Las Vegas for a weekend of March Madness would work out. We decided on the dates of the trip in August of '07, and that winter Jeff was the 1st to realize that it was Easter weekend when we were going to be in Vegas. Everything was already booked, and there was no doubt about us going to Las Vegas any other time of year, so we just told our families sorry and that we would think of them on Sunday ...

Bob missed his flight out there and ended up buying an inflatable mattress and sleeping in an airport, but he had his room comped by the time we all arrived with his action at the craps table at the hotel. I was down over $1000 by Thursday night, but I changed my betting strategy and started playing poker, and I ended up coming home with more money than I went with.

We stayed at the Hilton (slightly off the strip) and the guys discovered the poolside cabanas Friday. So, we ended up spending Easter Sunday sitting poolside in comfy chairs/couches, betting on games we were watching on a flat screen tv, and enjoying the beverages and sights that are everywhere in Vegas! I hit 3 parlays in the early games on Sunday and announced that I would treat the group to the buffet at the Bellagio that night!

Karma was definitely with me, because after witnessing a Cirque du Soleil show Sunday night, Johnny, Bob & I went back to play in one more tourney at Caesar's Palace. To make a long story short - even though I did have more chips than him, Johnny & I ended up chopping the pot, with each of us splitting the 1st place $$ (I had to include that I had more than him, but I will admit it wasn't by much)! We ended up with nice mementos from Caesar's, and nice wad of cash to bring home on the flight leaving in less than 6 hours.

I could go on forever about my trip to Vegas, but I am going to get some input from the other fellas on the trip before I scribe any more ...