[Brudder Andrusha]

On 12th November, 2005 I marked what I felt was an important milestone
in my life. It was 30 years to the date that I first arrived to the USA
for Australia. My parents decided to uproot their family and pursue
a different lifestyle from the one they had in Australia. However, all but
I returned back Down Under.

I decided to mark this occasion with a celebratory trip to Las Vegas through
Thanksgiving week.

Left Atlantic City on NJ Transit train to 30th St. Station in Philadelphia.
$7.25 one way ticket, $2 Jitney ride to the station. Train half packed.
Went past one of my old hunting grounds - Graden State Park. Grandstand now
demolished. Not far from the train track a discarded statue of 2 horses.
I'm not sure if this the one of Spend a Buck.

Packed lunch at 30th Street Station downed with a hidden Guinness - Brilliant!

Layover 30 minutes and the #1 SEPTA train @ $5.50 OW gets me in Terminal E @
Philly International Airport. Checked in one bag and squeezed through security.
Southwest departs with 15% capacity to Pittsburgh. Non eventful flight but I'm
definitely not used to stewardesses wearing khaki pants - Much prefer to see
a knee once or twice from seat eye level - But what do you expect from a cheap
flight!

45 minute layover in Pittsburgh. More passengers "deplaned" than boarded for
Vegas. 5 hour schedule flight - Steward announces no Jet Stream interference
so might get there in 4 hours. Crackers and peanuts from Southwest
supplemented with good sandwich from home. Got some snooze as leg stretched
across 3 unused seats!

Arrived Las Vegas McCarron Airport Saturday night 55 minutes earlier with
perfect landing. Thanked pilots - Whooppee!
40 minutes wait for check baggaged - Duh! Found a trolly during intermission.
Saved $3.

Followed signs to Ground Zero. This traveller is going use Public
Transportation not pricey Ground Transportation. CAT #108 bus arrives as I
get to Bus Stop. $1.25 and a rolling ride to Downtown Fremont Street.
100 yards and checkin' at Binions formerly The Horseshoe - Poker's shrine!

Up to the 15th floor - Huge bed but on the Fremont St. Side
Quick shower and down to the Sports book to see who won during the day.
College Football that is. Californians in Vegas going beserk as Fresno
State takes the lead against #1 USC. No avail. USC wins. Spread loses!

Get in the $4-8 TexASSSSSS Holdem Game. 15 minute wait. No cards to
bluff. Get AJo. Flop J-Crep-Crep. AK bets. NP bets. I raise. Bet to river
and collect. Up for an hour - Nothin' else and too tired to play
coherently. So time for beddy-bye!