Jose? No way!

Just got up. And I just noticed that Jimmy Poon's Artificial Stupidity (AS) engine created the wrong artwork for the trip report.

Day 2 - Sunday August 23, 2026

I got on the horn with Jimmy Poon to get this fixed ASAP. He is very apologetic. I might fire him. Except he's a volunteer. On with the report from yesterday.

Staying on Eastern time makes it so much easier to adjust when I get home. That's not gonna happen this trip. I got to bed late late late and woke up around 6:30 Vegas time. I'm not only retired, I'm on vacation. I'll deal.

And due to poor planning, I had no morning coffee in my room, even though El Gustavo is in the house. I have the Portable Beaker. The cable. The coffee. The cone. The filters.

No mug.

The lightweight one I travel with is in Florida.

So I did my writing and then trundled down to breakfast at Market Street.

I ordered my usual two over hard with sausage, hash browns, and wheat toast. 

I suppose I could even re-use the same photo of breakfast over and over each day, it's always the same order.

But because I'm in a good mood, here's the actual breakfast. Delish!

Here's another example of why I love the Cal. I left my room and no more than 5 minutes later, I was seated at my table, had my order taken, and was served coffee. That can happen when it's not busy!

What a view!

Time to get to some gambling!! Up on the mezzanine, I had a date with some video Keno.

First, though, I took the traditional photo for YoLeven of me in front of what used to be named the Maile room - the infamous Maile room, site of the only place in Vegas I've been thrown out of. (See Curse of the Single Lonely Diner Table).

I played through a hundy on video Keno and deep into my second one, I found some money. Nice!

That put me up some on the day, a nice feeling. I wandered the Cal playing this and that.

There have been so many downgrades and changes here. No more coin droppers of any kind, although the dollar 9/6 Jacks machines remain for now. No Treasure Chest. Lots of slant tops gone. Various quiet downgrades including Pinchy and Flashy. Short pay Jacks and Bonus on those machines.

And I noticed that the pop machine in the hall is $4 now - last time it was $3. This is modern Vegas, chipping away at value.

It took a while before I found a quad to celebrate.

Good ole Boner Deluxe!

A little walkabout was in order - obviously, I needed a mug - but not too long a one, as it was 317 degrees outside. I headed across the corner and went into Binions.

There is now an exciting 80% off blowout sale there. Put a pin in that!

As I walked through I spotted a sign.

Pulled pork from their smokers, fries, and a drink - all for $7.77?

Sounded great! I went to Binion's Cafe and they seated me at... The Single Lonely Diner table.

Yup, that's my table there. I pondered whether I was meant to sit facing the exit door.

It's always exciting to find a deal and this were one, baby. The pulled pork was delicious with a real deep smoky flavour. A bit dry maybe, but the sauce made up for that. I had the huge drink, a mound of fresh hot fries, and some house made (I think) pickles and I was in tastebud heaven for a full 90 seconds.

Definitely worth a try!

At the Golden Nugget, I poked around trying to find an ancient Inching Diamonds machine with a huge progressive on it. It's like a mini Lion's Share machine from days gone by - a progressive that has not been hit probably for decades.

I found it and my $20 donation bought me quite a bit of playing time.

The cheapest mug at the ABC store was $6. Sold! - along with some other supplies such as milk and a $100,000 bar to spur me on.

Back at the Cal, I needed to do some serious coin in. I started with triple play, tried some 50 cent Deuces, and finally settled in for a 1,000 hand run at dollar Jacks.

That mini-marathon put me at even for the day. Not bad!!!

I bet $40 on the Roughriders to cover against the BC Lions and watched the end of the game in my room. It was a terrible bet.

Meanwhile, BobbyG and the lovely Mrs. G. were due to make their way to Main Street in a while, having dined in very high fashion at Aria's Carboner.

It was getting on and I got hungry, so I grabbed chicken and waffles (amazing!) at the Market Street Cafe, and then went over to join BobbyG at the Boar's Head bar.

Jose took good care of us, but the gambling was awful. I lost $100 at video poker, and then flailed about trying dollar Jacks, dollar Bonus, and then 50 cent Double Double, all to no avail.

Bobby managed to pull out a decent quad at the end to get him even for the session, but I had no such luck. Not a single hit of any kind in the couple of hours we were there.

I did have time to re-acquaint myself with the brass elephant heads that hold the brass rail to the bar. Most people don't notice these.

Fuck you, Elmer, you owe me $400!!!!

So that puts me down $720 for the trip. An unfortunate evening turn of events, given I'd stayed even all day long.

Jimmy Poon just sent the corrected artwork for the trip report. Thanks, Jimmy.