We’re staying at Harrah’s. Our friend Vlad (the Russian Oracle) is in from Denver for the start of baseball season. He has a free room here for four days. The potentially profitable play that he was in town for a few weeks ago, didn’t turn out positively, but overall it wasn’t a big loss. Also, the perks of free rooms and meals and the upgrade to a diamond player’s card made it a bit easier to bear. The diamond card gets Vlad and one guest into the Diamond Lounge. A place where the comp drinks are all mixed and chocolatey and the free fruit plates are all blueberries, rasberries and strawberries.

The window is open and from the nineteenth floor we can clearly hear the pre recorded jungle animal sounds from the Mirage that start 15 minutes before the volcano erupts and work into a fever pitch until the event. I almost feel like a tourist.