12:05 AM Atlantic City

Wife and child sleeping in hotel room. Taking notes. No stopping for fifteen minutes. Where do I start? I'm in a casino bar. I think I got high on the boardwalk walking here. Stopped for an iced coffee with Bailey's and Jameson's first. I'm thinking of trying my luck with the cards. A gal just started singing her love has come along. I rearranged the chairs so as not to have my back to her. A guy--whatever. I got quite a few minutes left. They showed Bernie Williams playing guitar here in AC on TV. There's no sports betting here. I sense people see me writing and think I'm a reviewer and not just a weirdo. I feel conspicuous. Six minutes to go. Fake laughter. Got a bourbon spasm in my right arm, and I haven't even had any bourbon today. I got money at Ceasar's, minus three bucks for the ATM fee. A waitress is coming round. I got a water from the bar. What should I get next? "Crazy" they play. It seems uncoincidental. In another minute, I'll put this thing away. Five diamonds on the video poker game at the bar. $1,000. They programmed that. "You gotta wait twenty minutes," says a large redhead at the bar. "Oh, do you work here?"  asked the winner. I gave up listening because now I'm done.