I’m lucky.
I get to dine out with some really amazing people. Names that you would certainly recognize. Even the names you don’t know are often just as interesting, if not more so.
This is all taken for granted, of course. Every night is a potential feast, not only for the food and drink — but for the fresher garnishment of fond memories, provocative ideas, good fun, and plenty of laughs.
Still, I must say this. My favorite dinner companion remains the one person I never get tired of being with or listening to. She’s full of more memories, ideas, fun, and laughs than anyone I know, or could hope to know. Of course, I’m talking about Marieta.
Earlier tonight, we dined together at Flemings Steakhouse, in Summerlin. Being away from the Rio for a few hours was a nice getaway. I don’t get away from the Rio often, but when I do, it’s with Marieta. There’s a Dos Equis reference in there somewhere.
Here are a few other fun photos I snapped upon my return to work at the WSOP on Sunday night:
That’s Dennis Phillips, moments after taking fifth place in the 2014 Seniors World Championship, the largest such event in history. Phillips outlasted most of a 4.425-player field. This comes just two years after he finished second in the same event to Allyn Jaffrey Shulman. Then, of course, Phillips also took third place in the 2008 WSOP Main Event Championship.
I returned to my desk tonight and saw this monstrosity next to my computer. Next to the bottle is a note, apparently left behind by “Maverick.” I run hot and cold with him frankly, but I can take a joke. His shit wine, something called “Boone’s Farm” lasted about 15 seconds before I gave it to one of the janitors here on staff.
“Gracias,” was his reply.
No telling if the janitor drank it, or chunked it into the trash can, where it belongs.