I spent last night at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City. I have no interest in gambling, so 90% of the experience was completely lost on me! I was there for the Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. Since I belong to a number of bodies in NJ, I have got to know a number of the Grand Masters over the years. I have also made friends with the incoming Grand Master, MM:.W:. Gerry Sharpe, so it seemed appropriate to lend him some support. In the photo of me with him, Bill and Susan Thomas, the red rose I am sporting is homage to my roots, April 23 being St. Georges Day!

Atlantic City was surprisingly balmy with little wind, so a first spring walk on the Boardwalk was in order. The walk revealed some amusing window fronts, like the one in the photo!

Following that I attended the afternoon sessions, and found M:.W:. Jim Sullivan, M:.W:. Vinny Libone, and R:.W:. Bill Thomas in attendance as well. That evening I found myself sitting as a bleak table a million miles from the front, but I was thoughtfully rescued by Bill and Susan Thomas, and ended up at the front with a fun table of PGMs, M:.W:. Roger Crouse, GM of Vermont, and a most entertaining friend of M:.W:. Joe Crociata of IRA Lodge #2, and District of Columbia fame. There was an excellent band of professional musicians which initially sounded like a Romany band, with several violin players, an accordianist and bassist. They played walking around the tables like gypsy entertainers in Europe, but their skill and repertoire was astonishing. The main entertainer was a ventriloquist. Any first impression of an old man and a doll were swiftly set aside he put in a very original, somewhat risque, and always hysterical performance with several very characterful dummies, including a human being from the audience at one stage, which was inspired. The food was very good, too: no green beans, but rather lobster bisque, and crab cakes. Yum!