First week of two weeker

Trip Report January 8 to 22:

First week

I haven’t written trip report in some time. Just my wife GT and I, we are staying in our condo for two weeks. Some friends from Wisconsin that just moved to Phoenix are going to join us for a couple days. They don’t gamble but want to see a show or two. This will be boring to most of you, you have been warned. It’s intimidating to be in Las Vegas and doing a trip report at the same time as Nate. I want to thank Mr. Flusher for his report it helped me align my expectations to the cold hard reality of variance. I know it saved me several hundred.

Day 1 January 8:

Flight out of Milwaukee on SW was late taking off by 45 minutes. The first time I’ve been late more the five minutes with SW. When we got to airport I couldn’t get my suitcase handle to retract. I tried everything even dropping it upside down. The lady at the desk said they would take it that way so I just told the TSA guy it wouldn’t go down and he took it with no problem. Our boarding pos A28 and A29 netted us good seats in front with a skinny kid on the window.

When we arrived in LAS our bags were some of the first off. Handle on the bag still out and none the worse for wear. I’ve never seen the airport so empty. I think this is because all the CES people got in a day earlier and the time of year.

We were quickly on the car rental shuttle and in no time at the rental facility. Went down stairs to the Dollar booth and our name was on the board with an 8. Look over and there is our Ford Focus about 15 feet over, all documents ready to go. Bags in trunk and do inspection, all ok and off we go. We are hungry and when we get to condo there is no food. We decide to eat at one of our favorite places for a sandwich. Scooters pub on south Rainbow I got a ham and cheese on sourdough with onion rings GT got a steak sandwich with potato salad. Mine was very good and GT liked the sandwich but not the potato salad. I did sneak over and play some VP at the bar just to break the ice. After all I am in Vegas. I won enough to pay the tip.

Then we drive to the condo and spend the rest of the night getting the place opened up and unpacked.

Day 2 January 9:

I’m up very early and can’t get back to sleep. Why fight it? I’m showered and off to Gold Coast by 3 am. Scanning around I don’t see a BJ table I like so I go to the bar and play some VP. Nate the bartender is from Wisconsin and we commiserate on the Packers losing to San Fran yet again. I was losing but got some play and hit one 4OK so only lost $25 or so. I recheck the pit and see a $5 table that had a couple open spots. After buying in I then notice this table has a continuous shuffle machine. I decide to stay anyway. Quickly I’m up $130 and spend the next 2 hours losing $30 of it back. Had fun and made a little. The funny thing was the young Asian woman that sat next to me. For an hour or so she was asking me when to hit and split, double etc. I don’t mind this at all as long they don’t blame me when it doesn’t work out. Then after an hour she goes “I’m a dealer” me “what?” her “I’m a dealer” me “you’re a dealer? What do you deal?” her “Black Jack”. Me “speechless” Didn’t know what to say. Nice lady and she made me promise to come to the ElCo and play at her table.


Decided to call it a morning and headed back home. On the way I stopped and picked up some groceries. We try to eat at least breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the condo. Healthier and cheaper unless we got a comp or a twofer.

When GT is finally up and ready we head out to the COX store on Blue Diamond. We want to check out getting internet and cable for when we stay here. Right now all we have is a digital antenna that gives up 5 or 6 channels. For internet we have to go to the club house.

For lunch the clerk at Cox recommends Ohanna’s Hawaiian BBQ. Since its close we try it. The food was good but everything comes in Styrofoam so I would only do it again for carry out. Absolutely killer Pineapple Crab Rangoon I would go back for that. Styrofoam or no.
In the afternoon I did the hot tub and then laid in sun. It’s just barely warm enough but felt good.

For dinner I talk her into going on a coupon run to Rampart casino. I had a buffet 2fer ACG and a $5 match play ACG. Buffet cost us $19 and I think it was good just small. The flavoring and service very good. Many buffets are so flavorless this was not. GT had a very nice prime rib from carving station. I had the oven roasted chicken. Both were excellent. Desert station is just average but I did down two pieces of pie.

We then head to casino I won my match play but then lost $30 on BJ. Also lost at VP about $40 but got some play for it. I then find GT at a Willey Wonka machine that was in a giving mood. Very frequent Ompa Loompa bonuses (I’m ashamed I know this). I finally joined her, long story short we played a long time and I cashed out up $130 and GT I think was up around $120. All this at $0.40 / spin.

Day 3 January 10

I’m up early again and decide to play at South Point. Took me all of 10 minutes to get there I swear all the lights were with me. I settle in at a $5 table and do ok for a while I’m getting good cards and hitting my doubles etc. I’m at about $160 when the dealer went on a tear and we couldn’t beat her with a stick. And believe me I wanted to beat her with a stick. Pretty soon I’m almost felted so what do I do? You’re right, I pull out another $100 but I never had to use it. I won that hand and then went on a heater and couldn’t lose. When the dust settled I was up $360, since I rarely bet more than $20 this is a big win for me. Took the $60 and lost it on VP and Megabucks.

For dinner we met our nieces at Lucille’s BBQ in Green Valley. Good food and good conversation not cheap but good. The locals went home and the degenerates went to the casino. GT chased Wonka again with poor result -$40 I chased royals with equally poor results -$40. They have DDB full pay I think four machines but really limit the comps on those.

Day 4 January 11

Today our friends are coming and GT wants to go to an estate sale. I decided not to gamble today so I slept in as long as possible. We are still furnishing our condo and find estate sales fun and a good way to pick up smaller items at a good price. But most of all I like them because you see some really nice areas of Las Vegas. This one was in Henderson in a nice older neighborhood off Green Valley parkway. While we are there our friends call and cancel he got sick. We reschedule for later next week.

So now we have nothing planned for the day. I spent some time in the hot tub again and got some sun. Later GT is sleeping and Seahawks / Saints game is on so I walk to Wahoo’s for VP and watch the game. I’m into my third $20 when I’m dealt four A’s couldn’t believe my eyes. I have a pic I’ll see if I can learn how to post it.
I actually made dinner tonight at home.

Day 5 January 12

Didn’t do much today watched some football, hot tub and ate Pizza for lunch/dinner. Place is called Sunset Pizza west of 215 on Flamingo.

Day 6 January 13

Today our friends are driving in from AZ around 4. They are Vegas virgins that don’t gamble. I know I won’t be able to gamble much if at all so I get up early and heard out. I have a $10 match play for Orleans so decide to head there. I never win there but I hope I can change that, bad move! Sit down and after a couple hand place my $10 coupon down with and another $10 and then need to double I’m in for $30 with dealer showing 6. Dealer draws to 21 with 5 cards. Things get worse from there and I walk after $200 loss. Being on tilt I go to craps -$100 VP -$40. Lose $40 on Willie Wonka I’m on total tilt now I’m even playing slots. Megabucks slot I actually won $40. I’m down over $300 in a couple hours and didn’t even have a good cup of coffee doing it. If I ever gamble at Orleans again I need my head examined.

I’m really pissed at myself for losing all control but I’m still on tilt and drive past a Chase ATM. My evil twin makes me stop and get a stake and drive to Silverton. Silverton comps Starbucks coffee at the tables. I did make a small comeback here + $160 on BJ. My evil twin will now use this against me next time I want to quit gambling.

Rest of day I waited for Sue and Eric and then took them all over showing them LV. We got tickets for Penn and Teller for that night. Sue had read that Gold Coast had a good buffet for reasonable so we went there. GC buffet is a good value but don’t expect gourmet. We all liked the show but I didn’t like the politics they add to the show. I do agree with them but I think when people pay for entertainment they shouldn’t get propaganda with it. After Penn and Teller we did Bellagio fountains and conservatory, Welcome to LV sign. I can’t remember what else we did but walked the strip a bit and head back to condo.

Day 7 January 14

We have breakfast in condo and head out kinda late. First stop is to get tickets for million $ quartet . Then Venetian and gondola ride for Eric and Sue. We shopped for our grandchildren and then showed them a few more properties. Getting hungry we head to Ellis Island for the steak special all were happy with the food.

Now we head downtown for a bit. Sue has some money to gamble with $5 for neighbor and $5 for herself. Don’t laugh to some people $5 is a gambling budget. Valet at Main Street show them Berlin Wall etc. Sue gets a little play on her $10 but it’s gone soon enough. Go up and down Fremont for a bit. Sue wants to know how to play craps so I pick a table at California. I’m playing basic pass line with odds placing 6 and 8, not winning. Dice head my way but Hawaiian guy wants Sue to throw the dice. Even though we are all losing he is in a good mood and wants the newcomer throwing. I put a nickel down for her and explain to hit the end of table etc. Sue makes a couple numbers and one point before seven out. I do worse on my turn and that’s all the lesson I can afford. Say goodbye to our new Hawaiian friend and head back to the strip.
It’s time to go to the show at Harrahs. Get there at about 6:15 for 7 show so didn’t have long to wait for seating. This is a great show people our age must see. I’m in awe of the Gerry Lee Lewis performer. One of the best shows I’ve seen in LV. I know my kids would also enjoy it but I played this music for them as youngsters and they love it along with their own music.

After the show we head back downtown to see light show. It was on Sue’s list and I tried to get everything done (impossible). Valet Park again at Main Street, GT is beat and just stays there playing penny slots. We walk over and see next show check out spray painter and a few performers pretty tired we head back to Main Street and high five Hawaiian friend who is now playing craps at Main Street. It’s now late for us old folks head back to condo but take a dip in hot tub before crashing.

End of first week I decided to post this much now. Will post second week after I get back home.

TomTWI

 

Enjoying your report! Thanks for posting....I wish we could do a 2 week trip....maybe just once... lol

 

Very enjoyable read thus far. Looking forward to reading about the remainder of the adventure.

later. GVJ

 

Great report, love the reading from the perspective of a condo owner. Looking forward to second half!

 

Thank you!!

I will be downtown in 5 days, and your report has excited me!

 

Love your writing style Tom, thanks for sharing.

 

Scooters Pub? I love Scooter's, except for their self-proclaimed Seattle Seahawks headquarters. I hate the Seahawks, but I love Scooter's fish and chips... I drive way outta my way to eat lunch there.

 

I enjoyed week one. Only 4 more days until you are back to our snow & cold.:evillaugh

 

I would much rather read one of your TRs than one of Nates anyday! I rarely if ever read his, a report like yours is much more my style in Vegas! Keep it up, great report!

 

I agree. No offense Nate, but this type of trip report is more to my style and liking.

OP, thanks for the report. Looking forward to more!

 

Seahawks Bar

I found out the hard way never noticed it before. I walked over to watch a game and the door had a sign saying they were at capacity. Then I noticed all the Seahawk flags on the cars.

TomTWI

 

Weather

Oh man I don't look forward to the snow, cold and slop.

The weather here has been better than normal. First few days were topping out in the low 60's. the last few days in the 70's near perfect for running around. I go to the pool everyday and lay in the sun and a little hot tub. Trying to store up some vitamin D for when I get back to cloudy Wisconsin.

TomTWI

 

Finally got around to reading this. Figured I would post now since you got week 2 up. Good start! Did you figure out how to post pics?

 

I forgot about that I'll try later today. Got a few inches of snow to shovel this morning. Forecasting -20 for tomorrow I think I should have stayed in Las Vegas a couple more weeks.

 

Dealt AAAA pic I hope

If I did this right you should see my dealt aces.

 

Yummy!!!

 

Nice Report! Not only are they forecasting -20, the wind chills are going to be -50 to -60!!

I'll be glad to be flying out of MKE in 9 days and leave the weather behind!

 

My wife and I will be DT in just under 2 weeks, firing me up too. Funniest this is that I know Tom in "real life" and didn't know he was on the board. Started reading his TR and figured out it was him. Total kicker was that I saw Tom and GT about 15 minutes before reading the TR!

The world sure is small....

JW

 

If not Vegas I'm here

Oh course I'm on the board where else would I be if not in Vegas!!

TomTWI