Rough Start

This is a chronicle of our annual Halloween trip from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4 including the Orleans, MSS, and Suncoast.

I'll be leaving for the airport in a few hours for eight nights in my favorite place, but it's been a rough morning so far. Around midnight I was awakened by a repeating series of four loud beeps coming from the computer room. I thought the computer was taken over by demons; but after realizing it wasn't coming from the speakers, I thought it might have been coming from the internal sound device and shut down the machine. Nope, it ended up being a low battery warning from the cordless phone right next to it! Removing the battery silenced the darn thing.

Unable to get back to sleep, I dug in the closet for a replacement battery pack and knocked over a glass jar of rubber bands which shattered into a zillion pieces after hitting the hardwood floor. Being careful not to cut myself, I proceeded to pick up the pieces. The bright red spots on the floor indicated I wasn't careful enough. It's amazing how so much blood can come from such a small cut and how long it took to stop. Of course, I didn't have a spare battery.

Settling down for a little surfing before shower time, I then proceeded to knock over my Hydro Flask full of coffee, which naturally ran into my relatively new illuminated keyboard. Maybe it will be dried out by the time I return in nine days, as I'm now getting at least four characters for each key press! (I'm currently using another keyboard and am grateful I wasn't using a laptop!)

I sure hope the rest of the day goes smoother, but it's hard to feel lucky at this point. Heck with winning - I just hope I don't fall in the shower, get to the airport in one piece, and somehow make it to the hotel without anything else going wrong. Whoops - just remembered I still have to pack!

 

All this means is that great and wonderful things await you just around the corner. Have a memorable, fun, and productive trip!

 

That's a rough way to start the day. Compared to what you've been through so far, sitting on a plane for 4 hours will be a breeze.

Have fun, win big!

Tye
(99 miles south of ATL)

 

Thanks fot the encouragment. In Delta's Sky Club now, but first I flunked the metal detector twice at TSA precheck, then failed the scanner, but at least passed when they tested my hands for explosive residue after I was patted down. (I forgot to remove my phone. Duh!) The TSA guy said, "You just can't win today." Wow - should I really be going to a casino? LOL

 

The past doesn't matter, you are going to Vegas, baby! Good luck, waiting on the trip report.

 

Oooo, that IS a rough start, Turtleman!

I leave this afternoon. I really need to go upstairs and finish packing...

 

It's not how you start its how you finish, party on

 

It's been a rough day. I got up this morning, put a shirt on, and a button fell off. I picked up my briefcase, and the handle came off. I'm afraid to go to the bathroom.

- Rodney Dangerfield

 

I agree with bedaniels.
Obviously, turtleman, you NEED a trip to Vegas!

 

I'm predicting a massively successful trip................................................. followed by lost luggage on the return flight.

 

Its a good excuse to get one of those carts while in Vegas.

 

I can relate. I had 'that' day on Saturday. Attempting to paint the bathroom, dropping brushes full of pant, stepping in paint, yes, I also cut myself on some damn thing and had blood on the floor. It was two steps forward and six steps back. Crabby as all hell that I gave up and went to the casino, where we spent the night and proceeded to drink more than I lost. At least I was happier until I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache...only to come home and still have to paint. It sure ain't gonna paint itself this week...........damn. and I still have about a month before our trip.

 

You know what artists say about a bad rehearsal for a big show...

This has got to be your most succesful trip ever. Enjoy your stay in our favourite city and win big!

 

It's only up from here! Have fun!!

 

Thanks for everyone's comments. Our flight was delayed several minutes while waiting for a part to show up so they could deliver it for another Delta plane in Vegas. Upon landing we caught the 109N with less than a minute wait, and then the 201 at Tropicana with also less than a minute wait. Getting to the Orleans for $1.50 each with no waiting was a good start once in Vegas. We decided to wait for a higher floor room, and as planned, had a hot dog and beer at the Mardi Gras Bar right at 2 o'clock.

The VP at the bar didn't work, so we moved to BJ. Nope, that didn't work either, so we tried three card poker and lost again. A few hundred down is never a great way to start, so we tried VP at the Alligator Bar and lost yet again. I thought about playing Ulimate Texas Hold'em, but at Ms Gecko's insistence, we tried another session at BJ. I barely managed to get back to even after dropping another hundred, while Ms Gecko got on a roll. Sometimes betting two green chips per hand, she managed to get us within $5 of where we started the day!

Since we usually play and bet the same way, we often combine our buy-ins and split the results. Sometimes I bail us out, and yesterday she did. She was pretty pooped after dinner, while I was going strong for a change, but we called it quits and got some much needed sleep.

This morning I did two things I've never done before. I made the coffee without putting the cup underneath and the tray got filled before I noticed. Then I managed to spill the next cup in places where hot coffee should never go! (Think about that McDonalds episode a few years back.) Hurts like hell, like a severe sunburn. Hope I can walk today, not to mention other things. LOL

I don't know if I'll continue this as an ongoing trip report, as I hate typing on a smart phone. We'll see, and I appologize for any mis-spellings or if this is now in the wrong category.

About time to go into battle and probably Ellis Island this afternoon. More later.

 

Ouch on the coffee. Hoping you continue the updates.
Tye

 

I've got one word for you - MEGABUCKS!!!

 

You just got all the bad bits out of the way before you get to Las Vegas. Think positive!

 

I'm sorry to say that Tuesday wasn't overly profitable. Our usual start with drinks and VP produced the usual results; and as usual, we moved onto BJ. We quickly recovered the VP losses and pulled ahead a hundred, but progress came to a grinding halt as soon as the last dealer took over. We'd never be able to wait him out, so we went to Three Card, lost, followed by Super Fun and more losing. We then tried Pai Gow. I was doing fairly well and enjoying myself, but poor Ms. Gecko was losing as fast as I was making it and having a miserable time, especially after the dealer pointed out an error in setting her hands. I don't know if I'll ever get her to go back.

We next tried a couple other sessions at BJ and Three Card, but only suceeded in getting our butts kicked, so we left the Orleans mid-afternoon and went to Ellis Island. They changed their Player Cards again two weeks ago, thus requiring everyone to wait in line to get new ones. Would you believe the new card features a photo of their ribs! No luck at VP at the bar, but at least the steak special seemed extra good. (We usually go to EI for the BBQ, but plan on trying it at Binion's Sat. or Sun.) We returned defeated, but well fed to the Orleans, where I couldn't convince Ms. Gecko to do anything except going to the room. Maybe another good night's sleep will pay off today. At least the hot coffee burns I suffered that morning are going away. Hope to have something more exciting to add after today.

 

Thanks for the update. Hoping today is better.