Earl’s First Vegas Trip: June 30-July 7, 2010

So around 9:00pm Wendal and I tell these ladies....”Welp, See ya later!”

Straight out of the movie.....we get to Flamingo and look at each other. “What are we doing?!?”



We scurry on back to the center bar at Bill’s. But the flight attendants were nowhere to be found. Our oasis in the desert seemed like only a mirage at that point.

“Fuck this, let’s get drunk.” Wise words, Wendal, wise words.

So we stayed at the bar watching some karaoke and drowning our sorrows. The next thing on the camera on this timeline is a 2:30 video of an old man singing “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. It’s amazing. He’s gotta be 70+ years old and hammered. He’s doing karate kicks to the air and everything. Here’s a screen shot of that.



Life goals....I have a new hero in my life.

 

According to my memory, we hit the Craps table at Bills for an hour or two and we must have gotten several whiskey drinks. I remember around midnight I was pretty slammed. I had enough of Craps and stumbled out the door over to Flamingo. I was going to go ahead and pack my stuff up. The plan had been to take a shuttle to the airport at 4:30am. On my way to the elevator, I spot a couple at a slot machine. I make quick eye contact with the girl....look away....look back...she kind of gives me a smile. Of course my drunk ass smiles back and makes a sharp turn straight to the machine.

“Hey how you guys doing?” The girl and the guy she is with are friendly enough to me. Their names are Joe and Mandi.



They were here with another couple from the Kansas City area. I talked with them for several minutes. They informed me they wanted to learn to play blackjack.

“That’s a great idea let’s go play!”

They gave me the nawwww we don’t know what to do.....we are too intimidated....blah friggin blah.

“Nonsense! Go find your pals and let’s go play!”

“Well we don’t have a lot to gamble with.”

Dammit. Here I was trying to pull off the impossible with this Mandi girl....take her away from a guy she’s already with! But something told me she wasn’t too interested in Joe. I must press on.

“$20. Let’s buy in for $20.” I had talked them into it. I walk with them to find their pals and I meet Dude and Chick (don’t recall their actual names). They agree to risk $20 to try playing blackjack. Joe sits down first, Mandi has a seat to his right, and I sit down next to Mandi. Dude sits at first base with Chick behind him, as they play together. This is back when $5 BJ was readily available at Flamingo. I’m sure it was 6:5 but I didn’t know shit back then.

Within minutes, Dude was down to his last red chip. The rest of us were doing fine. I knew that if he busted...the whole group was gone. Of course.....the very next hand....dealer BJ.

“Wait a minute Dude! You’re not out yet!” And I slam down a red chip onto his betting circle. “We are about to go on a run buddy.”

Dude wins the next hand, gives me my red chip back. “Yes!!!! Thanks Earl!”

At this point....I’m starting to grow a conscience. What am I doing? I’m trying to hook up with some poor guys girlfriend while they’re on vacation. I decided to give up my quest and just relax. We hung out playing for another hour or two. We all had so much fun. I told them about the trophy and all of the people we met. They couldn’t believe I had been there a week.

I forget what exactly was said, but someone made a reference that clearly implied Joe was gay. Of course! Now it all makes sense! The quest was back on!

 

All of a sudden Dude and Chick head to the restroom. Joe says he has to go too.

“Yeah Mandi, that trophy was hilarious. I’ve still got it up in the room.”

She laughed and said it must have been a great time.

“Want to go see the trophy?”

“Sure,” She said with a smile.

It was 3:00am at this point. I texted Wendal and asked where he was. His reply:

“Vegas, Dude.”

Ugh. I had to make a call. We grab the few chips we had left and I walked with her towards the elevators. No answer from Wendal. I texted him....stay away from the room. I need it for 30 minutes. He replied “dammit I still need to pack.”

“I WILL PACK FOR YOU!”

I pushed 19 on the elevator. If I could describe my emotional state on that elevator ride it would be:

 

Wendal received my text and he knew he had to stay away. He had already began heading to the room when he received the text. After all, our flight was boarding in 4 hours.

Wendal decided to just spin around and head back to Bill’s. Just aimlessly walking through the casino floor one last time to soak it all in...he passed by the players club and saw his name on a sign.

Not Wendal...but his actual name. Turns out he was one of 5 people to win a nightly drawing for $100 in comp dollars. He proceeded to head to the gift shop and grabbed some decks of cards, sleeves of dice, and some glassware. But you guys aren’t concerned with that right now.....

We get off the elevator, and head around the corner to the north wing on the 19th floor. Thankfully my key works and the door opens. A quick glance at the trophy in the floor before we start a little make out session. Now, do remember I’ve been drinking heavily. Mandi’s friends all had to go to the bathroom at the blackjack table, as we had been sitting there a while. I push her off and gracefully say....
“Hang on I gotta piss.”

As I stood there filling the bowl, I realized I probably screwed this up.....

....until I walked out of the bathroom to....let’s say a wide open invitation to round third and head for home.....and I slid in head first.

Smile for the camera Mandi.



This time....if I could describe my emotions....

 

Great report and congrats on your DINGER !

 

I escorted Mandi to her friends and said one last goodbye in the Carnival Court area between Harrah’s and then Imperial Palace.



That’s Dude and Chick by the way.

Got in touch with Wendal and we both arrived at the room around the same time. He packed his stuff up in a hurry while I thank him for the time. He told me about the $100 at Bill’s so he didn’t mind. We barely made the shuttle to McCarron. We arrived at our gate around 5:30am. Still had 90 minutes until boarding. I set alarms when we sat down. We were both pretty drunk, and I knew there was a poss......good lord Wendal!!!

Dude is already snoring like crazy. We ended up both falling asleep, and my alarm saved us from missing the flight.

Let me tell you guys something. I will NEVER stay up drunk for an early flight again. What a rough 5 hours that was. There was some kid crying the whole damn flight. I don’t think we slept at all. We just kept getting more sober by the second as our headaches increased at the same rate. Reminds me of Bill Cosby standup about “Jeffrey.”

We eventually landed and made the short drive from Charlotte to Rock Hill, SC to Wendal’s apartment.

I remember thinking to myself.....I’m not drinking again for a MONTH. That is until a local girl asked if I was going to Thursday dollar beer night at the local minor league baseball game. Ah hell....let’s do this!

As far as the trip is concerned....most people when they go on vacation, they spend the last little bit finding a souvenir to bring home. I spent the last little bit of my vacation the best way I knew how. Railing the mom from Home Alone.

As for souvenirs....let’s just say I brought home a good one.



The End

 

Great read! Thanks!

GG

 

Quality read , really enjoyed .

 

Great TR!

 

Fantastic report Earl!

 

Earl, I am curious about the trophy. Was there any thing on it as to what its' intended commendation was? Perfect Vegas trip, booze , women , gambling, throw in an accidental celebrity meeting and you got a screenplay.

 

Amazing!

 

I have met Earl (and Wade and others in their posse). Good folks these guys are! But talk about the curse of a banging first trip...

 

Please tell me I can do this in my 40s?!

 

It's really blurry but I see super mario 3, RC pro am, paperboy, gold zelda 1 I think, marble madness, hmmmmm...... I'm losing my NES identification just by font and color.

 

Earl-
Your memory is amazing! Your storytelling is even better.

 

This is really funny. I have no idea how you remembered all these peoples names. I can't even remember people's names I met a few months ago. haha