Belated Happy New Year, first trip of 2021 1/4-1/8/2021

Belated Happy Birthday, DaiLun!

That is super thoughtful and sweet of you to download all of those movies for your FGF (I’m assuming Elizabeth is a FGF). I hope she appreciates the gesture! What a great gift!

 

Those are a mix of monthly promo chips, SWA promo chips, and Brian Christopher/Wilk chips. I haven't taken them to the tables yet, so no reaction.

 

01/05/2021 – Lunch

Well, even Elizabeth agreed that Nabe was a better deal than Chubby Cattle.

I met her at Nabe right before noon and gave her the laptop. We sat down promptly at noon.

Here is the menu from Nabe



Here is “some” of the food that we ate. I didn’t start taking pictures of the meal until about 3 servings in. . .

Pork Belly appetizer


Vegetable platter

Lamb shoulder

Sushi

Ikura (Salmon eggs)

1/2 a seafood platter

more sushi

Like I said, I apologize for the sloppiness of the picture taking. You'll just have to see for yourself. Tip included, it was $46 for two ($30 each after tip) for AYCE hot pot and sushi.

Nabe Hot Pot
4545 Spring Mountain Rd #106, Las Vegas, NV 89102.

We sat until about 1:30PM, then left. I went through a dry run of playing the movies and let her know that I was in town for the rest of the week if she should have any problems.

Drove back to V/P and ate so much that I'm due for a nap

 

So, BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!!!!!!

Woke up from my nap and was going to go over to Harrahs to cash in a $400 TITO that the TITO machines wouldn’t accept. Was going to walk over and visit Casino Royale and get $0.80, and then go to Harrahs.

The Dr. changed my medication to lower my systolic BP, which had been in the 200 range or higher. It did lower my systolic, but also lowered my pulse rate, so he made additional modifications. I don’t know if it’s the change in medication, but I have lost stamina and have to stop and catch my breath (I Haven’t figured out how to slow down my pace. I still try to walk at 3-4 mph).

Anyway, I took the car over to Harrahs and cashed in the TITO, and went back to Venetian.

OK, it’s now about 5PM, dinner is at 6, and I am having a difficult time finding a machine that will take my last $200 in Free Play. Found one machine, played $100 and got $40 in return. Found a second machine, a 9 line, $1 machine, that took the second. So, I’m playing $9 a pull now. The first 11 pulls got me about $50, so I pulled out another $100 and tried again, little luck. I pulled out another $100, and this was going to be my last (yeah, easy to say in hindsight. So, I got Double Jackpot in reel 1 on the third row, Double Jackpot in the center spot, and the third reel just kept spinning and spinning, this was a replay of several high end jackpots, I'm just hoping for anything that would pay, and look what came up!!



The jackpot in it's entirety came to $5437 because of the double bar jackpots (this was a 9 line machine).
I texted BFF and my ex-wife, and BFF was in the bldg. He came over and took this picture

OK, I'm going to explain this to all of the non-gamblers that are reading this. Experienced gamblers understand this.

You often see pictures of people hitting jackpots, but little is discussed about the actual state after they hit the jackpot. So, this was a $5500+ hit, but am I up $5500?? Heck no. I had been beaten like a drum at every casino I had played at the last day an a half. So, I am still up after this, but not $5500, and not $4500 or $3500. But, I am still comfortably ahead. Now it's up to me to keep the $$.

So, after I was paid off (I tipped the slot attendant $40.00), my "chan gee" for BFF was dinner at Yardbird. We went to the room and I put away most of the money, and then went downstairs to eat.

Now let me tell you that after I hit a major jackpot ($5,000 or more), my nerves get so "tightened up" that I can't eat, or have diminished capacity to eat. Still we went to Yardbird and ordered:
Lemonade for BFF and me

1/2 chicken and waffle, with pickled watermelon on the side

The chicken was EXCELLENT. The waiter told us that they brined the chicken for 27 hours before cooking, and it tasted tender and good.
We also ordered skillet cornbread

So, with dinner finished, it was about 6:45, too early to turn in, and BFF didn't really want to go to Area 15 tonight, and I was emotionally tired.

So, we went over to Sahara to take care of some things. New Player's Club cards for me. Checking comps for BFF. I ended up giving them $300 before I reminded myself where I was 2 hours ago.

BFF dropped me off at Venetian, I cashed in TITOs, send an email to my host inquiring about backend comps, and finished my TR.

While I was updating my TR, I received a response email from my host Tingyu (Gina) Farr. She told me that she was downstairs working in the Venetian Salon (the High Limit Baccarat area), and could I come down to meet her. I put some money in a red envelope (I carry them with me all the time for host tips. And visited her downstairs. I gave her the red envelope, and we talked about my day. Of course, she has full view of what I lost, and subsequently won back, and I asked if she you backend comp me for some of the food charges (since I’d lost so much early). She said that wouldn’t be a problem. So, I went back to the room to finish updating my TR, and then went to sleep.



So, belated Happy Birthday to me. Two more days at Delano/Mandalay Bay with no play obligation. Play at Circa to cover dinner on Wednesday night!!! I think I'll go to Hunger Games exhibition on Thursday.

Pick up some "chan gee" for Sandy and Jenny (Thursday visit), go visit my host and give her "early" red envelope.

Life is good.

 

Congrats, that jackpot is a great birthday gift!

 

Also met my host and gave her "early" CNY red envelope. In return, she's backending all of the food that I was over. Not a bad trade, plus goodwill for the future.

 

@DaiLun congratulations on that belated Double Jackpot Birthday Gift! Glad that your BFF was able to share the joy with you. A win is so much sweeter when you are with those close to you!

 

Nice hit!

I love the food at Yardbird!

 

Belated Happy Birthday, Awesome hit on the Jackpot . Congrats.

 

1/06/2021 – Finally, some breathing room!!!!

So, breakfast wasn’t too bad. Here’s a picture of the Diamond machine that I started the trip off with



BFF and I ate ate at Sundance at Silverton. BFFs comp, I paid tip and extras.

I had lox and bagels



BFF had his usual (sorry no pictures)

So, I wasn’t going to play, and save my FP for the next trip in January, but I’ve been thinking about canceling that trip. Those thoughts may change after I tell you the events AFTER breakfast.

I had $60 FP at Silverton, and I decided to go to an area that they call Buffalo XING, a place where all the Aristocrat Buffalo machines are kept, In an area that was formerly the high limit slot area.

I hadn’t activated my slot FP, so it was another trip to the kiosk to do that. I returned to the Buffalo XING area and sat down at a Buffalo Gold Revolution machine. After $100 of my own money, it started on the Free Play. After 2 spins on FP at $4.50 a pull, I got the bonus. Disappointingly, it only paid $12.00 and then started on the free spins, but I got 5 and 8 spin retriggers on the first two free spins.

I got another 5 spin retrigger, and I actually got the first two animals to turn into Buffalos with the Gold Buffalos, then . . Buffalo, Wild, Wild, Wild, 3 Buffalos!!!!! The wilds turned into 2X, 2X, and 3X. The total payoff was $875, and still had FP spins left.



So, I was up another $900 up. BFF played his FP, and made money.

We split up, and are schedule to meet for lunch with local friend Jason at Noodles at Bellagio. Border Grill canceled my reservation, and I’m sure that it’s because Mandalay Bay hotel is shut down during the week.

Went to Target to pick up a gift card for Sandy, and the only thing that I have left to do is pick up some designer soaps for Sandy and Jenny.

I got an email that my room was ready at Delano, so I went over and used my digital key to check in. Delano is MUCH more convention than Mandalay Bay as far as proximity to parking. I got to the room, and IMHO, this is a “real” suite. Two rooms separated by a door.

The desk was equipped with a well laid out panel that also allowed attachment to the TV (if you have the right cables) HDMI or VGA.

Bedroom

And bathroom, almost identical to the layout at Venetian
The personal kits are really "slimmed down", I'll probably be getting some extra masks.

So, that's it. 9:45. Time to go to the bank and put some cash "away"

 

The personal kits are really "slimmed down", I'll probably be getting some extra masks.
View attachment 151229 View attachment 151230
So, that's it. 9:45. Time to go to the bank and put some cash "away"[/QUOTE]

Agreed, the trip in Sept had the key pushing things in the bag and nicer masks. Now just hand sanitizer and cheaper masks.

 

OK, time for lunch and other things.

It was difficult to find a US Bank branch to make a deposit. I could've deposited at the ATM, but I wouldn't have felt comfortable depositing $4,000 at an ATM.

So I went to the branch at the Smith's supermarket on W. Tropicana and made my deposit there.

Next it was off to Bellagio for lunch with BFF and Jason at Noodles.

I got there early, but had no intention of playing, as I am now in "protect" mode. I went to the mLife desk and got my card endorsed as a US Military veteran, which includes a 10% discount at many (if not all) mLife restaurants

I brought copy of my DD-214 to validate my service.

Jason arrived and we were seated. Jason and BFF ordered the same thing, Char Siew with boneless duck

I had Mandarin Beef Stew with tendon and noodles

We had a good time getting caught up talking about things, mostly travel to Asia and when it will happen. The final bill, including discount was $90.00

Lunch concluded, we hung around together as I went to the mLife booth to ensure that my meal spend was recorded.

I bought some tchotchkes for the ex-wife and son, and we separated and went our separate ways. I will be joining BFF for dinner at Barry's downtown at Circa.

So, I drove back to Mandalay Bay/Delano I parked and decided to take a tour through the casino, the "long way" as it was. I didn't really have ANY intention of playing, but I saw Heidi and Hannah's Bier Haus, and sat down to put $100 in. Playing in Probst mode, at $6.00 a spin, I got the bonus on the second pull.
35 spins!!

$900

So, now:

1)I have a BIG cushion
2)I have enough to put in some decent play at Circa
3)I have enough to "comfortably" purchase something. It used to be that when I hit a hand pay, I would go to Goorin Bros. and buy a hat. Well, I have quite enough hats, so I was going to go to BASS Pro shops to buy a shirt, but instead, I went to the Delano gift shop and bought a shirt. After Platinum level discount, it ended up costing $75.00
5)I will still go to Bass Pro Shops to get another shirt.

I really SHOULD take a nap, since I was up at 5:30, but I don't know if I can sleep.

See you after dinner.

 

Happy Birthday Dailun,and nailing down a large hand pay. Hope you keep your streak going and always enjoy your reports.

 

Happy Belated Birthday. I'm not sure what if I'm happier about your winnings or meals. I guess together = bliss.

 

Well, stop the presses. I took a nap and when I woke up, I got a call from a 702 number. They left a voicemail . . .

Of all people it was another PFGF, the hostess at a Steakhouse downtown whom I thought was avoiding me.

Long story short, we're having lunch tomorrow at 8 East at Circa!! That fills in my meal schedule!! I'm so happy. Time to drive to BASS Pro Shop for a shirt, Harrahs to pay of a marker and buy soaps (presents) for FGFs tomorrow, and to Bellagio to cash in a TITO, then downtown for dinner.

 

Wow @DaiLun you are having quite a trip. In the rare instances of getting a "comfortable" profit, I don't want to start losing and just want to enjoy my time. I hope you consider indulging in some non-gambling fun.

 

Happy Birthday, DaiLun!

 

Nice hit! That was nice of the casino to give you a Birthday present Now get some more!

 

Happy birthday and congratulations on the great wins!

 

Great to see you are having such a great birthday trip! Congratulations on the jackpot, must be the lucky logo on your vest?