S&M Trip Report

First, I must apologize for being away for so long! After the last trip, I came home and started a new job that has taken more time than I realized. I can't log in to the site from work and it takes me an hour each way to commute to work, which is a big change for me since I used to commute just 6 minutes each way.

Anyway, the last trip was during S&M and it was one of the best (the best?) trip we've ever had. I think that was attributed to the massive amounts of cash we won and that Em decided she loves craps. Now to the quick re-cap of the trip.

Day 1: Wednesday September 24, 2008, we arrive at the airport traditionally early to have a couple of beers and a California Pizza Kitchen pizza (Thai Chicken). We get on the plane on time and ended up sitting directly in front of a client of Em's who was going to Vegas with his wife's birthday (which was the same day as my birthday!!!), so she used some of our free drink passes to buy each of them some drinks on the plane. We arrived in Vegas on time and took a taxi to Hard Rock (there was no line at the taxi stand in Vegas.. first time ever for us!). We were comped two nights at Hard Rock, along with a couple of free meals and match plays. We headed straight to the pool and were very impressed by the HR pool. After a couple of drinks there, we cleaned up in the room and gambled a bit at HR, and Em started to learn craps. We didn't do so well there, so played BJ for a while and ended up about $100 down between both games. We then headed to NYNY to go into Nine Fine Irishmen to see our favorite house band, Sin e Ri Ra. We drank, then drank some more, then drank even more while listening to some fun traditional celtic music and catching up with the band mates. We stayed for several hours, met several folks, then stumbled back to the taxi line and went back to HR to sleep. PS: we ate at Pink Taco this day with one of our meal passes (well, it was a $25 credit) and enjoyed our food at Pink Taco.. this place has turned into a must attend food joint while in Vegas.

Day 2: Got up and went to the pool. stayed most of the day at the pool area, enjoying the cool pool and the great drinks (even though they were expensive). I can't remember what else we did that day exactly, but I know we spent time at O'Sheas (got our butt kicked), spent time at a couple of other casinos, then spent a while at Planet Hollywood playing BJ next to a couple who kept trying to use code words to tell each other they wanted to go to the room and have sex. Em and I and the Dealer kept looking at each other and laughing whenever they used their code words and after about 25 minutes of them using code words with each other, they finally excused themselves from the table. They were about 10 feet from the table (as we found out from the dealer later, they had been sitting there for several hours) when the dealer yelled out to them: We know you're leaving to have sex! The woman looked back a bit shocked and the guy smiled. Em and I both said something silly, making each other laugh (and the dealer laugh), as the people walked away smiling. We left soon after that and headed to NYNY for more Music with Sin e Ri Ra.

Day 3: (Friday, my birthday!) We moved from HR to Mirage for the rest of the trip. WE knew our room wouldn't be ready and we dressed in beach mode to head over to Mirage. the room wasn't ready quite yet, so we decided to eat, then go the beach. Had some excellent Matzo Ball soup at Carnegi Deli then went to the pool. We were planning on meeting Angy and crew at a cabana, but we just hung out in the regular pool area until they showed up. We then went over to the Bare pool to meet up with the rest of the folks. You can read Angy's TR for the pool at Bare. Overall, the guy to girl ratio was way too high. And, there was only one quality talent at the entire pool (which most of the T2V folks missed, I was in the pool almost the entire time scoping out the scene and was able to see the talent and briefly converse with the talent, as well and the covered up talent). After a while, we decided to leave and clean up and start gambling. We arrived at the casino area around 5ish and decided to have the Fixed Price special at STACK. I had the caesar salad (very large romaine pieces with dressing) and Em had the Hot Rocks (tiny slices of sirloin that you cook on a very hot rock). We shared of course and both appetizers complimented the cabernet we bought (the very simple but dependable Clois du Val). We both had the Petite Filet for our meal. Granted, we were both a bit tipsy from the wine, but we had several food explosions while eating the appetizers and the main course (explosions like those in the pixar movie Ratatouille... hehe). It was a very fine piece of meat with superior service. For dessert, Em had the donuts and I had the chocolate cake. Both were excellent. After dinner, we had some time to kill before Angy's party, so we went gambling and hit the craps table. This was the start of gambling heaven. We played for quite a while and left the table a couple of thousand up, late for Angy's party. We just couldn't leave the hot table, figuring the rest of our T2V degenerate fans would understand
The party was a blast as usual, and I followed the poker players around for a while, getting my ass kicked, before heading back home around 4AM or so.

Day 4: We got up and headed down to MSS to meet up with the folks watching college ball. We showed up late (which was a pattern this trip) but still enjoyed hanging out with folks. After lunch, tried to play a bit a craps (MSS has great odds!!) but couldn't get in anywhere so we played BJ for a while. Didn't do too well and finally fell into a craps table. WE played for a while but left even. We went to clean up and get ready for VooDoo Lounge that night. We decided to eat at STACK again and the dinner was just about as good as the night before. After dinner, we played more craps, did pretty well for a while, but were then kabutz by some freak job who was at the table being a freak. actually, thinking back, we had several freaks at tables while playing at the Mirage... I even had dice thrown at me when i tried to fix a bet the dealer got wrong.. when the shooter was on a monster role. It was freaking weird. Anyway, we had to leave the Mirage as all the mojo was gone, so we went to NYNY as we had good luck earlier there. We arrived and started playing at the first craps table we showed up at.... boy.. what a great table. we played and played and played and played. We made several thousands dollars while playing, which made us late for VooDoo.. so late we never ended up showing up. The winning was going so well, we just didn't want to leave NYNY. Got texted a couple of times to show up at VooDoo, but most of them I didn't see until much later. AT about midnight or so, we decided to stay at NYNY and go back to Nine Fine to see Sin e Ri Ra (yet again!). We stayed there until late in the night, went back to Mirage, then went home first thing in the morning on Sunday.

I think I've missed several things (oh... we met up with a friend who lives in Vegas on Thursday night, she drove us around to a couple of places... man how did I forget that??), but overall it was easily one of the best trips we've ever had. It was great that it was so great, as I doubt I'll be able to take a trip that long for well over 2 years. Most trips in the future will be just for the weekend. The new job is a bit demanding and I don't see the ability to take a couple of days off for quite a while. But, it was awesome, it was great to see everyone, and I'm really sorry we didn't get out to VooDoo. We were just winning so much that night, I just couldn't leave. It was one of those super win trips that you rarely have and I couldn't mess up the vibe

I can't wait until MM!

 

Great report, Ken! Must agree on Stack--love that place. Congrats on the winnings and hopefully we'll catch up at MM.

 

I hope we meet up at MM as well!!

 

So how much did you end up winning anyway? Congrats!

I knew where you were when you didn't come to VooDoo... I know how addicted you are to that celtic music! A couple hours = good for most people, a couple days = not long enough for Ken & Em.

 

I hope you like your new job better & definitely hope it is worth the extra commute...lol

Glad you two had a winning trip! It's so great hearing that it is possible to win big! Thanks for sharing.

 

Congrats on the wins! Sounds like you had a blast!

 

The two of you always look like your on your honeymoon.
It was so nice to see both of you again. Congratulations on the big win & hope you are enjoying the new job and getting use to that annoying commute.

 

My sentiments exactly

It was great to see you two again even if Angy and I did end up chasing you all around NYNY that first night trying to find you. Next time my friend

 

Well, we eventually caught up with ya! :wink So great seeing you and Em again and celebrating our birthdays. I think next time I'll skip Voodoo and hit the craps tables with you two, sounds like it was well worth it!

Good luck on the new job, don't work to hard.

 

Thanks for the TR. The runs at the Craps table had to be a blast.

later, GVJ

 

Nice TR Ken....great to hang out with you and your better half...and really, she is the better half

Until next time...

 

she is the better half, for sure!

Man, this is the first time I've been back on here in like 2 weeks. I really suck! I'm not trying to ignore you all, just life has been crazy with the new job and everything. The commute is taking way more out of me than I thought it would. Some days, it's been close to 2 hours one way. And I'm used to six minutes each way... so a big adjustment period is still happening.

As for craps, I ended up very very up over the week. It was one of those rare times. And Becky: yes, we did end up at Nine Fine, but it wasn't until really really late. The place was closed for a private party on Saturday night until sometime after midnight (which we knew about prior, the band told us ). But we ended up there somtime around 1am or so.