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Trip Report #17: BeeeJay Gets a New Grill with a Sideorder of Purple Chips

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by BeeeJay, Oct 15, 2009.

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  1. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    My Trip Report

    Well I would like to say I've been too busy to write up this latest trip report. But the truth is I've just been too lazy. I gave it a start right away but ran into a snafu when I guess my VMB pic upload quota was reached and I'm not able to upload any more pics to the site. This precludes me from my latest presentation with pics, but I decided to just upload them to a kodak gallery and add that link, I'll include it here at the beginning and again later:

    http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=906803328703%3A283301764

    So this trip was sorta last minute. Its more of a sidetrip than anything else. I had to head back to lovely Lincoln, NE to get some major dental work done by my sis for the "family rate" and decided the best route back to Chicago was via Vegas baby!

    The fact that the flight from Omaha is crazy cheap compared to the Chicago price didn't hurt, the return flight was reasonable, and Palazzo was VERY reasonable, offering their usual 3 nights comped with $50 in freeplay. Another motivation was my desire for that Grand Lux sloppy joe. I had tried to pick one up in chicago but the downtown location is 8 miles away and it took me 45 minutes to get halfway there so I gave up.

    This not being a "primary" trip I had decided to low-roll. I was saving my bankroll for my next trip, which is coming up a week from today and is a primary reason for me kicking this baby out before the next trip. When I'm living in the streets as an old man I want to be able to read these things on my I Phone while panhandling.

    Sunday

    So I head out to MDW, usual deal, except this time land in Omaha, NE and grab a rental car for the drive to Lincoln. Now this car was a so called "Ford Flex" rather than the Chevy Trailblazer I had reserved but oh well. Apologies in advance for the slight delay to Vegas content, I'll make this pre-trip quick.

    The Ford Flex was boxy, which I hate, but the inside was OK and it was only for about 20 hrs so WTF, I hopped in and hightailed it down I80 to my sisters office in Lincoln. I got the dental work done quickly and we were off to the liquor store for Grey Goose baby!!!

    We met up with various friends some may recognize from my May 2008 and May 2009 trip reports, normally Vegas friends, but also from NE. As there ain't a whole helluva lot to do in Lincoln (yeah I missed the football game the day before due to my "block party"--which was actually a blast)....so we decided to go low key and just have a few friends over and order some Valentino's hamburger pizza.

    Ok this pizza rocks, it is the best ground beef pizza on the planet. I have ordered dry ice delivery to Chicago a few times, but now my freezer is full of popsicles and dinosaur chicken nuggets so I have no room for it. The problem is the effect on the digestive system if you haven't had it for six plus months. Long story short, it becomes a net weight loss if you know what I mean. BYO-TP!!!

    OK so we get drunk as hell gorge on pizza, side bets end up causing some Watermelon shenanigans, pass out about 4am and need to be up at 7am for the drive to Omaha and my flight to VEGAS!!!

    Monday

    I wake up, find a watermelon somehow atop my rental car, and I'm off, in a daze. Omaha is easy, small, nice airport.....lots of corn-fed women in red. Looked like a couple pros maybe headed out to make a little extra scratch in vegas over the weekend. Those Husker chicas are resourceful if nothing else. Damn glad I didn't marry one!

    Ok so next move was reading a book, the flight went quickly and I was in Vegas. Now normally I have an offer with limo, but Palazzo is one place where the room comps come easy but the extras beyond that are tough. Wynn and the MGM's are easy with the limos. I usually get a presidential to Palazzo but now that I've got their gold card due to being diamond at HET I decided the freebie shuttle was the way to go.

    BTW---the pics are arranged in order for the most part with the story.

    So this is my first and likely last trip on the good ole Palazzo shuttle. it took forever to fill up, I was the first one on. Allegedly it goes directly to V/P, but in reality it went Venetian, Mirage, Palazzo.....who knows where else. So anywho I was checked in and unloading the luggage soon enough.

    My plan for this trip---low roll it. $500/day and an extra $500 for the trip. Hmmm maybe I'll save a couple days and just play a big $2K on day 3? NUH UH. I head right down and buy in $500 on the roulette table. Now I $**T you not, things got off to a GRRRREAT START....first 2 spins were #17!!!! WOW, how long has it been since THAT happened to me? UM NEVER!

    So on the first spin I had about $125 in nickels out and $25 on #17 so theres a quick $875, second spin I added some straight ups and #17-#20 splits and hit for $1,225. so I'm up about $2K right off the bat. Hit a VP machine for another $500.

    I had an OV meet at Flamingo at 2pm at the Garden Bar so I had to head out. I was starving but didn't have time to eat. Especially after I stopped in at Harrah's and hit for yet another $875 #17!!! 3 of the first 5 spins of the vaca were the big hits! I blew some back in on VP and headed to the meet 5 minutes late.

    The usual suspects were there and we had some nice conversation. It was mostly people who seemed a little demographic than me and I was getting woosy from being hungry so I headed quickly back to Palazzo and grabbed the first of my many Grand Lux sloppy joes.....outstanding!

    While waiting for the food I put $100 down on Carolina with points against Dallas---lost thanks to a late INT TD by the Cowboys--damnit!

    The rest of the day I took it easy with some low rolling $15 BJ at Palazzo and just relaxing. I was feeling a little beat down after 3 drunken nights, fri was an octoberfest party, sat was a block party, and sun was the Lincoln partying. So I didn't have more than a few cocktail and bled back a little of my winnings and called it a night by 11pm.

    Tuesday

    So this was a low-roller trip and a solo trip as it was sorta last minute. No one else was really in a position to go. I decided the best thing I could do was stick to some low play and take lotsa pics, basically any distraction possible.

    I started Tuesday off with a strip walk towards Caesars where I planned to check out the Qua spa and workout. The spa was impressive, the only other person working out---a very hot chick, was equally impressive. I got in a nice workout and finished my walk returning to Palazzo.

    Now most of my trip reports would include all kinds of drunken gambling, shenanigan, etc. At this point I decided to go into capital preservation mode in order to save the proceeds for my late Oct trip with JNCVH and Gaggles.

    I spent a few hours at the Palazzo pool, enjoying a strawberry colada....yes gay....but I'm counting it as breakfast so whatever...more fruit than I normally have in a week!

    After getting some decent rays and working out I decided to low-roll it at the bank of quarter progressive VP at Palazzo. I sat by this hilarious crabby old lady---sort of a poor man's Joan Rivers. She says, and I quote--"darn it, keeping a pair of 5's is like kissing your sister"....well my sister is pretty hot lady, at least a pair of 8's! She blew her smoke my direction.

    Despite playing quarters, I blew thru $100 in short order (DDB) and some other carny games in the ghetto Harrah's casinos just south of the V/P complex. I hit some of those while waiting til 4pm for the Harrah's diamond lounge to open. When that opened I grabbed a cheap dinner of their buffet slop, a ketel soda, and tipped the chick $5 for which she just about offered me a BJ as she was used to getting spare change for the usual Harrah's crowd of old-timers who reached diamond by playing 3,500 hrs a year on penny slots. it looked like she made up for lost tips in free food however so I wasn't crying a river for her.

    Oh this brings me to what some regulars may notice as a shift in my drinking habits. Yes after learning of the lower-calorie option of the top shelf vodka-soda with lime (minus the lime) from my fine Canadian friend Gaggles, I have made this my staple drink. Having given up caffeine for over 5 weeks recently and having seen my blood pressure go from 140/100 to 120/80 I was pretty much locked into my new exercise and no red bull/diet coke routine. Who knew a 12-pack of diet coke a day and a few goose-red bulls could have such an adverse effect! ;)

    Anyway I pounded a few of those cocktails per dive HET property and played some weird multiplier video poker games at Casino Royale. Also put in some time at the quarter bar tops in an attempt to score a $25 bonus on the card sign up 4OAK coupon. No dice. Got a few free well cocktails and bailed for better climes.

    I decided to play some $15 BJ at Palazzo just to retain fund, but couldn't find any tables that low which was odd given how dead it was. Played some $25 and basically got steamrolled beyond belief. Suddenly my "conservative" effort at retaining my $2,200 gain had me down to an $800 profit. Disgusted I headed over to Wynn where I blew another $500 on roulette chasing.

    By this time I was REALLY ready to low roll it so I headed down to Riviera, Circus Circus, and Slots-A-Fun and played $5 tables making back a little of my losses. Went to bed up about $400 for the trip, with a good buzz on, and oh yeah I believe I had another sloppy joe from the grand lux about 11pm.

    Wednesday

    As this was my final day, I decided to just be happy with not blowing my budgeted bankroll and not play at all. Nature conspired against me. First, it was soooo windy the pool was closed all morning. I decided to get some room service, spent some time reading, did a walk and a workout, but still had basically 24 hrs+ to burn before my flight home.

    I ended up blowing time without playing until about 3pm when I decided to do a tour of diamond lounges. I started at Venetian gold lounge, and decided I'd blow my $500 winnings on a $2 VP machine near the gold lounge and go home even. Luckily I hit a 4OAK for $500 on DDB, then around 4pm headed to Harrah's diamond lounge for snacks and a ketel-soda, next I went to flamingo for the same, and then finally Paris. All were pretty much the same food, chicken wings, chips and dips, maybe an eggroll or garlic bread. The Paris lounge was actually SUPER nice. Now with about a grand in my pocket I decided to play some stupid arse MS stud and blew back $400 without winning anything...got maybe 2 pairs for push the WHOLE time. No wins at all. So a big Eff You to Harrah's for their stupid ass carny games.

    I headed back with $600 to Palazzo and started getting a good buzz on from the cocktails. I played some $1 DDB and wouldn't ya know it hit the good ole 4 Aces for $800. Very timely, now had over $1,000 in my pocket, lost $500 back on craps. Then I sat down with a purple chip at a blackjack table and started at $35/hand....we went on about a 3-shoe run where the dealer just kept busting. I was getting OK cards, but the dealer was just busting every hand. I was playing with two really cool guys, one older guy and one young guy just engaged. They did pretty well but I had raised my bets, hit some great doubles and ended up cashing over $1,700.

    It was getting late but I was drunk enough to head over to the roulette table and risk $500 of my profits....I got lucky with a couple $20's right off the bat and had $2,700 in chips when I cashed out plus some cash still in my pocket.

    I finally for once showed some self-control and actually called it a trip gambling wise and went to bed.

    Thursday

    I slept late and bypassed the free shuttle for a cab......flight back as normal, paid my parking and stopped by the bank to make a DEPOSIT BABY!!! My final accounting after all expenses showed a $2,877 net profit.

    Unfortunately just like last December I got nailed upon my return by a combination of major auto and home repairs which basically wiped out my win. Also due to slow business I decided to transfer a large portion of my Vegas fund to other accounts to stem the use of savings over the always-slow holiday season. Plus I had realized that low-rolling wasn't so bad and in fact sometimes more fun.


    Thanks for reading, and sorry for probably the most boring trip report to date.....the next one with some actual other humans on the trip with me should be MUCH more exciting!!!

    pics link again:

    http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=906803328703%3A283301764
     
  2. VegasDog

    VegasDog High-Roller

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    Great TR. I also love Val's, but my wife has the same reaction that you do, so I rarely get to have it. But she is gone through Saturday, so maybe I will have Val's while watching the Corn!
     
  3. themightydude

    themightydude High-Roller

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    Nice report...I've always enjoyed reading your reports on this and other boards.

    Good stuff.

    I never play roulette, but I've been thinking about giving it a few tries..you know...doing 10-20 $5 bets on numbers...hoping for a lucky hit that pays good odds :)
     
  4. peanutmnm

    peanutmnm Scotchy

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    Yeah a $2800 winiing trip is boring as hell to read about. (Kidding!)
    Never apologize for posting a report.
    Thanks!
     
  5. mjamesp

    mjamesp High-Roller

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    Where did you run into the picture of the Dos Equis guy. My 10 year old would get a kick out of a similar pic with me.

    I've read all of the trip reports, have you gone public with where the original gambling fund came from?

    BTW, thanks for the TR's.
     
  6. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    that Dos Equis ad was on the corner in front of Caesar Palace I believe.

    Trip Report #2, May 2008 details the major increase in the Vegas Fund...originally it was a NetBank acct I put like $20 a check into since 1997, more after a while. Haven't added to it since I moved it from netbank when they went under. I did have to take all but about $10K out of it this year due to poor business performance. damn good thing I have been so f'n lucky otherwise I would be DONE already, I should make trips Oct, Nov, Dec if Im conservative. then I'll likely have to just work for a couple years, if there is any work, otherwise I'll be living under an overpass....but with good Vegas memories!!!:evillaugh
     
  7. VPmiracle

    VPmiracle Tourist

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    I'm often ahead on my trips to Vegas. Just never at the end! Unfortunate.

    $2800 winning trip? I didn't know this kind of thing was possible!!! Congratulations.
    I enjoyed your journey, from playing black chips to $5 Slots of Fun action, I like it.
     
  8. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    this was the 6th straight trip I have been up 4 figures after night one, makes Vegas pretty addictive, hence the repeat trips.

    beats those 5 figure losing trips, but honestly like anything it leaves you hungry for more. I had one very large winning trip in 08 and anything else feels minor. logically I know any win is incredibly lucky and repeated wins are a once in a lifetime roll but damn I want to hit that $5 machine royal and book a $25K win. also when the recession is costing you tens of thousands its a little harder to get excited about those $2500 wins
     
  9. Blondie76

    Blondie76 Low-Roller

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    It was a great report. Not boring at all. Loved reading about all your ups and downs in play. I'm happy for your netting the $2,877. I hope your biz concerns improve. Might be some hope for this economy too. :)
     
  10. jer0978

    jer0978 Tourist

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    I followed your trip reports over here from 2+2 for the pictures now I'm addicted to another forum. Thanks a lot!:evillaugh Good report i can almost relate to budget wise for a change.
     
  11. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    wow, never ceases to amaze me how you seem to play hard even as a low roller and come out on top

    well done! :nworthy:

    good luck on your next up coming trips

    I see you will be there the same time as me in November , save me some $$ please :evillaugh
     
  12. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    i have no illusions about any economic turnaround, it will take a couple decades of pain to adjust consumption to equal production. I'm just planning to enjoy ramen, govt cheese, and 5 people in a one-bedroom apt. sorta like college.
     
  13. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    mandalay and paris on your Nov trip? very nice.

    I am doing 3 days Monte Carlo, 4 days in Phoenix with buddies who live there, then 3 days at Bellagio. I figure since Chicago is so damn cold, may as well take the freebie offers and thaw out a bit.
     
  14. PokerrNutt

    PokerrNutt High-Roller

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    BeeJay - one day, I hope to grow up and become a gambler like you!! LOL!!
    Those great wins at roulette are amazing in itself!!

    Looking forward to the next TR - and win again please!!!
     
  15. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    yup, taking the hubby a Vegas Virgin
    all rooms are comp'd :)
    my high rolling is your low rollin hehe

    I hear ya about the cold , had our first real snow fall and man I didn't like to drive in that

    when I grow Up I wanna be a snowbird!
     
  16. PokerrNutt

    PokerrNutt High-Roller

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    VegasDiva - totally agree - my high rolln is like BeeJay's low rollin!!! LOL!!
     
  17. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    I'm gonna be rollin' it lower and lower, its so easy to find $5 tables everywhere now, and I've seen $3 at slots-a-fun on a regular basis now.
     
  18. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    has never braved *the table games* I only stick to the slots

    I get too intimidated by the tables lol I've tried watching craps and roulette but moves so fast I *just don't get it* and wander back to my penny slots lol

    probably why I don't have exciting Trip Reports hehe
     
  19. JNCVH

    JNCVH Tourist

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    Congrats on another winning tirp.

    I am in the same boat as you now. Due to some life changing news from the good old doc I have to cut back on caffeinne and such or risk surgery. The wife is all over me for next week to not die :faint: in Vegas so I told her no more Crown or Rum and diet coke with cigars :confused2:

    So now I am having straight up Rum and Crown by the doubles and diet cigars, yeah she fell for that one... I told her I wouldn't inhale :drunk:
     
  20. zerofan

    zerofan VIP Whale

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    Saw this on the 2+2 forums as well.....very good, detailed report.

    Thanks for sharing! :peace:
     
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