MMVIII, St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, the Orleans, Time Share, Bellagio

MMVIII, St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, the Orleans, Time Share, Bellagio

This is the fifth Gambling trip since I started reading this board, time to put a report together. Give back to the Board, for the entertainment and information given.

I love one paragraph reports almost as much as ten pagers. Unfortunately, my boring report tends to the verbose, I hope I don’t put you all to sleep.

In January, when the wife asked when we were going to Vegas again, I didn't realize what I was planning.

We had free flights from SW, a good offer from Bellagio for 3 days comped, an offer from Orleans for 2 days comped, and 3 more days at our Vegas time share.

Trying to get the flight was the puzzle, because they still had seat restrictions (they now say they don't.)

Ended up with March Tuesday March 15th - Wednesday 23rd:

15-16th at Orleans
17-19th at the T/S
20-23 at Bellagio

What next?

Well, I had been lurking on the board for over a year, gleaning new things to do, restaurants to try, and everything else from others' experience, and I wanted a countdown clock!

So I introduced myself, and started to post here and there to get the requisite 15 posts.

Meanwhile I checked for anybody meeting during that time period, and that's when it dawned on me it was March Madness, St Patrick's Day, Spring Break, and a bunch of wonderful folks from this board celebrating MMVIII with multiple get togethers, a Poker tournament, and a Cocktail Party!

I really wasn't sure yet, that I really wanted to meet a bunch of (semi)strangers in Vegas, no matter how many trip reports I read. I decided to Contact Sin and Beach Crazy, and "sign up".

Then I was contacted by Elbee309, who said she and her husband were staying at the Orleans the same time we were. They were also from Wisconsin, had never met with anybody before and would like to meet. Okay.

My wife and I aren't the usual Vegas goers, very laid back, lucky to get out of the room by noon, mostly in by 10Pm! Maybe 2 shows in a week, if we see something we like. My wife believes vacations are for relaxation.

When my wife and I, first started going to Vegas, I was still in my type "A" vacation mode that I subjected my family to for many years. Up early, out late, Drive to the Hoover Dam, back again for two shows in one night, Drink and Gamble until you drop. Repeat.

Strange my wife wasn't all that fond of Vegas, the first couple times.

My wife has put a stop to that.

Now that we are retired, I don't mind leisurely. We take 6-7 week trips a year, 2 of those weeks in Vegas, with some mini local Wisconsin outings added in.

Funny, now she is the one that asks when our next trip to Vegas is.

Not that I lost that type "A" drive, I am on these boards, writing lists of restaurants, casinos and attractions, before each trip. I have a folder a half inch thick usually.

We just don't try to do it all. And that's ok! I know that because my wife told me it was.

Disclaimer:
Everything in the following report was censored…. Er scanned and ok’d by my lovely, angelic, wife.

<B>Tuesday March 15th</B>

We flew into Vegas at 8:30 PM, ran outside for a smoke, went to the carousel, picked up our luggage that was there just at the right time, jumped the bus to the car rental terminal, walked into the garage, looked at the car board, jumped into our Minivan, got to the Orleans, unpacked, and then called Elbee309 at 9:30, to set up out mini-meet for 11AM at the Alligator Bar. That was my last type “A†moment of the trip

Then we went down to lose money, drink drinks, and listen to the band, for a few hours. My wife doesn't play table games. She has always just wanted to play the slots. Bottomless pits! We don't usually go our own ways (you’ll see why later), so I always ended up playing a lot of slots. The last few trips, I have been trying to get her to play Video Poker, so we mix that in, but she tires quickly of VP (that would change by the end of our eight days!)

We topped off the night with a meal at Friday's ($25 gift certificate) and the Wife paid the remainder! Then we dragged ourselves up to the room at 1:30am. (Whoever thought those hallways were so long at the Orleans?)

 

<B>Wednesday, March 16</B>

<B>Wednesday, March 16</B>

Morning arrives, and my chore is to pep talk the wife, to get ready, for our first meet ever. I'm cutting it close, because it is 9:05 AM and our meet is 11AM.

My wife takes two hours to get ready no matter what. Reminds me of the song "Waiting for a Women." Before we retired, if she got up 1 hour and 45 minutes before she had to be to work, she would be 15 minutes late. 25 years plus, I'm used to it (almost).

We did better than expected, and we were only 3 minutes late.

B (husband) and L (wife) were wonderful! We talked for 3 hours. They had recently taken a trip to Ireland, and even though B said she didn't need to, L had kissed the Blarney stone.

I hoped they enjoyed their first meet as much as we did! It was a shame that they had other plans during the Saint Patrick's Day Meet, the Cocktail Party, and the poker tournament. You would have loved it B and L! And everybody would have loved you two!

My wife and I even picked up a great quote! L told us about her experience going to a timeshare pitch. L stood her ground and answered "NO" to everything. When asked what kind of Vacations her and her husband liked to take, she answered "Sponge Vacations." Confused, the broker asked, "What is a Sponge Vacation?" L said, "We find a friend or relative that lives close to a park or beach, and Sponge off of them!" That is a classic!

The broker quit talking to them and told the giver of the rewards to cash them out!

My wife and I could have stayed and talked all day, but they had to go buy tickets.

L and B, Dave and Judy (my camera was on CST the whole trip):


Then we went to the Buffet, which has always been good, and was again. (LVA 2for1) We walked around the Orleans a little more extensively then we had before. Although our timeshare is close and we had gambled there often, we had never seen the 18 screen theater and the huge bowling alley upstairs.

Then we got to the business at hand, drinking, losing money, listening to the band, we slipped in a movie, "Unknown", but never made it to the bowling alley as we intended.

Got a couple of hits when I could coerce my wife to VP:




The dumb thing about me is I never remember to take pictures of the food, slot wins, scenery or much else besides VP wins. I always love those in others trip reports, I'll try to work on it.

A late night sandwich for my wife at Subway, and we headed for Bed.

I did remember to take some pictures of our view:




The Orleans is not the most glamorous, exciting, hotel in Vegas, lots of gray hair and locals, but I agree with the posters on this board that love it, probably because I have white hair, and am not exciting or glamorous. It is a nice place. The rooms are adequate. The Bands play from 3PM on, the VP at the bars is $.25, you can see a movie, or go bowling. I always rent a car, so getting around is no trouble.

I will probably take advantage of their offers again in the future.

 

<B>Thursday, March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day</B>

<B>Thursday, March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day</B>

Got up, showered, lazed around, turned the news shows on the TV, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB. (2 hrs. prep time for wifey)

Checkout, and head to Ellis Island for lunch. Wife - trout almandine, Me - Blackened Salmon. (LVA 2for1 entree). Excellent! My wife went on and on how good the coleslaw was. Great food, great service. I have to agree with the folks that love Ellis Island!

Then to losing money, and drinking! Wife hit 4 deuces, for $250 (didn't get a picture, I had to tell her she got it, after the fact), I hit a couple quads, what’s this? We leave without losing money? Amazing. VP




Time to go Check in at the Timeshare.

This is my wife's favorite part of the trip, lower key, Relaxing, no crowds, the pool is not crowded, and most important of all it has all her favorite things - vacuum, washer and dryer, and a balcony to smoke on. Familiar, just like home, without the responsibilities.

We unpacked, and then it was time to head Downtown, for St Patrick's Day, and the MSS Meet at 6:30.

We went to the MSS to meet everyone at the Boar’s Head bar and we were early, so we played video poker. No deuces at the bar, (which I had taught my wife) so I had to teach her DDB. Either way, I have to keep an eye on her, so it didn't make much difference.

She hit a premium quad, before the meet, which was exciting to her. (VP positive reinforcement)

Finally it was close to the time for the meet, and I looked around and saw some likely looking hooligans, and yelled out, "where's the meet?" The response was "right here!" So we moved down the bar and joined in. Now at the best of times, I'm not good at names, so I was completely lost, but everybody was friendly, the conversation was lively.

Sonya and Patti were easy to remember, because they use their pictures on their posts. Sin, was embedded in my mind next, and then Don and J, and Beach, but then the names became a blur.

I even took a picture; my wife was completely taken by J and told me to take it. (I swore to do better, at the Cocktail party, when I realized I only had one picture)


Everybody was headed to Binion's, but my Wife was hungry, and I decided to go to Magnolia's to eat. Adequate as usual. Then drink and lose some money at the other Casinos (damn slots).

People watching, one of our favorite pastimes was in full swing on Fremont Street! The bands were playing, the place was jumping! It was a sea of green! Flamboyant hats, yard long drinks, every kind of tee shirt, were the theme of the night. Bikini clad dancers on the outside bars, with the “little people†mixed in.

We saw a guy trip, and my wife laughed that they always look back to see what they tripped over.

Of course five minutes later, my wife tripped, and I asked her why she didn't look back?

She said she not only knew what she tripped over, but why! She was mesmerized by the girl in front of us, her ass to be specific. Well she did have ¾ of her bare butt hanging out, bumping and grinding in front of us. Intelligent guy that I am, I asked, "What Girl?" Just dumb luck I didn't trip too! I may be old, but I'm not dead!

 

<B>Friday March 14th</B>

<B>Friday March 14th</B>

Got up, showered, lazed around, turned the news shows on the TV, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB. (2 hrs. prep time for wifey + phone calls, laundry, she even gave a lustful look at the vacuum cleaner, but reluctantly decided against, after a snarl from me), went to the grocery store and stocked up, and a quick stop at the bank.

It was 1:30P, before we headed out, decided to go to Ellis Island for the Barbeque for lunch, since we liked the Restaurant so much the day before. The Barbeque is next to the bar, and was a half hour wait. We had our choice of sitting inside or outside, and chose outside.

We ordered the Combo Plates (LVA 2for1 barbeque) which consists of 1/2 a chicken and 1/2 rack of ribs - each. Way too much food, but good, and we had a refrigerator. Eating outside was perhaps not the best decision. It was semi enclosed, so the temperature wasn't a factor, but it is where they cook the ribs and chicken and was smoky.

The wind was just right that the smoke that did go up, though the hole in the roof, circled right down and came back in the side of the enclosure. It took 25 minutes to get the food. It was delicious and I would gladly go back again (on the inside.)

We played VP (no slots!) but the VP gods were not with us today and it was soon time to whip around the block to the Cosmo for the long awaited cocktail party (I had been convinced by then that meets are FUN!)

My wife and I are in the camp, who finds the Cosmo Amazing! So New and Shiny! Even the drive to the underground valet was beautiful! The parking garage was clean and shiny, sparkled like a diamond! Upstairs the lobby and the casino were impressive, alive. We stopped and signed up for the cards, and continued on to the East Tower elevators.

We entered the suite and the party was in swing. Grabbed a cold one, Patty made my wife a one of her "specials", and it was continuous drinks, conversation and fun from then on! Sin made sure that a glass or bottle was not empty long. Very comfortable group! Thank you Sonya, for the board, and thanks to Patti, Sin, and Beach for all your hard work you put in to make MMVIII a success.

I was again floundering in names. I need a cheat sheet before these functions with names and faces, so I can study for them! Thank you Jersy Bill for using your picture on your posts! One name I couldn't forget.

I was excited to meet BJ after all the hours of entertainment he has afforded me! Great, funny, intelligent conversationalist, just as I had pictured him in my mind. My wife and I spent some time talking to Sonya, on the balcony.

The views from the balcony were awesome, thank gosh there were better photographers than me that took pictures, mine of the view all sucked! The nice thing about a meet is the availability of everyone else’s photos. Sorry if I reduced mine down too far, for space, if anyone sees one they want, I can send you the full pixel one.

I did remember to take some inside, lots of backs of heads and such, but here they are:













We wanted to gamble at the Cosmo a little, after getting the “Identity†cards, so we left the party before we turned into pumpkins. Until then, we hadn't spent any time on the strip, it really hadn't hit me until we left the Cocktail Party, that it really was Spring Break!

Sitting in the Cosmo Casino with a steady stream of pretty young things in little black dresses, and every other form of sexy, pulling at their tops to keep them up, pulling at there bottoms to keep them down, in groups of 4 or 5, with young gents, in groups of 6 or 7, lining the aisles, with their TONGUES hanging out, -- "IT REALLY was Spring Break!"

My wife and I are people watchers, and it was wonderful watching the antics. (I succeeded keeping my tongue in my mouth, barely - I won't talk about any other part of my anatomy). We talked to some of them, I found out I was a "cutey petuty", and should have my butt pinched, but mostly I just felt "old, fat, and dull".

I saw one group of four boys, staring, veritably burning holes in the posterior area of four passing girls. I put a serious look on my face and I shouted, “Hey, what are you boys looking at?†They all got shocked, “deer in the headlight†looks on their faces as they looked at me, until one quick witted one said, “We are looking at you, Sir.†I smiled and said, “Carry on.â€

We played a mix of machines, and the Gambling gods reminded me again, this wasn't our day!

 

<B>Saturday, March 19</B>

<B>Saturday, March 19</B>

Today, while everyone from the board was going to be Downtown at Binion's playing in the Poker Tournament, my wife and I had planned on going to Mt. Charleston to Ski. We had packed sweaters, long underwear, gloves and hats, what else do you need in 40 degree weather?

So we got up early and I went to the computer to check Mt Charleston conditions. 39 degrees - check! 35 to 45 MPH winds - Huh? 65 MPH gusts - Ah shit! I'm not going to be up on a lift in 65 MPH wind.

Change of plans - go check out the Poker Tournament, see if any of the dropouts are around.

So I lazed around, turned the news shows on the TV, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB. (2 hrs. prep time for wifey)

We didn't leave until 1PM, drove Downtown, Parked and strolled down to Binion's. Four people were out of the tournament, so I jotted down my number so Patti could text us where they were going and we could meet later. (It wasn't to be) We went out into the casino, then the bar and didn't see anybody, so we lost money and drank for a while.

Finally I had to feed the wife, so we went to the Golden Nugget buffet, and gorged (at least I did, she had one plate). Lost a little more money drank a little more and then it hit me. Nap - with a capital N. Somebody had sapped my energy from me. There had been that Dark Stranger, eyeing me. He must have done it. It couldn't be that after only 5 days in Vegas, I was beat.

So we got in the car and started driving, which was when Patti sent me two text messages. First to go to the MMS, then to the Palms, later. THANK YOU Patti for taking the time, and I appreciated it, but since I am not a texter, and was driving, I hope I didn't seem too abrupt, answering both with just a plain "No" (my wife doesn't have a clue how to text, or I would have let her answer).

Anyway, get home, jump into bed, take a 2 hour nap, and get up raring to go, then the wife falls asleep, for another 2 hours. Go to Taco Bell at 9pm and watch TV and read, the rest of our waking night. Dull, but you can do that on an 8 day trip, especially when you’re at the timeshare.

 

<B>Sunday March 20th</B>

<B>Sunday March 20th</B>

Got up early, showered, lazed around, turned the news shows on the TV, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB - AND PACKED – 10AM checkout

Today we were moving to the Bellagio, We stopped at The Orleans, to kill a little time, started at a triple play VP machine:


Then, not feeling the love, we sat down at a "Loose Deuces" bank of machines. It wasn't long, and my wife hit this:
(positive VP reinforcement)

Now most deuces games pay 1000 on 4 deuces, but Loose Deuces pays 2500, Nice, a $625 hit!

A local that was sitting next to me said that the Loose Deuces machines were the best kept secret in Vegas, only the Orleans, Gold Coast, and Palms had them.

We played a little while longer, and then moved to a DDB machine.

Put $40 each in and played for awhile and then my wife hit this (50 minutes after the deuce) $500:
(positive reinforcement)

A couple more hits:



And it's time to go to the Bellagio.

Check in was quick through the 'invited guest' station, 20th floor - 2/3 of the way down the hall - pool (yeah right) & Cosmo view.

We went to eat at Olives, loved the olive spread on the flatbread! My wife ordered a salad and some pasta dish (why do women so love flour eggs and water smothered in sauce?) and I ordered a salad and the Salmon Trio. My wife was sitting against the mirrored wall and I was on the aisle with two couples sitting 18 inches away on each side.

When the salad came, she asked the waiter/busboy/whatever for some salt, watching in the mirror, I saw him give her a haughty sneer and off he went to get it. I was chuckling inside, until I saw she had noticed it.

Oh Oh!

Now my wife looks like and IS a nice wonderful loving Grandma. During extended layoffs, she went to school and became an RN. But we both worked in an auto factory for 35 years; we started in the early 70's, there were 14,000 workers in the plant, most under 30. Gang members, murderers, rapists, junkies, drunks, racists, hillbillies, Gays, you name them, we worked with them. Gambling, Drug use, Alcohol, was rampant, raffles for hookers were weekly, with in plant service on payday. Many of the bars surrounding the two plants featured strippers. Knives, guns, brass knuckles, saps. White, Puerto Rican, Black, Mexican, Haitian, Indians, you name it.

The language was factory worker language no holds barred, and my lovely wife can and does keep up with the best of them, verbally. Ah the good old days! When we said, "some of our best acquaintances are ....." we meant it! It was the 70's!

My wife and I were sort of tickled when someone warned us at the MSS meet, that so and so had a Potty Mouth, so don't be shocked, because they are a really nice person. Indeed that person was VERY nice, and I only heard one f-bomb, at all the meets, and only noticed it because I was waiting for it. We must be nice people too, for someone to worry about our delicate sensibilities!

Now I'm not saying that my wife could have a mean, vindictive, retaliatory streak in her body (remember "nice wonderful loving Grandma") but her nicest pet name for me is "asshole."

So I'm thinking DAMAGE CONTROL

She was just starting with a MF, ethnic slurs, and supposed country of origin, when I started the "now honey" pleading, gesturing at our "dining companions" 18 inches away. She was calm by the time he showed up with the salt, but at the sight of him the mumbling and dagger eyes started.

Thank gosh the real waiter brought our food and as at other meals during the trip, the quality of the food smoothed over the minor discrepancies in the meal. We even struck up a 15 minute conversation with an older couple we were sitting next to!

After, we did some window shopping.

We started gambling with 3 play DDB machines, AND finally I was the one saying let's get up and take a walk!

I like to play a little $1 megabucks, so I gave her a $100 and put a $100 in and she didn't take 5 hits, when she was cashing out, saying the machine was ROBBING her and let's go back to the Video Poker!

The next walk was the same thing, until I explained to her that we had to mix it up with some slots, rather than be labeled a "value player".

Fortunately, we seemed to do better on the Slots, playing them a half an hour at a time, and then going back to VP.

And the BEST thing was that my wife now likes to play Video Poker, better than the Slots!

If I work on her over the next couple years, perhaps I can edge her into Blackjack and/or Craps!





To Bed!

 

<B>Monday March 21</B>

<B>Monday March 21</B>

Got up, showered, lazed around, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB. Wife was still asleep! Then she got up and I turned on the news shows, and waited the 2 hours.

Today we were going to walk over to the Miracle Mile, BJ had mentioned PF Chang’s at PH, which we had never eaten at, so we thought we'd try it. He said the Vegas prices were the same as anywhere else.

I would rather poke my eye out with a red hot poker than shop (I do like grocery shopping), but I do recognize my husbandly duties and take them seriously. At each store, I would go in with her, dutifully take a look and then go outside and sit on a bench and commiserate with the other husbands, while watching the scenery go by. It was torture.

Finally we were seated at PF Chang's, good thing because my neck was getting sore. We ordered the dinner for two, chicken lettuce rolls for both on a rec by the waitress. I ordered shrimp mu goo gai pan, and the wife ordered Kung pao chicken - brown rice for both. The chicken lettuce rolls came and they were excellent! Opened a new world of thought for me - I'm the cook and grocery shopper at home, and am always looking for ideas - that are quick. Mexican, Chinese, you could stuff that lettuce with anything! And that starter (you’re not going to get me to try to spell hors d'oeuvre) was big enough for a meal!

The entree came and of course my wife liked mine best as usual, so the leftovers were Kung pao chicken and brown rice, thank gosh the desserts were in a large size shot glass. We waddled out of the Restaurant and I thought good thoughts about BJ. I looked it up and the nearest PF Chang's is about 25 miles from my house over the border in Illinois.

Looked at the time and it was 3:45, too late to go see Big Elvis, so it was time to get back to the Bellagio to do some gambling and drinking! Got to keep those Comps coming! Here's Our VP wins, along with a <b> ROYAL FLUSH. </b> We again did well on our short slot excursions, Wife even hit $300 on her hated $1 Megabucks Machine. One of us seemed to always hit if the other didn't.















<B>*****ROYAL FLUSH*****</B>

<B>Why can't I ever get them in the first line? </B>





Great Day! 6 days in Vegas and we were $300 down with food, drinks, groceries, flight and hotels included! It wouldn't last! (Of course the flights and hotels were free, but it sounded good)

Now It's 10PM and I know we should eat, so we walk past the buffet (even though I'm not really hungry), and there is no line.

I know this is childish, but I have a gold card in my pocket, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to walk past a hundred people in line, and go to the best buffet in Vegas, even if I am not hungry! - Ssshh - don't tell my wife. So we go to the cafe. I have a Rueben, that is not as good as the one at the Beau Rivage, and the wife has a BLT. To Bed!

 

<B>Tuesday March 22nd</B>

<B>Tuesday March 22nd</B>

Got up, showered, lazed around, checked the News Websites, the stock market, and the VMB. Wife was still asleep! (This is a good thing, at home I swear she never gets more than 6 hours.) Finally, she got up and I said, "Baby, I'm going to go gamble, call me when your ready, and I'll come and get you"

I went down to the casino and went to a slot that had been especially nice to me, in the previous day, slipped in $40 and after a few spins hit $200. And for the first time the whole trip, I remembered to take a picture of a slot win! Probably because the wife wasn't with me and I was going to show her how well I can do without her! (Even though she won't spend a dime of her money on gambling, she is usually the lucky one)



I swaggered to the 3 play video machine; just knowing this is my day and started playing.

Ok a hit let the carnage begin!


This is going to be great!

Ok, I have been sitting here an hour, down that $200 from the slot win, shoved in $200 more and absolutely nothing! I'm going to look like an idiot when I go get my wife. I'm getting a little DESPONDENT. She's going to think I can't win without her!

Maybe a beer will help! I hadn't been drinking. Ahh, I needed that.

Wait that's a hit! Perhaps I won't look so stupid!



Ah redemption! Ok, now I'm looking smart again!



GO BABY GO!!!





Those last five hits in twenty five minutes were great!

OH, OH, the wife calls and she has entered the Casino, "where are you?†she asks.

I haven't mentioned this, but my wife is directionally challenged, Really! Thirty years ago, she took her ex husband to the Milwaukee Airport, with her sister, which is twenty miles north, and on the way back, she ended up 200 miles farther north, at Camp McCoy, before she realized she was lost. Time challenged, also.

She left our Timeshare just north of Madison Wi. to go home (2 hr. 20 Min drive) and drove straight down to Chicago, where she spent 7 hours getting on and off the freeway, asking directions, until she worked her way back home. I was going to ask her why she didn't just keep close to Lake Michigan (we live spitting distance from the lake, 50 miles north of Chicago) and follow it home, until I realized she probably would end up following it around the wrong way and end up in Michigan.

I bought her a GPS. That GPS wasn't going to help me now.

Normally I would have asked her, "Where are you?" "What do you see?", and went to get her. BUT I was on a Machine, that I had just gone from Despondent to "Go Baby Go" in twenty five minutes.

So I asked her where she was. "By the conservatory" Figures! She left the Casino and was completely opposite of where I was. Ok honey, get back in the Casino and walk straight in the same direction and you will run into me. You might have to go around the tables, but go till you hit the end.

Ringgggg. “Where are you honey?†I ask. “Near the elevators.†She replies

Yup, a 90 degree turn. We stayed on the phone, and worked her to me with many wrong turns, over the next 10 minutes (I was 1 minute away from the elevators), and by then it seemed the machine had gone cold. I know I was.

So off to Bill's to see big Elvis. He wasn't there that week. Oh well time to eat, but where? Let's try Bill's Cafe, how bad could it be? It was Great! My wife had Egg Foo Yong, I had a BLT. Enough Egg Foo Yong for an Army, and it seemed like a pound of bacon on the BLT. Both delicious! We will definitely stop there again. Hope the Panhandler liked the leftovers.

Back to the grind at Bellagio to keep those comps coming! Sadly we didn't hit great, the VP was slow, the slots were stingy, and we ended up losing my day’s winnings and a couple hundred more.










It was almost 8pm, our last full day in Vegas, and it was time - I was ready for the buffet. That line should be cranking, and for once, I was going to walk past it! Remember - don't tell the wife.

I said, "Okay honey, let's go to the buffet"

She says, "No dear, we shouldn't really be eating that much"

I think - (((%$^- What are you F'n crazy? have you gone insane? You’re going to the damn buffet if I have to drag you by the hair!! - %$^&)))

Think fast Dave.

I say, "But honey, that's the good thing about buffets, you have a big selection, and you can eat as little or as much as you want. It IS the best buffet in town."

She says, "OK Dear, if you really want to"

Whew - that was a close call. I almost lost my infantile 1 minute of being on top of the hill when the shit ran down, instead of at the bottom!

We neared the Buffet, the line was long, wrapping in and out of those ropes, and on down the aisle as far as a myopic eagle could see. My heart started pounding, as we walked up to the "invited guest" line.

It was like looking through a telescope backwards, there was only one couple in line. With my wife in tow, I acted like I did this everyday. Down that corridor of gambling elitism, we tread. I assumed an air of quiet dignity (just look at my picture above and imagine that.) I imagined, the flash bulbs going off, as we walked down the red carpet, the envious looks of the thronging masses.

Suddenly, doubt crept in, would those thronging masses, who have probably been waiting over an hour, point and yell, "fake"? Would they pull out the pitch forks and torches? Would the hostess sneer at me and snarl, "back of the line a-hole"?

Now my heart was hammering, my bowels were watery, my vision blurred, as I walked up to that rope, I looked the Hostess in the eye, and she said, "Pass Please". I reached into my pocket and pulled that gold card out, and she said, "Thank you sir, right this way."

I wanted to do my Victory dance, with a little of my Love dance mixed in, but I reminded myself, "calm, smooth, suave sophistication, Dave". I could get to like this! Rooms, views, fountains etc. don't impress me much, but this really saves time!

The buffet was great as usual, but that BLT from Bill's kept me from eating everything I would have liked to. True to what she had said, my wife ate sparingly. I waddled up to bed. Perchance to Dream!

 

<B>Wednesday March 23</B>

<B>Wednesday March 23</B>

Check out day, same old routine plus packing, out of the room at 11:45. I found out we did a little too much window shopping, my wife had to stop and pick up a necklace and earrings she had her eye on. Check out, was quick, and it was nice to throw out $hundreds to settle the incidentals, instead of choking, "leave it on the card."

Drive onto the strip, and decide In and Out Burgers was the place for lunch, I'm neutral, but the wife likes it. Then to the Orleans to see if those loose deuces machine were loose today. Nope. Then to DDB. Nope. The wife asks why we are playing single line machines (did she forget those nice hits?) and it gets better at the triple plays, the slots were also nice to me (not the wife).








I added a little cash back into the wallet.

Soon the band was playing and I knew it was time to head to the airport. No hassles. I was surprised that they were scanning everyone, and my wife had a bottle of water in her purse, as usual.

Gambled $40 in the airport, where I have had many great last minute hits, but just wasn't feeling the love.

Home at 2AM in the morning, and the Dogs were happy to see us.

This was the least expensive trip I have ever spent in Vegas! (Perhaps that trip in 1973, where a 22 year old brought $300 to gamble, for 5 days (2 days of tuna fish and water) was less, but I don’t think so in today’s dollars).

The gambling the last half, when my wife became a VP convert, was positive. She now loves Video Poker and that was the big win of the trip! I still can't get her to "waste" the time to practice VP on the internet, but I'm patient. - Perhaps I should have written that in after she read this.

Read a book while we were there, my wife completed her first crypto quip on the plane (I had been working with her on them). We didn’t see one show, which was a first, but it didn’t really matter. There will be many more trips to come. Some how my scale at home got broke, while I was gone, reading way too high. I’ll have to have a talk with the house/dog sitter. I find myself craving beer at odd hours, but that should be gone in a few days.

Now that the wife is playing VP, I think we will at least double up on the VP bet, when we go to the Beau Rivage, in whatever the countdown clock below says. We should be able to hit Platinum easily.

Vegas in early March, was COLD. I like it when it’s warm, even in the middle of summer. We usually go in May and September. The confluence of St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness, Spring Break, and meeting with all our fellow board members, trumped the cold. It all made for an interesting trip. I hope the members don’t change a winning combination.

Thank you all for the memories!

 

Dave, all I can say is WOW!

I'm glad you took pictures of your VP hits otherwise I would have had my doubts.

Jennifer (J) told me what a great couple you and your wife were. I'm glad that we met. Next time we'll have more time to talk and BS. Your game of choice is also mine until it's around six in the evening and then I do BJ.

Thanks for a great report, truly a fun read.

 

Judy would love to talk to Jennifer again! She told me she wanted to friend her. I don't know if she knows what that means, she doesn't use the internet much. But she really felt a connection.

I just wish I could remember the other pictures I should take. I guess I'm much more excited about the Video poker.

 

Great report . i couldn't stop reading . Nice hits . I think i have to try the 3 play poker .

 

nice report sir.

good to meet you and your wife!!

 

LOL! Love this!

 

Fun read! I'll have to look for the loose duece VP machines when I'm there in a couple weeks.

 

Excellent report

Glad you were able to meet up with the other members here

Perchance to dream, I will one day too

 

At the Orleans, they are just south of the Alligator bar

 

Great read!

 

Very nice report! Loved every minute of it...congrats on the VP wins. My hubby is not a "social" person so I doubt I will ever make it to MM....glad you and your wife enjoyed your trip so much.