Blackjack in Wonderland - an S&M Photo Adventure

Flight

I had to steal my title from Jack21 because as soon as I boarded the plane, I felt like I had fallen through the rabbit hole & all reality would be left behind for the next three days. Normally I leave off the boring flight details, but this flight (my first solo to Vegas) was all but boring. I got to the airport early enough to have a couple ice cold tall ones before my flight – what the hell, it was noon somewhere. I get in my aisle seat & wait to see who would share the row for the four hour flight. I see two young hotties walking in and they would be my company – score. It turns out to be two sisters from Romania – one 17 & the other 19 with their parents sitting directly in front of them so of course I’m in gentlemen mode so as not to frighten the foreigners. The girls are speaking their native language which means they're talking about me (at least that’s what the paranoid side of me thought), so I decide to strike up a conversation & force them to speak English. They had some interesting connections getting to this point – Romania to the Netherlands to Amsterdam to Detroit to Cleveland. They insisted that their flight from Detroit to Cleveland took 3 hours – I think they got long-hauled as I can drive it in 2 ½ hours. To my left across the aisle was an old woman with her daughter in front of her & granddaughter in front of me. Three generations of Palestinian women on their way to visit the grandson who now lives in Vegas. Mother spent the flight writing recipes for her son as they would be there for two weeks & she wanted to cook him some native dishes. Grandmother next to me spun tales of her husband & how they met & he spent four years separated from his brother in a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines during WWII. Needless to say the flight went quick. These were all good people that were fun to talk to.

Arrival

The flight lands in the new “D†concourse which means taking the underground to the main terminal & baggage claim. Robert (las_vegas_limodriver) is supposed to be there but I don’t see my name anywhere. A quick call reveals the A/C in his limo went south & a replacement was on the way. No sooner do I hang up & there is the man in black with a sign with my name (misspelled but close enough). We grab my bag & we’re off. He offers me a bottle of champagne. I’m not normally a champagne drinker but this is Vegas so I comply. I drink half the bottle on the way to MSS & decide to leave the other half for Bill who was getting in a few hours later. I check in & ask for a suite upgrade ($20 in hand) but they are all taken so I put the money back & head up to the room. I have a good feeling as this is trip #13 for me & I’m on the 13th floor – room #1411 which I decide sounds like a lucky number… ok, so I’m a little superstitious. Whatever helps the mojo ya know? I then head across to the Cal to place a bet on the Indians & milk a Wheel of Fortune slot while watching the game. Three hours and several beers later Bill calls & says he’s on his way from the airport. I lost $60 in the slot machine but cashed in my Indians/Under parlay for a $75 profit so I’m up $15 & working on a damn good buzz when I head over to meet Bill back a MSS.

The room at MSS...







Bill making himself at home with the champagne - Welcome to Vegas



Day One Officially Begins

Bill & I head up to Mirage to hook up with Beach Crazy & Chicago Cyn. Damn it was great to see them again. They were the motivating factor for getting my arse to Mecca in between March Madness '05 & '06. Also in the room are Mikey and his sister Cyndi. Like Bill said in his report, with the later addition of Sin from Albuquerque, this trip put the “sin†in Sin City. I raided the mini fridge for the beer while everyone else was drinking the Captain complements of Eric (Jack21) . Tennessee Cyndi was as nice as I imagined after various PMs and the big flashing “Kiss Me it’s my Birthday†button she got me was great. We stayed here a while for some drinking and photo ops. Yes, Bill flashed his breasts… again.

Pics from the room...

Tennessee Cyndi & all her southern charm


Chicago Cyn trying to avoid the paparazzi


Mikey & me


Kiss me it's my birthday


My two best friends


RamBill minus the DDs (but still not necessary)


Cyndi showing Bill some love



After the buzz was good & going, we decided to stumble over to Carnival Court to meet up with Jer & Becky. I found out sin was in but she was already passed out up in Jer’s room… you rock girl. Later Terry & the Golf **** showed up & the party was well under way. We find an open blackjack table & from other trip reports you probably already know the rule here – 6:5. Call me a hypocrite, but my new rule is play where you are most comfortable & let me tell you that this is one hell of a place to play blackjack!! The dealers were great & the atmosphere was party central. They were okay with us taking pics at the table & even took a couple group shots for us. Of course it helped that I couldn’t lose which would turn into my mantra for the weekend.

On our way to Carnival Court...

The two Divas


Bill & his escorts. I'm not sure what Chicago Cyn is talking about though.


Terry's new girlfriend???


The Court Jesters...






The dealers were as hot as the table...




From the dealers point of view...





After some time (how much I have no clue as time meant nothing), I had 17 black chips in front of me. I wanted the banana chip bitches but they only have black out here. After some dealer encouragement, I pocket 16 of them & continue playing. I guess Jer was doing well too because we both were tipping green (Jer was putting a green chip tip down for everyone at the table that wasn’t tipping). She said we made her night because between the two of us, we tipped some obscene amount of money (like $2500).

I left for the bathroom & things got fuzzy after that. I remember walking the strip for a bit to get some air & eventually had the sense to make it back to Carnival Court only to find it roped off & the pit crew cleaning up. One of the workers recognized me & said “there he is†just as I was about to walk away. They let me in & said security had my chips… huh? I reached in my pocket & still had the 16 black from earlier – you mean there was more? I get to security & tell them I left some chips on the table outside. He says they have them but he needs me to tell him how much I had for verification… yea right. I must have guessed close enough because he handed me a tray with another $158 in it plus my camera which is what I was most concerned with – you know that $9.00 disposable with the priceless pics!! I walked to Venetian & caught a cab back downtown and day #1 was done – up $1200 & change.

Day Two is Here

Bill & I wake up around 11:00 & decide we need some grub. My only complaint about the room at MSS was the shower head. Plenty of pressure but hitting me right square in the chest. I’m 6’2†& damn near broke my neck trying to wash my hair. We decide to head down Fremont & try the Chicago Brewing Company at Four Queens for big ass burgers. The beer was very tasty but for some odd reason when I ordered my burger, my mouth said “tripleâ€â€¦ now that was a mistake. This side of beef was stacked with mushrooms & swiss like I ordered & the shear thought of finishing it was starting to make my stomach turn...



Bill finished his double & went for a walk while I tried desperately to conquer the beast. I finally gave up & called my friend Brian (MM2) for a rub-it-in call until Bill returned. Brian was at work & appreciated that I thought of him. Bill returned with a birthday gift for me – a leather cigar case with three stogies & a clip – nice. I promised we would smoke ‘em later but that would never come to be. I’ll have them soon & raise a glass to you as I do buddy.

Drinking at the Chicago Brewing Company...






We leave there & decide to play some blackjack until the 777 meet later. First we check out Golden Gate but there were no seats available so we walked across to LVC & found a spot no problem. The table was good & the waitress was very nice – Danya or something like that. I kept getting it wrong then so I’m probably way off now.

Danya - or whatever her name was...


We both did well at LVC – Bill was up a couple hundred & I’m pretty sure I pocketed another $400 profit. Jer & Becky came in and stole Bill away for the meet. I hate to leave a hot table so I stayed a bit more. Maybe ½ hour later I had my profit stowed away & ran the rest out so I left for the 777 brewpub.

I stopped up to the room & got Beach Crazy her gift – a baseball jersey with her name & the #50 on the back for all to sign. Little did I know what fun with sharpies this group would have. When I got there, Doc Al was there with his wife who was a great fit with the group. That was great as I had no idea he was coming in. Doc was right in that I was already a bit “tipsy†upon arrival & soon after I was lit up like Christmas in September. Mikey & Tennessee Cyn were there along with Jer & Becky & Bill and the Wild Child Albuquerque sin who is as cool in person as she is online. Soon after Beach and her sisters arrived with Cyn & gifts were exchanged, drinks all around, and the body art began.

Fun at 777...

Showing Mikey my Banana Chip Bitches


My gift to Beach Crazy


Beach's gift to me


Fun with sharpies...










More group fun (a little too much fun considering the train was waiting)


That's Mrs. Doc Al on the left (she doesn't even look scared)


That's Beach's sisters with Bill


The Birfday girl...






Chicago Cyn making me look good (until the shots & it went downhill from there)



We stayed there for quite some time as I kept calling home to check the Indians score – they lost in the 13th so it was time to forget that nonsense & what better way to do that??? Irish Car Bombs of course. They were huge & took some doing to keep down, but Jer, Bill, and I did not lose the battle...






I’m not sure if anyone else did them but keeping them down was only the beginning of the fight. It was time to board the Grain Train but apparently La Bayou was pretty funkified so it was decided to load up at Mermaids. I offered to buy the round (including one for the homeless dude who saw an opportunity & went for it). He asked nice enough so I made his day and included him in. One round = $160.00 with tip (you gotta love this gang). I got some blue concoction that was gone half way to the Elco & after that things got real fuzzy.

Group shot at Mermaids - All Aboard



The train departs.
This would be the last of my pictures as well the end of my dignity...


Piecing together accounts from other trip reports, I guess I attempted to play some blackjack with Jer, but when I stood on 8, I knew it was time to go. Apparently I sat down to rest my head on a slot machine (Texas Tea according to Becky) and the room started spinning. With security looking over my shoulder, I decided I needed some air. I was going to sit on the sidewalk outside Elco but my good friend Terry would have none of that… I owe you big my friend!!! He assisted me back under the canopy & we found a nice pillar to sit down at & rest up. He left for a minute & came back with a liter of bottled water. That must have been holy water because it brought me back from certain death. All of a sudden, all was right with the world again & I asked Terry if he wanted to play some blackjack. He later told me that was the greatest comeback he’d ever seen. I owe it to you bud. We went down to Plaza & found a table but the cards were cold. I lost $200 in a hurry & told Terry that I was heading back to MSS. Better rules or not, Plaza just doesn’t have that comfort feel & the mojo was non-existent. MSS would turn out much better. Terry & I and one of his buddies sat down & went on another legendary run. I guess at one point I was up two grand. Some dude at first base sat down with two red chips and parlayed it into $650 but then his luck ran out & he gave it all back – man that hurt to watch. We kept telling him to walk away, but like Kevin Costner in Tin Cup, the man was determined to hit the green. Terry walked with a nice profit but I was home & determined myself to get another banana chip so I stayed. Eventually Bill & Angy and Cyndy showed up. We had fun but Angy would leave early & Bill went up to the room however Chicago Cyn and I kept playing for a while. I ended up giving back $500 of my profit (okay Terry you were right as usual), but it was still a good day – up another $1200 or so.

Day Three – The Final Day

After just a couple hours of sleep, we decide to go back to the casino. This day would start out good for Bill as I’m giving back a couple hundies at the table, Bill is sitting behind me at a quarter VP game & hits for the royal flush – nice. Bill has the banana chip bitches. I head back up to shower & get ready for the day. I am thoroughly exhausted and still drunk from the night before but that would have to change because tonight was Voodoo & more madness. We started with lunch at Carnegie Deli – how insane are these sandwiches??? I could not finish half on my alcohol torn stomach. We head up to see Angy & Cyn and to find out if Cyn got a Sunday flight out instead of that night – she did not. This sucked but we would have to party tonight without her. We said our goodbyes & then Bill and I were off to check out Wynn. It was pretty much what I expected after reading the reports. It felt like Mirage to me. More people say Bellagio so I guess it’s a combo but it is typical Wynn (which is a good thing). I was surprised to see a few $10 tables and many $15 tables as well. Terry called – he was back at MSS playing blackjack so we headed back home. I was in need of a nap before Voodoo (even if for just an hour) so Bill joined Terry & I went up to the room.

It’s around 7:00 & we are meeting Becky and Terry and Mark (Golf ****) at the Plaza to catch a ride to Rio. Noticing my tired nature, Terry offers up a cocktail – what the hell, I need something. We proceed to an outside cash bar set up in the vehicle drop off area. Strange place for this but it was working perfect for us. Terry approaches…

Terry: I must say this is a genius idea.
Bartender: We don’t have any alcohol.
Terry: This idea sucks.

I have to admit that out of all the things that bartender could have possibly said at that moment; “We don’t have any alcoholâ€, was not one that I expected. I think the look of shock on everyone’s faces was classic. It turns out the alcohol was supposedly on the way, but we weren’t waiting around. No limos tonight because of some Andre Agassi charity event & with the addition of some more of Terry’s friends, we hop two cabs & head off. We get there first (Bill, Me, and Mark) even though we were long-hauled. Terry and company are nowhere to be found. As many of you have already read, their cab got a flat. What was Becky doing back there anyway???

We meet up at the Mexican place & most of the stories from here have been told in various accounts. A couple of my highlights were Bill doing a Jaeger Bomb toast to Larry – I would have loved to have joined but my stomach said hell no. Angy walks up & says “How many hundies do you have?†Flashback… The last time I heard this, she was staring at the Barbary Coast ceiling looking up at security shortly thereafter. This time she seemed better off so I give her a few & it’s off to Voodoo. Nobody but me remembered their VIP pass so Angy jumped on my arm (sorry Bill – I know you lost weight but Angy is still much cuter). Angy & I shared a ride up by ourselves. She used to be afraid of heights but the glass elevator was of no fear anymore. I have been to Voodoo many times. I try to come once a trip – that’s how nice it is. I was surprised that nobody else had ever been there. The view was amazing as usual & we immediately score some huge VIP couches right on the rail. I call home to tell Mrs. V where we are at – you know the call that Terry mentioned that always seems like a better idea to you than the person you are calling. She didn’t mind though & was quite envious. Our seats would only last a ½ hour or so when security said they were reserved. I asked him what it would take to keep them & he said 4 bottles at $275 each plus tip of course. I was up but not enough to give it back here so we opted to give up the couches. The night was filled with more drinks & dancing and a couple of sweet DJ announcements thanks to Mikey. A birthday announcement for Angy & I plus the Abba request. Did Terry & the Golf **** dance their dance? Dancing Queen was the request – quality smack Mikey!! Did anyone get any pics of the Rio dancing girls up here??? They were worth the price of admission.

I’m not sure what time we left, but many of us were headed out and I saw two girls walking in front of us. I remember saying something loud enough for them to hear like “The great thing about Vegas is I can say wow this girl has a nice ass and all is goodâ€. She turned around smiling & said “We were just saying the same thing about youâ€. Score… and they weren’t even hookers. I had promised a limo earlier so this time I would deliver. I grab an ultra stretch sitting out front for all of us degenerates plus the two girls whom I had just had the conversation with. We dropped them off at Caesars & were headed downtown when sin, Becky, Vegas Tonya, & the rest of the gang decide to go to Scores – you girls are way cool. I am leaving early & want to play blackjack for a couple more hours before packing so the driver drops me at MSS where I gave sin $20 & told her the 1st lap dance was on me. In return, she & Vegas Tonya gave me their own private show outside the limo. Simply amazing – do I really have to go home in a few hours???

I battled at the table for a couple of hours & walked away up another $200. The trip was done. All told I was up about $2600 playing blackjack. I gave a few hundred back at the sportsbook & spent obscenely on limos & drinks but this was the time of my life. When the Golf **** found out my birthday was actually 9/10, he said “You sure are milking the hell out of that aren’t you?†– You bet your ass. I got my monies worth and then some. I talked to the pit boss before leaving & he comped my room, gave me his card, and then said when I return next March my room is on him again – one final score.

As I’m driving home from the airport, back out of the rabbit hole, I turn on the radio and hear Green Day… “It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life.†Lewis Carroll could not have written this adventure any better.

Some Final Thoughts

Bill lost a lot of weight and the double Ds are all but gone.

Carnival Court simply rocks & 6:5 blackjack isn’t that bad when the mojo is working.

I got da Banana Chip Bitches… twice!!

Sharpies & alcohol are a good thing.

Irish Car Bombs prior to boarding the Grain Train are a bad thing.

You should never ever stand on 8 (or 10 for that matter).

Being stupid drunk on Fremont requires the help of a really good friend – thanks again Terry.

Bars with no alcohol suck.

Girls that go to strip clubs & get lap dances from oter girls rock.

The official “T2V Handshake†is quality fun.

It was great to meet some new faces – sin & Vegas Tonya are dangerous fun.

My apologies for anything that I might have said or did that I can’t or don’t want to remember for whatever reason.

My thanks to everyone for making this birfday trip the best ever!!

Writing trip reports is good therapy.

It took a couple of days, but I’m back on solid food.

 

Great report and pics Ron. You couldn't have been in a better place to miss the Tribe's fall. Glad you won gambling big time. Birthday mojo maybe?

I'm glad you had Terry to help you out with the train derailment. When I heard you stuck on an eight I was thinking you were really in bad shape.

Welcome home!!

 

Great Report and Pics. You remembered more than I though you would!

 

Let's see...start with Romanian sisters, collect 26 hundys...TenCyn, ChiCyn (What? no BoSin??), and New Mexsin (sounds better than Albe-sin), throw in a Barfday Girl and the rest of the gang, detox support from the only guy taller than you, a limo or two- great times and great pics. Ron, your trip was almost perfection.....almost-

The Tribe could have done more than choke like a newbie ho with Shaq.

Gotcha, babe. See you in five months.

E

 

Awesome. Anyone who can quote Green Day rocks in my world (and that includes you too Sin, at Scores).

Ever get your voice back, Ron?

And... I'm guessing that your camera really *was* out of film when I took that picture down my shirt at Carnaval Court? hehehe

 

It's still a bit rough, but at least people can hear me now. BTW, I didn't post all the pics .

 

Very nice report. It was great meeting you and thanks for being in the right place at the right time for those VIP couches. That was awesome. Oh and thanks for letting us in on your limo ride....but had we not joined you, you could have been attacked by those lovely young ladies on their way back to Caesar's...you can thank us later.

 

All I've got to say is it was truly a pleasure my friend

 

That was one kick ass trip, Ron. Thanks for the pics and TR. You look happy in all of them. Great times with great people will do that to a guy. Double banana chips is icing on the birfday cake.

Marty

 

Great report, Ron! I'm sittin' here cracking up looking at all these pictures.

"The Two Divas" was a nice touch. Thanks... Unfortunately, that's probably the most dignified photo taken of me this entire weekend.

Oh, and congrats on the winning streak--between all of us playing 6-5 blackjack, you standing on 8, Doc standing on 10, and me doubling on a twelve, it's a wonder we have anything but dryer lint left in our pockets...

Good times!

Mikey

 

What no beads??

I'm sad to see there were no beads around your neck this trip?? Is it because I wasn't there??

Glad to hear you had an awesome trip!! I Loved all the pictures! You guys are crazy.... and I'm jelous I wasn't there to witness all this.

 

I can best sum this up with a quote from Clerks...

"That's beautiful man"

 

Hope you enjoyed the trip, man, 'cuz you're done. No more vegas for you. I mean, how could you top that?

Ok, maybe you wouldn't share a room with a dude (even if he is a quality wingman), but other than that...

Good times.

 

"It took a couple of days, but I’m back on solid food."

Yeah, a nice good bender in Vegas will do that to ya! Looks like you guys were just tearin' that town up.

You won lots of dough, got the room comped and set for MM3, Sweeet!!

 

You done good son, especially for a guy over 40

good read Ron

RW

 

Ron,

What a great trip! I am so jealous that I have not been able to join the group in drunken buffoonery. Right now all I seem to have time for is writing papers for my Master's classes. Man, Graduate school ain't no fun! (Hoya I KNOW you know what I am talking about). My wife has said that she is taking me and a group of our rowdy friends out there in Feb as I hit the big 4-0! I hope i can meet some of you great folks then.

 

Don--you should try to prolong your birfday celebration and meet us for the Madness!!! Guaranteed buffoonery!

 

Great Report!

Wow Ron, I totally enjoyed this report! The pictures are great and it seems like you had an amazing time. Hopefully next time you all hit Sin City (in more ways then one with this group) I will be there.

 

Sin, great idea!!! I may have to do that. We will also be bringing my buddies niece who turns 21 in Nov. He and I have been promising her since her 18th that we would take her to Vegas as soon as she hit 21. We have told her that she has to keep up, no babysitting!! What better way to introduce someone to the joys of Vegas than a MM gathering!

 

Hell yea it's because you weren't there. Beads are absolutely no fun without you. Next March perhaps???


Jim - Birthday mojo, party mojo, stupid drunk mojo... who the hell cares? It definitely is, without a doubt, all about the mojo!!

Eric - "...choke like a newbie ho with Shaq" - damn that's funny. I'll take almost perfect anytime. F--- the Tribe. I wasn't gonna let them bring me down. The Everclear did that on it's own

Tonya - The limo was the least I could do for everyone. As far as the girls from Caesars go, they've got nothin' on the T2V party girls!!

sin - Your pleasure, my pleasure, what's the difference? There was plenty of pleasure to go around. :evillaugh

Marty - Banana chips do help but I could have lost 2 grand & still be smiling right now. This group kicks ass.

Mikey - Dude I laughed my ass off when I read that. "Dryer lint" - . I knew about Doc standing on 10 & me on 8 of course, but I didn't know you doubled on a 12. We should write a book - "Blackjack for Dummies". I can see it now; "Sir you have 8" - "I know, the book says to stay".

Shock - Thanks man!!

Doc - I'm a degenerate - of course I'll be back.

D Don - Yea my stomach was hating me for that one not to mention my liver. Nothing a little detox time won't fix.

Ross - It's all about how you feel brotha. Of course I don't bounce back like I used to but that's a small price to pay for a weekend with these characters.

V Don - Definitely shoot for March!! Of course we can't be responsible for any bad habits the niece might pick up.

Sammi - I'd love to meet you next time. Hopefully you can join us in March.