Mikey in Progress... (with pics)

Hey Gang...

Just got back from dinner with the lovely and talented LV Dawn, and I thought I'd give you an update to our days activities.

Her flight was on time, and we met at the baggage claim like we'd arranged a couple months back. It took awhile for the luggage to start arriving but we were right there where the bags got spit out. As soon as she said "Ok--here comes mine" it got jammed in there tight with another suitcase right next to it.

What are the chances? I said it didn't look like a good omen and we took it in stride, since it was just a minor delay. After a few minutes of trying to find the short term parking garage again (different than Seinfeld, we lost the whole damn garage, not just the car), we were on our way to Mandalay.

I used the valet to park the Ghetto Sled and we made our way to the front desk (I gave 'em the old Axel Foley at the Harrow Club--Make sure you put it in a good spot, all this shit happened last time I parked here). Dawn, being sneaky, got in the Invited Guests line so as soon as the next "general admission" line opened up, they called her over in front of all the rest of the unwashed Heathens. Invited my ass...but I gotta give props for the smooth move. I didn't feel like standing in that line, either.

Anyhow, being a pro that she is, she also managed to get an 'upgraded view' room on the 26th floor, Fiji wing, looking north. Oh hell yeah, one of the best views in Vegas. The maid was still cleaning it, and unfortunately, she didn't look like Jennifer Lopez either (I'm like 0-for-26 since sitting thru that damn movie..), so we just dropped the bags, checked out the view, and split. I was a little disappointed that the windows were filthy dirty, so that prevented us from taking any pictures. Dawn was also kind enough to put my name on the room, so tomorrow afternoon while she's in meetings, I'm gonna kick it at the beach and the lazy river for a couple of hours. (Although, after the dirty windows, the hotdog nastiness you're about to read about, and the high-limit tables, I'm tempted to "ee in their ool...")

We made our way to the casino, and sat down to play some VP. After coming up with crap paytables, I found her a machine that offered 9/5 JOB, and sat down next to her. Turns out my machine was 9/6. Anyhow, she plays faster than me, but my $20 lasted about ten minutes. She put in forty, hit four of a kind and cashed out with fifty a few minutes later.

We both were kind of hungry, so we decided to wander over to the sports book for a hotdog. In the past they've been the perfect snack, but this time it was sooooooo wrong-- Worst. Hotdog. Ever. Old, overcooked, crusty, and tasted like shit. Two bites and they went in the garbage can. And I was a little pissed--they were $3.50 each. Seriously, I've seen better hotdogs getting sunburned for days on the wiener treadmill at the local 7-11. Oh well, we were ready to get out of there, and the bbq potato chips were enough.

Dawn went back upstairs to change, figuring the maid would finally be done, so I told her I'd wait down there in the book and watch the end of the Nascar race.

She came back about a half hour later, no longer in her travelling clothes, and we picked up the car from the valet. After a shootout with the Imperial Stormtroopers and a quick exit we made the jump to hyperspace....er wait...no, actually we left the Bay and headed downtown to the El Cortez.

As we were driving up, Dawn spotted an open spot on the street by the casino entrance, but I insisted on using the parking garage, thinking that if I parked my car on the street down there, somebody might be living in it by the time we got finished playing craps. So we found a decent spot about three levels above the fray, close to the elevator.

The El C didn't have quite as many weirdas lurking about this time around, and in fact they even had all iron bars removed from the entrance to Robertas this time, too. Anyhow, we made our way to a $3 craps table and bought in for a hundy. (Also, Dawn gave me her contribution to the Save Mikey fund at that time--a couple months back I gave her some minor investment advice and she split the profits with me...)

Well, the table was cold, so that made about four times in a row that Dawn and I have played craps together and just lost lost lost.. She gave up and went to play VP, and I stayed to grind it out. I couldn't get much going, but after about a half hour she came back sipping a Long Island with a huge grin on her face...I asked her what she'd been doing and she flashed a fistful of hundies that she'd won at VP...She hit four of a kind with some sort of kicker that paid $800, so she slipped another hundy into my shirt pocket and went off to make another fortune.

I couldn't get over the hump at the craps table...I'd make a little back, and the next guy would go Point-Seven Out as soon as I put down my odds and went 22/Inside. Frickin' frustrating...

Anyhow, Dawn came back a little while later to watch me roll for the last time, and I colored up for $79, leaving $51 in the coffers of the El Cortez. I tossed the four whites to the crew and we headed for the cage and then to the garage.

We made it to the Plaza just a few minutes later, parked the car and wandered around for just a few minutes. We were 45 minutes early for our dinner reservation at the Center Stage, but since Dawn was starting to drag and the days travels were catching up with her, we decided to go up and see if they'd seat us early.

They were very accomodating, and in fact gave us the table right in the front of the restaurant overlooking the Fremont Street Experience. As luck would have it, just a few minutes after we sat down, they light show started, and we got to enjoy a perspective that I'd not experienced before.

They turn the lights in the restaurant down, and pipe the music in from the street, so it's pretty cool to watch the show from up there.

Anyhow, as far as dinner goes, it was pretty good. Besides the ice water, Dawn had tea and I opted for a glass of Pinot Noir, knowing I'd be having a steak. We also had the house salad, that was basic, but good, and I tried the French Onion Soup. Not bad, but not spectacular. She had the filet for $26 and my Porterhouse was $28. Both were excellent, served with fried crispy onions, whole carrots, and these underdone potato planks..they looked good, but one bite was enough for me. They also had some killer bread, hot from the oven to nibble on throughout the meal.

It was nice to sit and eat a leisurely meal and be able to catch up...we hadn't seen each other since last March, and before we knew it, another light show came on, and I finally got my camera to take a decent picture without the flash coming on.



In fact, I took a couple of pictures, so here's another:



We were too stuffed for dessert, and when the bill came, Dawn insisted on treating me and putting it on her expense account. (After all, she is actually here on business this week). That was very nice and made an already great meal even more enjoyable.

We waddled out of there, back through the casino without stopping to gamble, and on to the valet. We got the car back and I immediately fell into the worst new habit I've picked up since I arrived in Vegas. At night, I *always* forget to turn my lights on--it's so bright out with all the neon and such, and I have a digital dashboard, so it comes on anyways, so I'm always driving around with no headlights like a dumbass. This time it only took me about eight or ten blocks to figure it out.

We drove 'home' the long way--up the Strip, which was a great way to kill about a half an hour. We got stuck in traffic during the Sirens show at TI, and although I had my camera at the ready and the sunroof open, there was no full frontal nudity to be found. Dammit. But I was willing to snap a picture for you guys! We also caught the tail-end of the Bellagio fountain show and just enjoyed the scenery as we slowly made our way back to Mandalay Bay.

I dropped her off there at the hotel and we said our goodbyes for the evening, making plans to catch up tomorrow at 11am for some lunch and maybe some more cheapo craps somewhere.

More fun to follow!

Mikey

[ March 13, 2005, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: HurricaneMikey ]

 

Nice!!!

Sad to hear about the hotdog factor at the MB... They were damn good last time!

Please say hello for me Mikey, and I hope you two hit big in craps somewhere! And, gotta love that expense account!

 

That's what great about dropping in here late on a Sunday night...have the place almost to yourself and you get to be like the first person to comment on the stuff people write. Sounds like you all had a good time today. I almost spit out my iced tea on that "wiener treadmill" line. Real obvious that the networks are so missing out on the best "Vegas Reality Show" because "this is the show."

 

Amen to the Vegas Reality Show. Mikey, you can make a trip report out of 1 days activities. You have got to write a novel!!

 

Just wait till I start drinking and the real buffoonery begins. Then you're gonna hear some stories. Last night she was exhausted from all the travelling, and I just had one cocktail at the casino (by the way, the El Cortez pours 'em generously! ) and a single glass of wine with dinner, which didn't do much but help me sleep better.

Anyhow, I'm picking her up in a couple hours, and I think we're gonna give the ol' Jokers Wild a try out in Henderson. According to Vegasbound, they have dollar craps--that should be fun, and maybe we can turn our dice luck around while there.

Mikey

 

Mikey, you gotta get those .99cent Ho-Dogs brotha! Sorry about the MB dog tragedy.

Nice to hear about the ElCo patronage though.

Do they still serve beer in cans?

 

Great story. This Vegas thing sounds fun! I should go there sometime. Maybe later this week.

 

Good Gawd, doc!!!......Why would you want to do such a thing!!!

Vegas is filled with booze, gamblers, stinky cigars and the like. Reading your 3000 + posts here, you make it sound like a fun place to visit..

Why would you want to leave exotic Minneapolis .....especially in the winter.....

Stay put in Minny....

(I highly doubt this will change his mind......)

Time isn't on our side is it…we’re still waitin’

.....you said something about all this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me

I hear ya

But rest assured, the wait will be worth it.
It will be Legandary.

 

The "Teen Beat" part was harsh.

I think Ross is ready.

 

Nice pics and great TR so far Mikey. Remember, don't leave out a single thing as some of us poor slobs are here on the info superhighway living through those reports. Wish I could be there with all of you this week. Have a blast boys and girls.
Marty

[ March 15, 2005, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: IllMarty ]

 

I prefer the erotic Minneapolis. Come on everybody! Field trip to Prince's house!