TR part two - 1/17 -1/20

1/19
Up early, then back down again. This is our first trip without our kids (3 and 1), so it was huge luxury to be on no one's schedule. Dozed off and on until about 10...the latest I've slept in years.

Ok, so we're hanging out at the Bellagio casino today - husband on Craps, me on War. I'm with a few guys playing hooky from the cement convention, and we're drinking hard, they're betting big. The max bet is $1000. They start out big, and humbly lose a few hands, but then they're balls to the wall and all betting $1k each hand - doing pretty well too, considering that they always chose the WAR option, and come out ahead about half the time. In a short 2 hours, we're all plastered, smoking cigars (!), and my husband, who has done well at Craps comes to join in - then it all goes to hell and we're all losing each hand...sad really, how quickly the mood can turn. We bid them farewell, and they sauntered drunkedly back to whatever dirt seminar they were missing.

Dinner at Fix at Bellagio. Good atmosphere, ok food...ridiculous price. They were reluctant to let my husband an I share an entree, but eventually I sweet-talked the prick of a waiter. Prick.

Cabbed it down the strip - MGM, Monte Carlo and NY NY - all very nice - just wandered around drinking and playing a slot here and there....not much to tell.

Back to Bellagio for a clothing change The casino was packed, and I was loving playing "spot the hooker". Not much of a game though, considering they do take much of the guessing out of it for you. However, at one point my husband pointed out that someone may have "spotted" me, so after that I was a little more careful in my judgement.

More WAR for me - had a blast, it was a loud, rowdy fun table, and we all did pretty well (all in all, I ended up bringing home about $500 free and clear, just from $10 bets at WAR)....my husband was enjoying the same atmosphere at Craps - and everyone was winning there too. A guy at the table next to WAR (Caribbean Stud) won %20 of the $16,000 jackpot, and we all celebrated - he tried to give me some chips, but I didn't want to encourage his touchy-feeliness, so I gracefully declined. Nice, drunk man.

Up to the room a little before midnight (I mentioned this was our first trip without the kids ....asleep by about 2.

1/20
Flight was leaving at Noon, so we got up at 7, and thanks to room service, we lolled around until about 9....I was into my 3rd Bloody Mary when it dawned on us that we'd probably have to stand in a lot of lines pre-flight, so we packed up. Upon checking out, we got comped for all of our room charges (which were considerable for a short stay)...woo hoo.

The taxi stand line was crazy long - but our bellman assured us he'd hook us up. As promised, he brought our bags out and whisked us into the next cab....he scored a $20 tip for that, and hopefully he didn't get into any trouble for doing it.

We get to the airport, and the security line is INSANE - fortunately it was for gates A and B, and we were departing D. We got through our line quickly, and onto the plane by 11:30 - left on time, arrived home in Atlanta at 7:15.

So - that's it. For our first trip to Vegas, it was outstanding - we brought home some $$, had some great food, and really enjoyed seeing everything. We'll definitely go back, and I hope this time to be able to spend a little more time off-strip. I'm a sucker for divey joints.

A few observations -

Middle-Eastern men just LOVE them some red hair. I was getting a ton of attention, and I didn't spot a single red-haired hooker. Hmmm...I should have mentioned that to Ms. Friendly Daytime Hooker.

WAR rocks - even if "serious gamblers" walk by and laugh at you while you're playing it.

Bellagio is beautiful - but so are a few other of the less-pricey places. We did see Joel from the Subway commercials though - so I suppose it's a celebrity (ahem) draw.

190-octanes at 9am are novel, and people look at you like you're a lush when you're drinking one. Love that.

Spot-the-Hooker at Bellagio is too easy - I would have enjoyed more of a challenge.

Again, sorry if this TR was a bit boring....I'm prepared for the across-the-board panning

 

That was a very good trip report SofR. Drinking, gambling, eating and more costume changes than a broadway production. With a 3 and 1 back home you deserve a break.

You redheads don't mince words, do you? Thanks for the great report.

 

The way I see it, as long as you're having fun, it doesn't matter what game you're playing.

Nice trip report.

 

I know a few 'serious' gamblers that have been known to throw down a ridiculous amount of cashola on black or even the hardways from time to time, not to mention pissing away buckets of quarters in the Elvis machines.

There is no such thing as a sucker bet when you've had enough to drink.

Thanks again Sparks for taking the time to write your trip report. Love the writing style--I hope you contribute even more to the board. You don't have to have a T-minus to play in this sandbox!

Mikey

[ January 21, 2005, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: HurricaneMikey ]

 

That was a great trip report. Very funny and entertaining.

 

Why must the waiter be a prick because he didn't want to allow you to split an entree? Maybe it was restaurant policy not to allow it....but then he did after being sweet talked by you.And he DID allow it....yet you STILL call him a prick. Some could think the other way around....who would go into a nice restaurant and split an entree? If you want to split an entree go to Denny's.Just my humble view from the other side.

SteveB(MSS March 16-21 10th straight year for the Madness)

 

maybe the waiters attitude about the whole situation is what caused her to call him that name. I know first hand what snooty butt heads SOME of those waiters/waitresses can be, he most likely deserved the label. I love splitting an entree and then adding the appitzers, veggies and starches and desert, to each their own!
my 2 cents

 

Maybe he was a prick about other things too, not just the splitting of the entree. In fact, my waiter at Applebees yesterday was kind of a prick, but I didn't mention it in a trip report, because nobody wants to read about me having lunch with my sister.

People who are pricks tend to be pricks about everything, not just one issue. Maybe Sparks picked up on that.

Still a great trip report

Mikey

[ January 22, 2005, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: HurricaneMikey ]

 

Enjoyed the TRs Sparks. A good way with dealing with pricks is to immediately ask for the manager and talking very nicely to them about what a prick your waiter is or any other problem you may be having that is causing you to not have an enjoyable evening. They don't want unhappy diners going out and telling the world not to eat there. On the flip side, if you had a fantastic waiter and experience, be sure to let the manager know about that as well! I'm sure there was a lot more to him being a prick than refusing to split the entree. A restaurant will ALWAYS split an entree for you though they may charge you for two . I will definitely check out WAR in March - loved playing it as a kid!

 

Great trip report. I also enjoy a challenging round of "Spot the Hooker" when the opportunity presents itself. I was in Vegas right after both the Consumer Electronics Show and the Adult Video News convention and didn't spot many. Maybe they were all tired and taking some well deserved time off.

 

I'm really enjoying the open use of the word prick in this thread. It's cracking me up!

 

I'm with kgovegas...

When you can drop "prick" in your trip report, its a beautiful thing!!!

Not at all boring, but the War made me cringe.. I'm glad you won at it though!

When you get tired of "spot the hooker", there is always "spot the manchick..."

Just a little FYI!

 

....

I'd like to point out that El Rushbo, the class act that people love to hate, has previously warned us about Fix and the attitudes there. That's a guy who really understands Vegas...

....

[ January 28, 2005, 02:31 AM: Message edited by: LearningVegas ]

 

Nice TR. Again, glad you had fun at the War table, that's what it's all about.