Makin' Bucks at Bally's

It's always nice to start the week out with a profitable day of poker.

That's what happened today after I drove to Bally's looking for a $1-2 no limit game. I arrived around 9:30 a.m. and was unable to park at the Bally's parking deck because two large Clark County firetrucks had the entrance to the deck blocked off. A security officer was directing traffic around the ramp, so I made a quick right turn to get back to the Strip, then another right onto Flamingo and a left into the parking deck at Bill's Gambling Hall.

I walked across Flamingo and asked a couple of Bally's workers about the parking situation, but no one seemed to have any details. The poker room was just getting going at 10 a.m., so I took the #6 seat in the game. For the next couple of hours, there were really no highlights. The best hand I had was three 8s, which won me a pot of about $30. Other than that, my winning hands were two pair and less. Shortly after noon, I was up $65 and decided to take my profits and have lunch.

I needed to go to the Planet Hollywood sports book to cash a winning $48 hoops ticket that I bought yesterday, so I made my way through Paris and down the Strip to PH. The sports book is right inside the casino's southern-most entrance and easy to find. Feeling hungry, instead of immediately cashing the ticket, I ventured into the Earl of Sandwich shop for a tasty roast beef sandwich, along with chips and a drink.

Then I went to the sportsbook and cashed my winner. Things there were pretty quiet, but one big screen did have an interesting game going. It was "The Sandberg Game" from June 23, 1984 when the young Hall of Famer gained fame by slugging three homers in a dramatic come-from-behind win over the Cardinals. I watched for over an hour, hoping to catch a glimpse of Traverse City's own Dan Rohn, who was a member of the Cubs that year. It was great watching that 25-year-old baseball, but never saw Rohnie, though. Leaving the PH, I made my way back to the car at Bill's and drove back to the apartment, arriving just before 4 p.m.

While I was on the Strip, Helen was on the phone with our grandson Alan, who turns 16 today. She also talked with Anna and our friend Lois Edson. A pretty chatty day for her.
When I got home, we called Alan again and I got to wish my namesake a happy birthday. Dinner was nothing too special - grilled cheeseburgers and corn chips.

After dinner I finished reading "Crazy '08,' an outstanding baseball book about the exciting 1908 season. I really learned a lot about deadball baseball and some of the personalities involved in the game. It's a great read for a baseball lover.

Helen's just finishing up the dinner dishes and we'll watch a little TV before calling it a night. Tomorrow we're thinking of hitting the Strip together to have dinner there and watch the Bellagio fountains as our adventure continues...