Saturday on the LV Strip

Helen sent me down to the Strip to play some poker, but my plans got changed along the way.

I parked at Bill's Gambling Hall about 9 a.m. and went to the casino's sports book to get a bet down on an early hoops game. I took Butler +5 over Davidson for $25, which turned out to be a winner. While at Bill's I played a little blackjack and walked with a profit of $80.

Then I crossed Flamingo Blvd to Bally's where I wanted to play a little poker. But the poker room was busy today with three tables going and a waiting list of about 6 names. I didn't feel like waiting, so I strolled over to the Paris sports book to get another bet down. I liked Louisville -5 against Cincinnati for $25, which was also a winner. After making the bet, I wanted a comfortable place to watch the game, so I headed to Bellagio's sports book - for my money, the finest sports book on the Strip. With their leather chairs and huge screens, Bellagio does it right.

After watching the games finish, I walked back to Paris to cash the Louisville ticket and stopped at Bally's to check the poker situation. Still no vacancies there, so I played a little blackjack and won $30. I was hungry, so I got a chicken salad sandwich at the Nosh snack bar, but it was busy and there were few seats, so I toted my lunch to the Paris sports book and ate there while watching more hoops. While there, I checked my phone and saw that my friend Terry called. I called him back and he wanted me to get him a 7-team hockey parlay. If it hits, his $25 bet will pay $3,350....but right now he's losing the first game. I also bought a $20 3-team hockey ticket that will pay $81 if it wins, but right now I'm losing the Devils game 2-0 and the Wings game 1-0. Not looking good.

With lunch over, I walked back to Bill's to cash my Butler ticket and play a little blackjack. I won $30 there and decided to drive home. My total profit for the day was $148, including the $25 that T owes me for his hockey bet. Not a bad day...a lot of hoops fun and some profit.

While I was on the Strip, Helen was relaxing at home, doing some laundry and talking with our niece Brandi, whose birthday is next week. We sent her a gift - some dollhouse furniture for her new dollhouse, and she called to thank us. Helen talked with her for about an hour. Glad we have unlimited long distance on both phones.

I don't feel like cooking, so we'll be having Middle Eastern fare again tonight - pita bread, hummus, feta cheese, tabouli, lebne and kalamata olives. Tasty stuff.

Helen's watching some Lifetime Channel show about a prison warden's wife being kidnapped by a killer who she later falls for. I'm getting ready to whip up dinner, but tomorrow the adventure continues...