Catching Up After a Busy Week

It's been a week since I sat down to blog and feel there's been a lot to catch up on.

As our time winds down here in Las Vegas, we've had to get busy getting the taxes done and preparing to store our furniture and get packed for the long road trip back to Traverse City. But there's still been time for some fun.

Yesterday morning I went to the Suncoast Casino for the first time in a few days. I immediately ground out a $47 profit at blackjack and took a little break. I found a "Wizard of Oz" slot machine that had been recommended by Helen's hair stylist and I shoved a $20 into the slot. It's a penny machine, so I had 2000 credits. But playing "the max" cost $1.25 so in about 10 minutes my $20 was gone.

So I headed back to the blackjack pit and found a table with only one other player. It didn't take long to rack up a profit of $81 so I took the money and ran. A profit of $108 for the day.

Then I headed to a storage facility and reserved a 10x10 unit to store our furniture, bathroom items, kitchen stuff and more. After checking out 3 or 4 facilities, it looks like the standard cost for this size unit is about $100. This place offers one for $99, with a $10 discount for the first three months. It's a month-to-month lease and we'll be getting billed at the TC address.

After securing the unit, I called a mover to help move our items on Monday, April 27. He made us his first customers of the day and said he'd have his two-man crew here at 7:30 a.m. There's really not too much furniture, so I hope we can get everything out of here in two hours, especially since they charge $85 an hour.

For dinner last night we met up with Meghan and Eric Daigh, two of our Traverse City friends who arrived in town Monday. Meghan surprised Eric with the trip for his birthday, which was last weekend. They are staying at the Flamingo and Helen and I met them for drinks and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Margaritaville. We had a great time talking and eating. Meghan and Eric had turkey burgers, while Helen enjoyed a taco salad and I had a delicious caribbean chicken salad.

After dinner we all walked over to Bellagio to check out the Chihully blown glass in the lobby area. It was a cold, windy walk from the Flamingo to the Bellagio. This was Eric and Meghan's first visit to the Bellagio and they really seemed impressed by the place. The Chihully glass features hundreds of colorful glass flowers hanging on the ceiling of the lobby check-in area. It's really impressive! In addition to viewing the lobby area, we walked to the hotel's conservancy area where they have hundreds and hundreds of fragrant spring flowers and flowing fountains. It was really beautiful and we enjoyed our time there.

Then we headed back toward the Flamingo. Helen and I headed to the car, which was parked at Bill's Gambling Hall, while Eric and Meghan went on to enjoy the evening. Like a lot of Vegas visitors, they had a lot they wanted to see and do, including visits to the Stratosphere, the Venetian, Palazzo, Hoover Dam and maybe Red Rock Canyon. I hope they continue to enjoy their visit.

This morning I wrote my May casino entertainment column for the Booth newspapers and sent it to them. It's one of the few writing assignments I've been working on this winter. When we get back to TC I need to crank up the freelance work and start stashing money away for next winter's trip.

Tomorrow night I'll be playing in a free blackjack tournament at the Suncoast. I heard from one pit boss that they may have up to 500 people playing in this event that features a top prize of $3,500. I'm not sure how many other prizes they offer, but it'll be fun to participate and the price is right.

On Friday, Helen is heading to California to spend a week with her brother Norm, his wife Lorraine and their children. I'll drive Helen to Baker, CA and Lorraine will meet us there for lunch and take Helen back to their home in Thousand Oaks. Then I'll head back to LV and get ready for some time with my buddy Terry who arrives from Detroit early on Sunday. We'll have plenty of fun playing cards, betting sports and just hanging out. He'll be here until Thursday.

So as you can see, it's been a busy week for us. But I'm sure our adventures will continue...