It Was a Buffet Day

Thursday's Vegas highlight was a visit to the sumptuous buffet at Planet Hollywood.

Helen, Katie and I arrived about 2 p.m. The PH buffet is one of our favs because it has an impressive Middle Eastern section that includes chicken kabobs, grilled zuchini, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, tabouli, lebne, pita bread, couscous and some tasty rice mixtures. Helen opted for a Middle East assortment, which I piled high on a plate for her.

Then Katie and I separately browsed the buffet. She ate sensibly and really enjoyed it.

I overdid it, as I started with a pile of chilled peeled shrimp with cocktail sauce, plus 3 chicken wings and some steamed green beans (gotta have a few veggies, right?). My second course consisted of a slab of stuffed pork loin, mashed potatoes, some BBQ chicken and fried rice. Dessert was vanilla custard topped with both chocolate and caramel sauces and a dollop of whipped cream. Oh yeah, there was also a slab of chocolate cream pie and a couple of cups of coffee.

We were all pretty full when we left. Helen and Katie decided to go shopping for a couple of hours at the PH Miracle Mile stores, while I headed to the poker room. We split up at 3 p.m., planning to rendezvous at 5.

I started my poker adventure slowly and patiently. During my first 15 minutes, I was dealt 2-4, 5-6 and J-8, all of which I chose not to play. Trying to be patient and play only strong starting hands, right? Well, turns out all of those starting hands would have taken down pots - the 2-4 would have been two pair, the 5-6 flop came 4-6-6 and the J-8 would have turned into another two pair. Aaargh...

Anyway, being patient was rewarded after 25 minutes when I looked down and saw both red A-A winking back at me. I bet $12 into a pot of $10 and the guy to my left suddenly spouts out, "All-In." I was feeling pretty good at that. I had bought in for $60 and was willing to shove my remaining $50 or so into the pot with the highest hand possible.

The guy had over $200 in front of him and I was the only caller. He showed a 5-5 and I was feeling pretty strong with my A-A. Only two cards could beat me - the remaining two fives.
The flop came J-4-5, giving him THREE FIVES. No help for me on the turn and river, so I left the poker room after 25 minutes and playing only one hand!

It was the second straight trip to the PH poker room that I busted out with a strong hand. The last time I flopped 3 sixes and lost my whole stack to a guy who flopped 3 tens.

I walked to the sports book to watch some basketball games until it was time to meet up with Katie and Helen. I was feeling pretty down, playing well and still losing. Unfortunately we've hit a real negative streak over the past 7 days, posting losses in five days and barely winning on Wednesday when Purdue hung on for a 1-pt. win over Minnesota.

Driving home from the Strip, the girls wanted to stop at Wal-Mart, so they shopped while I waited in the car and watched people. What an interesting mix of humanity strolling in and oout of that store...

Back at the apartment we watched some TV and Katie gave both of us massages to relax us. She heads home early on Tuesday and we'll miss her very much. She's a great shopping companion for Helen and makes my life easer by helping out around the apartment. A perfect guest! But she has to get back to her NMC classes and keep on track there. She's really staying on course with her classes and I'm proud of her accomplishments in the NMC program.

Today is my birthday and we're planning to have dinner at my favorite LV eatery - Hash House Ago Go. If the weather is nice, we'll also take a drive out to Red Rock Nature Area to show Katie some of the natural beauty that LV offers only 30 minutes or so from the glitter of the Strip.

So our adventure continues...