We arrived in LV on Friday the 13th (No worry there, huh?) and checked in to Ballys for two nights. We had an offer for two comped nights in November and two more in December, so that was pretty nice.
In previous trips we were able to use the Diamond Check-in service, but since we haven't been here for two years, I've lost my Diamond Status and am now a lower level gambling peon. Have to work my way back up, but that probably won't happen since I rarely visit the strip and Bally's doesn't open its poker room open until 6 pm on Thursday thru Sundays. That's where, in the past, I was able to rack up the comp points needed for Diamond status.
Our room was in the refurbished Jubilee Tower and quite nice. To stay COVID-safe, we had takeout meals in our room. Here's the view from our room, overlooking Caesars Palace and the High Roller wheel.
On the night we arrived, I wandered down to play blackjack and finished with a $350 profit. The next day I took the same tables for another $120. And on Sunday, our departure day, I posted a third winning session of $425. So Ballys gave us two free nights lodging and $895. How DO these guys stay in business? Ha!
On Sunday we relocated to the Red Rock Hotel and Casino in Sumerlin, near our apartment complex. We were picking up the apt. keys on Monday, but not moving in until Tuesday because the movers were not available til then. So we spent two nights at Red Rock in a VERY nice room. We had a special offer of $179 for the two nights and it included a $50 dining voucher that we used for our in-room dinner on Monday. Helen had Southwest Chicken Salad, while I opted for a Cobb Salad. And we each had a hefty slab of cheesecake for dessert.
During our two-night Red Rock stay, I won $215 in blackjack and $352 at the poker tables. This is an amazing start to our trip!
Everything went smoothly in getting the apartment keys on Monday. The leasing agent, Ivy, had a little gift bag for us that including some cleaning items, notebooks, key rings and there were two bottles of chilled water waiting in our refrigerator. A nice touch!
On Tuesday I met the movers at our storage unit. All of our household items had been in storage since April of 2018, two and a half years. And they were COVERED in dusty, grime, despite being well packed. That dust just gets into everything. The movers got all of our stuff hauled to our apartment. Usually setting up our household takes a day or two. This time, because I had to wipe down and vacuum so many items, it took almost a week. Slow and steady got it done.
And we settled into a daily routine that usually involves me getting up between 4 and 5 a.m. Why so early? Don't know, just can't seem to sleep any later. I have a few hours of quiet time til I wake Helen up at 7:30. Sometimes her leg pains will get her up earlier, but most days it's a 7:30 wakeup for her.
We'll have coffee and breakfast, watch some morning TV, then I may run some errands or play some morning blackjack at another nearby casino, Rampart which is connected to a swanky Marriott hotel. While I'm gone, Helen is often on the phone with her brother Norman's wife Lorraine who is in southern California. They talk almost every day. About 11:30 I make lunch, usually soup or a turkey & cheese wrap. Then we'll do some stand-up exercises, helping her stand even for 20-30 seconds with me loosely supporting her is a positive move.
In the afternoon, I often head over to the Red Rock casino for some poker or to check out the evening's basketball or football games. By 4 I head home, but often stop at our favorite Middle Eastern Market for some delicious dinner items. For example, here's what we had tonight - Grape Leaves stuffed with rice, Hummus, Lebne, Kalamata Olives and fresh bread.
What a feast that we both really enjoy. And so our adventure continues!
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