Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Fun

On Thursday, Christmas Eve, I decided to get a few hours of poker in so I could qualify for Ballys weekly freeroll tourney next Wednesday.

But my first stop was at the Red Rock to get a bet down on Western Michigan. That game started at 9 a.m. here in LV, so I was up and out the door about 8. After buying the teaser ticket of WMU, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and Michigan, I played some blackjack and had a nice run, leaving with $250 after about 45 minutes.

The drive to Ballys was uneventful. Several of the Vegas roads and being worked on and it really snarls traffic at times. But, I guess, because of the holidays the roads were quiet. I got down there about 10 a.m. and the poker room was pretty dead. Only 1 table was going and that was the 9 a.m. tournament that had only 9 players start and there were 5 left by the time I got there.

So I found a blackjack table and played for about 45 minutes. Walked away with $295 and went to check on the poker room. There was finally a cash game starting and I grabbed a seat, along with 5 other players. Soon all 9 seats at the table were full and we had a good game going. I got off to a good start on the third hand dealt when I held a 9-9 and a 9 hit the flop. That hand enabled me to scoop a pot of about $50.

Nothing too spectacular for a while and I was quietly staying $25-50 up and logging time toward the tourney. About 2p.m. I was thinking of quitting, since I had about $60 in profits and had logged about 3 hours. Then I got dealt A-5 of Spades. I paid my $2 to see the flop, which included K-10-7 with two spades. One guy bet $20 and everyone folded, except me. The turn card was the 2 of spades, giving me THE FLUSH! I bet $20 and the guy raised me to $50. I re-raised him to $100 and he called. I showed the flush and he showed a Q-high flush...I raked that nice pot and decided to play a bit longer.

Eventually I cashed out with a poker profit of $175, giving me $717 for the Christmas Eve Strip Trip. Happy Holiday for us! I drove home and picked up a pizza on the way for dinner. Then Helen and I watched some holiday TV shows, including "It's a Wonderful Life." It was my first time watching this popular classic film and I was, well, unimpressed. It seemed predictable, cliched and uninspiring to me.

Christmas Day was full of fun for us. After breakfast we watched some holiday TV shows, talked to Anna and then about 11 a.m. we drove to the Bellagio to check out the Conservatory Christmas Display again. On the drive down, we talked to Scott and other family members to wish them a Merry Christmas. Sounds like everyone is having a fun holiday.

Helen and I wanted to see a Picasso exhibit at the B's Gallery of Fine Art. Tickets were $16 for us senior citizens and we spent about an hour browsing through the exhibit of Picasso works, including prints, paintings and lithographs. They gave us little Ipod type devices that provided interesting narrations about the works. It was pretty nice.

Then we drove over to the Venetian to stroll through the Canal Shops and have our Christmas Day Dinner at Grand Lux Café. This has become a holiday tradition for Helen and I. Each year we try to time our visits for late afternoon, so it's not too busy. Still, it was packed when we arrived about 3 p.m. We were fortunate to snag a parking spot on the seventh floor of the parking structure. Our host at the Grand Lux told us it was their busiest day of the year and it looked like it.

We had about a 15 minute wait to get seated. I was really thirsty and started the meal with a 20-ounce ice cold Sam Adams Boston Lager. Helen had Chicken Fettucine Afredo and I enjoyed one of my favorites, Sunday Night Pasta - a thick meaty sauce with mushrooms and tomatoes over a bed of angel hair pasta. Both were huge orders and we agreed to eat about half and take the rest home to enjoy tomorrow. Then we shared dessert, a whopping slab of Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake highlighted with two big globs of whipped cream and two decaf coffees. A wonderful meal for $58, plus tip. We were both stuffed when we left, about 4:30 or so. On the drive home we listed to some great traditional Christmas music on the Sirius XM radio...a great day!

And so our LV adventure continues...

Morning Win, Then a Great Show

Started Wednesday morning with a trip to the Red Rock casino where I played some blackjack and won $225. No major hands, just a nice steady series of wins.

Played at the same table with a woman named Olivia who I've seen there before. She manages a local Mexican restaurant, Café Rio, and after meeting her a couple weeks ago, Helen and I got takeout from there and really liked it. Olivia is expecting her second child in early February.

I headed home about 1 p.m. Helen and I were waiting for an important phone call. On Monday, Helen's computer stopped working and she learned she had picked up a virus. I called a local computer repair guy who said he could work on it if we got it there when he opened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. So we found his place and dropped off the laptop to Armando, a very knowledgeable and friendly guy. He said he'd call when he had it by 2-4 p.m. the next day.

The timing was important, because we were going to a 5:30 show at Harrah's - The Million Dollar Quartet. It worked out perfectly, we picked up the computer and got to Harrah's about 5, in time to get settled into the show. It's an aging, but small theater. The audience was small too, but it is a Wednesday night right before Christmas.

The Million Dollar Quartet is a GREAT, but under rated show. It's about the day in 1955 when Sun Records owner Sam Phillips had four legends - Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley - perform at the Sun studio. The show is FULL of great music and the performers are dead-on, especially the guys who play Cash and Lewis. We  had a great time and the 90-minute show went fast. I'd see it again in a second.

After the show we stopped by the Harrah's food court for a bite. Helen had an avocado wrap and I enjoyed a turkey wrap. Two sandwiches and a drink came to $23, which I was able to comp on my Total Rewards card. Thanks, TR!

I had a couple of football teaser bets I made, but they were crushed when Bowling Green lost its game. This morning WMU plays, but I may not get over to the casino in time to bet that one.

And so our LV adventure continues...

Tragedy on The Strip

Sunday night local media was all over the tragedy on the Strip when a woman deliberately drove into a crowd of pedestrians in front of Planet Hollywood and The Paris hotel/casinos.

I spent Sunday at the Red Rock watching football and playing blackjack, but on Saturday I was right at the spot where the tragedy occurred. I walked from Ballys, through Paris down the sidewalk and into PH where I ate lunch. So sad to see innocent folks injured, and even killed, because of this woman's senseless act. That part of the Strip, near Flamingo, was blocked until about 5 a.m. today, but is now open and traffic is flowing as usual.

I plan to go to the Strip today to play, perhaps at some different spots - Wynn or Venetian.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, I suffered my first real loss at blackjack and poker. I decided to play poker, but a seat was not available. So I played bj and lost $20 for a few minutes, before joining the poker game. But I was not getting any type of cards and eventually lost my $100 buy-in. I had a whole string of 9-2, K-4, J-3 type of hands. A couple of times I had pocket pairs, 7-7, J-J, but never turned them into big hands. Eventually went out when my K-Q didn't connect against a guy who had a 4-4.

I did recoup a bit of cash when a 3-team teaser of Carolina, AZ and KC connected. After watching the early games at Red Rock, I went home about 2 p.m. and watched the late games with Helen, who spent much of the day talking with Anna. Those two sure can log some phone time!

Today our adventure continues...

Friday at Red Rock, Saturday on the Strip

Spent much of Friday close to home at the Red Rock Casino where  I played some blackjack, winning $220 and video blackjack, winning another $31. No major hands, no interesting characters encountered, just a couple of fun sessions stacking chips. So it was another profitable day of $251.

I'd been wanting to get some UNLV t-shirts or a cap, and finally found a place that sells the stuff in Summerlin, near the Red Rock. Sports Town is devoted to selling all types of uniforms, t-shirts, caps and jackets of both college and pro sports teams. I found a corner devoted to UNLV and selected four t-shirts and a cap. They were having a huge holiday sale, so the great shirts were two for $23 and the fitted cap was marked down from $25 to $15. Total cost for four t-shirts and a cap was only $63, including Nevada's 8% state sales tax.

For dinner, I stopped at Panda Express and got a take out order of orange chicken, fried rice and steamed veggies. Chinese food is not Helen's favorite, but we both enjoyed this.

On Saturday, I decided to make a trip to the Strip. I parked at Bally's about 9:30 and made the trek from the parking deck down to the casino. Found a $10 blackjack table that was empty and began playing heads up against the dealer. After about an hour, I was up about $100 and decided to take a break. I walked over the The Cromwell and sat down at another blackjack table where I played for about 45 minutes and won another $250.

Decided to just walk the Strip and see the sights, so I headed north, past the Flamingo, The Linq and Harrahs. When I got to the Venetian, I decided to turn around and head back toward Planet Hollywood where I planned to grab lunch at The Earl of Sandwich. They make a great roast beef and cheddar sandwich, which I got and took over to the PH sports book where I ate lunch and watched part of the Las Vegas Bowl, Utah vs. BYU. I have Utah in one of my fb teaser bets. The Utes built a 35-0 lead, then held on for a 35-28 win.

After lunch I headed back to Ballys and played some more blackjack, notching another $250 win over two hours. Another session of grinding out small bets and winning. I hit more than my share of double downs, including one big hand where I bet $20 and got a hand of 9-9 against the dealer's 6. Split the nines and got a 2 on the first and had to double down. Got a King for 21 and on the second hand I got an Ace for 20. Dealer flipped a 5, then hit an 8 for 19. I won both hands - a $60 profit. That was the best hand that I recall.

After blackjack, I walked over to the Paris sports book and watched as Ohio State took down Kentucky in hoops and the end of the Las Vegas Bowl. All the strip walking has raised a blister on my right foot, so I decided it was time to head home. En route in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I called my niece Katie, who had sent me a text asking to call. Haven't talked to her since we got to Vegas and it was great to catch up.

While I was on the Strip, Helen spent the day watching some Lifetime movies, relaxing and talking with relatives. Dinner was another meal of orange chicken, fried rice and veggies. Just as good as leftovers!

Today I plan to visit Red Rock for the early football games, which begin at 10 a.m. here. I already have some teasers - Chiefs-3, Cardinals+2 and Panthers Pick in one, Patriots-7, Bowling Green Pick and MSU +18 in another, After they end, about 1 or so, I'll head home to spend the afternoon with Helen.

And so our adventure continues...

Time to Get Tickets!

Thursday morning found me on the road to the Strip by 8:30.

On my way, I had to re-mail a Christmas card that was sent to Helen's sister Natalie on Monday, but for some unknown reason was returned to us on Wednesday. Postal Service failed us on that one, so we just re-addressed another envelope, slapped on another stamp and tried again.

Got down to Bally's about 9:15 and played a little blackjack. My plan for today was to walk the Strip, hitting several places and hopefully winning at several. Frankly, I lost precise track of the finances, but I played five different sessions and WON AT ALL OF THEM.

Ballys was my first victim for something over $100, then I crossed the street to The Cromwell. Hard to believe this formerly Barbary Coast is now this upscale, boutique hotel. Very nice joint and I took them for $125 before strolling north through The Flamingo. En route, I made a mental note to hit the Margaritaville gift shop on the way back to check out the T-shirts.

Headed into Harrah's where I went to the box office and scored two tickets for "The Million Dollar Quartet," a show about a rockabilly musical session that featured Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis. The girl behind the ticket counter was kind enough to give me a "locals discount" even though I didn't have a local ID or even a utility bill to show our residency. The $95 tickets were only $75 each with the $20 locals discount. The 5:30 p.m. show is next Wednesday, Dec. 23.

I continued walking north to The Venetian where I again visited the box office and got two tickets for John Fogerty on Jan. 13.  These were $90 each.  So basically my BJ profit for the morning covered most of the cost of the four tickets. 

Then I retraced my steps and headed back toward Bally's. Along the way I stopped in at The Linq, which used to be the Imperial Palace. Now it's a shiny new joint and I found a blackjack table. Played for about 30 minutes and won $175. Then it was on to the Margaritaville gift shop were I bought two T-shirts for $49. And I stopped by the Ghiradelli chocolate shop and picked up a bag of chocolates that Helen and I enjoy.

Arriving back at Bally's, I took the shirts and chocolate up to the car, then headed back downstairs to find a bj table. Played alone against the dealer for about 45 minutes and left up somewhere over $80. Asked a pit boss where I could score some UNLV gear, hats or t-shirts. He whipped out his smart phone and sent me less than 2 miles east of Bally's on Maryland Parkway. So I drove over to the place in a shabby old strip mall...and it was closed up. Empty. Vacant. So much for the internet...

So I headed down Tropicana to the MGM for a final quick blackjack session. I only had about an hour before I was going to head home, but I found a table and racked up $125 or so before cashing in. So for the five stops, I won somewhere between $500 and $600. My phenomenal luck is continuing.

As a frustrating aside (and a sign of old age, perhaps) at MGM I bought 3 football teaser tickets, using the Thursday NFL game. I had the Rams on one, the over the total on the other, both winners. I teamed them up with a few nfl games and the Spartans bowl game. Anyway, for the life of me, I cannot find the tickets!!! I had them in my shirt pocket and now they seem to have disappeared. I checked all my pockets, my wallet, even in the car twice! I guess they may have fallen out somewhere, but soooo frustrating!

On the way home, I stopped by Albertson's and bought a few groceries. Whipped up a dinner of wild rice and vegetables, one of our diet favorites. Of course, we had to sample those Ghiradelli chocolates for dessert. And so our adventure continues...

Won,Won,Wonderful Wednesday

Yesterday was one of the most interesting - and profitable - of our LV adventure so far.

It started with a morning visit to the Red Rock Casino where I played blackjack for about two hours and posted a win of $210 before returning to the apartment for lunch with Helen. Broccoli cheddar soup and hefty salad was the fare and it was tasty.

We watched some TV together, then at 2:30 p.m. I drove down to Bally's to play in their Wednesday freeroll tourney. Got there about 3:15 and  spent some time just walking around Ballys. Made the long walk down to the sports book, one of the most out-of-date and shabby joints on the strip.

No interesting games going on, so I went back up to the casino floor and sat down at a blackjack table. After about an hour, I walked with a profit of $250. No big hands, just steadily piling up $10-20 bets, aided by some timely dealer busts. Then I took a stroll to the Nosh café, a sandwich place next to the poker room. Enjoyed a pastrami sandwich., then about 5:15 I checked in for the 6 p.m. tourney. I was assigned seat 10 at table 13.

Still had time to kill, so I walked through the slot machines and my eyes caught a 25-cent Haywire machine, one of Helen's favorites. So I sat down and shoved a $20 into the machine. Got a few small payoffs and I was up about $5-10 when I hit TRIPLE BAR, TRIPLE BAR, HAYWIRE LOGO!!
That paid 200 quarters, or $50!  I played a few more spins, then cashed out with a $55 profit.

It was almost time for the tournament, so I walked back to the poker room and got settled into my seat. The tourney started promptly at 6 p.m. with 62 players. The top 20 will get $300 each, so I needed to beat out about 2/3 of the field to get the cash. So the dealer dealt out the cards and I was dealt K-Q of spades. Everybody checked around to me and I bet $600, everyone folded and I took down the blinds of $100 and $50. First hand win, a good omen.

A few hands later, I got dealt A-4 of Hearts and won a nice pot when two hearts hit the flop and another landed on the turn giving me a flush. That was a healthy pot that left me as the chip leader at the table. I later won pots with A-A, A-K suited and J-J. After 90 minutes of play we took a 10-minute break and I was able to assess my situation. There were 32 players remaining and they had an average chip stack of $9,500. I was sitting on $12,400, so I was feeling pretty confident.

I called Helen to give her an update and she told me she was doing some drawing and had been on the phone with Norm's wife, Lorraine. They talk a few times a week since we've been here.

As we were preparing to resume play, an elderly Asian guy was screaming at the TV showing the UNLV-Arizona game. "Shoot the ball, draw a foul, shoot the ball, shoot the damn ball!!!" With 18 seconds left in the first half the score was 37-25 with the Rebels in the lead. Turns out the guy had bet $100 on Over the Total of 63.5 in the first half. He was two points short of winning his bet as the clock wound down. Arizona never got off a shot, never drew a foul and the guy came up just short of cashing...

When the tournament resumed, I was determined to play VERY cautiously and just let the blinds whittle down other guys' stacks. That strategy worked well as the blinds rose and the number of players dropped from 32, to 27, to 22, 21, and finally 20. I never played a hand after the break, but CASHED!! We started high fiving each other and sharing stories. It took about 10 minutes to get the $300 and I drove home.

For the day, I won 460 in bj, 300 in the tourney and 55 on Haywire. A great day and tons of fun!!
And so our adventure continues...

Prepping for a Poker Tourney and Victory at Red Rock

Tonight I'll be playing in the Bally's $6,000 Freeroll Poker Tournament, which starts at 6 p.m.

I qualified for the event by logging 12 hours of play over the past week. They pay the final 20 players $300 each, so you only have to outlast others to make that final 20 in order to cash. I played four times last year and cashed once. Usually there are 40 to 60 players.

In order to play tonight, we have to alter our schedule a bit. I always play during the day, making it home by 5 p.m. to get dinner ready. But today, I plan to head to the Strip about 3 p.m. to play a bit before the tourney. So I'll make us a couple of big salads for lunch today, then prepare a sandwich for Helen to have later while I'm hunched over the poker table.

Yesterday I ran a few errands in the morning - vacating our storage unit, dropping off some mail at the post office and topping off the gas tank. Gas prices here are the highest we've seen in a while $2.49 a gallon. Then I rolled over to Red Rock Casino to play a little blackjack. After an hour of up-and-down play, I had a hot streak and made a profit of $240. I was playing at a $10 table and sometimes played two hands. One time I had $15 bets on each of the two hands and GOT A BLACKJACK on both!! That was $22.50 on each hand! That was pretty much the highlight of the blackjack session. Hope that doesn't get me banned from Red Rock!

Helen was talking with relatives and doing some drawing while I was out. Last night we watched the GOP candidate debate from the Venetian. Kind of cool to see the coverage in a place we know so well. Lots of anchor types broadcasting from the front of The Vee!

And so our LV adventure continues...