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November 9, 2003
The plane trip to Las Vegas was interesting. The guy behind me on the plane was drunk as we boarded. I could smell his breath from my seat. Thankfully, he had one beer and promptly fell asleep. Unfortunately, he was like a troubled puppy and kept kicking my seat in his sleep.
You know, I was going to do my regular entry but I’m on vacation, man:
$24 for the Bayshore Buffet. Ticked at first, but estatic to find shrimp, crab legs, pork medallions, butter-broiled halibut, and all kinds of delicious goodies… cheese cake, cookies, etc. So, I ate lots.
Channel 23 on the hotel TV is a live feed from the Shark Reef. With bubbling live audio. Pretty cool to see the sharks from here. I’m going to check that out later in my stay.
Just sat in the lounge smoking a cigar and having a drink. It was very relaxing. A band started playing. While not exactly lounge, it was a much slower, more relaxed version of "Hella Good."
There’s a wall safe in the room. No fridge, but a wall safe.
It’s going to rain three of the four days I’m here.
I’m a bit light-headed from the cigars, cognac and the four hours of sleep I had last night. Didn’t/Couldn’t sleep on the plane. I’ve seen maybe 4 episodes of Frasier ever and one of those was on the plane. Along with "Tomb Raider 2" (or whatever it was called.)
The elderly gent at the Players Card desk was from Chicago. He recognized my address and asked me if several businesses were still there (only one was – Yakzies.)
Today was the last night of the PBR Rodeo World Finals. There are big cowboy hats and western gear all over the place.
I thought I was coming during an off-week and it is, technically… BUT, it’s also the week of COMDEX, one of the biggest freaking conventions in the nation. I wonder if I could wrangle a pass somehow. It’s when companies display the next years gadgets and computers. I’ve always wanted to go.
My room has a separate shower and Jacuzzi bathtub. I’m to Jacuzzi.
They have a Chinese TV channel here with the call letters JADE. I don’t get that in Chicago.
Mamma Mia is a big show here at Mandalay Bay. Every single employee has a button promoting the show. There are even some Mamma Mia! Chips.
Monday
Missed being in the 10am (!) Poker Tournament by 10 seconds.
Visited Shark Reef. Fantastic. Sea Turtles- my favorite.
Saw stand where you get your face put into Lucite crystal. Thought about doing it and having it read "For Crimes Against Krypton." $50 in-joke. Decided not to do it.
Won big at Blackjack and then walked away! Yay! Up much.
Had terrible lunch.
Went swimming in the Lazy River and then Wave Pool. Very fun. It’s only 63 degrees outside, but the water was about 70. It was great but freezing.
Sat down at a Hold ‘em table with a bunch of new people. Suddenly, the manager comes over, tells me and another older guy and puts in another game. That table all knew each other by name and (apparently) come here every day (the dealers know their names!). I was so dead money ("While we weren’t playing with each other, we weren’t playing against each other."- from Rounders) I was busted hard and fast. Lost the money I won at BJ. Went to BJ. Won back half.
Took sweet nap.
Explored the conjoining Casino/Hotels.
Took the tram to Luxor. Crowded and a more casual feel; the customers and the employees seem… cheaper.
Played some $5 BJ, doubled my 30 bucks.
Walked over to Excalibur.Ridiculous theme park feel. They did have two things going for them; a real, honest-to-goodness video arcade with some pretty cool games and a cheap, friendly poker room (where I promptly lost $90.) I cannot get a pocket pair to save my life. My poker luck stinks so far.
Tuesday
Played in the Mandalay Bay 10am $30 poker tournament. I got busted second at my table. Suited K, 2 with a pair of 2s on the board. Sucker on the end had matched his pocket 5s on the board. I was all-in on Fourth street and shouted for a King or another deuce. No suck luck. The table gave me a round of applause (they all hated my head-to-head opponent.)
"You gave yourself a good accounting, young sir!" said the cool-ass dealer.
Chagrined, I went poolside with the laptop to do some writing. I got some work done for my upcoming comic book and then I changed into my swim gear and had a nice swim. Still only in the high 60s, but no wind today so it was relatively warm. Sat out in the sun. It was great. Tempted to order a drink from the wandering waitstaff just to say that I did it, but I did not.
more to come...
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