Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 33
Waking up at 5 AM where it’s already 95 degrees outside and being cold is an odd sensation. My room’s thermostat is broken and the fan does not go off. In the daytime when I’m up, that’s fine, but at night when trying to sleep, I need it to be just a little warmer. So, I did get another blanket and held on tight—irony in the desert.
As per request: the newest member of the trip family
After the usual morning routines taken care of, I headed over to the Outlet Center to post all the reports and I hurried because I was supposed to meet Martin at the Colorado Belle for their 10 AM tournament. I got there in plenty of time and signed up. I had about 15 minutes to spare, so I played twenty in the Aye Carumba machine. I did get a bonus, put no free spins, so lost that money much too soon. The tournament was $30 so I’m already down $50 for the day and I’m less than an hour into it. What else? I got a phone call from Martin asking where I’m at. “I’m ready to start the tournament, where are you?” He’s at the AVI for their 2-6 spread game. It seems our wires got crossed as I thought that was tomorrow. I told him when this tournament is over; I’ll go over there and meet up with him.
One would think drinks would be cheaper in Laughlin...think again.
For the first session of the tournament, I was chip leader taking most the pots. Then things went south (as they always seem to do) and I end up losing with a showdown of my 10/J of Diamonds, against his A/Q. A queen came on the flop and I never had a chance. Yesterday, Martin had mentioned to me that the Colorado Belle had both comps and cash back. I never knew this, so I’ve never gotten any cash back. I went to the window, and she said I have $50 in cash back—Kismet? I took it and walked out even for the day.
Waling between the Colorado Belle and the Edgewater, there's some good fishing to be had
I drove over to the AVI where Martin was already involved in the game. I honestly didn’t want to play, but I wanted to see PACIFIC RIM and it was still an hour until showtime, so I bought in to play until then. This game has a lot of bonuses so there’s always a chance of catching something other than winning pots. I held my own for a good while and eventually had to cash out down $15 as it was time for the movie. Martin wanted to continue to play, so he said he’d call later.
The movie was like watching a modern Godzilla movie. It was our man-maneuvered robots against the monsters. There were some great effects, which is what you expect, but the movie was pretty predictable and the story thin—even the great last chance motivation speech was a little silly: typical summer movie fare. For me, the best of the summer is STAR TREK and HEAT. But there are still a few more coming out in August—we’ll see.
As I was going back to my car there was a voice mail from Martin, who had gone to Harrahs to have lunch using up the last of his comps. He said I should check my schedule because he said he saw signs saying the registration for the poker tournament was at 5:00 PM today and he knew that I wasn’t scheduled to be back to Harrahs until tomorrow and knew I was in that tournament. This sent me into a bit of a tizzy. It was 4 PM and I was still at the AVI. Did I screw up my schedule? I do faintly remember having to do some shifty moves when I booked these things, but I couldn’t remember what it was.
I rushed back to the Riverside to look at my schedule. Then I remembered what happened. When I tried to book the slot and the poker tournament back-to-back, the clerk said I couldn’t do that. I’d have to have at least two days in between. That’s the reason, I’m at the Riverside; however, I had asked at that time if I could still play in the tournament and instead of staying three nights at Harrahs, I’d just stay the final two. That worked out, but I did have to still sign up for the tournament to get my table designation and time. I drove to Harrahs and stopped in the Registration to confirm everything and, sure enough, I’m booked there tomorrow for two nights. I walked over to the tournament area and got signed up, so it all worked out. Thanks Martin for checking that. I would have certainly missed signing up for the tournament.
I went into the Diamond Lounge to relax and have a drink. It’s not a weekend, so the food selection is back to its usual tuna and potato salad offerings. The All-Star game was beginning so I hunkered down to watch the game and enjoy the free drinks, chips and salsa.
The day went by fast. I didn’t do a lot today: some poker, a movie, a baseball game—I don’t know…sounds like summer vacation to me.
More tomorrow.
Waking up at 5 AM where it’s already 95 degrees outside and being cold is an odd sensation. My room’s thermostat is broken and the fan does not go off. In the daytime when I’m up, that’s fine, but at night when trying to sleep, I need it to be just a little warmer. So, I did get another blanket and held on tight—irony in the desert.
As per request: the newest member of the trip family
After the usual morning routines taken care of, I headed over to the Outlet Center to post all the reports and I hurried because I was supposed to meet Martin at the Colorado Belle for their 10 AM tournament. I got there in plenty of time and signed up. I had about 15 minutes to spare, so I played twenty in the Aye Carumba machine. I did get a bonus, put no free spins, so lost that money much too soon. The tournament was $30 so I’m already down $50 for the day and I’m less than an hour into it. What else? I got a phone call from Martin asking where I’m at. “I’m ready to start the tournament, where are you?” He’s at the AVI for their 2-6 spread game. It seems our wires got crossed as I thought that was tomorrow. I told him when this tournament is over; I’ll go over there and meet up with him.
One would think drinks would be cheaper in Laughlin...think again.
For the first session of the tournament, I was chip leader taking most the pots. Then things went south (as they always seem to do) and I end up losing with a showdown of my 10/J of Diamonds, against his A/Q. A queen came on the flop and I never had a chance. Yesterday, Martin had mentioned to me that the Colorado Belle had both comps and cash back. I never knew this, so I’ve never gotten any cash back. I went to the window, and she said I have $50 in cash back—Kismet? I took it and walked out even for the day.
Waling between the Colorado Belle and the Edgewater, there's some good fishing to be had
I drove over to the AVI where Martin was already involved in the game. I honestly didn’t want to play, but I wanted to see PACIFIC RIM and it was still an hour until showtime, so I bought in to play until then. This game has a lot of bonuses so there’s always a chance of catching something other than winning pots. I held my own for a good while and eventually had to cash out down $15 as it was time for the movie. Martin wanted to continue to play, so he said he’d call later.
The movie was like watching a modern Godzilla movie. It was our man-maneuvered robots against the monsters. There were some great effects, which is what you expect, but the movie was pretty predictable and the story thin—even the great last chance motivation speech was a little silly: typical summer movie fare. For me, the best of the summer is STAR TREK and HEAT. But there are still a few more coming out in August—we’ll see.
As I was going back to my car there was a voice mail from Martin, who had gone to Harrahs to have lunch using up the last of his comps. He said I should check my schedule because he said he saw signs saying the registration for the poker tournament was at 5:00 PM today and he knew that I wasn’t scheduled to be back to Harrahs until tomorrow and knew I was in that tournament. This sent me into a bit of a tizzy. It was 4 PM and I was still at the AVI. Did I screw up my schedule? I do faintly remember having to do some shifty moves when I booked these things, but I couldn’t remember what it was.
I rushed back to the Riverside to look at my schedule. Then I remembered what happened. When I tried to book the slot and the poker tournament back-to-back, the clerk said I couldn’t do that. I’d have to have at least two days in between. That’s the reason, I’m at the Riverside; however, I had asked at that time if I could still play in the tournament and instead of staying three nights at Harrahs, I’d just stay the final two. That worked out, but I did have to still sign up for the tournament to get my table designation and time. I drove to Harrahs and stopped in the Registration to confirm everything and, sure enough, I’m booked there tomorrow for two nights. I walked over to the tournament area and got signed up, so it all worked out. Thanks Martin for checking that. I would have certainly missed signing up for the tournament.
I went into the Diamond Lounge to relax and have a drink. It’s not a weekend, so the food selection is back to its usual tuna and potato salad offerings. The All-Star game was beginning so I hunkered down to watch the game and enjoy the free drinks, chips and salsa.
The day went by fast. I didn’t do a lot today: some poker, a movie, a baseball game—I don’t know…sounds like summer vacation to me.
More tomorrow.
