Finally In Vegas-TR!

Sharlene's nickname is Star.

Well, I am sure that "Star" is one of them. And yours must be "Gullible".

The 2011 printed edition of the "New Webster's Unabridged Dictionary" removed the word "gullible" from the hard cover edition.

Check it out yourselves at your local library or favorite book store.

One of these days I'm going to write a fictional novel based on my experiences.

DAY 10

It was now Tuesday, and Sharlene was leaving. I was also supposed to be leaving, but that would change later. I was up fairly early but was still tired from all the previous lack of sleep. Sharlene was curled up under the comforter in her purple nightie. I'd let her sleep for a while, as she had a long drive home. So I watched the Today Show, and surfed the net. I might have even posted part of my TR. It was now nearing 10 am and it was time to get her awake. I asked her if she wanted to eat downstairs, or up in the room. She opted for downstairs at the Sundance Cafe. She jumped in the shower and I was tempted to join her. But she was putting on all her facial junk and shampoos and I thought I would leave her alone. I thought maybe we would have one more session, but that didn't happen.

I've never seen one person use so many towels. She uses towels for every part of her body. Plus the wash clothes and hand towels. For crying out loud, when she got done drying off, the towels covered the whole bathroom area. You couldn't take a step in that area without stepping on a towel.

By the time we got downstairs, it was around 11:15 am. We got seated in a booth that my all time favorite waitress was serving. Her name is Betti Jane, and I affectionately call her BJ. Usually she works the counter, and I sit there when I'm eating alone. Now she's from "back east" also, and has one of those NY attitudes. The first time I met her, I ordered pancakes and bacon, and when they arrived, the portion was HUGE!!! I looked at her and said, "Who the f' is ever going to finish this thing?" She told me, "You better eat the whole f'ing thing, or you're going to sit her until you are finished!" OK Mom, I'll try. She always seemed to disappear to the far side of the counter when I needed something.....like a refill on coffee. I would call her name out to get some service. She'd finally appear and read me the riot act for calling her name out so loud. This woman didn't care who I was and how high I played and wasn't going to take any shit from me. I immediately liked her. We formed a strong bond, and ever since I tip her better than anyone else. When things were really slow at the Silverton, and I didn't happen to have her as a server, I would walk up to her and slip her $5 anyway. She always appreciated it.

So she winds up having booths that day, and we sat in her "station". Sharlene had decided to have biscuits and gravy, and I just couldn't decide what to eat. So BJ brought me my tomato juice so I could take my meds and vitamins. I told her to brings Shar's coffee now and I would have mine after my juice. Shar then excused herself after the coffee had arrived, and then said she had to use the rest room. She also picked out some Keno numbers before she left. I sat there and waited and waited, and finally Star's meal arrived. I kept on waiting and waiting, and she hadn't come back yet. I told BJ to put her food back under the hot lamp to keep it warm. I was getting concerned where she was. For all I knew, she met some hot dude and went up to his room.

Finally things were just taking too long, and I got up to look for her. I went to the bath rooms and called out her name. No answer! So I went back to the slot/video area near the Sundance, and called out her name. In a few seconds, I saw a head pop up in front of a machine, and she called out she was there. She came running up to me with a TITO in her hand for $113.25. She was so excited. She said, "I went to that bank you told me about, and hit four deuces." Obviously, she was playing DDB and got lucky. We returned to the Cafe and I told BJ to bring her food. I still can't remember what I ordered. She told me she wanted to have a Bloody Mary before she left and play for a while. I told her she better have only one. She said she already knew that.

So off to the center bar we went, and I started playing dollars again. We took the last two seats. As much as I feel she brings me luck, she feels the same way about me. The progressive jackpot was now over $5600 and it sure would make this trip a success if I should hit it. Sharlene would also get her new laptop before she left, IF I should make that score, or at least get the money to buy it.

We played for a while, and when Sharlene's BM came, the bartender gave her a glass full of olives. Ironically, that's the same way Faye like to have her Bloody Maria's. Sometimes I see such similarity in the two, it's hard to tell them apart. Well Sharlene was hitting and I wasn't, but she decided to cash out and be on her way.

we went back to the room and got her luggage and headed back downstairs. She had planty of money now and didn't need any from me. She knew how bad I was running and wouldn't ask me for any. She had parked her truck in the area where the Silverton charged their electric golf carts. She had brought her own charger with her and it was being charged in the same area as they had electrical outlets that she could use. I helped her load her luggage. She gave me some kisses as she entered the truck, and put the key in the ignition, and it started right up. We loaded the charger back in the truck, and she got back in, gave me more kisses and she was on her way. As she disappeared from site, I could just feel my heart sink that she wasn't going to be with me for a while.

I walked back into the casino and went back to playing at the center bar. I was getting short on funds again, and prayed that Royal would appear. But it just kept teasing me like last trip by getting 4 to it and not have it fill in. Very frustrating. Meanwhile, Faye kept calling me at the bar asking when I was going to hit the road. I really was tired and didn't feel like driving that long trip today. I finally let her know that I wasn't coming home that night. After a pause, she just said that I BETTER make it home tomorrow, and to take care of her son who was still staying there. As a matter of fact, he's still there as he was supposed to check out the same time as we were on Dec. 5th...Monday. He called me the other day and asked if he could keep staying there if he didn't make any room charges. I told him that would be OK.

So after playing a while with mixed results, I thought I would take a drive to the Carnegie Deli at the Mirage to get the food items that Faye had requested. On the road, I got a call from my grammar school friend asking me if I could join her for dinner. I told her I was really tired and I wasn't sure yet. When I got to the Deli, I called her back and asked her if she was hungry now. She said she was at the Flamingo in the High Limit area, and I should pick her up and we'd go to eat at one of the Harrah's properties. I told her I would park at Bill's....sionow's trick...which I've been using since 1996...and walk over and get her. That's exactly what I did, and I easily found her play the Triple Wild Cherry game. She gets tons of freeplay and was playing it off and cashing in. She had won $18,500 in FSP at the Bally's slot tournament. So she asked me if I wanted to go to the Diamond Lounge for a cocktail and hor D'eurves. Sure, why not, I've never been in a Diamond Lounge before. So that's what we wound up doing. I ordered a Jack Daniels Manhattan while she opted for a Ginger Ale. I hoped she didn't get "loaded" before dinner. We talked about where to eat. She was now staying at the RIO, and would be checking into the Silverton the next day. After debating about where to eat, I told her let's just go back to the Silverton and eat at Twin Creeks which was now reopened after closing for Sun-Mon. She reluctantly agreed. She felt bad because she had already been there with her husband when the whole "tribe" ate there. But she couldn't resist having their lobster again and we agreed to meet there. I walked back to Bill's and got my car and drove to the Silverton. I took Las Vegas Blvd. as the traffic looked bad on the I-15. When I arrived, she was waiting for me in front of Twin Creeks.Since it was Tuesday, there was no problem getting in without a reservation. We got seated with my favorite waiter there, Rob. She naturally ordered the lobster. Each day, they would give me a $40 voucher for any of their restaurants. I had two of them on me, and was committed to giving one to Faye's son so he wouldn't starve.

She wanted to play BJ after dinner, and told me she would loan me $100 to play with and I'd pay her back when she got home. So off to the BJ tables we went, and she placed two $100 bills on the table for our buy in. I hoped that I could pump it up so I would have a stake for VP. But I also knew that I could cash another check if needed if I busted out in BJ. We continued to have mixed results, and I swear that I didn't catch one BJ during the whole session. She finally called it a night after she busted out, and I still had $40 left. After she left, during one of my progressions, I finally got up to a $40 bet....and lost. I know that if I won that hand, I would be ona streak and my funds would keep climbing...but it wasn't going to happen. I finally busted out and had limited funds left.

I went to the cashiers cage and decided to write a $300 check. I could have written for more, as my $1000 check had already cleared and I could have easily written a new one for that amount. But I wasn't sure if my funds from my brokerage account would be there the same time that the check arrived. $300 or even $500 would be no problem.

So the check gets cashed and I head back to them center bar. I was really tied and hoped I could make a quick hit on something. I mean that I only stayed over for two reasons. One was to get some rest, and the other was for a shot at this royal. I wound up hitting something on DDB bonus for $800. I immediately went to the cashiers cage to pick up my check. I played a little bit longer at the bar and went upstairs for a good nights sleep. It sure was going to be lonely again not having someone next to me. Oh well!

Day 11 tomorrow.

DAY 11

This was going to be definitely my last day in Vegas.....or was it? It was Wednesday, and the car was due back on Thursday, not that that mattered. I had kept cars for weeks even after I've gotten back from Vegas. My friend from grammar school was going to join me again for breakfast this time. She would be checking into the Silverton that day after checking out of the RIO. I asked her if she wanted anything special at the Silverton as far as rooms, but she agreed she didn't need a suite. We both had a lox, bagel and cream cheese platter. It was very good. After breakfast, we decided to play quarters at the Mermaid Lounge. The jackpot was over $1500, and that would put a dent in some of my debt, as well as let me be comfortable taking another shot at the $1 progressive. We played for a while with mixed results, and she decided it was time to check in.

I went with her to the registration to see if I could help her out with anything, and to see that she got the best room possible. As it turned out, I could have given her my suite, but she wouldn't hear of it. She did want a fridge for the room though, and the girl said it would cost extra each day. I just walked over to the host that was on duty at the time, and he walked out to the front desk and told them not to charge her. I also introduced her to him in case she needed any comps when I wasn't there. Not that she couldn't get her own comps. But for some reason she doesn't play as high at the Silverton as she does at Harrah's.

She was going to head up to her room and me to mine and we were both on the second floor. We said our goodbye at the elevator, and she wwent left and I went right. We were on opposite sides of the floor. It was time for me to get packed up and get going. I called up the bell desk, and made sure I had gotten everything out of the room. I kept on thinking that I should stay one more night, but Faye would go beserk if I did. I really wanted to have one more shot at that royal. It was now over $5700. I was short funds, but could write another check since I picked up the last one. So the bellman arrived to pick up my things, and I decided that although I might not stay over, I would take one more shot at that Royal. I tipped the bellman and told him to just load the car where it was parked. I would be out later.

It was only about 12:30 pm, and if I wasn't staying....I had already checked out....I didn't want to play too long as I wanted to get home at a decent hour. So I went to the cashier and cashed another $300 check. I sat down in my #3 seat and began to play dollars. The jackpot was now around $5750 which would be perfect for me to hit. I was playing for about a half hour on the same hundred dollars. Back and forth I went between BP and DDB. While I was playing DDB, I got dealt two Aces. I really wasn't thinking about getting four aces as my concentration was focused on hitting the Royal. But two more aces had popped up on the draw, and I had to look up to remember what game I was playing. WOW!! It was for the big one playing DDB for $800. I just sat there wondering what to do....stay...or leave. When I got back down to $800 I cashed out. I immediately went to the cage to pick up my check. I now had about $900 on me and that was enough of a bankroll to continue playing dollars for the royal. I asked my host to get my room back. He did. But when I went back to the bar and started playing again, I went through $100 in a few minutes. I then remembered how fast I could go through $1000 playing this game, and although I could write another check, I decided it was time to go home and have some decent money on me when I arrived, rather than praying I would hit that royal and go through my money again.

I got up from the bar, told my host I wasn't going to stay, and I headed out the door. I gave the valet a tip, took my keys and it was off to Calif. The ride was uneventful, and I stopped at Barstow for gas. With the gas stop, and hitting the rush hour traffic in San Bernadino, I would only make it back in 4 hours 45 mintues. But I was glad I let. Funny thing was, just when I hit Jean, NV, Faye called on the phone and said I could stay if I wanted to. I wasn't about to turn around and go back to the hotel. This way, I would get home at a decent hour, and get to see Faye in the home. It was time to see my puppies anyway. What a greeting I got from them when I arrived. They start howling when I get home.

It was a trip of mixed emotions. I really didn't feel like going when I knew that Faye wasn't going to be there. If her family wasn't coming in for Thanksgiving, I would have never been there. I wound up not eating with them anyway for TG. But it was definitely nice having Sharlene there. It will probably be a while before I go back as Faye would have to be walking normally before I went back, and that could be a long time although she is improving daily through physical therapy. We'll see!

Tomorrow, I'm meeting Shar at Harrah's Rincon. She has to appear in court on Wednesday in Vista for her DUI. It will be nice seeing her, and I plan to spend the nighh at Harrah's. Probably see her Wednesday also after court. Can't wait!

Well, things take a turn for the worst for Shar. Because she didn't appear in Barstow for her "not guilty" plea on the 19th of Nov., they issued a warrant for $50,000. If she appeared at the Vista courthouse for her date, she would have been picked up for that warrant. So she decides to go to Barstow and clear that warrant up, while I went to the Vista court to try and get her an extension for her appearance.

She faxed me her paperwork from Kaiser to show she was in a detox-rehab program to show the judge.

Today, I had to pick up a filing that had to be done first thing in the morning. Fortunately, the filing was a "drop" so I didn't have to wait in line. So I rushed down to the department where she was to be arraigned. I saw some bailiffs that I knew, and started talking to one of them. I wanted her to appear the next day, since I assumed she had gone to Barstow and would have all the paperwork to say she was there.

But backtracking a little bit. I awoke at 1:10 am and couldn't fall back to sleep. At 6 am, I started calling Star to make sure she was up in enough time to get to Barstow. When her phone went automatically to voice mail, I knew there was going to be a problem. I even called the guy she's staying with to try and wake him up. Although his phone rang and rang, it also went to voice mail, and I just knew that Sharlene wasn't making it to Barstow that day.

So I'm talking to this Sheriff hoping he would give her a break and put a "bug" in the judges ear about her case. BIG MISTAKE! He flat out told me he wasn't going to risk his career to help her out. I told him that's not what I was trying to do, only to explain to the judge her circumstance and maybe not have to put out a warrant because she was going to show up the next day. He then told me the procedure to get her back on calendar and reappear before the judge. While I was talking to him, my friend from the Public Defenders office was right beside me, and asked, "Is she in trouble again?" I told her she was. She told me to step outside and she'd talk to me. When we got outside the courtroom, she explained to me exactly what Sharlene should do to make sure she would appear in front of the judge the next day.

When I finally got out of the courthouse, I called her friend that she's living with and he answered. He finally answered me and told me they had started to go to Barstow but they thought they would never get there in time so they turned around and she went to her rehab classes. They would try to return to Barstow the next day and then go to Vista the following day. I told him I was canceling the Harrah's reservation.

Sharlene called me around 1:30 pm and explained to me that she wouldn't be going to Barstow or Vista until she completed her courses at Kaiser. So now she has two warrants out against her, and if she goes to Barstow, they'll pick her up on the Vista warrant. And if she goes to Vista, she'll get picked up on the Barstow warrant. She can't win for losing! But maybe with her paperwork from Kaiser, the judge will show some mercy, and let the Vista warrant slide. I hope so, as I just can't keep on bailing her out. This whole thing is turning into a big joke.

And to top it all off, Harrah's wanted to charge me $81 for canceling the reservation for tonight and tomorrow. But they let me just change the date until next week at no charge. Who knows if she'll ever be down here next week...or even next month. They could wind up throwing her back in jail which isn't a good situation for anyone. I can't believe how this woman keeps on screwing up. I'm really getting tired of it all.

Wake up and smell the roses.

She is only going to rehab to have an excuse for court. The judge ain't going to buy it. Not showing up to court is a problem. You should know that. If you can't make it, you need to call ahead to let them know why. $50,000 warrant seems very high to me but you know more about that than me. If it's higher than normal, she's pissed off a judge.

So as She is driving to either Court she gets pulled over and she is arrested on both warrants. No problem, also throw in driving on a suspended and revoked license. impound her vehicle for 30 days, hopefully it is not yours! She is going back to jail no matter what. Don't waste your money any more.

Looks like you aint going to be getting any for a long time! But there is a silver lining to it though. At least you will have more money for video poker.

Better yet like Snidely said just goes to Planet Hollywood or the strip and pick up a decent looking one. However knowing you style you can try the one's that play at the Silverton bar.