DAY 1 (SUNDAY)
For us it’s usually a 5 1/2 hour flight from the east coast to Vegas.
Those of you who happen to live much closer to Vegas are very fortunate,
as it usually is a 4:00 AM get up to get to the airport for an early flight out.
Take a later flight, and you risk having the problem of being delayed.
Then comes the CGC-SBS (Can’t Get Comfortable – Sore Butt Syndrome).
I’m not afraid to fly, but I HATE flying.
Nothing but lugging, walking, waiting, sitting, schlepping, cramping and lines.
However, this trip we were flying to Vegas from the Left Coast, San Diego to be exact,
on a late night flight after a family thing.
We were hoping to be checked in at The Orleans by midnight,
but before that happened we had to return our rent-a-car in San Diego.
Okay, not big deal except Rock’n Rita said we had to fill-er-up before we dropped it off.
What ???? …. Why didn’t you tell me sooner, as we passed the rental place.
So I’m riding around Downtown San Diego, up this street, and down that street trying to find a gas station.
I had tried to locate one on the GPS, but I’m driving, it’s dark,
I don’t know where I am, so I abandoned that idea.
FINALLY, we stumble across one, fill up, and head back to drop off the car.
Wait a minute, ......... now I’m lost again.
So it’s drive all around while still trying to listen to the GPS,
....................... but I don’t want to get back on the highway Mr. GPS Man.
Well after a few upsetting minutes, because we have a plane to catch ya know,
it finally sends me up the correct street ..................... the WRONG WAY !!!!
I no sooner turn onto the street when I hear “One Way Street”.
Okay, I immediately pull over to the right,
then I see a SD PD cruiser ahead of me on my side of the road with his spotlight on.
It must have been him shouting the warning over his outside speaker.
Oh-Oh !!!!! ...........
So I try to do a U-ey (that’s Massachusetts for U-Turn) and now he turns on his blue lights.
Double Oh-Oh.
He now pulls into the middle of the road and stops, holding up the traffic for me so that I can turn around.
Then I drive a short bit up to the next intersection, thinking now he’s going to pull me over,
but he turned off his lights and end of story.
Now I’m thinking that the street was either recently made a one-way, and/or the GPS’s have it wrong because
this must happen a lot.
He seemed to just be sitting there in the dark waiting for drivers who are obviously unfamiliar
with the area to drive up this street the wrong way.
Well I was very impressed with the SD PD for their professionalism and kindness during my dumb driving debacle.
They certainly live up to the police slogan “To Serve and Protect”. Thank You Officer.
Now between stopping for gas and getting lost, our flight departure “buffer” time has disappeared,
but we finally made it to the rental drop off and I start to pull in,
but wait ............ we have one more obstacle to overcome before this grinding gauntlet is over.
I can’t pull off the road and into the parking lot because there is a car stopped in front of me,
............. which is still running, lights on, but driverless, ............ and I can’t get by him. Now WTF ????
After a minute or so, a guy with an English accent
appears and walks over to my driver’s side window telling me that he can’t
drive into the parking lot because of the tire-spike-strip set up across the entrance to deflate tires.
I tell him that it recesses when you drive in, and it is okay to drive over.
He apologizes profusely, gets in his car, and we are soon on the shuttle to the airport.
We breeze through security for our 9:55 pm flight to Vegas, exhausted from this pre-vacation-trip.
It was a short hour or so flight to Vegas from San Diego ............ Ya got to love that.
Through McCarran to the car rental shuttle place, get the car, which took quite a long time,
turn the GPS on, and off we go headed toward The Orleans.
Now the GPS is showing me where the gas stations are in San Diego ............ ??????
I was hoping to check-in by midnight, but that never happened.
The car rental took way longer and was much farther from the airport than we thought.
We checked into The Orleans about 1:00 AM (now Monday morning).
Ahhhhhh ……. We’re Home !!!!!!
That smell as we walked through the door,
............... It’s the familiar scent, good or bad, when you enter your “home” casino hotel
that is always saying “Welcome Back”.
This is always the most embracing when you first walk in,
at the very beginning of a long anticipated Vegas Vacation.
Okay, enough smelling ............
We schlep it over to the elevators and up to room 1804 in the original tower.
We have a Strip view, but we hardy appreciate it anymore like a Vegas Virgin would.
It’s the second last room at the end of the very long hallway.
The good part was that we were far enough away from the elevators that we couldn’t hear
the constant soft “ding” that can become such an annoying whisper in the dead of night.
Also, we were so far down the hall that the foot traffic of late night revelers was non-existent.
However we did have that long walk each time back and forth, but a little forced exercise is beneficial, right ?
After all, when I weighed-in back home at the end of this trip, I weighed exactly what I was before leaving.
Yea Me !!!!
Although we were “home” now, this time the room seemed distinctively different,
Now we’ve stayed at The Orleans for years and have had different rooms in all three towers on all different floors,
but this was the first time in quite a few trips that we had a room
where the beds were on the right as we entered.
I think because of design, every other room is a mirror image of each other.
Since we haven’t had this “side” in quite a few trips (maybe years), and we were so used to the other way,
it took a little getting used to, ........... kind of like a moving into a new apartment.
Bing, Bang, Boom, ....... We drop everything in the room, and we were back down and in the casino in record time.
I love the sights and sounds of a casino, and even after 1:00 AM on Monday it did not disappoint.
The lights were flashing and the machines were whirring, beeping and dinging. Love It, Love It, Love It.
Our tradition, as you have probably read before,
is to always first play the quarter Loose Deuces near the Alligator Bar together before anything else.
(Back on the plane Rock’n Rita asked me if I felt lucky, and I told her “Not on the Looses Deuces,
but I do for Triple Trouble Poker and Joker Poker”.
We sat down next to each other and I inserted a $5 bill into the machine.
I told her “Wouldn’t it be nice to just put this five in and win,
and then not have to use any more of my money for the rest of the trip”.
Now that WOULD be nice, but it never happened.
After a short time neither of us was hitting, so I told her that I was going to play Triple Trouble Poker.
I wasn’t playing 5 minutes when I hit 4 Aces while playing dollars. Cooooool. On this game it’s $1,000 for four Aces.
Isn’t it always nice to start a Vegas Vacation with a solid win.
I cashed out $1,175 and went off to show Rock’n Rita my first TITO Trophy.
Then I went back to the same machine and inserted another $100,
and before I knew it I had 4 Aces on the screen again !!!!
I cashed this one out at $1,195 !!!!! That’s two $1,000 Hits in about the first 30 minutes in the casino.
As you can see on the two TITO’s, the time between the two tickets is about 26 minutes,
but the actual time between the two hits was actually less than that.
What a Rock’n way to start a Vegas Vacation !!!!!
Last trip I hit 4 Aces on this same machine too.
I call it my Favorite-Triple-Trouble-Poker-Gives-Up-4-Aces-Easily-Machine, .......... who’s location shall remain a secret.
Up to the room about 3:15 AM and back down for the breakfast buffet at 8:30 AM, ... Recharged and Ready to Rock.
Well I was, ......... but Rock’n Rita didn’t sleep well. She said I was jumping and jerking all night while sleeping,
ya know those involuntary muscle spasm things?,
(obviously the “all night” part couldn’t be true, as we didn’t get to bed until 3:30 AM),
……so I kept waking her, and she didn’t really get to sleep until 5:00 AM.
In the morning I told her to stay in bed and that I’ll just take a quick shower,
go to the breakfast buffet, and then gamble while she caught up on her sleep.
Even from her sleepy state, and half closed eyes, I could still interpret that this was not a very good suggestion,
so I patiently waited while she got ready.
The Orleans Breakfast Buffet is one of our small but anticipated indulgences every trip.
We ate breakfast here every day, except for the morning we went to South Point.
Each morning I over-dosed on bacon, ahhhh yes bacon, one of the world’s best foods,
.......... that is, along with Pizza, Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips and the greatest snack of snacks, Doritos.
DAY 2 (MONDAY)
After The Orleans Breakfast Buffet, which we rate always an B+ due to its consistency, service and value,
we planned on hanging by the pool for awhile. However, it was slightly overcast,
so we decided to drive Downtown a bit earlier than we had planned,
This was the only day we didn’t spend time at the pool.
All the other days it was a religious 45 minutes for Rock’n Rita, and an hour for me.
NOTE: This is the best part of a vacation, ......... you are just starting out on your first full day
knowing that you have the whole week ahead of you. Fun, fun, fun.
Before leaving, we played a short time after breakfast, and I hit this Straight Flush for $500.
On this same machine I had a weird winning hand.
Although it was only for $170, I thought it interesting enough to snap a picture.
I held an Ace, and received 4 of a kind in Deuces.
As rare as this seems, I vaguely remember the same scenario happening to me a few trips ago.
On the way Downtown we stopped off at the Gold Coast because it was one of those high point days.
Of course the sun came out strong just as we were leaving.
At the Gold Coast We didn’t really hit anything significant. I basically used my F$P and then we cut out.
On the way Downtown, on 15, there was a traffic accident in the right couple of lanes jamming things up,
but after we got by it we were in the Main Street Station parking lot in no time.
BTW, Why do west coast people call it THE 5, and THE 15. It’s 5 and 15, and that’s it, ......... PERIOD.
First we walked down Fremont Street, and since I forgot to pack shorts (no not underwear, thank God),
I stopped and bought a pair at Walgreens for $14.99.
They were light tan cargo shorts, the waist size was okay, but they were way too long.
When I put my camera and phone in the lower flap pockets, they kept whacking me below the knees,
over and over with each step I took.
Whatever happened to just plain old regular length shorts ???
We made a quick stop at the ABC Store to by a friend a couple of those
Cigars they sell in the Souvenir Las Vegas tubes, but they didn’t have them.
Bummer .......... he’ll be disappointed because he says they are really good cigars, and I buy him a couple every trip.
Further down at the last intersection before the El Cortez,
I had remember reading that there was a collectible toy store in that area,
owned by the “expert” toy guy who’s seen on Pawn Stars. We walked one more block and didn’t see it,
so we banged a left to the El Cortez.
I love playing there except for the fact that the machines I was playing were the old coin drop ones.
Years ago that constant coin clunking from the dollar tokens was readily received as a victory salute from the machine.
However, been there done that, and now it’s come down to I just trying to catch
as many tokens as I can in my hands and dump them into the buckets,
upset now from the whole coin dropping experience that I once loved.
In the room that has all Video Poker there is a favorite dollar Joker Poker (KOB) machine
that pays $90 for 4 OAKS.
This nice Straight Flush that I hit fairly early which started me on my nice run.
Rock’n Rita was off play their slots for a while,
because of some advertisement that she read about how good they were there,
So I stayed on this machine hammering away for quite a long time.
I finally cashed out with a nice $450 profit when Rock’n Rita returned after
some sessions with Ghostbuster’s, Grease and other potentially semi-life changing games.
She appeared slightly saddened and embarrassed by her naiveté,
like a little kid who’s been duped by her peers, and we decided to leave.
Win or lose, we both still enjoy playing at there, and usually do every trip.
Actually this trip Downtown we only gambled at the El Cortez and Main Street Station.
We were getting pretty hungry by now,
so we walked back up Fremont Street and ended up at Main Street Station.
I could be wrong, but I thought I saw a sign outside that read something like their
buffet was “Rated one of the Top 5”,
and I’ve heard good things about this buffet in the past, but we both agreed to rate it a C+ at best,
even when using the 2/1 LVA coupon that I had.
Afterwards I found the “Triple Deuces” video poker machines that we failed to find last time.
They are labeled Deuces Wild, but getting 4 Deuces on a quarter machine pays a whopping 3,000 credits.
That’s $750 !!!!! These machines were located near the valet parking exit,
and the AC in that area was blowing like the wind of a New England blizzard.
I REALLY wanted to play these machines, but I lasted only a few minutes there
because I was afraid an icicle would fall on my head.
Upset at the frigid conditions, I slammed my fingers down on the Cash Out button while uttering two words,
...........and they weren’t “Merry Christmas”.
I moved on to the quarter Loose Deuces Royal Progressive where it was much warmer,
but the machines there were very cold.
Rock’n Rita joined me after about 30 minutes of playing at igloo-ville.
It was getting late, and I was starting to get tired,
still not quite adjusted to the large meals, late nights and little sleep,
so we headed back to The Orleans, without getting lost this time. Yeaaa !!!
We played a bit, but I was still weary,
so I decided to buy a small bottle of pre-mixed Margarita and a bag of Doritos.
I sauntered to the room, filled the ice bucket for my drink and relaxed with my salty snack,
calling it a night. Rock’n Rita arrived shortly after, weary from both lack of sleep and luck.
DAY 3 (TUESDAY)
Before I forget, I took these pictures of two events happening this week in Vegas.
(I just love the way Vegas advertises things, especially those moving billboards on the Strip.)
The Mr. Olympia competition going on at The Orleans.
All the casino-level elevator doors had posters on them, which was kind of cool.
Another event that was going on in town was the annual Bike Week.
Today we did our usual breakfast buffet, gamble, pool, gamble, gamble, gamble.
Rock’n Rita joined me at the bar for some Triple Trouble Poker.
She hit 4 Aces for a nice $500, after she only held one Ace.
Nice going Baby !!!!
Sometimes on our Agenda we might schedule a movie, since there is a nice complex right within The Orleans.
If we can fit it in, fine, and if we are too busy that’s fine too, which happens the majority of our trips.
Sometimes we even use it as kind of a safety valve if we are getting beaten up by the machines,
or if the weather is bad and not accommodating for the pool or walking the Strip.
That rarely happens though.
Since we didn’t see a movie last trip, we figured the couple of hours down time would be a nice break.
Now we are not “go to the movies” people when at home,
and actually the last 4 movies we’ve seen since 2003 were at The Orleans in Vegas
(Bruce Almighty, The Hangover, Money Ball and today we saw Lawless).
Lawless is a true story about prohibition and moonshiners in the 1930’s.
It was pretty violent at times, and interesting enough that I didn’t fall asleep.
We received a coupon for a free popcorn at check-in, and I had saved the one we received from the last trip,
so we each had that as a snack which held us over until the Red Rock Casino Evening Buffet later that night.
Since we have never been to Red Rock Casino,
and since this has been our to-do list for quite some time, we were a little excited about going there.
We had the 2/1 LVA coupon for the Red Rock Buffet, but first we had to find the Slot Club, get a card,
and of course play a bit.
The boothling issued me a new “Boarding Pass” and said I had some F$P on it. Cool.
She said it had something to do with Green Valley Ranch,
so I guess it was from playing there twice quite a few tears ago.
She couldn’t find Rock’n Rita in the system, and therefore no F$P for her,
....... but we always play together at the same place ???
Where’s hers ? This always seems to happen to her.
Anyway, I sit down and put my card in, push all the right buttons for my F$P,
and up pops ...................... $3.00 !!!!
WTF ?????, 3 Freak’n Dollars ???? are you kidding me ???
and here I was all excited figuring I’d get at the VERY least $10.
We played for a tiny bit and ventured over to the buffet.
I was slightly disappointed with this buffet because I heard good things.
Although it wasn’t bad, we rated it at a B-, I just anticipated it at being better.
We each exchanged one dollar of our winnings for a casino chip for our collections and headed for the door,
adding a “been there, done that” to our list.
We left Red Rock and headed east. Our next stop was Suncoast Casino.
This was the first time we’ve ever visited here also, and we played much longer here because it was a Coast Property
where we try to consolidate most of our play, and more importantly because we were hitting.
We had a lot of fun and some exceptional luck playing here.
Rock’n Rita was really doing well on her machine hitting this Straight Flush on Joker Poker by needing the 4 of Clubs.
This was as example of when you’re hot you’re hot , and when you’re not, you’re not ..........
............. because a very short time later when I needed that same 4 of Clubs for Straight Flush,
I didn’t connect
So not having any luck there I moved to a Triple Play machine,
and this was where I hit my 4 Deuces first, after being dealt 3.
I cashed out, and showed Rock’n Rita my TITO, then went back to the same machine.
Within a few hands I was dealt 3 Deuces again, but this time didn’t connect with the forth Deuce.
After leaving Suncoast, I turned the car left onto Alta Drive
instead of going through to the next intersection (Charleston Boulevard).
The GPS kept wanting me to take a right, but I’m still driving parallel,
and I’m passing the streets in the order they should be. Cool.
Decatur, okay the next one will be Arville, ................. NOT.
Well after riding around for 10 minutes, I end up on the Strip, and I know where I am now.
After I got home and checked just where I went wrong.
Wouldn’t you believe it, Arville, which would have brought me straight back to The Orleans
stopped at Charleston, and didn’t continue on to Alta ???
Murphy’s Law.
Maybe this time I should have listened to the GPS.
DAY 4 (WEDNESDAY)
We drove to South Point as we needed this casino’s chip for our collections too.
Walking to the rental car I remembered the GPS, and wasn’t about to hike it back just for that, right ???
I mean, I’m a guy, and those things are more of a toy, right ???, cause I NEVER get lost, .......... right ???
Well turns out I did just fine without it, even though we changed our Agenda a bit too.
On the way there we got on the Strip via the back of Mandalay Bay.
We saw that new giant Ferris Wheel construction site, but it didn’t appear to be progressing.
I started wondering if this is going to be another of those procrastinated-partial-projects.
While at South Point we planned on eating their Breakfast Buffet.
We had another LVA 2/1 Coupon which I wanted to use.
Their breakfast selection had many brunch type items and cloth napkins too, ............. Fancy.
However, we felt that the service there was sub-par. When I asked our overwhelmed waiter for ketchup,
he never brought it. The Orleans Buffet, has those big-fat-upside-down bottles of ketchup on every table.
I LOVE ketchup, and put it on just about everything.
So even though South Point’s breakfast buffet selection was far more extensive than The Orleans,
actually bordering on lunch,
we still only gave it an overall rating of a C+.
Oh yea, there wasn’t any watermelon or blintzes that day also, which Rock’n Rita
always looks forward to, and enjoys so much.
.......... and while eating at the buffet, South Point was testing their security alarm system.
“WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP, WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP, WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP,”
“Emergency personnel are now in the building”
“WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP, WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP, WhooooooooooooooooooooooooP,”
“Emergency personnel are now in the building”
Over and over, AND over and over, AND OVER AND OVER.
This went on for at least ten minutes, and with the flashing strobe lights too,
all throughout the entire property, not just in the buffet.
It was so nice when that racket stopped.
We gambled there a bit after eating.
There was a bank of quarter Bonus Deuces with a Royal Progressive that was up over $1,500 that we played.
As soon as I sat down the lady to my left lit a cigarette, never acknowledging my presence,
and let the smoke constantly drift in my direction.
It’s just nice when they say something like “Do you mind”, and I’ll say “No, but thanks for asking though”.
Okay, I understand I can move, so I just keep playing and ignored her like she did me.
A few minutes later I heard her say “I got it”. She hit the Royal for $1,569,
Instead of congratulating her and making small talk like I would normally would do,
I continued to ignored her and her cigarette smoke, just as she had totally ignored me.
Before leaving South Point we each added one of their dollar chips to our collection,
and then crossed this place off our “to see” list,
leaving me with the “WhooooooooooooooooooooooooooP, WhooooooooooooooooooooooooooP”
still echoing in my brain, a smokey-smelly shirt and without my morning ketchup fix.
We were going to go to “M” after South Point, then to Silverton,
but Rock’n Rita didn’t feel like it at that time.
We been to both places before, so if there are no good offers or promotions,
it’s all the same, and I didn’t feel like going now either.
She suggested that we go to Arizona Charlies and Palace Station to get chips for our collections.
We’ve been there before and weren’t quite sure if we had their chips.
We zipped up 15 and was at Palace Station in what seemed like 2 minutes.
Then to Arizona Charlie’s (Decatur). On the way back we saw a .99 Store that was actually pretty big,
so we stopped in
and did some shopping there. Some items were even .59 and .79 cents.
I noticed that the .99 items ring up at .9999, so it’s basically a Dollar Store.
I guess the big “99” on a sign has more impact than a Dollar Store sign.
Later that afternoon we dropped the car off at The Orleans, which was very convenient.
Strange thing about both rental cars ........
(we had a Dodge Avenger in California, then a Chevy Malibu in Las Vegas),
the directionals on the left stick of the Dodge Avenger was very sensitive,
so when I used the turn signal, the high beams would go on.
Then when I tried to turn them off, the headlights would go turn off.
Both cars had a wiper control lever connected to the steering column on the right side.
For some reason I kept brushing it when turning, and the wipers would go on.
It didn’t make any difference, right hand, left hand, I kept hitting that stupid stick.
Rock’n Rita thought this was the funniest thing.
I’m trying to concentrate and be cool, and she’s Rock’n around in the passenger seat
with tears streaming down her cheeks.
WTF ????? .......... Don't they ever test what they design ?
Tonight we ate at Canal Street in The Orleans.
We rated this an A. We have never had a bad meal or bad experience here.
I started with a Beefeater Martini on the Rocks, and ordered the 14 oz. New York Steak,
Baked Potato and Salad. Rock’n Rita had the 8 oz Filet Mignon with Two Grilled Shrimp,
Baked Potato and Salad. I finished with a glass of White Zinfandel.
I love their bread basket here too.
The bill (not counting tip) was exactly $99.99.
That’s the second time within hours that I saw the number 9999.
Too bad that it wasn’t on the Roulette table to bet, huh ???
After dinner I was walking through the casino when I heard a video poker machine
singing that familiar Royal Flush music.
I stopped to look, and there was a lady waiting for the attendant.
She hit a dollar Royal ($4,000) after just holding the Queen of Hearts.
It reminded me of the time I did that after just holding the Jack of Hearts.
That was the year that I could do no wrong in the casinos, but those years are extremely rare,
and I haven’t been quite that lucky since.
DAY 5 (THURSDAY)
Took the shuttle to Strip, dropping us off at “The Casino Formerly Known as the Barbary Coast”,
and from there we walked to Bellagio.
The fountains were just starting to play the Star Spangled Banner ,
which was immediately followed by Time to Say Goodbye , by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.
.
This is Our Song because it was playing the first time we ever saw the fountains,
on our very first trip to Vegas many years ago.
After the two fountain shows we stopped inside a bit to see the Conservatory,
but since we vacation in Vegas every spring and fall
we see the same basic two set-ups, over and over.
This time it was the mill with the water wheel and with the more recently added talking tree again.
One tiny toddler in a stroller was totally mesmerized by that talking tree.
If you look hard enough, you can see it in the sunlit background of this picture.
Here are a couple other Conservatory pictures that I took.
Inside we played a little Triple Trouble Poker. Last trip we both hit these for Royals ($2K and $4K),
but not this time.
I’m trying to get a little established with the M properties, so each trip I give them a little play.
It’s always good have a second home base (in waiting) ............. ]just in case.
Tonight we ate at The Prime Rib Loft in The Orleans
I started with the Lump Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps for an appetizer,
which coupled excellently with my Beefeater Martini on the Rocks.
Since Rock’n Rita doesn’t eat mushrooms, I had them all to myself.
For an entrée I had Two Double-bone Lamb Chops, Marinated in Garlic and Rosemary,
Served with Sweet Potato Hash and Lamb Demi-glace (quoting the menu).
Rock’n Rita’s ordered Prime Rib done medium, but looked more like medium-well.
However she said that it was fine. We both gave this meal a B+
After dinner I left Rock’n Rita at the quarter Loose Deuces, as she was determined to hit them for that $625.
I started playing a Multi-Strike game nearby.
I was playing Deuces Wild and had a lot of action, and hit my second set of 4 Deuces this trip.
Shortly after that I hit a Wild Royal on the top line,
which was the most that I have ever hit on the top line When playing this game.
It was for 125 (quarters) x 8 (for the top line) = $250.
I find it funny when I’m dealt something good, that I can’t get my fingers to hit the hold buttons fast enough.
It’s like the cards are going to vanish off the screen and return back into the RNG
if I don’t hold them in immediately.
That’s how I felt with this hand when I was dealt 4 to a Wild Royal on the 8 X bonus line.
I cashed out a while later, checked in with Rock’n Rita to see how she was doing,
Then went back to sitting at the bar to play more of my lucky Triple Trouble Poker machine.
After several minutes I heard Rock’n Rita from behind me say “Hi” ............. “Sweetheart”
She always calls me “Sweetheart”.
I figure she either hit those 4 Deuces or had no luck and was moving on to another area in the casino.
So I turn to my right and no one is there. ............... Am I hearing things ?
Then I turn to my left, and she’s not there either,
but standing beside me was a very attractive and cute girl who softly asked “Are you alone?”.
I quickly answered “No, Sorry”, and she moved along, immediately vaporizing into the casino.
.......... besides I’d much rather spend this night of my vacation playing video poker than in a jail cell,
or even far, far worse, ............ in divorce court.
DAY 6 (FRIDAY)
We decided to see Mac King at Harrah’s since it’s been a few years since we’ve see his show.
Before the show we walked up and down the Strip, first checking out the LINQ Project,
but really couldn’t tell what was going on, especially in front and along the Imperial Palace area.
As we passed the Venetian I took a picture of one of those building wraps put up to mask unfinished construction.
Look closely and you’ll see it. Pretty cool huh ?
Still a bit early for the show we turned south to Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile to check out the ABC Stores,
still looking for those cigars for my friend.
This store didn’t have them either, but the cashier was kind enough to call the other store inside the Miracle Mile,
saving me the long walk around. That store didn’t have them either.
Well there’s always May in 8 months when we’ll be back..
Now here’s a tip ........... Inside the Miracle Mile there are two ABC Stores.
However one is about 2 or 3 stores in from the south entrance,
but if you enter at the north entrance, it’s a much longer walk and more time consuming to get to the other store.
ABC Store’s always have large bottles of cold water for just .99 cents, and I usually get one or two.
We got to the Mac King show and had good seats.
He’s added a few new tricks that were pretty amazing,
along with his signature gold fish and Fig Newton tricks.
Not only is he a very good magician,
but I would say his show is one of the best entertainment values in Vegas.
I also like the fact that his shows are in the afternoon,
which sometimes is a nice break from the gambling, walking and shopping.
We shuttled it back to The Orleans and played a while before dinner,
sitting side by side still trying to hit those quarter Loose Deuce machines.
Now when sitting next to Rock’n Rita when playing video poker, it’s always very amusing,
As she plays you definitely know that she getting her full entertainment value, whether she wins or lose.
“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, …………. Deuuuuuuce.”
“Joker-Three, Joker-Three, Joker-Three. I neeeeeed five of a kind, pleeeeeeeeze?, ................ BASTARD.”
“Deuce, Deuce, Deuce, ..........Just one more Deuce, .............. C’MON DEUCE.”
“Do you think that I could get that just once ???, That’s the fifth time that’s happened.”
“C’mon, .......... King, KING, KING !!!!!, .................. Please, please, please, please .......... Aghhhhh.”
“I’m getting nothing here”, ............... C’mon.”
Ace, ACE, ACE ............. c’mon, CA-Monnnnnnnnnnnnnn, .................. Shit. I’m switching games”.
“C’mon Ten, C’Mon Ten, Yeaaaa, I got it, ............... Oh Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!!!”
“That’s Four of a kind ............. I needed that.”
I think she tries to motivate the machine to deal the cards she wants by some sort of intimidation.
It’s sometimes exhausting just sitting next to her, but she does get her money’s worth.
BTW, this is mild compared to when she watches our N.E. Patriots play. LOL
This was our last night of our Vegas vacation, and we usually spend it dining at Canal Street.
I again had my Martini, and we each had the 8 oz Filet Mignon, Baked Potato and Salad.
Another A rated meal. I don’t think you could ever go wrong choosing this place to eat.
After dinner we had tickets to “Salute To Roy Orbison” in The Orleans Showroom.
It was one of those tribute shows, and the singer, some Australian guy, was a talented.
I like some Roy Orbison songs, the big hits “Pretty Woman”, “Only the Lonely”, “Crying”,
but the show had many I didn’t know.
The stage was full of people ...... four Dancers, two female backup vocalists,
bass, acoustic and electric guitar players, keyboard, drums, and a four piece string section,
but the overall show was just alright as far as we were concerned, so we rated it a C.
The best show that I ever saw in The Orleans showroom was The Righteous Brothers (twice).
Their performances were awesome and deserved an A+.
They had that place Rock’n, and it is what I judge the other shows by there.
After the show I drifted over to the Multi-Strike machines and hoped for a repeat of my previous luck.
Once again Rock’n Rita sat at those Loose Deuces nearby, when I heard her call to me.
She finally hit the 4 Deuces, .......... Yea Baby !!!!!!! YOU DID IT
DAY 7 (SATURDAY)
We leave today. Waahhhhhh.
Leaving Vegas is always so mood changing,
.......... like pulling the plug on a a Rock’n Classic that’s playing full blast on your stereo.
I don’t know if I should actually call this “DAY 7”, because we weren’t actually in Vegas for very long.
We had the first flight out at 6:10 AM, so we had a Wake-Up-Call for 3:30 AM. Well that sucked.
Cabbed it to the airport and through check-in and security before I was able to yawn twice.
Mc Carran is eerily empty and quiet at that time of the morning.
It’s almost as if it was resting before the next 100,000+ stampeding visitors would pass
though during the day.
One nice thing about departing on this early morning flight is that we didn’t have to experience all
those happy people exiting aircraft who are just starting their Vegas Vacations.
I hate having to be exposed to their exploding elation of having just arrived in Vegas.
Hate it, hate it, hate it.
So while waiting for our flight we did gamble a bit,
which is probably the only good thing about leaving Vegas,
.......... mainly video poker at the airport, ............. and that’s cool.
Here’s a picture of my hit at the airport. $250.
I’ve already started our Agenda for our next trip in May, 2013.
A few items penciled in so far is to rent a car and travel to Boulder Highway and visit a few casinos there.
If anyone has any suggestions for shopping, sights or restaurants for that area, it would be appreciated.
We also plan on checking out the newly renovated and highly touted buffet at Caesars.
Again, if anyone has been already, how is it ?
Maybe by next May the new LINQ project will be partially open, and that should also be cool to see.
If not, .................. Oh well, there’s always next fall again.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
Rock’n Rick ........ and Rock’n Rita
