Superbowl Day #1

Posted by Grant on 02-15-2005

Day 1.

This is the annual Superbowl trip.

Caught an early flight to Vegas this trip, decided to leave at 7 am so I would have the whole day to enjoy. Printed my southwest ticket before I left for the airport, had my brother drop me off so quickly checked my bags and headed to the gate. Arrived at the gate about an hour before the flight and people were already standing in line. This was my first time flying Southwest and I was amazed at how long people will stand in line. Boarding started on time and there weren’t many people on the flight, I found a nice row with no one in it so I could lie down. I was in and out of sleep for a couple hours till we arrived in Albuquerque. This was just a quick stop to grab more people; we didn’t even get off the plane. They said this leg was going to be full, so I decided to move close to the front. About an hour later we were in Vegas.

Arrived at the airport and decided to catch the shuttle, I always seem to have great luck with the shuttles, right when I got on the shuttle we left and the Luxor was the second stop. Checked my bag with no problems at the front desk (friends would be arriving around 8 pm) and decide to head to the strip. I had told myself earlier that because I wasn’t feeling well I wasn’t going to get hammered the first day. I think I lied to myself. I wanted to stop first at the Casino Royale and get some cheap roulette in before the weekend. I knew I probably wouldn’t make it back to the Royale the rest of the weekend so this was my time. I had to wait about 30 minutes to get a seat but then I started playing. Didn’t hit any numbers, and table was cold. Down $60 after about 2 hours. Went over and viewed the double hand blackjack where you can switch cards. I was about to play but it didn’t look like that great of game, it must be popular because there were quite a few tables. It seems like a high advantage to the house. (Blackjacks pay even money).

I decide it is time to play some poker. Walked by the Harrah’s poker room but it was dead, decide to check out the IP. IP’s room was also pretty quiet but I liked the style of it. I asked for the $2/$4 hold em but there weren’t any seat available. The host tells me he has a seat at $1/$2 no-limit with a max $100 buy-in. I have played no limit a lot online, so I decide to try it. Well, I couldn’t get crap for hands and the crowd at the table sucked. During my time playing I noticed the total garbage hands these people were playing, I ended up pushing my chips with an A8, get called by a guy with A7 and then another guy raises again. We all call. He has pocket Kings. Not looking too good for me. Flop comes 9 10 J, so I need a 7, Queen, or A. Of course turn and river don’t help me and I am out $80. It was terrible play on my part; I wasn’t patient and let the factors at the table alter my play. Was tempted to buy in for another $100 but decided it is time to get something to eat.

I head over to the Barbary Coast to check on some of the NFL bets. I see the hotdog stand. I have read good things about the hotdogs at the Coast. It wasn’t too bad, hit the spot. As I was looking over some of the bets in the book, I decide due to my two quick losses it was time to start drinking. The cocktail waitresses were offering in the Barbary Coast, but I wanted to check out Bally’s and kill a little more time.

I found a nice bank of penny machines near the bar, with a nice big plasma screen above them. I watched UNC destroy NC State while enjoying about 5 beers. Cocktail service was a little slow, seemed like they kept switching waitresses. Well it is around maybe 3 pm I think and I decide to head back over to the Barbary Coast for some Pai Gow.

Find a nice $5 table and asked the waitress if they serve Jager bombs (Jagermeister and Red Bull shot). I was shocked that she said yes, I quickly order one. These are not the best things to be drinking at 3pm when you have at least 12 – 14 more hours of drinking. I end up playing for about an hour or so break even, finish another bomb or two and get a call from one of my buddies. He just arrived and I decide to walk back to the Luxor to meet him.

We decide to hang out in the Luxor till about 8 pm when my other friends arrive. Play a little blackjack and lose about $40. Around 8 pm we meet them in the lobby and get the room keys, we have a suite and a connecting room. There will be about 6-8 of us (2 others had a room at the MGM). I have been in the same clothes all day, so I quickly shower and get dressed. We decide to gamble at the Luxor for the first night.

I am already about down $200 before they start gambling so I decide to take it a little easy. They all play blackjack and I hit the penny slots. I met the coolest waitress at the Luxor; wish I had remembered her name. She was bringing me almost two drinks every round, she kept coming up and saying “Here, try this one, tell me if you like it”. I slur her “thankkk yoooooou” and continue to booze. As you can see, that I wanted to take the night easy but that didn’t happen.

After my buddies did a nice session we decide to head over the to Rum Jungle at the Mandalay Bay, half way over there or other friends call and say it is closed on Thursdays. Back to the Luxor for more gambling. The dealers at the Luxor this trip were a lot of fun and entertaining. We play a little more blackjack and I decide to call it a night around 3 am. (This is one of the earliest times I have been to sleep ever in Vegas).

I knew I wanted to pace myself a little better this trip. 2 of my buddies head to sleep too and a few stay up to gamble. One actually stayed up till 3 pm the next day!

Recap: Down about $200.00 and didn’t cover as much ground as I wanted to.

Posted by Grant

More coming tommorrow, I didn't use that much detail, I will add some more detail to other days.

Any questions, post them here

Posted by misterKeno

Good start Grant----(not the gamblin tho)....but good start for a TR !!!

WOOHOO.

So you walked after those bally's drinks TO the luxor eh ? You didnt stumble at all ?

Maaaaan, i feel like a TOTAL lite-weight now for drinking, lol. First nite i was in LV (on my last trip), i had about seven drinks in 4 hours, and juuuuust remembered my room #, and crashed at about 2am, then felt 'sick' 3am to 4am, lol. I guess i dont have the tolerance you do.

'slurrrrr' 'umm, try this one', too funny!!!!
So, how was the room. How was the room!!!!! Picts?
I shouldnt holler for picts---mine still aint up from MB & orleans.

cant wait for next chapter

matthew

Posted by gregrio

HEY!, glad you got it started..., so far-so good.
The SouthWest lines sure get old real quick...for me, it's still the best way to fly, but I'm sure glad when I get my seat. I like the two right and left ones in the very front (lots more leg room) You don't have a tray to set your drink on, but you don't have to remember to put it back up in it's upright possion either...

Hope you didn't get too cold on the leg from Florida to Albuquerque...
You mentioned you didn't even get (off) the plane...
I prefer to get (in) the plane and let Evil Kanivel on (on) the plane.

Back to the SW lines...did I ever mention on my last trip, one of
Steve Wynn's sales reps was in line next to me...waiting to get (in)
the plane...? You'd think Steve would allow his sales reps a little more money for their flight expense accounts (maybe the $ comes out of his own pocket)

I'm curious how LUXOR's suites are...tell us about 'em.
THANKS FOR PART ONE!

Posted by Bluejeans

Hey glad you had the day to do your thing. Sometimes it is nice to move where and when you feel like it.
Wow! ! Don't know how you do it Grant. That many drinks and I couldn't have crawled back to the Lux. You walked! Your good...lol
Had some good play going just no cards or numbers to work for you. Hope the next day was better.
Southwest is sometimes the best we can do on price. I do hate their system for boarding. Feels like a cattle call....
What did you think of the rooms at the Lux? Never stayed there myself.
Will be looking for the rest of the TR, and looking, and looking.....??

Posted by Grant

More coming tonight.

Rooms at the Luxor: We were in the newer tower (I believe West this year). They are nice rooms. Big bathrooms with a large tub and big shower. The regular room has two queen beds and a little table. The suite has a large living room with a pull out coach, bar with fridge, table and chairs, room is suite was king with a huge bathroom. We also got a roll a bed for Friday - Sunday nights. Sorry didn't take any pics at all this trip!

Will try to get more of the report tonight! The more I delay the more I forget... Friday seems hazy to me for some reason, Saturday rocked! More coming..

Greg, they didn't even give us the option to in Albuquerqe to get off the plane.

Keep asking questions, if I missed your question, just re-ask.

Posted by gregrio

HEY!...I'm the 55 yr.old here with re-occuring senior molments, you don't have the luxury of that excuse...you're too young and just suffering from
alcohol-braincell-burnout!

Next time, TAKE YOUR CAMERA! You won't have to remember anything...
(except where you left the camera) then you can just let your pictures
tell your story.

Your TripReports will be as user friendly as DENNY's...you can be drunk, stoned, semi-unconcience and just point to the pictures on the menu...
...IIIIIIII'll haaaaaaaav thaaaaat and one of thooooooooooooose aaaaaand
How much was the suit? (I'll believe any reasonable figure you can remember)