It was my first day in Vegas and I was staying at the El Cortez. I did a little shopping and had a bag with some decks of cards and other small things tucked in front of me. I sat on a bar stool and was playing video poker. A number of old guys with three day beards sat next to me, joked with me, talked to me. The place was busy and crowded.

In a lull of activity, I was alone and I noticed that the bag was missing some items. I checked closer and some of the decks of cards had been stolen. One deck had only had a third of the cards left.

I was annoyed to think that a thief would steal such cheap things. I was a little amused that he had apparently stolen the cards a few at a time and I wondered how long it took to learn that much skill in being a pick pocket. I got up to tell a guard what had happened and that is when I noticed that my wallet was also missing as was my cell phone.

Well, I was in a panic. I remembered that I had not written down the numbers of the Traveler’s Checks and that they were all in that wallet. I would have the numbers from when I first bought them, but I had cashed some on my last trip and would not know the numbers of the ones that I had left.

I felt like such a jerk.

I went to a tall Black guard and he was very calming and helpful, but I did not really know what I wanted to do first and was not ready to have him help me. I told him I would be right back. I went and checked over my things again and when I decided I knew what I wanted to do, I went looking for him, but now there was this older white woman with red hair on duty, and she was more about lecturing me on why I had sat on the bar stool with my wallet visible, and what did I expect them to do for me and didn’t I know this was the El Cortez after all and these things did happen. And she told me all these things in a demeaning and lightly sarcastic way the way some parents talk to their kids when they are annoyed at them. She made me feel terrible. I told her she should know that I was upset, and did not need such insinuation and lecture.

Of course, all the while I am not just thinking of the money and the credit cards and my checkbook and all I have to do now to close those accounts, but also that I am in Vegas on the 4th of December and have planned to stay until the 28th of December. With no money I might as well go home and even if I borrowed money, I would not feel good about gambling after so large a loss. So as well as the disappointment in the loss of funds, I was very sad to lose my trip meant to be a celebration of turning 60.

I left the rude redhead and found another casino person. This person offered to lend me $800 to gamble with. Here I was in a panic, and all they were worried about was losing my business!

I wandered around the casino looking for someone to help me, but no one would. There was either nothing they would do, or they were not listening even to my problem.

Finally, two fine looking girls were assigned to me and were very friendly like those hosts on the television show. They talked to me and took me around and finally got me in a cab where I thought we were going to a phone or to the police. This would have been a great time for a little erotic dream break from this nightmare, but I was much too upset for delightful fantasy.

We drove down this street of buildings with hotels and signs in Spanish. I guess I was in Costa Rica too in some small dream way. Finally, listening carefully to their talk; I realized they were taking me to one of those time share lectures to buy beach front property in Tahiti. I asked them straight out if that was what they were doing and they looked uncomfortable and finally explained to me that this was their job.

Now I was almost screaming at them to help me find a phone, so I can call my wife and hopefully get my checking account stopped before I am totally broke. At that point they disappeared completely from the back of the cab and I was alone there.

And I woke up.

Enormously relieved to be back in the real world, I immediately went and wrote the numbers of my left over traveler’s checks from my last trip in two places.

And gradually the panic is ebbing away.

Dream sources from the real world:

I talked two hours last night to my buddy Lucky Pete who just returned from a great Silver Strike collection. He had plenty to tell me about the decline of the Plaza, partly due to the bad feelings between the staff and their new bosses who are nasty. He had won ever session of 10/7 video poker he tried. And I got a written trip report from our other Vegas Buddy, Louisiana Mudgriff Dan who had done well too on Silver Strikes and had a good trip. both of them got me excited about my Dec 4-28 trip in December where I well might start at the El Cortez if the cowboys have not precluded any free hotel offers to come.

I had forgotten to write the Traveler’s checks down. but actually I don’t carry all of them with me and I never take personal checks to Vegas or when I travel nor a card to an ATM because both can be stolen and there is not much recourse afterwards. Charge cards are a lot safer. My friend had his number stolen and maxed out in Vegas. It cost him just $50.

Then there is visiting this board daily and recently booking my Dec 4th flight down on Southwest.

I suppose I better quit eating popcorn before bedtime. Now, I’m going to have bowl of fruit and go swimming.

JULY 12 to JULY 15 , 2006

Gambling —-
I think I better change my name to the 7-2 offsuit Princess or something because the Pocket Aces I kept getting did me NO GOOD !!! I never want to see Pocket Aces again for my starting hand !!! I had pocket rockets so many times this trip , but yet somehow they got cracked . Yes that sums up the gambling report - BIG LOSER ( but hey … I had fun anyways ) . On the way back home to Chi-Town I did win 100 bucks on slots in the airport - go figure !!
I played a bit of slots here and there and no luck on some strip joints and downtown. I was surprised that downtown slots were sooo tight also !!
I played POKER ( 2-4 limit ) at Orleans , Flamingo , Binions , MGM, and Monte Carlo.
I did make a small 75 dollar profit at Binions.
There were many drunk young men there who didn’t really know
the difference between a flush and a full house.
It was fun taking money from those guys.
I wish I could of stayed longer but I was getting tired and the smoke from that casino is just nasty. It found a way to the poker room and my sinuses were awful !!
I never got up the nerve to play higher limit poker which was one
thing I wanted to do this trip ( 1-2 no limit at Luxor or 4-8 somewhere !! ).

Hotel—
I stayed at the Orleans which I believe is now my new home.
I got a nice room on the 9th floor on the corner.
I had a partial view of the strip. I really liked the new necessities in the bathroom. The room was very clean. The bed was comfy . I felt safe with the security person by the elevators each night. ( I did go myself !!! )
I swam in the pool each afternoon. The pool is big enough , but not too big and it has a nice aura about it. I also liked the music they played there .
I used the coupon out of the book to use the workout facility.
I needed to run on the treadmill to get out some frustration from the horrible gambling. The workout area at the Spa was very nice.
They had the basics for a good workout and nice necessities like
water , fruit , lotions etc.
I will use the coupon out of that book again.I ate at the buffet
3 times this trip. I had gotten coupons for 2 free buffets and since the gambling was bad HEY I decided to use them !!!

Rental Car — I have always rented from Thrifty with no problem but I think I am going to write them a letter. When I got to Vegas they had no cars left in the economy section. They offered me a MINI VAN or a STATION WAGON . I was like heccck no .. they would not give me an intermediate unless I UPGRADED. I took the STATION WAGON.
The air conditioner in it was awful and the door didn’t lock on it’s own. I had to manually lock it when I got in the car and had to use the keys to lock it when I got out of the car.

Entertainment—-
I met some wonderful board members at the Barbary Coast
on July 12th. THANK YOU for making me feel so welcome. I was a bit hesitant to go but it was a pleasure to match faces to the names I see on this board !!! I have never been to one so I thought I would go out and say hello. I got to see Big Elvis too !!
He was really enjoyable to see.

Shopping —- I hit the two outlet malls and I guess I hit the jackpot there. I got a nice purse for my mom for 15 bucks at the Liz Claiborne Outlet , I got stuff for my honey from various stores cheap , I got my best friend a nice doggie T-Shirt and I got myself a pair of awesome wedge sandals and a purse from Kenneth Cole.
The sales were awesome !!

World Series of Poker — I headed to the Rio to check out some action.
It was very cool . I went to the various vendors and got a bunch of free stuff. I got 4 t shirts , pens , chocolate bars , key chains , mints and a poker log book. If you are going to Vegas soon do make a trip to the Rio to check it out. I shook Joseph Hachem’s hand. He seemed so very nice and cordial. I don’t think fame has spoiled him.
I got autographs from Men ” The Master” and so many poker celebrities walked by me . I wanted to play 4-8 ( limit ) there on the floor where the big games were but my boyfriend warned me not to since I was still somewhat a beginner. He said alot of sharks hang out at the cash games
at the World Series of Poker to make money off of the tourists.
I don’t know if he is right , but I decided not to do it.

Well that is it —I hope everyone enjoyed my little report !!
Happy Trips to VEGAS