VEGA$ ROYAL TRIP MAY 2013
05.22.2013
Hey Now! This incredible journey starts out very mundanely indeed. Sweet Ti and I get up and go to work. I snuck out around
11 a.m. and got our
last minute chores done, and Ti soon joined me as we bade farewell to our
Feline menagerie, after kicking Oblio out of Biggun 
We used the Park
n Go and waited for our aircraft. 
Our flight itinerary had us changing planes in Cincinnati, and I went off in search of a Hudson News.
They tend to be about every 10 ft. in every airport, and sure enough there was one 8 feet away. I was in search of elusive game. A confidential source (Capt. Tripps) had told me that Rolling Stone had a collector's edition out. The clerk too had been regaled with such tales, but had no copies available. So as Sweet Ti (wo)manned the luggage... including our Virginia gifts, I walked another 10 feet to the next Hudson News. There it was- in all of it's shiny crimson, white and indigo glory.
Now we have our reading material for our epic journey. Half step to Bobby for the insight. Meanwhile Stretch is keeping watch at the gate.
Much to our surprise upon the highly anticipated closing of the cabin door-we are the only ones in out triple seated row.
Room to snuggle and snooze!!!!
No Grand Canyon sightings on account of the clouds, but
soon enough...Vega$!!!
A quick shuttle ride and kiosk check in at Alamo (the best and closest) we are given a choice of anything in the standard aisle. We settle on the silver Kia Soul, who Sweet Ti promptly names Serena.
we load up Serena and she whisks us up Las Vegas Blvd. to our home for the next 9 days- Orleans.
The friendly clerk Dana
turns us on to Room 1501- 
which is fine, except for the fact that it's all the way down at the end of the
looonnnng hallway in the old section.
Ti relaxes while I fetches her a refreshing beverage- or 2. I cruise down to TGIF and Max greets me to take my order. It's Happy Hour ( isn't it always?) but Sweet Ti just wants a smoothie, so Maxie hooks me up with his special blend and gives me the 2 for 1 dealio.. I excalate up and butler my baby and it's time to GAMBOL!!!! I only take 2 hundred to the floor.. First up is my long awaited 8/5 MS BP .25 machine... I'm up and down till a dude sits down next to me and we introduce ourselves. His name's John, a semi- local. He brings me luck...
Well that will work for the first hundred , on to DBDW...
then I switch to NSUD 
not bad for the 2nd
hundred..
Time to call it a night!
05.23.2013
Up fairly early, I got about 5 hours sleep- still on Right Coast time, and Serena and I head out to Wally World for room supplies.
On the way out I
spotted this.. 
Looks to be a '66 VW micro-micro bus. Holiday traffic seems to have arrived as
we cross the strip.
The parking lot at Wally's is just about empty, so I grab
a cart, and and score a brand new IglooŽ Wheelie Insulated Cooler (not a
paid advertisement) and proceed to stock our pantry. I get in line to
check-out, and the dude asks me how I've been doing, he remembers me from
last year. I guess I'm strange enough looking to remember- even in Sin City.
I head on back to Orlean's and grab Sweet Ti her breakfast at Caffeine
Vegas, head upstairs to
make the loooonnng journey once more to our room.
I awaken my Sleepy Ti, and we break our fast. Next up it's time to call downstairs for a room change. We got in so late, there wasn't much of a selection, but now we are able to score a room closer to the alleviators in the new wing. It will be ready by mid-afternoon. We decide to go down and see Hank the Magnifico. He's at the Alligator Bar today. They tend to shift the bartenders around quite a bit. He comes out and we exchange hugs and sit down at our usual spots to partake in some wagering... Sweet Ti leads us off...
I'm busy chatting up an interesting couple from Sunny California. We discuss the
typical post-hippie topics, all the Dead shows we have seen, and all the
mind-altering involved in attending them. DUDE!!!!
I have to register for the 3 Ring Circus of Tournaments , so I trip on over, get a plum 9:30 a.m. session time, and then go outside for some pics of the joint...
Air Supply is playing here every time we come. I swear they are following us
around.
This dude was hatin' life having to get his picture
taken by his wife and her 2 sisters.. 
Sweet Ti has been busy 
Time to grab the key cards to our new digs. Looks like we get to stay on the 15th floor. Quick stop by the gift shop, where we spot yet another familiar face- the clerk. We exchange pleasantries and head on upstairs.
Time to see the Zigmeister at Terrible's. Or what's left of the old Terrible's- soon to become the Silver Sevens. Changes are already in progress. The giant cowboy on the sign out front has trucked on down to the Neon Museum
They have turned the Stage Bar into a Corona Cantina.. whatever that means. Ziggy tells us it's just free ad space for Groupo Modelo.
He's working at the Sports Bar today, and we walk on over. Ziggy looks great- sporting a furry chin!
"Let me tell you something". We sit down at our usual spot. 
We present Zig with this year's gift- a genuine Smithfield ham that I've carried way out west. He loves it. We make plans with him for dinner at their house in Henderson on Monday. Then my phone rings and it's Bobby, our HVAC guy. Our AC has been on the fritz, and he has good news/ bad news. The good news is that he found our freon leak, and fixed it. The bad news is that a very nasty storm is headed toward Gloucester County, home sweet home. Tornado watch in effect. Bummer! We just lived thru one 2 years ago. I go back inside to tell Sweet Ti, and she's on the phone. It's our son, who lives about 30 miles from us. He has the same news. Then my phone rings again, and it's Robbie, an old friend who lives in OBX, N.C. He's watching the radar, and it looks bad fairly close to our house. Time for me to call Ti's brother-in-law, Joe, who lives next door to us. He sez not to worry, the storm is moving due East and should miss us. He's keeping an eye on our Hacienda, and promises to call if there's a problem. Time to gambol. Sweet Ti draws this...
works every time! Time to chow down, so we bid Ziggy farewell for now and
head over to our favorite Italian joint in Nevada...
We have managed to make it here for dinner on
every trip so far. Our dear friend Scratchy
turned us on to this fine establishment on our first Vegoose
adventure, way back in '05. As usual, we were not disappointed. AND, as an
added bonus, tomorrow is my birthday and they have emailed me an offer for a
free appetizer. We didn't have reservations, but Vinny (actually could be
his real name!) seated us immediately in the corner booth, and we settle in
as the night's entertainment starts. Our waitress gracefully accepts our
coupon and wished me a H.B., and we order. Sweet Ti gets her usual Cape Cod,
I am boycotting O'Doul's, and stick with aqua. Calamari with marinara sauce
if you please...
very tasty indead! Now on to our entrees, Ti goes for the eggplant parm., and I get the lasagna. I always get the lasagna.
We decide to forgo the free birthday Cannoli, as we are too full, so she turns me on to a free T-shirt. First time they have had one in stock!
This place just can't be beat!!! 
We bid Vinny arrivederci, and as we walk out to Serena, we spot Yarma the Yaris' western cousin...
What's a merkin??? Inquiring minds want to know. Google it.......
Time to trek on back across the Strip to the Big Easy. We notice the MGM Gato seems to be a bit more confined.
We self park Serena, this place is a gettin' busy! Upstairs I deposit our Sweet Ti for the evening, and I go down for a quick session.
This is about all that I can manage..
Sleepytime!
05.24.2013
Well my birthday starts off rather nicely, I am awakened by a phone call from my brother Bill, and we catch each other up on things, and I go over to Gold Coast for some free play and and match play. Free play--$40., MP- well that was interesting. I bought in for $20. and bet $10 on my first hand. Lost. Put down my MP and my last $10. and was dealt an eleven to the dealer's 9. The Asian lady sitting at 2nd base told me to double it, but I was broke- so she doubles it for me. I drew a 2. Dealer turned over a 10. Oh well! Thanks anywhoo.
Back to Orleans and Jittery Vegas to try out Tabby, my new Droid tablet.. spotty wi-fi.
My trusty ol' MS machine sucks me in, and deposits this.
Yepper, the VP streak yet continues. Back to Nervous Vegas for Sweet Ti's BnB, I serve her, and I open my birthday cards. Thanks y'all!!!.We excalate down for today's slot tourney.
Met yet another interesting local, Amil, and we talked while waiting for our session to begin. I end up with 13,500 points, just about 40 points out of the money. Oh well, VP session tomorrow! I score a rack of Beck's NA and we head for 1593.
We grab quick showers, and make our way over to soon to be formally Terrible's. On the way over Sweet Ti got some pics of the old Key Largo Casino that has recently burned down.
We still can't get used to the sign without the cowboy reigning over it...
Ziggy is back at Ziggy's Bar..
No sign of Lou this trip, so we don't have to listen to his Lamestream Media rants. But we do meet Ed, a 30 year Vegas local, and enjoy his tales of Vegas back in the good ol' bad ol' days. Time to traverse El Stripo once more to get ready for our celebrations yet to come. Here kitty, kitty, kitty....
We leave Serena in the car park, and get ourselves gussied up for the evening, and look in on Hank the Magnifico down at the Wally Gator. He hooks us up with some sweet Sailor Jerry swag, and we give him his peanuts from Gloucester Co. VA and a couple of koozies.
I deposit our swag upstairs, and we head on over to NYNY and self park. What an easy commute. There's a left turn lane between the interstate and LVB so it's zip, zap, just like that. I always like to take a photo of where we leave the rental..
Only been in NYNY once a few years ago. Our mission is to find the PC and redeem some MyVegas rewards. Couldn't be easier..2 premium tics for Zumanity and a $50 comp to Nine Drunk Irishdudes. We wander round .
We are seated right away at NDI and order a Sweetini and a Kalaber. We are joined by Jay from VMB. While we are getting to know each other we order Shepard's Pie and Fish and Chips
That came to exactly $50. We say our toodles to Jay, and head over to the Theater. I grab our front row tickets
Incredible seats. Soon a few characters from the show start walking around. 2 bawdy sisters are serving up chocolate dipped strawberries from a tray. Sweet Ti is offered one. Next this dude is walking around with a Polaroid style camera.
He hands me the camera and grabs Sweet Ti and takes her up to the edge of the stage. I document the action...
Well that was interesting. The show starts and it's all pretty much topless. I'd rate it dead sexy... Take the wife. Maybe she too can be dry-humped by Antonio... We stroll back thru the Big Apple and back to the Big Easy. DBDW?????
Hangover????
It's been a fine 57th birthday. I call it a year.
05.25.2013
Hey Now! Up with the dawn- let's play some DBDW while the earth rotates awhile...
I stop by Meth Vegas and Reneee hooks me up with Sweet Ti's repast and I deliver said and awaken her to the day. We feast and soon it's time for today's VP Tourney. Tammy is there and gets me registered. We talk to Amil while we wait. I find out that we are playing 9/6 DDB so I figure my strategy will be to only go for 2's,3's,4's, or Aces. And of course anything to a Royal.
Well that strategy was a tragedy. We went by the front desk and scored the key card for our Feather's room. She's driving in today from L.A. Got one just down the hall. Sweet. Upstairs for showers, we then take Serena over the river and thru the woods to see Ziggy. While there, we recieve a call from Feather- she's in Nevada, headed our way. We make our plans for an evening at Ziggy and Bo's in Henderson. Zig is busy so we boogie.
Feather is due any minute, so we play some Multi-Strike while we wait, as it's just inside the casino from the car park. She arrives, and we pile her stuff in her room and decide to have a bite at Coasta Cantina.
I notice this small instrument on the way in and as the waitress brought us chips and salsa I asked if I could play it. " It's just for looks Honey, but you just go 'head on and help yo'self!" So I did. Let's see, 5 strings. I kinda got it into some sort of tuning and serenaded them with a John Prine song, "Fish and Whistle". Then we feasted and talked. It's great to see our Feather. After our fiesta, the girls decide on a soak in the on some Hot Tubbin'. I decide to gambol. Seeing as DBDW has been good to me today, I hit the uprights up front. Insert coin. A few hands in- let's join the action. Jim?
Oh RB!...how do you follow up that??????
I cashed out. I do love this game, but you can't stand under the spigot too long. You will get burned. Wait- that doesn't work. Anyhow, I thought I might try some more MS. It's .25 8/5 BP. $5- 4 hands at a time. If you win the previous. I've been practicing at home as the strategy is quite a bit different from regular BP. I insert a hundy, and don't hit shit. I'm down literally to .25 and claw my way back up. Then I hit this.
That kept me going for a bit. Sweet Ti called and said they were finished soaking and were getting cleaned up. I gave her an update on my winnings and she said they would be down later. A few hands later this happened:
Isn't that special! I got a Royal on the 2x hand. But it just went on to the next hand like nothing happened. So I stopped playing and called my Sweet Ti to tell to get the hell down here so that she could see me get a hand pay. So I hung out until Feather and her Mom showed up. I gave phone to Sweet Ti so that she could record the rest of the hand.
I tipped the attendants and gave our Feather a hundy. Sweet Ti got the rest. They went about their womanly duties and I hit the High Limit room. Within about 5 minutes I un-hit the High Limit room $200 poorer. It was getting really crowded in the main part of the joint. Smokey too. But fortunately, I have the key- to escape reality. There are 2 banks od uprights, back to back, between the food court and the poker room. Not nearly as smokey as the rest of the place. The machines all offer full pay DBDW, DW44, BDW, and Boner Deluxe. I choose my usual DBDW. Insert coin and engage. I must have played 3 hours on the same hundy. I was down to my last few duckies and I got this-
That just plain completes the day. Can't tell very well from the pic, but 4 deuces and an ace pays 2k credits. I cashed out that puppy. Yepper. Yet another Hella day in Vegoose. Our Feather is here, the room safe is bulging with hundys, and all is well.
05.26.2013
I was up at like 4 a.m. I can't keep Pacific time. I've been getting up early for so many years on Eastern time that I don't even try. Probably why we crash around 10 p.m. here. I'm bumping around the room looking for my coupon books. I found the ACGs, but can't seem to find the MRB. Shit I must have dropped it somewhere. I always cut all the non-coupon pages out of one of the ACG books and slip the MRB book inside. Looks like it must have fallen out. So today's coupon/chip run consists of the Alamo Casino. Easy drive from the Big Easy. Right down Dino Drive. Made it to the truckstop/casino in about 10 minutes. Walked thru the Quickie Mart to the back room/casino. Michelle greeted me from behind the bar. I inquired about getting a chip and signing up for the player's club. She walked the 10 steps from the bar to the cage/player's club and signs me up. I buy a chip from her and she tells me I get $5 free play for signing up and all members get $1 in free play every day. Back at the bar she tells me I can use the free play on the bartop VP- and sez don't bother to use my own money, just load up the $5. I order an Ab'Dulls and sit. The only other person in the joint was a local at the bar. So Michelle introduces me to Mark. He's a truck driver. Go figure. He's having a great time, hooting every time he gets 3 of a kind or a straight. I play some cruddy BP and lose my free play in short order. I finish my near beer and leave Michelle a $5 tip. I tell her I'll be back once I get a new MRB coupon book. Laters Y'all!
I rather enjoyed cruising up Dino Drive as it's parallel to I-15/ Da Strip.
I stopped by Jitter Vegas and grabbed coffee for the girls from our Reneee. They were just getting up. I was due downstairs for the last day of the tourney- back to slots today. But I couldn't catch shit. Here's today's total:
It took 16k to be in the money today. Hey- at least we got an extra 3 comped nights out of it. The girls came down, and as Hank Bonefish was working at the Crawdad today, we encamped there.
I felt a blackjack session was in order, so I found an empty 3rd base at a DD table and bought in for a hundy. Great group, I was sitting next to this crazy dude named Jason. He was full of stories. Or something. He was born in Vegas, but his parents split up when he was 12 and he and his Mom moved to Hawaii, but he didn't like it there, so he ran away. Back to Vegas. Tales of Fear and Loathing...We played for a couple of hours. I cashed out a nice profit.
The women-folk went to get a pedi and enjoy lunch at the Egg House, so I occupied myself with some Multi-Strike.
I got a call from Turtleman from VMB, inviting me over to Gold Coast to join him, Ms. Gecko, and Vern. Sounds like a plan!
I brought Stretch along. They are at the bar when I arrive, and we talk a bit and let Stretch and Vern relax together.
Time for a blackjack session, and we sit at a DD table. It's full, and the dealer is cutting off one whole deck per shuffle. So after every 2 hands, there's a shuffle. Come on people, it's a $5 table! What the hell are they afraid of? I wasn't hitting much anyhow, so after an hour or so I cashed out. They were doing pretty good and stayed. We made plans to get together in a couple of days. Serena, Stretch, and I headed back to Orleans. The ladies showed me their newly coiffed feet. Purtty! They had been for a swim and were feeling peckish. I wasn't too hungry. They went off to the Prime Rib Loft, I made a beeline for the Wally Gator Bar. I really like playing at the shortie machine. It was available. Inserted coin and punched up $1 8/5 BP. Second hand I got a full house. Nice start. Next hand I got this...
Next hand....
Next hand I didn't hit shit so I cashed out an even $500. Inserted another hundy. About 5 hands later>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I met Sweet Ti and Feather as they were leaving the restaurant. We went upstairs and celebrated a bit. I stuffed our loot in the safe. They are gonna watch TV awhile, so I descended for some DBDW.
Helluva day once again. This is turning out to be a helluva trip!
05.27.2013
Time for a bit of a diversion. Can you spot the Orleans in this picture???
That was shot from the self park at today's first stop, Palms. I wanted to play some 10/7 DDB. So I did.
Cash out and run- across the street to Gold Coast. I looked around for the Turtle Clan, but I doubt if they are up yet. My mission this morn is DBDW. I can only play it at the .25 level at Orleans, but here at Gold Coast they have it .25/.50/ $1. in the High Limit Room. That's where I head. Employing Royal Flusher's Strict Rules of Parlay here....
That will work. How about some sitcom cartoon fun???
