July 8, 2003 Archives

Today's poker tournament at The Mirage paid $3,009! I know that because I heard it over the PA system. I was long gone very early.

First, let's go back to the afternoon. I spent a decent part of the afternoon taking and looking at photos, reading my book and napping. Napping is a good thing. I am a proficient napper and can easily recharge with 15 minutes or a half hour. I know I'm lucky in that regard.

We took an early dinner and went to California Pizza Kitchen. CPK is in a very interesting location, right in the middle of the casino with the Sports Book on one side and slot machines all around. Between the TV's at CPK and those in the Sports Book there were at least a half dozen ways to watch the "wheels come of the wagon" as the Phillies got shelled by the Expos.

Helaine had a pasta dish and I had Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza. Very good. Very spicy. Desert wasn't bad either. A chocolate souffle for me and Key Lime Pie for Helaine (her favorite).

While we were waiting for the meal to come, I walked over to the Poker Room and registered (paid) to enter the Hold'em poker tournament, scheduled for 7:00 pm. It cost $60 to enter with a $40 re-buy and $40 add in. You spend $140, of which $120 goes to the prize pool. With 72 players 9 would come home with cash.

I drew table 1 seat 9, on the edge (my least favorite spot). The dealer gave everyone $500 in no value tourney chips. It looked like 6 of the 10 at my table were locals. They live off fish like me coming in for a week or two and playing like tourists. I know that going in. I'm good, but not as good as they are. But, I am also good enough to feed off some of the other fish.

Poker is a game of luck and skill. Over the short term, luck is power. Over the long term, skill wins out. This is not like playing slots or blackjack. You can't play stupid and win over the long term. But, I'd rather be lucky than skillful

A tounament is a short term event and luck plays a large factor early on. I went over an hour before I won a hand, and then it was only $15... the minimum possible. I had 2-7 off suit (the poorest hand you can get) more than once. When I saw an ace, it was accompanied by a 6 or 7 of a different color.

I was the third tapped out at my table. Very, very early.

I didn't play poorly. I just didn't play. I slowly bled to death, killed by blinds or hands I limped in on.

Helaine and I decided to take a walk toward Bellagio. Even after 9:00 pm it's hot (100+ degrees), but it's comfortably hot. The only time it gets to you is when you're close to the street and feel the heat from the stopped cars.

Let me complain again about what Caesers has done to the street. The sidewalk is small and fenced in as you walk by their construction. Too many people in too small a space with no overflow access. It's really dangerous because an incident in that enclosed space would cause a stampede with people trampled to death.

Another thing about Caesers. There's no there there. The 'grand entrance' is only visible from a narrow corridor. It is a grand hotel that makes no statement from the street. Its draw is the phenomenal Forum Shops (it's probably Shoppes but I'm not sure). A sale there means things are marked down to retail!

We continued past Caesers, over the overpass (past a 3 card Monte game) and into Bellagio. This is a beautiful hotel in every sense of the word. We'll be back there to eat and play later, but tonight it was the fountain show.

The Bellagio has managed to turn dancing waters into the equivalent of fireworks. I'll include some photos, but I know they can't do it justice.

We walked back and I continued to snap photos. Helaine is nice to put up with it, but I am a pain in the ass. Paris is quite photogenic... we'll be there for breakfast later in the week. And the rest of the Strip.

When we got back 'home', I said goodbye to Helaine and started snapping photos at the volcano. I am trying soooo hard to learn my Fuji S602z camera. It is more of a camera than I am a photographer. But, the more I shoot the more I learn. There are photos I've included here that you just can't get with a point and shoot camera

Across the street, next to Harrahs, is Casino Royale. I am not privy to their books but I suppose this is a business that's trapped by its own success. It turns too much money to sell, but not enough to support expanding and modernizing. It is out of place near bigger, fancier, more modern gambling palaces.

Kevin Janison on Channel 8 says the weather will get nothing but hotter while we're here! We'll see.

Almost forgot that this link gets you current Las Vegas weather conditions. It's midnight and we're at 92 degrees!

Considering this is Las Vegas, we got up early... before 9:00 am. Helaine had read about Red Rock Canyon and, since it would get close to 110f today, we figured that was an early outdoor trip (being that we'd leave Las Vegas and head to where it was a little warmer, with no shade).

There's a coffee stand downstairs at The Mirage, and while I took a shower, Helaine got me coffee and a muffin large enough to have been baked at a nuclear storage facility... and the NY Times. It's a shame about the reporter there who scammed the paper recently. In spite of that, access to the NY Times is a very good start to my day. It is the paper of record.

We went down to valet parking to get our vehicle, a small SUV. Helaine already had directions to go but she wanted me to double check with the valet, and he said we weren't going the best way. He was wrong, but we followed his directions (and came home the right way). It should be noted, since we're not on a schedule, and we like looking around, going out of our way is fine.

Driving down Las Vegas Blvd to Charleston allowed me to see "the cloud" going up in front of The Fashion Show Mall. Very, very weird to say the least.

It's difficult to explain Red Rock Canyon except it's a bit under 20 miles from the city, desolate and beautiful. From some of my classes at MSU I should have a better understanding of how it got to be the way it is. I'm pondering that.

You pass through all sorts of civilization and then... nothing. You're in the desert. A few signs and you're on BLM land. Past a cattle grate (an area of the road set up to prevent animals from getting out) and you're ready to turn off onto the scenic loop.

It's a one way road, through the canyon. It looks like it used to be two way and since it's narrow and winds, I can imagine the accidents they must have had.

On the way back we stopped at The Palms. In a masterstroke of marketing, this off-Strip hotel allowed itself to be used as the setting for MTV's Real World. The rest, as they say, is history. It is considered hip and cool. The daytime crowd was not young by any means. We stopped to get a little something (which I can't mention here) for Steffie. I played slots and lost a few bucks.

Back to Mirage and while Helaine played, I tried to do tech support for my friend Farrell, who has just installed a cable modem. No go, yet.

Tonight, we see Carrott Top. If you've only seen his 1-800-DialATT commercials, you don't know what he's about.

While Helaine went shopping at The Venetian (not as nice as Caesers she says), I sat and played poker. It was $6-12 Hold'em. A fun, nice table. Nice people. And, I won $41.

We played a few slot machines earlier. Everything is based on a pre-existing concept. A TV show, a movie, a star. They're all similar but different.

It should be noted, considering the slot machines now in use in casinos, it's nerds, geeks and code smiths who are changing the way Las Vegas runs. Everything's as much a video game or video presentation as a slot machine.