I'm currently trying to get a hard copy of my lost trip report. If anyone has one, let me know.

Lee-PA

[This message has been edited by Lee-PA (edited April 30, 2000).]

Well, No luck with a copy of my report, so Here is the Good, Bad & the Ugly of my trip report.
Ugly.....first....

1. The Limo breaking down in the intersection 1/2 mile from the airport, with me already having had a few cocktails and getting out to help the driver push it to the side of the road and while doing this having the rear tire run over 3 of my toes!
2. Loosing big time more then a couple of days straight.
3. Almost drowning in the shower, because the shower heads at Main Street Station are so low I had to do the limbo to wash my hair. When I turned to wash my face in this possition, water shot up my nose like a rocket....almost lost my lunch gaging from all the water in my lungs!
4. Overcharged for my room at check-out time, having a very rude counter check out girl, waiting in line to check out for almost an hour all at the Flamingo Hilton, where we stayed for 7 out of 9 days, because they only would give me casino rate for 7. Spent the first 2 at Main Street Station, downtown.
5. Getting the rental car back from valet at Palace Station with a dent in it.
6. 2 of us getting sick and loosing a night in Las Vegas, after eating at FatBurger. (I don't know if that is what did it, but it's the only thing my sister & I ate the same thing of)(Fatburger on the strip near MGM)

The Bad....
1. Las Vegas traffic (everywhere)
2. Not having enough time to see our bartender frinds in Harrah's
3. not being able to finish my nice scotch nightcap at the Pulman Grill, because I already had way too much to drink that night!
4. tipping red chips to the cocktail girls at MSS. They tripple teamed me. They no longer asked if I wanted another beer! They just brought one and asked if I was ready for it. Sadly I couldn't keep up the pace! sorry guys if I let you down...I tried...I really tried.
5. Doubling down on a blackjack....just to PO the idiot aside of me, so he'd leave my table. He said to m, and I quote "Your not thinking of hitting that are you" "If you do I'm leaving this table" I thought, hey pal, your out of here! I doubled down, drew a 10, and took the dealers bust card....she drew to 18. The dealer knew why I did it and people at the table thanked me for chasing away the creep. LOL I'm a very bad man! LOL
6. Nascar Cafe service & bartop cash-out. Everycash-out over $5 must be hand paid by an attendent and a witness from the casino floor! YIKES!
7. Karoake.....and people that should stick to singing in the shower only!
8. The Gold Coast for Rock-a-billy weekend. It was a trashy women fest. I must add though all where very polite at the tables and vp machines aside of me.
9. Walking through Circus Circus.....had a tough choice here, it was a close call that this didn't go under the "Ugly"

The GOOD....
1. The Otto & George show. Which I might have passed up, had it not been recomended by Mark. (thanks Mark)
2. The lounge band at the Riviera. Excelent good time after the comedy show
3. Slots of Fun....That's right, I said Slots of Fun! Wife had a great time on the triple play VP machines. While I enjoyed the Black Jack, with all the young adults. An older Mexican gentelman and I would clink beer bottles everytime either one of us would get a blackjack! Also the dealers where very pleasent, much more then I remember from long ago. I did manage to insult the one dealer though. Her name was Beth, she was from Ethiopia. Now, I'm sitting there thinking.....Beth, doesn't sound like a real Ethiopian name. Not that I know what the heck an Ethiopian name is...I don't. My reasoning was, it was short for something (convienance so it would fit on the very short name tags) Well, booze makes you ask very stupid questions, so I said...is Beth your real name....she smiled! (BTW her smile could melt Alaska in the winter time) So...I go on....what is your correct given name? She smiles again! Ahhh (did I mention the wifes playing tripple play in the back of the casino?) She takes a deep breath and blurts out one of the longest, unrecognisable names with many letter sounds that don't normally go togeather in these parts. It probably ment "Princess of the Sun" or something like that, and I'm sure she enjoyed telling someone that she thought actually showed an intrest in her real name of which she was proud of! Well dear friends.....I had too many beers to think that far at the time. I just knew I couldn't begin to attempt to pronounce her name correctly or even some semblance of such name.....so....in my infinite wisdom I say..."How about I just call you Beth" The smile rushed away from her face.....from that point on, the only time I got to see the beautiful smile, was when she took my money! LOL
4a. My Bartender friends that we went out with on 2 differnt nights.
Toms got a girl friend....Toms got a girl friend! LOL
Alan, who caught up with us at the TalkVegas meet and stayed to drink & Play vp with us.
4b. Bartender friends we didn't get to go out with, but still enjoy them very much.
5. 3 royals in one trip (down side all on nickels)
6. PF Changs, we love this place!
7. Full RFB comp at Main Street Station
8. Playing at the $25 tables at Caesars, I like all the special attention you get in the morning.
9. Smokey Joe's Cafe....great show, highly recomend, and made even better with free tickets!
10, meal at Blueberry Hill (thanks Bill S)
11. My first Craps lesson...I need many more yet!
12. National Emerald Car rental. Red Chevy Impala sport addition! had spunk and handled very well. (thanks V & LeeAnn)
13. Mini suite at the Flamingo, and treated special by our friends at the hotel.
14 NY NY Empire Bar, very nice staff and quick with the drinks. Dollar VP treated us pretty well too.
15. California 2nd floor bar tender. Always nice to us.
16 the TalkVegas meet at MSS. It's always nice to see friends. I enjoy these meets so much. Gail...Please Thank Joe again for me...please?
17. Finding out I'm called $2 Lee at MSS valet. <s> (thanks Fred & Beth)
18. American Airlines, for just doing thier job....getting me to and from my favorite city without any trouble and 'on-time'!
19. Telling my sister she should drink more....and then watching her face as she tried all differnt kinds of cocktails! LOL
20. Knowing, on my flight home, I'll be going again back to the city I love very soon! [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

<<Doubling down on a blackjack....just to PO the idiot aside of me, so he'd leave my table. He said to m, and I quote "Your not thinking of hitting that are you" "If you do I'm leaving this table" I thought, hey pal, your out of here! I doubled down, drew a 10, and took the dealers bust card....she drew to 18. >>

Lee....you da man!!!!

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Bill in Santa Monica, CA

Bill,
It was only a nickel table, so really what was I risking. I would have paid the guy $20 to just go away! <s>



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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Oops!

[This message has been edited by Beth (edited May 06, 2000).]

Lee,

Thanks for the trip report. Sorry about the first part disappearing.

How's your toe doing?<g>

You had an interesting and varied trip, that's for sure. What is the George & Otto show about? If Mark posted that, I missed it.

Glad you enjoyed "Smokey Joe's Cafe". Saw it twice and I wouldn't hesitate to go again if I got a chance.

You and your group sure do make one big circle around that city while visiting. You're one guy that does need a car.

Thanks.

Beth

Lee, I like the format of the trip report. Nice job. I have a suggestion for your problem with the Flamingo only giving you casino rate for 7 nights. Doesn't Sandy travel with you on most of your trips now. If she would get rated at roulette or play some vp or slots on her own card, I'll bet she could get casino rate. If she called for week night rooms for 2 nights in her name and told them she needed 2 rooms, I'll bet she could get them. It's not too hard to get casino rate at most places during the week. She could book 2 rooms in her name for 2 week nights and then you could book 2 rooms in your name for the next 7 nights. If this won't work, have Sue sign up for a card in her name only and have Sue do the same thing. What do you think. Does this make any sense?<G>

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

Lee, I would settle for 3 Royals on nickels....or pennies, for that matter<g>. I also enjoyed Smokey Joe's Cafe...the music took me back a few years to some good memories.

Next time, we will talk more...I really enjoyed our comparisons of the Boulder Highway spots. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Beth,

<<<How's your toe doing?<g>>>>
It's doing fine. But I will tell you I was afraid to look at it. I thought for sure this was going to be a major problem for me. I never told Sue what happend till after we got home. BTW, it didn't even turn black & blue. I thought for sure I'd have a broken toe or two at the very least.

<<<What is the George & Otto show about? If Mark posted that, I missed it.>>>
Actually I posted it, and Mark filled in the blanks on what the show was like.
It's XXXtreme Comedy @ the Riv. KXTE hosts adult comedy for 2 nights every month. It's a ventrilaquist <sp> show and the dummy says some very dirty stuff. I could not repete on joke or skit on TalkVegas and be within our guide lines here.

<<<You're one guy that does need a car.>>>
I can't imagin being in LV without a car anymore. A while back Veronica took a short trip without a car and I almost tried it for my next quick trip. But chickened out for 2 reasons. I like moving around on my schedule, not the shuttle bus times. and...It gives me a place to hang those big talkvegas.com signs! LOL

Thanks for reading my report and commenting on it. I was disapointed when my other report got lost, but it's my own fault. I should compose this stuff on word and then cut & paste. If I would have done that, I would have had my own copy to repost!
Oh well, Live & Learn.



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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

John,
I understand what your saying. Sandy already is a rated player at Flamingo. They won't give her more then seven nights either. When she tags along (almost all trips now) she is getting her room at casino rate because of her play. They will not let you book 2 rooms for 7 nights on one card.
Now if Sue & I would be rated by our play, with each of us having a differnt card # That might work, if Sue would stay off those darn nickel machines. A host laughed at me when I asked how long you'd have to play nickels to qualify....her direct answer was "There are not enough hours in a day"


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Daisy,
You know me.....I like the dumpy casino's, but some of those I'd never go inside! <s>

As for Smokey Joe's, I would go see it again, if Caesars would kindly send me some more free tickets! <VBG>

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee --

Enjoyed your "Good, Bad, Ugly" format! Again, glad you enjoyed Otto and George ("they" will be appearing by me on Memorial Day weekend, so I may take in the show!).

Interesting about doubling down on the BJ to get rid of the jerk. I'm pretty sure I've seen that some of the casinos have in their listed rules something like: "Double Down on any first two cards, except a blackjack." I guess MSS didn't have that rule. Funny, I always thought there was no reason for such a rule because WHO would EVER hit a blackjack! :-)

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Mark L. in NJ

Lee,

Sory I missed the first report but I enjoyed this one.

Sorry to hear about your toe and getting sick, glad it was nothing major.

I agree with Daisy, I'll take 3 royals on any denomination machine.

Loved the comment on the MSS shower. I'll remember to be careful [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img].

Did the car rental company get you for the dent in the car?

jm

Lee, I really enjoyed your report. It was to the point, not too short and not too long. Tell me about Smokey Joe's. I have a free ticket offer too and plan to use them next week. My friend and I are staying at Caesars and I'm really, really looking forward to getting away.

Do you get decent seats to the show? Can you go pick up the tickets early? Just checking to make sure we get to take advantage of everything. I'm always skeptical of "free".

Jan

MarkL,
About that Black-Jack thing. Don't get me wrong, it was the first time I've ever done it. I don't recomend it. Heck, I don't even know if it's allowed, but the dealer delt me another card. It was a stupid play anyway you look at it. But it was a cheap price to pay (if I'd have lost) to get rid of the jerk.

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

senatorjm,
As of this date, I've not been taged with a charge from the rental car agency. I doudt I will, I returned the car on Easter, and they where short handed and backed up when I brought back the car. I was the last car to get on to the lot passed those shreader spikes, and before I caught the bus to the airport, that where dropping the cars off in the service street. It was a zoo.


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Jan,
Use those tickets!!!!
I bribed, er....I mean tipped a Jackson, for front row, slightly off center seats for the 3 of us. I had decent seats to start with but still got a nice upgrade. Anyway, I think it impressed my sister! LOL
As for when I picked my dates, when making the reservation, I asked what had the best seats out of the 4 nights I could go.
Hope this helps. Any other questions, let me know.


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Jan,

We've also asked when attending shows as to what nights the best seats were available. It works well if you are flexible.

Beth

Do you have to wait until you get there to cash the tickets in or can you do it by phone?

Lee, how much the "bribe" cost you?

Lee:

As always....loved your trip report. Very entertaining. Liked the way you set it up, The Good, Bad & Ugly. Especially liked the BJ story. Sounds like you did a lot and had a great time. What more could you ask for?? Other than......another trip to Vegas.

Susan