Ok, I'm going to start this today, it's going to be a slow post, but what we did was for the first half of the trip we each wrote a trip report, and thought you might like seeing my trip report through anothers eyes....

Saturday
"HE SAID" Lee-PA, Up early for an early flight on United, out of Harrisburg. This will be a 3 segmented flight as I was looking for price, not quality when I purchased this flight. It seemed like a good idea at the time? Connect in Chicago, upgraded to suite class, nice full reclining seats (all the way back) TV for every seat, foot rests, nice meal, free drinks!!!! Plane late leaving because of weather. Connect in Denver, plane delayed for some reason, we're on United, so I expected this. Arrive LV about an hour late. Pick up Suziki XL-7 peice of junk at Dollar, car lot lady tells me how the AC works, guess I looked like a complete bafoon, because all you do is turn the nob to the blue snowflake, tough one lady! So I leave in my TRUCK. Check into LV Hilton for 2 nights, nice 3rd floor room, on the pool floor. Dinner at the Margahita grill, poor service, but the food was ok, wouldn't rush back. Gamble on some VP, finish with a nice hit of aces on a DDB machine. Bed early 11pm.

"SHE SAID" Sharon-PA, Harrisburg to Chicago, tiny uncomfortable plane, who made these reservations? Chicago to Denver, delay, wait on plane to take off, due to air traffic and weather (T-storms) Pilot had permission to cut corners??? and had immediate clearance to land. Ill passenger, paramedics waiting in Denver. Delay in Denver, change gates and arrive in Las Vegas approx. 1hr late (4pm)
Dollar-no intrepids- got new SUV
Check in at Hilton, dinner at Margaritta Grill, VP at bar- tired- early night

To be continued.....

Lee, Make sure you don't leave out any of the she-said parts of the report out.

Sunday
He Said, Lee-PA, Awake early, Sharon couldn't sleep, so she woke me. 6am in the morning......argggggg! Watch a movie, Boat Trip in the room, then our comp breakfasts at the Hilton. This is our pool day. I hate the sun, and was dreading going to the pool in this heat. Pool for 2 hours, then the hot tub...sort of like being boiled alive in this heat. I was suprised, Sharon called it quits, before I did. But I was determind not to complaine and stay as long as she wanted! A couple of Frozen Margy's helped me thought the rough time! LOL Get cleaned up and head over to Palace station, for some VP & slots. Sharon has a little win on the Top Dollar slots. We meet Sandy for dinner at Quarks (part of our room package). Then Sheena Easton complimentary tickets from Sandy. I had seen the show before, but it was Sharons first. I think she enjoyed it, I took a nap through most of it. Enjoyed a couple cocktails and a little VP, another early night, I just can't get caught up on my sleep this trip!

She said, Sharon-PA, Awake by 5am, wait till 6am to wake Lee. Comp breakfast LV Hilton and a in-room movie, Ready for the pool & Spa....HOT (2hrs) thought I was going to melt.
Short trip to Palace Station, VP at the bar and 25 cent slots (top Dollar).
Quarks at the Hilton with Sandy, good food, fast service.
More VP at the Hilton bar and Sheena Easton show, it was enjoyable, but Lee dosed off during parts of it. Move video poker and to bed early, dead tired at 10pm.

Monday
HE SAID, Lee-PA, Up early, the B**ch just doesn't sleep! I have no idea what time I was woken up, butit was still dark outside! nuff said! Planned a breakfast at Ceasars, but line was too long, off to the Tuscany, decent small buffet breakfast. Some triple play VP and some slots, we both lost, Sandy did well on Roulette. Check out of the LV Hilton and into Main Street Station. Met my host, everything went smooth. Sandy checks out of the Hilton and into the Las vegas Club, she gets some coupons for free breakfasts. Played some treasure chest machines at MSS waiting for sandy, then off to Santa fe to get Sharon some cigarettes cheap! Dinner at MSS brew pub, I order way too much food. Tried the Hawian roll and Spicey Tuna, Excelent! Then Las vegas Club for some nickle slots (jackpot party) I couldn't stay awake. Nap for four hours, then down to the casino refreshed. Treasure chest machines at the California. Poor Sharon isn't having any luck today. Then MSS till 4am...ah-HA, that's one way to stop waking up so early! LOL Sharon took a beating from the machines today, I'm down a little.

SHE SAID, Sharon-PA, Awake by 4am, Now my life has just been threatened for waking Lee. I am being referaed to as "SATAN"! Lee gets coffee, Shower and meet Sandy, 9am breakfast plans for Cafe Lago go up in smoke as the line is too long. So much for my comp breakfast coupon! Tuscany for breakfast, ok, VP & 25 cent slots, lost. Santa Fe Cigs, 25 cent slots, & VP, lost.
Brew Pub for dinner, My meal was late getting to the table, but it was good. Lee ate sushi, I wouldn't touch it!
Las Vegas Club 5 cent Jackpot party then a nap. Lee's tired....he's falling asleep atthe machines...poor baby....he just can't run with the big dogs anymore! Assorted downtown casinos, Daves bar, and MSS boar bar to finish the evening.

to be continued....

"he just can't run with the big dogs anymore"

Has Lee finally met his match?

Lee, ya gotta remember, it's not WHEN she wakes you up, it's HOW she wakes you up!

just waking "up" ain't bad <G>

Tuesday
He Said, Lee-PA, Up at 8am, that's only 4 hours sleep, I think I might be on to something why I am tired all the time this trip? Downstairs to the Brass Boar bar for a bailey's and coffee, and some treasure chest VP. Then Breakfast at the Fremont, and I order the Loco-Moco, It's a pile of stuff, Rice, hamburger, fried onions, 2 eggs (over easy) and brown gravy on top. I love it, but they burnt my burger and ruined the whole thing. Golden Nugget, for some progressive Duces wild quarter VP, This is a new type of game for Sharon and she takes to it like a fish to water. She has a nice win here, I loose. Meet Sandy, and we go check in the Aladdin with the kids (my daughter Ariel and son in law Nick) Thier trip is a Christmas present from Sharon & I. They wanted a nice room with a pool and on the strip for the first 3 nights. We asked them what they wanted and then found decent prices at the Aladdin. Play at the Aladdin untill the kids get setteled, then off to the Canery Casino. I got lost on the way, but Nick used his Nextel phone and got us turned around and on our way. The Kids do well here, and we depart with 2 happy campers in the back seat. The rest of us, would rather not talk about it! LOL
Dinner at PF Changs, Sandy's treat. We opt to sit at the bar for faster seating as there is a wait for tables. It was quicker, but with a party of 5 chatting during dinner is out the window. Food was delicious. Next up, Green Valley Ranch, Sharon & I head to the Drop bar, and that is exactly what we do, we drop a lot of money in the slot and loose. I loose badly as I took this opertunity to up my play to the dollar level....bad timing. Drop everyone off atthe proper hotels, and back to Main Street Station and to bed at 10pm.

She Said, Sharon-PA, Main Street Station bar for an eye opener (Coffee w/bailey's) Breakfast atthe Fremont, nothing special. Golden Nugget for some dueces wild, it's a new game for me, but I had a good time. Did much better then Lee. Back to MSS, and got a call the kids have landed at the airport, which is exactly where planes should land? I thought! Meet them at the Aladdin, played VP at the bar, even here, then drove to Cannery. PF Changs for dinner (thank you Sandy). Green Valley Ranch, more VP and got killed, I was glad to leave. Dead dog tired, back to MSS and a soft bed with flat pillows.
NOTE, this trip started out kinda bad for me, but today I did alright. It was the first day I came out a little ahead.

This report was worth waiting for! Thanks for sending me off to work with a smile on my face.

lee--let me interupt here and ask about the susuki suv-- how was it to drive?--at speed on the interstate?--compare in size to other suvs?-any guts to it?--did you try a twenty for a real upgrade?

Nextel?? I don't remember using that for directions. I do remember you saying something about knowing a shortcut or at least knowing the right way to go. Always an adventure!!

Welcome to TalkVegas, PA-cop! I hope you turn this into a 3-way discussion ...he said, she said and the truth<g>.

PA-Cop,
I stand corrected, I checked with the "she said" part of our group, and she explained that you didn't call for directions while I was lost, instead you where just chatting with another cop buddy on your phone.

Wednesday
He Said, Lee-PA, Slept till 8am, hey that's 10 hrs of sleep, I should be good tonight to go the distance! The Brass Boar bar for some treasure chest VP and then some dollar VP on the casino floor....loose. Then we pick up "the kids" and have a great lunch at the Palm restaurant in the Ceasars mall. Service was great, but they had some problems with the bill at the end of the meal. Then a whill wind tour of Silverton, Orleans, Gold Coast. I loose at every one, except the Gold Coast, where I really lost my butt. Sharon is on a up swing today, The gold Coast was very good to her. Palace Station, next, where my loosing pace atleast slows down for awhile. The Fat Burger for dinner, an excellent meal. It ain't fancy, but it sure is good. Drop Sandy off at the Las vegas Club and the 4 of us head to Harrahs for the show Skin Tight. Nick (PA-cop)wants to see a topless show, so they force me to tag along. LOL Decent show for half price tickets $21.45 per person. It's not the best topless show I've seen recently but it wasn't bad either! Oink Oink! Gamble a little at Harrahs sports bar to catch up with some very nice bartender friends and introduce Sharon to them. Then on to the Flamingo front corner bar to say hello to Lynn & company. Drop Ariel & Nick off atthe Aladdin, after I couyldn't talk them into walking home from the Flamingo! Head for those Treasure chest machines at MSS at the bar, bed at 2am. Bad day for me gambling wise, but had a blast the whole time. Hey in Vegas, sometimes loosing is even fun!

She Said, Sharon-PA, Lee is awake at 4am!!! Wonder what he wants??? Back to sleep till 8am. Main Street Station for some baily's & coffee & whip cream, and some treasure chest machines at the bar. Lee gets a little boared and moves on to the dollar ones in the casino. I do well, Lee starts what will be a bad day for him (he doesn't know it yet, though). I got a couple 4 of a kinds to keep me going. I quit with a small profit. Lunch at the Palm, the check arrives and they have problems with a Palm gift card, his daughter and son in law gave him for a present. They claim to have never seen one before. But that matter is dispatched rather quickly. Meal was very good & filling! Silverton, Orleans, Gold Coast, Palace Station. Win, Win, WIN!!!, win! Got Aces on a double double bonus machin at the Gold Coast. Lee is whining something about how I was playing his machine.....get over it, move on already, you let me choose my seat first! LOL Drop off Sandy, we are going to a late show, and it's been a long day for her. The 4 of us head out to Harrah's for "Shin Tight" show. Ariel & I talk about possibly going to one of the men shows, but not tonight. Maybe later in the trip! Met some more of Lee's bartender friends at Harrah's & Flamingo Hilton. We end up dropping off the kids at the Aladdin, Nick & Ariel are to tired to walk the short distance to the Aladdin. I'm beat too! We head back to the Main Street Station for a little bar top VP. Lee's falling asleep atthe machine, he's standing up so he'll stay awake! Bed time 1:30am or so. I did well today, Lee didn't! :p

To Be Continued.....

Ok, just one comment. I don't remember being asked to walk from the Flamingo. I don't think we were even at the Flamingo, just in the car and you probably didn't want to drive the two blocks to the Aladdin. I could see if we were already there and the car was parked. But come on, a car in motion wants to stay in motion. LOL

Ok one more thing to set the record straight. Lee-PA picked the show. I just said I wanted to see a show while we were in Vegas. It just so happened that the show Lee-PA picked was a topless one. Where was his mind???

PA-Cop,
You'll just have to write your own trip report to set the record strait.
"It just so happened that the show Lee-PA picked was a topless one. Where was his mind???"
We all know where it's at.(oink, oink)

Larry, I might have to. But I think Lee is keeping it pretty accurate. I'll see what he says for the rest of the trip. LOL

PA-cop, Did I or Sharon say you where at the Flamingo Hilton??? Hmmmm? We walked up there while you gambled at Harrah's. I really can't remember if it was before the show or after it anymore, but my notes say it was after the show. I thought it would be an excellent night for a walk for you two love birds, to stroll past the lights of the Paris hotel. And maybe work off some of those donuts! :p :p :p

Thursday,
He Said, The kids wanted a pool day, the main condition of a strip hotel was a nice pool for a pool day for them. So Sharon, Sandy and I hung around downtown all day, me mostly loosing and Sharon with a slight win for the day. We pick the kids up for dinner, but my notes don't say where? It's an early night for us all.
She said, Wake up early and down to the casino for our now typical Baily's & coffee eye opener. Ariel & Nick are staying at the Aladdin for the pool today, so we wander around downtown, Lee takes me into the Lady Luck, what a dump this place is. He says this is nothing and we should try the Gold Spike if I want a dump. I decline and I come away with a small profit for the day. Pick up Ariel & Nick for dinner (they are waiting for us at Aladdin valet). We end the night with Main Street Station VP and I pulla small win for the day. Early night, as we had no nap today.
cont.....

Friday He said,
Well it's move day for the kids, we pick them up and deliver them to the Las vegas Club. They are staying here on a comp from Sharon for the last 2 nights. We get them checked in and we plan to meet later at Main street station for lunch at the Brew pub. They both notice a big differnace in the room from the Aladdin! LOL Orleans next, where I get beat up by the dollar VP machines. Sharon looses slightly here. The kids loose, but they are having fun. There bag of casino chips are dewindleing down to a last few. Show tonight at Paris so we arrive a little early to pick up the tickets. There is a line at the pick-up window that seems to go forever. We get the tickets and go in to see Wayne Brady. The show was fantastic! It's a hard show to discribe and i'm sure every show has to be differnt, because he takes skit idea's for the audiance. I will see this guy again, he has talent, and suits Vegas well. After the show we play at Paris sports bar, I have a win and cash out, sharon does ok too. We have a drive to downtown, so I must say no to Alan our friendly bartender, who offers another round, while I wait for a slot attendant. We say our goodbyes and head downtown. The kids are beat as we are too. Sandy is taking a beating this day too. Sharon & I head over to the California at Daves bar for some treasure chest VP, but I can't keep my eyes open. I end up loosing my winnings from Paris here. Sharon wins a small profit and quits and just watches me loose.
She Said:
This morning we pick up Ariel & Nick and move them into the Las vegas Club, they are in for a let down! But atleast they will be closer to us, and meeting will be easier for the rest of the trip. A good lunch at the Brew pub, and the kids pick the Orleans as they have quite a few chips to cash in from there.
Wayne Brady show at Paris was wonderful. he does a bit, where he's blind folder and bare foot, and all these mouse traps are set on the floor. They are so funny as these mouse traps snap on their toes as they improv a suggestion for a bit from the audiance. This is the best show I've seen in Vegas yet! Ariel & Nick where looking forward to this show and I think they really enjoyed it. Played at Paris, Lee finally gets something to cash out on a VP machine, I met more of his nice Las vegas friends. Back downtown, tired, but Lee drags me over to the California, for some more VP. I warned him not to go, I said enjoy a winning day...but no....he said he wanted to win more. Well, that little plan never worked out. I got a small win and held onto it. He played it all back in from Paris. He was so tired he had to stand to stay awake while he played the machine.
Bed finally came, but it was after 2am.
Cont.....

Lee, Sharon and Company,

Thanks for the report. Once again, you did not let any grass grow under your feet while in L.V. How long do you think this pace will continue? Just the airplane ride home requires us to have three days to recuperate. You must never recover until your next trip out. OOPS!!! I forgot. There is an age difference we haven't considered. Looking forward to traveling with you in November. At least for several hours we will know where to find you. Do you have trip planned in between? Take care.

This seems a little confusing. You're still posting your August trip report?

When will you post your September report? After your November trip? LOL

I love giving you crap on the board because I know you can't post the reply you'd like to give me!

Fred, I'm not getting any younger, don't know if you noticed, but the word nap has slipped into my vocabulary. I never plan much in between the flight to vegas and the flight home. I only have suggestions and maybe a reservation or 2.
For now, the only plan is to have myself & Sharon at Wendells meet at the Orleans. And only because I missed it on my last 2 visits now, ZAX resturant at the Golden Nugget.
Lee-PA

Jeff,
I deserve it. I have been running around trying to get my personal life in order and still keep up on this BB and all my vacations too. It's tough sometime! LOL

But I must finish this one before I start Septembers TR, and I hope to finish this one tonight. I have the Saturday from HECK to report on next, then I'm finished here.

The Saturday From Heck.....
He Said; Up early and down for our last bailys and coffee in the morning, so I have 2! LOL Meet Sandy & Ariel & Nick, now that makes us a party of five. Notice the number 5, this number will become very important as the day unfolds. Now I have posted about the new Mexican menu at Terribles on the BB and today was our day to try it. Well we walk in to a Half full Terribles cafe and are seated in a booth for 4, I complain, and am told it's the best they can do??? We order drinks, but I'm unhappy with this, and neither of the 3 that are squished into a table side for two to make room for 3, so we leave. I won't be back. I guess I'm a little spoiled, I'm not used to rude service in Vegas. We collect the car and drive to the Nascar cafe as plan B, where, unbelevable as it might seem, we are crammed into a table of 4 in another 1/2 full resturant. I again complain and we are mover to a booth that seats six. Here we sit for 15 min. no menu's, no water, no nothing. I grab the manager, he quickly says how sorry he is, gets us menu's and grabs a bus person to get our table set up, and asures us a waiter will be right with us. The bus person takes our drink order, and we never see him again. We sit for another 10 min. and walk out, again I vow never to return! On to Plan C, we finally get great service at the Sahara coffee shop. Not the best place to eat in the world, but we where seated and served in a timely fashion, and out the door in under 45 min! Did you ever have one of those days you wanted to be so perfect, and then feel squashed like a bug. You start the day so up-beat, then so quickly dumped on, it feels like you are a mark for the rest of the day? Well, after lunch, We play at the Sahara for quite some time, then I say to everyone, it's saturday, I am having a bad day, how about we just go downtown and play there for our last day. Most of the kids remaining chips are for downtown anyway, and I need to regroup and try to make a decent day out of a fustrating mess of an afternoon.
Sharon & I take a nap and figure we'll start fresh after we wake-up. Sort of like the movie groud-hog day, we'll just start over! We do, and while I'm gambling on the light side for the rest of the day, the evening does indeed go much smoother. Meet everyone for dinner, Pasta Pirate, I beleive and then we start our round of goodbyes to our bartender friends downtown. I find on the last day lately, I am less inclind to gamble heavy, knowing I'm going to be returning soon, there is no need to power gamble that last night away. We all get a good night sleep.

She said: Lee, pretty much explained the eary afternoon. The pressure was sort of on him, and I have never had such bad service from people. I just couldn't beleive all the resturant trouble was happening. Even after lunch, Lee was still upset that things went so wrong. We played awhile at the Sahara, and Ariel & Nick where having such a good time at our meeting time they asked if we all could stay longer at the Sahara, so we did. Lee & I just pulled up a chair at the Sahara bar and had a couple of cold ones to pass the time. When we met up the second time, we all agreed it was time to head back downtown. We split up from here only too meet one last time for dinner. We say our goodbyes as Nick & Ariel are traveling on a differnt plane home. It was nice seeing Ariel later that evening at the Main street brass boar bar. She was still going strong, with her husband in tow. But all fun things come to an end, again we say our goodbye's, they head off for the Las vegas Club, and we head off to bed.

Sunday Collective story; We wake up check out with a zero balance on the hotel bill. drop off the rental car after gasing it up, and to the airport. We all (3) wonder how the kids are doing, as we check our watches and relize they are just waking up to start thier journey home too as we board the plane home. Flights where smooth and on time. Collect luggage and drive home from Harrisburg.

Notes....
They nailed me with an extra $25 heavy bag charge atthe airport both ways.

Pasta Pirate is still as good as ever

I'll miss Ariel & Nick on our next LV trip, they where so much fun to be around, I wish they could go alone every trip.

I don't expect to go to Terribles anytime soon

I am now beginning to hate Dollar and thier XL-7's

Main street station was as much fun as ever, but the rooms are getting pretty worn again, time for a remodel IMHO

I had more luck at the California, then Main Street Station this trip.

Wayne brady is a show not to be missed if you ever get the chance to see him, take it!

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I know this took too long to post, I'll do better on my next trip report!
COMING SOON..... LOL

Lee-PA

Lee - what a report and what a trip - guess I am going to have to catch Wayne Brady now - Maxine is "chopping at the bit" - See ya soon - Wendell

Wendell, It's only fair.....I went to see celine!

Lee,

Thanks for FINALLY finishing your report!

Another marathon trip, as usual. I do notice that nap word being used occasionally, but quite honestly, question if there's really much sleeping going on. :rolleyes:

You hung in better than me on the lunch fiascos, I'd have probably been eating a burger at McDonalds by that time.

I agree with you on the MSS rooms. Mine had the front of the bathroom vanity hangin by a thread. Shower drain was very slow. Too bad I enjoy playing there so much. Between that and the monthly free room offers, it's hard to leave.

Jeff,
Honestly, I do take naps in Vegas now (power naps) as Sharon calls them. That leaves some extra time!!!

The Lunch ordeal really took a lot of the fun out of my day. It was a power drain on me. If It would have been just me or just Sharon & I, we would have probably been at McDonalds too. But I had others with us, that don't get to go to Vegas all that often.

It's sort of a shame for Main Street Station. They got these great public areas, and the rooms are pretty drab. They have a lot of land at the location that is wasted IMHO. Sure would be nice to see a new tower and parking garage. But it seems Boyd's downtown places are always on the back burner. I can't help wonder if that is what is keeping downtown, down. No new develpoment. People see it one time, and there never seems to be anything really new happening there. On the strip things are constantly changing, it keeps them coming back.

Lee,

I disagree on the new tower. I don't want them to get bigger, just better.

Remodel the rooms and raise the shower heads. A bigger TV wouldn't be bad.

And what happened to the coffee and donut cart? That was always my first stop in the morning for a little caffien shot.

Lee - I'm totally confused. I thought you were writing about your CURRENT trip but now I'm guessing you made one trip in August and then another in September? Gosh - I am so envious of you!!!!!!!

BTW - You DESERVE good service in Las Vegas. There are far too many restaurants to choose from. Those places should know better than to give you a small booth and bad service. I'm glad you left and won't return. I won't go to those places either.

Looking forward to hearing about Celine!

Mike

Jeff, That coffee was probably the worst coffee I have ever had in Vegas. I didn't miss it one little bit.

Raising the shower heads would be a major step in making the rooms better. But I can't help buy feel a new tower with better accomadations wouls greatly improve the MSS appeal to other travelers. Plus help bring new business downtown. It's so stagnat downtown. When was the last time downtown had a consistant increase in gaming revanue in a 3 month period?

Mike,
I really wanted to try both places again and see if my feeling changed about them....well it did, but not the way I thought it would go.

I posted about the Celine show on my other report.