Well here we go again!
So far the trip is goig as planned. We are about to board our connecting flight in atlanta......more to come......

Well, my plan to report as the days went on failed miserably. We had conection problems untill JMT met us Saturday night and rebooted the i-phone. Then I was behind, and typing on that itsy bitsy key pad wasn't going to happen!

Firday, Arrive in Vegas early on Delta flights which went very smooth. Rented from Thrifty, problem #1 Blue chip deck in lot closes at 11pm, it was 11:01pm. Down stairs and wait in line, fortunatly lot guy alerted them that a blue chip person was coming and boom to the head of the line. Got upgraded to 300M, nice ride, with about 10k on the meter.
Check in at Ceasars, smooth untill we get to our room....filthy! Not to mention it's not what we had reservations for! It was a standard room, not the 2 bathroom model we where assured of. Now they move us, and guess what, it's to the room we originally reserved. Then they tell us how they upgraded us???HUH? Settle in and begine gambling till morning. Mostly VP untill the end, when Sharon gets feeling luck on the slots....we loose more!
Saturday morning...awakend by the Senator and his friend, they visit and drink our booze from the servi-bar. The Senator is in a very jolly mood, as it seems someone has pickeled his brain in scotch. Thanks Greg! Jeff, while I thank you for providing afternoon entertainment for us, there was no way I could have done shots for breakfast, but thanks for the invite. LOL
Lunch was at the Palms resturant in the mall at Ceasars. Very tasty, it's had not ordering the filet!
After lunch we run into the senator again, but just walk right by him and his friends.....they don't even notice us. Again on our way to visit the Flamingo, we again bump into the senator and friends. Do you remeber Jeff???? We stoped to make sure everything was ok, but they where deceiding on where to eat, I asked about Greg (he was missing) turns out he was called off the playground by his wife!
Went to Ballys instead of the Flamingo, and lost here for awhile, I would have some luck with a nice win, only to loose it on the next machine. That's pretty much the way the day went for both of us.
We meet JMT at one of the bars at Ceasars, When I order a drink, I'm suprised by the cost. $10 for a rum and coke! Yikes! Can you tell I've been not buying drinks??? Well all 4 of us JMT, Sandy & Sharon & I head for the Wanda Sykes comedy show. I was disapointed. While she was funny at times, at others it was flat.
After the show we parted ways. We headed to the parking garage exit area and played a few slant top VP machines. BTW, we are almost exclusivly playing BBD. We head to the room kinda early by Vegas standards 1am

Sunday, Wake up early but feel well rested. We lounge around the room all morning.
Hungary, we meet Sandy and head for PF Changs. Everyone orders something different except me. I think I had the worse meal. It seems they are tinkering with the menu and spices. Not going to rush back to this one.
Silverton, and Sharon hits the dueces, it's looking like a good day for her. Shop at the Bass pro shop, and somehow, dispite my best efforts, DAG finds me hiding by the clearence rack of Tommy Bahamma shirts. Never use a lime green shirt to hold infront of you to hide....you don't blend in well! LOL I beleive David is 3 for 3 in finding us at the silverton/bass pro on his last 3 trips! What are the chances?
Sahara, and I can't catch a win here. Sharon ecks out a small profit, Sandy I beleive got killed here. We all where ready to leave, when we left!
WynnDot next. I get the dueces on a dollar machine here and I could have drank myself blind, if I didn't have to get us back to ceasars. I do love the cocktails at Wynndot. Nice glasses, nice mix, mice cocktail servers too! Back to Ceasars for our last evening and dinner at Rao. We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine, enjoyed a dinner and while the ladies had some concoction for desert, I had a expresso Martini. Ok, I got a buzz going on now.....I'm ready to gamble! <g> Harrah's picked up the check for this one too...nice.
The gambling wasn't pretty, Sandy went home to the Flamingo and we didn't last much longer either. The buzz was gone, along with my money! I finish only even for the day! (but I had fun)!!!
Monday is move day. We pack and check out. I collect my football bets, I didn't win and I didn't loose. Both teams I bet on tied w' the spread. Eagles & Ravens, what are the chances!
Pick up Sandy at Flamingo and drop her off again at the California. we check into the Main Street Station. Lunch at Cali snack bar. We play at the Fremont and Nugget, nothing doing.
Meet for dinner at the BlackJack lodge with the gang. Dinner was good, but the company was better! I ate too much! Very uncomfortable! All you can eat, I must learn isn't a challenge!
Sandy wanted to stop at the Rio on the way back, so we stopped in. Sandy won her free T-shirt for her play, and I got 4's with the kicker!
OK...the Rio bartender made me almost blow rum & coke out my nose. Here is the set up, young couple seated next to me playing the machine. She doesn't like VP, so she hits the cash out button. No ticket comes out but the machine starts to beep. On the screen it says winner paid. She calls over the bartender, asks him what she should do? She explains she didn't get her voucher! The Bartender with a straight face, points to the machine and says "The screen says winner paid, I'm afraid I have to ask you to empty your purse, before I can call an attendent for you!" You should have seen the look of horror on this girls face! He did at this point tell her her was just fooling around....and he called an attendent.
Head back to downtown and play a bit at the Cali, then bed at 10pm....whats happening. I just can't stay awake.
More to come.....

that's the trick lee i alway go to the tommy bahamma shirts to find you<G>

Ok, here is something I forgot to post, but I'm not sure what night it happened at Ceasars. In the mens restroom by the sports book (by pussy cat dolls & Pure nightclubs). I was playing at the sports book, and as happens after drinking many rum & cokes, needed to use the mens room. The key words being "Mens Room". The restroom is packed, a stall opens up, and while going about my business I hear a womans voice. It's coming from the handicaped stall next to mine. My mind quickly races ??I am in the mens room right??? yeah, urinals on the wall when I came in, check. I listen, It's some young woman being pretty much forced into doing something she is protesting about. I leave my stall to see a pair of ankles and bare feet sticking out from under the door and a part of a black party dress. She's on her knees, telling the guy she doesn't want to do this. There has got to be 15 people in the mens room, no one says a word, like this is normal? I go outside, and tell security, that there is a woman in the mens room, they shrug it off, like it happens all the time???? Only when I mention that she sounds like an unwilling partisapant, that's when they spring into action. I walk away, knowing I did my best.
Lesson....
I'm not really sure what I learned or what jewel of knowledge can be glistened from this. Personally, I don't care if there is a woman or women in the mens room. I'm there to pee! But I guess what bothers me most is, securitys reaction. I was also suprised by everyones attitude to ignor what was going on in the mens room in general. If your just getting your freak on, fine, but this gal was in distress, and no one seemed to care! What is wrong with people?

Tuesday,
Breakfast at the California cafe. Nothing wonderful, but it's free food, and it's just breakfast. We head over to the 1/2 price ticket place and get tickets for Menopause for later tonight. We head to the Orleans for Wendells meet. Not sure if he would be there or not. The bright Yellow TalkVegas sign, pointing up on the esculators was a good sign, all was well!
Thank You EVERYONE! I enjoyed everyones company, it was nice seeing everyone, and getting to know Lena a little, was extra special. Wendell, another fine event! Maxine, please keep Wendell in line, and healthy, we really enjoy what he does for TalkVegas. Bippy aka David, thanks for the artwork. We still have to shop for a frame, that one is going on the computer room wall, right next to my casino chip collection, and my $2 bill poster! It will be in fine company. The only change I think I'd make, to the next anuall thanksgiving meet is, to arrage for a cocktail server. Folks, it's real tricky getting on an esculator with a try full of drinks. Next year I'm gonna try to leave that to the professionals! Besides....they look a lot better then me! <g> Thanks everyone for coming!

After the meet, we played at the Orleans, we needed to get our free wine! Yeah, that only cost me about $100...free...right! We gave it away. Then the LV Hilton for our Menopause show. While waiting for the show we played at the bar a little. Sharon hit dueces again! I had a nice machine, that gave me little wins that added up to over $300. We cash out and head to the show. While waiting in line, I relize I didn't have my voucher for the +300$ I had forgoten to take in from the machine after cashing out. Sharon went back, and it was gone! The bartender handed it to her. He said he seen it, and knew we'd be back! LOL Wasn't that nice. The show... Well, I thought it was funny, I laughed, but I found myself checking my watch. It was about 15 min too long. They got as much milage out of the subject as they could and kept it running too long. Most everyone enjoyed the show in attendence. The performers have tallent, it's a small stage, we had front table seating. Shimmer cabret is a nice venue for up close and personal. It would make a great comedy club, or a venue for something like forever plaid, or second city. IMHO
After the show we stop for Dinner at Envy Steakhouse. WoW, good meal. JMT introduced us to this place in a past trip, and this was probably my best meal of the trip if I was forced to pick just one! Bone in rib eye, makes your mouth water. Sandy also picked up the check, which made this meal even better!!!! Service was subpurb, untill the end of the meal, when we where ready to leave, no one gave us the bill or cleaned the dirty plates from the table. It was a let down from a wonderful steak dinner.
Back downtown to finish the night MSS & California. Bed at 1am.

DAG,
Bass Pro, is the only place I know that has Tommy B, on clearence! I want a pair of the pants, but just can't bring myself to pay full price, for something I'm going to sit on! LOL

sounds like i have to put envy on the beef/steak list for feb. fyi there is usualy a restaurant . com coupon for envy which is unusual for an upscale restaurant.

DAG.....I had a coupon! But keep in mind, this place ain't cheap, so even with a coupon, Envy is pricey. I know this is probably off your eating list, but it's very good here, Mac & Cheese as a side dish. I also like the 3 different kinds of salt they bring to the table to use with dinner. It's amazing how much salt changes the flavor of what your eating.

Wow - that bartender was certainly nice to keep that $300 ticket for you - whew! I hope you tipped him well!

I did that once at NYNY - I was playing my favorite Triple Play machines and my friend Charlie came along and started talking. We then headed to breakfast and I forgot to cash out. Once I realized this, I RAN back to the machine and thankfully no one had touched it (it was early morning and there weren't a lot of people around). It was worth about $150.

I really need to check out the Envy Steakhouse. It's been on my list for a while now and I haven't gotten there yet. I need to do that! Thanks for the reminder!

That had to be a bummer at PF Changs; I know you've really enjoyed previous meals there. Which location? No need to return since there are so many good alternatives.

Is that lime green TB shirt headed for the dock when boating season starts in the spring?

I'll confess to being part of the absent-minded clan; I left a voucher in a machine at the Orleans one night. I was already up in my room and pleasantly surprised to find it was still there when I high-tailed it back downstairs. I do remember wondering if some guy watching a surveillance camera was laughing his butt off<g>.

I don't drink much these days. I do like the drinks at Caesars and at the WynnDot.

Thanks for the Comedy Festival ticket. Wanda is really talented. The only part I didn't like is the political part. 'Tis the season for political jokes and all the comics will be obliged to acknowledge the campaigns. I doubt if any of them will impress me either.

I kinda have mixed emotions about what happened in the Mens Room at Caesars. I often have breakfast around 4-5am before going to work an early morning shift. That is about the time the night clubs are letting out and the clubbers are most impaired. I am 100% sober. It's not uncommon to find party girls in the mens room. On one hand, I don't find the mens room a sexy environment. On another hand, people shouldn't be forced into bad situations like that. On another hand, I don't want to need security and not find them because they are dealing with such matters. Finally, if I get drunk and walk on to a freeway and get splattered by an 18 wheeler, I think that I pretty much asked for it. I was in the Hard Rock one morning, and the mens room had an attendant tending to towels, colognes, etc. There was also a party girl in there and nobody seemed to care.

You seemed to do a fine job serving cocktails. Did anyone tip you? Thanks for coming to the TV meet. And thank you for the umbrella. It is raining like crazy here now, and if I get stupid and decide to go for a drive, I will take the umbrella with me.

I kinda like the Shimmer Cabaret theater. IMHO, the stage is too small for The Scintas. I wish they would do more stuff there. If stage proximity is not an issue, I like sitting in the balcony. It's a great view and you have your own cocktail waitress and bar

I still go Envy every once in a while, even though they stopped selling gift certificates on the radio show. Did you valet park? The only thing I don't like about going there is the old oil pump elevators in the parking garage. I think the steakhouse is awesome. The bar seems popular sometimes too. I like breakfast there, but I would not recommend that to Mike. Their portions are not big enough for his kind of breakfast, and I don't think that they have biscuits and gravy. I like their bone in rib eye. Their truffle fries are good too. The serving is way too big. But if you microwave them the next day, they are yummy. I'll try the mac and cheese next time.

I won't say that I never left money in a machine. But if I forgot about it, I don't remember forgetting. I have left a few club cards in the machines though.

Great trip report so far. Thanks!

Lee - Sounds like another fun trip to our favorite city - although it is rather difficult to understand the Men's room situation at Caesars especially the attitude of Security. You really lucked out with the $300 ticket situation, it would have been my luck for someone to have grabbed it and run. Was glad that you enjoyed Menopause - for some reason, it really tickled my fancy. AND, the meet was great, you, Joe, Lena, and David really made this one - Maxine will get good use out of her umbrella, she uses one every time it sprinkles. At any rate, by TR is forthcoming.

Maybe you should put on a tight short dress, fishnets and some heals, that ought to make going up the escalator with a tray full of drinks a little eaiser. :p

BTW...I got a chance to use the yellow umbrella yesterday. You should have seen the rain that fell on Vegas on Friday.

envy or delmonicos?

My heart says Delmonicos, my wallet screams Envy!
Dag, I think the all around experiance is better at Del, but then your paying 2 times the coast at Del's.

Daisy, I didn't buy that shirt....it was just a little too loud for me.
The Changs was located across the street from Terribles. We won't be rushing back to that one, at all.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to ever leave a ticket in a machine! I just had too much going on when I got up from the bar.

Mike,
I had previously taken care of my bartender, no addional tip was rendard. I know I've played this over in my mind, and wondered if I should have tipped. To be honest, Sharon went back to collect the ticket. I wasn't even there. Sharon wouldn't tip normally for something I should tip for. But to be honest, I didn't even think of a tip untill later that night. My Bad!

JMT,
I do less and less Valet, as were they park my car seems to get further away with every visit. It's much quicker to park it my self, then pick up time is shorter. I parked and used the old slow elevators at Envy. Truffle fries????
Your very welcome to the Sykes show, I wish it would have been better.
The girl in the mens room, I don't care, I just didn't want anything bad to happen. Your right, she got herself into that place, either by drinking too much or just bad choices. But the same applies, what kind of person would I have felt like later reading the papers and finding out something bad happened, and I let it slide. I don't feel it was a case of wanting to get involved, I had to say something.