Road Tripping

So as part of my roadtrip over the past week, I went to Vegas for one night with Kohn and Gabe. We picked up Gabe from UCLA the morning after Reeck and Crystal's wedding (which actually was a LOT of fun), as Crystal's mom insisted that we stop at their brunch that morning and to bring Gabe with us even though he didn't come to the wedding.

We arrived in Vegas around 5:30pm that evening. I actually wanted to go to church since I hadn't yet that day, so I went to mass at the UNLV Catholic Newman Center as Gabe and Kohn got started.

Gabe started out at the MGM, where Kohn and I met him soon after. I sat with Gabe at his 1/2 NL table as Kohn went off to the craps tables. This session didn't go well for Gabe. Kohn lost as well. Things weren't really going my way either, until one hand late in the session where I had A8d in late position so I limped after some limpers. Flop came with 2 diamonds and it checked to me so I bet $10 and got one caller after me. Turn was the Ace of hearts, so good card but I don't want this pot to get out of control in case I'm behind, so I check-called as he bet $20. River was the beautiful King of diamonds, I pondered, then bet $50, which at the time I thought was an overbet (which I intended) but after recalculating right now it's a pure value-bet. whoops. A few drinks can really hinder your ability to count the pot. Anyways, I tried to look like I was nervous and didn't want a call... I'm not sure if that is what did it, but I then heard the beautiful words "all-in" and I had to double-check that I indeed did have the nuts. No straight-flush was possible, and I did in fact have the Ace and Eight of diamonds, so I made the call and just turned over my cards to save him the time and trouble.

After that, Gabe and I had been waiting on a list for a 2/4 Mix game, which we were told was just a rotation where the game was decided at the beginning of each new dealer. Sounded like a lot of fun. But we were 1 and 2 on the list for like a good two hours; NO ONE was getting up from this game. Drats.

But Kohn was ready to call it a night, as he had lost as much as he wanted to and did not want to interfere with our poker. As soon as I realized he was serious about leaving, I said "no way," screw poker, convinced him to stay up and we would continue to drink. We abandoned the MGM and headed back to Bally's to play some video poker and get free drinks while doing so.

Then Gabe kept talking about somewhere that had $1 beers so we headed off in search of this, since Kohn did not want to gamble anymore so we had to find an alternative way to get cheap drinks. We stopped at Bill's Gambling Hall where they had 99 cent Margheritas, but those turned out to be extremely small. So we moved on, next to O'Sheas that advertised "Beer Pong." We went in to investigate, and it turned out to be $20 to buy the two pitchers of beer to play. And these were some fairly small pitchers so it was kind of a rip-off. But we found 2 other guys who wanted to play, so we agreed to play with them and loser would pay. Gabe offers to put the money up front to buy the pitchers, so he goes up to the bar to get them. He of course gets carded (see early Borgata trip report heh), and... it turns out that Gabe had just gotten his California license. But since they don't print them out immediately (they send them in the mail within 10 days), all he had was a paper document to use in the meantime. The bartender would not accept this. Ridiculous... I think we could've called the cops to take care of this since that paper is a legal document. But we instead chose to just argue. Then I said I'd just buy it, but the bartender said "ok, but he (Gabe) can't play." WTFLOL. We talk to the manager too, who won't hear any of it. So we bounce.

Next stop is at Casino Royale, Kohn's favorite place to gamble, and this turns out to be the place with $1 beers! Hooray!! So we hang out there for a bit. This place also has this weird version of Blackjack called Blackjack Switch. Basically, you play two hands, and before you decide whether you are going to hit or stand, you have to decide if you want to switch your cards or not. So for example, if in one hand you have A6 and in the other hand you have 5J, you can switch them so that you have AJ and 56, two far superior hands than previously. But you can only switch the 2nd cards that you receive. Also, blackjack only plays 1:1 (instead of 3:2), and the dealer doesn't bust on 22; if dealer hits 22 then it is a push. Anyways, we played this game for a bit, Gabe won about $100 and I won like $150. w00t.

Finally we head back to Bill's for the cheap breakfast. Except Gabe ordered the steak dinner.

We finally get back to our room at 5am, which was a complete shock to all of us that it was so late.

The next morning we wake up and nurse our hangovers, and head to the Venetian where Gabe and I go to buy tickets to the Blue Man Group, which I really wanted to see since Nick Kittle is in it right now; I know him from Michigan where he was a percussion performance major and in the Marching Band for a year. So we buy them, and then meet up with Nick for lunch/brunch at Peppermill which is a nice little place on the north end of the strip. Kohn unfortunately can't make it to the show since his flight is at 8pm and the show starts at 7pm. But Gabe and I go, and it's an awesome show. Definitely worth seeing. Then we take off after that and head back to LA.

btw it's such a good feeling to drive in Las Vegas. So much better than cab rides. Especially since I now have such a bitter taste in my mouth about Las Vegas cab drivers (see previous post). And it's like, every time I would drive somewhere, I'd just feel like I'm saving $10 or whatever the cab ride would have cost.

Oh also. Today I was driving in rural Oregon (on my way back north after a fun week in LA, San Diego, and Berkeley), and I saw a bunch of signs for a casino. I debated stopping at it... and as I was driving by, I actually missed it. So I was about to keep going, but then I decided that I really wanted to see it, just out of curiousity. So I turned around and went to it. It was... pretty small. But not shady at all, even though it was completely in the middle of nowhere and totally surrounded by woods in all directions. I guess it was sort of close to Crater Lake, but that's about it. Anyways, basically all they had was a bunch of slot machines and a few blackjack tables, with minimum bet of $5. I sat at one for a little bit, and left down $10. oh well.

Anyways this road trip is coming to an end but it's been an awesome one. I think I could see myself living someday in any of the places that I visited. Well, not Hood River. But LA, Vegas, San Diego, Berkeley/Bay area... yeah, I think so. If Seattle doesn't work out for the long run.