Las Vegas: Always an Adventure

I've had many adventures in Las Vegas over the last 40 years. Gambling for the first time when I was 20 (blackjack). Sitting next to Liza Minelli in the Frontier showroom. Watching Elvis for the first and only time at the Hilton (what we called the "International" in those days, and where I saw Barry Manilow later). Watching my mom gamble for her last time at Bally's, and smiling as she tried to take her bucket of quarters through the airport x-ray (she made it). Almost dying twice on a road trip to Vegas with my brother. And on the same trip, carrying his snub-nose .38 in my purse. Of course, there was the time a man died at the table next to us at the Binion's coffee shop. And on many occasions, I attended Star Trek conventions with friends and family.

This trip will add to those adventures, although not in such a dramatic way.

I can only take about 3 days of Vegas on my own, you know, where the only meaningful conversations happen with the dealer. Yesterday as I was looking at my phone again during the lengthy deal, the dealer asked me, "Talking to your boyfriend?" No, I answered. Checking to see if any of my sons has an emergency. And that was the truth. As it turned out, one of them had sent me essays to check, and of course the deadline was the next day. I was able to get to that on email.

I was determined this time around to do two things: (1) Play more blackjack and craps, as I keep losing money on slot machines, and (2) use some of the tickets in the Las Vegas Advisor ticket book. I just got the book before I left. So far this trip, I've used $14 of it. One for half off on a buffet at the Fremont, and the other in table matchplay at the Plaza.

The Plaza story is kind of interesting. I had to apply for the player's card there first, as I have never played there. I stayed there once at the hotel portion, and swore I'd never go back. The walk from the front desk to the hotel elevators is a long one, and I had to make it twice that first day, as the desk had given me the key to a room already taken. I hope I didn't disturb the large man sleeping in the bed as I entered.

But, because I was downtown and because the Plaza had a nice matchplay of $10, I was determined to go there and use it. I showed the dealer the book and asked if I could play it. He looked confused but he nodded his head, so I detached the coupon from the book and placed it under my $10 in chips. I got a push that first time, so we tried it again. I got a blackjack the second time. However, he did two things wrong: he paid me too much, and he left the coupon where it was instead of removing it. I wasn't sure what had just happened. The payoff is supposed to be 3 to 2, but the coupon threw me off. I finally realized what the payoff should've been about 3 plays later (I removed the coupon immediately), and instead of drawing anyone's attention to it like I had done earlier in the day when the dealer overpaid me -- I figured nobody would know what I was talking about several plays later -- I decided to leave the extra $20 as a tip for the dealers.

I did that. Actually, looking back on it, I'm still confused. I can't exactly remember what I was paid for that hand. I must've been tired -- it was 9 o'clock at night -- which should've given me a hint I should've gone back to the hotel. But I didn't.

I instead played a little longer at another hotel, Binion's. I had enjoyed great success there earlier that day at blackjack. Instead, the dealer took me for all I was worth. I managed to gain half of it back when I decided to hang it up. I found the line of taxis back at the Plaza, and went back to the Mirage.

I enjoyed seeing the one Fremont Experience downtown that I experienced. Oh, and another half of one. The first one was about motorcycles, and the last one about American Pie, but when it's 30 degrees out there, and I'm just in a light sweater, nothing is that much fun.

The gambling is so much fun downtown, though, that I think I'll go back today after I go to the Hilton for a few hours. Downtown casinos have the slot machines I like, and the low-limit blackjack and craps I like.

I did a brief stint at craps yesterday, again at Binion's. 10 minutes later I was $60 lighter, and so I escaped. I love craps -- I could feel my adrenalin flowing -- but it scares me. It has the ability to bankrupt me. I play the line bet minimum, always take odds behind the line, and then I place bets. One number can destroy all that.

I'm staying at the Mirage because they offered me a deal I've never seen before. A four-star hotel for a two-star price. I found a few casino games I like. But the minimums for blackjack are slightly higher. And the hotel is so large I get lost. I may in the future just stay downtown and have done with it.

The highlight of my day yesterday was when I got three blackjacks in a row. I couldn't believe it! A little later, I got two in a row. My only regret is that I didn't bet enough. I'm a true believer in the theory that you only win in blackjack if you play right (meaning, you hit when you should) and find ways of increasing your bet from time to time.

I had a lot of fun yesterday. I may not use a lot of those coupons along the way, I'm discovering, but I really enjoy the downtown area more than the strip. Everything is right there. This may just be one more sign I'm getting old.