VPC Went Vegas III; A Trip Report
04-16-2012
, 02:56 PM
Day 3: Downtown.
I wake up at 07:01 that morning. Again, no surprise here. I grab a sleeping pill out of the bathroom but I’m a little icky about the whole sleeping pill situation. The leaflet that comes along with the pills scares the living **** out of you. These are some serious chemicals and I’ve been drinking heavily till about an hour and a half ago so that probably doesn’t help. I leave the pill on the bedside table an try to fall asleep the natural way but it takes me less than a minute to realize that is not going to happen. I take the pill, wish for the best and wonder how the hell Fratie can sleep with his legs standing upwards. They are supposed to work after about 30 minutes so I just stare at the ceiling and wait for something to happen. I can hear that the Corona’s aren’t to happy about this new guest in my stomach but they seem to get along after about five minutes and one power fart. I don’t feel much happening accept maybe the feeling that gravity is increasing. I look at the clock and see it’s 07:29 so they should be kicking in any time now.
Really?
The next thing I know is Fratie rushing out of the room to go and watch the second half of our local soccer club VVV-Venlo playing PSV Eindhoven. It’s 11:50 and I feel awesome. I hardy think our current team is worth losing any sleep over back home so here in Vegas where the sleep is much more needed I don’t bother rushing to catch the last minutes of this sure loss. I take a long shower and head for the Mirage where the entire group gathered for the match accept for Baars obviously who arrived at his room around 10 AM this morning…..
Today we go Downtown. We love Downtown and if you are any kind of poker player Binions is a must see on every trip. Taxi drops us of at Binions and we have five minutes left to register for the 5K GTD at 2PM. This simply the best tournament in town. A 20K start stack, 25/50 starting blinds and a decent structure for a measly $ 105,- and only 73% fee…. No less than 143 runners show up this Saturday. Hugo, Peltinho, Fraters, Iebus and I sit down for this potential long grind.
142 donkeys.
I’m definitely a better tournament player than I am a cash game player but the Dutch gambling tax makes playing tournaments outside our state regulated casino’s basically –EV from the get go. I used to sell percentages for four of five tournaments on the past two trips but given the fact that we are in town for only six days and poker is mainly for passing time between Clubbin’ this year, I decided against that.
Playing 400 BB deep always makes me way more creative than advisable and with the opposition holding on to third pair as if it’s their first born child I’m leaking chips fast in the first three 20 minute levels. The opposition is as to be expected in a Vegas low buy-in tournament; clueless. With 20 BB left at 200/400 I’m about to go on lockdown but I permit myself one last ‘open raise fold’ luxury. I open 44 in MP to 900 and get but one customer. This dude snaps my 50% C-bet on 35J rainbow. We check the A turn an T river down. My 44 beats his Q6o. Whut?
I run my stack up to 35K when I get moved to Fratie’s table who’s sitting pretty – like our Fratie can sit any other way - with about 100K. Fratie can’t tell you if a flush beat a straight so there should be some great stories behind that stack. We are down to the last four tables. With the blinds going to 1500/3000 I (MP) ship over an UTG+2 limp. No need to look at my cards in this spot imo. The woman tanks forever before calling with AJo. My K7o are live and what do you know? A seven from heaven on the flop. 80k.
Binions Poker Hall of Fame
I decide to spend my new found wealth wisely by raising six hand in one orbit and taking down five of those pots. Then JJ pops up when it’s folded to me on the cutoff. I get 3-bet by the female button. I’m not to happy because she looks nitty and strong but I can’t pass up this perfect 4-bet ship spot with the top of my range and my current image. She tables KK obviously and to give her a sweat we flop KTT. I would have liked my chances had this 200K and 2,5 average pot somehow found it’s way to my but it wasn’t meant to be. Scoring my 10th $ 1,- Corona on the way to the casino floor makes me forget this pot rather quickly.
Baars surprisingly found his way to Binions and has been playing blackjack all afternoon. Baars is tilted though that he didn’t see a single waitress while wagering a small car. He decides to join us on the $ 1,- Corona quest we are holding till 21:00 before we go to dinner. Disaster strikes however because Baars passes a blackjack slot machine. This allows him to play nine hands at a time. We all have to get out of the way because he has no clue yet as to how big his boner is going to be.
Baars is burning money as if he stole the damn cash but there’s no way he’s leaving this new friend for something as stupid as dinner. We didn’t make reservations and I immediately regret that when we enter Fremont Street. The street is packed beyond believe. There are Country Music Awards the next day and the nominees are performing on different stages on Freemont Street so we have to fight about 200 cowboys just to reach Golden Nugget. It’s good thought to see Downtown packed again. During our 2010 trip Downtown was having serious trouble. Binions had just closed their hotel and you could see the area was struggling to survive. I was happy to read Downtown picked up the glove and starting fighting back. The new D (Old Fremont Hotel) & lots of new bars and restaurants have pimped the area and from what I hear Binions will be opening their hotel again before the summer.
The Italian place at The Nugget can seat us in about 90 minutes. We are hungry now and somehow end up in Golden Gate’s dinner. Being a Downtown fanboy I like the fact that I’m eating in the oldest Casino property in Vegas as I found out on this great Vegas History Site but one look at the silverware and my hunger is out of the window. I spend ten minutes polishing that **** up to the point where I’m only relatively sure one lick at the spoon won’t kill me instantly. No way I’m ordering anything fancy in this sorry excuse for a restaurant so I go with the cheeseburger. I hear the boys ordering split pea soup, fish & chicken. Death wish all the way.
When they bring the split pea soup I don’t know whether I should start puking aggressively or just hyperventilate from laughing. I’m 100% sure that if you’ll hold this cup upside-down nothing will fall out. Fratie’s first bite actually leaves a dent in this soup. Unreal. My cheeseburger is only butchered slightly but I have to keep my eyes of the fish & chicken plates to keep it in my stomach.
Vegas starts taking it’s toll on everyone and tired al hell we head back for IP after dinner at around 22:30. Baars isn’t leaving his machine despite being down a bundle and we start to get worried whether or not this new VPC recruit still has control over his gambling actions. When we arrive at IP everyone runs for their room but my eye catches an open seat at the 2/4 game. Against my better judgment I order a Budweiser that will take me an hour and a half to finish. I decide to safe myself the embarrassment of saying no to the cocktail waitress for the third time and cash out $ 18,- more than I took to the table. First win of the trip. Booyah!
00:30 Bedtime. I pull the remote out of Fratie’s hand and turn the TV off. I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.
I wake up at 07:01 that morning. Again, no surprise here. I grab a sleeping pill out of the bathroom but I’m a little icky about the whole sleeping pill situation. The leaflet that comes along with the pills scares the living **** out of you. These are some serious chemicals and I’ve been drinking heavily till about an hour and a half ago so that probably doesn’t help. I leave the pill on the bedside table an try to fall asleep the natural way but it takes me less than a minute to realize that is not going to happen. I take the pill, wish for the best and wonder how the hell Fratie can sleep with his legs standing upwards. They are supposed to work after about 30 minutes so I just stare at the ceiling and wait for something to happen. I can hear that the Corona’s aren’t to happy about this new guest in my stomach but they seem to get along after about five minutes and one power fart. I don’t feel much happening accept maybe the feeling that gravity is increasing. I look at the clock and see it’s 07:29 so they should be kicking in any time now.
Really?
The next thing I know is Fratie rushing out of the room to go and watch the second half of our local soccer club VVV-Venlo playing PSV Eindhoven. It’s 11:50 and I feel awesome. I hardy think our current team is worth losing any sleep over back home so here in Vegas where the sleep is much more needed I don’t bother rushing to catch the last minutes of this sure loss. I take a long shower and head for the Mirage where the entire group gathered for the match accept for Baars obviously who arrived at his room around 10 AM this morning…..
Today we go Downtown. We love Downtown and if you are any kind of poker player Binions is a must see on every trip. Taxi drops us of at Binions and we have five minutes left to register for the 5K GTD at 2PM. This simply the best tournament in town. A 20K start stack, 25/50 starting blinds and a decent structure for a measly $ 105,- and only 73% fee…. No less than 143 runners show up this Saturday. Hugo, Peltinho, Fraters, Iebus and I sit down for this potential long grind.
142 donkeys.
I’m definitely a better tournament player than I am a cash game player but the Dutch gambling tax makes playing tournaments outside our state regulated casino’s basically –EV from the get go. I used to sell percentages for four of five tournaments on the past two trips but given the fact that we are in town for only six days and poker is mainly for passing time between Clubbin’ this year, I decided against that.
Playing 400 BB deep always makes me way more creative than advisable and with the opposition holding on to third pair as if it’s their first born child I’m leaking chips fast in the first three 20 minute levels. The opposition is as to be expected in a Vegas low buy-in tournament; clueless. With 20 BB left at 200/400 I’m about to go on lockdown but I permit myself one last ‘open raise fold’ luxury. I open 44 in MP to 900 and get but one customer. This dude snaps my 50% C-bet on 35J rainbow. We check the A turn an T river down. My 44 beats his Q6o. Whut?
I run my stack up to 35K when I get moved to Fratie’s table who’s sitting pretty – like our Fratie can sit any other way - with about 100K. Fratie can’t tell you if a flush beat a straight so there should be some great stories behind that stack. We are down to the last four tables. With the blinds going to 1500/3000 I (MP) ship over an UTG+2 limp. No need to look at my cards in this spot imo. The woman tanks forever before calling with AJo. My K7o are live and what do you know? A seven from heaven on the flop. 80k.
Binions Poker Hall of Fame
I decide to spend my new found wealth wisely by raising six hand in one orbit and taking down five of those pots. Then JJ pops up when it’s folded to me on the cutoff. I get 3-bet by the female button. I’m not to happy because she looks nitty and strong but I can’t pass up this perfect 4-bet ship spot with the top of my range and my current image. She tables KK obviously and to give her a sweat we flop KTT. I would have liked my chances had this 200K and 2,5 average pot somehow found it’s way to my but it wasn’t meant to be. Scoring my 10th $ 1,- Corona on the way to the casino floor makes me forget this pot rather quickly.
Baars surprisingly found his way to Binions and has been playing blackjack all afternoon. Baars is tilted though that he didn’t see a single waitress while wagering a small car. He decides to join us on the $ 1,- Corona quest we are holding till 21:00 before we go to dinner. Disaster strikes however because Baars passes a blackjack slot machine. This allows him to play nine hands at a time. We all have to get out of the way because he has no clue yet as to how big his boner is going to be.
Baars is burning money as if he stole the damn cash but there’s no way he’s leaving this new friend for something as stupid as dinner. We didn’t make reservations and I immediately regret that when we enter Fremont Street. The street is packed beyond believe. There are Country Music Awards the next day and the nominees are performing on different stages on Freemont Street so we have to fight about 200 cowboys just to reach Golden Nugget. It’s good thought to see Downtown packed again. During our 2010 trip Downtown was having serious trouble. Binions had just closed their hotel and you could see the area was struggling to survive. I was happy to read Downtown picked up the glove and starting fighting back. The new D (Old Fremont Hotel) & lots of new bars and restaurants have pimped the area and from what I hear Binions will be opening their hotel again before the summer.
The Italian place at The Nugget can seat us in about 90 minutes. We are hungry now and somehow end up in Golden Gate’s dinner. Being a Downtown fanboy I like the fact that I’m eating in the oldest Casino property in Vegas as I found out on this great Vegas History Site but one look at the silverware and my hunger is out of the window. I spend ten minutes polishing that **** up to the point where I’m only relatively sure one lick at the spoon won’t kill me instantly. No way I’m ordering anything fancy in this sorry excuse for a restaurant so I go with the cheeseburger. I hear the boys ordering split pea soup, fish & chicken. Death wish all the way.
When they bring the split pea soup I don’t know whether I should start puking aggressively or just hyperventilate from laughing. I’m 100% sure that if you’ll hold this cup upside-down nothing will fall out. Fratie’s first bite actually leaves a dent in this soup. Unreal. My cheeseburger is only butchered slightly but I have to keep my eyes of the fish & chicken plates to keep it in my stomach.
Vegas starts taking it’s toll on everyone and tired al hell we head back for IP after dinner at around 22:30. Baars isn’t leaving his machine despite being down a bundle and we start to get worried whether or not this new VPC recruit still has control over his gambling actions. When we arrive at IP everyone runs for their room but my eye catches an open seat at the 2/4 game. Against my better judgment I order a Budweiser that will take me an hour and a half to finish. I decide to safe myself the embarrassment of saying no to the cocktail waitress for the third time and cash out $ 18,- more than I took to the table. First win of the trip. Booyah!
00:30 Bedtime. I pull the remote out of Fratie’s hand and turn the TV off. I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.
Last edited by Checkko; 04-16-2012 at 03:04 PM.
04-16-2012
, 04:12 PM
Really enjoying this TR. I'm not sure which man has the stranger costume though.
04-18-2012
, 05:05 AM
04-18-2012
, 02:43 PM
Day 4: PowerClubbin’
I wake up at 04:00, take a sleeping pill and wake up again at 08:30 feeling on top of the world. I almost get pissed at myself for not taking these pills along on the 2010 trip. Obviously having our sleeping beauty Fratie as a roommate helps. My former roommate Peltinho used to make the curtains move with his snoring but our Fratie doesn’t make a sound all night. I like Fratie.
I haven’t given any updates jet on the gambling of our group except for Baars blackjack binges. Now it may seem that Baars isn’t doing anything else accept for playing blackjack all day – which is true –, still, he’s great addition to this years crew and already in the top 3 list on everyone’s VPC Goes Vegas 2013 list. I won’t be giving away numbers but I saw at least three VPC’ers make the walk of shame (towards the ATM) on the very first morning. We’re all losing our shirts and I haven’t heard anyone mention a single win bigger than a hundred bucks.
Feeling ready for some poker Hugo & I head for The Mirage. I still haven’t played at this casino and I had to get that out of the way so I could watch the scene below with some self-respect. Two 1/2 games are running and we get seated at the same table. I again request a table change. At this point I’m more than willing to take Hugo’s money
but the insane drunken guy to my left who falls asleep at least twice during every hand makes me request the change. I can’t believe my eye’s when the waitress brings him another shot. This dude can hardly walk but Vegas is Vegas. He might put his wallet on the roulette table on the way to his room so; cheers buddy.
The cards haven’t been going my way until now and that is not about to change. I’m in MP looking at AKs when UTG+2 opens for 15. I hate these large open raises. I flat and the SB comes along for the ride. We flop 559 and it’s get’s checked around. The turn is a 2 and now UTG+2 bets 25. I’m pretty sure I’m good against UTG+2 and our SB isn’t reaching for chips so I make the call. SB surprisingly calls however. River is the Ad and UTG+2 bets 50,- like lightning. I make the call but hate it when the SB calls as well. UTG+2 instamucks and I expect to be dragging in this ~ $ 250,- pot a decent amount of the time but the SB tables 34o for the wheel. Great.
The butchering continues till everyone arrives at The Mirage around 11:30. Mirage Sportsbook has Wifi and therefore a popular place to gather at in the morning. We’re going for a group breakfast. Group without Baars obviously. Baars arrived at his room around 06:00 that morning. Good to know he at least held on to the $ 30,- we made him put in his socks for the cap ride home. We sit down at the restaurant attached to the Sportsbook. It’ doesn’t have a breakfast menu but it’s almost noon and I didn’t eat anything yesterday except for a few bites of the plastic burger Downtown so I could use something heavy.
Group Breakfast
Nutritious
After breakfast we hang at the sportsbook for a while and watch Iebus donk of $$$ at the horse raises. I think Iebus bet on like 50 horses on his Vegas travels until now and he hasn’t picked a winner yet. Today is no different. While Iebus is busy running towards the bookies Peltinho orders the first Corona’s of the day using Iebus’s drinking tickets. Not ordering Iebus anything, obviously.
Ticket; no good
Iebus's drinking tickets at work
I can hardly walk today. My left foot has been giving me trouble for the past 18 month. Despite seeing more doctors and therapist than I’ve seen burgers on this trip, there’s still no clue as to what is wrong with it. I was wearing – epic - new shoes the first two days of the trip and that might have triggered something but the result is that I can hardly walk at all and almost pass out when I have to start walking again after sitting down for a while.
The boys want to go somewhere they haven’t been before. I’ve seen every casino on the Strip and I remember Mandalay Bay having hot waitresses. We didn’t go there during our 2010 trip so we let the taxi drop us off. I forgot how huge Mandalay’s Casino is and the walk towards the poker room alone takes my stumbling body about 20 minutes. Bozzie, Hugo & Iebus are playing 1/2 already and I wait for a seat to open at another table. Meanwhile I see Baars walking towards an ATM machine. Knowing how much money he dragged into Binions yesterday I can only say; ouch. I get my seat in a 1/2 game and play the better part of the afternoon while grinding Budweiser’s. The lime from all the Corona’s made some sort of hole in my throat so I’m passing up on those for a while.
@ Mandalay Bay
This is my third trip to Vegas and I’ve never seen a real show. I’m sure I’ll visit Vegas in the future with my girlfriend so I save all the ‘tourist stuff’ like Grand Canyon, Hoover dam & Cirque du Soleil shows for that trip. However, Baars likes Rod Stewart and Rod is performing at The Colosseum tonight. The dealer in Mandalay informs us that it’s probably sold out but we head over to Caesars to give it a shot anyway. Due to the Hillbilly Music Awards that night there are still some tickets available so we score nine of them and head for IP to prepare for a night on the town.
Ship da tickets
Rod Stewart fanboy Baars
When I arrive at IP’s Poker room after a refreshing shower I see the Fashion Police arresting several VPC members. Where going to town tonight and half of our group is dressed as if we’re supposed to go and help somebody move out of their apartment. Hooded sweaters, polo shirts & shorts all around. Odds of getting into a ‘real’ club with this bunch of hobo’s are worse then zero. FML. I don’t bother waiting for everyone to arrive since I need my time to reach Caesars. I have to make some crazy moves to get to the other side of the Strip within the 20 seconds that are granted to me. Obviously the escalator on the shortcut towards The Colosseum is out of order…
I sit down at a slot machine across from The Colosseum and fumble $ 10,- in the damn thing to kill some time. After I push ‘spin’ for the second time nothing happens. I try to figure out what’s wrong with the machine but the ten bucks appear to be gone. Cool. Now look at me highrollin’ it up here in Vegas. The boys arrive and I thank god for the escalators in The Colosseum. Having the cheapest tickets available I expect to sit on the roof but the seats and view are way above expectation. I couldn’t name a single Rod Stewart song with a gun to my head but I recognize some of them along the way and overall the experience of The Colosseum and my first Vegas show are well worth the measly 50 bucks we spend on the ticket.
The Colosseum
Right......
Rod on stage
After the show some of the guys grab a bite to eat at Flamingo’s Food Court but Roeie, VDH & I walk into The Rockhouse as that is probably the only place in town where they let us fine dressers in. There are only four more people in the joint. Two couples that belong together. One couple is basically having sex with their clothes on. The other couple is looking at each other very uncomfortably. I love these situations and spend an entire Budweiser watching the uncomfortable couple. This white dude who’s trying really hard to look African American is licking his girlfriend like she’s a newly born dog. At one point the uncomfortable girl walks over and wants to say something by tapping the love makers on the shoulder. No reaction. I’m nearly pissing myself at this point.
Beside the free peepshow and lovely awkwardness there’s not much going on at The Rockhouse so I texted Hugo to come up with a better idea. Hugo says not to worry, he will be there in five to tear the place apart. It’s only 22:00 so I guess we can wait for something to happen. The group is complete and we start power drinking to get this night going. After an hour or so the Rockhouse is filling up nicely and there isn’t any hiphop nonsense blasting out of the speakers so this could become a good night after all. Around 0:00 it’s clear that Bozzie is getting to old for this **** and that we are going to separate the men from the boys once more. Bozzie, VDH & Roeie are looking as if they are at a funeral. The rest is Clubbin’ it up nicely. The alcohol is reducing the pain in my foot so I can start throwing in some horrendous dance moves.
PowerClubbin' Bozzie Style
PowerClubbin' Bozzie Style 2.0
''GIVE ME EVERYTHING TONIGHT!!!!!"
With Bozzie, VDH & Roeie out of the way the party is picking up pace quickly but at around 02:00 I just can’t look at an other Budweiser anymore. I’m full. Time to switch to something else. Peltinho gets started on Rum & Coke while rest starts chugging back wodka Red Bulls. These drinks are such a delight compared to the beer that we are drinking them at a 4/5 an hour rate. Things get unclear rather quickly from this point on.
Clubbin' it up
Clubbin' it up
Clubbin' it up
I do remember an extreme hot redhead walking into the Rockhouse with a dude. This chick is so far out of this guys league that it grasps my attention right away. They dance for five minutes but then our redhead starts flirting with anything in the club she suspects of having a penis. The dude goes on instant jealousy tilt. This guy spends the next HOUR pulling her away from pretty much every dude in the club and removing arms form redheads but. It’s embarrassing to see the male species crumble for tail this hard. I have trouble figuring out if this guy paid 2K in advance and is worried his purchase is leaving without him or that he somehow managed to keep his high school sweetheart indoors for years. The boys are convinced she is for sale but I’m not sure.
Since I can hardly walk so I’m saving up piss till my bladder nearly explodes. Coming back from such a ten minute ‘walk’ I enter The Rockhouse and some bouncer grabs me by the arm and basically throws me on the street. Now, I’m used to being thrown out of clubs but normally I have at least a clue as to what I’ve done wrong. Not this time. I walk back to the bouncers and ask what seems to be problem. “Sexual harassment”. Hmmm. Not good.
Now, I’m a friendly guy. I go out of my way to avoid trouble normally. Clearly these gentlemen are doing their jobs and if some broad pointed me out I can hardly blame these giants for being wrong. I find out I grabbed the waitress by the ass. Good choice by whoever did it but it certainly wasn’t me. My friendly mood changes rather quickly when this big black mother****er of a bouncer walks up to me and says “I saw you do it”. Whut? Enough with the friendliness. I nearly explode and demand this waitress to come outside and point me out. It takes at least ten minutes of heated discussion for her to show up and say: “noooooow, not this – great, good-looking, friendly - guy”. I immediately confront the big black mother****er who just pretends I don’t exist. Man, I really need to start working out so I can that a swing at this piece of **** without being laughed at. Back inside the waitresses brings me some sort of gay drink as an apology and hugs me. I can’t help but think this would be the perfect time to grab that mighty fine ass…..
I thought the Rockhouse closed at 04:00 but it’s 04:30 already when Iebus stumbles towards his room drunk as a skunk. I have to come along because my phone is empty and Bozzie stole my charger. Iebus thinks it fun to push me around the casino as hard as possible with my limp causing me to meet some slot machines head first. Bozzie is sound asleep in the room so I quietly take a few steps back, run towards the bed, jump as high as I can and land perfectly on top of Bozzie. I hit him as hard as I can with a pillow for a minute and return to The Rockhouse leaving Bozzie with a great memory and broken glasses. Hugo is leaving as well but Peltinho is still inside. Peltinho is on a mission the be the last man standing this evening. I order one more wodka Red Bull but decide not to go on a dick waving contest with Peltinho after finishing the drink and ship him the glory of being the last man standing.
It 06:00 when I somehow arrive at my room. Fratie was to drunk to turn on the TV which presents my with the trouble of finding the light switch but the upcoming sun helps me find my bed.
I wake up at 04:00, take a sleeping pill and wake up again at 08:30 feeling on top of the world. I almost get pissed at myself for not taking these pills along on the 2010 trip. Obviously having our sleeping beauty Fratie as a roommate helps. My former roommate Peltinho used to make the curtains move with his snoring but our Fratie doesn’t make a sound all night. I like Fratie.
I haven’t given any updates jet on the gambling of our group except for Baars blackjack binges. Now it may seem that Baars isn’t doing anything else accept for playing blackjack all day – which is true –, still, he’s great addition to this years crew and already in the top 3 list on everyone’s VPC Goes Vegas 2013 list. I won’t be giving away numbers but I saw at least three VPC’ers make the walk of shame (towards the ATM) on the very first morning. We’re all losing our shirts and I haven’t heard anyone mention a single win bigger than a hundred bucks.
Feeling ready for some poker Hugo & I head for The Mirage. I still haven’t played at this casino and I had to get that out of the way so I could watch the scene below with some self-respect. Two 1/2 games are running and we get seated at the same table. I again request a table change. At this point I’m more than willing to take Hugo’s money
but the insane drunken guy to my left who falls asleep at least twice during every hand makes me request the change. I can’t believe my eye’s when the waitress brings him another shot. This dude can hardly walk but Vegas is Vegas. He might put his wallet on the roulette table on the way to his room so; cheers buddy. The cards haven’t been going my way until now and that is not about to change. I’m in MP looking at AKs when UTG+2 opens for 15. I hate these large open raises. I flat and the SB comes along for the ride. We flop 559 and it’s get’s checked around. The turn is a 2 and now UTG+2 bets 25. I’m pretty sure I’m good against UTG+2 and our SB isn’t reaching for chips so I make the call. SB surprisingly calls however. River is the Ad and UTG+2 bets 50,- like lightning. I make the call but hate it when the SB calls as well. UTG+2 instamucks and I expect to be dragging in this ~ $ 250,- pot a decent amount of the time but the SB tables 34o for the wheel. Great.
The butchering continues till everyone arrives at The Mirage around 11:30. Mirage Sportsbook has Wifi and therefore a popular place to gather at in the morning. We’re going for a group breakfast. Group without Baars obviously. Baars arrived at his room around 06:00 that morning. Good to know he at least held on to the $ 30,- we made him put in his socks for the cap ride home. We sit down at the restaurant attached to the Sportsbook. It’ doesn’t have a breakfast menu but it’s almost noon and I didn’t eat anything yesterday except for a few bites of the plastic burger Downtown so I could use something heavy.
Group Breakfast
Nutritious
After breakfast we hang at the sportsbook for a while and watch Iebus donk of $$$ at the horse raises. I think Iebus bet on like 50 horses on his Vegas travels until now and he hasn’t picked a winner yet. Today is no different. While Iebus is busy running towards the bookies Peltinho orders the first Corona’s of the day using Iebus’s drinking tickets. Not ordering Iebus anything, obviously.
Ticket; no good
Iebus's drinking tickets at work
I can hardly walk today. My left foot has been giving me trouble for the past 18 month. Despite seeing more doctors and therapist than I’ve seen burgers on this trip, there’s still no clue as to what is wrong with it. I was wearing – epic - new shoes the first two days of the trip and that might have triggered something but the result is that I can hardly walk at all and almost pass out when I have to start walking again after sitting down for a while.
The boys want to go somewhere they haven’t been before. I’ve seen every casino on the Strip and I remember Mandalay Bay having hot waitresses. We didn’t go there during our 2010 trip so we let the taxi drop us off. I forgot how huge Mandalay’s Casino is and the walk towards the poker room alone takes my stumbling body about 20 minutes. Bozzie, Hugo & Iebus are playing 1/2 already and I wait for a seat to open at another table. Meanwhile I see Baars walking towards an ATM machine. Knowing how much money he dragged into Binions yesterday I can only say; ouch. I get my seat in a 1/2 game and play the better part of the afternoon while grinding Budweiser’s. The lime from all the Corona’s made some sort of hole in my throat so I’m passing up on those for a while.
@ Mandalay Bay
This is my third trip to Vegas and I’ve never seen a real show. I’m sure I’ll visit Vegas in the future with my girlfriend so I save all the ‘tourist stuff’ like Grand Canyon, Hoover dam & Cirque du Soleil shows for that trip. However, Baars likes Rod Stewart and Rod is performing at The Colosseum tonight. The dealer in Mandalay informs us that it’s probably sold out but we head over to Caesars to give it a shot anyway. Due to the Hillbilly Music Awards that night there are still some tickets available so we score nine of them and head for IP to prepare for a night on the town.
Ship da tickets
Rod Stewart fanboy Baars
When I arrive at IP’s Poker room after a refreshing shower I see the Fashion Police arresting several VPC members. Where going to town tonight and half of our group is dressed as if we’re supposed to go and help somebody move out of their apartment. Hooded sweaters, polo shirts & shorts all around. Odds of getting into a ‘real’ club with this bunch of hobo’s are worse then zero. FML. I don’t bother waiting for everyone to arrive since I need my time to reach Caesars. I have to make some crazy moves to get to the other side of the Strip within the 20 seconds that are granted to me. Obviously the escalator on the shortcut towards The Colosseum is out of order…
I sit down at a slot machine across from The Colosseum and fumble $ 10,- in the damn thing to kill some time. After I push ‘spin’ for the second time nothing happens. I try to figure out what’s wrong with the machine but the ten bucks appear to be gone. Cool. Now look at me highrollin’ it up here in Vegas. The boys arrive and I thank god for the escalators in The Colosseum. Having the cheapest tickets available I expect to sit on the roof but the seats and view are way above expectation. I couldn’t name a single Rod Stewart song with a gun to my head but I recognize some of them along the way and overall the experience of The Colosseum and my first Vegas show are well worth the measly 50 bucks we spend on the ticket.
The Colosseum
Right......
Rod on stage
After the show some of the guys grab a bite to eat at Flamingo’s Food Court but Roeie, VDH & I walk into The Rockhouse as that is probably the only place in town where they let us fine dressers in. There are only four more people in the joint. Two couples that belong together. One couple is basically having sex with their clothes on. The other couple is looking at each other very uncomfortably. I love these situations and spend an entire Budweiser watching the uncomfortable couple. This white dude who’s trying really hard to look African American is licking his girlfriend like she’s a newly born dog. At one point the uncomfortable girl walks over and wants to say something by tapping the love makers on the shoulder. No reaction. I’m nearly pissing myself at this point.
Beside the free peepshow and lovely awkwardness there’s not much going on at The Rockhouse so I texted Hugo to come up with a better idea. Hugo says not to worry, he will be there in five to tear the place apart. It’s only 22:00 so I guess we can wait for something to happen. The group is complete and we start power drinking to get this night going. After an hour or so the Rockhouse is filling up nicely and there isn’t any hiphop nonsense blasting out of the speakers so this could become a good night after all. Around 0:00 it’s clear that Bozzie is getting to old for this **** and that we are going to separate the men from the boys once more. Bozzie, VDH & Roeie are looking as if they are at a funeral. The rest is Clubbin’ it up nicely. The alcohol is reducing the pain in my foot so I can start throwing in some horrendous dance moves.
PowerClubbin' Bozzie Style
PowerClubbin' Bozzie Style 2.0
''GIVE ME EVERYTHING TONIGHT!!!!!"
With Bozzie, VDH & Roeie out of the way the party is picking up pace quickly but at around 02:00 I just can’t look at an other Budweiser anymore. I’m full. Time to switch to something else. Peltinho gets started on Rum & Coke while rest starts chugging back wodka Red Bulls. These drinks are such a delight compared to the beer that we are drinking them at a 4/5 an hour rate. Things get unclear rather quickly from this point on.
Clubbin' it up
Clubbin' it up
Clubbin' it up
I do remember an extreme hot redhead walking into the Rockhouse with a dude. This chick is so far out of this guys league that it grasps my attention right away. They dance for five minutes but then our redhead starts flirting with anything in the club she suspects of having a penis. The dude goes on instant jealousy tilt. This guy spends the next HOUR pulling her away from pretty much every dude in the club and removing arms form redheads but. It’s embarrassing to see the male species crumble for tail this hard. I have trouble figuring out if this guy paid 2K in advance and is worried his purchase is leaving without him or that he somehow managed to keep his high school sweetheart indoors for years. The boys are convinced she is for sale but I’m not sure.
Since I can hardly walk so I’m saving up piss till my bladder nearly explodes. Coming back from such a ten minute ‘walk’ I enter The Rockhouse and some bouncer grabs me by the arm and basically throws me on the street. Now, I’m used to being thrown out of clubs but normally I have at least a clue as to what I’ve done wrong. Not this time. I walk back to the bouncers and ask what seems to be problem. “Sexual harassment”. Hmmm. Not good.
Now, I’m a friendly guy. I go out of my way to avoid trouble normally. Clearly these gentlemen are doing their jobs and if some broad pointed me out I can hardly blame these giants for being wrong. I find out I grabbed the waitress by the ass. Good choice by whoever did it but it certainly wasn’t me. My friendly mood changes rather quickly when this big black mother****er of a bouncer walks up to me and says “I saw you do it”. Whut? Enough with the friendliness. I nearly explode and demand this waitress to come outside and point me out. It takes at least ten minutes of heated discussion for her to show up and say: “noooooow, not this – great, good-looking, friendly - guy”. I immediately confront the big black mother****er who just pretends I don’t exist. Man, I really need to start working out so I can that a swing at this piece of **** without being laughed at. Back inside the waitresses brings me some sort of gay drink as an apology and hugs me. I can’t help but think this would be the perfect time to grab that mighty fine ass…..
I thought the Rockhouse closed at 04:00 but it’s 04:30 already when Iebus stumbles towards his room drunk as a skunk. I have to come along because my phone is empty and Bozzie stole my charger. Iebus thinks it fun to push me around the casino as hard as possible with my limp causing me to meet some slot machines head first. Bozzie is sound asleep in the room so I quietly take a few steps back, run towards the bed, jump as high as I can and land perfectly on top of Bozzie. I hit him as hard as I can with a pillow for a minute and return to The Rockhouse leaving Bozzie with a great memory and broken glasses. Hugo is leaving as well but Peltinho is still inside. Peltinho is on a mission the be the last man standing this evening. I order one more wodka Red Bull but decide not to go on a dick waving contest with Peltinho after finishing the drink and ship him the glory of being the last man standing.
It 06:00 when I somehow arrive at my room. Fratie was to drunk to turn on the TV which presents my with the trouble of finding the light switch but the upcoming sun helps me find my bed.
