Somehow convinced the wife (wasn't hard really) that I needed a week in Vegas to play poker. Trip was 8-12 SEP and since I was alone, booked a great deal off strip at The Orleans (total for 4 nights was less than $125). Flew direct from Norfolk, VA on Southwest - no issues. Arrived about 2PM, secured the rental car, and I'm off.

After checking in at the hotel and getting some dinner - headed straight to MGM Grand. Played 2/5 for several hours, no real crazy hands and decided somewhere around 10PM that my $250 win was good for the first day. Boy, is this story about to turn around!

Got back to the hotel and caught a little sleep. As I was still on East Coast time, woke up around 3AM Vegas time - grabbed some breakfast (very good at the Orleans by the way), steak and eggs for less than $5 - crazy.

Day 2: Headed down the strip around 4AM for the Venetian. Arrived and they had 3 tables going, 1/2 NL, 2/5 NL, and a limit table. Opted for the 1/2. Played well and the table ended up breaking. Here's where the idiot in me comes out. I end up getting on the 2/5 table and litterally pulling a 20 hour total session - (DUMB - is that in caps?). In order to stay engaged and break it up a little I play craps and blackjack periodically through the day (lose). I'm doing fine at the poker table until around 9PM, basically up a few hundred, playing a nice solid game. Then comes the blow up. It's hard to remember all the details, end result is I dump everything in front of me +$500. I'm fairly pissed at this point, but have the sense to walk out and go get some sleep (around 1 AM). I never do make it back to Venetian. No need to send sympathy for my stupid acts...I'm a realist and simply pulled a bone head move (or two). For those that want to learn from my mistakes, (1) - 20 hour session with jet lag are not recommended, (2) If the table seems too tight or you are not getting cards MOVE to another table or casino!! I kept telling myself the cards had to get better. Litterally went 6-8 hours without more than a few playable hands. Certainly wasn't going to outplay these guys either as it was half chasers and half rocks at the table.

Day 3: Decide to play a little at The Orleans (1/2 NL). Table is short handed (4 or 5 grinders). End up losing a little (1 or 2 hundred). Cash out, play a little craps and blackjack - nothing significant. Actually work out in the hotel gym - not bad, and then shower and head to Mandalay Bay. Please see my review of the room - posted on AVP. Play a few hours at Mandalay and then head to MGM for the remainder of the day. Had a BLAST! Played 1/2 only and end up a few hundred. Nothing crazy. Met some new "friends" including a little hot Swedish girl. Excellent table for socializing and making money. I think I called it a night around 10PM. Did some serious flirting with a very friendly Cocktail Waitress named Chase - she is very sweet! Very approachable and fun girl.

Day 4: Head back to MGM for some 2/5 - same as day before - good action, just slightly better players. Either leave even or barely up (runs together) around 8PM. Go back to hotel fairly early (after a stop at In and Out Burger). The plan is to get a nap and then play through the night.

Day 5 (last day): Get up about mid-night after barely napping. Head down for a third session at The Orleans. End up bluffing off a hundred - then punching out. Only significant thing is the chip runner tried to short me $100 on my buy in - I'm sure it wasn't intentional, did happen though. Head to MGM and play 2/5 from about 3-5 AM. Table breaks. Some "pro" or wannabe pro is sitting to my right. I catch QQ in EP and raise to $15. My new friend is racked up and ready to go..also drunk. Starts belittling my raise. Saying the raise should be at least $45..etc.. talking a bunch of crap basically. Anyway get 4 callers, flop comes with no overcards, I make a pot-sized bet and take it down. This guy and I are in a mini-verbal war by this point as I'm in no mood to let some idiot talk crap to me - unprovoked. He ends up hanging around and dumps about $300 (a small amount my way) before he decides to cut his losses. Game breaks and instead of me walking out of the hotel - it is 5AM afterall, I decide to play some blackjack and craps (back to back). Keep in mind, I'm on my last day, heading to the airport in about 7 hours, and have been operating on less than 10 hours of sleep for the whole week. Get ready for blowup #2. I dump way more than I'd like to say chasing dice and cards. Let's just say more than $1000. Finally shake myself around 8AM and say enough. Head to Orleans, catch a few hours, check out...and of course, head back to MGM! Play for two hours (lose $3) and head to the airport. Trip complete.

Bottom line - damn near broke out even playing poker over 5 solid days, even with my blow up at Venetian. Lose at table games - what a dumb ass I am. Some very good lessons learned about table games (which I knew already, and gambling long sessions while tired. Will the lessons ever stop? Had a FANTASTIC time - even considering the losses. Would highly recommend a solo trip for those that love poker and your spouse may not. Literally had NO responsibilities from Monday-Friday other than occassionally reminding myself to call home. It was very strange (in a good way) not having to answer to anybody or anyone for a week.

Regrets: Not going to see the ladies who run the TI room. Barely sleeping...nah. Chasing losses at blackjack. Not visiting South Point. Playing one minute at The Orleans room. I thought this room sucked basically. Not stopping by EXCAL to express displeasure in their "new" room. Missing EA11 by one week!

See you at the tables!