November 21st morning flight from Indianapolis to Vegas via Salt Lake City. Layover in Salt Lake is almost 4 hours. But I kick in $50 and they put me on next flight out – in about 30 minutes! I wonder why I wasn’t booked on this flight in the first place?

Heading to downtown Vegas in the $8 shuttle from the airport. The driver says he has lived in Vegas for 34 years - and hates it. He also has time to spew a few racist remarks about foreigners before dropping me at the Plaza. This same racist theme came up throughout my visit while using public transportation.

Check-in at Plaza, ask for upgrade and do get a room that faces the Strip. Rodney at desk says it is generally an extra $5 for this room. Thanks Rod for the good start!

Now I told myself that I would stay out of the pit during this vacation. No blackjack, no roulette, no sportsbetting. So the first thing I do at noon on Saturday is sit at the blackjack table and drop $100. Some discipline knucklehead I am. Rather than curse myself, I reach deep, pull out more cash and manage to win my $100 back. Whew!

Walk down Freemont and decide to play in the 2pm, $10,000 guaranteed at Binions. Tourney did not make guarantee had to add $300, nice! 112 runners. Tournament well run. I catch a few cards as my pocket 4’s hold up against QQ’s and I bust a player with Aces. but go out in 30th while 12 are paid.

About 5pm now, I walk over to the California Hotel out of curiosity. This place has a nice homey feel. The lighting is subdued and I feel comfortable there. I sign up for a Player's Card and play some blackjack (I know, I know, off the wagon again). I notice that the patrons in the casino are mostly Hawaiian.

Elderly Hawaiian in wheelchair playing blackjack next to me is talking to me but I don't understand what he is saying - only about every other word. I finally figure out that he is telling me that I look like Sam from Cheers. I can't tell if he is drunk or just mixing languages when he speaks, but I like him. Actually, everybody was friendly. I win $30 after 1/2 hour and I wouldn't mind staying here on a return trip.

Next, over to Golden Nugget for 7pm tourney. As the dealing begins, I look around for the info screen that gives details on how many players, average chip counts etc...there isn't any! So players are left to guess that information. I badger the manager at least 3 times about this during the tourney hourly breaks but I know he has no control. The chairs are god-awful too. Like sitting on a Velvet Elvis upholstered on your grandmother's 1945 couch. I finish 8th with 5 spots paid. I shove with 2nd or 3rd short stack with Q-10 in cutoff. Drunk, red-cheeked, 300lb guy in BB calls with Q-J and I am out.

Back over to California where I win $15 at blackjack and grab sandwich from deli. Crash at midnight.

Next morning I grab the Duece to Ceasar's for the 9am $70. Today is my 50th Birthday! Nothing is going get me down today! "Going to win big money," I tell myself. The Duece is one slow piece of travel. Luckily this is 8am Sunday morning, or walking may have been quicker. But the driver is friendly and gets me there smiling.

Before tourney I make my only sports bet of my trip. $50 on the Colts giving 1 1/2 points to Baltimore (since I am from Indianapolis, I need to back my team right?). Bust out of tourney before halftime of Colts game.

Walk over to Mirage to see if I can check in to my room early. It’s about noon. I am staying here next 3 days. Lots of lines at check-in, as waiting takes probably 30 minutes to desk and...

…this elderly couple in front of me is berating the Asian check-in girl because their smoking room isn't ready yet and it may be another 2-3 hours. Well they just raising cane with this poor girl while waiving their arms in the air and threaten all kinds of revenge (and to think that these people are some poor kid's grandparents) with their embarrassing behavior.

Finally, it is my turn. I look into the little Asian girl's eyes and announce "Hi today is my 50th birthday and I am in a great mood!" Her beautiful smile radiates. Well, it just so happens that the Mirage is celebrating their 20 anniversary today also. Before I leave the check-in desk, I have two free passes to the Secret Gardens (a $30 value), upgraded room that is ready NOW and that evening they send up a complimentary bottle of Champaign for my birthday! Score: Patron who is nice to service staff = 4, disrespectful rude people = 0.

I relax on my new comfy hotel bed and watch the 2nd half of Colts game on nice flat screen. They cover by 1/2 point. Sweet!

I walk back over the Ceasar's for their 3pm $70. During walk over there is this homeless guy up to his wet knees scraping change from one of the fountains. Crowd is looking on, smiling and laughing. I talk to a Security Officer. He says they escort these guys off the property and put the money back in the fountains.

Sitting at the table as Ceasar’s tourney begins and there is a player on my left that is wearing hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses imitating a very low-class version of Phil Laak the Unabomber. Well as the tourney started he proved what a low-life personality he was. Uber cocky and several times he berated the dealer for his interpretation of the ‘action line’ on the felt. Gene, the dealer, was fed up and told him sternly, “I have a license to deal poker. Do you?” Beautiful and succinct wording.

This lowlife didn’t last even one blind level. As he left he called the dealer an A-hole and wandered off – hopefully to the same fate as Steve Buscemi in Fargo.

Then I am out of tourney early at Ceasars with no good hands to report but I do cash in my winning Colts betting slip. Still kind of discouraged from poor tournament performance, I decide to truck my sandaled feet over to the Bellagio. It is about 5pm and already dark outside.

Bellagio is a busy room. I sit 4/8 limit (their lowest game), as I am not feeling confident at the moment. But that changes quickly. I run over this table and win about $150 in 75 minutes. One hand of note when I river quad 10's, but pot was small. Bobby's Room empty.

The dealer, I think his name was Tin, an Asian lad was dealing like a rocket! He said he was trying to break the Bellagio record for hands dealt in 30 minutes. The current record was 32 which he held! Breakneck speed and so fun to watch. But the table broke down to 6-8 players and he said that full table is needed to attempt new dealing record.

Back to Mirage. Watch volcano eruption twice while waiting for my wife to fly in. It is a new show that was updated and enhanced earlier this year I think. And a fantastic show it is!

Monday morning no luck in 11am $60 at Mirage, don't even make 1st break. Played too many hands early on My wife is out shopping.

At about noon I sit 1/2 NL. Friendly table. Player on my left flies helicopter tours to Grand Canyon at $400 a seat, 8 seats max. Guy on my right is telling great jokes and table is exploding in laughter!

About 10 hands in I pick up AA and stack guy for his last $90 when he held A/K. Run decent bluff later when I check a board of Axx to button who bets $20, I raise to $50 with rags and he folds. Win about $160 in 2 hour session.

Dinner and Blue Man Group that night with my Wife. Let me say that my wife is dressed like a total bombshell! She is 45 years old and looks better than 90% of the girls half her age. Thanks baby! And the show was great! Subtle, nuanced comedy mixed with crushing crescendos of percussion laden rock music jams. Recommended.

We saunter through the Venetian Poker Room on the way out. It is Monday night and this room is full of action. My wife is hypnotized by the amount of chips sitting in front of many players. Doyle was there.

Tuesday morning $60 11am tourney at Mirage. Lose half my stack early to friendly Frenchman that rivers a flush. Blinds are now $150-$300 and I have about $2500 and looking for an all-in spot. 2 players limp and I am in small blind with A6 suited. There is $1050 in the pot. Good enough I think, "all-in". 1st limper folds second limper calls and turns over KK. At least I have a chance. Ace spikes on flop! But alas, K on turn and I walk again.

Sit 1/2 NL for 2 hours and up about $40. Then I walk over to Imperial Palace. We have tickets for their show "Matsuri", and I want to at least know where this place is before going back later. I win $15 at blackjack, talk to the poker staff for a few minutes, as no tables going. They seem nice and cordial. I buy a cell phone charger and head back to Mirage. Drop about $20 in cash game in an hour.

My wife and I head back to Imperial Palace for 4pm Matsuri show. The setting isn't very glitzy, especially after Blue Man previous night, but the show was an energetic mix of acrobatics and dancing. The performers gave it everything they had and then rested up for the 7pm show. My wife thinks that some of the acrobats could have been ex Olympic gymnasts.

After show we walk down to Miracle Mile and have a snack. To tired to walk back to Mirage so we grab a cab. Once again a racist remark from a cab driver who seems happy that we are Caucasian and that the Asians don't tip enough. A truly tired theme.

Mirage breakfast Wednesday morning. French Toast at Carnegie Deli. Tasty stuff and paid for by poker room comp. I was told by poker staff that my comps are not saved for any future trip and good for only in-house restaurants. So use them now.

Wife and I schlep luggage back down to Planet Hollywood so she can do more shopping before our flight. I sit 1/2 NL there. Management gets me right to a table and stores our luggage, thank you! I win about $60 in 2 hours most on a hand when I called $30 bet on river with bottom pair and hoping that player was on busted flush draw – which he was. Then there was another hand where I was on button and 6 limpers. I look down at A/Qoff and raise to $16. Everyone folds. That stacks $15 white chips on my side. Can anyone say “fist pump!”

Cab ride to airport. Driver was friendly enough and yet had time to add another sentence of negativity disrespecting foreign visitors and democrats. Las Vegas is a tourist melting pot guys! Please get accustomed to it.

Fun Birthday celebration Vegas! I broke about even gambling – all due to zero tourney cashes, but was head about $400 in cash games. I think that a Vegas TV News station could do a spot with hidden cameras recording the not-so-friendly language of local transportation. Maybe it’s already been done. Drivers, please represent your city better than this.

Great visit though! Everyone was tipped well – waitresses, poker and blackjack dealers, chambermaids, valets, hotel check-in staff, shuttle and cab drivers. Also paid the optional $5 add-on in all poker tournaments, since it goes back to the staff and dealers (and added to my starting stack:) Was told that many players do not buy this add-on. Back in March 2010 possibly. Nothing deters me from having fun!