My girlfriend and I decided that this year's christmas gifts to eachother would be a mini-vacation. She's never been to vegas, and not a huge gambler by any means, so it was not on the top of her list, as it was mine. I was able to convince her to go, under the agreement that I wouldn't ditch her to play cards the whole time. I agreed to only 1 or 2 shorter tournies max, in 4 days.

I wanted to stay somewhere nice, and being her first trip, I decided to go with a suite deal at TI. Flight was OK, felt longer than usual, but was smooth. Arrived in the later evening (10pm, as we attended the Red Wings afternoon game prior to hitting the airport). Had to leave the game early, which I NEVER do, but hell, it was 6-0 wings after the 2nd period, and we were going to Vegas!

Airport in Vegas was dead. Never saw it like this, but then again, I never have arrived so late in the day. Jumped in a cab and asked him to take the strip up from Trop, so the GF could see the sights at night.

Arrived at TI, and checked in. Great spacious suite with separate bathrooms, overlooking the strip and the Palazzo. She was definitely "wowed"!

We were both tired from the long day, so decided to just chill at the casino bar and have a few beers. I fed two $20s into a VP machine and ordered a couple Sierra Nevedas. Approximitely halfway through my first beer, the amazing happened. Playing quarter Dbl Bonus Poker, I hit the Royal for the Progressive of 2240! What a way to start the trip! I played out the rest of my original $40, did some shots and crashed out.

Nothing like waking up in Vegas with a fresh 2k in your pocket! We lived it up a bit, had room service breakfast, picked up Beatles LOVE tix for the evening, and over the course of the day and evening, I spent a good $500. So after the show, and a night on the town, we hit the casino bar again for a nightcap. Same damn machine deals me 3 four of a kinds, and I recoup my entire days expenses! Amazing!

Next day we went walking down the strip to check out all of the touristy stuff. Glass cieling, conservatory and fountains at Bellagio, Paris tower, MGM Lions, Luxor, etc. A swing through Mand Bay, and as we're passing a Roulette Table, I stop and decide to toss $5 on each 9 and 14, her birthday. Would you believe I hit the 9! $10 to the dealer and I'll take my profit of 160 and get the hell out!

Normally, I NEVER play the "parlor games" when in Vegas, as I learned a long time ago what that can do to your bankroll! This was just unreal!

Headed back up to the Mirage and had a great burger at BLT Burger. Bonus is they have a nice craft beer selection.

As we finished, I noticed they were about to kick off thier 7pm tourney there at the Mirage. Finally...some poker! $65 buy-in, and I jumped in as the 25th runner. Card dead early, but the table was entirely clueless. It was mind blowing that I literally was the only one at my table that knew how tourney poker worked. No one knew what blinds to post, when the action was on them, the single chip rule, etc. So I just sat back and waited. Sure enough, I get AA on the button. 4 limpers ahead of me, and I triple the BB. BB calls, as well as 2 of the limpers, putting 4 of us on the flop of AJ4 rainbow. BB leads out with a min bet, 2 calls, and I double his bet, trying to keep him in the pot. He re-raises me half his stack, 2 callers fold, and I "tank". After trying to earn an oscar belly-aching, I shove. I couldn't believe my eyes when he folded. Of course, I didnt show, and dragged the pot. Not much happened with me for a while as I sat on my lead, occasionally stealing blinds. Finally made it down to the final table, and I knew I had to make some moves, as the structure got nuts making the blinds and ante huge, for the amount of chips in play. Finally hit the money bubble, and everyone tightened up to the point that I was raising any unraised pot, and stealing blinds left and right. Bubble basically blinded himself out, and one older gentleman followed in 5th place. Down to four.
I'm still the chip leader, and get dealt JJ on the BB. UTG folds and lady on button pushes. She is 2nd in chips at this point. I call and lose to her TT when she hits it on 4th street. Now I'm crippled, but there is still one player with less, and he is on her immediate left. I fold trash the next hand on the SB, as well as the 2-7 on the button. The following hand she is on the SB, and the BB posts over half his stack for the blind. It folds around to her, and she dumps her hand! I tried to explain to her that she has so many more chips than him, that she should push with any two cards, as it's a great opportunity to eliminate a player, virtually risk free. She doesn't understand, and continues to do this the next 3 times she is SB. This was aggrevating, as I was on a cold run of cards, and felt I should've moved up a payout. Finally, I push with KQs, and she calls, and tables 77. I don't improve and I'm out in 4th for $175. I guess I can't complain as I netted 110, but I knew I was by far the most experienced played there, and it was frustrating that I couldn't take it down.

Next day was another miracle, as I decided to donk off some cash at Let it Ride. Bought in for $100, and ended up hitting a straight flush on my 3card bonus bet. This was mind blowing, as I had now won about 3k on parlor games (VP, Roulette & LIR) in 3 days.

Because of this, we pushed the flights back and stayed an extra day. What the hell? When in Vegas right?!?

Next morining I jumped in the 11am Bounty at TI, and was very let down to see only one table. I never saw more than a Q high through the first break, and finally pushed with K 10 and lost to Qx when a Q hit the flop. I did notice one lady whom was a regular at the tourney, and she was a very solid player. Very agressive. I told her that, and wandered away to find the GF. I was very happy with the staff at TI. They were all friendly, and seemed to enjoy being there, even though it was so slow. I guess an 11am tournie on a wednesday, considering todays economy, what could one really expect?

Killed the rest of the day wandering around, and hit the redeye back to Detroit that night.

All in all, it was a very successful trip, albeit very lucky. Can't wait to head back with the boys. 4 days and that little amount of poker has me jonesin' more than before the trip! Gonna use some of the "Luck" profit to fund it!