I have been a frequent reader of this site. There are so many genuine posters through the years. I frequent the best city in America 3-4 times a year. Almost all visits are with my wife. We are in the middle of a double header. We are both educators. She teaches 4th grade and I am a high school principal and football coach. We have 2 seperate spring breaks so we decided to take time off and share in each others vacation.

Our first leg of this adventure was great. After landing at McCarron on Allegiant we got an easy cab to the Monte Carlo. One of our special deals is we have never stayed in the same place twice. We are getting close to having to finally double up, but as of right now we are still trying new hotels on each trip. The Monte Carlo did not disappoint. Upon arrival we were met with a very friendly check in clerk and no line. We decided on a suite upgrade for 40 dollars a night. It was well worth it! The room was on an upper floor. Nice bar. Huge shower. Jacuzzi that over looked the strip in the main living room. Weather was beautiful all 4 days. 80's!

We checked in around 7 Vegas time and we immediately went down and got a drink in the sports book and played a couple of ponies together. From there we split up and I went in and had my first session of the trip. Bought in for 200 in 1-3 NL. 2 Memorable hands. 1st was 30 minutes in and picked up 6h7h in the sb. It gets raised to 15 UTG and called by the button. I call as well. 3 way to the flop. flop is Jh 8H 2c. check , button bets 40. I smooth call. Original raise folds. Button has me covered by a couple hundred. Turn is magic 5H. I shove. Villain tanks for over a minute then calls. He shows top set of Jacks. River Bricks. I double up.

The other memorable hand was toward the end of the session. I have 470 in front of me. I get dealt pocket 10's on the button. hi jack makes it 12 dollars to go. I call as does big blind. flop comes Ac 8d 4d bb checks villain bets 25. I raise to 60 to see where I am. bb folds. Villain smooths after 10 seconds. turn is 9d. Villain checks. I bet 100. He immediately acts pissed and tells dealer great turn. Guy hits nothing but flushes! He tables AJ. I muck and scrape the pot. I play another 30 minutes with nothing too exciting. I leave up 345. Good Start!

+345

My wife and I grab a late dinner at The Pub at the Monte Carlo. Nice Shrimp Po Boy. Better Captain Morgans. After too many of those we stop and donk off 100 at the craps table on the way back to the room. Enjoy that Jacuzzi and look at the lights before calling it a night.

Day 2

We decide to walk over and do breakfast at Cafe Vettro at Aria. Just amazing French Toast. I challenge someone to find better on the strip! My wife had it with blueberries. I like it plain. I love the Arai room itself. Great floor people and dealers. Just never get lucky and this session was no different. I lose to big races that would have made a huge difference. I call an all-in for 110 with AK vs 9's. they hold up. Also chased a flush draw with open ended straight that cost me 85. Should have been worse but Villain let me look cheap. All in all 3 hour session and lost only 55!

-55

my wife and I decide to head down to Mirage. This is still my favorite place to play in town! And this session did not disappoint for either of us. If I didn't say my wife pulls slots and bets games. we first sit down in the sports book together and play some horses. we get lucky and hit a trifecta at Laurel. 225 dollars. She also left the Mirage up over 400 on the slots that trip. On to the poker room. I buy for 300 in the 1/2 game. It is big stacked, which I liked. 3 seats that have well over 1000. First hand I wake up with QQ. I told you I love the Mirage. I have no read on anyone and there are 3 limpers to me so I make it 15 having no idea what the looseness is. I get 2 callers. Both in front of me. Flop comes 5C 6C 10H. I like it but again wish I had some reads. UTG fires 40 at it. one of the biggest stacks folds immediately. I take a minute to think about this one. Normally it would be an immediate raise but have no idea what this guys range is. He has me covered by a hundred or so. I go with the right play and make it 140. Guy says welcome to the game and tables A 10. ok here we go! I lose a couple tough hands and make a bad lay down I think to an all in shove with bottom 2 pair on the flop. The game was running very loose after 90 minutes or so. My wife shows up wanting to scoot with her 400. I am up 140 thinking I could beat this table. But it's vegas and will have more opportunities.

+140

We walk back to the room and get ready to see Rock of Ages at the Venetian. One of my favorite musicals. Great 80's music. My wife looks great. We have dinner at CUT. It was very good. Being from the Midwest. I have had better steaks, but it was good. My wife and I shared the Porterhouse for 2. We came close to finishing it. For 110 lbs she can eat! We loved the show and decided to continue the music at the Times Square Piano Bar afterwards. That place can be so much fun. I had planned on playing a late session after she went to bed, but after all the Captain Morgans and partying it was suite bound at the Monte Carlo for this old guy. I needed to sleep it off.

Day 3

Woke up and decided to do the pool at the Monte Carlo as it was supposed to be 80's again! It was really not crowded at all. Great to feel the sun instead of 30 degree cold and snow. She wanted to stay longer than me and I decided to go play a bigger game at the Bellagio. She was going to meet me down there later in the afternoon. There was a list for both 1-3 and 2-5. SO I decided to play whatever popped first. 10 minutes in I get called for a 2-5 table. The vibe was tight as I sat down. Not much fun. I grinded for awhile stealing a few pots and seeing where the strength was. There was one young kid with a Boise State visor on. 22-25 year old. Thought he was much better than he was. He had 1500 in front of him. I really wanted to try and get in position with him in a bigger pot. It took an hour but got a chance. I am in Hi Jack with JH 10H. He is in Big Blind. I make it 20. Button Calls and He calls as well. Flop is Kc Jd 10C. He leads out 80. I tank. I put him on clubs or weak King. So either way I decide to just call and play deeper into the hand. Button folds. Turn is 4d. He bets half the pot 110. I still feel this is clubs after watching him play. I think after I call the 80 he checks the weak K. But again he is overplaying a few hands. River is MAGIC. Jc. He fires a big bullet. 400. I only have 650 left in front of me. I of course go all in and he snap calls with clubs. I lose a little bit back over the next 2 hours but still a great session for me.

+730

Wife comes down and we play the horses at the Bellagio and have some drinks. We go see Anthony Cools at night. Hilarious Hypnotist! I play one last Session ataftwords at Monte Carlo. I lose 85 over 2 hours. No memorable hands. Fun table and night. Lots of fun people in and out. My wife even played for an hour. She usually only plays tournaments. She also won another 300+ on the slots that night at the Monte Carlo. We get up early to catch the Allegiant Air back to the Midwest. Best part is we will be back in town next Wednesday for 4 more days. We leave up over 1100 in Poker and 1600 on Vegas. Hopefully the second half of the double header will be just as good. Will be staying at the Treasure Island. Never stayed there. That is our deal! I hear the poker room is good there. Never played there at all. I do like the Wynn although never get down there much. Mirage is right next door. See you in a week!