First flew up to Northern California with my wife and 3-year-old daughter for a wedding, then we flew from Sacramento to Las Vegas for my wife's medical convention. Got in on Sunday, 10/26. Good sign that JC Tran was on our Southwest flight in! Took a while to get our bags, rental car, go to Venetian and check in. Flight landed at 2:30 and my wife had a banquet dinner at Mandalay at 5. Thought this would be plenty of time, but not so much.

The banquet was at the House of Blues and all of the other doctors from my wife's hospital, including her, got food poisoning. Be warned! Luckily it didn't hit for about 36 hours, so our time in Vegas was actually ok.

After the banquet, my wife and daughter go to sleep and I head out about 10 PM. I had called IP earlier to get on the list for the AVP mixed game. When I get there, there is one table running full. I am 2nd on the list, but the first name didn't appear to be there. I introduced myself to LVM. Asian Joe and Pokermufin were there along with some others. Joe was about to leave, so he checked with the floor then gave me his seat and sold me 2 racks. I enjoyed playing the games and meeting some AVPers. I kept flopping sets, but could never get the board to pair to hold off the inevitable straights and flushes! I was up and down, but finished down about $100 after 2 hours. This made me feel like a real AVPer, to lose $100 in the mixed game!

Headed back up to the V. Their $1-2 NL games were full, but I could get right into a $2-5, so I went ahead. Buy-in goes up to $1000, but I just buy in for $500. Nothing memorable and cash out after 2 hours up $280.

Next day my wife has convention stuff, so I look after the little one. In the afternoon, we all went swimming in one of the pools at the Veniza tower. It was heated, which was nice. We went back to the room, had room service and watched Wall-E. All very good.

The girls went to bed around 10 again and I headed downstairs. My wife's boss gave each of the residents $50 to gamble with. The rules were that if they lost the money, no big deal. But, if they made money, they had to give him back the $50 and split the profits. So, my wife gave me the $50. I put $10 on 5 numbers on roulette and hit on 12, the day my daughter was born. So, that's $50+$150 to the boss, and $150 for us. Good start to the night.

Head over to the poker room and went straight for a $2-$5 table and bought in for $500 again. It was a must move table, so a fair amount of turnover. Not much going on at first. I get down to a little over $300 when I pick up KK. Get it all in against one guy after a ragged flop and it holds up. I'm up to about $650 now.

A few hands later, I have 99 and raise to $15 in middle position. Get 2 callers and see a rainbow flop of 3 6 9. First player checks, I bet out $30, late positions raises to $60. First player folds. I tank a little bit, trying to decide whether to just call or raise, also while hollywooding it up a bit. The guy had bought in for the max, so I eventually re-raise to $160. This goes back and forth a couple more times until I'm all in. The 9's hold and all of a sudden, I'm up to about $1300. While this hand is playing out, the floor had come over to move me!

At the new table, I have 1 of the 2 big stacks. I play pretty conservatively, only showing down premiums hands for winners. I apparently established a very strong image. After about an hour at the table, I call a raise in late position with 8 8. 3 to the flop of 3 7 J. Two checks, and I bet out $40 into a $50 pot. Old guy in early position raises $80 to $120 total. Folds back to me, and after thinking a bit, I feel the guy is somewhat weak. I raise it another $80 to $200 total. The old guy thinks awhile and folds. Most everyone agrees that I had a set.

The last hand of note, I wouldn't mind some feedback. Two guys are fairly new to the table. I raise in late position with AsJs. 3 to the flop of 10s 10x 5s. We all check. Turn is a Qc. I bet a little more than half the pot on the flush/gut shot draws. Get a fold and one of the new guys calls. River is the 4s. New guy bets out $100 into about a $150 pot. I just call and the guys mucks K J, I think. One of the other players is surprised that I only called the nut flush. In hindsight, the guy could have had something like KsQs and paid me off, but I had no read on him and didn't want him to shove on me with the paired board. Maybe too tight here? Again, I'd appreciate feedback.

After about 3 hours of play, I cash out up $1140 for the night! This is my most profitable session of live poker yet. Headed to bed as we were checking out and flying home the next day. That last morning is when my wife got sick, and somehow she made it on the plane home. Overall, we liked the Venetian, but I think my wife still likes the JW Marriott better since it's less crowded and less smoky. It is convenient having all the shops and restaurants right there, though. Can't wait until the next trip!