Flew out of Tampa Saturday 2/19 on American using frequent flyer miles and upgraded to first class. Great way to start a trip - nice relaxing flight, good in-flight meals, hot towels, warm nuts, free drinks, and warm chocolate chip cookies. Had a 3 hour layover in Dallas and sat at the bar at Chili's. Had some chips & salsa and a few Zeigenbock drafts. Went to the gate to board the flight and it was oversold. The gate agent offered me $500 to bump to a different flight 2 hours later. I told them I was willing to accept the offer but they found someone else that would do it for $300 - first bad beat of the trip. Oh well, at least I arrived in Vegas on time and with a few more beers and rum & cokes on board. This is the first time I have arrived in Vegas during the day. I missed the view of the strip all lit up at night.

My bag was second off the plane and I was on my way to pick up my rental car - nothing fancy just a small Ford Focus. This one had a few dings and scratches so I made sure to take some pictures and note the damage on the rental contract. I actually had the drop off agent try to extort $100 from me for alleged damage one time - lesson learned. I definitely like having a rental car in Vegas instead of taking taxis. No way I would travel out to Red Rock or Green Valley Ranch without a rental car. I stopped by Ellis Island to place a bet on the Lightning vs. Flyer's game that was about to start and also had a couple of excellent Amber Ales at their microbrewery. The Lightning won that game and I was off to a good start (+100).

I was staying at Imperial Palace for the week and check in was quick and uneventful with only two people in line at 4:00 PM. Later at night the line was very long. I got a basic room with a nice view of a wall, seriously, a wall. At least the room was quiet and comfortable. The only issue I had was finding my room - the IP is a maze of stairways and elevators. After a few days it was no problem. I walked the strip for a while then came back to the poker room for my first session of 1/2 NL. I bought in for $300 and was up early when I flopped a wheel in the big blind with 23o. Got paid off by villain who flopped two pair with A4. Unfortunately, the A4 would come back to bite me later. I button straddled with AK and raised 7 limpers to $22 - one caller. Flop comes A44. Villain checks to me and I bet $40 - villain calls. At this point I was putting villain on a weaker ace or possibly a big pocket pair. Turn is a K. Villain leads out for $100 and I think for a while but just can't get away from my 2 pair. At this point I thought villain most likely had AK too. I push for $175 total - villain snap calls with A4 and the river bricks for me. Time for bed (-$300).

Sunday morning I slept late and went to brunch at Mandalay Bay - always a good buffet there - king crab legs, shrimp, oysters, and prime rib - good desserts too. Left in a food coma and went to check in at my conference. Check in went much faster than usual and I found myself with 2 hours of free time so I wandered over to the poker room and bought in for $200 at 1/2 NL. Not too many hands except one, but that was all it took. I checked my option with 22 in the big blind and 5 players saw a flop of KK2. SB checked and I bet $15 to see if anyone had a king. Action folds to the button who raises to $30 - I simply call after thinking for a bit. Turn is a 7 and I check - button bets $75 and I raise all in to $175 total. Button calls with KJ and my little boat dodges a bigger boat for a nice pot. I cash out soon after happy with my double up and head to some meetings (+213).

After the meetings were over for the day, I decide to walk the strip to check out the new casinos. I stop by Cosmopolitan and pick up a few chips for my collection. Nice casino but no poker room. I had read about the hidden pizza place on the 3rd floor and finally found it. Good size slices and good flavor too. I continued walking over to Aria and bought into the 1/3 NL for $200. Only one hand of note where I once again got to see the flop for free in the big blind with 23, suited this time, and I flopped a wheel again with a redraw to the flush. I really did not want to see the flush get there. I checked it this time and mid position villain bet $10 - two other callers - and I called too. Turn is an off suit 10. I lead out for $25 - original villain calls - V2 raises to $75 - folds to me and I push for $125 total. V1 folds his nut flush draw and V2 calls with A10. The river was on offsuit blank and my flopped wheel runs him over for another nice pot. I cash out soon after so I can play the 7:00 PM tourney at the Aria (+$114). Got coolered in the second level when I reraise my flopped straight into a flopped set that gets there on the river. Oh well - was essentially free rolling with the earlier cash win so I leave Aria and head over to Bellagio (-$125).

I'm never sure why I keep trying to win at Bellagio - I have never won there in 5 trips. No worries - I am overdue to win. I buy in for $200 at 1/2 NL and last a total of 14 minutes this time. I was in late position with AQ and called a mid position raise to $12. I am liking the flop of Q25 when the villain leads out for $25 - I reraise to $75 - and villain tanks and pushes. I just can't or don't want to put him on a set and finally call. Villain shows 25, the turn and river bring me no help, and his two pair holds up. I just run bad at Bellagio - never again (-$200). I head back over to Aria for some more 1/3 NL action. I typically run pretty well at Aria. No big hands - just a slow steady grind and cash out after 3 hours way past my bedtime (+$265).

Up early Monday morning to attend the conference. No time for poker until lunch. Played a quick 1/2 NL session at Mandalay Bay buying in for $200. Unfortunately I got stacked running my turned straight into a higher turned straight (-$200). Back to meetings for the afternoon and then off to Green Valley Ranch for the Monday night PL Omaha hi-lo. Very nice looking casino and comfortable poker room too. Tourney buy in was $45 and there were 30 runners. I finished in 12th place but had a good time anyway - I like playing games other than NL hold'em. Picked up a quick dinner at Panda Express and headed over to Planet Hollywood for a show.

Went to see Mark Savard - a comedy hypnotist - and it was a really good show. I am quite skeptical of hypnotists but he definitely had me believing. The things he had audience members do were way out of character and very funny. At the end of the show, his final instruction to a hot young girl was that if anyone shook her hand before she left the theater, she would experience a very powerful orgasm. Well, that seemed like an invitation to me and I congratulated her for going up on stage and then shook her hand. She doubled over and moaned out loud - I suppose she could have been faking it, but her face flushed and her pupils dilated too. Other people kept shaking her hand and she could barely walk by the time she got to the door. Her friends were laughing out loud. I might have stayed in the theater if I were her. (+∞).

I headed back to the IP and decided to play a little more 1/2 NL before heading to bed. I bought in for $200 and got dealt KK on the very first hand. I raise to $10 in mid position and get 4 callers. UTG bets $25 on a flop of Q75 - I call - button pushes for $87 - UTG calls - and I push for $165. UTG flopped 777 and wins. I rebuy for another $100 to top off my stack. Two hands later I hit quad AAAA for a nice hand + a $50 high hand bonus. I play a little longer and then head to bed (+56).

Tuesday morning I grabbed a quick breakfast at one of the sponsored meetings - bonus free food. Played another 1/2 NL lunch session at Mandalay Bay and cashed out down (-$108). Tried a late afternoon 1/2 NL session at the IP and lost another (-$171). Not a good day so far. I had tennis at Red Rock scheduled for Tuesday evening and the break from poker was welcome. Played some good 4.5 level tennis for a few hours and then headed over to Red Rock for dinner and more poker. Grabbed a burger at Fatburger and was not impressed. Bought into 1/2 NL for $200 and ordered a nice Gordon Biersch Marzen draft. Played for about 3 hours and 6 beers and cashed out for the night (+$401). I really like the variety of beer choices at Red Rock.

Went to meetings again Wednesday morning. Played a 1/2 NL lunch session again at Mandalay Bay and finished up (+$30) - not much but better than losing. Went back to meetings for the afternoon and then headed to the IP for the Wednesday night mixed game. Met several other AVP'ers and proceeded to donk off (-$220) over the course of 3 hours. Had a good time anyway playing everything from badugi to 27 triple draw. I appropriately had a donkey for my card cover. Moved over to 1/2 NL and proceeded to lose again running my QQ into KK (-$200). At least the Lightning won 8-1 over the Phoenix Coyotes easily covering the line (+$175).

Skipped breakfast thursday morning - the last day of the conference. Finished all my meetings and headed to the Burger Bar between Mandalay Bay and Luxor for lunch. Had a really good burger with onion rings and a couple Sin City amber drafts. Did some more sightseeing during the afternoon and then headed over to TI for some 1/3 NL action. I bought in for $200 and couldn't exploit any opportunities. I raised preflop several times with a wide variety of holdings and whiffed almost every flop. Continuation bets were successful occasionally but I continued to bleed off chips and eventually cashed out (-$147). I had been more successful at Aria so I headed over there and bought in for $200 at 1/3 NL. Unfortunately, the only thing good for me at Aria that night was dinner at Lemongrass - a huge bowl of Tom Ka Gai soup followed by Drunken Seafood Noodle. I got stacked set over set and decided to call it a night (-$200). I headed back to the IP and decided to play some single deck blackjack. I bought in for $100 and cashed out when I doubled it to $200 and headed to bed (+$100).

Friday was tournament day. I played the 10:00 AM $70 tourney at Planet Hollywood finishing 7 out of 23 with only top 3 getting paid. I played the noon $80 tourney at Caesar's Palace finishing 35/70. I was second in chips at the time with the chip leader on my immediate left. I was in the small blind and it folded to me so I completed with 68o to see a flop of 10-6-10. I bet out and the BB called. The turn was an 8 giving me three pair. I bet again, the BB raised, and for some unknown reason I shove all in. The BB tanks for a long time until someone calls the clock on him and finally calls with pocket 77. Of course a 7 comes on the river and I am out. It is always hard to not be results oriented at times like that (-$150).

Feeling a little tilty I decided to take a break and go get some lunch at Hash House a Go Go. I ordered the Big o' Crispy pork tenderloin sandwich and the mac & cheese. Huge portions - seriously, the slab of meat was 12 x 12 inches and hung off the bun at least 4 inches on each side. I ate as much as I could and what was left could probably have still satisfied another two people. It was fun watching people's reactions as the huge portions were served. Pretty good overall but I would go with someone next time and share an entree'. Once again in a food coma, I headed up to my room for a quick nap.

Waking up refreshed, I decided to try my luck downtown. I headed to the Golden Nugget and bought in for $200 at 1/2 NL. I doubled up early with 24o in the BB limped 5 ways preflop. Flop comes 2K4 and I lead out for $7 and get 4 callers. Turn is a 10 and I lead out for $17. One caller to the button who raises to $65. I think for a while and am pretty sure he has AK - I even ask him if he has AK hoping he will think I have a weaker K. I push for an extra $140 on top and the button calls and shows AK. I roll my 24 and he looks a little sick. The river is a blank and I rake a nice pot with the strongest hand in poker - props to Poker Grump. Played for a while longer and who should sit at my table - The Duke of Fremont - complete with banjo case and a $5000 buy in at 1/2 NL. He only stayed for a few hands as he didn't like his seat - I think he wanted to be more up front so he could see and be seen - interesting character. Cashed out soon after (+$317).

I headed back to the strip and bought in for $200 at 1/2 NL at the Venetian. Only played for an hour and cashed out up (+$170). After that I headed back to the IP and walked the strip some more. Ended up at the Flamingo and played for a 2 hours before getting stacked (-$200). Walked back to IP to head to bed but played some single deck blackjack instead. Once again doubled my $100 buy in after 20 minutes and cashed out (+$100).

Last full day in Vegas and I started with breakfast at the IP - bad decision, followed by a quick tour of the Classic Car Museum - good decision. After that, I decided to play the noon $120 tourney at the Wynn. Arrived early so I had some time to play 1/3 NL before the tourney started and bought in for $200. Flopped a boat with K9 and was contemplating my bet while shuffling chips and the dealer says I checked. I said no I did not I was shuffling chips. A group of regulars at the table all gang up and claim I definitely checked. I ask the dealer to call the floor and he rules that I checked. Seems like a little favoritism going on so I push all in on the turn and everyone folds. I rack up my chips and head to the tourney. I did not tip the dealer (+30).

The tourney was long and frustrating - I played for almost 5 hours and bubbled the final table. I was battling from behind the entire day. I lost half my stack on the very first hand - probably still steaming from the cash game - when I flopped a flush with 910s and villain flopped the nut flush and never raised. I doubled up a few hands later with AJ > A3. Lost a big chunk when I inadvertently raised from a dirty stack. The dealer ruled the chip had to stay in and villain pushed all in to take advantage of my mistake. I should have called for the floor and the ruling might have been different. Hung around with a below average stack and finally lost when I shoved A5s into the big stacks AK. Oh well - that is tournament poker - still had a good time (-$120).

From there I headed to Bally's for some 1/2 NL cash game action buying in for $200. Played for a few hours and was happy to find that they serve Fat Tire - one of my favorites. Got hungry and cashed out to get a bite to eat (+202). Headed over to Le' Burger Brasserie - had the Lamb burger with prosciutto - easily the best burger of the trip. From there I went to the Mirage for some more 1/2 NL and bought in for $200 - played at the same table as the blind guy from the WSOP - Hal Lubarsky. It was interesting listening to his assistant call out the board and the bets. Only played for an hour and cashed out (+103).

After that I headed over to Harrah's for some more 1/2 NL buying in for $200. Worked my stack up to $700 very quickly cracking AA with a flopped set of 777 and flopping two pair with J10 > QQ. I then lost a big pot when I raised on the button with 45 and got one caller. Flop comes 4K5 and I am thinking deja vu from the Nugget. Villain bets and I raise all in because it looks like he has less than $100 in chips left. Unfortunately, I did not see the two $100 bills under his small stack of chips. Villain calls and shows AK as expected vs. my flopped two pair, but this time I get Greensteined on the river. I cash out soon after still up (+$132).

Next I wander back to the IP for one last chance to cash in this very fishy room. I buy in for $200 and quickly lose the first hand I played with AK < A2 when I flop top pair top kicker and get a short stack all in. Runner runner gives villain a straight and I decide to cash out and put the IP on the same list with the Bellagio - never again (-$80).

Overall I had a fun if not productive trip. I came out slightly ahead in cash games cashing in 12 out of 23 sessions over 48 hours of play for a grand total of (+$7) and an hourly rate of 15 cents lol - I should probably just play them good VBJ machines instead. Tournaments did not go so well where I went 0/5 for a loss of (-$440). I also came out ahead (+$200) in blackjack and ahead (+$275) in sports bets. I did not play any other pit games or slots. Grand total for the trip (+$42). A win is a win - any time I can vacation for 8 days and still come out ahead is fine with me. Now I think I will go see if Mark Savard can hypnotize me ..........