Good morning Vegas! I woke up about 6am but vowed to get more sleep so stayed in bed until about 8:30am, got up, showered and ventured down to the casino floor to grab a latte - I then wandered around the casino a bit and took a photo of the video blackjack dealer for a friend of mine who is convinced (and has convinced me) that those video machines are "rigged" - a few years ago when we were in Vegas he told me he had lost 4 hands in a row where he had 20 - he claimed the computer sees a player 20 and deals itself a 21 - I figured it was a run of bad luck so he implored me to go watch him play - so I did and sure enough he played three hands and made an 18, 20 and 19 - the computer made a 19, 21 and 20 - I'm convinced! So I sent him the pic and he told me just thinking about it was giving him a headache
I then made my way into @theforumshops and came across a mannequin with a television on the fritz in place of someone's head/brain (not sure the store clerk put that much thought into it though lol)
I finally made my way to the third floor of the Forum Shops and got waylaid into one of those stores trying to sell some sort of anti-aging moisturizer - the woman told me it would magically "de-puff" my eyes - although I normally would have walked away immediately, I felt like trying something new and sat there for the "demonstration" and, in all honesty, I could feel and see the difference. However, that was the soft sell portion-the hard sell came when I asked he price - the woman replied that "online it sells for $700" (goodbye!) but that they sell it here for $200 and since I'm staying at Caesars I could buy it for $149 - I told her I'd give her $100 and she said that price could not be done - I replied that if my eyes were still "de-puffed" tomorrow morning, I'd come back and buy - we shall see. (edit: I just did a Google search and apparently many people were as equally impressed as I was with the in-store results but, upon buying the product, could not reproduce those results - claiming that what they use in the store in the same tube of lotion is not what is in the tube they actually sell you - although not sure anyone had it tested by a lab--right now still enjoying the "de-puffing effects but am weary of these types of shops)
I then went into the GUESS store and found a nice leather jacket. Of course, they did not have my size but located one over at the Miracle Mile location. I find it amazing how these designers make their sizes run small - who the hell is wearing these skintight clothes - I thought Americans were getting fatter lol...(edit: I made my way to the GUESS store at the Miracle Mile but, even though the jacket fit my chest and arms much better, it was baggy around the stomach/waist so I ended up not buying it)
I finally made it back to the casino floor and made my way over to Palace Court - as usual, there was only one $100 min game and there was a guy playing 1-3 hands - I told him I'd wait for the shuffle, he thanked me and invited me to join - BAM! first hand blackjack for me but then pushed a 20 and lost on a made 20 when the dealer pulled an 8 on his 13.However, I then got on a nice run and, within 7 minutes, had regained the 1200 I was down. Thank you dealer (tip) and time for breakfast.
I went up to my room and wanted to get some ice so I clicked over the door lock but apparently the door is built to override it from the open position (good security idea actually) but, my key was in the room--I saw housekeeping next door and asked if she'd let me in and I could then get the key and show her it was my room--she politely told me she is not permitted to do that and directed me to call security - not wanting to wait for security, I decided to head down to the front desk where there was, luckily, no line--got a new key made, headed to the elevators and back upstairs, got my ice, smiled and waved at the housekeeper and now writing this post.
Now I can finally have some breakfast/lunch and later today head to the BJ tournament registration over at Harrah's. I am Trying to branch out and try new things so I am having lunch at the Gordon Ramsay Pub here in Caesars Palace - I've never eaten at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant before but my expectations were high based on his television shows wherein he demands excellence - let's see.Very very nice chicken Caesar salad - fresh lettuce and well-seasoned chicken - would definitely order again and definitely try another Gordon Ramsay restaurant
An aside - something I remembered just now as I passed the casino cage - last night when I was heading up to bed, there was a line about 50 people deep for the cashier - never saw that much of a "run" on the cage before - wonder what that was all about
On my way out onto the strip and passed the Caesars sports book - is it being dismantled? anyone know how they plan to modernize it? Took a walk down the strip and into the Miracle Mile shops - the guys at the kiosk that I have an ongoing dispute with over their defective cell phone charging case tried to call me over by exclaiming "Sir, would you like me to show you a case better than your Mophie case?" - to which I loudly replied "your cases are horrific and stop working within one day" -- he tried walking after me saying "Sir sir there's no need to be like that lets talk it out" -- this is not Camp David and I'm not negotiating any peace - goodbye!
Made my way to the Grand Bazaar at Ballys and tried some Turkish ice cream - Now Relaxing in the room, not a nap but just laying down watching THE FIVE on FNC
heading over to Harrah's shortly to register for the blackjack tournament - I am thinking positively as even if you are not in the top 6 (final table), 7th through 48th place all get $750 in free play. So, I am all registered and set to play tomorrow in the first round of the blackjack tournament -- I asked how many people were entered and the lady told me approximately 400 - so, I have a slightly better than 10% chance to finish in the money - not too shabby.
I Headed to the tables and there were two guys at the table both playing anywhere from 100 to 1000/hand--I waited for the shuffle and actually hit a nice run and was quickly up 600. I hovered between being up 100-600 over the next couple of shoes until the guy at third base decided to hit his 12 against the dealer 6--he drew a 7 and smiled--the dealer flipped over a King then drew a 4--damnit! I lost the next 7 hands in a row after that and was down 500 - One of the guys left and it was just third base and me playing - I slowly got back to even when another guy joined in - once again, I hovered around even until I was dealt a blackjack and a winning double down on the final two hands of the shoe--on that note I decided to take a dinner break - Trip +500
I Found an offer in my room welcome packet for a complimentary appetizer with purchase of an entree at "Off the Strip" at the LINQ so ] made my way over there and ended up having the dry rub chicken wings for an appetizer and the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans for my entree......the bartender was on point as, when I asked for something to wipe my hands with like a wet-nap she made me some with the napkins she had behind the bar. While eating and facing the LINQ promenade, the wind started to blow something fierce and a few waiters had to go prevent the umbrellas from blowing away (good save). On the back of the above-mentioned offer was a BOGO offer for Sprinkles cupcakes so, I grabbed those and brought them back to the room for later. As I type this, some raindrops are beginning to fall - feels good - although not sure I want to get caught in a downpour ☔️ Ok, we've now got lightning as well 🌩aaaaaaaaand, we've got rain 🌧Fortunately, I was just entering Sprinkles and went in and got a vanilla cupcake and cinnamon cream cheese cupcake
Got back to Caesars and headed to Palace Court - the dealer was just shuffling and there was a lady playing third base - I say down and right out of the gate had a nice run of hands - got three Blackjacks in the first half of the shoe and towards the end I was up 1800 for the trip -- however, I lost a double with 150 up on the final hand and ended the shoe +1500 for the trip
Headed back to the room to try the cupcakes, split the vanilla top from the bottom and took a bite from the bottom half. I thought I put it down and went to pick it up and it was gone - could I have eaten the bottom half in one bite without realizing it, then imagined putting it down? I looked and looked and it was gone- very strange. Actually though, something strange like that happened this morning as well when I was walking through the Forum Shops...I noticed a small store in between Tiffany's and Zegna that I'd never seen before - it was a store selling very high end puffy winter jackets and fancy boots. I walked in and after exchanging pleasantries with the salesgirl, I asked how they got the store up and running so quickly - she looked at me quizzically and stated - "What do you mean?" to which I replied "well, I've been in Vegas every few months for the past few years and this is the first time I've ever seen this store so I assume it just opened" - to my surprise, she informed me that the store has been open for over two years - am I experiencing a timeline shift or parallel universe like the man from Taured?
I debated whether or not to play anymore and decided it was still early and headed down to play +1500 for the trip
I encountered the worst blackjack player of all time and f*** anyone who says other players' actions have no effect (sure, long term that might be true but I'm living in the here and now and this guy most certainly affected me) - I got my first glimpse into his haphazard style when he refused to split Aces versus a dealer 10 -- instead he hit and drew another Ace, a King, and a 9 - I had a 12 and hit and drew a Queen. As such, had he split he would've had a 21, 20 and 21. The next card out after this would've been an 8 to give me 20 and I would have won as the dealer turned over an 8 for 18. He would then go on to play certain hands as follows: NEVER splitting any pairs; Sometimes hitting 12 v 2 and 3, sometimes not; NEVER hitting 14, 15 or 16 against anything except a 2. I remained somewhat calm and told myself it's all meaningless in the long-term while I quickly lost the 1500 I was up. Another gentleman joined the table and I won the first three hands of the shoe--however, he lost those three and announced he was putting in another hand to "change the cards"--over the next ten hands, he played two hands at a time and was given a blackjack on one of his two hands for ten hands in a row. Of course, I lost another 1k and switched tables
Switching tables I got a quick 800 back and was feeling positive - the guy playing with me at this table said he needed 2k to be even and asked how I was doing - I told him I was now only down 200 - the dealer piped in "well, no worries, I'll just let you win the next two hands and you can go enjoy your evening" -- from that point forward I lost the next 12 out of 16 hands, pushing 2 and winning 2 (while losing a couple doubles as well) - a dealer jinx, naturally -- so now, rather than being ahead 1500, blithering idiots f***ing affected my play and I lost that plus 3k
I have the tournament tomorrow afternoon and, should I not advance to the second round, I'm thinking of just heading home and taking 6 months off from going to a casino, maybe more--just seems blackjack has not been a "fair" game in quite some time - I used to be able to consistently win or break even - now, it quickly becomes a slaughter and the ship never rights itself
Goodnight