Sunday, February 04, 2007

Sin City Rules II: The Wrath of Steve

Someday when I am old, I am going to write a book about Vegas. It'll be an autobiographical experience with vignettes about the reasons behind what I chose to do here.

I come to Vegas like 3-4 times a year. Once or twice on pleasure and the other times for work. And work, when I am here, is exhausting. I won't even go into how bad my back feels.

It is Super Bowl Sunday and the convention let out right at kick off. I flew up the side streets back to the hotel. Traffic was way crazy at the convention center. I wanted to get back to see how my small bet was going to do at the sports book. I bet $20 on the Bears to cover and parlayed the under. The win would get me $72.

Let's go back to 24 hours before...

I went into the casino walking tall. I mean, I had cleaned up about $480 so why not splurge on some Casino Hold 'em. Wrong! First it was $100. Then another hundred. Then another... and somewhere back at the Blackjack table, it was another hundred. Then I lost $40 in some stupid slot machine and well... Here we were... $40 bucks and $20 of it was on the Bears.

Well... today, holding my ticket I was sure the Bears would cover and keep it under 7. So I headed to the casino... and right to a Casino Hold 'em, like a freaking idiot. I mean, I lost my winnings and usually I plan to lose a hundred when I go on these trips. So I took out a hundred from my wallet and laid it down at Hold em. What happens first hand? Pocket Aces. $150 right out the gate, and then I won 40 on the hand out right. The shit was on. I was back and pissed, and that score on the Bears game got higher and higher in the first quarter which made things not look so good on my parlay, even if the Bears covered.

I played for about two Red Label Scotches, half time and pocketed about $300. So I was back... at least respectable. But 30 points at halftime? 18 more points was all the two teams could score and keep the Bears close. I ran to the sports book to bet over the 22.5 they laid out for the 2nd half. Over I chose. So if I lost my twenty, I'd get it back that way.

I headed out for Caeser's Palace to see the rest of game out front they had in the tent. But then a 10 dollar blackjack table caught my eye. Feeling confident enough to lose a hundred of my new found glory, I sat. And cleaned house in one chute. I went up a hundred more. Now I went back to cash in and check out the game. Oops! I won $50 in a penny slot, after inserting $5. From here I lost track... While cashing in a vagrant started asking me questions about my winnings. "Where you from?" he goes... I tell him. While following me tight he asks all kinds of things for which I give him no straight answer, like I was staying at the Rio and I was heading to catch up to my 5 big friends. I then introduced him to a security guard. It was a great acting job on my part because I figured I had better lead him there at the second question. Then he ran like hell. Apparently they were watching him.

After roaming through Caesar's, checking out all the neatly dressed people, I headed to O'Sheas. It was crowded. I got pissed and argued with a dealer of another hold 'em table when he didn't pay my hand. I think when I left I picked up $200 more or so. I can't be sure. I had removed all the money from my wallet after I ditched the vagrant who followed me earlier. I then had a slice of pizza. It was good.

So I got back to the room, took a shower, and started writing. Way over where I was the other day. It made no difference on the Bears game. It sucks they lost because they represented the NFC and I cannot stand a team in the AFC, except for maybe the Patriots. Life's good again and I cannot be stupid with it this time. I got a second chance and then some. Should go buy my wife something for Valentines Day. I bet she would love me for that.

I can't wait to get home. Been here almost a week. Elijah is probably talking or walking or something real cool by now. Six months old next Sunday. Unbelievable!!

No comments: