Vegas Trip Report - Day 1

[midas]

Background – About 12-15 of my thirty something friends and friend of friends have been going to Vegas in September every year for the last 10 years. This trip has survived marriage, divorce, kids, cancer and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The only acceptable reason for missing this trip is a kid on the way within a month of the trip or you’re dead (not yet happened). Most of the guys are professional types with an actor/waiter (gets the girls) and a math teacher (handle all the friend against friend bets). Most of the crew are your average neighbor types who go completely wacko when they hit Vegas and a lawyer friend who comes in handy to diffuse any issues that may arise in our wake. Apart from the usual Vegas Commandments (what ever happens in Vegas …blah blah blah) tequila shot penalties are invoked for the following offenses:

Discussing work – 1 shot per offense
Discussing your kids sporting events – 1 shot
Talking to your wife for longer than one minute in the company of the group – 1 shot
Caught playing any slot machine – 1 shot
Suggesting or even thinking of bringing the wives the next time – 3 shots
Suggesting or even thinking of going to a show – 3 shots

Thursday – Arrive from Newark after the normal 1 hour take-off delay, on time in Vegas. After logging so many business trips with grumpy people, this plane is refreshingly full of happy people waiting to arrive in Sin City. I was amazed by new D terminal after spending so much previous time in the 1960’s vintage bus terminal décor that was the LV airport. Travel buddy insists I hang with him while he get his rental car at Alamo – what a freak’in mistake – 15 minutes to get there and 40 minutes waiting in line for a car I’m not going to use. Check in at The Hotel, throw my bags in the room, get lunch then head out to the MGM poker room.

As discussed many times in the previous posts the MGM poker room is the most modern in the country. Played 4-8 with a handful of terrible locals, some tourists and an off-work dealer for about 5 hrs (up about $100) trying to ease my way back into the rhythm of Vegas. Back to the hotel and rallied 10 almost wasted guys from a poolside cabana to try to make dinner at FIX at the Bellagio by 9:00. 9:15 – a friendly argument ensues on whether to hire a stretch hummer to take us 2 miles to the Big B for $100 bucks. Rich bud picks up the tab and 11 almost drunk guys take the 5 minute ride in gas guzzling style!!!

Arrive at FIX, seems like a nice enough place but of course our table is not ready (big mistake on their part), the mojitos start flowing and 3 of my buds start hitting on the hostesses who come directly from the porn star wannabe casting couch. Manager is called and we get escorted to our table – really drunk bud loudly asks the Manager if he gets to b*ng the hostesses after work and we get our first shape-up or be evicted notice of the trip!!! I vaguely remember the food being pretty good but the real action was betting on whether my actor/waiter friend can bag the sleazy hostess. Hang out at Light for an hour before drunken craps called our name for the next few hours. During craps many rounds of Whore not a Whore were played as sleazy women walked past the table with the accompanying warnings from the pit boss regarding our behavior. Sleazy hostesses join us for drinks at the Bacarrat Bar and the betting starts on Can the Whore Score? As ladies of the night ply their trade on willing Johns in full view of casino security – nice!! Down $300 from craps and various side bets. Go back to Mandalay for some drunken 4-8 until 7 a.m. 11:00 a.m. – wake-up call from math teacher confirming actor/waiter bags the hostess – Down another $100 on the news [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]. End of Day 1.