How Sweet Sixteen It Will Be!

It’s off to Vegas this weekend, for the 3rd consecutive year of visiting Sin City during the Sweet 16. This after about 5 consecutive seasons of first weekend Madness.

Actually, I have no idea what # visit to Vegas this one actually is. I might have to go back in my mind on the plane flight out, and try to get a roughly accurate count. I’ll never know how much I am “down” lifetime in Vegas. In fact, I’m fairly certain I’ve never had a single “winning trip” overall.

Some guys I know, swear they have “killed it” in Vegas. I don’t doubt them. When you are betting big, and you hit a run, you can rattle off 5-6K in profit in no time. But then again, some guys just like to talk big.

Personally, I’m a blackjack player by trade, who of course bets the games, and now will dabble in low-stakes dice. I’ve been told that it’s perfectly OK to sit there like a railbird and just play pass-line with odds. Seems boring, however, given all the fun action of “loading the board” with numbers, and throwing in the odd “hard-ways” and such.

I don’t play poker, and you won’t believe me when I say it, but I have never ever ever held a single hand of “Texas Hold ‘Em” in any venue. Not in Vegas. Not in somebody’s basement. Not online.

Not a one.

I figure it’ll take too long to get decent, and it’s one helluva time-suck of a “hobby” that I simply don’t have the hours to throw into.

One thing I am into though, is the Second Weekend concept. I have argued with friends about this for a few years now, but I remain firm that it is superior to the First Weekend. Availability of rooms, tables, seats at the sports book, and tee times are all far more abundant.

And for me, I only need 4 games on Thursday and Friday night to whet my whistle. Perfect amount. Conveniently placed in the early afternoon (4 p.m.) where I can roll off the golf course, take a nap, enjoy 5 hours of hoops, eat a fat ol’ dinner, roll to the Rhino, and figure out the rest from there.

I have also figured out that while I could get a cheaper room somewhere down strip, I am hopelessly addicted to the Mandalay Bay vibe. Not only is the place top-flight (THEHotel has few peers) but I actually like that it is on the END of the strip, where you at least “feel” un-encroached by the masses that bracket your ever move when you are staying mid-strip.

Finally, I got smart on my rental car. I used to go Orbitz.com and search “lowest price”. I mean, it’s a beater, right. Who cares? Well, after a particularly painful delay at Budget one year, I said screw this! It is well worth paying a $100 premium (and it was actually less than that I think) to go with one of the two, big boy rental car joints that have it down to a science.

Hertz or Avis.

Avis had a free sign-up for their “Preferred” service. They SAY I will just be able to roll to my car, and skip the desk. We’ll see. I’m hopeful, but skeptical.

Wish me luck at the sports book. Wish my golf game even more luck. Wish you were with me.

Vegas, baby. Vegas.

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AND NOW, YOUR PIC O' THE DAY!!!

Talk about a "Peep Show!"