Vegas and Palm Springs

Got back a week or so ago from week trip…. 3 nights Paris Hotel, 4 nights in Palm Springs. This will be a compilation of thoughts…. I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep anyone interested….

Direct Southwest Flight. I love direct flights. Used points so just a few dollars in fees. Took $26 fixed price cab to Paris. Despite construction not bad at all. Checked in at Kiosk. No delay. I did go in to Diamond check in area to ask about lounges (they don’t exist in Vegas anymore) celebration dinner (they gave me a list) free shows (only the High Roller) and multiple free water bottles.

We went for walk and wifey wanted to sit at bar and get a bite. It was around 5 so we were calling it dinner. She found ‘Dirty Dog?’ We were outside but fan kept us quite cool. She ordered a ‘bucket’ drink called liquid marijuana which she loved. I had a different ‘bucket’ drink which I also liked. With one chili dog and funky loaded fries the bill was a mere $80! But wifey liked it so worth it.
Stopped at CVS and picked up room/pool snacks and my wife’s needed Diet Pepsi. Back to room. Wifey watched something on NetFlix I went down to see what tables they had. They have a Tiles table. Not open. They have a ‘regular’ Pai Gow Poker table. Not open. They had multiple open Open Face Pai Gow tables open.
I played $25 for a while. Didn’t bet the bonus initially. It was $5 min. Hit 4 aces soon after sitting down. The guy next to me got his $5 Envy. A few hands later he goes to bathroom. When he gets back and tries to bet he’s too late says dealer. I’m dealt a straight flush. It’s only $20 I think but he missed out on that envy…. I end up up $100 and go back upstairs.
Although smoking allowed pretty good ventilation.

More to come.

Celebration dinner. Went to NOBU in Paris. I had one drink, wife Diet Pepsi. I had two sushi rolls and hamachi Kama. (Yellowtail collar). Wife had some sort of steak (3 ounces!) in onions and garlic. Was told it comes with absolutely nothing so she asked for a small bowl of rice. Only my wife can order a 3 ounce steak and give me some because she was full. The steak was super tasty. My two rolls were good. The collar was super. Including tax/tip the bill was $170. So $70 cost.
They had Wagyu filet on the menu for $55 an ounce. Nothing like a typical 8 ounce filet for $550 or so. Without a sprig of parsley. A young man with date sat at next table. I LOVE the look on his face after seeing the menu prices. We made eye contact. I joked with him asking if he was getting the $1000 pound steak. He said his wallet is more a 3 ounce steak!

Boring gambling summary. First ‘session’ won that $100. Next $60. Next another $100! Fourth was only going to be an hour or so before a dinner. Chatty guy was betting $50 on main hand, $50 on fortune bonus. Two spots. So $200 a pop. I had a few flushes in a row and he chided me into starting to bet the bonus. Variance was on my side. A bunch of flushes with a few full houses sprinkled in. A new player sits between us. Lights up. Smoke like a heat seeking missile towards my nose. I get up and cash out up $388. That’s A LOT for an hour betting either $25 or $30. So up around$650.
Went with wifey to check out non smoking Park Place MGM. Wifey played with me for Quick $200 loss.
Last night Tiles was open for $25. Ended up losing $100 to end Vegas part of trip up $350ish

Concept comment. I didn’t see any of my Vegas friends, either those that moved from Buffalo or the forum guys now call friend. Wife wanted a ‘romantic’ trip and other than my occasional 1-2 hours of gambling we spent all the time together. She loves ‘Capos’ Italian restaurant which I believe the Wiz first took us to! I NEVER complain when my wife wants romantic.

Quote: SOOPOO

I get up and cash out up $388. That’s A LOT for an hour betting
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Remember what you have said to me dozens of times when I make claims. How would you like it if I said the exact same thing to you right now. I would have no basis for it, I can't possibly know what happened, but how would you like it if I said to you what you always say to me. I wonder if you can be honest about it, about how you would feel.

If he or anyone else made the same ridiculous claims you do, he'd be treated the same way.

Quote: billryan

If he or anyone else made the same ridiculous claims you do, he'd be treated the same way.
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That's odd I don't remember you being involved in this. Why don't you let him answer for himself and mind your business.

Deleted to not participate in the hijack.

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: SOOPOO

I get up and cash out up $388. That’s A LOT for an hour betting
link to original post

Remember what you have said to me dozens of times when I make claims. How would you like it if I said the exact same thing to you right now. I would have no basis for it, I can't possibly know what happened, but how would you like it if I said to you what you always say to me. I wonder if you can be honest about it, about how you would feel.
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My claim of winning $338 on this single session is believable. I’m don’t have the math skills but it felt unusual enough to maybe be 2 or 3 Standard Deviations to the positive side for me. Feel free not to believe me. I didn’t mention it, but $50 of the winnings were from dealer mis-sets/mis-pays.

If I made stuff up for decades like you do I have no idea exactly how I’d feel when EVERYONE pointed it out. If one or two people don’t believe a particular claim I make I can tell you it doesn’t affect me at all. Frankly, my report just reinforces what a small time gambler I am. I’m sure more were laughing at someone reporting $388 as a ‘big win’ than questioning if I am just making it up.

Did High Roller. Mid afternoon. Almost had ride to ourselves but we’re joined by nice family from Utah. No drinking in our vessel. I couldn’t stop thinking how much drinking must go on in the ‘all you can drink’ cabins! I think those were $70 and picture the frat boys and sorority girls pounding them down!

Of course the view must be better at night. The ‘Sphere’ was nice to see, but it looked dull in the sunlight.

On the walk back wifey wanted exact same chili dog and avocado loaded fries. This time with a Diet Pepsi so saved $60.

Walked up and down strip mostly for people watching. HIGH number of escalators not working. And elevators too! As if whoever is in charge of their upkeep just quit. Number of porn slappers WAY DOWN.

The F1 viewing stands are an ugly intrusion on the strip.

Quote: SOOPOO

My claim of winning $338 on this single session is believable.
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And me making a few hundred dollars a month to pay my bills is not believable? If you can win 338 in a single session why can't I win a few hundred dollars a month. The answer is of course I can, you just can't stand the fact that I'm doing something that you can't do. So much so that you have to harass and harass and harass me about it saying the same ridiculous things over and over. How would you like it if I took this stupid $338 and brought it up 15 times the next 2 months. What makes you think you're so damn smart. Oh wait, I remember now...

As some old guy once said- The lady doth protest too much.

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: SOOPOO

My claim of winning $338 on this single session is believable.
link to original post

And me making a few hundred dollars a month to pay my bills is not believable? If you can win 338 in a single session why can't I win a few hundred dollars a month. The answer is of course I can, you just can't stand the fact that I'm doing something that you can't do. So much so that you have to harass and harass and harass me about it saying the same ridiculous things over and over. How would you like it if I took this stupid $338 and brought it up 15 times the next 2 months. What makes you think you're so damn smart. Oh wait, I remember now...
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Easy answer. Because I did and you didn’t. I have many losing trips/sessions. Probably consistent with what the math would expect over MY ‘long run’.
Let’s try and make this simple for you. If I would claim to consistently make money at Pai Gow I’d expect forum members to ask me how. If I had no reasonable explanation I’d EXPECT that no one would believe me.
I ‘easily’ make money on the offers/promos/boosts/etc in sports betting. TODAY…. I moved $4k from betting accounts into my bank account. I can explain to Wiz/Billy/Axel/OnceDear/etc… HOW I do it. Heck, if forced to I could even show my actual accounts with deposits, withdrawals, and balance.
You ‘could’ do the same if you actually consistently win. But you don’t. So you can’t.

The bottom line is this. You just make stuff up, not even in a consistent way. So no one takes you seriously. My claims are consistent and easily explainable.

On to Palm Springs part. Easy 1/2 hour flight. Staying in house friend rented on VRBO. Three couples so I had to rent 2nd car. Couldn’t even get the dismal subcompact for less than $100 a day! Went to TURO to give it a try. Got Volkswagen Atlas which was plenty big enough. Shuttle picks us up at airport with 5 minute wait for quick drive to the lot. Guy hands me keys to the car and on our way. Was around 1/2 the price of Budget/Avis/Alamo/etc…. I can’t imagine not using them again next time I need to rent a car.
Gambled once. Lost $100. But of note…. Dealers kept their own tips. One girl at our table was betting two spots with $50 on main bet and $50 on the ‘ace high Pai Gow side bet’. As expected she was slowly losing…. until she hit the 40-1 and won $2k on one spot. The other spot paid $250. She tipped $50. The dealer probably got another $20-40 from the rest of us. I wonder what they make?

Quote: SOOPOO

Easy answer. Because I did and you didn’t.
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But you don't know that, that's just your opinion. And because you can make almost $400 in a single session you just somehow know that I can't make a few hundred dollars a month to pay my bills and in your mind that gives you the right to state that opinion over and over and over and over. What kind of a person does that. What kind of person has a need to do that. I think we know, don't we.

Quote: SOOPOO

On to Palm Springs part. But of note…. Dealers kept their own tips. One girl at our table was betting two spots with $50 on main bet and $50 on the ‘ace high Pai Gow side bet’. As expected she was slowly losing…. until she hit the 40-1 and won $2k on one spot. The other spot paid $250. She tipped $50. The dealer probably got another $20-40 from the rest of us. I wonder what they make?
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Keeping tokes rule of thumb standard practice in California or Arizona, maybe less so central/Northern California.
As little sense as this makes, many dealers will think they were “stiffed” on a $50 tip on that 2k hand.

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: SOOPOO

My claim of winning $338 on this single session is believable.
link to original post

And me making a few hundred dollars a month to pay my bills is not believable? If you can win 338 in a single session why can't I win a few hundred dollars a month. The answer is of course I can, you just can't stand the fact that I'm doing something that you can't do. So much so that you have to harass and harass and harass me about it saying the same ridiculous things over and over. How would you like it if I took this stupid $338 and brought it up 15 times the next 2 months. What makes you think you're so damn smart. Oh wait, I remember now...
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Because he's betting $25 a hand-$30 a hand for a short period of time on a low HA, that's less than 12 units and well within the SD realm of possibility.

You are betting micro amounts over months and months playing a game with a 2.7% HA. claiming you can achieve outrageous hit rate percentages consistently. You seem to be suggesting that if someone can win in the short run then it's more conceivable you can win given more time. That's ass backward just like most of your gambling posts. Stop hijacking threads with your roulette or baccarat nonsense.

Back to Palm Springs. Took cable car up to mountain top. Wen from (around) 2500 feet to 8500 feet, in about 10 minutes! Went from 80’s to 40’s! Altitude didn’t bother me at all. Went to nice restaurant at top. I may have already posted this, but way overpriced and understaffed. But worth it ONCE.

Golfed twice. First time was a nice course but was being closed the next day for re-seeding. Maybe my average (good) drive is 210-220. First hole hit one of those, but didn’t stop rolling until 260! Inside 100 on 350 yard hole is not my norm. The course ‘almost’ had ‘bumpers’. If I veered right the shot tended to roll left. If left, the shot caromed right. A bunch of shots I thought were rough bound ended up in the fairway. 81.
Second course was lush. Maybe nicer. Harder without the extra roll. 86. Played about the same on both.
Silly expensive. $135 for first, $198 for second.

I never golfed in Palm Springs but it used to be a great place to meet celebrities. I met numerous celebrities at the BJ tables there.

Thanks for confirming Nobu is everything I would hate in a restaurant. Other than no buffet, I like Parisshoe for using Caesars rewards. Martha Stewart was good for celebration dinners, Bobby Flay for the daily dining offer, a few good places to use drink offers on non-alcoholic, best Sphere views.

Quote: TomG

Thanks for confirming Nobu is everything I would hate in a restaurant. Other than no buffet, I like Parisshoe for using Caesars rewards. Martha Stewart was good for celebration dinners, Bobby Flay for the daily dining offer, a few good places to use drink offers on non-alcoholic, best Sphere views.
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I didn’t hate it. Not sure what word to use! I enjoyed everything I had. My wife liked her mini steak. And since $100 was taken care of it was not expensive. But unless comped I’d never return.

Quote: DRich

I never golfed in Palm Springs but it used to be a great place to meet celebrities. I met numerous celebrities at the BJ tables there.
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Palm Springs is the new San Francisco, if you know what I mean.

An AP partner and I were visiting the Palm Springs area on a play. We had recently been discussing how Palm Springs was the new San Francisco, it was very apparent as we were walking around Palm Springs.

We walked into an ice cream shop(that sounds suspicious enough). The young female employee asked, " Are you guys together? Having a temporary brain glitch and not realizing the point of the question, I quickly exclaimed, "No, we are just friends!"