Wanna come to a wedding tomorrow (7/8) in AC?
As some of you know, I'm also a Reverend. Tomorrow, July 8th at 2:30 on the beach in front of the Tropicana, I'll be performing a wedding ceremony. It will be a small group, so the bride said she'd like me to invite anyone on the beach or boardwalk that wants to watch, to come down and be a part of it.
So if you want to come and watch, be there. She mentioned something about doing it under the palm trees. Are there palm trees on the beach by the Trop?
This is a VERY small budget wedding. There is no reception afterwards. In fact, I'm going to be playing a first dance song, right on the beach, immediately after the ceremony.
After that, I assume that they'll go to the nearest bar for a glass of champagne, but I don't know if I'm part of that.
So if you're there, say hello. Heck, maybe we'll hang out after the wedding.
I had a similar wedding last year in front of Trump Plaza. Here's a photo:
See that half a head behind the photographer, looking like he's checking his watch? That's my buddy Steve. He was happy to get away from the tables for a few minutes.
The weather forecast says it's going to be a beautiful day too, 82 and partly cloudy.
*thinks of the simpsons episode where homer gets married in vegas* "Here's $10 in chips, you may kiss the bride, NEXT!" lol
LOL.Quote: f2d*thinks of the simpsons episode where homer gets married in vegas* "Here's $10 in chips, you may kiss the bride, NEXT!" lol
For what it's worth, there are stories on both of these brides that are interesting.
Last year's bride grew up and lives in New Hampshire, which is where the groom, a New Jersey native, found her. The became friends. Two years later, she went to do some relief work in Africa for a couple months. While preparing for her trip, they realized how much they would miss each other. When she returned, he picked her up at JFK, then showed her where he grew up in NJ, and ended up in A.C., where, on the beach in front of Trump Plaza, they had their first 'official' date. She always had a dream of a beach wedding on some exotic island, but changed it to a wedding on the A.C. beach, in the exact spot where they fell in love.
This week's bride didn't give much of her story, except that she always had a dream of getting married on the beach somewhere in Mexico. The live in A.C., walking distance from the spot where we had the ceremony. She's planning on having a wedding renewal/re-enactment in a few months, in Mexico, so that the groom's family can witness it. He's Mexican!
Anyway, on to the trip report.
I left work at about 5:00, flew down the Parkway, stopped at CVS because I remembered some stuff I forgot to pack, then stopped at the wrong hotel, then checked into the correct hotel, and finally got to the Taj poker room at 7:28. Google maps says the trip should take 2:16. Considering the stops, I did great on the timing.
I entered the 7:15 tournament, and missed only a few hands. After a few minutes, I notice a player at another table waving to me. It's a guy I play with in my poker league! His wife doesn't play but is sitting nearby. So during the break, I invited them to the wedding. They say they'll come. Cool.
One of the dealers was overly chatty. Although at poker tables, dealers are supposed to keep quiet, it doesn't bother me much. It's low stakes. The buy in was only $50+$15. Plus his chatter wasn't about the hands in play, EXCEPT once. The guy in seat ten was first to act, and decided to raise blind. I was in seat 5, so, since I was watching the dealer, I knew exactly what happened. Once the guy in seat ten got his second card, he threw some chips in. At that moment the dealer was dealing to his left. Seat ten is on his right. I don't see how the dealer could have seen it. But I said/commented "Blind raise?" Someone else questioned my comment, and then the dealer confirmed that he saw the guy put in chips without looking.
Excuse me, but this is poker, and a tournament at that. It doesn't matter if you saw or not. You're the dealer. You're not supposed to comment on the action. Sure, you count the bet, and announce the amount, but to comment on the action and clarify that it was a 'blind' raise is out of line. If someone asks if it's a raise vs a straddle, sure. Answer it. But to comment that it really was blind? Nope. FYI: As I understand it, no casino allows a straddle in a tournament.
I had a mixed experience playing. Early in the tournament, I made a play, trying to convince my opponent that, with three Jacks on the board, that I had an over pair. I'm not sure if he believed me or not. But since he had the fourth Jack, he wasn't folding. Sigh.
While playing, I ordered food. Taj is on of the few poker rooms where I play, that allows players to eat near the table. I was very specific with my order. Cheeseburger, medium, with fries. No lettuce, tomato, pickle or anything. The burger was served well done, and came with pickles. OK. The pickles weren't ON the burger. They were on the side. But the pickle juice had gotten into everything.
Prior to the second break, there was discussion about the payouts that had just been announced. There were only 25 entries in the tourney. Typically, the top 10% get paid. So three people should have gotten paid. Wanna spread the wealth? Make it four. Taj paid FIVE players. That in itself wasn't the problem. It was the breakdown: 40%, 25$, 15%, 10%, 5%. While that breakdown makes sense when paying five, it made no sense when you saw the numbers. I took a photo. Remember that the buy in was $65.
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/taj_bad_pays.png
Fifth place pays $61? LESS than the buy in? Lot's of grumbling about it.
Of course, I was the only one who asked why, 25 players x $50 = $1,212. They take 3% out for the dealers. I immediately tucked that tidbit away to use once I come in the money. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I busted out in 8th place. My buddy from the poker league was 7th.
I then did something stupid. I was tired, but I played cash poker. I was doing OK, then made a bad play against pocket aces, which, somehow, held up. Busted, I went to my hotel around 12:00.
The bed wasn't great, so I didn't sleep too well. Finally I gave up at about 7:00. I was going to meet the couple to discuss the wedding details at 10:30, so I got up, went to the Tropicana to play.
First, breakfast. I went to the restaurant near the poker room. Seaside Cafe. I was told the only thing open at that hour on a weekday. There were very few customers. I was seated near another table with one person. The waitress took my beverage order and left, returned a minute later with my drink and took my order. It was at this point that the other guy complained that he was waiting and also wanted to order. There was confusion over who his waitress is. Finally he orders. A few minutes later, my food comes out. A few minutes after that, he gets his beverage, and without my asking, my waitress gives me my bill. Mind you I'm still eating, but I appreciate the opportunity to get the bill paid so I can leave as soon as I'm done. I guess this waitress knows the restaurant is in a casino, and knows the customer's and management's priorities. I'm done and getting up when his food finally arrives. Wow.
I go play poker, and about 15 minutes later, the same guy sits at my table. I say to him, "Was that you getting slow service in the restaurant? What the heck was that about?" He said, "I don't know. My money is the same color as yours...." Yeah, he's black. I wanted to say something like "What is this, the fifties?" But instead, just said, "Oh...."
On the plus side, my food was fine. The butter was soft - a VERY nice touch for a nothing fancy restaurant. I hate trying to spread cold butter on rapidly cooling toast.
So I played poker for a few hours. Nothing exciting. Lost a couple hundred. Sigh.
Went and met the couple, did the meeting, etc. They tell me they want to push it up to 2:00. I say that's fine, but am thinking it sucks if some of the people I invited show up around 2:20. Nothing I can do about that. I go to my hotel to shower and change. I return at 1:45, go to a spot in the Trop right near a Boardwalk exit, to wait for their arrival. I'm there about 5 minutes when my wife, who had come down that morning, and her friend who rode down with her, and her two friends from Floriday who just happened to be in town that day, practically walked past me. So we hung out together and waited. They're late. At 2:15 the couple from my poker league show up. A few more minutes and I can stop worrying about anybody here that would respond to my open invite. And then we waited some more. Finally the bride calls me to tell me she's running late. FYI: It seems brides ALWAYS run late.
Finally at about 2:55 she calls and tells me she is on her way. A few minutes later, I see her and her guests walking the last block. I tell some people on the boardwalk, and invite them too. She finally gets to the boardwalk, and we go out to the beach and have a wedding. The delay was the only problem. Everything went great. If she sends me photos, I'll post them.
After the ceremony, we all go into the Trop doorway to sign the license and some more photos, etc. Finally I say goodbye and we seperate.
I go play some more poker. Nothing exciting, but I do win back some of my losses.
Finally, at 7:00, we go to dinner. Cuba Libre. Yeah, I know. Those of you that know I'm a Mac & Cheese kind of guy will find that surprising. But I can usually find something. For an app, I got Chicharrones de la Casa: Crisp marinated chicken, skirt steak, pork masitas, Cortez chorizo, toston, and yuca bites. Mojo picante. For dinner I got Churrasco a la Cubana: Grilled skirt steak, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, parsley, lemon and onion sauce, watercress and rosemary mushroom escabeche salad. Both were excellent. Everyone thought the food was good, and with good service.
Since I had to be at work at 7:00 Friday, I left after dinner, at about 8:30. I figured there'd be no traffic, and I'd be home around 11:00 or 11:30 the latest.
I hadn't noticed on my way down, but they are expanding the Parkway. It's night work, which is why I hadn't noticed the day before. I sure noticed on the way home. I finally staggered into my house at about 12:30.
Quote: DJTeddyBearLOL.
For what it's worth, there are stories on both of these brides that are interesting.
Last year's bride grew up and lives in New Hampshire, which is where the groom, a New Jersey native, found her. The became friends. Two years later, she went to do some relief work in Africa for a couple months. While preparing for her trip, they realized how much they would miss each other. When she returned, he picked her up at JFK, then showed her where he grew up in NJ, and ended up in A.C., where, on the beach in front of Trump Plaza, they had their first 'official' date. She always had a dream of a beach wedding on some exotic island, but changed it to a wedding on the A.C. beach, in the exact spot where they fell in love.
This week's bride didn't give much of her story, except that she always had a dream of getting married on the beach somewhere in Mexico. The live in A.C., walking distance from the spot where we had the ceremony. She's planning on having a wedding renewal/re-enactment in a few months, in Mexico, so that the groom's family can witness it. He's Mexican!
Anyway, on to the trip report.
I left work at about 5:00, flew down the Parkway, stopped at CVS because I remembered some stuff I forgot to pack, then stopped at the wrong hotel, then checked into the correct hotel, and finally got to the Taj poker room at 7:28. Google maps says the trip should take 2:16. Considering the stops, I did great on the timing.
I entered the 7:15 tournament, and missed only a few hands. After a few minutes, I notice a player at another table waving to me. It's a guy I play with in my poker league! His wife doesn't play but is sitting nearby. So during the break, I invited them to the wedding. They say they'll come. Cool.
One of the dealers was overly chatty. Although at poker tables, dealers are supposed to keep quiet, it doesn't bother me much. It's low stakes. The buy in was only $50+$15. Plus his chatter wasn't about the hands in play, EXCEPT once. The guy in seat ten was first to act, and decided to raise blind. I was in seat 5, so, since I was watching the dealer, I knew exactly what happened. Once the guy in seat ten got his second card, he threw some chips in. At that moment the dealer was dealing to his left. Seat ten is on his right. I don't see how the dealer could have seen it. But I said/commented "Blind raise?" Someone else questioned my comment, and then the dealer confirmed that he saw the guy put in chips without looking.
Excuse me, but this is poker, and a tournament at that. It doesn't matter if you saw or not. You're the dealer. You're not supposed to comment on the action. Sure, you count the bet, and announce the amount, but to comment on the action and clarify that it was a 'blind' raise is out of line. If someone asks if it's a raise vs a straddle, sure. Answer it. But to comment that it really was blind? Nope. FYI: As I understand it, no casino allows a straddle in a tournament.
I had a mixed experience playing. Early in the tournament, I made a play, trying to convince my opponent that, with three Jacks on the board, that I had an over pair. I'm not sure if he believed me or not. But since he had the fourth Jack, he wasn't folding. Sigh.
While playing, I ordered food. Taj is on of the few poker rooms where I play, that allows players to eat near the table. I was very specific with my order. Cheeseburger, medium, with fries. No lettuce, tomato, pickle or anything. The burger was served well done, and came with pickles. OK. The pickles weren't ON the burger. They were on the side. But the pickle juice had gotten into everything.
Prior to the second break, there was discussion about the payouts that had just been announced. There were only 25 entries in the tourney. Typically, the top 10% get paid. So three people should have gotten paid. Wanna spread the wealth? Make it four. Taj paid FIVE players. That in itself wasn't the problem. It was the breakdown: 40%, 25$, 15%, 10%, 5%. While that breakdown makes sense when paying five, it made no sense when you saw the numbers. I took a photo. Remember that the buy in was $65.
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/taj_bad_pays.png
Fifth place pays $61? LESS than the buy in? Lot's of grumbling about it.
Of course, I was the only one who asked why, 25 players x $50 = $1,212. They take 3% out for the dealers. I immediately tucked that tidbit away to use once I come in the money. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I busted out in 8th place. My buddy from the poker league was 7th.
I then did something stupid. I was tired, but I played cash poker. I was doing OK, then made a bad play against pocket aces, which, somehow, held up. Busted, I went to my hotel around 12:00.
The bed wasn't great, so I didn't sleep too well. Finally I gave up at about 7:00. I was going to meet the couple to discuss the wedding details at 10:30, so I got up, went to the Tropicana to play.
First, breakfast. I went to the restaurant near the poker room. Seaside Cafe. I was told the only thing open at that hour on a weekday. There were very few customers. I was seated near another table with one person. The waitress took my beverage order and left, returned a minute later with my drink and took my order. It was at this point that the other guy complained that he was waiting and also wanted to order. There was confusion over who his waitress is. Finally he orders. A few minutes later, my food comes out. A few minutes after that, he gets his beverage, and without my asking, my waitress gives me my bill. Mind you I'm still eating, but I appreciate the opportunity to get the bill paid so I can leave as soon as I'm done. I guess this waitress knows the restaurant is in a casino, and knows the customer's and management's priorities. I'm done and getting up when his food finally arrives. Wow.
I go play poker, and about 15 minutes later, the same guy sits at my table. I say to him, "Was that you getting slow service in the restaurant? What the heck was that about?" He said, "I don't know. My money is the same color as yours...." Yeah, he's black. I wanted to say something like "What is this, the fifties?" But instead, just said, "Oh...."
On the plus side, my food was fine. The butter was soft - a VERY nice touch for a nothing fancy restaurant. I hate trying to spread cold butter on rapidly cooling toast.
So I played poker for a few hours. Nothing exciting. Lost a couple hundred. Sigh.
Went and met the couple, did the meeting, etc. They tell me they want to push it up to 2:00. I say that's fine, but am thinking it sucks if some of the people I invited show up around 2:20. Nothing I can do about that. I go to my hotel to shower and change. I return at 1:45, go to a spot in the Trop right near a Boardwalk exit, to wait for their arrival. I'm there about 5 minutes when my wife, who had come down that morning, and her friend who rode down with her, and her two friends from Floriday who just happened to be in town that day, practically walked past me. So we hung out together and waited. They're late. At 2:15 the couple from my poker league show up. A few more minutes and I can stop worrying about anybody here that would respond to my open invite. And then we waited some more. Finally the bride calls me to tell me she's running late. FYI: It seems brides ALWAYS run late.
Finally at about 2:55 she calls and tells me she is on her way. A few minutes later, I see her and her guests walking the last block. I tell some people on the boardwalk, and invite them too. She finally gets to the boardwalk, and we go out to the beach and have a wedding. The delay was the only problem. Everything went great. If she sends me photos, I'll post them.
After the ceremony, we all go into the Trop doorway to sign the license and some more photos, etc. Finally I say goodbye and we seperate.
I go play some more poker. Nothing exciting, but I do win back some of my losses.
Finally, at 7:00, we go to dinner. Cuba Libre. Yeah, I know. Those of you that know I'm a Mac & Cheese kind of guy will find that surprising. But I can usually find something. For an app, I got Chicharrones de la Casa: Crisp marinated chicken, skirt steak, pork masitas, Cortez chorizo, toston, and yuca bites. Mojo picante. For dinner I got Churrasco a la Cubana: Grilled skirt steak, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, parsley, lemon and onion sauce, watercress and rosemary mushroom escabeche salad. Both were excellent. Everyone thought the food was good, and with good service.
Since I had to be at work at 7:00 Friday, I left after dinner, at about 8:30. I figured there'd be no traffic, and I'd be home around 11:00 or 11:30 the latest.
I hadn't noticed on my way down, but they are expanding the Parkway. It's night work, which is why I hadn't noticed the day before. I sure noticed on the way home. I finally staggered into my house at about 12:30.
Trump does payouts like that all the time. I'm surprised the people weren't used to it...usually a lot of regulars there during the week.
I personally like the Poker Room at Tropicana. It's got an old school feel, and it was the first place that I played regularly when i was starting.
