Day 10
Thursday April 5, 2001
The flights home

I woke up without the alarm clock this morning and the wake up call was right on time. After getting ready the biggest challenge of the day was trying to get my suitcase closed. Things would have been fine but I hadn’t planned on getting all those extra clothes from the Suncoast. I finally managed to get it closed after re arranging its contents. I left house keeping a small tip since I tipped them everyday and a bunch of unopened snacks I never did eat while I was here as well as about 9 cans of soda.

I was off to the valet and he had my car there in just a minute. From here all that was left to do was top off the gas tank and drop the car at Alamo. I got off the freeway downtown and took the Strip to Sunset stopping for gas at the AM/PM that’s out in front of the Excalibur.

When I got to Alamo there was an agent waiting there for returns. He asked if the car was ok. I told him it was but it had no plates and the temporary registration had expired 2 days ago. I don’t think he gave a rat’s ass about it though.

The shuttle was there in a few minutes to take us to the airport. If the lady driving this thing went any slower I think I could have walked to the airport faster. We finally got there though.

When I checked in at the American Airlines counter I was at the counter and on my way to the D terminal in less than 2 minutes. I never did understand why I can be checked in so fast but some people, MOST people take much, much longer. The agent said I needed to get a boarding pass at the gate for this flight but I already had one for my connection. This led me to believe that my flight was oversold. I was hoping it was because I would have loved to received a free ticket for my next trip.

I made the long journey to the security checkpoint to the D terminal only to get stopped there. When my laptop came through the x-ray machine security asked if it was mine. He asked me to set it on the table off to the side. I thought they were going to search it. He then took this round piece of paper or plastic that was about 3 inches in diameter. He rubbed it all over the case and put the disk into a machine. A few seconds later he said thank you, you’re on your way. I’m still wondering what that was all about.

I made my way to the gate and checked in again. I was told to have a seat and they’d call me when they had something for me. The flight WAS oversold but unfortunately someone must have no showed because I got the last seat. Dammit, I was looking forward to the perks of being bumped or even a first-class seat!

Right now I’m sitting on the flight to Chicago. The plane is jam-packed. I just got done with my in-flight meal. We had a choice of Smart Start cereal or French toast. I chose the French toast. It also came with 2 cantaloupe slices and a small container of yogurt.

Just as I’m typing this a lady walked by me and smelled like fish. Not really fish but stale air. If you ever let the air out of a tire you know the smell I’m talking about. Yuck. I don’t know what is worse. This lady or the nasty stink from the silent farter we had just before take off. It seems I can never make it through a trip without a silent farter on the flight gagging everyone.

Right now I estimate we are about halfway to Chicago. That leaves me some time to try and take a short nap.

The nap was kind of short. We hit some rough spots up here in the sky. At one point it felt like we were free falling. That’s what I woke up to. That and some lady behind me screaming. We were close to Chicago at this time and it looks like we are going to land on time. Of course with the size of this airport we’ll end up taxiing for 15 minutes after we land.

We landed in Chicago and I had about a 1-hour layover. I called my father up and let him know I was in Chicago and tell him about my trip, all of which he relayed to my mother. I don’t know why they don’t just both get on the phone. After the call I stopped off at McDonald’s and picked up a couple of cheeseburgers for the flight to Stewart-Newburgh. This flight only has beverage service.

When they called to start boarding the plane there was a mad rush so instead of people waiting in the lobby seats, they all stand in line like a bunch of impatient asses. Not only do they have to stand in line to board, then they can all stand in line to actually get on the plane, and stand in line to take their seats while people that carry on luggage that’s way too big try to cram it into the overhead bins.

This flight is going to be under 2 hours and will take us over Indiana, Detroit, The Great Lakes, Ontario Canada, and Western NY before landing in Newburgh. Right now we are over one of the lakes. There are some cool looking ice formations on the lakes and the view is neat from up here.

That about does it for this trip. I expect to be at the gate in about 45 minutes and that means the trip is over. It went way too fast this time but my trip was a little shorter than it usually is.

Total win/loss for the day $0
Total comps for the day $0

Final Thoughts

• The New Frontier needs to be cleaned up and renovated more. The rooms are ok but still need work.
• Hitting a royal flush 10 minutes into my trip was great. The progressive jackpot made it even better.
• The slot club at the New Frontier is STILL in constant chaos. No 2 people do things the same way.
• Hotwire.com worked out well for me to get a really cheap fare from my airport. The downfall is you must be flexible.
• Alamo’s quick rent system was great and had me from the kiosk to my car in less than 3 minutes.
• Terrible’s doesn’t have the best video poker in town but with multiple points and great promotions on food, gas and other services make it a decent play.
• Being dealt 4 deuces on $1 Deuces Wild is exciting. Hitting them on a draw is almost as exciting.
• Video poker wasn’t as kind as it should have been this trip but it wasn’t too bad.
• I cut way down on my blackjack play this trip.
• I played less multi line video poker this trip as well. I enjoyed playing the single line games a lot more because of fewer swings.
• I’d like to thank Becky Binion-Behnenn for contributing to my bankroll. I take great pleasure in removing money from her pocket. BITCH!
• Blackjack both times I played at Binion’s Horseshoe couldn’t have been much better. (OK, I could have won more!)
• The steak special at Binion’s is as good as it ever was but $4.99 now instead of $3 like it used to be. It’s also served in the buffet/coffee shop and not in the classic downstairs coffee shop that made it famous.
• The Gold Coast is a decent hotel for the price and location.
• Gold Coast rooms are on the small side and the bathroom is tiny.
• The construction at the Gold Coast is a major hassle if you play in the table games area or want to walk to your hotel room.
• The Palms across from the Gold Coast is going up quite fast. It’s going to open in December.
• The Rio has gotten kind of snooty since the last time I went there.
• The Rio cocktail waitresses still wear next to nothing but some of them are getting old and porking up. No one needs to see a tiny thong on a fat ass!
• The coffee shop at Terrible’s is called the Bougainvillea Café. What the hell is a Bougainvillea?
• The food, quality and service at the Las Vegas Hilton Steakhouse were excellent. It’s not too over priced as long as you stick to the basics. Stay away from alcohol and lobster and the bill won’t be too much of a shock.
• I’m starting to like the game of craps. It’s streaky but can be very good if the dice cooperate.
• The Pocketbook of Values that comes with a subscription to the Las Vegas Advisor makes a subscription free with the use of just a few coupons. With the use of more coupons the book pays you to subscribe.
• The Gold Coast slot host comped my stay up front based on an e-mail I sent just telling her what I usually play.
• The Suncoast slot host brought me in at casino rate based on the same e-mail.
• Suncoast rooms are probably the nicest of any local’s casino in town and even some strip hotels.
• Comps at Suncoast seem pretty easy.
• As far as my play video poker goes, Sam’s Town is history. Suncoast will be my new “home” casino. Other places like Gold Coast, New Frontier and Reserve will still get play from me.
• Binion’s Horseshoe will continue to be my blackjack home and personal bank account.
• Not being dealt winners on multi-line video poker will kill you in a hurry.
• If you like half-naked cocktail girls crammed into outfits that are 3 sizes too small, The Suncoast is the place for you.
• The late night specials at Suncoast are a great deal. 99 cents for Bacon and eggs with toast and potatoes or steak and eggs for $1.95.
• Alamo seems to come in with the lowest rental prices whenever I make a trip to Las Vegas. Dollar usually runs a close second.
• American Airlines seems like a pretty good airline and has their act together.
• Flying from my local airport is much easier than going from Newark. It’s usually too price most of the time though. The other drawback is no non-stop flights to Las Vegas.
• I attended my 14th and 15th meets organized on the Las Vegas Talk Discussion Board this trip.
• I spent much less time on the Strip than I usually do. I didn’t miss it but I did miss it too.
• I’m planning my next trip for July. Hopefully it will be for 2 weeks.
• I played about 60,000 hands of video poker this trip and hit one royal flush. This happened less than 10 minutes into my very first session.
• This was my 10th winning trip in a row. My Las Vegas gambling record now stands at 10 wins, 3 losses and one push.
• Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this report. Look for a new report in August of 2001.

Total win/loss for the trip $2,350
Total comps for the trip $977