Poker Forum => General Discussion => Member Blogs => Topic started by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:39:27 PM
Title: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:39:27 PM
I"ve decided to start one of these things...it"s not going to get a huge amount of use but it"s more to document my experiences of playing the APAT live events and other gambling trips . I"ve maintained one of these on my "home" forum for a while and these will mirror each other to a large extent.
We"ll start by copying the first few posts I made concerning APAT Dublin 2010 and follow it up with the way it ended.
Luton in October, Vegas in November and Coventry to follow.
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt I
Friday 24th September 2010
The day dawned...but as usual I was up before that...(when did it stop getting light before I am awake?)..but no time to dawdle around with a cup of coffee and a bacon sarnie this morning. Oh no..I"m off to Dublin today.
Having found this (supposedly) simple relaxing train/ferry option for c.£65 I kind of had to try it out.
Silly me....I should have known that any journey relying on the much vaunted London public transportation system was not going to be easy.
No problem getting the bus to Upminster station...oddly quiet this morning...It"s been a few years since I"ve been a regular commuter but recall the buses and trains being fuller. It"s not as though I"ve gotten any smaller!
So...District Line to London with a quick change to the Hammersmith and CIty Line to roll into Euston Square around 8.30 or so for a 9.10 departure to Holyhead.
All started well but when I try to make the change to the H&C line I encounter my first problem. After going just one stop we"re told that the service is being suspended due to signalling difficulties. Sigh.
OK, backup plan..back on the District Line to Tower Hill, change to the Circle Line. Get to Tower Hill. swap platforms...stairs, bane of my existence.
Excellent..Circle Line train rolls in 1 minute later. I board.
Nope...announcement. "Circle Line is suspended".
FECK!
OK, I check the time...and continued travel by train just isn"t going to cut it. I hoof it to Fenchurch Street and finally manage to flag down a cab about 8.35.
We seem to crawl through town taking some back-doubles that have me thinking I"m being long-hauled. I deliberately don"t check the time all the way.
Either I make it..or I don"t.
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:42:58 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt II
Friday 24th September 2010
...so, we roll up to Euston and I get out of the cab and pay the man his money...and it"s 9.03am. I just handed him a £20 note and didn"t have time for change...decent tip for him!
I race...OK, waddle as fast as I can..up the stairs and immediately see the electronic board showing my train is on platform 4.
9.05am...I make it down the ramp and on to the first carriage I"m ticketed for, which turns out to be the last but one carriage at the rear of the train. I plunk myself down in the first non-reserved seat and all is right.
9.08 am Plug in the laptop, grab the free wifi and I"m good to go.
OR AT LEAST I THINK I AM!
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:43:20 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt III
Friday 24th September 2010
Having had a pretty fraught journey so far, I"m very happy to be relaxing in a nice seat, with a table with all of the electronic access I need to make the rest of the trip an enjoyable one.
BUT
About 90 minutes in, I think, we pull into Chester and I"m busy typing away when there"s a tap on my shoulder and the train attendant asks me where I"m going.
"Holyhead", I reply.
"Oh. You have to be in the first 6 carriages for that, the train is splitting here."
Whatever...I thank him, quickly grab my stuff and try to disembark...but the doors won"t open. I grab another attendant and she explains that until the train has split the doors remain locked.
FFS..a couple of minutes go by while I quietly fume, the train splits and my half moves a hundred yards down the platform.
The doors unlock and I"m off. I see the fellow who told me about the train splitting, which is the first I"ve heard of it...and we exchange waves.
Now my wave meant.."Yes it"s me, I coming to get back on the train"...but apparently we were not speaking in the same wave language because he turns to the train guard and says something...AND THE TRAIN PULLS OUT!
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DAY I"M HAVING!
I harangue the guy for a couple of minutes and he just looks at me blankly and says "I"m not responsible for holding trains".
I give up...apparently his red Virgin waistcoat is cutting of the oxygen to his brain.
I just ask when is the next train to Holyhead and apparently there is one is 10 minutes from the next platform over.
I heave my ageing carcase over the bridge to the next platform and the train is waiting for me. I clamber aboard and settle into my new seat. No luxuries here, no power point, no wifi.
Oh well, I have my mobile broadband dongle and as soon as we set off, I get set up again and start figuring out when I"ll arrive at Holyhead and whether I"ll make the ferry.
A quick check with Trainline lets me know that I should arrive before departure of the ferry..about 30 minutes...but there could be a problem as check-in will have closed 15 minutes before that...at least according to the ticket stuff I got from the ferry company.
I then have to start thinking about what will happen if I don"t make it...do I take the next ferry?...but that"s not for another 7 hours and it would mean arriving at my hotel at 2am...and it"s not 24 hour reception.
I could overnight in Holyhead and catch the fast ferry on Saturday morning...or I could just abandon the whole idea and turn around and go home.
I have so many scenarios floating around in my head, I can"t concentrate on reading my book. I just sit in my seat and watch the scenery go by...slowly.
Actually, that wasn"t to bad, it was very nice scenery and I wish I could have appreciated it more..but I had too much going on to do that.
At one point we stop at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...but for some reason the driver doesn"t announce the stop. Heh!
Eventually, we arrive at Holyhead (2 minutes early in fact), I head off towards the Stena terminal at the end of the platform to discover my fate.
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:43:44 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt IV
Friday 24th September 2010
I enter the Stena terminal and...joy of joys...am greeted with the famous British invention...the queue!
Yes...I don"t know why...and at this point I don"t care why check-in it still open..but it is...at least as far as I can tell.
While I"m standing there, shuffling along every few seconds or so, I see the familiar face of Paul McGuinness and we exchange greetings, he disappears for a minute or to (honestly, the man has a bladder the size of a peanut)..during which time I make my way to the front of the check-in line.
Now I"m fully expecting to be pulled aside and told I"m too late but...all is good, I check-in my bag, get my boarding card and make my way to the shuttle bus for foot passengers. I try to wait for Paul but he misses the first bus and will have to catch the second one in a couple of minutes.
Eventually, we drive onto the ferry, I manage to find Paul and we make our way up to the restaurant & bar deck.
We grab a couple of drinks and a table and settle down to make the crossing. I fire up the laptop and log-in to the free wifi but it"s got some net-nanny filter...no gambling sites allowed...so I can"t post up what"s happening.
Regardless, Paul and I have a good old natter about APAT, Dublin, Life, how proud he is of the Welsh Team at WCOAP and a few other subjects.
We"re sitting outside Dublin harbour when the captain comes over the tannoy to advise us that our docking berth is still occupied by the other Stena ship due to someone falling ill on board and they can"t leave.
And if they can"t leave...we can"t arrive.
Over the next FOUR hours we are advised that the person suffered at heart attack which meant that they had to wait for an ambulance to arrive...the paramedics then worked on the poor soul until they had to give up. This then meant that they had to wait for the Garda to arrive and take witness statements.
So, a journey that should have taken 3.5 hours took nearly 7.5 hours...but eventually we dock and disembark. Paul and I collect our luggage and head out of the terminal to find a cab. I would have thought they would be swarming but apparently not.
Stena do put on a courtesy bus into Connelly station but Paul has already found a taxi firm who will send us a cab if we can wait 15 minutes or so. Fair enough.
As it happens, a cab pulls in after about 5 minutes, apparently for hire. We flag him down and Paul goes up to the cab and says "McGuinness?"...the driver says yes and we climb in.
Only it wasn"t the cab we called...the driver"s name WAS McGuinness!
Doesn"t matter to us...we"re on board and heading for my hotel. Paul"s booked into the same one but only for Saturday and Sunday so I offer him my floor. I can see him while I"m typing this...snoring away..poor lamb...it wasn"t a late night for us...but it was a long day.
Anyway, we arrive safely at Latchfords about 9pm and I get us checked in. Nice place, self-catering, but they lay on tea and coffee in the room. Microwave, kettle, toaster and even a full oven.
Other than the kettle I don"t see those getting a lot of use. Literally over the road from Larry Murphy"s and only 55 euro a night. GOLDEN!
After getting sorted we wander over to Larry Murphys and are greeted by the Ger contingent and a few others. Hilarity ensues.
My reputation as a "Travel Guru" is clearly in tatters but I maintain that, if everything goes right, that journey is pretty sweet. Can"t say that I would do it exactly the same as I did this time, I might allow a little more time but sometimes stuff happens.
Onwards...breakfast awaits...if I can wake Paul.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:44:52 PM
APAT Dublin....the day during.
Saturday 25th September 2010
Dawn broke and the crash woke me up...either that or it was the muppet who tripped over the refuse bin in the alley behind the mews house / apartment we"re in.
Didn"t seem to bother Paul though...he"s still asleep. I decide to roll back over and get some more winks..40 wasn"t enough.
Around 10am (I think) I"m fully awake, showered, shaved and I have had a decent...shampoo too! Drinking a lovely cup of tea I log-in to the free wifi and update the forum on my journey from hell while waiting for Paul to revive.
About 11am we get a call from Reception to tell us that"s Paul"s room is ready and he moves his stuff over and then we head of in search of breakfast. A short walk up Baggot Street gets us to the place that Paul remembers and we tuck in to a Full Irish Breakkie.
Well, that"s what they called it....not where I"m from it ain"t. Bacon, Sausage, Egg, Beans and Toast isn"t even a Full English Breakfast..but what the heck...it"ll fill the spot.
Just as I check the forum on my phone and tell Paul that Leigh and John Murray are stuck at the airport Paul sees them walking down the road. Oops...shoulda checked the time on that post.
Afterwards we wander back and pop into the Fitz (which was pretty deserted at mid-day) to say hello to Tighty and Co. but before long...yes you guessed it...I need a drink. Paul begs off to watch some football (and probably get some kip off the floor) while I head into Larry Murphys.
Ger Sr is, of course, seated at the bar and tells me I should have tried Doheny & Nesbitts for breakfast. Apparently, we"d walked past it...filed away for future reference.
It"s not long before it feels like we have most of the runners for the comp in Larry Murphys. About 2.15 I head over to the Fitz to get my seat and after what seems an age, the rest follow and, unusually for an APAT event...we get off, I think, about 30 minutes late.
I had the pleasure of being seated at Table 1 (Seat 1) which was the only table downstairs. The reason...they have an older regular (Paddy...I swear) who can"t get up the stairs so Table 1 is usually not broken until he goes out.
Paddy though wasn"t destined to be with us too long...although he managed a few levels. He was, I regret to say, extremely easy to read. With AA, KK or AK..he ALWAYS min-raised pre-flop.
Post-flop, with AK he"d min-bet until he hit. He got called all the way to the river by another regular with 99 because the V knew Paddy hadn"t hit. When Paddy did hit...he"d pot bet. Fairly easy to get away from.
My play?...Oh, I made a couple of hero calls that worked and steadily started chipping up...donked off about the same amounts a couple of times (mostly to Brendan Byrne). Most of the time I was on or about the chip average but couldn"t ever get far enough ahead.
When Table 1 had broken, we moved upstairs and after another huge donk to Brendan I was down to about 50% of the chip average..and about 10 BB left. This is where I started getting some big hands, or at least they were big enough to get some chips in the middle.
I took 2K off Brendan with a LP shove with KQs, then picked up a couple of big hands that I raised with in EP that all got through or they folded to a c-bet.
Eventually, I"m back up to about perhaps 12k (I can"t recall exactly) and pick-up AQo in the Hi-jack (I think). This would have been the 4th or 5th hand in succession where I"ve raised pre-flop and I get re-raised on the button by Alex Currie.
Now Alex had already laid down a few hands to me before (and I"d made a hero-call with an 8 high flush to a raise on the river from him much earlier in the day).
This was it....I"ve put something like 2K in pre-flop (400/800/100) and I"ve got maybe 8k/9k back and he"s raised to 6k. If I double up, I"m nicely back on or above the average.
I shove and he calls...my AQo vs his JJ....OK, I"ll take that.....well, not on a J44 flop I won"t. The turn is an Ace giving me 2 outs for the real suckout but it"s not to be.
9pm. Hmmm....what do do next? I think I know.
Yep...Larry Murphys it is.
A few pints later, it"s getting late and, damn it, I forgot to eat again...must be the alcohol in my belly making me feel full...and sloshy! Whatever, it"s getting really loud in Murphys and I"m pretty knackered (and not a little lubricated).
Rather than risk over-dosing, I head off to my bed for a good nights sleep.
APAT Dublin....the day after.
Sunday 25th September 2010
Another day in Dublin...what will Sunday bring I wondered as I wandered up Baggot Street towards Doheny & Nesbitts for breakfast. Well it didn"t bring early opening that"s for sure.
Apparently, pubs in Dublin can"t legally open before 12.30pm on Sunday. That"s no frakkin" good to me at 11.am now is it! (Another factoid filed away for next year).
Whatever, I settle for the faux-Irish Breakfast at the same place as yesterday while getting up to date on the forum.
Sidebar: I get internet on my phone through T-Mobile and for a measly £10 I got 50mb of data roaming that lasted all the way through the weekend. How good is that? I remember getting stung over £100 for about 30 minutes use in Vienna a couple of years back.
Back to the story...assuming anyone cares..and if you don"t, so what?
I wander back in the direction of my hotel/the Fitz/Larry Murphys with no particular plan in mind. I buy a paper in the handy Londis next door (another factoid filed away for next year) and as I come out I see Pat the barman from Larrys opening up.
Well, if it"s fate...it"s fate. I"m first in but not the last. Soon I am joined by many others and we rail Steve Roderick via Live Update from the pub until it"s all over. Many, many hours later...OK 8 hours, I haven"t left the pub yet and it"s time for something to eat. Pat"s probably going to close up soon anyway.
Five of us head over to Chai-Yo, an Asian restaurant next door to my hotel and we get seated at the Teppanyaki table by the front door. However, we"re eating off the cheapo 18 euro for 4 courses menu but Paul McG persuades them to serve us in-situ as we"ll make the place look busy from the outside.
We"re sitting there chatting away and drinking our drink (Oh, you knew there would be drinks didn"t you?) when it turns completely surreal. Four of the waitstaff/cooks break into song with "Ticket to Ride". They then proceed to do two or three more numbers including the "Chai-Yo Song" to the tune of Neil Sedaka"s "Oh, Carol".
#Hilarity Ensued - Good Times
Replete with good food at around 10pm I wish the others good night as I have any early cab in the morning for the journey home. I"m really hoping it"s nothing like the journey over.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 15:50:24 PM
APAT Dublin....the day after the day after.
Monday 26th September 2010
Nope no problems. The taxi I"d booked was waiting for me when I emerged from the hotel at 7am and it was a reasonably quick trip to the ferry port.
Trip across the Irish Sea went off without a hitch and I caught up on some missed TV programmes I"d downloaded to my laptop which helped pass the time.
I wasn"t entirely sure about the train connection at Holyhead. I was under the impression I could get a train at 12.38 but would have to change at Chester. I decided to wait for the Virgin train at 2pm and I took the opportunity to re-charge the laptop at the same time from a handy wall outlet at the station.
Train to Euston took seemingly no time at all and the return trip on the Tube was uneventful...sorry, no drama this time.
I rolled into my front door about 7pm, 12 hours from leaving my Dublin hotel. In hindsight, I probably wouldn"t do it again but like I said before, if you have the time (and nothing goes wrong) it"s a lovely journey.
Roll on Luton and....Des, "When"s Dublin next year...I need to make some bookings."
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on September 28, 2010, 16:18:23 PM
His travel plans might suck, but he is a damn fine writer. More maestro please.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 16:20:31 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 28, 2010, 16:29:28 PM
Thanks...I remember that from a long way back, it was spin-off from Wacky Races...but even earlier than that was "The Perils of Pauline (http://www.filmsite.org/peri.html)"
Calling all the way with bottom pair on a four flushed board hoping to make trips!
Calling with a medium pair on a board of all overcards waiting for their two outer! Etc., Etc.
Great reading -- was I there without knowing it ::)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 29, 2010, 15:03:50 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 29, 2010, 15:19:44 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from June 2009.
Sidebar: During this trip I"d been planning on playing many tournaments and dipping my toe into playing Craps. This proved to be a costly mistake which left me with a much depleted bankroll for the rest of the trip. For that reason, I started playing Low Limit Poker. It introduced me to something which I had pretty much disdained in the past but has proved quite profitable since.
Las Vegas: June 16th 2009
"Blue Moon and The Drinking Bear"
I cab over to the Excalibur and on my way to the Poker Room, I head into Dick"s Last Resort to grab some food and a few beers before playing. I find a new beer to me..."Blue Moon" which is a very tasty Belgian-style witbier brewed by the Molson Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado).
This is where I make a mistake. It turns out that when I left my room to head over to the Excalibur, I left my Poker Head on the dresser and wore my Drinky Head instead.
I have the taste on.....this is not good.
Anyway, some time later (while still pretty much compos mentis) I wander over to the Poker Room and invest $20 in their 7pm Limit O8 tournament. You start with 20BB and the levels are only 15 minutes. I pretty much double up in the first hand when my uncounterfeitable low becomes the wheel on the river.
Wish I could say I pwned it but it wasn't to be. Not only was I sucking back the brewskis but I did make some questionable hand selections.
I'm wondering if there could have been a connection.....Nah!
Two friends (Jim & Jason) also on the trip with me turn up just as I donk out and we go play some slot machines while prop betting on bonus features.
While at the bar we meet a honeymooning couple who just got married in Vegas and we chat to them for a fair while....and the beer kept flowing.
My friend Jim goes off to the Poker Room to start reaping the benefits of the .50/$1 e-table while Jason and I chinwag at the bar.....and the beer kept flowing.
We rail Jim for a while but I start nodding off so Jase and I decide to go for a wander while I wake up a bit.
Unfortunately, the wander takes me past a craps table....a quiet craps table.
Sidebar: Quiet Craps tables are "cold" because no-one is winning. If you want the action, find a loud craps table. It cost me a fair amount of this trip"s bankroll to find this out.
In short order I drop the $200 earlier poker profit.....FECK!
One day I will learn.
Jason on the other hand makes two bets and wins $120...Swine!
That's pretty much me done for the night. It's 2 am and Jim's had enough so I bid them goodnight and cab back to the IP.
Las Vegas: June 17th 2009
A few hours later I wake up and the drinking bear has visited me in the night. You know the one I mean.
He comes into your room, clubs you over the head, takes all your money, spreads your clothes all over the floor and craps in your mouth...that one.
Now I know why my brother Pete sleeps all day when he's in Vegas...it's not the alcohol, it"s that bloody bear.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 30, 2010, 10:31:40 AM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from January 2008.
Sidebar: A trip to Vegas with my brother Pete. We"re staying at the Stratosphere. I"d been delayed due to flight connections...Pete arrived early and had been playing blackjack for many hours. He likes Corona.
Las Vegas: January 12th 2008
"Pick a card...any card"
After I crashed out last night and finally nodded off to sleep...my phone rings....
Blearily, I mumble, "Allo?", mentally adding "You git"
As suspected, it"s the sibling spannered out of his skull..."Erm, whash the rhume nummer, mate?"
I dutifully reel off the room number and wait for him to pour through the door...I few minutes later, I hear him trying his room key card in the lock...nope, doesn"t work the first, second or third time.
With a sigh, I heave my aging carcase out of bed to let him in...the problem is clear...he"s using the casino loyalty card instead of the room key card.
Naturally, none of this is remembered the next morning...
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 01, 2010, 10:38:37 AM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from January 2008.
Sidebar: A trip to Vegas with my brother Pete. He still likes Corona.
Las Vegas: January 14th 2008
"Hello Pit"
Anyway...I"m up with larks (well, bleary eyed larks that is) after a 3.30 am finish...wait...no Pete!
Another all-nighter I guess, hope he"s doing well. That"s the thing about Pete...it"s not about the winning or losing...as long he"s having a good time..he don"t care.
So, I potter around for a couple of hours until I get a text from my friends Jim and Terry who are also along on the trip..."IHOP, now!"
Sidebar: The food options at the Stratosphere are...adequate...fortunately, within 50 yards there are other options, IHOP and Denny"s being the best.
So we find Pete on our way out...yep, he"s still at the blackjack table...but he postpones food for now, so the three of us head off for some scran.
We"ll have the Big Breakfast Combo....3 bacon, 3 sausage, 3 gammon pieces and 4 eggs...$8.99....Mmmmm, IHOP!
Halfway through, the drunken bum dearest brother wanders in. Honestly, there are only few things funnier than watching a functioning drunk eat. Stabbing at a piece of bacon and missing because he can"t focus, cleaning his plate and then trying to eat the napkin...as I said, a few things funnier...but not many.
After a while, Jim & Terry are done and head off. In an unusual act of familial compassion, I decide to wait for Pete and make sure he gets back. Some time later I pay and I lead the sot back to our room
One of the funnier things...is watching a stuffed drunk trying to undress himself....
OK, a quick aside here, it"s not that I like watching a grown man get undressed, honest guv"nor, but someone has to in case he falls over and hurts humself....plus, they charge extra for cleaning up blood &/or vomit
...anyway, Pete finally manages to fight himself free of his jeans...mumbles something about "Hello, pit...it"s good to be back" and decants himself into bed. 4.7 nanoseconds later the snoring commences.
Good Times.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 11, 2010, 20:29:26 PM
For no reason whatsoever, I turned right instead of left on the way home....funny how the car seems to know when my alcochol level has dropped.
Like a muppet, I was busily tip-tapping away on the old netbook...with one hand...the other being full of a beer glass..and missed the satellite for Coventry. Suppose it doesn"t matter, I never win one of those, I nearly always manage to overplay a big pair and get felted by a flopped set.
Straight buy-in on Thursday I think.
Oh, well, hotel is sorted for Spain..get the flights done tomorrow.
Oh, feck...just realised, I"m in Vegas for the Spain buy-in date...hmm, can"t get Betfair there I suspect.
This might take some finageling..or some gentle persuasion. Whatever works.
Title: Luton
Post by: Paulie_D on October 26, 2010, 13:05:32 PM
Luton: 22nd October 2010
I managed to persuade the boss to let me out an hour early on Friday afternoon in the hopes of beating the usual congestion on the M25. After checking with all the online traffic sites that I could, I decided to, at least in part, take the scenic route from leafy Essex to the Bedfordshire garden spot known at Luton.
Jumping off the M25 about halfway I came up through the back-roads via Wheathamsted [isn"t that a great name?] arriving at the Days Hotel around 5.45 if I recall correctly. Easy parking next door and no trouble checking in.
After all the kerfuffle that had gone on with rooms being "flooded" or whatever it was a relief to be assured of a relatively decent place to lay my head. Not surprisingly, as I walked into reception, I"m greeted by the sight of the usual APAT rowdies in"t bar...where else?
After a quick wash and brush-up, I was downstairs necking my first, second and third beers of the day.
Around 7.30 or so, I wandered over to the G to meet up with the Luton crowd who had put on a private game and kindly let me play (they must have seen the value there) while the others headed off to downtown Luton for the usual frivolities.
The game got under way after a slight change in plan. It would be dealer-dealt (thank you very much) but a 7500 F/O rather than a 3000 D/C. Fair dos...all good there.
My first two hands were monsters (AK & KK I think...it starts to get hazy for reasons that will become obvious) and pre-flop raises and c-bets won me a few chips early on.
This was not to last. Forty-five minutes in and I once again get KK in MP and 3-bet an EP raiser who flatted. A queen high board saw us get it all in on the flop and he rolls over the (by now) obvious AA. No suck-out for me and I"m toast. C"est le poker as they say at the Aviation Club.
Well...what to do with the rest of the evening? I think you know the answer to that question...come on, you can work it out.
That"s right...I went back to the hotel. OK, I"m kidding, I wandered off to find the usual reprobates at the White House, the Wetherspoons in the centre of Luton where they had, apparently, gathered.
I walk up to the entrance and there"s a security guard standing there who make a gesture towards me...I have no idea what he wants but I assume it"s a dress code check or summat..happens..if they turn me away, I can live with it. Nope, he just wants to stamp the back of my hand the the old UV ink....God that takes me back more years than I care to remember and probably more than most APATers have been around.
Anyway, apparently they don"t care what I"m wearing (heh) and I find the others slinging them back by the bucketful. Soon I"m necking them back too. However, it"s not long before Tighty announces that we"re off to the Chicago Rock Cafe...whatever the hell that is...but we dutifully make our way there.
At least it"s closer to the hotel than the Westerspoons but, then again, it"s uphill. Never a good thing.
From then on, it"s something of a vague, blurry series of images in the back of my brain. X-Factor contests, blue drinks, orange drinks in jugs, drinks in bottles etc. etc. You get the picture.
At some point, I realised my feet were bl**dy killing me from standing around all night (no dancing, Praise Be) and I decide to take a pew.
FATAL.
Next thing I know, I"m pretty sure I"ve dozed off and Ger Jr is leaning over me asking if I"m alright. I probably mumbled something incoherent but assuring.
Regardless, I was apparently suitably compos mentis to decide that it was time to call it a morning and started the weary climb up the rest of the hill to the Days Hotel. At this point, the burning plates of meat at the end of my legs decided to remind me of their existence. Every frakkin" step is agony. Take it from me...never get old and fat!
I stop at several points along the enormity of the distance I had to cover (it must have been at least half a mile) to give my barking dogs a rest and during one of these I make my final tactical error of the night.
Yep...a kebab!
I carry it back to my hotel and finally make it into my room and consume this delicious morsel before throwing myself into the joys of slumber.
Well, I say throw but, to be truthful, it was more like "place carefully" as the single bed I was occupying was on wheels and the slightest movement would have it careening around the room. It was like kipping on a skateboard.
Ah well, I live and never learn. Saturday would be another day.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Class on October 26, 2010, 20:36:55 PM
Brilliant post!!! :D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on October 26, 2010, 21:33:49 PM
To be fair, those beds were unreal!!! I unwittingly launched mine across the room at one point too.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 01, 2010, 14:30:57 PM
That time of year arrived over the weekend...yep, Service & MOT on the black beast that is my loverly Audi A4.
So, down to Kwik-Fit...they"ve done me right in the past.
Because the engine is over 2L it"s a higher cost than your "regular" service so because it uses "specialist oils" or something. Whatever, she passed with flying colours except for an "advisory".
What was that, oh, just that all 4 tyres were on the verge of getting me pulled over. Sigh.OK, I kinda thought that might need a couple but all 4?...Sheesh.
I steeled myself and enquired of the begrimed automotive technologist..."How Much?".
He led me like a lamb to the slaughter to the office and looked up my tyres, turned the monitor round so that I could see. Lucky he had a wide-screen monitor as the number was a blistering £500.
I looked this motoring marauder squarely in the eye and said..."Noooo, I don"t think so". Now I know that I can get these online and fitted for about £80 a piece which still ain"t cheap but it"s no £125 a pop.
Without me even asking...he instantly offered 20% off.
Now look..if you"re going to offer me an instant discount of 20% then it"s clear to me that you"re gouging me somewhere and it"s the last time I"ll use you for that thing again.
TBH, if I wasn"t going away in a couple of days (Vegas...blatant brag) I"d have told him where to stuff it and got them done elsewhere. However, it was now nearly 6 pm (an hour after they close) and I was still wrung out from a bout of man-flu and wasn"t my best so I caved and decided to call it insurance for the drive to Gatwick later this week.
Next time, I"ll get them checked for free before I go and buy them elsewhere.
Nice going Kwik-Fit...one customer lost.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 02, 2010, 22:26:33 PM
Upminster: November 2nd 2010
"The Day Before The Day Before"
So...my next trip to Las Vegas is less than 48 hours away. In the past couple of years I"ve managed to get in 2 or 3 trips a year...but this year was different.
I"d decided at the beginning of the year to attend as many APAT events as possible and by the time February 1st 2011 rolls around, I"m pretty confident that I"ll have made all but one....Tallinn...DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT.
All this means that, and I have no regrets whatsoever, my regular pilgrimage to the desert poker Mecca has been limited to November.
I"m joined in this excursion by my brother, Pete, who I"ve mentioned before in this blog thingy. He"s not a poker player (although he"s dabbled) but when he"s playing Blackjack there is no stopping him.
What does this mean, very little in the scheme of things...except that the Harrahs Group absolutely LOVE him.
"How much" you ask...well I"ll tell you. We"ve booked into the Flamingo in one of their "ultra-cool" GO rooms. Fair enough, they quoted me $400+ for a week. Not bad...4 nights free
When we plugged him into the equation, that dropped that to....$185....for a frakkin" week!
Compare that to a rate I got from the Orleans for 6 days...and all I have there is that I"m a card holder...$280.
There"s a reason he"s my favourite brother...of course he"s my only brother...but still.
Whatever, tomorrow I have my last day in work before heading off to Gatwick. Overnight in the Holiday Inn with 2 weeks parking for the cost of a taxi....Job Done.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 04, 2010, 07:50:37 AM
Upminster: November 3rd 2010
"The Day Before"
Sleep, Work, Pub, Work...OK, it"s not all going to be that interesting.
After work it"s an hours schlep to Gatwick in the car. No real problems with the drive, slightly held up at the Dartford Bridge due to congestion.
Sidebar: The Dartford Toll...isn"t toll any more, it"s a "Congestion Charge"...but here"s the sneaky thing...what causes the congestion....the collection gates. It"s a bloody gold mine I tell you!
Whatever, I roll into the Holiday Inn at Gatwick around 6.45. I"ve stayed here before and they"re pretty efficient at the old check-in. I belong to their loyalty scheme so they"ve pre-checked me in, assigned the room, validated the card etc. etc.
I can add the shuttle tickets to my room bill (great, no extra £1 coins to find), I get a discount on breakfast for buying it early and they"ll look after the car while I"m away.
Quick scrub round the back of the ears and I"m in the bar for 7.15. Becks on tap, Club sandwich and I"m good.
Flying tomorrow....well today now.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 04, 2010, 08:36:47 AM
GL Paulie - keep us posted (good and bad ::) specially bad)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 04, 2010, 09:48:48 AM
Gatwick: November 4th 2010
"Cause I"m Leaving, On A Jet Plane"
Safely esconsed in The Flying Horse, the Wetherspoons in Gatwick"s South Terminal, working on the first pint of the day and mooching off the free wi-fi from McDonalds next door...sweetah.
Odd how beer is 50p more expensive here than in a regular Wetherspoons...first bad beat...50p..geddit, geddit?
Aaaaand, their "Large Breakfast" is £7.95 compared to the regular £3.99. Hmmm...captive market much?
Whatever, checked in nice and quick, luggage just 2.5 kilos under the weight limit...can"t do too much shopping then.
Pete, the brother, is already there and checked into the Flaming_O (also known as the Pink Chicken)
Take off at 11.20....landing at 3.15 local (11.15pm on Paulie Time)...should be time for a nap before heading off to the Mirage to meet some people from AllVegasPoker (http://www.allvegaspoker.com/) for some Mixed Game madness.
Laters.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on November 04, 2010, 12:26:04 PM
If your there till Friday give the Noon $75 HORSE tournement at the Orleans a shot, reasonable structure nice card room - Lots of Omaha8 cash as well
The Venetian are running a $1-2 PLO game which got going early PM, when I was there a couple of week ago they got two tables with a must move, value there.
Plenty of softish $1-2NL action at usual haunts Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, MGM etc.
Have a great time..
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: MAIR on November 09, 2010, 07:09:58 AM
Really enjoying this, have a gr8 time
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 09, 2010, 07:26:55 AM
Some Ideas: If your there till Friday give the Noon $75 HORSE tournement at the Orleans a shot, reasonable structure nice card room - Lots of Omaha8 cash as well
In fact I"m moving over to the Orleans on Thursday precisely for the Omaha 8.
Quote
The Venetian are running a $1-2 PLO game which got going early PM, when I was there a couple of week ago they got two tables with a must move, value there.
I"m not really rolled for 1/2 PLO although I might make the V at some point before the move to the Orleans.
Quote
Plenty of softish $1-2NL action at usual haunts Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, MGM etc.
Indeed...it"s plenty fishy pretty much everywhere at the moment.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 10, 2010, 00:51:29 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 10, 2010, 03:10:56 AM
Never miss it....Adam Richman is a frakkin" star. If I ever decide to do a US road trip again....I"ll have every episode with me as a guide of where to eat.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 10, 2010, 03:42:13 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 10, 2010, 04:20:06 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 10, 2010, 08:26:36 AM
I'm in the BB with QTo...flop AKJ.....Bingo. No pre-flop raising
I lead and get a single caller...lovely
Turn K....OK...not the greatest card for me but I'm still good right?
Turn is a Ten...I lead..he raises, I call and he flops KT for a runner runner boat.
He's drawing to a 3 out gutshot and backs into a full house.
Example 2.
K 10 in vegas is da nuts, second pair is da nuts - get a grip ;D
Great reading Paulie, keep grinding
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 11, 2010, 08:34:56 AM
Las Vegas: 10th November 2010
"Highs and Lows"
Even though I'd had a fairly early night I wasn't in the mood to rouse myself out of bed. Pete had been out all night and I'd gotten a good 6 hours sleep before he sloped into the room. Nevertheless, I caught up on some bits and pieces but still managed to roll over and get a few more hours of rest.
So it wasn't until 5pm that I headed out to the Venetian.
I wasn't looking forward to the extended trek and when I passed the side entrance to the hotel I caved and jumped in a cab. $10 and 5 minutes later I was rolling into the Venetian's front entrance.
First order of business was some food so I headed over to the Grand Lux Cafe for a beer or two and a chicken sandwich. A couple of large pints of Sam Adams Boston Lager and I was feeling much better about the world. I even managed to poach off the Venetian"s wifi and get some updates down for the phone.
The last couple of days, as you may have gathered, I've been feeling a little bit low...mid-vacation blues I guess, but after some extended rest and now a couple of drinks I'm ready for some action again.
I quickly get a seat at a 4/8 Omaha 8/B (with 1/2 kill) table and buy in for a couple of hundred. I won't bore you with details too much but I quickly get up $75 by just ABC poker before going card dead.
Not a huge issue, this is cash and I don't have to play of I don't like my hand. It's also handy as most hands are multi-way and chopped so I get to see the trash that most of these people are playing.
After a while we get short handed and, I'l say this for the Venetian, they are pretty sharp on reducing the rake when this happens. We play 5/6 handed for a while before we get some fresh blood...a couple of whom are real donators.
I do get down to my original buy-in after 3 hours or so but some solid play and by 11.30pm, I'm up a couple of racks.
I'm in the process of racking up a decent profit when I get into a hand that drags me in with a monster draw that doesn't get there and I drop $50.
I know an omen when I see one....I lock it up and cab back to the Flamingo.s $150 profit...$30 an hour...I'll take it.
Pete's headed home tomorrow and I'll be transferring to the Orleans. Today's experience has given me some confidence about the play at the Orleans. I'll be pretty much staying on-property and not venturing back to the Strip.
Laters.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 12, 2010, 19:47:09 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: allinbob2 on November 12, 2010, 22:02:31 PM
Sidebar: It's Armistice Day..or as they call it over here...Veterans Day. For the UK it's a day to remember the dead of wars that took place 70 & 90 years ago...for the US...it's more about honouring and appreciating the people in their military past and current.
Over the past few days I've seen more a few US Marines out and about in their dress uniforms and the TV is stuffed with ads for places that are showing their appreciation. It might be free meals for current and past military personnel, free tickets to sporting events whatever...there's a real sense (to an outsider) that these people care and appreciate the service and sacrifice their military people offer.
Contrast that to the UK experience, we might wear a poppy or have the memorial at the Cenotaph on the TV (if there's nothing else on) but other than that...nothing.
I don't know why there is such a difference but I'm definitely in favour of the way the US does it.
Really like your comments. In the UK instead of giving our troops free meals free nights at sporting events, the boys and girls are watching from Afghanistan Muslims burning the Poppy, chanting British Soldier Burn in hell!!! How anyone can find this acceptable is beyond me!!!
As a Senior Non-Commissioned officer in the British Army what do I say to my Subordinates?? Your fighting for your country!!! Your Country are behind you!!!! I have no idea!!!
As I remeber my close friend being blown to a million pieces in Afghanistan fighting for his country by a suicide bomber, to watch the poopy being burnt on TV by people who live in my country is beyond unacceptable.
Rant Over!!!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on November 13, 2010, 09:41:50 AM
Sidebar: It's Armistice Day..or as they call it over here...Veterans Day. For the UK it's a day to remember the dead of wars that took place 70 & 90 years ago...for the US...it's more about honouring and appreciating the people in their military past and current.
Over the past few days I've seen more a few US Marines out and about in their dress uniforms and the TV is stuffed with ads for places that are showing their appreciation. It might be free meals for current and past military personnel, free tickets to sporting events whatever...there's a real sense (to an outsider) that these people care and appreciate the service and sacrifice their military people offer.
Contrast that to the UK experience, we might wear a poppy or have the memorial at the Cenotaph on the TV (if there's nothing else on) but other than that...nothing.
I don't know why there is such a difference but I'm definitely in favour of the way the US does it.
Really like your comments. In the UK instead of giving our troops free meals free nights at sporting events, the boys and girls are watching from Afghanistan Muslims burning the Poppy, chanting British Soldier Burn in hell!!! How anyone can find this acceptable is beyond me!!!
As a Senior Non-Commissioned officer in the British Army what do I say to my Subordinates?? Your fighting for your country!!! Your Country are behind you!!!! I have no idea!!!
As I remeber my close friend being blown to a million pieces in Afghanistan fighting for his country by a suicide bomber, to watch the poopy being burnt on TV by people who live in my country is beyond unacceptable.
Rant Over!!!
That behaviour sickens me, and the sooner we get a grip of our country and get these morons out the better. How can we allow this in our country! I do feel that the country as a whole are learning to appreciate the military more than ever before, and appreciation for their efforts is far greater than in the past, long may this continue.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 14, 2010, 17:12:32 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 14, 2010, 17:45:18 PM
Las Vegas: 13th November 2010
"Bricking It"
Ugh....I'm pretty sure I'm coming down with something....I don't know what because the symptoms are all over the place. Perhaps I'm just run down...I don't know how, it's not as though I'm overdoing it or anything.
Whatever, a very late start...seems hard to get out of bed but I head down to the buffet around 3pm...told you it was late. I was thinking about a late lunch but the buffet is closed until 4pm while they set up for dinner.
I have numerous options for other places to eat but I'm happy to wait. I run a few dollars through the slot machines just to keep the comp offers rolling in.
I get in the queue for food dead on 4pm and grab some bit and pieces. Still not much of an appetite but you have to feed yourself I suppose.
Over to the poker room where I have to wait an hour to get a seat. My intention is to put in a long session here...I know there is money to be made here.
Unfortunately, things just go to hell in pretty short order...nothing works, every time I get a hand I get counterfeited or outdrawn. Whenever I flop a monster draw and get my money in, I see more bricks than a hod carrier.
The gods have looked down and decided that Paulie is doomed. The first couple of racks disappear in two hours and the third in another 2 hours. There were a couple of donators at the table (I suppose I could be one of them?) but they juice the pot trying to get even and draw me in only for me to miss like Robin Hood's shortsighted brother.
I'm not putting any more money on the table tonight...so I get up and head over to TGI's for a few beers and some food, it's happy hour and I get a few jars in.
I contemplate doing something else...but I can't decide what and by now it's getting a little late so I decide to get some rest.
Really living it up....aren't I?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: MAIR on November 14, 2010, 19:32:15 PM
Gr8 trip reports Paulie, do get well soon hope you feel better to enjoy the rest of your holiday
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 15, 2010, 20:44:23 PM
Las Vegas: 14th November 2010
"Illegitimii Nil Carborundum"
It's nice having the luxury of a long lie-in in the mornings....well, I say morning, I mean the WHOLE morning...it's rare for me to leave the room before 1pm when I'm here.
Even though I'm still awake and moving about fairly early it allows me plenty of time to catch up on what's happening out and about but still have the rest of the day to play.
Yesterday was a huge disappointment to me...but doomswitched or not I wasn't going to let it stop me. I'm just chalking it up to variance.
I made it to the poker room by 1.30pm thinking I'd play for a couple of hours before grabbing some lunch. FAIL!
In fact, I had a nice 8 hour session before I got up. There was some real donking around going on at a couple of the tables whith blind raises getting capped pre-flop by some moron with a bankroll. Frankly I don't need or want to play with these donkeys. I'm just happy to grind away.
Never got a hand I was inclined to get in with and decided that discretion was the better part of valour and just requested a change to a quieter table.
This was much more my style...no frantic action, just simple easy play. The beer was coming regularly...thanks to the attractive cocktail waitresses...and the money was OK too.
At one point I was fairly deep into my original $100 but only because I invested heavily when flopping the nut low and a straight. I eventually only got half but it was of a $200 pot.
Flopping quad eights and letting someone catch up helps too!
By 10pm, I'm up $100...doubling my buy-in and have had enough. I have a decent beer buzz on and I have to eat so I head straight over to my now regular haunt of TGI Fridays. $4 draught beers and cheap food. I sink a couple of pints or so and a late dinner before calling it a night.
Sidebar: Look, I know these numbers I'm posting up aren't huge compared to some of the pots I could be playing at 1-2 NL...and the profits aren't spectacular but it's nicely in my comfort level.
I came here to gamble...not throw money around like an idiot. Am I managing the risk?...Absolutely, but I'm having fun playing a game I love and, barring yesterday's debacle, making a profit at it. I'll have a count up at the end of this particular set of Vegas posts and see where I end up....but I think I'll be slightly up at the end.
Tomorrow is Monday...a BIG football day in the US...should be lively in the bars.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 16, 2010, 00:47:43 AM
I NEEEEEED the redskins to do awesome, AND for london fletcher to make about 1 billion tackles for my fantasy team to win please :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 16, 2010, 06:44:59 AM
I NEEEEEED the redskins to do awesome, AND for london fletcher to make about 1 billion tackles for my fantasy team to win please :)
Oops...major FAIL. ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 16, 2010, 07:24:00 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 16, 2010, 12:29:56 PM
its okay, david akers kicked ok and fletcher did very well indeed, so i still won.
puts me 2nd in my fantasy league with a 7-3 record!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 17, 2010, 21:17:41 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 18, 2010, 13:25:30 PM
Las Vegas: 17th November 2010
"All Good Things..."
Leaving day....
My flight isn't until 4.30pm and I have to check out by midday. I was expecting an 11am check-out and so the extra hour came in handy to get sorted out and properly packed up.
I cab over to the airport...but get longhauled by accident. The driver admitted (without prompting) that he'd inadvertently taken the long way and offered an immediate $5 discount. S'OK with me...I handed him the $25 I'd been expecting to pay anyway and he seemed very grateful.
Check-in was a breeze...well I am fairly early AND in Premium Economy and then headed up to the security check point.
I did the usual shoe dance and then noticed that they have the new nudiescope machines installed. Well I wasn't having any of that. It's bad enough that I have to see myself nude without inflicting it on others. I even close my eyes in the shower.
Fully expecting to be frisked closer than a stripper in Vienna (Ey, Ger?) I decline the scanner and head through the standard metal detector.
The TSA agent doesn't blink and just waves me through. Should I be offended he didn't want to pat me down?
After that it's propping up the bar in Terminal 2 at McCarran and using the free wifi. Oh, if you've never been here before, Terminal 1 has much more in the way of restaurants and shops....but thems the breaks with flying with Virgin.
Boarding is no hassle and I'm pleased to find out that it's one of the newer refitted planes with the VPort system for on-board entertainment. You can cue up a list of the films you want to see and away you go..no waiting for them to rewind the tape.
I do manage a couple of hours kip which is quite unusual, generally I have trouble sleeping when flying. I'm woken up by the trolley dollies handing out a snack for breakfast..I'll have the Bacon and Cheese Bagel please.
Expecting a cold sandwich I nearly lose a hand when she drops in it a small package so hot I figure it's actually a meteor that's just entered Earth's atmosphere. Crikey...take them out of the microwave after 20 minutes why don"t you!?
Off the plane with no hassle (we"re actually 15 minutes early) and then have to endure the slow shuffle caused by UK Border Patrol undermanning the arrivals hall....as usual.
Fortunately, my bag is literally coming round the corner on the conveyor as I walk up and I am out of the airport, back at the hotel and in the car for 11.30. Home by 1pm
Job Done.
I'll have ponder on the holiday as a whole and try and post up some concluding thoughts.
Right now though...I need to get some more sleep after I buy in for Spain.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on November 18, 2010, 13:28:11 PM
Welcome home Paulie.. really enjoyed reading your blog, inspired me for next year :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: janc on November 20, 2010, 01:11:26 AM
Really enjoyed reading this blog, welcome home and see you in Llorett.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 23, 2010, 15:48:50 PM
Vegas Trip Thoughts
Profit & Loss
On checking back it looks like I dropped (poker-wise) something in the order of $500 or so overall...some of the recollections are a bit hazy...and, of that, $300 was on the first night in the first Mixed Cash Game.
Over just two weeks that"s very acceptable to me.
When I Lay Me Down To Sleep
On the hotels front, both the Flamingo and Orleans were more than acceptable. In both cases I was on a high floor so there were no external noise issues and noise from other rooms wasn"t a major issue either.
Flamingo.
The "GO" room at the Flamingo was very nice but it"s a step up from their standard "Deluxe" rooms so, normally, it would be more expensive. Fortunately, having a degenerate gambling brother help on that front. NO RESORT FEES
No coffee in the room and I suspect that the small fridge may not be standard but if it is that"s a bonus.
Wi-fi was c.$15 a day (per laptop) so that mounted up.
Total Cost (room + wifi) for 7 nights: £160 (between two of us) but this took into account significant comps.
On the downside, I felt that the walk to just get out of the casino was quite long which can be annoying.
The Poker Room was so-so although it"s possible I"m jaded by the beats that I suffered. The dealers seemed competent if unenthused. Floor management was adequate. Waitresses on the older side.
I don"t recall eating in the Flamingo so I can"t comment. I have eaten in their buffet before and it was fair.
Orleans
The room (for one person) was quite large with a huge "King" bed, desk & chair PLUS sofa, easychair and coffee table. No flatscreen (as per the GO room) but that"s not a big thing to me. Coffee-maker in the room with enough supplies for 4 cups if that"s what it takes to get you started. There is a $5 a day Resort Fee but that gets you the coffee and a "US Today" newspaper available in the corridor. Seems fair.
On the plus side, they give you a bunch of discount coupons when you check in that give you money off for eating in their restaurants &/or using their other services (spa/fitness centre etc).
Wi-fi around $14 a day (per laptop).
Total Cost (room + wifi) for 6 nights: £240. TYVM.
There was a handy "shortcut" to the Poker Room from the lifts so that you didn"t have to cross the whole casino to get to it which was nice.
The Poker Room (area) is quite large but generally only 50% of the tables are used for cash games. The others generally only get used for their tournaments.
Dealers were friendly and competent (and Omaha 8 is a b*tch of a game to deal) and, given the grumpiness of their standard O8 players, remarkably patient. Floor management (given that they have no electronic table management) is top-notch. Waitresses very attractive and quick. Once they got to know me I rarely had an empty bottle in front of me.
The variety of the restaurants and other options (the multi-screen cinema for instance) make this an ideal choice if you"ve had enough of the Strip.
Up, Up And Away
Virgin Atlantic are not my preferred airline as I have masses of points with United but they do fly direct and that cuts a good 6 hours off the journey. The "Premium Economy" seats are nice but don"t compare with true Business Class and if you get one of the un-refurbished planes (as I did on the way out), then having to wait for the next movie to start can get a little wearing. Perhaps a minor niggle but there it is.
The flight attendants were superb as always...can"t say enough nice things about them.
Clean Your Plate
I"ve detailed where I ate for your enjoyment but a couple of places stand out. The Hash House A Go Go in the Imperial Palace is a real gem. You HAVE to try it.
KGB Burger in Harrahs is also a very good choice. I"m told there are better burgers in town but this place is always near the top of all the lists I"ve seen.
TGI Friday at the Orleans...believe me, it"s nothing like the TGIF in the UK you might have experienced. Very reasonably priced food (which comes pretty quick) and a nice range of draft beers. If you haven"t tried Blue Moon...you should. Oh, and they have happy hour twice a day.
I spent several hours at the bar in TGIF and chatted to a couple of the bar people. They love to talk and a couple do that "flair" bar-tending thing too.
The Rest
Just the Mirage & Venetian poker rooms to comment on really. Both were excellent in table management and getting you into a seat. The Mirage requires you to swipe in and out (they don"t have Bravo yet) whereas the Venetian does so no swiping is necessary.
Dealers were competent in both places. I think you could say that the Mirage dealers were a little older and, some, more set in their ways but I know that this is one of the areas the Poker Room manager (Chris Coffin) is in the process of dealing with.
The Venetian was in the throes of a Deep Stack Extravaganza and had, I think, over 70 tables in operation but they ALL have auto-shufflers. The only downside of the Venetian for me is something they can"t fix. It wasn"t close enough to my hotel. That"s something I"ll have to fix next time around.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on November 23, 2010, 16:19:23 PM
Really enjoyed the blog Paul, and having just found out that I will be in Vegas for a few days at the beginning of January makes it even more enjoyable to read! Will be there on business, but I will defo make some poker time, can"t wait!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 23, 2010, 16:41:37 PM
Really enjoyed the blog Paul, and having just found out that I will be in Vegas for a few days at the beginning of January makes it even more enjoyable to read! Will be there on business, but I will defo make some poker time, can"t wait!
Hmmm...beginning of January ay?
Not out there for the CES Technology convention are we?
Or perhaps it"s the Adult Entertainment Expo (http://show.adultentertainmentexpo.com/). :o
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 23, 2010, 17:46:43 PM
Awesome blogging Paulie, you are my new hero........
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AMRN on November 23, 2010, 23:17:31 PM
Great blog Paulie!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Waz1892 on November 24, 2010, 07:55:04 AM
Really enjoyed this, good work Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on November 24, 2010, 09:34:24 AM
Yeah there for CES, but might pop into the other one while I"m there!! ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 27, 2010, 10:03:40 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 29, 2010, 11:11:46 AM
APAT Coventry: 27th November 2010
"Snowfalls, Sambuca and Snapped Off. Oh, And I Know The Face But...."
My sleep patterns have been severely messed up ever since I got back from Vegas but over Friday night / Saturday morning everything got back into it's normal rhythm. I managed to sleep right through and got a proper 7 hours...that's very unusual for me at my advanced age..if you know what I mean.
Properly refreshed, I threw open the curtains to greet the day and, yes, it'd snowed. Sort of lacklustre effort really but snow nevertheless.
Messed about doing pretty much nothing for the morning other than catching up on the interwebz and adding an entry to this blog thingy. Made good use of the coffee making facilities but decided to give breakfast a swerve...just not hungry.
Around midday, I headed over to the G with no trouble and got parked in the proper car park this time. I checked in with Tighty before the various contingent of APAT regulars started rolling in.
Everyone seemed very complimentary about the stuff I've written here which is nice and encourages me to carry on. This stuff might get a bit mundane here and there but, well, you asked for it.
Sidebar. I have a terrible memory for names. I'm good with recognizing faces of people I've met before but actually linking them up with a name is not a huge skill. Tighty and Leigh seem to have no problem with this but I'm useless for the most part.
So, what's my point...I'm absolutely certain I've called a few people by the wrong names over the weekend and to them I tender my sincerest apologies. It's not that you aren't memorable...it's just that what memory I have is shot. A combination of decrepitude and years of alcohol abuse are my only excuse. I will try to do better...whoever you are Sir!
Enough of these maudlin meanderings, you might want to know how the poker went. Well, it went and I was well into the swing...playing snug as a bug for the most part and chipping up nicely. The day seemed to go pretty fast but the dinner break may have led to my downfall. More than a couple of pints were sunk plus shots of Black Sambuca and Whisky appeared in my hand...and I don't like to offend anyone by refusing...(that's my only excuse).
Food was not high on my list of considerations so no solids were harmed in the making of this blog entry.
Back from the break and I maintain my stack pretty well but, eventually, a cold run of cards and a slip slightly below the average.
An ill-timed, ill-conceived raise and bluff shove gets me properly snapped off and I'm done. Everything in my head was screaming "Fold You Muppet" when he re-raised but I shoved anyway. I suppose it's a blow up of a sort...my first I think. Anyway, out about 45th if I recall correctly. Deep enough run but disappointing.
Sidebar (II): After Friday experience, I was concerned about the less experienced dealers in the card room but these proved to be groundless. Yes, they were a little slower than the norm but they were cheerful and willing to be guided by the friendly APAT players if needed. The room management was excellent as well. Others have said this but I believe that Coventry is well worth a return visit in Season 5
Heading out of the card room the casino is starting to get lively and it's midnight or so. I decide not to battle through the masses in search of a drink I probably shouldn't have so I head out to the car to drive back to the hotel.
No problems in getting out of the car park this time..in fact, the barrier just opens up as I approach...so getting the ticket validated was pointless...I just don't get this system.
Back in the room for 1am and there's yet another event at the hotel..I navigate my way through the inebriated throng back to the room and hit the pit without much further ado.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 29, 2010, 11:37:10 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 06, 2010, 15:49:16 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 06, 2010, 16:12:06 PM
^^ I have slightly different memories to this bit though hahaha
Indeed...I normally grab the front seat but Ger had already nabbed it. Unfortunately, that meant that getting my right leg in was...erm....problematical.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on December 06, 2010, 17:48:10 PM
One of the finest nights spent, it seems that all "abroad" APAT's are epic, Austria was, Estonia was, Ireland was and I am damn sure Spain will be.
me: "If I do buy you a bottle of champagne, what do I get" her: "I stay and talk to you" ;D
me: "So bottle of champagne equals 100 Euro" (they had a menu FFS) her: "Um yes" me: "and its 30 Euros for 10 mins in the back" her: "Um yes" me: "Ok love 30 minutes in the back, bargain" :o
Great times, great people, priceless (oh and yes we needed a bigger taxi, but how good was the driver)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 18, 2010, 10:35:13 AM
A "zero-poker content" post.
Having had to bestir myself at omigod o"clock this morning to take the car to the Audi main dealer to get a headlight bulb changed (and don"t get me started on that), I decided to run a few errands since I was already up.
But first, a quick cup of tea and a bacon roll or to to set me up in the local cafe. Whilst I was enjoying the best that Tetley has to offer, a small group of carol singers wandered up outside the cafe and began their wailing musical repertoire.
What surprised me was the fact that they were escorted by not one, but TWO, Police Officers...presumably for their own protection but possibly in the government"s fight against domestic terrorism.
"Season of Cheer / Goodwill to all / Peace on Earth"....FAIL
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 24, 2010, 01:09:41 AM
Yet another "zero-poker content" post.
Chrismas Eve -1 and the car decided to make a right turn on the way home and unexpectedly stopped in the pub car park.
Faced with such unruly behaviour from my principal means of transport I was left with no option other than to give in to the gods of fate and enter my local hostelry.
Emerging more than a few hours later t"motor had learned it"s lesson and behaved itself long enough to get me home....which was just as well since I was most certainly not compos mentis enough to pilot it.
But that"s not the reason for this post...On, no...it"s something much more serious.
I turned on the TV, as you do, more as moving wallpaper, as opposed to anything else, but it was still tuned into the Comedy Channel.
Late night...and they have the late, great Bill Hicks.
Now for all you young whippersnappers out there who have never heard of him...you have so missed out. In 1994, Bill died at the inconceivably young age of 32 but has remained (AFAIK) ranked as the 4th greatest comedian of all time.
Denis Leary basically stole Bills act wholesale...and admitted as much.
Take it from me..search his stuff out, online, youtube, torrent...whatever you have to do.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 13, 2011, 20:41:14 PM
APAT Spain: 13th January 2011
"The Apocalypse Beckons"
A New Year and my resolution is....to repeat 2010 only more so.
What do I mean by that...simples..hit every APAT live event. OK November might be an issue given that I don"t know the S5 schedule yet and I"m committed to 2 weeks in Vegas including Live Update of Ger Jr"s initiation into the ways of Lost Wages.
Oh...and Dawn"s coming! :o
Whatever...that"s the plan...I haven"t completely worked out how I"m going to finance it but needs must when the devil"s in the driving seat.
But enough of that baloney (swear filter"s on, you know)...this is about APAT Spain.
Thursday was somewhat fraught at work...major client changing their entire game plan at the last minute..oh, and can we deliver by 4pm today please? Not normally my area...I"m an admin bod...a backroom boy if you will...(I think I may regret that comment) but I can make myself useful at a pinch for MS Office stuff.
As it was I didn"t get away until bang on clocking off time for the trip to my overnight hotel at Heathrow. I don"t fancy driving round the M25 on Friday morning to catch a flight. It"s a frakkin" early start for one and if there are going to be delays..and there are, I can handle them on the night before rather than pushing myself to the inevitable coronary on the actual day.
Journey round the M25 was average, only held up a little, mostly by the rain causing huge amounts of spray and rocked up at the hotel about 7.30 due to a minor niggle with the satnav.
Since I"m actively engaged in racking up some Holiday Inn points I plumped (Yes, I get it) for the new Holiday Inn Express T5. Oddly it"s nowhere near T5 but rather is the old Quality Inn Heathrow refurbished.
I stayed at the QI-H a few years back and was fine with it but for some reason it had a bad rep.
But that"s all over now...right? Well. sort of. Very nice room with flatscreen. Decent bathroom with an interesting blue LED light that"s always on. Handy in the middle of the night so it doesn"t burn out your retinas.
Organised as always, I dropped the bag in the room and headed to the bar. Now I know it"s a captive market and al that...I expect to get ripped off at the bar but the food was at a whole other level.
£16.50 for steak, mushrooms, chips etc. Expecting a decent feed, I was sadly disappointed by the effort that materialised. If they"d served it to me at my local (where I could have got 100% more for 50% less, I"d have sent it back.
Unfortunately for me, I"d already had a couple by the time it arrived and was too flaming hungry to turn it away. Lesson learned. HI-E T5...you are off my list.
Just remains to look forward to the next few days...something I only do with some trepidation. Barcelona arrival is set for prime drinking hours with a semi-organised (by which I mean half-arzed) meal and pub crawl set for Friday night.
It"s probably just as well the comp kick-off isn"t until Saturday evening, I sense an epic hangover coming followed by a full English I will instantly regret, more beer and then 10 -12 hours of Red Bull fueled poker.
Then there"s Sunday....OH, FECK!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 20, 2011, 15:49:40 PM
Ok.so I've been meaning to write this up since I got back but I've been swamped at work for the past couple of days and hustling for APAT ringers for my forum team.
Now that I have finally got a few minutes of calm at work when the boss wasn't looking to put down a few thoughts I can get down to it.. You have to bear in mind that I wasn't around for everything that went down in Spain and only got some of this information 3rd hand but here goes.
APAT Spain: 14th January 2011. - Part I
"Getting There Is Half The Fun"
Dawn at the delightful Holiday Inn Express.never a good thing...but I'm generally an early waker (if not riser) so it wasn't a major hassle.
I'd been in contact with Leigh and Rich Baker (Curlage) regarding meeting up as we were on the same flight. No specific plans were in place other than Leigh had said he'd be aiming for a 7am arrival in order to miss the traffic.
Seemed OK to me and I aimed for 7.30 in the bar at Heathrow T3 for a breakfast. The Hoppa shuttle only comes every 30 minutes and the journey to the terminal and getting through security took a little longer than I thought but I rocked up about 7.45.
I spotted Richard and ordered myself the biggest breakfast I could find on the menu and a cup of coffee. No sign of Leigh who'd obviously had a major traffic malfunction or had gotten lost in the duty-free shops, I suspected the former and Richard confirmed as much once I'd stopped perusing the menu.
The food turned up and was surprisingly decent and priced better than many I've had just as Leigh arrived with his tale of motoring woe.
We put the world to rights for a while and chatted up a storm before heading off to the gate for our flight. Heathrow is one of my least favourite airports.you end up walking half-way to your destination just to get to the gate. We arrived at our gate only to find we had to take a bus to our plane. Seriously?
Arguably the busiest airport in the world and yet you still have people walking up off the runways? I give up.
Anyway, once on board, things were much better. I'd picked what had appeared to be an 2-seater row when checking in but actually turned out to be a 3-seater row but it just meant that there was no-one in the middle seat. Seat seemed to be wider and comfier than I was expecting and being on 4 rows from the front I wasn't going to argue.
The three musketeers weren't seated together so I just leaned up against the window and dozed. Not the easiest of tasks when there are screaming kids on board but I managed a decent amount of shut-eye before we arrived. Just a couple of hours...pretty good really.
Off the plane and we're through customs and passport control with no hassles. Security didn't seem to be a factor.once they saw the EU/UK passport...they just weren't bothered.
Into the arrivals hall and Leigh corrects me that we're at T1 and not T2.that explained why there was no statue of a black horse at which to meet our shuttle contact. As it was, there was a fellow standing right out in front with our names on a clipboard sign and we followed him to the shuttle.
Much as expected, it was a 12-seater transit van but with just us three on board we had plenty of room. The lady driver and her companion jabbered away to each other on Spanish for the whole trip.
The trip to Lloret De Mar (LDM) took about 90 minutes, perhaps less, but with good company and decent conversation the time flies.
Arriving in Lloret I was more than a little annoyed at not being dropped off outside the hotel. In fact it was a good 5 minute walk. OK, I hate to walk but when you are expecting door-to-door service, it'll get your back up.especially when you are the Travel Guru and have recommended it to others.
Leigh and Richard were up at the Guitart Moneterey (5* TYVM) so I was on me tod.
Fortunately, with only a small suitcase and the laptop bag the walk wasn't a major issue. I'd imagine that it would come as something of a shock to a family of four with a couple of small kids though.
As I wandered up to the front door of the hotel, I'm greeted by the cheers jeers of Craig MacInnes (Blizzard) and a few APATers who had arrived before me and were enjoying the January sunshine on the terrace bar.
Ignoring the rabble I checked in with no problems and headed up to the room. It was decent enough for the price with a couple of beds (one large, one small), desk and a small TV on the wall. The bathroom was pretty compact with a no bath (shower only) and being the size I am, if I dropped the soap, I'd have to get out to pick it up.
My only other task was to get out the IT kit and head down to the terrace to start catching up.
And that's what I did.
Pt II to follow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 20, 2011, 16:57:08 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: technolog on January 20, 2011, 23:59:02 PM
Great write-up Paulie. It wasn"t me that had a meal with you on the first night though. I went for a salty curry. Although, if my memory is failing me again and I went for a second meal with you, it would explain the half a stone I put on in the last 7 days!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on January 21, 2011, 19:44:30 PM
Great write up Mr. Tour Leader.
I am sure you will do another excellent job in Bolton.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 21, 2011, 20:11:09 PM
APAT Spain: 15th January 2011. The conversation soon turns to what's open and where it is...I have a feeling that I know (literally) where this is heading (of which more later) and I'm not in the mood.
oh oh
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on January 23, 2011, 16:29:39 PM
APAT Spain: 15th January 2011. The conversation soon turns to what's open and where it is...I have a feeling that I know (literally) where this is heading (of which more later) and I'm not in the mood.
oh oh
brace yerself Bridget
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: pables on January 23, 2011, 16:34:45 PM
Quality read Paulie!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 24, 2011, 16:58:56 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 24, 2011, 18:40:36 PM
Now, I don't know specifically how many went, who did what and to whom (and for how much).but I can guess and, I suspect, so can you. Perhaps I'd best leave it there.for now.
but he did show me the text on his phone from his bank suggesting that if he was worried about an ATM withdrawal in Spain he should contact them. I withhold comment!
yes best all round I think 8)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 24, 2011, 18:43:15 PM
But I must comment that you write very very well. Just not often enough - (http://blondepoker.com/forum/Smileys/default/signs069.gif)
I hope not to give you any ammunition for Bolton :o
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 24, 2011, 19:28:03 PM
But I must comment that you write very very well. Just not often enough - (http://blondepoker.com/forum/Smileys/default/signs069.gif)
I hope not to give you any ammunition for Bolton :o
My preference is just to write about my poker/APAT adventures but I"ll see what I can do.
BTW...I"m just saying...IT"S ON OUR ROUTE (http://www.diamondsnightclub.co.uk/)
Ok better warn the Bank I suppose 8)
Oh FFS. Just hope I don"t get kicked out of this one. Sigh.
It says "couples welcome". Just latch onto one of the lads. ;D
Getting in isn"t her problem - it"s staying in
LMAOOO - you can sing that! Strippers are obv. just jealous imo. ;)
On another note...HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULIE!!! :D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 26, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
As Laxie has just given the game away, yes today is my Birthday.
A ripe old age of....let"s just leave that there. Either you"ll be dead on or surprised when I tell you...those are the general reactions I get.
Oddly...although nothing particularly momentous has happened over the last 12 months...they have been some of the most enjoyable times I"ve had....primarily because of you folks....Honest.
I"ve had the privilege of attending every APAT event this year (except Tallinn*) something I haven"t done before. I can, with hand on heart, say that I"ve met some of the nicest people on the planet at these events (and side excursions)....thanks folks...it"s been a real pleasure.
My early Birthday present, was Laxie throwing out an open invite to come to Killarney and her being, for some strange reason, excited that I was thinking of coming. Dawn...you"re a star! Hotel & Flight - BOOKED
The next 12 months looks to be even more of an adventure with S5 around the corner and ChezVegas(tm) in November and I hope to see and get to know more of you during the year.
Paulie
* DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! (Oh, come on, you knew it was coming!)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Chipaccrual on January 26, 2011, 11:58:56 AM
The trusty APAT calendar gives the game away on the age question. ;D
Happy Birthday Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on January 26, 2011, 12:16:51 PM
Great write up again Paulie - ever considered writing for some of the poker press?
Perhaps APAT Magazine is hiring? ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 02, 2011, 12:34:31 PM
APAT Bolton: 29th January 2011.
"Drying Out And Chipping Up"
Night had brought sleep but having opened the window for some fresh air, it also turned me into a mouth-breather.
OK, I might snore louder than usual but the real problem is.it dries your tongue out proper. I woke up a couple of times in the night with it drier than a three day old piece of toast and just about as appetising to have in your mouth.
It took a couple of glasses of water each time to re-hydrate the old eye-brow licker which actually kind of helped in the morning.
Nevertheless, Saturday morning got off to a relatively late start as I'm not even close to being as young as I used to be.plus the aches and pains don't help and the tumble I'd taken the night before just added to the carnage I've wreaked on my carcase over the years.
Youth.it's wasted on the young.
There had been some discussion of Mario's super-breakfast and an APAT fieldtrip but by the time I made it down to the lobby (around 11am) it was pretty clear that this was going to be a non-starter..I was the only one there from last night.
So, I hung around the hotel lobby for a while as various poker forum teams congregated and shirts were distributed. My lot were either staying elsewhere or were travelling up Saturday morning. I'd arranged to meet them in the casino at 1pm.
A few of the previous night's revellers started to put in appearances but I declined the offers of alcoholic beverages which ensued and decided to head on over to the G Casino about midday.
No problem finding the casino which was somewhat closer than I'd thought (but not within my comfortable walking distance) and parking wasn't an issue.
I got registered by the casino staff, had the parking validated and wandered in. The place seemed pretty standard for a G Casino but the large poker room was welcome sight. We wouldn't be crammed in here, even with 20+ tables although they did have to set up a couple outside on the main floor. I'll give props here, they could have rammed all 20 into the single area but that little bit of extra space really made the difference.
As I'd not done the Mario's thing, I grabbed a quick bite and slammed back a couple of Red Bull while waiting for my teammates to arrive. They came in dribs and drabs but we were all assembled and kitted out by kick-off time.
"Did we have a strategy?"..sort of, but it was along the lines of "We can't win this on Day One" kind of thing.the issue was, obviously, survival to the points.
We wished each other good luck and I found my table.and Ironsides. Sigh.
For those of us who've played with/against Ironsides before...this was nothing new but for others it was a different matter. I was getting a non-stop torrent from Iron in one ear and another from the guy to my left complaining about it.
Its poker, Dude.get used to it.
I just sat back and watched and waited while Iron started running over the table. You never knew what he had although I'm not convinced that he knew half the time. He laid out some bad beats here and there and was severely chipped up before the dinner break.
We were on the second shift for the buffet and the word came back."The Beef Stroganoff is rank". Frankly, I'm not really bothered about the buffet so I didn't bother.
Back from the break and I'd hovered on about the average for some time without being able to get much going and Iron was still making things interesting for the rest.
On a later break, Iron had to return to the hotel due to some sort of spillage and things quieted for a while.
It was at this time that I started a monster run.I called off a raise from Carl (shogun) in EP with TT which turned out to be better than his AJ. I followed this up by calling another raise from Carl in a similar situation with 44 and turned a set. Carl got away from that one though..but I'm not sure he believed me when I told him what I had.
Things just got better from there and with QQ, KK and AA in short succession all of which I played fairly straight forward and got paid. They all held against lesser hands and I went from c.12K to roughly 100k in less than an hour.
Iron returned somewhat sobered but the rest of us had now gotten a pretty good feel for where he was at by now and when he tried a monster turn bluff he was called off by TT and was out. There was some suggestion that he just needed an excuse to go back to the bar..Nah!
By now, my team had lost 5 players but 3 of us were still in it and we had a decent shot at making the points. I don't know when the points bubble burst but our table broke at some point (perhaps somewhere between 11pm and midnight) and I was moved to a somewhat more chipped up table. There would be no running large bluffs here.not with a couple of stacks bigger than mine.
As it happened, although my hands cooled a little I still had some nice cards and took out a couple of short-stacks on the way to the end of the day.
The end came about 1am and I counted up and was sitting on 128k.so I'd picked up another 30k or so.schweetah! I got the chips bagged up and headed out into the main casino.
We still had three in, with both the others on c.7ok which was about the average I think. We were in with a shot.
By the time all the admin was done and I'd checked in with a few people it was heading on for 2am so I drove back to the hotel.
I banged in the earplugs and, once again, sleep came easy.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 02, 2011, 20:26:23 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on February 02, 2011, 20:35:30 PM
It was extremely funny - cruel - but funny
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: technolog on February 02, 2011, 20:42:43 PM
FFS! I wish I"d been there!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on February 02, 2011, 20:43:19 PM
LMAOOO!!!! Excellent report imo. On sooooo many levels! ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on February 02, 2011, 23:06:05 PM
Great write up - congratulations on your victory.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 03, 2011, 12:50:08 PM
loving your stories - really well written, oh and you are the official scribe on any trip we make - don"t thank me ::)
Hell, he can write up my trip reports even if he wasn"t there!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 10, 2011, 11:58:57 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 10, 2011, 12:47:32 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 10, 2011, 12:58:32 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from November 2009.
Sidebar: My friend Jim Lynott, whom some of you might know had been considering a roadtrip between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for some time. The route would be a little circuitous to take in some of the lesser known gambling spots along the way. We were joined, once again, by my brother Pete,
Laughlin: 11th November 2009
"Cruising The Strip"
OK, Wednesday and it's time to take in the sights. I grab the breakfast buffet and while I'm eating I text Jim to arrange something. Turns out he's eating in Harrah's cafe around the corner and when I finish grazing, I wander over.
Haven't heard from Pete but I text him...no reply. I guess he's sleeping one off.
Jim and I wander down to the rear of Harrah's which is on the river. It seems there is a river taxi which plies up and down between the various casinos on the Nevada side. Only $4 for a single journey or $16 for an all-day pass. Think of it as the floating Deuce.
We board after getting our day-pass wristbands and ride all the way down to Don Laughlin's Riverside Casino. It's a new way of...ahem...cruising the Strip.
Alighting at the Riverside we make our way inside for a mooch around. We find the poker room...not bad, about the same size as Harrah's effort but a darn sight busier. It seems they have a very active promotional/marketing campaign including Red Aces cracked for $500 at certain times of the day, Daily freerolls with easy qualifying etc.
Jim and I make the appropriate mental notes before wandering back through the casino. As we do, we spot a sign offering the scooter trikes for rent. Jim and I are sorely tempted to start the Laughlin Grand Prix there and then but before we can succumb common sense reels us back in.
As we're approaching the entrance, Jim's focus starts to wander. He spotted the koi swimming in the pool in which the Belle purportedly floats. I can see a faraway look in his eye..he's not thinking about the video poker slots any more..he's wondering where he can find rod and reel.
I drag him away before the angler in him makes him do something that might get him 86'd and we make our way inside. My first port of call is, as you might expect..the poker room.
Hey! Hands up all those who said it would be the bar...I'm taking names you know!
OK...well it almost was the bar...seems they have a micro-brewery on site...I file that little tidbit away for future reference.
However, by now my feet are killing me and they've rounded up additional support in the shape of my knees. They're screaming like Babe at Hog-Butchering Time.
I've had enough and although I suspect Jim'd prefer to continue on, we make our way back to the river taxi landing and catch the boat back to Harrah's. I need a lie down. I'm middle aged, overweight and on vacation...I'll take an afternoon nap if I want one...so there.
I rest up for a while just pottering around in the room before lying down and wake up a couple of hours later feeling a little light headed. I force myself, perhaps stupidly, to get up, get cleaned up and I'm thinking of playing the 7pm tournament downstairs. Thank the stars, just as I'm putting the finishing touches to my ensemble, I get a text suggesting we eat.
What a bloody good idea. I make my way downstairs and meet Jim and we partake of the buffet. I'm still not feeling right although the food helps but afterwards, I just wander around the casino floor for an hour or so, dropping the odd dollar or fifty in a slot machine before calling it a night.
I know, I know, you're wondering if there is EVER going to be some poker in this story. Rest assured, I've already set Thursday aside for a full blown poker montage.
As it stands, I'm down $50 on poker (if my sums are right) and, I think, just about even on slot play. If I'm slightly down there I'm sure the comp points will more than make up for it.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 10, 2011, 16:12:03 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 11, 2011, 16:46:15 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from November 2009.
Sidebar: My friend Jim Lynott, whom some of you might know had been considering a roadtrip between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for some time. The route would be a little circuitous to take in some of the lesser known gambling spots along the way. We were joined, once again, by my brother Pete,
Laughlin to Primm: 13th November 2009
"Primm & Improper"
It's a lovely day for a drive unfortunately I seem to have picked up a nasty cough from somewhere which is a pain in the chest to say the least. Perhaps that light headedness from a couple of days ago wasn't just dehydration or a blood sugar thing after all.
We set off around 10am but we'll need to stop off for breakfast somewhere. The location of choice is Searchlight NV. Initially, our choices do not look encouraging as, when approaching the town, all we can see sticking out between the hill-tops is a McDonalds sign. We pull in there dreading an early McBreakfast but I remember scouting this place in Google Maps (Street View) where I found the Searchlight Nugget Casino. Yes, it's exactly as you're picturing it but they do a decent breakfast for a decent price although the service wasn't exactly the most welcoming.
While waiting for our food to come, Jim wanders off and when I see him coming back with an evil grin on his face I know exactly what's happened. He's had a decent win on the VP machines.
Sure enough, he's made enough to more than cover breakfast.
After a pit stop, we continue on our way towards Primm crossing some amazing desert including the northern side of the Joshua Tree National Park. We pull over to the side of the road a couple of times for photo opportunities, including the ubiquitous deserted empty highway shot.
Sidebar: Primm is a small place located in Nevada, just over the border from California. It doesn"t consist of much other than an outlet store/mall and a three casino complex (all owned by the same company) consisting of Whiskey Pete"s, Buffalo Bills and the Primm Valley Casino
We arrive at Buffalo Bills in Primm around noon and my cough hasn't improved. In fact, I'm feeling pretty rough. After carting the luggage to the room we find that it hasn't been made up yet. A call to housekeeping sorts that out in short order and while they are taking care of that we wander the floor at Buffalo Bills to scope out the lay of the land. I'm really not feeling well and decide to give nature's remedy, a good old fashioned sleep, a chance. Alas it was not to be. I get little sleep and develop a temperature and sweats as well.
I guess there is nothing to do but dose up on over the counter medication and try and ride it out.
Pete and Jim go off to do their respective things.
Over and Out.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 11, 2011, 16:52:22 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from November 2009.
Sidebar: My friend Jim Lynott, whom some of you might know had been considering a roadtrip between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for some time. The route would be a little circuitous to take in some of the lesser known gambling spots along the way. We were joined, once again, by my brother Pete,
Primm: 14th November 2009
"So Sick"
Ugh....I get some fitful sleep but am still feeling pretty awful in the morning and most of the afternoon. Around 5pm Pete makes me think about getting up. He says that a proper shower and getting vertical and some food inside of me will improve my disposition.
Reluctantly...Hey, if I want to wallow, let me...I agree and make it downstairs around 7pm feeling like a wrung out dishrag. Seriously, although the clean-up improved things about 5%, I still can't breathe properly and I have zero energy. Then again, perhaps I'm wallowing.
Things are not improved by humungous lines at every food outlet at Bills. What everyone decided to eat all at the same time?
So, we drive over to Whiskey Pete's...me dragging along on the walk to the car, only to find that their cafe/buffet has only 3 servers and there will be a wait here too. A lightbulb begins to shine.
We give up on Whiskey Pete's and drive over to Primm Valley Casino. They at least have restaurants open with servers so we sit down.
The buffet here was pretty damn awful with almost no selections but since I can't taste it anyway, I just get some solids in me and rehydrate.
I'm feeling a little better by the time we're finished and we drive back to Buffalo Bills. I can't face going back to bed just yet and my head is clear enough to play some cards. The sacrifices I make for you guys.
2/6 spread limit is, once again, the game of choice and I get a few chips early on but drift down to around $30 after a couple of hours. Jim make decent progress (they just won't believe he has it when he so obviously does) while I grind back to my starting stack by around midnight.
Midnight and Jim's had enough so we both rack up and call it at a day. I'll try and kill off what's left of this infection overnight.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 11, 2011, 16:59:43 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 11, 2011, 17:07:39 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 11, 2011, 17:18:20 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from November 2009.
Sidebar: My friend Jim Lynott, whom some of you might know had been considering a roadtrip between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for some time. The route would be a little circuitous to take in some of the lesser known gambling spots along the way. We were joined, once again, by my brother Pete,
Las Vegas: 17th November 2009
"Spotting The Duke"
Still breathing...just!
I rise at my now customary time of noon. OK, I mis-spoke, I head out around noon after spending a couple of hours dossing around in the room make the most of the opportunity to lie in. The tablets seem to be working, I'm certainly coughing less than before and I'm getting some extended periods of sleep rather than the couple of hours at a time before popping a lung that was the previous case.
Whatever, I'll try not to mention this cough anymore, it's probably annoying you as much as it is me. I grab a frappacino from Starbucks and people watch on Fremont Street for a while. There is an international firefighters convention type thingy going on at the moment and they're holding some sort of assault course competition right on the street. It's pretty cool to watch.
Feeling the need for food...and beer, I stroll down to Hennessey's which is on LV Boulevard which divides the Fremont Street you all probably know from the East Fremont district. The E. Fremont area is trying to clean up its image along with the rest of downtown. I must try and get down there tomorrow.
"Why tomorrow?" I hear you ask...well it's weird, I'd eaten my food, had just a couple (really) of Stellas when I found myself practically falling asleep at the bar. Can't blame this one on the time-zone change and I thought I was good for the day...Guess not.
So, I trudge back to the GN and crash out for a few hours.
Later that evening, feeling much better, I eschew the offer of the buffet from Pete in favour of poker. I ensconce myself in Seat 6 at the 2/4 table where I can see the board without straining my eyes...sheesh, it's dark in the GN's poker room, it doesn't make it easy to peek at your hole cards.
Fortunately, the play is just as bad as you might expect and in little more than 2 hours, I've doubled my buy-in and I'm very comfortable. The Duke of Fremont Street puts in an appearance at the $1/$2 No Limit game buying in for $50,000.
Look him up, he"s a fascinating character
The Duke didn't stay long that I can tell, he's certainly distinctive. On this occasion he"s wearing a cowboy hat and poncho a la Eastwood.
Anyway, I'm doing alright before some muppet takes a piece out of me with his 4 kicker to his King against my AKs which I'd bet, raised and re-raised on every street on a King high board.
Only $60 up so around midnight, I end my Tuesday, except to write up this for youse lot.
Oh, and someone hit a Royal on my table tonight too...that"s two in two days
Sidebar: Unfortunately, that"s it...I don"t seem to have written up the last day but from what I can recall at this late date I didn"t do much other than hang out in the Poker Room making a few bucks here and there.
Downtown is definitely worth your time if you"ve done the whole "Strip" thing.
Hope you enjoyed it even with the downbeat end section but being that ill really but a crimp in some plans
Paulie
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 29, 2011, 13:13:24 PM
APAT Coventry: Friday, 25th March 2011.
"The Flesh Was Willing But The Spirit Was Missing"
The first APAT live event of Season 5 is in Coventry at the lovely G Casino at the Ricoh Arena and I left work at lunchtime to head up for the drive to my hotel, the Holiday Inn M6, Jct2. It sound like such an attractive name..conjuring up leafy glades and the like.or perhaps not.
Regardless, I made good time and the trip was uneventful with the exception of the very end. As I was about to turn into the hotel slip road as was forced into a slight detour as someone cut me up on the inside. Annoying, but it proved to be serendipitous as I was forced to drive past The Mount Pleasant, a Greene King/Hungry Horse pub just a couple of hundred yards up the road from the hotel. I'd forgotten about it from the previous trip to Coventry and this was a handy reminder of a place to eat.
Once I'd gotten back round the couple of roundabouts to the hotel I arrived bang on 3pm.
I'd gotten a very good rate of £39 a night for Friday and Saturday but I got a little bonus, of sorts when I checked in. The young lady on the reception desk went through all the normal procedures and said "Yes, Mr Davis, we have you for two night's Bed and Breakfast". Hmm, I don't remember booking that.I normally don't bother with booking breakfast as its usually overpriced and, equally normally, I not usually awake and/or compos mentis enough to be up a ready to eat by the time they've stopped serving.
Whatever, I thanked her and went off to the room. I unpacked and unlimbered the IT kit and checked my copy of the reservation and sure enough I'd booked at an even more advantageous rate than I'd thought. I suspected that it would be wasted though.
I recharged the phone and decided to get something to eat as my stomach was crying out for it. I drove over to The Mount Pleasant, ordered a pint (or two) and a plate of meat and chips. It's a decent enough place with reasonable prices and pleasant (sorry) service.
Replete, I drove over to the G Casino arriving about 5pm (as I recall). As I'm coming down the escalator I see Glen Laming has already arrived but he's the only face I know. Having said that there weren't many people about, early for a Friday I suppose.
Deciding that I should pace myself (as I have to drive back to hotel tonight), I settle on a cup of tea rather than diving headlong into the alcohol. As it turns out I'd somehow managed to miss the presence of Craig MacGuinness.although how I have no idea.but he'd brought company in the forms of Ray(?) and Cath.both of whom were at similar volumes to Craig which, if I had to guess, would be around 13.
The casino opened a cash table for us and much against my usual preferences I sat down. I'd already decided to give the £15 chip chucking comp that was on tonight, primarily because it was self dealt. As it turns out this was a good idea on two fronts, firstly because there were allegations of deck rigging and cardsharping from what I heard third hand.
Secondly, because I made a pretty good profit (for me) ending about £70 up from a £50 buy-in. That went straight in the skyrocket.
The cash game filled up but other APATers had started arriving, Jack Prime for one, and since I was the only APAT left in the game, I took my profit and headed back to the bar area.
Des and Sian arrived and I think I saw him buy a round but keep it to yourselves; he doesn't want that information getting out.
Now look.don't get me wrong, it was a grand night and all, and even though I only had a modicum of beer to stay under the limit (well mostly, Officer) there was something missing. The group was more subdued than normal..oh, Craig was as boisterous as ever and we had a good laugh, but still.it niggled at me for a long time before I twigged what it was.
Yes, Ger.it was you. Without you there, it just wasn't the same. There as no-one driving the conversation to its normal extremes, no-one starting the rounds of shots of black sambuca or Jaegermeister, no-one suggesting trips to "gentlemen"s clubs"...
JUST.NOT.THE.SAME.
Don't do it again.
Eventually, I went back on the hot beverages before heading off to the hotel, around midnight I think and since Glen was also staying there, I gave him a lift. Glen stayed outside for a pre-bed ciggy so I wished him a good night and headed into my room.
Frankly, even though I hadn't overindulged, I was dead tired and crashed without any of my usual pottering around.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on March 29, 2011, 15:39:13 PM
Last one I miss promise.......
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on March 29, 2011, 17:32:28 PM
Nice write up again Paulie, do like reading your overviews. Congrats on another gold medal as well.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 29, 2011, 18:08:24 PM
Nice write up again Paulie, do like reading your overviews. Congrats on another gold medal as well.
No medals for the side events....gyped I tell you!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 31, 2011, 15:02:09 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 01, 2011, 13:08:49 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: allinbob2 on April 01, 2011, 16:23:36 PM
WP on the Omaha win mate I was the guy you cracked with your 10"s lol. Was a great final 5 and as we were all Regular APATer"s the banter was great and the bad beats were taken in good spirit. Was gutted not to defend my Omaha win from S4 but pleased to come back from 1500 chips to take third.
WP Sir,
Dave Green AKA allinbob2
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on April 01, 2011, 16:27:43 PM
Great write up and delighted you"ve caved to the peer pressure for a Thursday Newcastle arrival. :-*
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Pears27 on April 01, 2011, 16:41:59 PM
Fellow "final 5er" here, sat on your right. Yep, enjoyed the FT a lot and also picked up on the "you"ll keep" attitude towards LAG boy! One of us was going to snap him, glad it was me. VWP on the win.
allinbob - on my right, right? Betfair scarf at Luton? Can"t seem to avoid you. As soon as I saw my AAxx against you I suspected you"d stack me. Aces seemed to befall most on that table. Never slinging it blind-on-blind. Maybe next time.
No Hendon Mob entry? The main is up. Boooooo. P.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 01, 2011, 17:13:16 PM
I don"t think they put the side events on the HMD...but I am there....SEE? (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=94126)
I wonder how I send them a picture?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: TightEnd on April 01, 2011, 19:56:13 PM
email wez@thehendonmob.com with the picture and they will add it to your results page
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 27, 2011, 11:10:28 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AMRN on April 27, 2011, 11:56:07 AM
I recall the last time I was in Newcastle the sights of coming out of The Gate at this time of night and things hadn't changed much.it looked like someone had detonated a Slapper-Bomb in the middle of SlapperFest 2011.
so eloquently put, and oh so accurate.
When walking through Newcastle on Saturday night, my only thought was that these lasses were some proud father"s treasured daughters!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 28, 2011, 13:04:38 PM
APAT Newcastle: Friday, 22nd April 2011
"Wales Take The Gold and Laxie Gets Medal"
I wake up relatively early and it's colder than I expected after yesterday's sun. My hands are frozen and I can't get the heating to come on so I burrow back under the covers for a while.
Eventually, though I have to get up and do a little light surfing before a wash and brush up and heading out for a late breakfast.
I give the Union Rooms a swerve as I can't be sure they'll actually have any food and head over to The Mile Castle.
Nice big place and a huge brekky for £4.10 and free Wi-Fi to boot. I'm tucking in when I get a text from Ger asking if I've eaten yet but when I text back to tell him where I am it seems that they've already gone over to the Union Rooms.hey ho.
Once I finish breakfast and my first pint I'm ready for another before heading over to the casino.unfortunately this where the 2nd Wetherspoons lost my vote. I wait an age to get served while the bar staff shuffle up and down making cups of coffee for other patrons. Why on earth can't tea and coffee be handled by the kitchen?
Whatever, I eventually run out of patience and decide to give the Wetherspoons in the Gate, The Keel Row a shot. I climb the hill once again and make my way in. Apart from the remains of a stag party finishing up the drinks it's pretty quiet and I get my second drink in short order. Nothing particularly remarkable about the place but insofar as it's inside the Gate complex I think I'll use this as my breakfast spot.
Leigh and James make an appearance and we chat about the usual stuff, as you do, before we head up to Aspers where, not surprisingly, Tighty is already hard at work having done a full day's work before we arrived.
They're still having internet issues so Richard is quite happy that I've now arrived with pretty reliable WI-Fi to use.
Although I jump into the updating thing again, we have a lot of Head's Up matches to get through and so I'm asked to lend a hand with the dealing. We have four dealers but with me and James lending a hand we can rattle through six at a time using 3 clocks...or in my case, timer on my phone.
This leaves Leigh and Tighty free to update, lend a hand with TD duties or swap in and out with me and James as required.
I think we ran through the HU matches in about 3.5 hours and we slipped in a break before the final MTT was called. The MTT was going to be the decider for the Home International competition so it was all to play for going in.
I wasn't required to deal so I was able to slip back into updating again...Tighty seemed distracted by Michelle, the dolly dealer..but then he's easily distracted by a pretty face.
During a break I order some food, just some chips and onion rings but when the rings arrive they are massive.a good 4 inches in diameter.and bloody tasty too. They're also rather oily, meaning that I keep leaving fingerprints on my keyboard which I have to keep wiping down before I can type an update.
One thing I forget to mention from the post of yesterday's action was the degenerate side bets the updaters had. It was £4 -£5 a round and we'd basically have last longer picks or team bets. I think I won only one round and Leigh, I think, lost them all. Overall, I believe James Barber picked up most of the loose cash.
If you were there or following the update thread you know what a magnificent job the Wales A team did in getting all four team members to the final table of the MTT but, as I recall, the first place was decided before that happened. However, the 2nd and 3rd places were still to be decided and it came down to a nail-biter in the end and, somehow, Ireland A have snatched 3rd place and "Laxie has medal".with a lot of assistance.
Frankly, I can't recall much of the aftermath at this point; it's all a little muddled in my head with the rest of the long weekend. I think I had a couple more beers before heading back to the hotel about 1am. Seems right.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on April 28, 2011, 13:13:38 PM
lolololol - sighhhhhhhh. Actually did try to play properly on day 2 ya know.
Was great stealing random cuddles from ya btw. :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 28, 2011, 14:10:53 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 03, 2011, 15:20:43 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 04, 2011, 12:58:21 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 05, 2011, 12:23:58 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 25, 2011, 09:53:49 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 03, 2011, 13:05:47 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on August 05, 2011, 01:55:09 AM
i honestly love your write ups mate, looking forward to more :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: pables on August 05, 2011, 09:05:57 AM
Quality write up Paulie and can honestly say I"m not sure if I was responsible for the evacuation of the Scotia Bar? But if I was then all I can say in defence is Meh!
How can you find a cheaper bar than the Scotia and the music was pretty cool
Sorry :"(
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: mousebob on August 05, 2011, 12:04:31 PM
Great report & with plenty of "emotion". More please!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 05, 2011, 13:17:35 PM
Great report & with plenty of "emotion". More please!
It"s coming...I"ve been buried in a mountain of emails since I got back and the rest of our "team" is away so I haven"t had a lot of time to get round to it.
All being well, Pt II will be posted this afternoon or evening....from the pub.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 05, 2011, 15:12:57 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Sef on August 05, 2011, 19:43:25 PM
A lovely read paulie ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on August 05, 2011, 20:09:13 PM
Excellent stuff Paulie, as always mate.
See ya at DTD
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 24, 2011, 13:24:35 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on August 24, 2011, 13:45:19 PM
Great write ups as always Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 03, 2011, 17:07:02 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: mporter123 on October 03, 2011, 17:32:49 PM
Another cracking read.....maaan.I so need to go to Vegas....when did you 1st go Paulie?
As I recall (that is...badly) it was in the very late eighties...certainly no later than 1991. The place has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years.
Back then I was a poor substitute for a blackjack player...which meant I could hold my own and just lose my money very slowly...as you will in blackjack.
I didn"t discover poker until about 6 years ago...since then my life has gone to hell....and heaven. ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on November 17, 2011, 08:04:53 AM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Tuesday, 15th November 2011 Of course, most of the rest of the travellers are probably safely tucked up to the bar at the Manchester Airport Premier Inn by now...they can read this tomorrow...if they can focus.
Focus is just fine - get the beers in - we land today :-)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 17, 2011, 15:48:07 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: samuel_9 on November 17, 2011, 18:52:50 PM
nice updates paulie nice readying BUT i think your party is just about to start when the APATERS arive... Enjoy
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 18, 2011, 17:43:58 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on November 19, 2011, 09:57:54 AM
1987 was my first visit to Vegas, we stayed in the Tropicana, which was pretty much the last hotel on the strip, and there wasn"t much then until you got to Caesars, talk about change!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 20, 2011, 01:24:22 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: samuel_9 on November 20, 2011, 11:59:12 AM
told ya the party was about to begin
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 20, 2011, 19:19:09 PM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Saturday, 18th November 2011
"Out Cold"
Yes, folks, the bear is most definitely back. Clothes all over the room, sh**ty taste in my mouth, raging headache and pocket full of singles.
Ohhhh, Lord....rum drinks...tasty but so dangerous.
Anyway, as you can imagine it took me more than a while before I was even close to being compos mentis enough to make my way to Caesars for the APAT event. I met Shogun along the way and we made our way over together.
We got under way in the event and given that the field was a good 80% British my table was full of familiar faces. I got my Kings cracked fairly early on but doubled up through Paul McGuinness towards the end of level three when he didn't believe me when I shoved with a full house.
Of course, I picked KK again on the button in the very next hand and got coolered to a flopped full house.
That left me at a loose end and, even though I am the travel guru, I hadn't planned on anything for the Saturday afternoon. I wandered back to Harrahs for lunch where I had a $5 coupon thanks for Foursquare.
From there I just thought I would take a nap to recover from the bad night and made my way to my room.
This proved to be a big mistake....I lay down about 5pm for a couple of hours....unfortunately, those two hours actually proved to be six. I said the beds were comfortable.
To be honest, I suppose I could have made the effort to get up, clean myself up and go wandering but I figured that would just mess up my sleep pattern again.
So, I just wrote off Saturday and just hung out in the room. Sorry to be boring but there you go.
Sunday, I want to play the Mixed Game at the IP but I might give the Venetian a whirl first.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 22, 2011, 17:28:57 PM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Sunday, 19th November 2011
"It's Been A Hard Day's Grind"
After all that sleep I was more than refreshed and ready for a day of grinding so after my usual lounge around the room I walked over to the Venetian.
Food was the first order of business so I chose the Grand Lux Cafe for a couple of Stella and a very nice Club sandwich.
After that, I got seated into a 4/8 Omaha 8 game after just a couple of minutes. Despite going off with only six players the table filled up quickly.
The play was challenging to say the least and my stack yo-yo'd between $100 and $200 most of the time. The hardest part was an idiot at the opposite end of the table who would stay in with even the most ridiculous no-draw and get there on the river.
Not only that but he slow-rolled me twice. Sigh.
I crushed him later when I made the ultimate nuts on the turn and he just wouldn't let go and took him for a decent chunk of change.
Unfortunately, that chunk only got me back to my starting stack and after five hours I was down a whole $4.
That was enough and I wanted to play the IP Mixed Game so I cashed out and strolled over and got my name on the list around 6.30pm.
I was joined after a while by JP Round, James Edwards and Chen Tam and we got under way dead on 7pm with a few other randoms.
Laughs were had, suck-outs were bad and we played for quite a while. I couldn't get much going...it was that kind of day...and, besides, having played this game before I've always treated it as a donation.
So after 6 hours play I was down $100 and I was yawning so I called it a night, especially as I was going to have, at least for this trip, an early morning the next day
I made the short walk back to Harrahs and crashed.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 22, 2011, 19:42:13 PM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Monday, 20th November 2011
"It's A Nice Day For A White Wedding"
Calling it an early night yesterday was a wise decision as I needed to be at The Chapel of The Flowers for Adam and Julie's wedding.
A few of us gathered in the lobby around 10.30 and we hopped in a a cab or two to head over to the chapel arriving shortly before 10.45. In fact we arrived shortly before the groom!
Many of the visiting APATers had made the effort to dress up for the happy day especially Stuart Oliver who was in full Scottish regalia. For myself I confess that I had not (I had a full suitcase as it was) so I hid myself at the back out of camera shot.
The chapel was completely full and, indeed, the minister commented that he'd never had such a crowd, especially from overseas. I thought that the minister did a wonderful job of the ceremony and Adam and Julie were clearly enjoying their special day.
Once the ceremony was after the bride and groom were taken off to do a photoshoot and we all trooped outside to find that the sun had truly come out for the first time during our visit. It was a gloriously sunny day.
We all stooged around for a while as Dawn organised us like a military action. We would need more than a few cabs but I was fortunate enough to blag a spot in one of the chapel's super-stretch limos to Caesars and the Cheesecake factory.
The driver let us out right be a side door just a hundred yards from the restaurant and we lined up outside. Somehow we'd beaten the happy couple to the place but Dawn was on the case.
It seemed that despite a couple of confirmation call the restaurant didn't take reservations so Dawn had to badger the manager into sorting out some space for us.
It all worked out in the end and by the time we were done we filled three large tables. Somehow Ger and the rest of the party had gotten sidetracked into a bar so that was a little disappointing but still we had a nice meal for what I thought was a pretty decent price for the Forum Shops.
By 3pm I was ready for a nap so I trudged the whole length of the Forum Shops back to Harrahs. I made sure to set my phone alarm so there wouldn't be a repeat of Saturday. By 5.30 I was cabbing over to the Tropicana for the JAPAT Wedding Tournament.
I really like the way they're refurbished the Trop although they've started pumping in some smell that just, if you'll pardon the expression, gets up my nose.
We got away with 50 runners or thereabouts but once again I got nowhere with any action or move I would make. I managed to run my A4s into Don Robert's AA who was on fire on our table.
A couple of drinks later and we'd managed to get a 3/6 Omaha 8 cash game running full of APAT regulars.
Ger seemed to be hitting everything in sight even when he should have gotten out of the hand some time before. This was a little frustrating but there is nothing you can do in these situations.
I sat in for a few hours while dwindling chips slowly. By the time the tourney was over I was ready to call it a night...this must have been around 1am and I was down $140.
So be it...I made my way outside and grabbed a cab back to Harrahs.
I have nothing specific planned for the next few days, my travel guru duties are done and dusted, I'll just play it by ear.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: stone on November 22, 2011, 23:17:11 PM
Great write ups Paulie, what games do they play in the IP Mix? Did you see any evidence of the Mix at the Trop as AVP have it up as a game they spread?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Santino67 on November 22, 2011, 23:19:37 PM
Great stuff Paulie, sounds like it"s been a superb trip. Can"t wait to hear more in Manchester 8)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: George2Loose on November 23, 2011, 00:39:25 AM
Are u enjoying it? Great write ups but it reads like Vegas is a bit if a chore
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 23, 2011, 04:51:10 AM
Are u enjoying it? Great write ups but it reads like Vegas is a bit if a chore
I am enjoying it...I"ve lost money over the past few days...although not huge amounts by any means...but it"s been hacking me off a little.
Plus, I still think I"m fighting something off...I have a persistent tickle in my throat and a developing cough....I"ve been dosing myself as much as possible but perhaps that"s what dragging me down.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 23, 2011, 23:44:37 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 25, 2011, 03:30:00 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 26, 2011, 21:46:50 PM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Thursday, 22rd November 2011
"It's Over, Deal With It"
Well, it finally arrived...the main strength of the APAT contingent was heading home today. Not me of course, I have another couple of days...of which more later.
Thanks to Dawn's negotiating skills I wasn't rushed about moving out of my hotel room until I was good and ready but by 2pm I was packed up and checked out and sitting in the Starbucks near to the lobby waiting for my brother.
A parade of happy, but very tired APAT faces paraded past to do the check-out thing and wait for various taxis and limos.
Yes, Vegas can be a tiring place to visit..even for the young. Because there is so much to see, do and experience, especially for the Vegas Virgins, they try to cram it all in into the quite short amount of time.
Sleep comes far down on the list and that catches up with you eventually. For many it will be when they get home...some may be unconcious on take-off from McCarran.
Anyway, back to me.
Pete eventually put in an appearance about 2.45pm and did his check-out thing. No surprisingly, in addition to getting 5 days for free, they comped the other two nights based on his play over the past few days.
Me... I earned a grand total of $6...whoop-de-doo.
So, with the admin done, we cabbed it over to the Mirage...no way I was lugging 20kg of luggage across Harrahs casino floor, across LV Blvd and then across the Mirage.
Check-in was easy and we made our way up to our room for the next two nights.
By the time we gotten unpacked and sorted it was time to eat. The line at the buffet was too long so I directed Pete to BLT Burger.
Mmmmmm.....gorgeous with a couple of draft Bud Lites. Pete thought it was the bees patellas.
With the body sated Pete went off to do his thing and I headed to the Mirage Poker Room. They don't get anything other than Hold'em going on here very often so I just decided to sit in on a 3/6 Limit game.
Unfortunately, the game was shorthanded for quite a while and I didn't fare very well. In the end I just go blinded away and ended up down about $100.
I got bored with it and decided to rest up for a while before thinking of what to do next. On my way out of the poker room I met a local friend who deals at both the Mirage and Bills and we caught up in a very quick fashion as she was just coming on shift.
On getting back to the room, I find Pete already collapsed on his bed pretty much spark out. I found this idea quite attractive and got my head down.
Of course, this was fatal and I woke up around 11.30pm and that was that, I read for a while but couldn't get back to sleep and the next thing I know it's well past 3am and Pete and I are watching re-runs of Friends...all the Thanksgiving episodes.
[sorry] Hangs head in shame [/sorry]
So...nothing much to report of the Thursday night...another rest day overall.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 26, 2011, 21:54:59 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 26, 2011, 23:34:47 PM
APAT - Vegas Vengeance : Monday, 20th November 2011
"It's A Nice Day For A White Wedding"
Many of the visiting APATers had made the effort to dress up for the happy day especially Stuart Oliver who was in full Scottish regalia. For myself I confess that I had not (I had a full suitcase as it was) so I hid myself at the back out of camera shot.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on January 24, 2012, 23:01:44 PM
My girth wobbleth with mirth :D
Having spent a luscious end of week on the southern shores of the land myself, in a place with buxom wenches, mead, kinfolk and lights that sparkleth so brightly, that a giant golden "M" was visible for miles around, merryment was had by many. Twas just a shame that Lord Brian of Martinshire did cock up my end of week, so badly, was his fishing!!!
Tis all.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AJDUK on January 25, 2012, 01:17:57 AM
Having spent a luscious end of week on the southern shores of the land myself, in a place with buxom wenches, mead, kinfolk and lights that sparkleth so brightly, that a giant golden "M" was visible for miles around, merryment was had by many. Twas just a shame that Lord Brian of Martinshire did cocke up my end of week, so badly, was his fishing!!!
Tis all.
FYP
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on January 25, 2012, 08:04:12 AM
What exactly were you lot drinking this past week-end?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 25, 2012, 08:29:23 AM
What exactly were you lot drinking this past week-end?
No idea, but I reckon they should reduce the medication dosage.......
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 25, 2012, 10:52:42 AM
The Continuing Saga of Sir Paulie
On the afternoon preceding the joust, Sir Paulie gathered his travelling bag and leapt into the saddle of his black stallion, "Owdeeayfor" and drove the steed with a heavy hand along the great highways to the southern shores and the town of Bright on the Sea. Under the mighty charger's hooves the miles flew by and our hero arrived at his chosen lodgings in the early afternoon.
Being a frequent traveller and well known in many establishments across the land, Paulie was owed many favours and had used some of these to obtain lodgings at the "Inn of the Holiday" for a mere 80 gold pieces for his two night sojourn and was greeted warmly by the innkeeper.
Grateful for the continued trade, the innkeeper offered him an abatement on the price for stabling his stallion which was most unexpected and warmly received.
The innkeeper had also made luxurious accommodations available to the good knight, and once again, Sir Paulie was grateful that his custom was being recognised.
The lodgings were spacious and featured not only a much larger cot than was the norm but also seating areas both inside and out, the latter of which gained the advantage of a view of the coast and access to the sea air.
Sir Paulie didst enjoin an artist to capture these scenes on canvas and there art provided for your delectation.
After dropping his travel bag and setting up his writing station in his room, Paulie took "Owdeeayfor" to the stables and bid him rest. There would be no great need to trouble the beast for the period of the joust.
Once the animal had been settled, Paulie made his way into the heart of the Brighton and, in particular, the Inn of the Bright Helm which was one of many owned across the empire by the clan of the Weathered Spoon.
The journey was only a short one, perhaps one seventh of a league, but our hero was no longer young, and was, confessedly, carrying more avoirdupois than is generally considered healthy, and thus the walk didst take a toll on his aging joints but our hero soldiered on to the taproom where he had arranged to meet other companions.
Paulie knew from previous correspondence that he would not be joined in the evening's frivolities for a few hours and took advantage of the respite to fill his, it must be admitted, copious stomach with a feast of the finest meats available. Now, it must be said, amongst his many faults, that Paulie was no stranger to strong drink and this occasion was not one for abstinence but then, with our hero, there were few occasions for abstinence.
Fortunately, Paulie had brought his magic tablet which allowed him to read any scroll he had in his library and so was able to while away the hours preceding the arrival of his companions whilst supping on many a tankard of ale.
Betimes, the day fell into evening and Sir Paulie's companions didst arrive; first Lord Asa of McGrath and then Sir Laming of the Glenn. Whilst they were sharing stories of the travels, a small bird alighted to with a note clutched in its claws that Grant, Chief of the Speir Clan, [from the furthest reaches of the northern lands] had mislaid his crystal ball on dismounting his dragon and thus would be delayed. The note also gave warning that he suspected he was being trailed by a small, irritating, troll.
Once the company of fellows was fully assembled (including the troll who went under the name of DaveyPee) no lesser personage than the Lady Michelle de Gascoine didst come down from her ivory tower at the Queen's castle. She had been much delayed due to taking fullest advantage of the extensive luxuries available but was not above joining in the merriment and badinage so prevalent at such gatherings.
The evening didst wind its way far into the night and Sir Paulie and Lady Michelle gained much merriment in mocking the ladies of the evening who didst flaunt themselves amidst the melee of the alehouse but as the witching hour approached the company didst commence to fall by the wayside.
Mayhap they were fatigued from the travels or overcome by their excesses but one by one the company waned until only Sir Paulie, the Lady Michelle and the troll didst remain and in the fullness of time even Sir Paulie succumbed to the rigours of his advancing years and, one must also suppose, the enormity of his suppage.
Though the night was blacker than a pawnbroker's soul, Sir Paulie bid the Lady Michelle adieu and weaved his way through the thronging peasantry back to his solitary lodgings.
This day"s tale is told but, fear not gentle reader, there is story of the battle to come...mayhap on the morrow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 25, 2012, 16:29:21 PM
Must be something in the water darn south, but here in wildest Wales my colleagues were looking at me funny :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on January 25, 2012, 16:48:22 PM
Loving the story... however...the photos look a little like stills taken from The Exorcist :(
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 25, 2012, 17:16:45 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 25, 2012, 17:25:19 PM
Loving the story... however...the photos look a little like stills taken from The Exorcist :(
LOL Phil just LOL - Paulie keeping in with the theme - PhilTC whooshed
;D most things wooooosh me nowadays to be fair... although I"m still thinking I"m seeing a white apparition above Paulie"s bed.. get yvette fielding on the case ;) x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Santino67 on January 25, 2012, 21:29:32 PM
Reckon I could sell a couple of those paintings on my EBay page ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Hammerite on January 25, 2012, 22:08:44 PM
Absolute quality Paulie an early contender for post(s) of the year. Can"t wait for the birthday instalment, not long now, have a good one.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: samuel_9 on January 25, 2012, 22:36:06 PM
me like lots and lots keep going please
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: HOLDorFOLD on January 26, 2012, 00:19:24 AM
Superb work my fellow "Fair Maiden" marker .... the buxom wench in the maroon dress should have asked to join our court ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 27, 2012, 11:48:10 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 27, 2012, 12:10:00 PM
Superb prose, guranteed place in the annals of posting. Take a bow Paulie a long well deserved bow....
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on January 27, 2012, 13:24:40 PM
That"s an incredible piece of writing Paulie. Very impressive.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 27, 2012, 14:42:57 PM
Trying to think of a genre I could actually carry off for the next one...
LA Noir? Rhyming? (Oh Heck, No!) Western?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on January 27, 2012, 15:42:02 PM
70"s porn style?
"Hey baby... me and my friends have to come to fix your washing machine"... "My.. what you sure look like big bad cowboys... mmmmm.... me and my scantily clad twin here would love to play with you" "Oh yeah baby... we"ll treat you like queens...."
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on March 03, 2012, 19:07:26 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 09, 2012, 16:58:35 PM
Balls...just realised I"ve been posting here and forgetting to copy to my official "blog" since August.
Might spend this weekend copying and pasting, reformatting etc.
Sigh.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 12, 2012, 14:48:16 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on March 29, 2012, 06:28:11 AM
So....Les Croupiers lets us down...no matter, the Cardiff G will do.
Slightly disappointed as the Premier Inn I was looking at had some potential being that it was next to a pub.
Whatever, I found a cracking deal at the Future Inns - Cardiff (http://www.futureinns.co.uk/cardiff-hotels)
Booked 3 nights in a double room for £143 (Refundable) which is a few quid cheaper than the price for 2 nights anywhere else I"ve found including 2 nights at the same hotel
Apparently only bookable via the hotel"s website or I"d link through Laterooms etc.
Very walkable to the G....and you all know how much I hate to walk waddle!
Sure it means I have to take Monday morning off to drive back but that"s better than driving late Sunday night which had been my previous plan.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 13, 2012, 16:44:54 PM
So...Coventry. Still haven"t decided whether to do a blog entry for it.
Sure enough it was fun but whether I have anything interesting to say about it is still uncertain in my mind. Worth recording for posterity, I dunno, I"ll have a think. Especially as I"m still mulling over the "genre" for it.
Couple of developments on the "away-day" front though.
Ever since Lloret I"ve been hoping that APAT would take us away again but, given the current climate, I understand why this has not been a priority for Des in Season 6.
When the S6 announcement came out I immediately homed in on the possibility of organising a potential "unofficial APAT weekend" in Vilamoura, Portugal because Richard "Curlage" Baker keeps banging on about it.
I mentioned this to a couple of people in Coventry and Rich set me straight on the situation in Portugal (very strict apparently) which took the wind out of my sails a bit.
However, the good news is that he"s not only picked up up the ball, he"s run with it and set everything in motion for November. Not the January (my birthday) time I"d hoped but so what.
This has rather put the pressure on...I was planning on being in Vegas...but I think the opportunity is too good to miss.
So, I"m not abandoning Vegas, just planning on moving the dates...I guess after Portugal would be best, I might fly back on one day and head straight out the next...who knows.
Now, can I afford it is the issue?
Nah!. The issue is...can I afford not to...and can you?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 01, 2012, 16:49:39 PM
Portugal is looking more and more likely.
Trying to squeeze in a Las Vegas Trip immediately after would have been a little problematical as it would have meant being away from work for 3 weeks or so. The boss sort of frowned when I promulgated that idea.
So...what to do. Move the Vegas trip, of course.
Although it will probably mean missing out on all of the previous possible trips (LA, Commerce Casino, Breeders Cup, Road Trip...or coinciding with Ger in November) I think it makes more sense to move to the end of December.
I"ve never been in Vegas over the New Year and I hear that the Strip can be a blast on 31/12 around midnight.
As it works out it look like I can manage 3 weeks away then as the office is closed over Xmas/New Year anyway.
Current plan is to head out on Monday 17th December and return 3rd January (Landing 4th).
Hotels: Still pricing / playing with dates but it look like I can do:
Harrahs: 17th - 23rd for a lousy $33 a night Venetian: 24th - 28th for a $355 plus a couple of hundred thousand flight/hotel points which are wasting away. Orleans: 29th - 2nd for around $107 a night. (Prices are jacked due to NYE but hey-ho).
Still, if my sums are right that"s 17 nights for around $66 (£43) a night.
Obviously the Venetian might be a bit tricky as I have to be careful in using the points but I think it"ll be worth it.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on May 01, 2012, 17:39:53 PM
Although it will probably mean missing out on all of the previous possible trips (LA, Commerce Casino, Breeders Cup, Road Trip...or coinciding with Ger in November) I think it makes more sense to move to the end of December.
I"ve never been in Vegas over the New Year and I hear that the Strip can be a blast on 31/12 around midnight.
As it works out it look like I can manage 3 weeks away then as the office is closed over Xmas/New Year anyway.
Current plan is to head out on Monday 17th December and return 3rd January (Landing 4th).
Ger also likes, I am not tied to any dates..... (although 3 weeks away working for a retail company at Xmas might be problematical)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on May 01, 2012, 18:23:52 PM
Although it will probably mean missing out on all of the previous possible trips (LA, Commerce Casino, Breeders Cup, Road Trip...or coinciding with Ger in November) I think it makes more sense to move to the end of December.
I"ve never been in Vegas over the New Year and I hear that the Strip can be a blast on 31/12 around midnight.
As it works out it look like I can manage 3 weeks away then as the office is closed over Xmas/New Year anyway.
Current plan is to head out on Monday 17th December and return 3rd January (Landing 4th).
Ger also likes, I am not tied to any dates..... (although 3 weeks away working for a retail company at Xmas might be problematical)
Joobs and I also like this - especially if I can persuade the awesome one to fly cattle class...
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on May 01, 2012, 18:36:02 PM
Trying to squeeze in a Las Vegas Trip immediately after would have been a little problematical as it would have meant being away from work for 3 weeks or so. The boss sort of frowned when I promulgated that idea.
So...what to do. Move the Vegas trip, of course.
Although it will probably mean missing out on all of the previous possible trips (LA, Commerce Casino, Breeders Cup, Road Trip...or coinciding with Ger in November) I think it makes more sense to move to the end of December.
I"ve never been in Vegas over the New Year and I hear that the Strip can be a blast on 31/12 around midnight.
As it works out it look like I can manage 3 weeks away then as the office is closed over Xmas/New Year anyway.
Current plan is to head out on Monday 17th December and return 3rd January (Landing 4th).
Hotels: Still pricing / playing with dates but it look like I can do:
Harrahs: 17th - 23rd for a lousy $33 a night Venetian: 24th - 28th for a $355 plus a couple of hundred thousand flight/hotel points which are wasting away. Orleans: 29th - 2nd for around $107 a night. (Prices are jacked due to NYE but hey-ho).
Still, if my sums are right that"s 17 nights for around $66 (£43) a night.
Obviously the Venetian might be a bit tricky as I have to be careful in using the points but I think it"ll be worth it.
M"eh what the point of going to Vegas over New Year. It will be cold :-)
Only joking mate sounds like a trip and a half, where you going for new year? I wonder if there would be fireworks :-)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 02, 2012, 10:21:17 AM
Only joking mate sounds like a trip and a half, where you going for new year? I wonder if there would be fireworks :-)
Frankly, I"m not really bothered about being on the Strip for New Year"s Eve other than being able to say "Yeah, been there, done that!" ;D
I"d definitely try and lock up a spot with a decent view, preferably somewhere I can get a seat and with a drink in my hand. Milling about in the crowds is a young man"s game....and I"m too old for that sh*t!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 12, 2012, 16:08:49 PM
Planning for the rest of the year continues...at least in my head, if nowhere else.
Cardiff...Locked Cork...Locked
I"m tempted to make an appearance at Blonde Bash this year but finances may not permit what with Curlage"s Vilamoura trip being a priority for me.
ECOAP...I fancy the Stud and Omaha..not sure about the ME but I suppose if I"m there.
September is Chezger...not one to be missed.
Glasgow...apparently I"ve booked the hotel already. Heh.
December...The venue TBA...could be cool but until its confirmed by Tighty I"m not holding my breath...which will lead nicely into...
Vegas.
Looks like my brother will be doing November which I really think is not an option for me. I mean, it"s nice to have him out there but, in all honesty, our interests are different enough that even when we"re there at the same time I hardly ever see him.
After that it"s Luton which is an easy "get", assuming the London Poker Meetup can get a team up. Oh, and it"s my Birthday weekend...I"m just saying.
February....I"m mulling, funds permitting, another group trip...Curlage sort of stole my thunder with Vilamoura on this but something similar, I think we"d get a few.
The WCOAP is a given in March.
Frakk...here I am planning for nearly a year ahead...Lords of Kobol, I"m getting old. ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 29, 2012, 15:23:54 PM
I have to write up Cardiff for the record if nothing else as very little of interest happened. ;D
However, sometime over the weekend, I think, I managed to pass Kinboshi in the post count.
Expect a barrage of sudden, very short, posts from our first ever APAT Champion. ;D
Redfern...you"re next!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on May 29, 2012, 15:29:20 PM
What is the top 10 of posters and other interesting facts, just interested as mere mortals cannot access statistics of the forum. 8)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 29, 2012, 15:35:12 PM
Hmm two weeks off work - the race to 10k could be on..... 1300 odd posts could be doable by following in the shoes of the master (kinfishy) and post loads of smiley faces....... ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on May 29, 2012, 16:03:00 PM
Hmm two weeks off work - the race to 10k could be on..... 1300 odd posts could be doable by following in the shoes of the master (kinfishy) and post loads of smiley faces....... ;D
Could help the race to 2m views! :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on May 29, 2012, 16:30:27 PM
Fair enough imo, reckon he will be a busy bear in Cork so don"t begrudge him the night off.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 28, 2012, 15:42:02 PM
I started to write (belatedly) of Cardiff on Saturday and Sunday but with almost nothing of import to report (hey, that rhymes), I couldn"t be bothered.
You see....I"m lazy...I accept. I"m not proud of it, you understand, but I get to acknowledge it.
Anyway, that wasn"t the purpose of this post..assuming it actually has one.
Nope...I"ve been running the numbers for a couple of months now and I"ve come to the realisation that barring a monster bink in the intervening months.....Portugal is a non-starter!
The basic bankroll/liferoll is suffering, partly because I"ve front-loaded the WCOAP hotels but with Cork, Chezger, Glasgow, Stoke, Car Servicing, Flat Management Fees and the like to find...I don"t think it can be done between now and November.
Like I said, barring a bink! Of course, as the astute amongst you may have noticed, there are opportunities there but it"s me after all.
On the other hand, Cork is a mere week away...and that, as they say, will be feckin" EPIC*!
*..or else!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 12, 2012, 22:04:31 PM
First tiny steps have been taken towards...
Paulie"s Las Vegas Slay Ride ....cos it"s at Xmas...Geddit!?
My plans to use some of my airline points for free nights in Vegas were scuppered when I went to check on it as I discovered that United has restricted the offer to US residents only...Bassards.
Oh well, I transferred them to hotel points via Points.com and, that"s it, I"m done with United.
On the plus side, I checked on TI and was able to get three nights at $45pn for 17/12 - 19/12. On the down side, they lump on a $25 a day "Resort Fee" but although that"s higher than most it"ll do.
Got to book Harrahs for a week and then the V (hotel points with any luck) and Orleans.
A lot of moving about but over 17 days, I like a change of scenery.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on July 15, 2012, 13:51:43 PM
Paulie"s Las Vegas Slay Ride ....cos it"s at Xmas...Geddit!? YES, YES I get it :-) Do I win a prize????
Any chance of getting an early Travel Tips Thread for Scotland Mr D? Are we likely to get better deals by getting in early?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 15, 2012, 15:14:18 PM
Any chance of getting an early Travel Tips Thread for Scotland Mr D? Are we likely to get better deals by getting in early?
Sure.....I"ll put it up shortly.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 16, 2012, 16:29:58 PM
Best laid plans and all that but a bit of good news and, potentially, great news.
Looking at flights with Virgin it now looks as though I can book PE seats for £360+ and 47,500 points (which I already have) which means I may save up to £600 on what I was expecting to pay.
Downside is that the flights are limited as to dates. I may have to extend the stay to 7th January (return date) which would be a full 3 weeks IF I fly out on 17th December.
The alternative arrival date is 19th December which hardly seems worth changing just for a couple of days
Three weeks feels like a grind though....not that I couldn"t manage but still it"s kind of long. May have to re-jig the hotels though.
The upside is that with that much back in my skyrocket there is a much larger possibility of Portugal being back on the cards.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on July 16, 2012, 16:46:59 PM
The upside is that with that much back in my skyrocket there is a much larger possibility of Portugal being back on the cards.
Now your talking ;D ;D ;D
I"ll have a much better idea in a month or so....I have to put lumps aside for various "planned" expenses between now and Vegas just to see where I am...it"s looking promising though.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: linziwan on July 16, 2012, 17:12:06 PM
Best laid plans and all that but a bit of good news and, potentially, great news.
Looking at flights with Virgin it now looks as though I can book PE seats for £360+ and 47,500 points (which I already have) which means I may save up to £600 on what I was expecting to pay.
Downside is that the flights are limited as to dates. I may have to extend the stay to 7th January (return date) which would be a full 3 weeks IF I fly out on 17th December.
The alternative arrival date is 19th December which hardly seems worth changing just for a couple of days
Three weeks feels like a grind though....not that I couldn"t manage but still it"s kind of long. May have to re-jig the hotels though.
The upside is that with that much back in my skyrocket there is a much larger possibility of Portugal being back on the cards.
Three weeks never a grind lol.... if you ever want to try some luxury Richard and I have "vacation ownership" with Wyndham, your own apartment for the three weeks... we can rent and sell on at any time :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 16, 2012, 17:13:38 PM
Three weeks never a grind lol.... if you ever want to try some luxury Richard and I have "vacation ownership" with Wyndham, your own apartment for the three weeks... we can rent and sell on at any time :)
Thanks Linda....It"s an option I"ll bear in mind.
That"s the "Grand Desert" behind the Signature...right?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on July 17, 2012, 13:35:41 PM
Stayed in the Wyndham Grand Desert in March. Suites were excellent, better than any hotel room you"ll stay in, corridors smelt of chocolate! Fabulous resort and Free shuttle to and from the strip, even though its only 10 minute walk. Actually situated just down the road from PH on the way to the Hard Rock. The only complaint we had, was the connecting walls were very thin, we had to move when a family moved in next door, they weren"t being rowdy as such, but it felt like they were in with us! Well worth a look!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: linziwan on July 17, 2012, 21:27:43 PM
Three weeks never a grind lol.... if you ever want to try some luxury Richard and I have "vacation ownership" with Wyndham, your own apartment for the three weeks... we can rent and sell on at any time :)
Thanks Linda....It"s an option I"ll bear in mind.
That"s the "Grand Desert" behind the Signature...right?
Correct. We"ve never booked it for someone else to use but it is done all the time.
Just checked the website and Xmas and New Year weeks fully booked,popular time...
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 19, 2012, 15:07:56 PM
So...plans are firming up.
Looks like the full 3 weeks in Vegas...out on Monday, 17th December with the return flight on Monday, 7th January.
This is dependent on Virgin having "Reward Seats" available which means I am going to have to pull the trigger pretty soon.
Hotels:
Looks like I could be doing up to 4/5 locations this time being:-
TI - 3 days before Ger arrives (if indeed he is coming): 17th - 19th
Harrahs: 20th - 26th
Venetian: 27th - 29th (Just because I can use up some points)
Orleans: 29th - 6th - This is, like, 8 nights which feels like a lot so I might consider moving again to...
A.N.Other hotel
I suppose the best option would be to switch the Orleans and ANO hotel so that I mainline the strip for the longest and then chill at the Orleans but Strip prices for New Year will be exorbitant so that is a factor.
If I do this right I think the average cost per night will be in the $50 range (plus resort fees/wifi)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on July 19, 2012, 15:51:28 PM
Man - Las - 20th Dec 2012 Harrahs 20th Dec 2012 - 7 nights
Also booked - God help us all 8)
I"m probably going to be taking it a little easier this time...it"s a long trip after all and I have to pace myself.
Not that we won"t find some interesting things to do over that week.
I already have an invite to the studios of the Vegas Video Network (http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/) to attend a taping which could be fun.
Insofar as this is an "old folks" trip (unless Ger and I get some other attendees) I can"t see we"ll be hitting the clubs but some off-strip activities (of the food & drink variety) might be in order.
TI and Harrahs are booked. Venetian will be booked shortly. Orleans probably for 5 nights.
I"m dwelling on the Excal for the last three nights. Cheap as chips and within comfortable walking distance (for me) to NYNY and the MGM.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Denis67 on July 22, 2012, 00:57:45 AM
Travel Champion,
Some friends and I will be in Vegas in September and are thinking of going to a fight (a proper Queensbury Rules affair, WBC and all that). Do you have any experience of such an event over there or would your tip be find a casino and watch it on the big screen whilst trying to figure (getting practice in) out if the Texan has the nuts?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 22, 2012, 08:57:51 AM
Some friends and I will be in Vegas in September and are thinking of going to a fight (a proper Queensbury Rules affair, WBC and all that). Do you have any experience of such an event over there or would your tip be find a casino and watch it on the big screen whilst trying to figure (getting practice in) out if the Texan has the nuts?
I don"t have an personal experience of attending a big fight in Vegas (or anywhere else for that matter).
My best advice would be to target a specific event. Once you have decided, you can decide for yourself whether it"s worth actually attending remembering that these are usually held in LARGE arenas.
Without knowing for certain, I would imagine that most Vegas sportsbooks will have it showing on a large screen although you might have to book seats as they are likely to see a lot of traffic on that night. It would be worth giving the sportsbook a call and just asking them if they will be showing it.
Failing that, there are multitudes of bars on and off the strip that will probably have it on. Not on a 40ft screen of course but good enough.
For myself I would prefer to watch it on a big screen with valet service and a handy restroom nearby but then I"m old, fat and lazy.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Denis67 on July 22, 2012, 09:42:56 AM
Thanks for that Paulie - the areana"s do look huge and not sure how much of the fight we"d see for a lot of $"s - may take your tip and head to a bar instead!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on July 22, 2012, 19:47:18 PM
Have you not thought combining the Orleans with the Gold Coast? Keeps you off-strip around NYE.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 22, 2012, 20:16:41 PM
Hmmm...I now have a short-list (irony) of 15 establishments that might be worth a visit while Ger is in town.
So much of pacing myself.
This could take some work.
Added a couple more....brace yerself. MAP (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=201889264716224768913.0004c57db30beeaef2d63&msa=0)
Where"s The Tiki Bar FFS!!!!! :P
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 24, 2012, 14:56:38 PM
You know when life has hit the fecking Doom Switch on you?...I do!
I"d finagled a little breathing room on the old finances front with a look at making Portugal...certainly I"d increased the chances from 19:1 against to more like 50:50 but would the universe give ne a f*cking break? Would it hell!
In the style of Sir Paulie
I came out of my abode on Monday morn to find that some varlet had side-swiped my trusty steed ”Owdeeayfor”.
Poor nag that he is...one of his ears had been lopped and his left flanks severely scarred. I took him to a local ostler who specialises in treating wounded steeds but the news was not good.
My purse could not sustain, of its own accord, the cost of treating my ebon friend and thus I was forced to call upon Stallion Surety with whom I had wagered that such an eventuality would not occur.
They undertook to bear the cost of treatment but I will be required to pay 400 gold pieces from my own treasury.
Thus the likelihood of a trip to Portagee has, once again, withered.
Feck.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 24, 2012, 14:57:53 PM
You know when life has hit the fecking Doom Switch on you?...I do!
I"d finagled a little breathing room on the old finances front with a look at making Portugal...certainly I"d increased the chances from 19:1 against to more ike 50:50 but would the universe give ne a f*cking break? Would it hell!
In the style of Sir Paulie
I came out of my abode on Monday morn to find that some varlet had side-swiped my trusty steed "Owdeeayfor".
Poor nag that he is...one of his ears had been lopped and his left flanks severely scarred. I took him to a local ostler who specialises in treating wounded steeds but the news was not good.
My purse could not sustain, of its own accord, the cost of treating my ebon friend and thus I was forced to call upon Stallion Surety with whom I had wagered that such an eventuality would not occur.
They undertook to bear the cost of treatment but I will be required to pay 400 gold pieces from my own treasury.
Thus the likelihood of a trip to Portagee has, once again, withered.
If I park the car in the area behind my block of flats the local toerags have a go.
If I park it on the street some a-hole hits it.
If I park it (legally..in a designated bay) on the pavement, the local council stasi send me penalty notices because their contracters haven"t repainted the bay outlines.
No wonder I can"t bink anything...the universe bleedin" hates me.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on July 24, 2012, 16:11:23 PM
If I park the car in the area behind my block of flats the local toerags have a go.
If I park it on the street some a-hole hits it.
If I park it (legally..in a designated bay) on the pavement, the local council stasi send me penalty notices becuase their contracters haven"t repainted the bay outlines.
No wonder I can"t bink anything...the universe bleedin" hates me.
Introduce the finger....buy a second hand Proton for £400 and "become" the toerag.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on July 24, 2012, 16:13:28 PM
Have you not thought combining the Orleans with the Gold Coast? Keeps you off-strip around NYE.
You know...i saw something about the GC today on Vegas Chatter (http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2012/7/23/144638/718/vegas-travel/Why+The+Gold+Coast+is+a+Home+Away+From+Home+for+This+Vegas+Visitor).
Could be worth a look...I"ve heard great things about Ping Pang Pong"s and the prices look cheaper than the Excal. Can"t get a price to book in January yet (which is odd) but it would be another hotel to cross of my list.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on July 24, 2012, 18:19:07 PM
We didn"t stay there in the end but Rich Offless has always recommended it to me.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 03, 2012, 11:50:22 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on September 03, 2012, 12:52:20 PM
Arriving at the Holiday Inn, Ger was most displeased to discover that, heaven help us, the hotel bar was shut. I left Ger and Phil in the foyer negotiating with the night porter for a bottle of wine.
Which he shockingly refused us.. to be honest I think if we"d pushed a little more we"d have got there, night porter was like "I just wish they"d feck off" haha ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on September 03, 2012, 17:38:26 PM
Before long Phil & Stu has turned up and it wasn't too long before there were a dozen of us, including Rodders and Michelle, monopolising the seating area behind the pub. It was all very nice too, sitting by the canal with canal boats and other small pleasure craft passing by.
Hmm this appears to be completely missing from my memory. Must have been a fantastic day. I blame Ger, simple because he seems to be the most likely cause of this issue !!!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on September 03, 2012, 20:17:37 PM
Arriving at the Holiday Inn, Ger was most displeased to discover that, heaven help us, the hotel bar was shut. I left Ger and Phil in the foyer negotiating with the night porter for a bottle of wine.
Which he shockingly refused us.. to be honest I think if we"d pushed a little more we"d have got there, night porter was like "I just wish they"d feck off" haha ;D
I"d have got him to serve it. You lot have no staying power. :D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: pables on September 03, 2012, 20:40:59 PM
If you stay at Castle Bridge Marina, it"s only a pleasant stroll to DTD along the canal from the Waters Edge pub, as James Barber, Michelle Gascoigne and I found out on the Monday afternoon.
If you stay at Castle Bridge Marina, it"s only a pleasant 3 min car / taxi ride with a hangover as everyone else found out x
ahhh yes good point ... but then you miss out on seeing the freaking skull/head based camp that had a touch of deliverence to it ....
;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 04, 2012, 10:57:07 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on September 04, 2012, 13:14:47 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on September 04, 2012, 13:34:37 PM
Deffo Ger and I and I think TC as well, but not positive.
I don"t think it was me.. but to be honest it could of been.. BUT I think that evening I was with Pables and JP in a taxi.. and pables and I ended up in the 24 hour Mc"ds until daft oclock.. rock and roll that we are ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 04, 2012, 13:40:18 PM
Deffo Ger and I and I think TC as well, but not positive.
Probably Rodders then...he"s about the only one that would fit. :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 07, 2012, 16:47:39 PM
ECOAP Sunday
Well, Sunday was always going to be a down/rest day for me. I hadn’t bought into the Main Event for purely economic reasons although I would probably have tried to alternate if I had binked decently in the previous couple of events. However, I hadn’t so I could take it easy.
I had another late morning start since I had no over-riding reason to get out of the hotel before noon. Despite a number of people saying they were ‘up’ for a trip to Hooters there was paucity of actual physical presences when I wandered out into the Nottingham daylight.
Obviously the first port of call was The Water’s Edge and even there I appeared to be the first one in. Ahh, the youth of today…lightweights, all of them. :)
So, I ordered up my pint and sat outside as the sun tried to inch its way from behind the clouds. I didn’t have to sit there too long. Obviously my social media interactions had prompted the masses to follow my example and venture out into the environs of the Castle Marina.
Before long we were many fold (including Jaxie...of which more later), beers and burgers were being inhaled and it was a very pleasant sojourn in the arms of Greene King. However, in due course, the siren song of the APAT ECOAP Main Event called to my comrades and I reluctantly left them to make their way over while I transferred from the Holiday Inn to the somewhat less inviting Premier Inn.
Fair enough, I’ve never had any problems at Premier Inns...they are a significant step above Travelodge. Sure, you pay for what you get but if you go in knowing that then I don’t have a problem.
I was a tad annoyed that the much touted ‘Free Wi-Fi’ (which was placarded everywhere in BIG signage) was, in fact, only free for 30 minutes, only £3 a day (I think) after that but a disappointment nevertheless. Not that I needed it, I have mobile internet (and a backup) so I was taken sorted either way.
Getting checked in and sorted didn’t take too long, the PI Castle Marina only has about 40 rooms, so I was free and clear by 3pm. My basic plan was to head over to the Showcase cinema on the Redfield estate and see what was offered.
On arrival I had plenty of time before my preference (The Dark Knight Rises) was due to start for I took the opportunity for a spot of lunch at Chiquito’s. Very nice too, free Wi-Fi (with sign-up) and quite tasty.
I can’t say the final (?) movie of Nolan’s Batman Trilogy blew me away but it was a top level finale to the series.
That’s enough of that; let’s get on with the show. Fed and entertained, I made my way over to DTD, arriving around 7pm (perhaps a little later) and immediately took a seat at the updating desk. Tighty was in full flow adding his particular brand of humour to the update thread.
Whatever the situation, it’s my personal view that APAT (as an organisation and community) is going to sorely miss Tighty and his work. His updating skills are legendary and I’m very pleased that he’s found a niche in this arena with both Sky Poker and DTD.
In the absence of anything else to do (the Main Event was only a few hours old), I plunked myself down in front of a free monitor and keyboard and added my meagre efforts to the updates. It was handy having the screen etc. available at the update desk, I had my netbook in the car but it’s a little ‘compact’ for proper work.
Time wore on; I had a drink or two, commiserated with bust-outs and celebrated with those who were still in. I resisted the blandishments of Laxie, Jack, Curlarge and senior (sundry) members of the Stockton Massive to head out to the infamous Chambers Karaoke bar in downtown Nottingham.
Firstly, although I think I have a decent singing voice, I’m way too reserved to ever get up on stage and expose myself to ridicule and, secondly, I could see where this was headed.
Frankly, I can’t recall what the time was when the first stragglers started making their way back to DTD. It might have been before midnight but I’m not entirely sure. I was having ‘fun’ (if that’s the right word) adding my poor efforts to the updates.
Reports started coming in once they made their way back though. Sure enough, certain members of the expedition had made full use of the beverage facilities although, it appeared, their ability to remain conscious had been severely impaired.
Sure enough, Jack had, once again, fallen asleep in the lavatorial area of the entertainment facility and there was a reasonable chance of him suffering a concussion from the door hitting him in the head as he lay on the bathroom floor when the security staff kicked it in.
[Minor Rant Alert] Hang on a second…this has always been something that confused me. People over-imbibing has to be a fairly often occurrence and falling asleep &/or being out of it in toilet stalls equally frequent. Why don’t pubs/bars have some sort of key that can open the stall door from the outside?
The increased cost of the locks has to be massively outweighed by the cost of repairing a kicked-in door…No?
Whatever, the party (what was left of it) made their way back and were telling tales of the exploits of the ‘weaker’ members. Little did they know what awaited them!
I helped with the updating until the end of level 12 or 13 and decided to call it a night. I think it was around 1.30 am… an early night for a change or, at least, earlier than the past two.
The drive back to the Premier Inn was uneventful…job done.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on September 07, 2012, 19:37:56 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on September 07, 2012, 20:24:57 PM
Sigh. I see where this is going...
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 07, 2012, 20:38:46 PM
If you"re quick you may have time to get an injunction ;)
Hmmm...now there"s an idea...
(http://zik.ua/gallery/full/h/a/habar5-8.jpg)
oooooo good thinking batman .... spendz for Yarm Invasion ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on September 09, 2012, 10:32:22 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 14, 2012, 16:05:03 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 18, 2012, 15:02:23 PM
Friday brings my first visit to the home of my friend Ger Smyth Sr. primarily for a homegame that has reached epic proportions (at least according to rumour).
My current plan is leave the Essex Wilds around 10/11am on Friday. That should get me into my hotel around 3 pm.
I"m happy to while way an hour or two in a local hostelry (once has to gain a flavour of the locals don"t you know?). I"ll nosh up there (gotta get a good foundation for the rigours ahead) and then mosey on over to Chezger before heading off to the Aquarium.
Saturday will bring the homegame itself...but that"s another post.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on September 18, 2012, 15:26:47 PM
You started drinking early Paulie 8)
Apart from being suitably embarrassed, the sentiments of that post are returned immeasurably.....
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 18, 2012, 15:46:02 PM
Apart from being suitably embarrassed, the sentiments of that post are returned immeasurably.....
About 1.30 actually.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on September 18, 2012, 15:47:02 PM
Get a room. The pair of ya are gone all mushy ffs!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 18, 2012, 16:22:51 PM
Mr Smyth Sr. is quite insistent upon a "proper" Christmas meal in Vegas and is leaning on me to work out the details.
The basic problem is that the American Traditional Xmas meal can be different from that found the the UK. I don"t see may places in Vegas doing a proper Christmas Pudding but you never know.
Certainly, I"m not going to do a buffet for THAT meal...so I have my local spies on it. It"s, perhaps, a little early, but you know what they say.
"PPPPPP"
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on September 18, 2012, 17:22:25 PM
I remember meeting Ger for the first time.
Manchester airport. In a bar.
At about 5 or 6 am.
"look out for a huge guy who looks like a wallruss" were his words :p
Couldnt hope to meet a finer man. Agree with all of what Paulie said.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on September 18, 2012, 17:33:56 PM
The basic problem is that the American Traditional Xmas meal can be different from that found the the UK. I don"t see may places in Vegas doing a proper Christmas Pudding but you never know.
All else fails.. its not going to take up much room in the old suitcase is it..
Take a few over.. surely they"ll have custard over there and a microwave in the kitchens, when they bring over the dessert menu, whip out your puddings (if you know what I mean) and its a winner.
Failing that. Fly me over and I"ll cook the frigging things myself at the table on portable BBQ ;) x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 19, 2012, 15:04:43 PM
You know...I just might take one.
Frankly, I"ve never seen custard mentioned in anything I"ve ever seen from the US...not that"s it"s a problem. I prefer my Xmas Pud with ice cream anyway.
Then again, with 3 weeks away, there ain"t gonna be a lot of room in the suitcase.
Still, my spies are on it.
That reminds me...must add that to my tweets.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 20, 2012, 16:57:09 PM
Because I do.."Travel Guru" and all that...I"ve been looking at places for Saturday lunch while in the ChezGer locale.
This may be on top of the Breakfast buffet at The Wheatsheaf* (http://www.crowncarveries.co.uk/thewheatsheafinnmollington/) but that is not an ideal solution as it"s not exactly close of where the majority are staying.
Quote
Set yourself up for the day with a cooked breakfast that"s fit for a king, from just £3.29 Friday - Sunday at The Wheatsheaf Inn.
We"ll serve you the sausage and bacon, then you help yourself to as many of your breakfast favourites as you want - like eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. There"s more on the menu, including porridge and hot bacon sandwiches, plus our kids" breakfast is only £2.29.
How about a nice brew to wash it down? We"ve got a range of fairtrade coffees, or maybe you"d prefer a good old-fashioned cup of tea?
*I"ll have 3 please. ;D
So..."Google maps is my friend" and, voila,The Old Hall Farm Pub (http://www.oldhallfarmpub.co.uk/) which is nice and close to the Cheshire Oaks complex.
Because I do.."Travel Guru" and all that...I"ve been looking at places for Saturday lunch while in the ChezGer locale.
This may be on top of the Breakfast buffet at The Wheatsheaf* (http://www.crowncarveries.co.uk/thewheatsheafinnmollington/) but that is not an ideal solution as it"s not exactly close of where the majority are staying.
Quote
Set yourself up for the day with a cooked breakfast that"s fit for a king, from just £3.29 Friday - Sunday at The Wheatsheaf Inn.
We"ll serve you the sausage and bacon, then you help yourself to as many of your breakfast favourites as you want - like eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. There"s more on the menu, including porridge and hot bacon sandwiches, plus our kids" breakfast is only £2.29.
How about a nice brew to wash it down? We"ve got a range of fairtrade coffees, or maybe you"d prefer a good old-fashioned cup of tea?
*I"ll have 3 please. ;D
So..."Google maps is my friend" and, voila,The Old Hall Farm Pub (http://www.oldhallfarmpub.co.uk/) which is nice and close to the Cheshire Oaks complex.
The Wirral 100 is the nearest pub to Chezger, I don"t frequent it - nuff said ::) ::) ::)
The Rake is actually very good....
Nuff said indeed. It has been stricken. (http://blondepoker.com/forum/Smileys/default/talktothehand.gif)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on September 20, 2012, 19:47:21 PM
There"s a Harvester near Cheshire Oaks - actually next to Old Hall Farm but you have to be on the main road to get to it.
Highly recommended by my wife.
LINKY (http://goo.gl/maps/4Aom5)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AJDUK on September 20, 2012, 21:21:12 PM
Careful with taking Xmas pudding to the states, due to banned products. I"m not 100% sure but e.g. I think nuts is on the list. Whilst it"s unlikely you"ll get your bag searched I"m not sure what would happen if they do and then find something.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on September 20, 2012, 23:37:37 PM
Careful with taking Xmas pudding to the states, due to banned products. I"m not 100% sure but e.g. I think nuts is on the list. Whilst it"s unlikely you"ll get your bag searched I"m not sure what would happen if they do and then find something.
QFT!!! Don"t do it because you"ll be in trouble if they find it. Fruit and nuts a big no no.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: HOLDorFOLD on September 20, 2012, 23:50:51 PM
Careful with taking Xmas pudding to the states, due to banned products. I"m not 100% sure but e.g. I think nuts is on the list. Whilst it"s unlikely you"ll get your bag searched I"m not sure what would happen if they do and then find something.
QFT!!! Don"t do it because you"ll be in trouble if they find it. Fruit and nuts a big no no.
Kinder eggs are also banned andbig fine for those ..... just in case you plan goingover in Easter ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: HOLDorFOLD on September 20, 2012, 23:52:18 PM
Careful with taking Xmas pudding to the states, due to banned products. I"m not 100% sure but e.g. I think nuts is on the list. Whilst it"s unlikely you"ll get your bag searched I"m not sure what would happen if they do and then find something.
QFT!!! Don"t do it because you"ll be in trouble if they find it. Fruit and nuts a big no no.
Well thats most of us banned frm entering then ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 24, 2012, 12:07:07 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 24, 2012, 12:49:43 PM
Chezger Visit - Saturday
Balls!
I thought I was safe here in the wilds of Cheshire but OHHH NO..not on your life.
Somehow "Ursus Imbibus" had tracked me down.and he wasn't happy about it. Suffice it to say that my sleep was disturbed. A restful night it was not and I could tell he was super mad about having to come to Cheshire because he'd smacked me in the head extra hard.
It took me more than a few hours and a couple of cups of coffee to get my brain even close to working right. However, I managed to get myself together enough to make my way out for lunch.
I had to get petrol so I drove down to the Sainsbury's near the Cheshire Oaks shopping centre and popped into the Old Hall Farm pub.
However, the place was rather busy and the menu wasn't quite what I was looking for. I fell back on an old favourite and headed over to The Rake (a Hungry Horse pub) a short distance away.
I order the all Day Breakfast and a pint. It took me the best part of an hour to finish the pint. The food took substantially less.
In due course, I parked up outside of Chezger and made my way inside being the first to arrive. I declined another beer and Ger and I sat outside and whiled away the time as the remainder of the field made their arrivals.
Game time rolled around and I had a couple more beers and was starting to feel better. However, this did not help my play and I left the fray in the first few making a move with AK that was torn a new one by AA.
GG Paulie..you fish!
Left pretty much to my own devices (don't you just hate being one of the first out?) I ended up sitting watching X-Factor.something I just don't do.
However, it had a soporific effect and after the previous night I wasn't feeling up to snuff. I was hoping to get a small PLO8 game going but the action going on in the converted garage was some crazy version of cards that I'd never heard of; 11-card double flop Omaha I think.
Not my cup of tea.
Although it was my earnest wish to enjoy the weekend, I was dog tired and I had a long drive the next day so I regretfully called it a night before midnight. I made by goodbyes to Ger, Phil, Stu, JP and a few others and drove back to my lodgings.
In the morning after a proper night's sleep I made the straight run back to home in three and a quarter hours (Avg 68.9mph, I just worked out).I may have bent a couple of speed limits there.
Yarm next..Lord help me
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 10, 2012, 13:29:04 PM
INVASION: YARM
Well that happened.
Ok...perhaps not but I spent a great deal of time...
1. Getting drunk (quietly I hope) 2. Being drunk (ditto) 3. Asleep in the pub/casino 4. Asleep in the hotel 5. Awake in the hotel (but regretting it) 6. Hungover
I could expound..and probably will at some point but I"m kinda slammed at work at the moment..and I"m not used to that.
Things I"ve learned from visiting Yarm..
Phil TC will actually give up his bed for you.
When Phil offered me a bed for the night I didn"t realise he was doing this and I didn"t learn it was his until after I"d left his abode. Frankly, I"m blown away by the hospitality of the man.
Hugs!
Phil has the bounciest, cutest and most adorable dog
I like dogs but Bonnie is the bees patellas.
More Hugs!
Lucy Amos is cuter and nicer than Bonnie
I"m not surprised they"ve kept her to themselves...gits.
Super Hugs!
Beer makes me sleepy
Fair enough...this isn"t news to me but sheesh, I was tired all the time. It must be the northern air...or something.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: HOLDorFOLD on October 10, 2012, 22:07:44 PM
I"m not surprised they"ve kept her to themselves...gits.
Super Hugs!
Aww :$ Thank you, I had a fantastic time too :) "super hugs" take two, looking forward to more of these :) You"re all super lovely people!! :) Can"t wait till next time...
xxx
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 16, 2012, 15:26:59 PM
So...the next entry on the "official"* APAT calendar is the UK & Home International Team Championship and the United Kingdom Amateur Poker Championship in Stoke.
I"ve stuck my neck out and put my name forward for a spot on one of the three England teams...something I"ve never done before. I"ve never really seen myself as THAT good but I"ve gone deep in more than a few APAT events over the years and the team schedule includes PLO which is my #2 game (after PLO8).
I think I"m in with a shot for a wildcard/rookie spot but the captains will, no doubt, have some tough decisions to make.
I"m definitely going..hotel is booked already for Friday - Sunday (I found a monster deal with Premier Inn) and the drive from home shouldn"t be more than 3 hours or so.
After that...it"s Vegas (baby!)...and that, he said hopefully, will be awesome, mostly because Ger will be there for a week but it looks like some old mates from the London Poker Meetup might be there for a few days as well.
* Official..because I can"t make the unofficial Portugal gathering...funds do not permit. DAMN IT!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2012, 13:41:16 PM
Weyhey....called up for the "C" Team.*
* I"m just going to leave that one on the table and see who picks it up.
On looking through the schedule for the UK & Ireland Home Championships it looks like kick-off is 2.30pm.
On thinking about it that means I"d likely have to be there from 1pm - 1.30pm to get the admin & photos done which means I"d have to leave home about 9 am on Friday morning for the drive. Ugh.
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
Dunno if it"s worth it to be honest but I would be fresh for the rigours of the battle ahead the next day and I could scout the area too.
I"ll think some more.
Tempting.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on October 30, 2012, 19:24:51 PM
* I"m just going to leave that one on the table and see who picks it up.
On looking through the schedule for the UK & Ireland Home Championships it looks like kick-off is 2.30pm.
On thinking about it that means I"d likely have to be there from 1pm - 1.30pm to get the admin & photos done which means I"d have to leave home about 9 am on Friday morning for the drive. Ugh.
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
Dunno if it"s worth it to be honest but I would be fresh for the rigours of the battle ahead the next day and I could scout the area too.
I"ll think some more.
Tempting.
Just to tempt you even more - the Aquarium have a cheapy rebuy on the Thursday and it"s less than 40 miles away (ish)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2012, 19:55:37 PM
* I"m just going to leave that one on the table and see who picks it up.
On looking through the schedule for the UK & Ireland Home Championships it looks like kick-off is 2.30pm.
On thinking about it that means I"d likely have to be there from 1pm - 1.30pm to get the admin & photos done which means I"d have to leave home about 9 am on Friday morning for the drive. Ugh.
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
Dunno if it"s worth it to be honest but I would be fresh for the rigours of the battle ahead the next day and I could scout the area too.
I"ll think some more.
Tempting.
Just to tempt you even more - the Aquarium have a cheapy rebuy on the Thursday and it"s less than 40 miles away (ish)
True but I have two casinos within a 5/10 minute drive in Stoke....just saying!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Sugar_Free on October 30, 2012, 20:34:36 PM
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
That"s what I"m doing, booked it today
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 30, 2012, 21:03:08 PM
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
Pull the trigger and I will 8)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 31, 2012, 09:31:20 AM
I"m mulling over leaving work early on Thursday (or just sacking off work completely), belting up the M1/M6 and doing Thursday night at the PI for £30.
I think the Genting (http://www.gentingcasinos.co.uk/club/stoke/)has a £20+£10 on Thursdays...at least according to their site.
The Grosvenor (http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/local-casinos/stoke)is a little less informative.
Frankly...I know of a pub [ The Old Plough Inn ] (http://goo.gl/maps/z7hwT) that"s supposed to be decent close to both...or there is a Harvester nearby too.
I know which I prefer....:)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 31, 2012, 10:03:57 AM
Arriving Thursday, pub gets my vote
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 31, 2012, 10:11:48 AM
England C"s official railbird will be there too :)
You"re gonna have to be more specific....
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 06, 2012, 14:52:16 PM
In a desperate attempt to keep any updates about Portugal off the APAT radar, I have been "finalising" the arrangements for my December Vegas Trip.
I"ve ordered a US sim card with unlimited data from MrSimCard (http://www.mrsimcard.com/s-simpleusa.html) which has shipped...apparently. It gets activated on 16/12 and I"ll be ready to go when I land...from memory.
I"ve also reserved a room at the Gatwick Holiday Inn on Sunday, 16th for £108 including 21 days parking. Overall that"ll cost me £128 which is still cheaper than taxis each way and/or parking at any of the decent long stay car parks...plus I won"t have any hassles in being on time for my flight.
I still have to confirm up the Xmas meal for me & Ger (emails being fired off)...but I have the 1st pub crawl already planned out.
Only 4 locations this time...[Map] (https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Naked+City+Pizza+Shop,+Arville+Street,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Crown+%26+Anchor+British+Pub,+4755+Spring+Mountain+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89102+to:Money+Plays,+West+Flamingo+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States+to:McMullan"s+Irish+Pub,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.124911,-115.185814&spn=0.059276,0.132093&sll=36.112986,-115.189376&sspn=0.029642,0.066047&geocode=FcZPJwIdNzQi-SFmIEFwyLncNCkNPGBErsbIgDFmIEFwyLncNA%3BFbo9JwIdRxki-SkBV4imsMbIgDFzp0tPcYwzlw%3BFbMSJwIdHxoi-SGaw8QkhaTVCykT2q0QlsbIgDGaw8QkhaTVCw%3BFandJgIduBwi-SEV6xoO1MqaNCkpwLfGjsbIgDEV6xoO1MqaNA&oq=Money+&mra=ltm&t=m&z=14)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 06, 2012, 15:25:32 PM
I meant Lucy mate, she is coming down for the full weekend :)
Obv got her signed up as our official cheerleader as she brings the run goooood!!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 06, 2012, 15:31:07 PM
Only 4 locations this time...[Map] (https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Naked+City+Pizza+Shop,+Arville+Street,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Crown+%26+Anchor+British+Pub,+4755+Spring+Mountain+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89102+to:Money+Plays,+West+Flamingo+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States+to:McMullan"s+Irish+Pub,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.124911,-115.185814&spn=0.059276,0.132093&sll=36.112986,-115.189376&sspn=0.029642,0.066047&geocode=FcZPJwIdNzQi-SFmIEFwyLncNCkNPGBErsbIgDFmIEFwyLncNA%3BFbo9JwIdRxki-SkBV4imsMbIgDFzp0tPcYwzlw%3BFbMSJwIdHxoi-SGaw8QkhaTVCykT2q0QlsbIgDGaw8QkhaTVCw%3BFandJgIduBwi-SEV6xoO1MqaNCkpwLfGjsbIgDEV6xoO1MqaNA&oq=Money+&mra=ltm&t=m&z=14)
A fecking Pizza shop - have you lost your mind 8)
Edit: As you were - it has a bar.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on November 06, 2012, 18:52:44 PM
Only 4 locations this time...[Map] (https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Naked+City+Pizza+Shop,+Arville+Street,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Crown+%26+Anchor+British+Pub,+4755+Spring+Mountain+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89102+to:Money+Plays,+West+Flamingo+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States+to:McMullan"s+Irish+Pub,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.124911,-115.185814&spn=0.059276,0.132093&sll=36.112986,-115.189376&sspn=0.029642,0.066047&geocode=FcZPJwIdNzQi-SFmIEFwyLncNCkNPGBErsbIgDFmIEFwyLncNA%3BFbo9JwIdRxki-SkBV4imsMbIgDFzp0tPcYwzlw%3BFbMSJwIdHxoi-SGaw8QkhaTVCykT2q0QlsbIgDGaw8QkhaTVCw%3BFandJgIduBwi-SEV6xoO1MqaNCkpwLfGjsbIgDEV6xoO1MqaNA&oq=Money+&mra=ltm&t=m&z=14)
A fecking Pizza shop - have you lost your mind 8)
Edit: As you were - it has a bar.
The pizza place is actually inside Mondoggies....think Tiki (I"m just saying!)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 15, 2012, 23:05:06 PM
I really should do a write about Stoke but Vegas is coming up.
In the meantime, Just got my US number
(310) 988 0672
Won"t be turned on until Monday 2pm LV time.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on December 15, 2012, 23:13:03 PM
Have a great trip and regular updates obv. please.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on December 15, 2012, 23:15:17 PM
US number locked in - mine is of course my normal one ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Logie66 on December 16, 2012, 09:44:36 AM
Safe trip Paulie, see you at the end of the week.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on December 16, 2012, 10:52:49 AM
Have a great time mate, scout out for an APAT trip in 2013
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Supernova on December 16, 2012, 13:59:40 PM
Have a safe trip & a fabulous time Paulie :) x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 18, 2012, 15:56:02 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: fandango on December 18, 2012, 16:01:03 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on December 18, 2012, 16:08:10 PM
Loads of photos and stories please. God.. I miss Vegas SO F*CKING MUCH. Enjoy mate x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AMRN on December 18, 2012, 16:54:18 PM
Still never been, but not jealous (much). Looking forward to following this - keep it coming Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on December 18, 2012, 18:13:24 PM
Thursday Land @ 12.35 local time Security hassle 1 hour Fight with taxi driver 25 minutes Check in 30 minutes Freshen up 20 minutes
Ready to rock and roll @ approx 3pm - name the bar oh Travel Guru - name the bar ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 18, 2012, 19:06:08 PM
Well, I don"t know...I don"t have a lot of experience in this area.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on December 18, 2012, 19:08:39 PM
I am sure you will think of something - get on it ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Logie66 on December 18, 2012, 23:33:12 PM
Friday Land @ 18.20 local time Security hassle 1 hour Fight with taxi driver 25 minutes Check in 30 minutes Freshen up 20 minutes
Ready for beer !! approx 20:35
Can"t wait !!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 19, 2012, 00:50:09 AM
Hmm. I may have to post the address of where Ger and I will be then.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Cyntaf on December 19, 2012, 03:45:10 AM
I am jealous, and i won"t be there.
Here"s hoping you all have a great time........and win lots................... :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on December 19, 2012, 10:43:48 AM
Thursday Land @ 12.35 local time Security hassle 1 hour Fight with taxi driver 25 minutes Check in 30 minutes Freshen up 20 minutes Ready to rock and roll @ approx 3pm - name the bar oh Travel Guru - name the bar ;D
Well that"s a load of BS, it"ll never take you 20 whole minutes to freshen up, more like 20 seconds!!!!!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 19, 2012, 15:47:21 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 2
Blue Moon Over Vegas
I can’t say that I had the greatest nights sleep but, fortunately, I had ample opportunity to get a nap or two in the morning as, as is usual when I’m in Las Vegas, I’m not planning on leaving the room until noon.
Perhaps it was the delayed sleep after the long flight or the mix of Belgian Beers (the Timmerman Strawberry was very nice) that’s got my sleep clock off a little.
Still the bed is very comfortable.
I did make one discovery this morning, the workdesk does have a power point. It was practically right under my nose but since it was black it was discretely blending into the dark wood panelling surrounding the desk. At least that’s my story.
Noon rolled around and I headed out for something to eat and, of course, to get some cards in the air.
I had a number of reasons for choosing TI as part of my hotel medley, one was the price since I got a pretty good deal (pre-resort fee), the second was the fact that I like checking out hotels I haven’t stayed at before and the final reason was location.
Right opposite the Venetian. That’s right, I can walk out of my room, out of the casino, over the walkway crossing the Strip and be in the Poker room in under 10 minutes. That’s at my walking pace...I reckon anyone else could do it in five.
However, I popped into the big Walgreens store next to the Venetian to buy a bottle of JD Honey for my evening visit (of which more later).
As I said, food was...erm...on the menu, and I wanted to try out Rattlecan, a beer and burger restaurant next door to the poker room at the V.
Heavyish metal / Rock playing over the sound system is my kind of thing especially when it’s not cranked up so high that you can’t hear yourself think. First order of business was a beer though and I have a fondness for Blue Moon...and they have it on draft. Would I like a large one, as a matter of fact, I would. A 20oz iced glass is in front of me in seconds and I’m necking it in no time.
I order their signature burger...hell why not...and that fills a hole...as does another Blue Moon.
Not cheap though, the burger was around $18 and the beers were $11 each. The final toll was over $40 and I left a generous tip for the very attentive (and attractive naturally) girl behind the bar.
Suitably refreshed I got my name down on the list for some 4/8 Omaha 8/b but had to wait for while before a seat opened up.
Lord, I’d forgotten how these players love their poor draws. Even though I won the very first hand by flopping the nut low / nut flush and got paid on every street, I still managed to get out drawn more than a few times in the intervening 4 hours. Backdoor everything seemed to ge there, oh, you have a 4 outer to a higher boat than mine...here you go!
Whatever, I dropped about $130 and will chalk it up to first day lessons.
I had made contact with the people at the Vegas Video Network (http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/)some time ago regarding the possibility of making a visit while I was in town.
VVN is a small video company specialising in marketing video, podcasts and the like. However, they have two or three weekly podcasts which, if you are interested in the Vegas ‘scene’, as I am, bear watching.
I jumped in a cab about 5.15 and made my way over to their studio facility on Convention Center Drive (a short walk from the Peppermill Lounge) and was finally able to meet the people I had been tweeting with back and forth for some time. I know that conversation was mentioned during the taping (towards the end) but whether it will make it into the final cut I don’t know.
Take it from me, they don’t take themselves seriously...at all. It was a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the making of a podcast and I plan to make a visit a regular feature on my future Vegas trips.
My main contact there was Jacob, their Technical Director, and we made tentative plans to get together for a few drinks on Saturday. I think Ger and Don will get a kick out of it too.
When the video goes up on YouTube, I’ll embed it here. It’s only about an hour long.
I was done and dusted by 8pm and after making my goodbyes made my way back out into the cold Vegas evening.
Of course, being the numpty that I am, I had forgotten to consider how I was going to get back to my hotel which was about a mile away. Did I do the sensible thing and call a taxi from the hotel opposite...of course not, I’m an idiot.
So I walked it. Now, I know that for the most of you this is a trivial thing but I’m old and fat and by the time I’d trudged my way to TI I was in a world of hurt, legs aching, dogs barking and, oddly, with an aching back.
There was only one possible cure. Beef and Beer. The logical place for both was Gilleys but I avoided the bar area (with mechanical bull) and made my way to the front for the restaurant area facing the strip.
Blue Moon again?...Ohhhh, yes please. Plate of meat with that? You bet.
Now the food offering wasn’t anything to write home about (or I would be writing about it) but the Blue Moon didn"t let me down.
Nor did the 4th or 5th. By the time I was finished, most of the aches and pains had subsided but I was also in no state for much of anything else so I chose the sensible option and retired relatively early.
Gotta pace yourself you know.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 20, 2012, 16:07:52 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 21, 2012, 17:05:12 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 4
Santa Ger Is Coming To Town
Thursday rolled around as it tends to do after Wednesday and my stay at TI is now at an end. So, it’s Moving Day v1.0 and I’m due to switch over to Harrahs.
I check out of TI and take a cab over to Harrahs, I don’t the the cab driver was too impressed with the short ride but a hefty tip percentage seemed to appease him.
Official check in time wasn’t until 4pm but they squeezed me in and I was comfortably esconsed in my room by 1pm.
Decent sized room in the Carnaval Tower. Certainly, I think it’s larger than the one I had last year.
The view isn’t great but if you look closely you can see the some of pylons that will hold up the new giant ferris wheel / observation thingy that’s going up behind the Linq.
Needing food, I examine each of the offerings available to me in Harrahs before falling back on an old favourite, Toby Keith’s Bar. Several beers and a plate of chicken tenders later, Ger enters the bar....somewhat later than I expected
Apparently, he’d got my text telling him where I was, about 3.30 but I hadn’t gotten a reply. Turns out he’d programmed my number wrong into his phone.
We have a few beers although Ger seemed put out that he was drinking his out of a ‘jam jar’ as he called it.
It wasn’t long before he’s off talking to random strangers as he tends to do.
Perhaps he finds me boring?
Anyway, after a couple, he asks me for a plan of action and I suggest Miller’s Ale House which is south of the airport in a shopping / restaurant complex called Town Square. We cab it down and arrive in th early evening.
I immediately introduce Ger into the delights of Blue Moon and he seems to like it. We share our admiration for Linsey the bartender (sorry no picture) but as usual Ger is off talking to randoms again.
The first thing one of them said was ‘Which part of Scotland are you guys from?” Wow, talk about wrong on so many levels. Regardless, Ger chats to them for a while before coming back and says, quietly, to me “The only things missing from those guys is a white sheet and a pointy hat”. I was amused.
After only a couple of pints, I can tell Ger really isn’t into it and when he suggests going back to the hotel I agree. The long flight can really take it out of you.
We ask the hostess to call us a cab and he pulls up almost immediately and is, as usual, subjected to an interrogation by The Duke about whether he’s happy in his work and whether I he’s having a good day. Sometimes...sigh.
We’re back at the hotel by 7pm and Ger wants to play Pai Gow. I feel like getting my feet wet so we jump on a $10 table. I think Ger made it another 90 minutes or so before deciding that rest was required and reminds me that Chezger don’t do mornings before going to crash.
I should have taken that as a sign but I stayed and in the space of 4 hours spanked off $200. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I got full beer value as the cocktail waitress was somewhat slow in coming around. Oh well, I have the hang of it now.
Not the rollicking pub crawl you were expecting I can guess. I’ll see what I can come up with when Don gets in this evening.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on December 21, 2012, 20:33:15 PM
what can I say, lightweight, today will be better after a good rest.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 23, 2012, 16:56:17 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 23, 2012, 17:16:52 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 6
Here Kitty, Kitty
I’d made plans with Jacob from the Vegas Video Network to meet up at some point on Saturday and got email suggesting we meet at Lagasse’s Stadium a sports book cum lounge in the Palazzo.
Ger, had apparently been up since very early and was back on the 3 card poker but we walked over arriving at around 11.15.
Jacob arrived dead on 11.30 and we enjoyed a few more Blue Moons and chatted for a couple of hours before we called it a day. Very nice chap, Jacob. He has an English wife and so is fully aware of the differences in the US and UK cultures and has some stories to tell of his own.
Anyway, we’re done bu, I guess, 1.30 and we say goodbye to Jacob and cab over to Ceasar’s where Don is playing the noon tourney.
When we arrive he’s still in so Ger an I decide to ride the 3 card poker train to Drinksville at the nearby Pu$$ycat Dolls ‘Lounge’ while waiting for him to finish.
Once again, I have plans to make an evening of it by hitting up a couple of places ending at McMullans. As it’s about, I dunno, 2.30 or so, I decide that I will get in a ‘beer nap’ and be fully refreshed for the evening. I walk back to Harrahs past the shell of O’Sheas and the construction surrounding the Quad and get my head down about 3pm I guess.
And that’s all she wrote. Not so much a beer nap as an outright 7 hour coma. Feck, I must have REALLY needed to sleep as I just don’t normally sleep more than 6 hours on a good night.
So there it is, another plan in tatters and on checking my phone I don’t have any messages so I guess I haven’t been missed.
I really can’t summon up the effort to get up again, track down Don and Ger and try and salvage anything so I just chalk it up to experience and slide back under the covers.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 25, 2012, 19:29:51 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 7
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together...Mostly
After yesterday's fiasco, I was more than determined to get some sort of bar trip in today.
As usual I dossed about in the room until I received a text from Ger that he and Don were heading over to Caesars' Palace to play the noon competition. My initial thought was to head over to the Hash House A Go Go in the IP Quad for a late plateful of breakfast but that plan had to be scrapped when I rocked up and the place was rammed.
Muppet that I am, I'd overlooked the fact that it was Sunday and the whole of Vegas turns out for a late breakfast on Sundays. Oh well. I made my way out of the Quad and could see that although they've made some strides in putting in new signage and re-organising the layout there is still a long way to go until they fully strip out all of the old theming.
I walked over the road to Serendity 3, just outside of Caesars and took a table outside for a bit of people watching. They do the BEST chicken strips with a honey mustard dip that is to die for.
Oh and Blue Moon too. I lingered over the meal and a couple more beers before making my way into the Caesars poker room about 2pm or so.
Ger was just standing up bubbling the final table although Don was still in. Apparently, the competition had only started with 20 runners and so they were only paying top 2.
Ger went back to the hotel for a quick power nap and I hoped he wouldn't have the same experience as me in that endeavour.
I railed Don for a while until he went out in about 6th and we decided to cab over to the Orleans with the idea of going over to McMullans later in the evening.
First port of call was TGI Fridays inside the Orleans so Don could eat...and had a couple of Blue Moons.
Then it was time to properly introduce Don to Pai Gow so we took a seat and played for hour or two until Ger showed up. I cashed out a mere $25 down and chatted to Ger until it was time to walk over the road to McMullans.
John Windsor was already giving his all and I had a couple more Blue Moons...well more than a couple...I think.
It starts to get a bit hazy after that. I think I remember Don leaving and certainly Ger hung around, probably to make sure I didn't hurt myself.
I remember having a good time but eventually I must have been persuaded to leave as I also remember walking back to the Orleans to catch a cab.
I made it back to the room with little difficulty...I think.
Something furry this way comes.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 25, 2012, 19:48:31 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 8
Bear With Me
Ursis Imbibus, the drinking bear has come to town and taken up residence in Room 1742 of the Carnaval Tower of Harrahs Hotel and Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oh Jeez. I did not feel at all well on Christmas Eve morning.
I let myself suffer for quite a while before sticking my head out of the room. A good solid meal was on the cards so I staggered down to the Coffee Shop / Cafe for a good old fashioned steak, eggs and hash browns with coffee and OJ. That'll set me up right.
I lingered over a second cup before deciding what to do for the day. Nothing really appealed but I decided that I would give the Venetian another shot. That place is certainly turning out to be my kryptonite...in fact, I think I said the same thing last year.
I'm honestly not sure if it's the players there or whether it's just me but I just don't seem to be able to beat that game.
Although I did have to wait for a seat I did eventually get seated and after another several hours I was down another $100.
Enough. Unfortunately, I'd picked the wrong time to get up and eat as the V was packed and every mother's son was trying to do the same thing. I decided to walk back to Harrahs and perhaps get food the KGB Burger Bar.
That hope was dashed as that place was shut for some reason so on to Toby Keiths for chicken and beer.
I had a few, texted Ger but received no reply so I hung out for a while until the live band started playing.....loud.
Time for bed...again.
Santa's coming tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 28, 2012, 01:01:52 AM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 9
Not As Good As My Mum's Cooking Though
I had left out milk and cookies ( OK, Redbulll and Doritos ) for Santa but somehow he hadn't managed to find me in fabulous Las Vegas as there were no presents for me except for some idiot's alarm clock going off next door.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, I was on the 'naughty' list.
Naturally I fell into a slough of despond and refused to leave the room until noon...oh wait, that's normal for me here isn't it?
I got a text from Ger asking what the plan was (he's a forgetful old duffer sometimes) so I texted back the details once again but also made my way downstairs to find him playing (much as expected 3 card poker).
I collected Ger and Don and we jumped into a taxi and drove over to the Crown and Anchor on E.Tropicana.
I have to say that the decor is a little too Britishy. It's as though it's an American's idea of what a British Pub is supposed to look like, this despite the fact that it's owned by two British guys.
I suppose they are aiming at the college crowd which is their main stock in trade rather than the unlikely Brit who wanders 15 minutes from the strip being desperate for a pint of Bass.
More to our liking were the buxom miniskirted (tartan miniskirt...I suppose that's Brirtish...sort of) young ladies serving us. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go into stalker mode and get a picture for you. Don was the only British beer drinker with a pint of Newcastle, while Ger had Coors Light and I continued my love affair with Belgian Whites with something called Pyramid.
We'd arrived early but after an hour we took our seats in the main seating area ready for our Chritsmas. Very nice it was too. Plenty of it with loverly gravy and stuffing followed by Christmas Pudding with Brandy Custard.
Of course, by 3pm, the usual post-lunch stupor had set in and we were sitting there stuffed to the gills on the verge of falling asleep.
Paying the bill we ordered a cab which took us back to Harrahs. Naturally, Ger was immediately on the 3 card poker table while Don and I retired to our respective rooms for a nap.
I came down a few hours later and played some Pai Gow with Ger and surprise guest Lee Mulligan but my heart wasn't really in it and after only a couple of hours I left him to it. Not sure what happened to Don.
EDIT: Apparently, we WERE joined by Don who has now learned how to operate an alarm clock.
Hope yours was as fun as ours.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 28, 2012, 01:10:48 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Logie66 on December 28, 2012, 01:48:19 AM
I think you forgot I joined you at the Pai Gow on day nine Paulie, was late after I forgot to change my alarm to PM.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 28, 2012, 01:52:00 AM
I think you forgot I joined you at the Pai Gow on day nine Paulie, was late after I forgot to change my alarm to PM.
Entirely possible, Don....sometimes the Pai Gow beer bonus can make one forgetful.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Logie66 on December 28, 2012, 01:57:49 AM
Enjoy New Year and the rest of your time in Vegas ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 29, 2012, 05:07:39 AM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 11
The Company Is Sundered
And lo, it was on the seventh day of their joint sojourn (and the eleventh in this adventure) that the merrie company of Ger the Wise, Don the Unshaven and Paulie the Rotund was divided as Ger and Don were, perforce, required to return to their native lands whilst the gallant Paulie continued on his trek alone.
Checkout time is 11am, which is a shock to the system when you aren’t used to leaving the room until midday.
However, we all managed to check out and dump our bags at the bell desk before heading back indoors for some breakfast.
Silly time to do it really as everyone is having breakfast at 11am apparently. We queued for a while at the Cafe in Harrahs watching the degenerate gamblers ( Diamond Status) get priority over us mere mortals.
However, we were eventually seated and I tucked into what can only be described as a significant portion of a pig slapped on a plate. Coffee and OJ...you betcha!
Don very kindly picked up the check thanks to his luckboxing a chop at Caesars the day before. We were done by noon, I guess and with nothing to do until check in time (for me) and flight time for Ger and Don there was only one option. Pai Gow.
We sat for a couple of hours until Don went for a wander so we said our goodbyes then and Ger shook my hand a little while later and disappeared into the mists of legend via taxi to Terminal 3 of McCarran airport.
I jumped in a can to the Venetian making sure to tip the cab driver heavily for the short journey.
Here’s a small tip for for you. Your minimum spend in a Vegas cab should always be $10 even if he’s driving you next door. The poor sod has probably had to queue for some time in the rank at wherever you picked him up.
Now your lazy azz comes along and wants a cab from Harrahs to the Venetian. Sure it’s a 10 minute walk but you’re lugging 35kg of bags with you and you really don’t want to walk.
So he has to carry you that short distance, giving up his place in the queue and join the back of a new queue.
Tip the man. I apologised for the short haul and gave him $15 for a $5 fare. I’m a high-roller me.
Check in at the V was a lovely procedure and much nicer than other places I’ve visited. A short walk to the elevators and a long walk down the corridor to my suite (thank you very much).
Feck me you get a lot of room for your money. I’d never shell out normal rates for all this, I just don’t need it.
I declined the $45 a night upgrade for a Strip view which means I get a view of the mountains in the distance across a roofscape and the sound of air conditioning units. Actually, it’s like white noise...quite restful actually.
I lounged for a while just taking it all in.Lucky I’m not really paying for it. Thanks Holiday Inn Points.
However, the siren song of poker was calling, although I stopped off at the Grand Lux Cafe first for some, as usual, top notch food and Blue Moon.
A mere 6 hour session for a grand total of....nothing...I think I may have broken my streak. I broke EVEN...hell, with the $2 an hour comps I might even have some out ahead. I’ll take it.
A later night for me than has been the case before and I watched some TV for an hour or so even after getting back to the room. I guess I finally succumbed to the tender mercies of Morpheus about 2.30.
Bliss.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 29, 2012, 05:28:45 AM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 12
A Kryptonite Immunity?
As I said before, the bed here at the V is very comfortable and what withe the late night before, I slept very well indeed.
I pottered around the extensive room before emerging at my normal time of noon. I was in a funny kind of mood. My stomach was telling me that it needed something but I couldn't make up my mind what it was.
The Grand Lux was kind of busy and I'm not a real Food Court fan. Noodle Asia, perhaps but it just seemed wrong to each asian food for lunch.
I eventually settled on Rattlecan again for the proximity to the poker room and the simplicity of the menu. Beer and burgers basically.
However, I wasn't really ready for a heavy meal so I settled on chicken strips, just an appetizer really. Just something to satisfy whatever vague need my belly seemed to have. A couple of beers helped to.
I lingered over the second beer before making my way into the Poker Room and being seated immediately.
Could I improve on NOT losing any money this time? As it turns out, I could and over a 6 hour stint made $150...not bad, it'll just about cover my food bill for the day.
Speaking of which, I'm not really a restaurant type person, I'd rather sit at the bar and eat which is why the Grand Lux gets my adoration so much...that and it's by the restrooms and near the elevators.
A rack of ribs and 3 Blue Moons (the third of which was complimentary, thank you) and I was stuffed.
I considered going back to the table but decided not to. The dynamic when I left was already starting to change to a more...erm....challenging one so I elected to take the win and leave it there.
I mithered on the slots for a while before deciding to call it a night. I really have to check out some other eating establishments tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on December 31, 2012, 00:26:56 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Bigfella42 on December 31, 2012, 23:29:46 PM
Great updates Paulie and that room at the Venetian looks awesome. Happy New Year.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on December 31, 2012, 23:44:45 PM
Great updates Paulie and that room at the Venetian looks awesome. Happy New Year.
yep, enjoying this v much. Happy New Year matey.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 01, 2013, 18:20:31 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 01, 2013, 18:54:10 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on January 01, 2013, 19:00:28 PM
Vegas trip sounds awesome, we need a few of us out there again next this year, enjoy the rest of it
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on January 01, 2013, 19:06:02 PM
Happy New Year Paulie xx
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Supernova on January 01, 2013, 21:29:04 PM
Wonderful writing as ever Sir Scribe, happy New Year -xXx-
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 02, 2013, 19:33:00 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 16
New Day, New Year...Same Sh*t
Somehow I managed to avoid the bear last night...perhaps the Irish coffee I was on at the end helped.
Well, here we are, the first day of 2013 folks and we’ve survived the Mayan Apocalypse.
The schmuck who first said it would be on 21/12/12 obviously had no clue since December probably didn’t even exist in the time of the Mayans. I tried to start a rumour on that date that the calculations were so precise that it had been narrowed down to 6pm Pacific Time...like THAT existed then too.
People were asking if New York would get it three hours early...morons!
On a personal front, my own apocalypse on the poker front continued after a healthy steak, eggs and hash browns breakfast in the Courtyard Cafe.
Perhaps it’s variance, perhaps 4/8 O8 isn’t my game after all. Dunno, I used to do all right here.
Admittedly, it took four hours to lose the $100 but I could see which way the wind was blowing, so I got up and wandered off; without a plan.
On a side note, I have to confess that I’ve broken into the reserve cash I brought with me. This is the money I’d hoped to come back with (at least) but brought just in case. Poker has not been as kind to me as I had expected and the first week or so playing table games intermittently with Ger has eaten a chunk I wouldn’t normally have used.
Plus, three weeks is a LONG time when you’re eating and drinking as well as I am; but then I am on holiday and I deserve it. I refuse to start eating cheaply on holiday...false economy I call it.
No-one’s fault but my own and, as I said, it’s a planned reserve....I haven’t hit the ATM yet and don’t plan to.
I considered a movie but wasn’t in the mood. I needed something mindless, cheap and with beer. Unfortunately, Stu Ward wasn’t available so I settled for $5 Pai Gow with a $1 bonus.
That did the trick. I sat there for several hours with a great bunch of people having a ball while the lovely Cheryl brought me a bottle every time she came round. I think she might have been on roller skates a couple of times.
Now you’d expect the hottest cocktail waitresses to be in the swanqiest (censor spelling) places in Las Vegas and to a certain extent that’s true. What is also true is that a lot of the places are unionised and seniority counts.
That means that a 50 year old waitress with many years in gets priority about which shifts she works. Ask Ger about some of the somewhat dubious lookers at Harrahs.
Where they aren’t unionised (AFAIK) then the girls tend to be (sorry) hotter. The Orleans is one such place. The poker room at the IP used to be the same.
Not sure I can get a photo, I don’t have the testicular fortitude to ask. Suffice it to say, they eye candy is pretty tasty.
Anyway, after sitting there for about 4 hours I was $3 in profit (not including the beer bonus which I had mulllahed) so I tipped that to the dealer and went in search of food.
Big Al’s Oyster Bar caught my eye. Not that I was planning on oysters. I like them but they go down too easy and in my state there was a good chance they’d come back the same way.
Nope, I huge bowl of Louisiana gumbo please. Utterly gorgeous with a some hot sauce thrown in. Even with my prodigious effort I couldn’t quite finish it...almost but not quite.
After that I could feel a food coma coming on so sometime around 10.30 I went back to the room and chilled watching TV.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on January 02, 2013, 19:42:41 PM
I considered a movie but wasn't in the mood. I needed something mindless, cheap and with beer. Unfortunately, Stu Ward wasn't available so I settled for $5 Pai Gow with a $1 bonus.
Somehow I managed to avoid the bear last night...perhaps the Irish coffee I was on at the end helped.
Well, here we are, the first day of 2013 folks and we've survived the Mayan Apocalypse.
The schmuck who first said it would be on 21/12/12 obviously had no clue since December probably didn't even exist in the time of the Mayans. I tried to start a rumour on that date that the calculations were so precise that it had been narrowed down to 6pm Pacific Time...like THAT existed then too.
People were asking if New York would get it three hours early...morons!
On a personal front, my own apocalypse on the poker front continued after a healthy steak, eggs and hash browns breakfast in the Courtyard Cafe.
Perhaps it's variance, perhaps 4/8 O8 isn't my game after all. Dunno, I used to do all right here.
Admittedly, it took four hours to lose the $100 but I could see which way the wind was blowing, so I got up and wandered off; without a plan.
On a side note, I have to confess that I've broken into the reserve cash I brought with me. This is the money I'd hoped to come back with (at least) but brought just in case. Poker has not been as kind to me as I had expected and the first week or so playing table games intermittently with Ger has eaten a chunk I wouldn't normally have used.
Plus, three weeks is a LONG time when you're eating and drinking as well as I am; but then I am on holiday and I deserve it. I refuse to start eating cheaply on holiday...false economy I call it.
No-one's fault but my own and, as I said, it's a planned reserve....I haven't hit the ATM yet and don't plan to.
I considered a movie but wasn't in the mood. I needed something mindless, cheap and with beer. Unfortunately, Stu Ward wasn't available so I settled for $5 Pai Gow with a $1 bonus.
That did the trick. I sat there for several hours with a great bunch of people having a ball while the lovely Cheryl brought me a bottle every time she came round. I think she might have been on roller skates a couple of times.
Now you'd expect the hottest cocktail waitresses to be in the swanqiest (censor spelling) places in Las Vegas and to a certain extent that's true. What is also true is that a lot of the places are unionised and seniority counts.
That means that a 50 year old waitress with many years in gets priority about which shifts she works. Ask Ger about some of the somewhat dubious lookers at Harrahs.
Where they aren't unionised (AFAIK) then the girls tend to be (sorry) hotter. The Orleans is one such place. The poker room at the IP used to be the same.
Not sure I can get a photo, I don't have the testicular fortitude to ask. Suffice it to say, they eye candy is pretty tasty.
Anyway, after sitting there for about 4 hours I was $3 in profit (not including the beer bonus which I had mulllahed) so I tipped that to the dealer and went in search of food.
Big Al's Oyster Bar caught my eye. Not that I was planning on oysters. I like them but they go down too easy and in my state there was a good chance they'd come back the same way.
Nope, I huge bowl of Louisiana gumbo please. Utterly gorgeous with a some hot sauce thrown in. Even with my prodigious effort I couldn't quite finish it...almost but not quite.
After that I could feel a food coma coming on so sometime around 10.30 I went back to the room and chilled watching TV.
I"ll have an "H" please Bob............
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on January 02, 2013, 20:49:37 PM
The last section of this excursion was always intended, at least by me, to be a time of rest and relaxation from the previous hustle and bustle.
Of course, as it turns out the last few days have sort of started that process so I'm not entirely sure how to proceed.
I checked out of the Orleans about noon (which is a nice change from the usual 11am) with the intention of getting some breakfast and going to see The Hobbit to kill the intervening time until I could check in to the Monte Carlo.
Unfortunately, due me being a muppet I'd missed the fact that the film schedule had changed and I'd missed the start time while scoffing my steak and eggs.
Somewhat at a loss, I just chucked a few dollars in the slot machines for a couple of hours and played some video poker. I broke even which is nice.
I retrieved my bags from the Bell Desk and levered myself into a cab and then promptly had to get out again when the driver couldn't get his meter working. I explained the problem to the next driver and he said that in 20 years of cabbing he'd never heard of a meter failing.
Anyway, I arrived at the MC bang on 3 o'clock and checked in with no problems. The room is...OK....smaller than the Orleans but perhaps a little nicer in styling. There are some spots where it is showing it's age.
Nice coffee maker (Keurig) in the room which is a good thing but it's included in the $20 a day resort fee (with wired internet & bottled water).
By the way, the resort fee at the Orleans was $6 which included coffee and the optional wifi internet came at two rates $5 or $10 a day depending on whether you wanted 1Mbps or 10Mbps. See...that's value.
I mooched for a while before descending to The Pub for food and refreshment. The place was packed and I couldn't find a decent seat and so had to perch on a bloody barstool for hours. I hate that, it messes up my knees which aren't in the best shape after carrying me around all these years.
I gave up after a few hours and took a quick inspection tour of the casino floor and restaurants before calling it a night as, as expected, my knees were screaming at me for some relief.
On the bright side, I found out, thanks to Twitter, that the previous 3/6 limit Mixed Game that used to run at the IP will now go off at TI this Sunday which will make a nice capper to the trip.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 06, 2013, 17:12:54 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on January 06, 2013, 17:20:55 PM
Look after yourself.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 07, 2013, 21:47:31 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 21
Mixed Up
The end of the trip is fast approaching and although I have met some objectives and missed more than a few others, I had been hoping to get into the regular 3/6 Limit Mixed Game that used to run every Sunday at the old IP.
Unfortunately, from what I hear, due to the renovations going on and the consequent move of the IP poker room to the third floor it hasn't been particularly well supported in recent times.
Thus. I was pleased to read on Twitter (from my Vegas Tweeps) that an effort was being made to get it up and running at TI instead. My evenings entertainment was, therefore, set.
That, however, left the afternoon and, to be honest,with the way I was feeling (and still limping) I just mooched about in a few places killing time until the game started. What I SHOULD have done, if I'd thought of it was take in another movie but instead I cabbed over to TI in good time but sat in the poker room for a while until the game finally got off the ground about an hour late and short handed.
Quite disappointing really but you play what you can when you can get it.We played a full rotation of the 10 maddening games which took about 3 hours. When we have a full table a full rotation wil take 4 - 5 hours. I sat in for a few more games but around midnight I called it quits (when we were 4 handed) and cabbed back to the MC.
I was still awake, even though I should have gone straight to bed, so I succumbed to my vices and sat down at a Pai Gow table...and ran typically bad.
Thirty minutes was enough to deprive me of $150 plus the $40 I'd dropped at TI....yep, time for bed.
Turn out the lights, the party's over.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 22, 2013, 10:33:34 AM
Ger has some words of encouragement while I was in the doldrums during my extended Vegas excursion..."Strength and Honour".
Purely on the off-chance I investigated the cost of that as a .com domain (I have a few lying around that only cost a few pounds a year).
According to GoDaddy, strengthandhonour.com is a Premium Domain Name and is available for £1,226.21.
Yikes!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 01, 2013, 13:31:04 PM
Placeholder reminder for me:
WCOAP: Thursday March 28th : Stud @ 6pm - £50
Friday March 29th : Rail/Update/Drink
Saturday March 30th: ME Day 1 @ 2.3pm - £100
Sunday March 31th: Omaha @ 2.30pm - £50 Sunday March 31th: Razz @ 6pm - £50
Monday April 1st : Win the damn thing* :)
*Alternate plan: Self-deal PLO8
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on February 01, 2013, 13:32:53 PM
Off to Vegas friday ;D ;D [ insert suitable brag joke here ]
Some advice please Paulie or anyone for that matter.....
Where is best for a cheap and cheerful pai gow and drinks fun nite?
Where would you recommend for a nite out on the drink thats not extortionate?
Play the feckin bonus ;D
Very helpful ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on February 06, 2013, 20:05:46 PM
Cheapest PaiGow is in the Orleans, Harrahs do a $5 table but this increases to $10 later on I think (most later on times for me were a blur), The IP is not what it used to be, however I can recommend 14 hours of 3 card poker at a buck a beer in Harrahs ;D
Paulie will of course be along with proper suggestions shortly....... 8)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on February 06, 2013, 20:23:21 PM
Is it still $1 a beer at casino royal at the bar? That got messy quick.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on February 06, 2013, 22:48:40 PM
Cheapest PaiGow is in the Orleans, Harrahs do a $5 table but this increases to $10 later on I think (most later on times for me were a blur), The IP is not what it used to be, however I can recommend 14 hours of 3 card poker at a buck a beer in Harrahs ;D
Paulie will of course be along with proper suggestions shortly....... 8)
I think you covered it.
IP/Quad will have the $5 tables the longest before they become $10 as most do but Harrahs is a better bet and a nicer environment.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: TheSnapper on February 07, 2013, 12:56:22 PM
Thanks guys
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on April 05, 2013, 15:12:49 PM
I"ve neglected this blog for a while..pure laziness on my part but....
That “Oh, Sh1t, it’s me” feeling!
The APAT World Champtionships are always a special event in the APAT calendar and this was especially true for Season 6.
The WCOAP was the final event, nay, festival of the APAT season and expectations were high. Held at the always welcoming Dusk Till Dawn in Nottingham, arguably the best poker destination in the UK.
A full five days of poker beckoned. For myself, I had decided to only attempt a maximum of 4 events, the 7 card Stud, the NLHE Main Event itself, the Pot Limit Omaha and, as a fall-back to the PLO, the Razz event.
All being well, I wouldn’t need the fall-back and even more being well, I could make Day 2 of the Main Event on the Monday.
Things did not go according to plan.
The travelling and hotel were fine. In fact, the Travelodge Riverside beat my expectations. From a dodgy memory, I recalled an almost complete lack of amenities and freezing various body parts on a previous stay.
For that reason, I have always preferred the Holiday Inn or Premier Inn in Castle Marina. However, money WAS an object this time around and £160 for 5 nights couldn’t be matched...in fact, it wasn’t even close.
Now, I’m not saying that the Travelodge was, by any means, luxurious but a kettle plus coffee or tea in the room was a surprise and not something that I had expected.
Sure the housekeeping was a little perfunctory but you pays your money and you take your chances.
I bombed out of my chosen events in mid-field for the most part but that’s not the reason for actually bothering to do this write-up. No...my reasons are entirely personal and, in all honesty, quite humbling.
APAT had announced that there would be a series of APAT Awards during the WCOAP. In all honestly, I hadn’t given them much, if any, thought.
As it was, Saturday night rolled around and my friend, Richard “Curlarge” Baker had been tapped to do the announcements.
Best Media Provider, Best Poker Community (that isn’t APAT :) ),Best Venue etc.
Easy decisions all round.
Then the APAT Awards that were closer to home were announced and, without any sucking up, I couldn’t argue with any of them...even if I had wanted to.
My friends, Ger Smyth, Suzie Hayward, David Amos and Carl Pilgrim were all given their rightful due.
These are the people and players who make the most of, and give back to, the APAT community and make the APAT forum a class above any others on the interwebz. I’m in plenty of the forums (fora?)on the web and I should know.
Then....
The APAT Hall of Fame Award.
Richard is expounding on the attributes that the winner has and as he lists them off, one by one, I’m running through names in my head....until, about 4 or five sentences in, I twig,
I sit there, open-mouthed turning to Mark “The Shark” and utter the immortal words...”Oh, Sh*t, it’s me”.
Me?... the APAT Hall of Fame...can’t be! In the words of Wayne Campbell. “I’m not worthy!”
I just sit there stunned but still laughing my head off at the sheer ridiculousness of the idea until Richard actually says my name and I have to waddle up to the stage, shake some hands, take some pictures and collect my undeserved (in my mind) award.
Sure, I love being a member of APAT, being a regular (if not persistent) member of the forum and adding whatever contribution I can but this is something I hadn’t even dreamed of.
However, here I am.
Now I have to live up to it.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: technolog on April 05, 2013, 15:46:25 PM
Congratulations Paulie!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Chipaccrual on April 05, 2013, 16:39:03 PM
Gutted I couldn"t be there for it Paul. Apparently the look on your face was superb.
I for one appreciate everything you do for APAT, you go the extra mile not only on the forum on a day to day basis, but also at all of the live events that you attend.
Now, if I could just get you into this online poker thing that is all the rage at the moment. ;)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on April 05, 2013, 17:26:37 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Des on April 05, 2013, 18:14:05 PM
Many congrats again Paulie. You contribute a great deal to the APAT community and a lot of what you do with travel tips etc, directly helps people to participate. Your award was not only well deserved, it was overdue.
It would be hard to find someone who puts more into their membership of APAT or who assists other members more.
Congrats. Well deserved.
+1
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Curlarge on April 05, 2013, 18:29:33 PM
See, told you so...nah nah ne nah nah ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on April 05, 2013, 19:34:23 PM
You are still a grumpy sod.
But you definitely deserve the award, chuffed to bits for you mate, absolute star.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: fandango on April 05, 2013, 19:41:25 PM
Echo everything that has already been said before.. A splendid and well deserved addition into a select group an accomplishment to feel proud about congrats Paulie, Emma sends hugs x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: amcgrath1uk on April 05, 2013, 19:52:26 PM
Totally deserved Paulie :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Bigfella42 on April 05, 2013, 20:53:54 PM
Fully deserved congrats Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Laxie on April 05, 2013, 21:19:29 PM
Me?... the APAT Hall of Fame...can't be! In the words of Wayne Campbell. "I'm not worthy!"
Congrats Paulie, fully deserved Im sure.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 14, 2013, 22:54:11 PM
It"s been a quiet couple of months poker-wise pending the S7 announcement and it"s a corker.
Back to Dublin (Hotel already booked thank you...refundable obv.)
Vegas (not coincidentally concurrent with plans already afoot)
PRAGUE!!!!!
Aspers in Stratford...easy driving distance and probably by far the easiest to get to for me.
Pontins in Southport could be a giggle and it"s not a million miles from Chezgerland.
Only venues (not events) I"m unlikely to make are Scotland...just too close to Vegas time and Aspers in Newcastle...everything else is doable...although every event is not only logistically impossible but would break me financially.
We"ll see how things go.
Lots to look forward to there...and around the country.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: MintTrav on June 14, 2013, 23:55:03 PM
Yes, Paulie, all those venues. And they all need to be researched for hotels and travel.
So stop wasting time chewing the breeze. You"ve got a lot of work to do!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 15, 2013, 06:37:13 AM
Yes, Paulie, all those venues. And they all need to be researched for hotels and travel.
So stop wasting time chewing the breeze. You"ve got a lot of work to do!
I will....when I get back to work on Monday, I have more free time there :) and a nice dual monitor set-up.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 01, 2013, 15:16:24 PM
So...I have a HUGE amount of travel research pretty much ready to roll pending confirmations.
Cardiff Travel Tips are already up and I"ll be knocking out the UKCOAP list fairly shortly.
Dublin...I booked the hotel on the day of the formal announcement and rammed in the flight booking this afternoon. Flight arrives about 5pm on Friday in Dublin which isn"t necessarily a bad thing.
I figure 20-30 minute cab ride to Baggot Street which means I"ll be in Larry Murphys by 5.45 at the latest and then the carnage can commence.
Fortunately, Aer Lingus can sort me out from Southend which is a darn site easier for me that any other, so called, London airport.
Unfortunately, flights to Prague don"t go from SEN so LHR or LGW will be the choice. Not sure whether I will be "required" for the full 5 days or I"ll just be able to make it for the long weekend. It"s a "must attend" one for me since I missed Tallinn (DAMN IT!).
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 03, 2013, 12:53:51 PM
Dublin is booked
Area Map: http://goo.gl/maps/fYs3Y
Hotel:
Latchford Apartments (http://www.booking.com/hotel/ie/latchfords-self-catering-accommodation.en-gb.html?sid=78298afc40ae40ee2552068451f9d115;hotel_id=179034;lang=en-gb) (just steps from Larry Murphy"s) Studio: £170 for 3 nights (free cancellation)
Took the car into my local garage this morning and, as I have had to do all week, commuted to work via omnibus and choo-choo train.
A lot is riding on the outcome of the diagnosis....
If it is something easy, perhaps as little a couple of hundred, I"d wince but bear it.
If it"s in the half-grand region, Prague would be in severe doubt but I reckon I could still swing Vegas.
If it"s in the grand region, I would have to extract the digit, bite the bullet and do the sensible thing and cancel Vegas.
Any more than that and November/December was looking like a very long time to spend at home.
The phone rang at midday.
"Mr Davis?", the greasemonkey enquired.
"T"is I", I replied
"Baht yer motah".
"Aah, yes. How is it looking?", I asked with some trepidation (see above).
"It"s ready for you to pick up".
"Oh...that seemed quick", I opined with hope rising.
"Yeah, it was just a stone caught behind the back plate".
"So nothing major wrong then?", I queried with hopes soaring.
"Nope, all sorted"
"How much to I owe you?"...I had to ask.
"£30 should cover it"
Vegas baby, Vegas.
There is a corollary to the story above which had my heart beating a little faster.
I"d arranged to collect the car on Saturday but, due to some construction work being done, the garage wasn"t going to be open that day so they arranged for me to collect the keys from the unrelated car showroom next door.
This was not problem but I jumped in the motor only to find the ba*tard wouldn"t start.
Fortunately, so far, a quick jump start from a battery pack had me going this morning but I had visions of another (minor) wedge going out of my pocket for a new battery.
Hopefully, it was just a glitch.
New tyre this week before the Cardfiff run and, since, these guys have been quite efficient I may have some minor trim work done before DTD at the end of August.
Enough car related stuff, it"s depressing.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 07, 2013, 15:02:42 PM
Saw comment on Curlarge"s blog to the effect the he (and I suspect by extension most of us) don"t blog enough.
True dat!
We (certainly I) only write about sh!te stuff that has happened to me AND may be of interest to the APAT community (or at least a vocal subset thereof).
For me, other than busting out of Coventry on the first hand and getting "Sofakinged" at Cardiff...it ain"t been much.
Looking to the future though, there"s a lot coming up.
DTD (Team shenanigans) Dublin (Oh yeah) Vegas (after a dry October) Prague (after a liquid Vegas)
There should be something to write about in there...you"d think.
Further out...I dunno.
Not sure about the Team event in Feb. My old LPM mates are pretty widespread by now and getting a team up might be an issue.
LPPL Festival of Pub Poker - I need to know more.
WCOAP - Aspers in Stratford is probably the closest casino to me and yet I"ve never been...so it might be a giggle.
WCOAP - TBC - Watch this space then. :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on August 19, 2013, 15:18:44 PM
Reserved Akcent Hotel in Prague for 5 days just in case.
Not many left on Booking.com so getting in early (with free cancellation) might be best.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2013, 17:42:37 PM
Las Vegas - 7th November 2013
I'm A Workin' On The Railroad
A relatively quiet night at the Gatwick Marriot with the rest of the reprobates where I retired fairly early to get what turned out to be a poor nights sleep.
I don't know what it was but I only got a couple of hours at a time which made for a somewhat disturbed night.
Whatever, with that I made it downstairs to meet Ger and the others in time for the early shuttle to the airport. Check-in was a breeze and we were soon esconsced in The Wetherspoons for a spot of breakfast.
The flight was a few minutes late getting off but the pilot did a good job of getting us there at the scheduled arrival time..the landing was pretty good too..I kind of apply a rating of my own to those and this was a solid 8.
Of course, getting down in one piece earns you a 4. :)
Service on board was excellent as always and despite a warning that we might have delays in clearing Immigration we found no queue whatsoever and were through in seconds rather than minutes...or longer as has been the case in the past.
I left the others once through customs to find my pre-booked VIP shuttle while they collected themselves together for the stretch limo.
My ride was fair sized town car and although I did have to share (which I expected), my driver, Mark did a bang up job.
Arrival at Main Street Station was in decent time and check in was hassle free. I asked for a quiet room and got one on the 14th floor which should be well clear of any traffic noise or racket from the Fremont Street Experience.
The slight downside, if you will..It's called Main Street Station for a reason.
It's on Main Street and it's near the statton, in fact...it backs on to the railroad so the occasional train passing by can be a factor. If you are paying attention you can hear it but I don't think it will be a huge issue for me...or at least I hope not.
After getting myself sorted in the room I had to deal with glitch with my phone. No reception.
I fired off an email to the people at MrSimCard...thank you Wifi...only to get the reply that I'd told them I need activation in December.
Doh!
Still, they brought my activation forward with no hassles or extra cost and I was ready to rock an roll in a few minutes.
Great customer service there...just saying!
After that I tried to grab 20 winks but gave up on a proper nap...it just wasn't happening, so I washed up and headed down to the 777 Brewpub for a couple of beers and something to eat.
Southern Fried Chicken Tenders and a couple of cold ones $20 including a decent tip...the beers were $2...probably because there was football on or something...I wasn't going to argue.
However, the food and beer has a soporific effect plus the long flight and time difference meant that I was wiped out by 9pm.
I wandered back to my room for what I hoped would be a good night's rest
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: fandango on November 08, 2013, 17:57:00 PM
Good to hear you all arrived safely.. Love the updates always, just makes me more jealous lol..
Have fun run well :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 10, 2013, 15:32:43 PM
Las Vegas - 8th November 2013
Horses For Courses
The relatively early night seemed to get me over any jet-lag or time difference issues that might have been an issue and the occasional train during the night didn't disturb my sleep.
I still didn't leave the room until late morning and I wandered a hundred yards or so to the Plaza and the Hash House A Go Go for a late breakfast / brunch.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Bacon Bloody Mary..very nice but the first sip nearly took my head off...that's one spicy drink.
Having polished that off I got a message from Curlarge in response to posting the image of the Bloody Mary on FB and he rocked up with SusiePea. While they were enjoying their own Bloody Marys, Ger and Glenn arrived and let us know that the rest of the gang were already at Binions so we all headed over.
I think I was the only one who wasn't going to play their 2pm tournament but we had the bar at Binions pretty much surrounded with APATers all playing VP while waiting for the tourney to start.
Eventually, they all went off to play and I wandered Fremont Street for a while. I scoped out the Sigma Derby and quickly became addicted. It's a silly old fashioned game but people can get quite emotional about 5 mechanical horses.
Continuing on I located the other potential venues for further activities but spent a couple of hours in the pleasant afternoon sunshine at Park on Fremont. Cool little hangout.
Eventually, I made my way back to Binions to see what the state of play was. Apparently, APATers had made up a good 50% of the field and I sucked back a few brews and chatted to bust-outs while waiting for the deals to get done.
I led some of the party over to the D for Sigma Derby but it looked like not everyone was as addicted as I was so we headed over to Hogs & Heifers.
In my youth I think I would have enjoyed it more. Oh the bartender we had was a real looker and she could shake it like it doesn't get shaken very often but the music was so loud we were all screaming at one another just to order a round...which was mostly done with hand gestures. I guess I'm just too old for that environment any more..and from the looks of it, I wasn't alone.
We only had a couple of beers and a round of shots before it became apparent that everyone would be glad to call it a night.
I wished the rest of the lads a good night and walked back to MSS for some food at the 777 Brewpub before getting my head down.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 10, 2013, 15:36:26 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AJDUK on November 10, 2013, 20:19:26 PM
Good read as always Paulie. How"s your poker?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: MintTrav on November 10, 2013, 20:24:32 PM
Other than Sigma Derby I haven"t gambled a penny yet...no Poker, Blackjack or PaiGow.
I expect that to change today.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 12, 2013, 17:49:01 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 14, 2013, 08:22:07 AM
Las Vegas 12th November 2013
So Much For That
I was left to my own devices today I decided to head back over to the Venetian for another shot at the 4/8 Omaha tables.
If you’ve read any of my stuff in the past you will know that my luck here has been patchy at best. Today was no exception.
Although I had eked out a profit yesterday, I was quite wary about playing in this game and stuck to premium starting hands. It help that there was a serial donator at the table and I managed to get a good $80 up in a fairly short space of time.
Unfortunately, we were joined from the “must move” table by someone who had obviously not fared quite so well. On tilit he was determined to juice pretty much every pot and with that much money on the table, pre-flop, it was hard to stay out of a hand.
It wasn’t unusual to see $80 pots pre-flop with this idiot and when you get those odds...you have two choices, play or get the F out.
I chose the former which was the riskier option and things did not go my way. I had to keep getting into the pot for perceived value but the serial donator from before seemed to be the main beneficiary.
Never saw her play a hand she should have been in with but seemed to always get there on the end.
I eventually called it quits while only down $60 (yesterdays profit) but easily down $100 from my previous high earlier.
I had to run an errand for my brother Pete who gets in on Thursday (apparently he doesn’t follow the Travel Guru’s advice about sorting out a sim card before you go) but that only took a couple of minutes.
I strolled back to Harrahs...the lads were nowhere to be seen...apparently they were tearing up the Aria or other establishments at the southern end of the strip.
The sun was just going down and I got a pretty amazing shot of the sky with the Mirage in the foreground.
I dabbled a bit on the Pai Gow tables but broke even but, not having eaten all day I decided to grab some food at KGB Burger in Harrahs.
A Buffalo Chicken Burger and a couple of Blue Moons (with orange,sorry Ger) and I was ready for bed. I don’t know what it is but there is something in the air that seems to be making me very tired over the last couple of days.
I guess it could be advanced age creeping up on me but I don’t seem to be able to do the late nights I used to do.
Las Vegas - 13th November 2013
Almost Wasted
I had a pretty bad last night and I think it may have been related to the burger I had last evening. It came with blue cheese and although I’m not a fan of the crumbly comestible I ate it anyway.
However, a disturbed night and the way I was feeling may have been in indicator that not all was well. Apparently, I found out later, a couple of the other lads weren’t very happy with the food from there so it may or may not have been an issue.
I’m prepared to say no more than that. My diet is significantly different in Vegas than it is at home so there may have been other factors.
Whatever, I was in no mood to leave the room today. I felt empty and bloated at the same time and had firmly set my mind on having a ‘duvet day’....but I hadn’t managed to complete my errand for my brother.
All I had to do was wander over to the Forum Shops, basically across the road, to check something out and also to scout the location of Carmine’s, the possible venue of our ‘last night’ meal and I eventually guilted myself into leaving about 3pm.
Just getting out of the room and the short walk seemed to re-invigorate me and I felt a lot better for the excursion.
My appetite seemed to come back and I realised that it had been a good 24 hours since I had eaten but Cafe in Harrahs was closed so steak and eggs was out. I was passing the Mirage anyway so I stopped in to BLT Burger.
A decent burger and a beer (would I like a glass for $5 or a pitcher for $19...what do you think baby?) and I was feeling much happier with the world.
I hoofed it back to Harrah’s and played a little on the craps machine…(hmm, I wonder if the APAT censor will let that through)....the lads were, for some god forsaken reason over at the Rio ostensibly because of the WSOP..which is over.
I guess that they were looking at a pretty big empty room...I don’t see the attraction myself.
Whatever, I sat down at a Pai Gow table that seemed friendly enough and many JD and Cokes later I was graced with presence of Ger and Stu in full on ‘slur’ mode. Fortunately, they seemed to have retained the capacity for self-preservation and stumbled off to their respective rooms...I hope.
I carried on for a while before cashing out $100 up at Pai Gow...winner! The JD has certainly had a beneficial effect.
It seems that there is an NFL game on tomorrow which may scupper the meal at Carmines. Oh well, I’m sure we’ll work something out.
I can only suggest things...and no plan survives the battle.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 17, 2013, 00:29:06 AM
Las Vegas - 14th November 2013
The Best Laid Plans
I'd booked a table at Carmine's for six people at 7.30pm for Thursday night but from the comments I'd received it looked like that would be a non-starter due to the NFL game that afternoon / evening...so I cancelled...no fuss, these things happen.
So, I wandered over to the Venetian and indulged in my usual pastime of losing money playing 4/8 Omaha...pretty much the same pattern as yesterday. I'd start off great guns and then some muppet would decide to play higher.
I just don't get it...they have 8/16 tables, go sit in one of those games instead of fudging up this one. I was sitting next to the same serial donator from yesterday just waiting for a spot and, wouldn't you know it...because she cannot fold a hand, she'd get there runner runner with little or no idea what she had.
Me, I'm folding like a Chinese Laundry and her mucky starting hands would be raking in the chips like a croupier at a roulette table...it's disheartening, it really is.
Anyway, I blew a hundy there before walking away to lick my wounds at the Venetian's Sports Book while waiting for the lads to show up for the game.
I'd seen them on my way out of Harrahs about 11.30 (yes, a really early day for me) and they were already drinking...things did not improve from there.
By the time they arrived at the V, they were several sheets to the wind although they could, just, navigate as they had actually managed to find their way to the Sports Book.
Bets were placed and we watched the first half of the game but eventually Stu's need for food outweighed his desire to keep watching and, after a brief debate, Rodders suggested Toby Keith's back at Harrahs.
This idea was readily received and Ger, Stu and Rodders headed off like rats leaving a sinking ship leaving your humble footsore reporter linping and puffing away to follow at my best speed..which is not very fast.
I eventually found my way into Toby Keith's and we were seated within a few minutes with a nice view of the game on a giant screen. Dead handy that.
We drank some more, ate well although I think we over-ordered a little and the Colts won, made the spread and over. Bets were won and Ger very generously covered the meal for us over protestations from one and all.
He's a top bloke that Ger fellow.
The food had pretty much finished off Stu and we sent him off to bed with hugs and kisses...you kind of have to really although no-one volunteered to tuck him in.
Three card poker ensued and thanks to a handy and timely bonus bet on my part I managed to break even.
However, I too was feeling the effects and called it a night and managed to avoid the Paii Gow tables on the way back to my room.
The majority of the contingent are headed back home tomorrow and Curlarge is off for a short trip to Salt Lake City before coming back on Monday I think.
I get a day pretty much to myself.
Las Vegas - 15th November 2013
The Sound of Silence
A lull has settled over Las Vegas at the lads head home today and I have the place to myself...well, me and several hundred thousand other visitors.
I really couldn't drum up any enthusiasm to go back to the V for more bloodletting from the regulars at the Omaha tables.
I had a huge plate of Ham & Eggs at Harrahs Cafe and afterwards I pottered around the Quad and Harrahs not doing anything in particular.
I spent some time in Harrahs Sports Book for no specific reason whatsoever, just somewhere to sit down in a comfortable chair, have a drink or several and chat to the bloke next to me about a sport I know very little about.
Actually, it made for a decent afternoon and evening.
Moving day tomorrow
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 17, 2013, 06:55:05 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: KarmaDope on November 17, 2013, 07:11:13 AM
Every time I do a solo trip from now I intend to stay at the Orleans.
Just gotta persuade Joobs to try there now...it was much, much better than Harrahs.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on November 17, 2013, 16:17:55 PM
It is much better than Harrah"s, it is just in the wrong place. PAI GOW though.
Anyway, top read Paulie, pleasure as always mate, good luck in crushing the PLO8 in the next week.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 17, 2013, 17:13:29 PM
It is much better than Harrah"s, it is just in the wrong place.
I assume you mean "not on the Strip". This is true, of course, but a cab to the Strip was $20 including tip and because of construction we had to go a slightly longer way.
How much was a cab to the Aria or the MGM?...split, say, 3 ways I think the couple of extra dollars is worth it and anyway the Orleans has a free shuttle to centre-Strip if I wanted.
I think most APAT players would find the cash games and tourneys here pretty soft.
I suspect, however, that staying Downtown would have priority over off-strip for most APATers who only tend to spend a week in Vegas.
I"m fortunate, I suppose, (or at least willing to forego other breaks) to spend an extra week here. After all, I spend a shipload of cash getting here and I want as long as I can get.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AJDUK on November 17, 2013, 19:22:14 PM
Debjani and I love Orleans - have stayed there a couple of times although we always hire a car so location is not an issue for us. Even when we don"t stay there we"re never out of the place. GL Paulie.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 20, 2013, 00:18:55 AM
Never been. Apparently the limits of my adventures were as far as the venetian sports book, Rio, and somewhere else that i played the Paigowwwww. Was that the Orleans? I dont remember much of that day??
If you get a chance, go say hi to chris (the best barman in Vegas) at the orleans. The man looked after us excessively well in our trips there for the NFL :D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 20, 2013, 01:02:31 AM
Never been. Apparently the limits of my adventures were as far as the venetian sports book, Rio, and somewhere else that i played the Paigowwwww. Was that the Orleans? I dont remember much of that day??
If you get a chance, go say hi to chris (the best barman in Vegas) at the orleans Venetian . The man looked after us excessively well in our trips there for the NFL :D
FYP
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 20, 2013, 06:37:36 AM
Las Vegas - 17th November 2013
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
Aah bliss..some alone time.
As is my usual wont in Vegas, I left the room about noon and headed straight down to the Poker Room and got seated with only a short wait.
I sat in for about 4 hours before hunger pangs drove me from the table with a small profit of $40 but at least I'm not losing any money here like I had been doing at the Venetian.
I grabbed some food at TGI Fridays while watching the Saturday NFL game before calling it a night.
Not a lot to report as I'm taking it pretty easy from now on...so these reports are unlikely to contain any shenanigans.
Las Vegas - 18th November 2013
More Tambourine.
I got a pretty late start today and headed downstairs around 1pm. I wasn't in the mood for poker today so I went upstairs to the movie theatre to see Ender's Game.
That filled a few hours and on coming out I ate in TGI's before making my way onto the casino area for some $5 Pai Gow.
That killed a few hours until I got a call from Curlarge suggesting meeting up at Ri Ra at the Manadalay Bar to see John Windsor.
I cashed out for a $10 loss (well covered by booze value) and cabbed over to the MB and met Curly and SusiePea just as they came in the lobby.
We found the place eventually and sat down at a high table with a good view. I ordered a Stella and then a Heineken..neither of them tasted right.
Perhaps I'm used to colder, lighter beer after the last 10 days but there was definitely something off...so I switched to JD and Coke.
We sat through John's sets and Curly did us proud by doing a great accompaniment on the tambourine.
John finished up around 12.30 and I wished Curly and Susie a good night before hobbling off to catch a cab back to the Orleans. I don't know what it is but sitting on those high stools always leaves me a cripple as soon as I stand up.
Anyway, I was back at the Orleans by 1am...a late night for me. I'll be getting a good night's kip for sure.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: PHIL_TC on November 20, 2013, 22:30:04 PM
I wasn't in the mood for poker today so I went upstairs to the movie theatre to see Ender's Game.
Went to see that a few weeks ago by mistake, Lilly had got the dates wrong for Gravity"s release.. anywho. It made me want to harm every single person involved in making the film whilst simultaneously gauging my eyes out with a spoon. I hope the Vegas air softened the blow somewhat for you. Horrible, horrible film.
Hope you"re having a ball over there though Paulie. Give Curly and Susiepea a hug from me. OH and more photos of food as well please. Or semi naked women. Or semi naked women serving food x
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 21, 2013, 15:16:39 PM
Las Vegas - 19th November 2013
Slow Day
No surprises here, another late start before heading down to the poker room for a few hours.
Not a lot of action today, the room was pretty quiet what with it being midweek and and all.
I cashed our a minimum win of $20 around 5pm before grabbing a burger and a couple of beers at TGI's
I keep meaning to hit the Cajun place or the Oriental place in the Orleans but something keeps dragging back to TGI's
I'm sure I'll manage both of them at some point.
Regardless, I wasn't in there very long, just enough time for a few beers and something to eat before heading out to the Pai Gow tables.
I spent a few hours at the tables treading water for no profit...although getting beer value, naturally.
Eventually, a had a run of really bad hands and somehow manged to push a couple so, with only a $10 loss, I called it a night.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 21, 2013, 15:18:57 PM
Las Vegas - 20th November 2013
Crashing Back Down To Earth
I should have known better than to keep playing.
I went straight into the poker room and was seated with little delay. The main table (they usually run two with the second being a must move) was a twitter with a young fellow (well younger than the majority of the rest of the table) having run $200 up to over $600 with some wild play.
Now the typical Orleans player is not fond of a pre-flop raise and this guy was raising blind, capping the betting pref-flop and the worst sin of all...straddling.
It was driving them crazy because he was winning hand after hand...you could hear them muttering "bad for the game", "ruining the table" etc..but none of them were leaving.
They all wanted a crack at him to get their money back.
Anyway, over on my table things weren't much better, one guy was deep in the hole and was splashing about and driving the action.
The price of poker kept going up and in the space of an hour I was down over $100.
Sigh.
I reloaded, reluctantly, in the hope that my previous form would re-emerge but it wasn't to be.
By 4pm, I'd had enough and cashed out down $180.
You know, I haven't been keeping an exact count but I think I was breakeven on all gambling over the past 2 weeks until today and this ruined my record. Still I have a couple of days left to recoup.
Time for some food and I strolled past TGI's and went onto Big Al"s Oyster Bar for some N'Orleans cookin'.
A big bowl of gumbo really filled the spot...and I do mean filled it. I remember trying the dinner portion of their gumbo a couple of years back and couldn't finish it.
Fortunately, the lunchtime size was just right; really hot (temperature-wise) and good and spicy too.
After that it was back to the Pai Gow table for some $5 splashing about but after a couple of hours I was still even (which I suppose is a plus)...and headed upstairs to the movie theatre to see Gravity.(in 3D).
Great film in my opinion and the 3D was really well done...I just wish I could have seen it in IMAX too...that would have been awesome.
After that I called it a night.
Phil, I'm working on the photos you requested but they kind of frown on taking pictures in here. Still, I do know a couple of serving wenches who might be disposed to let me...snap them.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 22, 2013, 07:40:34 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 22, 2013, 07:44:40 AM
Oh...and Phil,
I asked but Nellie said "No" to a photo. Something about it "ending up on the internet".
Of course, you know the answer....get yourself over here next year.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 25, 2013, 16:06:17 PM
Las Vegas - 22nd November 2013
Crash & Burn
After the last couple of days I really hadn't planned on any more poker. In fact, my entire plan for Friday was my usual late start, a movie, drinking. eating and Pai Gow.
I should listen to myself sometimes.
That's not to say that the plan didn't start well...I didn't leave the room until after 1pm but, for some reason, dithered about for an hour or so trying to decide what to do...even though I had a plan.
TGIs called but I was firm in my intent to make time for Koji, the Asian restaurant later so I settled for just a beer or three before completing the second part of my plan.
Around 3pm I headed upstairs to the movie theatre and watch the second part of the Hunger Games trilogy (at least I hope it's only a trilogy), Catching Fire.
Good movie...a sequel that is actually better than the first movie..and you don't get that very often.
By the time I came out I was read for some grub and headed over to Koji. Some damn fine eating in there...I can tell you.
I'm not chinese food expert but i know what I like and their Special Chow Mein was top notch. I'd certainly put it on a par with Noodle Asia at the Venetian.
I hear great things about Ping Pang Pong at the Gold Coast but haven't made the effort to get over there. I must do that one trip.
Anyway, full of nosh,I then veered off plan and headed back to the poker room.
Mistake.
Although there was plenty of action I never saw anything I could get hold of. My starting hands were rubbish and I was folding pretty much everything. When I did get a hand I could play, I either missed or only got a quarter,
After 4 hours, I was down another $100 and losing a good $40 with the flopped second nuts to the flopped nuts put the final nail in it.
I was done with gamblin' for the trip.
Overall, perhaps I dropped $500 over various games of chance which, over the 2 weeks is not bad at all.
Certainly, I spent more than that on entertainment & food so...I'll take it.
Downhearted, I called it a night around, I dunno, 10pm.
Home tomorrow.
Las Vegas - 23rd November 2013 / England - 24th November 2013
The Party Is Over
So that was Vegas 2013.
I dossed about in the room until noon (check-out time) and sat in the lobby for 90 minutes waiting for my ride.
At the appointed time, I made my way outside and my driver (hee hee, my driver!) was waiting for me with an iPad with my name on it and escorted me to my town car (think cut down limo) which I had all to myself.
I'm going to give two thumbs up to Bell VIP Shuttles on this one...the ride was $55 return and I had no problem with a decent tip both ways.
I certainly would have paid at least the same for taxis on my schedule and even though the town cars are really nothing particularly special...they feel special...if you get what I mean.
I lucked out at Airport check-in and scored an aisle seat which I didn't originally have and the flight back was fine.
I picked up the car from the hotel and was home by 1pm.
Nice cup of tea and I was settled.
Pretty sure that Vegas 2014 is off my radar barring an influx of capital (or a shipload of Virgin points) but Vegas 2015 is probably on.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on September 23, 2014, 17:06:52 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: DodgyEnd (Tom APAT.be) on September 25, 2014, 11:07:21 AM
great read Paulie, hope the next part will follow soon :)
I crossed you on the way down in the hotel, but couldn"t really say goodbye after that... but we"ll meet again soon!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 19, 2015, 21:34:55 PM
I"ve been neglecting this because I felt I was starting to repeat myself. Certainly most reports were starting to feel the same. Plus you know, laziness.
However....
I"m heading to sunny Portugal with Ger tomorrow. He very kindly offered me a room in the villa he"s rented for a week with the Wee Man and the lovely Marie.
Got a cheap flight and I"ll stand up and be counted. OK, I"ll sit down and be counted. As long as my liver can take it... I will hang in there.
Ger"s given up the baccy and the Lord knows how that"s gonna work given a week"s worth of booze and good food.
I like being prepared when I fly abroad so I often book a night in an airport hotel for the night before. More often than not you can get 8 days parking plus a hotel room for not much more than the parking would cost by itself.
So I found that Premier Inn would do me 8 days and a night"s accommodation for only £30 more than Meet and Greet would run (and a good £30 less than taxis each way would cost) I snapped their hand off.
The hotel is directly opposite Departures so you can"t sleep much closer.
Now my flight isn"t until 4pm but feck it.
Dropped the car off a little walk from the hotel (bait and switch on that one, they changed the drop-off point after booking) but for you mere mortals it was only a five minute walk... But #PaulieDoesntDoWalking
Anyway, check in was a breeze, they have automated kiosks but helpful Eastern European lovelies to help us old codgers.
Room was standard PI.. You know what you are getting.
Bar didn"t do food so I was forced to use the restaurant and on a Friday night they were pretty busy and had recommended reservations. Regardless I wandered up and they"d had a cancellation for 5 minutes from then. Handy that.
Food, disappointing. I wasn"t expecting cordon bleu but the mixed grill was, poor. I"ve paid a lot less for a lot more, even in airport hotels.
The good news, beer prices were surprisingly reasonable. £3.45 for a Carling isn"t bad, given the location.
So I"m sat in the bar railing APATers in Vegas. Made up for Leigh and Paul Haycock both taking down very nice scores that easily covered their trips.
Other friends taking cashes in events around Lost Wages but even though I miss Vegas I"ve done June there and it"s not for me. IT"S ****ING HOT!
That said I expect Southern Portugal will be pleasantly warm too. I might even take off my hoodie.
#DegenPokerTour #PaulieAndGerDoPortugal
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on June 19, 2015, 21:50:14 PM
Badly beat in the aquarium. However I am practicing the drink option. Tomorrow (and the next 7 days) will be epic.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 19, 2015, 22:04:52 PM
Well about as epic as two grumpy old men can manage.
Still bummed thar Steve (Quitter) Roderick bailed. Any word on Monsieur Round?
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on June 20, 2015, 00:20:59 AM
Not a peep
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: AAroddersAA on June 20, 2015, 06:40:02 AM
Well about as epic as two grumpy old men can manage.
Still bummed thar Steve (Quitter) Roderick bailed. Any word on Monsieur Round?
Sadly don"t have limitless time off work I did suggest giving me unlimited paid holidays but for some reason they did not like the idea. If it makes you feel better I will be hard at it today whilst you two fine gentlemen.... are off to sunnier places
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on June 20, 2015, 07:55:18 AM
Well about as epic as two grumpy old men can manage.
Still bummed thar Steve (Quitter) Roderick bailed. Any word on Monsieur Round?
Sadly don"t have limitless time off work I did suggest giving me unlimited paid holidays but for some reason they did not like the idea. If it makes you feel better I will be hard at it today whilst you two fine gentlemen.... are off to sunnier places
Bah! What is it with employers these days?
Unlimited time off doesn"t sound unreasonable to me.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on July 03, 2015, 11:45:05 AM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 26, 2016, 20:59:57 PM
No...nothing new.
I was just reading Ger"s blog and saw reference to APAT losing old posts and, indeed, it seems that the vast majority of old Paulie"s Perils have been consigned to the digital sinkhole and are gone for good. :"(
I"d been using this as my principal repository of my travel history and now that"s gone. I still have the memories (mostly) but the detail is no more. :(
I may have some old stuff on an off-site blog but I think it only covers 2011 and 2012. I"m pretty sure it covers the original APAT trip so I may repost that for posterity if I can still find it.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 26, 2016, 21:07:36 PM
Yes. Paulie has completed the circle, we are complete. It"s a miracle.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 26, 2016, 21:32:36 PM
For those who don"t know....
The Drinking Bear [Ursus Imbibus] (sometimes known as, oddly, the Beer Gorilla)
The animal that follows you back to your bed after a night of libation. He throws your clothes all over the room, fills your pockets with loose change (but takes all the notes), kicks you in the head and craps in your mouth.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 26, 2016, 21:34:14 PM
Standard
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Matt D on October 26, 2016, 21:34:58 PM
I was just reading Ger"s blog and saw reference to APAT losing old posts and, indeed, it seems that the vast majority of old Paulie"s Perils have been consigned to the digital sinkhole and are gone for good. :"(
I"d been using this as my principal repository of my travel history and now that"s gone. I still have the memories (mostly) but the detail is no more. :(
I may have some old stuff on an off-site blog but I think it only covers 2011 and 2012. I"m pretty sure it covers the original APAT trip so I may repost that for posterity if I can still find it.
As long as you don"t edit the blank posts, then I can recover them. Editing them unfortunately makes them unrecoverable. It takes 2-3 minutes per post to recover. I hope to get onto it tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 26, 2016, 21:40:21 PM
I was just reading Ger"s blog and saw reference to APAT losing old posts and, indeed, it seems that the vast majority of old Paulie"s Perils have been consigned to the digital sinkhole and are gone for good. :"(
I"d been using this as my principal repository of my travel history and now that"s gone. I still have the memories (mostly) but the detail is no more. :(
I may have some old stuff on an off-site blog but I think it only covers 2011 and 2012. I"m pretty sure it covers the original APAT trip so I may repost that for posterity if I can still find it.
As long as you don"t edit the blank posts, then I can recover them. Editing them unfortunately makes them unrecoverable. It takes 2-3 minutes per post to recover. I hope to get onto it tomorrow.
Don"t care ;D still going to repost my shiite.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 26, 2016, 21:45:36 PM
As long as you don"t edit the blank posts, then I can recover them. Editing them unfortunately makes them unrecoverable. It takes 2-3 minutes per post to recover. I hope to get onto it tomorrow.
I knew there was something I liked about you Matt.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 12:54:40 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Saturday, 12th November 2011
“It's Better To Travel Well, Than Arrive”
With all due respect to the Buddha, it's obvious he'd never been to Vegas. Getting there is a grind and once you're there it's like coming home...well, at least it is for me. I'd overnighted at the Crowne Plaza at Gatwick and received a nice, complimentary, upgrade to a Club room.
I supped down a few Fosters and a decent sandwich before getting a decent night's sleep.
I shuttled to the airport around 9.30 and barely had time to scarf down a Wetherspoon's breakfast and a pint before the flight was boarding. It seemed that the seat I had switched my booking to hadn't made it through their system but it was fine, I was still in Premium Economy but upstairs rather than down.
The in flight entertainment system was the older model but it didn't really bother me...I'd seen most of their offerings anyway, plus I had my Kindle. I can't say that the hours sped by but I did manage to doze for, maybe, a hour and just contented myself with polishing off two or three books.
The flight was a little bumpy with light turbulence on more than a couple of occasions but otherwise it was uneventful and we landed bang on time.
Passport control and customs was a breeze and I caught a cab with no hassle. The driver seemed keen to take the tunnel to the Orleans even though it's the long way but I insisted on using the surface streets rather than the freeway. The driver was so keen that he offered to knock off $10 from the fare if we went his way so he could get back. This seemed like a deal and I upped his tip and the whole cab ride cost me just under what I would have expected anyway. I'll call that my first win.
Check-in at the Orleans was a breeze and I was into my rather large room in no time. I unpacked, abluted and got the IT rig set up.
I had a minor problem with the US sim I had bought as my phone didn't seem to want to recognise it...until I realised I'd put it in upside-down!
After fixing this schoolboy error I was still having problems but a quick glance showed me that the phone hadn't auto-selected the APN and after referring to the information I'd got from the people who sold me the sim I had this set up and I was off and rocking....almost.
I tried to access the APAT site on my phone only to find that a net-nanny was set and after calling T-Mobile Customer Service found it couldn"t be removed without a US Social Security Number (to validate my age). Apparently the only way I can get this taken off is to visit a physical store. I'm not sure I'll bother as I have access to all my social media sites and apps and I don't really see any overwhelming need to access APAT while on the mover on this trip.
Once I'd gotten all those issues resolved I was feeling somewhat peckish...and in need of a large drink...so I headed out and down to TGI Fridays.
No, it's not like the UK versions...at least not very, more mini-sportsbar feel with restaurant attached. I ensconced myself at the bar and settled on a pint of Stella rather than the somewhat weaker US offerings.
The first disappeared rather quickly and the second was consumed while I tucked into a very decent 10oz steak. One more did the trick and it was time to pay off the $40 bill (including tip) and get stuck into some poker.
I had to wait a while before a seat opened up at the 4-8 Omaha Hi/lo tables but eventually I settled in and bought in for a couple of hundred.
Nothing eventful to report, my stack bounced around a little...getting down to just under $100 after couple of sick river suckouts but overall the play was pretty easy to read.
Regardless, I wasn't making huge inroads but just grinding away. Around 11.30 pm, I gotten back the cash I was down and, in fact was a mere $50 up. I'd been up for going on 24 hours and was starting to feel it.
That would do...I'd covered 'lunch', the rake, tips and such...time to call it a night.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 12:58:50 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Sunday, 13th November 2011
Paulie Hits Vegas, Vegas Hits Back!
Not the greatest night's sleep I've ever had, perhaps it was the jet-lag or that 'not my own bed' thing, but sleep came in fits and starts so I didn't feel rested at all. Nevertheless, I left the room at the crack of 11am and headed down for breakfast.
As it was Sunday there was a queue at the place I was planning on going to so rather than waiting I hit the buffet where the was no waiting time. Standard buffet fare, nothing worth going into detail about and I wandered into the poker room about noon. I got myself on the list but still had to wait over an hour before getting seated.
As it turns out I wish I hadn't bothered. I've seen some crap play before and combine that with a severe case of card deadness and I just wasn't getting it done.
I'd play a hand, flop the world and miss, or get suck-out on at the end or, and here's a real ball buster, I flop a full house on a 655 board with a nut low draw, that's A265 for the uninitiated, there is a bet in front of me, cool he has a 5, I raise and some lady calls and so does the first guy.
Turn is a K and I lead, and she raises, EP gets out of the way, I just raise and we end up capping it.
River is a J and I check call the river and she rolls over KK79. WTF? You call a bet and re-raise with a gutshot and no low and hit a fricking 2 outer?
That was the hand that put me on tilt....but I wasn't going to play like that so I just took my lumps and cashed out down $160.
Sigh.
I had to do something to relieve the stress, so I thought drinking might help...it always has in the past. So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and do a little scouting for Friday and sauntered over to McMullan"s, getting there around 5.30...just in time to take advantage of the end of happy hour.
I ordered a Stella and took a look at their menu. I was pointed at the happy hour menu by the barman where items were half off. I'd been itching to try their Irish Nachos since I heard about them...basically it's a plate of home made crisps (not tortilla chips like normal) covered in melted cheese and other yummy goodness.
For $4 (half of $8) for a small portion it seemed like a marriage made in heaven. Then it arrived....
Oh Feck...it was a mountain...and this was a small portion....I'd hate to see the large one. Nevertheless I gave it my best effort but it defied all attempts and I think I managed about half of it before admitting defeat.
In the meantime the live music was starting up. Their regular guy is John Windsor and he's a born showman with a great line in patter and music. It seems that Sunday night is when he brings a few friends in to play as well and there was a nice mix of music on offer.
By 8.30 however, I was feeling tired again but I didn't want to call it a night just yet so I resorted to a simple solution...Irish Coffee. All the alcohol plus caffeine goodness.
A couple or three of those seemed to do the trick but in the end it was always a losing proposition and eventually the spirit was willing but the flesh was not.
I walked the couple of hundred yards back to the Orleans and called it a night. I hope tomorrow goes better.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:03:52 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Monday, 14th November 2011
Running Good On Empty
Perhaps the Irish Nachos and Irish Coffee wasn't such a good idea! I don't usually eat of lot of dairy products and the lactose may have had an unfortunate effect on my digestive system. That meant another disturbed night.
Either that or my system is trying to fight something off...I was sneezing a little this morning and I had the feeling that a cold might be coming so I dosed myself up with some left over drugs I got the last time I was here.
So, feeling rather...erm...empty, I wallowed for a while and I didn't make it out of the hotel room until after 2pm. I couldn't face eating so I just went straight to the poker room.
I got seated almost straight away for a change and bought in for my usual $200. On looking back, I realise that I was playing a little tighter than I was yesterday. A defensive mechanism perhaps but it worked.
I stayed out of silly hands (as you should) and save some money by easy folds when I might have called 'for value' yesterday. I didn't get involved in a couple of hands where I made the ultimate nuts on the turn and several other players had a piece or were going for lows that didn't get there.
I'd limited myself to soft drinks and water after the nights intestinal difficulties and it did seem to have done the trick. I still wasn't hungry though.
By 5.30pm, I was up around $200 (which is a nice feeling) when Andy Duncan tapped me on the shoulder and told me that he and Debjani were thinking of driving over to the Stratosphere for their 7pm tournament.
I decided that locking up the win would be a sensible thing so I elected to join them.
We drove over (spotting one of my back-up venues for Friday on the way) in time for the start and the action was simply crazy...at least on my table. It's the usual madness that happens when there is an add-on and re-buy phase. I didn't fare two well and busted out around half-way but not until I'd taken out Andy blind-on-blind when he ran into my KK.
I was crippled by the same KK against my AJs even though the guy did the whole 'Oh, I'll have to make stand' Hollywood bit. I'd already committed enough so that I was going to see it through and despite having 12 outs on the flop I managed to miss them all.
I went all-in blind on the next hand and, as it turned out, with the best hand 22 vs. AQs vs. QJs...but the board ran out hearts to give the same villain as before a flush.
Debjani lasted until 15th or so and we decided to come back to the Orleans for some food. We had a nice meal in TGIs and I downed a couple of Stellas but by the end I was feeling rather tired and decided to call it a night rather than play a little more cash.
I bid the Duncans goodnight and made my happy way back to my room for a nice rest.
All was well and the drinking bear hasn't put in an appearance yet...but there is a rumour that he'll be getting to town on Thursday. I'm alerting the TSA and ICE.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:09:32 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Tuesday, 15th November 2011
So Far, So....'Meh'!
Tuesday was always going to be a quiet day. I don't plan a lot for myself on these trips normally preferring to just go with the flow. Obviously, once the rest of the contingent arrive on Thursday we're planned like the Germans invading Poland but that's a whole other thing.
I pottered around the room for a few hours after I woke up. I can't say it was a perfect night but it was slightly better than the previous ones I've had here.
Anyway, by the time I left the room at noon I was ready for a day of grinding. A grind it would prove to be. I opted not to eat breakfast, or should it be lunch, or brunch, at that time of day? Whatever, I didn't and just made my way to the card room and got seated immediately as it was a little quieter than the previous few days...midweek I guess.
I was trying to find a happy medium between the boredom of folding a lot of hands and the fun of playing the pretty looking hands that I probably should fold but like to surprise people with.
This led to my stack doing a yo-yo for a while getting as low as $20 from my initial buy-in of $200. That pulled me up sharpish and I really had to get back to proper grinding.
Since the Orleans is primarily a locals casino you see a lot of the same faces every day and they tend to soft play each other and will check it down when they get heads up. Oh, they're not raising any anyone out and then doing it but all the same it's happening all the same.
I saw this on more than one occasion, especially between the little old ladies who are friends, and when I queried of one why she had checked her quads she replied, quite openly, “Oh, we always do that”.
Sigh.
The dealer just ignored my question as to whether you could check the nuts and I can't be bothered to take it further. Nothing is going to change and I guess it's just another thing I'll have get used to.
After about 7 hours I'd finally gotten my stack back up to my original buy-in but had consumed a number (OK, a lot) of beers. In fact, I was sitting on a small profit of around $40 and was considering taking a break and even perhaps just locking in that small profit.
Stupidly, I ignored that impulse and got involved in a nut high vs. my nut low hand where I got counterfeited by a 3 outer on the river which lost me a few dollars.
I played a little while longer getting down to $150 from the original $200 when people started leaving and the table dynamic changed.
I was getting hungry by then and decided just to take the small loss and grab some food at TGIs.
In thinking it over I had to be fairly close to break even after tips after 8 hours. I mean figure 3 beers an hour plus, say, 3 pots an hour over 8 hours...hang on let me take my socks off...
6 x 8 = 48...so yeah....I can call it break even if I want. A little self-justification is good for the soul.
Hey, what do you mean delusional? Yes, yes, I should have listed to my instincts and taken the profit when I had the chance but there you go.
Anyway, back to my home away from home, TGI Fridays for a nice Steak and Salmon meal and a couple of Stellas. At around 10pm, I realised that I was not looking forward to finishing off my pint...it just tasted 'not right'. It wasn't bad or anything it just felt like I was forcing it.
I abandoned it, paid my bill and went for a wander around the casino to let the food digest a while. No particular destination or plan, I'd just see what was what and if anything caught my eye then fair enough.
Imagine my surprise when I found myself wandering back to my room....auto-pilot must be trying to tell me something.
I took the hint, clearly the old PASPS (that's the Paulie Autonomic Self Preservation System), for those who might remember, was kicking in even if I didn't know why. I wasn't drunk by any means despite 8 hours or more of drinking....three Bud Lites an hour over 6-7 hours wouldn't even dent my alcohol stream. I hung out the 'Do Not Disturb' sign just in case of ursine intervention (I could have been wrong about the bear after all) and crashed.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:14:07 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Wednesday, 16th November 2011
Just Another Day At T'Mill
I just can't figure out why I'm not sleeping right. I think I'm fighting off a cold or it could be the air-conditioning is drying me out and messing up my sinuses and simulating a cold. Anyway, it's nice to have plenty of time in the mornings to get stuff done, catch up on work emails and some TV.
Nothing special to do until around noon when I'm ready for breakfast and some poker.
As I said, breakfast first so I chose the Courtyard Cafe in the Orleans...what the American would call a coffee-shop. That's different from a Starbucks or Costa, you know, what we would think of a coffee shop.
Nope this is full service food and coffee restaurant. Steak, Eggs and Hash Browns. Lovely...and 10% off with a voucher they give you when you check in.
That set me up for a day of grinding. Grinding. It's what I do.
I got seated after just a couple of minutes...It's handy having my Kindle with me as it gives me something to read other than the usual poker magazines they have lying around.
I wish I had much of anything interesting to report but it was nothing I haven't already detailed over the past few days...more of the same today.
After 6 hours I was precisely on my original $200 (but +EV on the beers of course). I suppose that's good enough.
I haven't done an exact count up but I think over the 5 days I'm basically breakeven on the poker...maybe a few bucks ahead in cash terms but definitely a winner in the 'drinking for profit' stakes.
A big thanks to Nellie, Jenna & Caroline for taking care of me in the beer department. As soon as I was even close to polishing off my drink another would materialise. I wish I could have taken pictures for you but it's kind of frowned on.
Take it from me....you missed something.
As I was walking over to TGI's for something to eat (with another 15% off voucher) I met Andy & Debjani (who'd been dabbling in the 2/4 LHE muddy waters) and they offered a lift over the the Stratosphere again where they were going.
I wasn't really in the mood so I gratefully declined and got my beer and steak on instead.
By 8pm I was ready to leave but in two minds as to whether to bother with poker or not. I decided not to but rather to play a few slot machines and a little blackjack.
Once again, nothing of interest....sorry, I wish I could spice this post entry up but I'd rather tell you the truth.
”I may leave stuff out, but I don't make **** up”.
Tomorrow is D-Day for the British Invasion. Some commandos have already reconnoitred the area but the main landing party hits the beaches at 2pm PST.
I have a feeling that my brother is bringing the bear with him.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:23:09 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Thursday, 17th November 2011
Oh Feck, They"re Here!
This not sleeping right is really starting to hack me off big time but perhaps a change of scenery will do me some good...luckily it"s moving day. I pottered around the room packing and policing up the room to make sure I hadn"t left anything behind before making my way down to the front desk to check out around noon.
I took a cab over to Harrah"s and got checked in in pretty short order and trekked up to my room on the 14th floor. I"d deliberately asked for a quiet room, I need to maximise my opportunities for a good nights kip.
I unpacked and set-up the IT kit as per usual but, for some reason, I couldn"t log on to the wi-fi. The screen kept saying I couldn"t apply charges to my room even though I had specifically enabled this on check-in. This was a little annoying as it meant I would have to trek down to the front desk and get it sorted.
These little things are sent to try us I suppose.
I"d already planned to get some lunch at Toby Keith"s so I took the opportunity to make my enquiries at the front desk as I passed. On doing so I was informed that Harrah"s DOESN"T HAVE WI-FI in it"s standard rooms...only in it"s suites.
WTF!? Even the friggin" Imperial Palace has wi-fi in all it"s rooms! I looked at the woman behind the desk as though she"d told me that beer was bad for you.
Apparently, they only have cabled connections in the standard rooms. I"d noticed a cable in the top drawer of the TV cabinet when I was unpacking but I"ve seen this dozens of times in other hotels...it"s an emergency thing, not an actual necessity.
Sorry folks, a "Travel Guru Fail" on that one...who knew? I guess I"m supposed to know but it still boggles my mind that they don"t have this basic functionality. [2016 note: Rectified I understand]
Well, there it was, nothing I could do now, so I went to eat. A few beers and a plate of chicken fingers later I"d fed the body and soul and a text arrived from Richard Baker telling me he was in Carnaval Court. It was only 2pm by this time, a little early but why not?
I walked the short distance outside and found Rich, Andy & Debjani planted at a table. Rich had one of those 4 foot drink things full of alcohol wrapped around his neck and was obviously in a party mood.
Figuring that I had a long night ahead I just contented myself with a few Bud Lights while we watched a great band called “Wonder Boogie” get the smallish crowd fired up with disco music and audience participation bits. They"ve been doing this for a long time and have it down pat. It"s a whole lot of fun to watch.
Rich and I sat there for a fair while (Andy & Deb had gone off to eat I think) just having a whale of a time just watching the crowd belly up to the bar for free shots of alcohol every half hour or so. It"s just cheap booze and fruit drinks mixed up in a pouring bottle but it"s a great way to get people involved.
Finally the rest of the APAT contingent started to arrive and we got stuck in. I can"t say everyone made the choice to turn up but the usual hard-core were in attendance so I think we did it up right.
Buckets of beers for $25 seemed popular once I"d spread the word..."Travel Guru Redeemed".
To be honest I had expected us to just be there until fully liquored up and crashing but it seemed that a lot of people wanted to play the 8pm tournament at Harrah"s. I honestly can"t see the attraction...It"s a crappy room and the tournament has, as is the way with these things, a horrible structure...but I was willing to go along with the majority.
Along the way, I"d been trying to get hold of my brother. He should have landed about 2pm but I hadn"t heard a peep out of him. I"d called, texted and emailed but nothing.
On my way to the poker room, detoured for a pee and as I"m washing my hands and on the way out, in he walks. I meet him in some funny places.
It turns out he"d gone out to an AT&T store to buy a sim immediately after checking in but for some reason his phone still wasn"t getting data. That explained the lack of contact. I took his new number and he went back to his blackjack I headed over to the poker room.
We"ll catch up later...it"s that sort of relationship. We don"t feel the need to be in each other"s pockets all the time. He"s not into poker and I"m pretty much over long spells at the blackjack tables....been there, did that during the nineties.
Naturally, every move I made was the wrong one and I was out in about 2 hours, probably less...in fact almost certainly less.
I sat outside the poker room for a while and found myself nodding off...I mean literally, doing the head jerk thing when you pull yourself back from the edge of sleep. This sleep deficiency thing is kicking my backside.
I played some slots for a while to rack up a few lousy Total Rewards points before heading back to the room to try and get the internet working.
That was a real palaver too. Firstly, I couldn"t find anywhere to plug the cable into. I searched for quite a while before finding the router attached to the back of one of the nightstands. Success I thought. Nope, the cable wouldn"t reach to the table in the room. Ok, move the table...that"ll cause problems with housekeeping, I"ll lay odds...I"ll have to leave a note asking them not to move it back.
Are we there yet? Nope, no signal. It"s surprising that something didn"t drop the 14 floors out of the window. The answer....they hadn"t plugged in the router to a power outlet. Once I"d twigged that it was plain sailing but, sheesh, sorry Harrah"s you don"t get any more stays out of me.[2016 Note: That turned out to be untrue.]
So that was that. They"re here.
I"ll let them tell they"re own stories over on the APAT forum. I have little doubt they will be doozies.[2016 Note: Hopefully not lost in the recent server switch.]
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:28:19 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Friday, 18th November 2011
Staggered
Moving hotels seems to have done the trick. The beds at Harrah"s are very comfortable and I can't pinpoint what the difference might be but I got a full six hours solid sleep after Thursday's invasion.
So what's a fellow supposed to do? That's right, I rolled over and went back to sleep...it's still early for crying out loud and tonight is going to be a doozy.
With nothing to do until late lunchtime I did that...nothing...just enjoyed a restful time in the room before grabbing a cab over to the Monte Carlo and planted myself in Diablo's Cantina. I checked in on Foursquare and alerted the Social Media of my arrival in time to see Don Logan wandering in clad in appropriate attire.
He'd only arrived late the night before from Chicago and we ordered food while waiting for others to arrive. Before long we were a decent size party and so we adjourned to The Pub on the other side of the Monte Carlo. This proved to be a popular choice especially as the had a happy hour of 2 for 1 drinks until 6. We indulged.
As we were a large party they insisted on a single bill and slapped on a service charge of 18%. Seems fair...it saves us having to work out the tip at the end.
I arranged for a pitcher to be placed on the table so that we could put the cost of our individual drinks in that rather that have a fight over who ordered what and for how much at the end. I think it worked out.
Ger the Duke seemed insistent on us sticking rigorously to the outlined agenda while I was somewhat more laid back about it. Trying to get 20+ people to agree on whether it's time to leave is like trying to herd cats....it just can't be done...all you can do it tell them where you are going and hope they'll follow.
I gave the name and address of the next location to all and sundry before heading off to the hotel lobby to grab some cabs. The message seems to have permeated because before long we were piling into Frankie's Tiki Room (http://frankiestikiroom.com/) for some large drinks.
The drinks taste very nice...very nice indeed...and I had too many. It didn't feel it at the time but they let me know later.
Joobs was insisting on trying to recreate 'Umbongo', a kids drink from some time ago...but with flavoured rum and various juices. The bartender Mike played along and for $6 each they were nice...very nice indeed. I had three or four...and that's after two previous large rum concoctions had forced their way down my throat.
We were already running behind the alleged schedule and various people (I mention no names Tighty) were more interested in...erm...more mature entertainment.
This hadn't been part of my plan but as I always said...it's just an outline, if people want to do something else then that was fine with me.
So, I made the executive decision to give the Bikini Bar a miss and we'd head off to McMullan"s Irish Pub instead...at least those who wanted to could. So Mike called us a bunch of taxis and we made our collective way there.
I mentioned John Windsor previously in this thing and he was playing again on Friday. He went over a total storm with the Brits and everyone really got into it.
Curlarge got up on stage and played 'Wonderwall' for us during one of John's breaks and those two seemed to have a good old natter.
We coaxed a few more songs out of John after his usual knocking off time of 12.30am but he had to pack up some time. That didn't seem to stop the party that was going on but I was well over four sheets to the wind by that stage...more like and entire Chinese laundry to the wind in fact.
I can't recall the exact time I decided to call it a night but I walked outside and hailed cab and was safely tucked up by 2.30 am or so.
Apparently, I missed some high-jinks by leaving including...I'm led to believe Michelle and Joobs being told off for dancing on the tables, Michelle doing a juggling act with Joobs'...erm....assets and Mr Prime finding another odd location to catch forty winks.
Me....I had company of my own....the drinking bear has arrived!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:31:11 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Saturday, 19th November 2011
Out Cold
Yes, folks, the bear is most definitely back. Clothes all over the room, cr@ppy taste in my mouth, raging headache and pocket full of singles. Ohhhh, Lord....rum drinks...tasty but so dangerous. Anyway, as you can imagine it took me more than a while before I was even close to being compos mentis enough to make my way to Caesars for the APAT event.
I met Shogun along the way and we made our way over together.
We got under way in the event and given that the field was a good 80% British my table was full of familiar faces. I got my Kings cracked fairly early on but doubled up through Paul McGuinness towards the end of level three when he didn't believe me when I shoved with a full house.
Of course, I picked KK again on the button in the very next hand and got coolered to a flopped full house.
That left me at a loose end and, even though I am the travel guru, I hadn't planned on anything for the Saturday afternoon. I wandered back to Harrah"s for lunch where I had a $5 coupon thanks for Foursquare.
From there I just thought I would take a nap to recover from the bad night and made my way to my room.
This proved to be a big mistake....I lay down about 5pm for a couple of hours....unfortunately, those two hours actually proved to be six. I said the beds were comfortable.
To be honest, I suppose I could have made the effort to get up, clean myself up and go wandering but I figured that would just mess up my sleep pattern again.
So, I just wrote off Saturday and just hung out in the room. Sorry to be boring but there you go.
Sunday, I want to play the Mixed Game at the IP but I might give the Venetian a whirl first.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:33:51 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Sunday, 20th November 2011
It's Been A Hard Day's Grind
After all that sleep I was more than refreshed and ready for a day of grinding so after my usual lounge around the room I walked over to the Venetian. Food was the first order of business so I chose the Grand Lux Cafe for a couple of Stellas and a very nice Club sandwich.
After that, I got seated into a 4/8 Omaha8 game after just a couple of minutes. Despite going off with only six players the table filled up quickly.
The play was challenging to say the least and my stack yo-yo'd between $100 and $200 most of the time. The hardest part was an idiot at the opposite end of the table who would stay in with even the most ridiculous no-draw and get there on the river.
Not only that but he slow-rolled me.....twice. Sigh.
I crushed him later when I made the ultimate nuts on the turn and he just wouldn't let go and took him for a decent chunk of change.
Unfortunately, that chunk only got me back to my starting stack and after five hours I was down a whole $4.
That was enough and I wanted to play the IP Mixed Game so I cashed out and strolled over and got my name on the list around 6.30pm.
I was joined after a while by JP Round, James Edwards and Chen Tam and we got under way dead on 7pm with a few other randoms.
Laughs were had, suck-outs were bad and we played for quite a while. I couldn't get much going...it was that kind of day...and, besides, having played this game before I've always treated it as a donation.
So after 6 hours play I was down $100 and I was yawning so I called it a night, especially as I was going to have, at least for this trip, and early morning the next day
I made the short walk back to Harrah"s and crashed.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:37:48 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Monday, 21st November 2011
It's A Nice Day For A White Wedding
Calling it an early night yesterday was a wise decision as I needed to be at The Chapel of The Flowers for Adam and Julie's wedding. A few of us gathered in the lobby around 10.30 and we hopped in a a cab or two to head over to the chapel arriving shortly before 10.45. In fact we arrived shortly before the groom!
Many of the visiting APATers had made the effort to dress up for the happy day especially Stuart Oliver who was in full Scottish regalia. For myself I confess that I had not (I had a full suitcase as it was) so I hid myself at the back out of camera shot.
The chapel was completely full and, indeed, the minister commented that he'd never had such a crowd, especially from overseas. I thought that the minister did a wonderful job of the ceremony and Adam and Julie were clearly enjoying their special day.
Once the ceremony was after the bride and groom were taken off to do a photo-shoot and we all trooped outside to find that the sun had truly come out for the first time during our visit. It was a gloriously sunny day.
We all stooged around for a while as Laxie organised us like a military action. We would need more than a few cabs but I was fortunate enough to blag a spot in one of the chapel's super-stretch limos to Caesars and the Cheesecake factory.
The driver let us out right be a side door just a hundred yards from the restaurant and we lined up outside. Somehow we'd beaten the happy couple to the place but Dawn was on the case.
It seemed that despite a couple of confirmation calls the restaurant didn't take reservations so Laxie had to badger the manager into sorting out some space for us.
It all worked out in the end and by the time we were done we filled three large tables. Somehow Ger and the rest of the party had gotten side-tracked into a bar so that was a little disappointing but still we had a nice meal for what I thought was a pretty decent price for the Forum Shops.
By 3pm I was ready for a nap so I trudged the whole length of the Forum Shops back to Harrah"s. I made sure to set my phone alarm so there wouldn't be a repeat of Saturday. By 5.30 I was cabbing over to the Tropicana for the JAPAT Wedding Tournament.
I really like the way they're refurbished the Trop although they've started pumping in some smell that just, if you'll pardon the expression, gets up my nose.
We got away with 50 runners or thereabouts but once again I got nowhere with any action or move I would make. I managed to run my A4s into Don Robert's AA who was on fire on our table.
A couple of drinks later and we'd managed to get a 3/6 Omaha8 cash game running full of APAT regulars.
Ger seemed to be hitting everything in sight even when he should have gotten out of the hand some time before. This was a little frustrating [2016 Note: In fact was downright annoying] but there is nothing you can do in these situations.
I sat in for a few hours while dwindling chips slowly. By the time the tourney was over I was ready to call it a night...this must have been around 1am and I was down $140.
So be it...I made my way outside and grabbed a cab back to Harrah"s.
I have nothing specific planned for the next few days, my travel guru duties are done and dusted, I'll just play it by ear.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 30, 2016, 13:40:55 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:41:14 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Tuesday, 22nd November 2011
The Venetian Is My Kryptonite
With nothing planned...at least with any specificity...I could have my usual long lie-in and general pottering around in the room time before doing anything of consequence. I decided to give the Venetian another shot but took my time in strolling over...it would be there when I got there.
My first port of call was the Walgreens (sort of like a giant Boots) for my annual purchase of a big pack Ibuprofen. How daft is it that if you try and buy more than 18 in Tesco they wrestle you to the ground in case you do yourself harm but over here I can buy enough to keep me going for well over a year?
This in the most litigious country in the world...batty I tell you!
Anyway, after making my purchase I took the opportunity to wander through the Canal Shoppes....such a better experience, at least visually, to me...that the Forum Shops.
Same basic idea, shops selling stuff I don't want and couldn't afford anyway but the Venetian seems to do it just a little more class than Caesars.
Having skipped breakfast as I usually do, I made my weary (yes already) way to the Grand Lux Cafe and brunched on a very nice meal of fish and chips...with the perennial couple of Stellas of course.
After that it was the poker room where, I'm sorry to say, the experience of a couple of days ago repeated itself. Either zero playable hands or getting crushed by river rats.
I played until about 6pm or thereabouts before calling it quits down about $140.
I don't know what it is, I used to do quite well at the Venetian...it could just be that I've got worse, the variance could be catching up with me or the opposition has gotten better.
Personally, I'd go with No. 2, then No. 1 then No. 3 in order of likelihood, but whatever it is I'm probably only going to give it one more shot.
Licking my wounds I strolled back to Harrah"s and into Toby Keith's. A few Bud Lites and a plate of chicken pieces lifted my spirits some but when the band came on my aged ears couldn't take the racket so I called it a night.
Now look, some of you are, no doubt, sitting there thinking, Paulie's in the mecca of all gamblers, Sin City, Las Vegas itself and he's getting in before midnight.
I can understand that thinking but you kind of have to look at it from my point of view.
Firstly, I'm older than most people generally judge and I weigh...there's no getting away from it...a lot...so I get tired.
Then, also, I've been coming here for 20 years or more so I don't have that 'Gee Whiz, Look at that!” excitement that the Vegas virgins have.
Finally, folks...and this is the biggie...this is my main holiday for the year and if I want to relax and vegetate that's what I'm going to do.
Perhaps it makes these reports a tad on the boring side on occasion but them's the breaks for you.
OK. Rant over.
Like I said, I'll give the Venetian one more shot tomorrow and see what the day brings after than. Most if not all of the contingent are heading home so maybe we'll all get together for something but we'll see.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:43:01 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on October 30, 2016, 13:45:01 PM
Love your trip reports, ive got some reading to do!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:48:50 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Wednesday, 23rd November 2011
You Can"t Beat A Happy Ending
Another good night"s sleep....like I said, the beds at Harrah"s are very comfortable. I was doing the general stooging around the room when my brother Pete texted me suggesting breakfast. At 11am...is he insane...that"s way to early!?
Nevertheless, I felt it my duty to see the little blighter as I hadn"t actually laid eyes on him for 5 days or so. Good to know he was still alive although judging by the look of him when he knocked on my door it had been a rough night.
We sauntered down to The Cafe at Harrah"s...an unimaginative name but accurate. Steak, Eggs, Breakfast potatoes, orange juice and coffee....lovely. We caught up on our various doings but as our interests on the gambling front are different he decided to have another shot at the blackjack tables and, mug that I am, went back to the Venetian.
Seriously, I should have known better.... - No madam...you did not KNOW the villain had JJ on a J73 - 8 - 8 board when you called all the streets of betting, raised by the villain and reraised by me on every street. I knew he was betting the come on the flop with his A2, I"d been watching him do it for past hour.
If you seriously thought he had JJ you would not have called with a bare 3 and no low on the flop and gone runner runner with 83 to boat the river against my 77.
That was enough, I"d been there less than 2 hours and was down $140 already...I"m done.
Of course, this left me with the rest of the day to fill. I wandered back to Harrah"s and played the penny slots for an hour or two dropping another $100 or so...no, I lie, it was more like $200.
Jesus, I"m so stupid sometimes.
That put me further in a funk and I was sitting in my room trying to decide whether to even bother to do anything for the evening when I got a text from, as it turned out, Ger to the effect that they had acted on a suggestion of mine from some time back and made reservations at The Range Steakhouse [2016 Note: Now Ruth Chris"s Steakhouse] upstairs in Harrah"s for 8pm.
I kind of felt obliged to be there ad it had been my original idea but on reflection that wasn"t the important point. No, this would be my last opportunity so socialise with some of my APAT friends before they flew back and that I could not miss.
So, I threw off my troubles and made my way downstairs and found a small crowd at the Numb bar just outside The Range"s private elevator. It seemed that some people there were unconvinced about the value of the meal compared to the cost so they elected to choose the Outback instead.
Fair enough. As it turned out Richard Baker called me and said that he had rounded up a few more and we eventually made it upstairs eleven handed. A couple of tables pushed together right by the window overlooking the Strip and all the ambiance you might expect.
Oysters, Steak and Lobster followed by Tiramisu all washed down with a few large glasses of wine.
How much you ask?...About $110 each and worth every red cent. The service and food were top notch and I would recommend it if you happen to be into that kind of experience.
We were out by 10.30 pm or so, I"m not precisely sure of the time but I suggested that we finish off the night at Toby Keith"s.
This ideas was more or less warmly received although I did see Ger and a couple of others yawning but that didn"t stop them following along.
On arrival, someone was getting the drinks in while we tried to find a table that we could all sit at when I looked around to find Laxie having a barney with a security guard.
It seemed that this jobsworth was concerned about us disrupting the flow of the restaurant section by sitting at a "restaurant table" instead of at a a set of stools no more than 4 feet away.
Dawn was explaining to this f...ellow that it was had to disrupt the flow when there were precisely 3 people sitting the the restaurant section which had space for over 100 covers.
Regardless, I suggested to Laxie that it wasn"t worth the hassle but somehow, bless her, she managed to wangle not only $50 worth of comps as an apology for our trouble but late check-out (2pm instead of noon) for all of us in the party staying at Harrah"s.
Gift of the gab I suppose.
Well that sealed it...we were drinking and singing along to the somewhat (I thought) mediocre cover band playing and eventually closed up the joint at 1.30am.
Job done.
I shook a few hands in case I didn"t see them again before they flew out and wended my weary way back my room. Stuffed and Happy. Day ended well I think.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on October 30, 2016, 13:50:50 PM
Ger seemed to be hitting everything in sight even when he should have gotten out of the hand some time before. This was a little frustrating [2016 Note: In fact was downright annoying] but there is nothing you can do in these situations.
Gifted ::) ::)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 13:52:19 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Thursday, 24th November 2011
It's Over, Deal With It
Well, it finally arrived...the main strength of the APAT contingent was heading home today. Not me of course, I have another couple of days...of which more later. Thanks to Dawn's negotiating skills I wasn't rushed about moving out of my hotel room until I was good and ready but by 2pm I was packed up and checked out and sitting in the Starbucks near to the lobby waiting for my brother.
A parade of happy, but very tired APAT faces paraded past to do the check-out thing and wait for various taxis and limos. Yes, Vegas can be a tiring place to visit..even for the young. Because there is so much to see, do and experience, especially for the Vegas Virgins, they try to cram it all in into the quite short amount of time.
Sleep comes far down on the list and that catches up with you eventually. For many it will be when they get home...some may be unconscious on take-off from McCarran.
Anyway, back to me.
Pete eventually out in an appearance about 2.45pm and did his check-out thing. No surprisingly, in additional to getting 5 days for free, they comped the other two nights based on his play over the past few days.
Me... I earned a grand total of $6...whoop-de-doo.
So, with the admin done, we cabbed it over to the Mirage...no way I was lugging 20kg of luggage across Harrah"s casino floor, across LV Blvd and then across the Mirage.
Check-in was easy and we made our way up to our room for the next two nights.
By the time we gotten unpacked and sorted it was time to eat. The line at the buffet was too long so I directed Pete to BLT Burger.
Mmmmmm.....gorgeous with a couple of draft Bud Lites. Pete thought it was the bees patellae.
With the body sated Pete went off to do his thing and I headed to the Mirage Poker Room. They don't get anything other than Hold'em going on here very often so I just decided to sit in on a 3/6 Limit game.
Unfortunately, the game was shorthanded for quite a while and I didn't fare very well. In the end I just go blinded away and ended up down about $100.
I got bored with it and decided to rest up for a while before thinking of what to do next. On my way out of the poker room I met a local friend who deals at both the Mirage and Bills and we caught up in a very quick fashion as she was just coming on shift.
On getting back to the room, I find Pete already collapsed on his bed pretty much spark out. I found this idea quite attractive and got my head down.
Of course, this was fatal and I woke up around 11.30pm and that was that, I read for a while but couldn't get back to sleep and the next thing I know it's well past 3am and Pete and I are watching re-runs of Friends...all the Thanksgiving episodes.
[sorry]Hangs head in shame[/sorry]
So...nothing much to report of the Thursday night...another rest day overall.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 14:02:34 PM
Ger seemed to be hitting everything in sight even when he should have gotten out of the hand some time before. This was a little frustrating [2016 Note: In fact was downright annoying] but there is nothing you can do in these situations.
Gifted ::) ::)
More like Special ::) ::)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on October 30, 2016, 14:05:36 PM
Repost
APAT - Vegas Vengeance: Friday, 25th November 2011
One Last Shot
After last night"s debacle I was determined to get some poker in on the last full day in Vegas. Considering the Mirage room was purely HE and It"s not my favourite cash game I decided to try the Venetian again despite the battering I"d been getting there.
Not that I got there until around 2pm. The beds at the Mirage are very nice too, perhaps not quite as comfortable as those at Harrah"s but nice enough that I lazed until well after 1pm.
I tried to give the Venetian"s food court a go but the temptation of Stella got the better of me so back to the Grand Lux Cafe it was. The bartender recognised me...they"re kind of good at that and it does help that I sometimes have my name on my shirt. You may mock (and you have) but it does break the ice sometimes.
Anyway, a very nice Reuben sandwich and a couple of Stellas and I was ready to get back at it.
I finally got into a game about 3pm and really hunkered down and ground it out. Within and hour I was up $100 and feeling much more comfortable but then the Americans all decided to head off for an early dinner and we sat short handed for quite a while.
This led to me dropping a few chips just in blinds but I was holding my own. When we finally got back to a full table when I got involved in a hand where I flopped a set with a low on the board and got into a raising war against to players both (I knew) playing the nut low.
Unfortunately the board didn"t pair and ran out all low and I had to let it go after pumping a significant proportion of my stack into the pot.
This depressed the living **** out of me but I wasn"t willing to give up on playing just yet. Battening down the hatches I played locked down poker for another few hours and by 11pm and 7 hours of play I was back over my starting stack and called it a night with a grand total of $62 profit.
I can"t say I"ve broken the back of the Venetian demon but it"s not looming over me any more.
So back to the Mirage for something to eat. I just walked past the queue of people at BLT Burger (who wanted tables) and sat myself at the bar.
A VERY nice turkey burger and couple of Bud Lights and that had me finished off. I went back to the room...no Pete but that wasn"t terribly surprising...he wandered in around 5am just as I was waking up.
So that"s about it really....the season finale of Paulie Does Vegas.
A few random thoughts just to round off.
Firstly, I realised in the cab to McCarran for the flight back that I"d done this trip in reverse to my previous few trips. I"d normally do a week on the Strip and then relax off-strip for the second week. Consequently, I was somewhat more tired on this trip that I had expected.
Secondly, I took care of myself a little better than I have before, I ate properly...hell, very well, compared to just grabbing things when I wanted. I was only visited by the bear once and that helped too.
Being with a group is just awesome but it is nice to have some time to yourself.
I didn"t hit up half the places I had planned...I"m not worried, the occasion didn"t arise but I think you would have liked some of the choices, perhaps next time.
I"ve seem some discussion (already) about next year. I still maintain that late in the year (October to December) is the best time...it"s not blisteringly hot, the weather, even late at night is still T-Shirt weather for Brits.
I have the first couple of weeks of November 2012 pencilled in but that"s likely to be another road trip from LA to Vegas (perhaps with a side trip to Laughlin). Still, that"s just the basic outline for now and it"s a long way off. [2016 Note: Nope, didn"t happen]
Peace.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 02, 2016, 13:06:41 PM
Matt Dale has been doing some digital archaeology and gradually bringing back some blog posts from past years.
I"m gonna have to make sure I dupe these off-site in case of future issues but, in the interim, I"ll keep reposting some of the more interesting (well, at least to me) trip reports from days gone by as they are unearthed.
So, continuing on...THAT trip to APAT Ireland in 2010 but some background first.
I have great fun in researchng Travel related stuff and found out that (at the time) you could pay a low combined price to travel by train / ferry from anywhere in the UK. It compared very well with flights/taxi cost if you have the time.
You still can! (http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm)
Pleased with myself I thought.."why not?"...you live and learn.
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt I
Friday 24th September 2010
The day dawned...but as usual I was up before that...(when did it stop getting light before I am awake?)..but no time to dawdle around with a cup of coffee and a bacon sarnie this morning. Oh no..I"m off to Dublin today.
Having found this (supposedly) simple relaxing train/ferry option for c.£65 I kind of had to try it out.
Silly me....I should have known that any journey relying on the much vaunted London public transportation system was not going to be easy.
No problem getting the bus to Upminster station...oddly quiet this morning...It"s been a few years since I"ve been a regular commuter but recall the buses and trains being fuller. It"s not as though I"ve gotten any smaller!
So...District Line to London with a quick change to the Hammersmith and CIty Line to roll into Euston Square around 8.30 or so for a 9.10 departure to Holyhead.
All started well but when I try to make the change to the H&C line I encounter my first problem. After going just one stop we"re told that the service is being suspended due to signalling difficulties. Sigh.
OK, backup plan..back on the District Line to Tower Hill, change to the Circle Line. Get to Tower Hill. swap platforms...stairs, bane of my existence.
Excellent..Circle Line train rolls in 1 minute later. I board.
Nope...announcement. "Circle Line is suspended".
FECK!
OK, I check the time...and continued travel by train just isn"t going to cut it. I hoof it to Fenchurch Street and finally manage to flag down a cab about 8.35.
We seem to crawl through town taking some back-doubles that have me thinking I"m being long-hauled. I deliberately don"t check the time all the way.
Either I make it..or I don"t.
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 02, 2016, 13:07:19 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt II
Friday 24th September 2010
...so, we roll up to Euston and I get out of the cab and pay the man his money...and it"s 9.03am. I just handed him a £20 note and didn"t have time for change...decent tip for him!
I race...OK, waddle as fast as I can..up the stairs and immediately see the electronic board showing my train is on platform 4.
9.05am...I make it down the ramp and on to the first carriage I"m ticketed for, which turns out to be the last but one carriage at the rear of the train. I plunk myself down in the first non-reserved seat and all is right.
9.08 am Plug in the laptop, grab the free wifi and I"m good to go.
OR AT LEAST I THINK I AM!
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 05, 2016, 19:56:43 PM
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 05, 2016, 20:13:31 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt III
Friday 24th September 2010
Having had a pretty fraught journey so far, I"m very happy to be relaxing in a nice seat, with a table with all of the electronic access I need to make the rest of the trip an enjoyable one.
BUT
About 90 minutes in, I think, we pull into Chester and I"m busy typing away when there"s a tap on my shoulder and the train attendant asks me where I"m going.
"Holyhead", I reply.
"Oh. You have to be in the first 6 carriages for that, the train is splitting here."
Whatever...I thank him, quickly grab my stuff and try to disembark...but the doors won"t open. I grab another attendant and she explains that until the train has split the doors remain locked.
FFS..a couple of minutes go by while I quietly fume, the train splits and my half moves a hundred yards down the platform.
The doors unlock and I"m off. I see the fellow who told me about the train splitting, which is the first I"ve heard of it...and we exchange waves.
Now my wave meant.."Yes it"s me, I coming to get back on the train"...but apparently we were not speaking in the same wave language because he turns to the train guard and says something...AND THE TRAIN PULLS OUT!
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DAY I"M HAVING!
I harangue the guy for a couple of minutes and he just looks at me blankly and says "I"m not responsible for holding trains".
I give up...apparently his red Virgin waistcoat is cutting of the oxygen to his brain.
I just ask when is the next train to Holyhead and apparently there is one is 10 minutes from the next platform over.
I heave my ageing carcase over the bridge to the next platform and the train is waiting for me. I clamber aboard and settle into my new seat. No luxuries here, no power point, no wifi.
Oh well, I have my mobile broadband dongle and as soon as we set off, I get set up again and start figuring out when I"ll arrive at Holyhead and whether I"ll make the ferry.
A quick check with Trainline lets me know that I should arrive before departure of the ferry..about 30 minutes...but there could be a problem as check-in will have closed 15 minutes before that...at least according to the ticket stuff I got from the ferry company.
I then have to start thinking about what will happen if I don"t make it...do I take the next ferry?...but that"s not for another 7 hours and it would mean arriving at my hotel at 2am...and it"s not 24 hour reception.
I could overnight in Holyhead and catch the fast ferry on Saturday morning...or I could just abandon the whole idea and turn around and go home.
I have so many scenarios floating around in my head, I can"t concentrate on reading my book. I just sit in my seat and watch the scenery go by...slowly.
Actually, that wasn"t to bad, it was very nice scenery and I wish I could have appreciated it more..but I had too much going on to do that.
At one point we stop at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...but for some reason the driver doesn"t announce the stop. Heh!
Eventually, we arrive at Holyhead (2 minutes early in fact), I head off towards the Stena terminal at the end of the platform to discover my fate.
T.B.C.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 06, 2016, 12:58:43 PM
APAT Dublin....the day before. Pt IV
Friday 24th September 2010
I enter the Stena terminal and...joy of joys...am greeted with the famous British invention...the queue!
Yes...I don"t know why...and at this point I don"t care why check-in it still open..but it is...at least as far as I can tell.
While I"m standing there, shuffling along every few seconds or so, I see the familiar face of Paul McGuinness and we exchange greetings, he disappears for a minute or to (honestly, the man has a bladder the size of a peanut)..during which time I make my way to the front of the check-in line.
Now I"m fully expecting to be pulled aside and told I"m too late but...all is good, I check-in my bag, get my boarding card and make my way to the shuttle bus for foot passengers. I try to wait for Paul but he misses the first bus and will have to catch the second one in a couple of minutes.
Eventually, we drive onto the ferry, I manage to find Paul and we make our way up to the restaurant & bar deck.
We grab a couple of drinks and a table and settle down to make the crossing. I fire up the laptop and log-in to the free wifi but it"s got some net-nanny filter...no gambling sites allowed...so I can"t post up what"s happening.
Regardless, Paul and I have a good old natter about APAT, Dublin, Life, how proud he is of the Welsh Team at WCOAP and a few other subjects.
We"re sitting outside Dublin harbour when the captain comes over the tannoy to advise us that our docking berth is still occupied by the other Stena ship due to someone falling ill on board and they can"t leave.
And if they can"t leave...we can"t arrive.
Over the next FOUR hours we are advised that the person suffered at heart attack which meant that they had to wait for an ambulance to arrive...the paramedics then worked on the poor soul until they had to give up. This then meant that they had to wait for the Garda to arrive and take witness statements.
So, a journey that should have taken 3.5 hours took nearly 7.5 hours...but eventually we dock and disembark. Paul and I collect our luggage and head out of the terminal to find a cab. I would have thought they would be swarming but apparently not.
Stena do put on a courtesy bus into Connelly station but Paul has already found a taxi firm who will send us a cab if we can wait 15 minutes or so. Fair enough.
As it happens, a cab pulls in after about 5 minutes, apparently for hire. We flag him down and Paul goes up to the cab and says "McGuinness?"...the driver says yes and we climb in.
Only it wasn"t the cab we called...the driver"s name WAS McGuinness!
Doesn"t matter to us...we"re on board and heading for my hotel. Paul"s booked into the same one but only for Saturday and Sunday so I offer him my floor. I can see him while I"m typing this...snoring away..poor lamb...it wasn"t a late night for us...but it was a long day.
Anyway, we arrive safely at Latchfords about 9pm and I get us checked in. Nice place, self-catering, but they lay on tea and coffee in the room. Microwave, kettle, toaster and even a full oven.
Other than the kettle I don"t see those getting a lot of use. Literally over the road from Larry Murphy"s and only 55 euro a night. GOLDEN!
After getting sorted we wander over to Larry Murphys and are greeted by the Ger contingent and a few others. Hilarity ensues.
My reputation as a "Travel Guru" is clearly in tatters but I maintain that, if everything goes right, that journey is pretty sweet. Can"t say that I would do it exactly the same as I did this time, I might allow a little more time but sometimes stuff happens.
Onwards...breakfast awaits...if I can wake Paul.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 18:52:05 PM
APAT Dublin....the day during.
Saturday 25th September 2010
Dawn broke and the crash woke me up...either that or it was the muppet who tripped over the refuse bin in the alley behind the mews house / apartment we"re in.
Didn"t seem to bother Paul though...he"s still asleep. I decide to roll back over and get some more winks..40 wasn"t enough.
Around 10am (I think) I"m fully awake, showered, shaved and I have had a decent...shampoo too! Drinking a lovely cup of tea I log-in to the free wifi and update the forum on my journey from hell while waiting for Paul to revive.
About 11am we get a call from Reception to tell us that"s Paul"s room is ready and he moves his stuff over and then we head of in search of breakfast. A short walk up Baggot Street gets us to the place that Paul remembers and we tuck in to a Full Irish Breakkie.
Well, that"s what they called it....not where I"m from it ain"t. Bacon, Sausage, Egg, Beans and Toast isn"t even a Full English Breakfast..but what the heck...it"ll fill the spot.
Just as I check the forum on my phone and tell Paul that Leigh and John Murray are stuck at the airport Paul sees them walking down the road. Oops...shoulda checked the time on that post.
Afterwards we wander back and pop into the Fitz (which was pretty deserted at mid-day) to say hello to Tighty and Co. but before long...yes you guessed it...I need a drink. Paul begs off to watch some football (and probably get some kip off the floor) while I head into Larry Murphys.
Ger Sr is, of course, seated at the bar and tells me I should have tried Doheny & Nesbitts for breakfast. Apparently, we"d walked past it...filed away for future reference.
It"s not long before it feels like we have most of the runners for the comp in Larry Murphys. About 2.15 I head over to the Fitz to get my seat and after what seems an age, the rest follow and, unusually for an APAT event...we get off, I think, about 30 minutes late.
I had the pleasure of being seated at Table 1 (Seat 1) which was the only table downstairs. The reason...they have an older regular (Paddy...I swear) who can"t get up the stairs so Table 1 is usually not broken until he goes out.
Paddy though wasn"t destined to be with us too long...although he managed a few levels. He was, I regret to say, extremely easy to read. With AA, KK or AK..he ALWAYS min-raised pre-flop.
Post-flop, with AK he"d min-bet until he hit. He got called all the way to the river by another regular with 99 because the V knew Paddy hadn"t hit. When Paddy did hit...he"d pot bet. Fairly easy to get away from.
My play?...Oh, I made a couple of hero calls that worked and steadily started chipping up...donked off about the same amounts a couple of times (mostly to Brendan Byrne). Most of the time I was on or about the chip average but couldn"t ever get far enough ahead.
When Table 1 had broken, we moved upstairs and after another huge donk to Brendan I was down to about 50% of the chip average..and about 10 BB left. This is where I started getting some big hands, or at least they were big enough to get some chips in the middle.
I took 2K off Brendan with a LP shove with KQs, then picked up a couple of big hands that I raised with in EP that all got through or they folded to a c-bet.
Eventually, I"m back up to about perhaps 12k (I can"t recall exactly) and pick-up AQo in the Hi-jack (I think). This would have been the 4th or 5th hand in succession where I"ve raised pre-flop and I get re-raised on the button by Alex Currie.
Now Alex had already laid down a few hands to me before (and I"d made a hero-call with an 8 high flush to a raise on the river from him much earlier in the day).
This was it....I"ve put something like 2K in pre-flop (400/800/100) and I"ve got maybe 8k/9k back and he"s raised to 6k. If I double up, I"m nicely back on or above the average.
I shove and he calls...my AQo vs his JJ....OK, I"ll take that.....well, not on a J44 flop I won"t. The turn is an Ace giving me 2 outs for the real suckout but it"s not to be.
9pm. Hmmm....what do do next? I think I know.
Yep...Larry Murphys it is.
A few pints later, it"s getting late and, damn it, I forgot to eat again...must be the alcohol in my belly making me feel full...and sloshy! Whatever, it"s getting really loud in Murphys and I"m pretty knackered (and not a little lubricated).
Rather than risk over-dosing, I head off to my bed for a good nights sleep.
APAT Dublin....the day after.
Sunday 25th September 2010
Another day in Dublin...what will Sunday bring I wondered as I wandered up Baggot Street towards Doheny & Nesbitts for breakfast. Well it didn"t bring early opening that"s for sure.
Apparently, pubs in Dublin can"t legally open before 12.30pm on Sunday. That"s no frakkin" good to me at 11.am now is it! (Another factoid filed away for next year).
Whatever, I settle for the faux-Irish Breakfast at the same place as yesterday while getting up to date on the forum.
Sidebar: I get internet on my phone through T-Mobile and for a measly £10 I got 50mb of data roaming that lasted all the way through the weekend. How good is that? I remember getting stung over £100 for about 30 minutes use in Vienna a couple of years back. [2016 Note...things are sooo different now...right?]
Back to the story...assuming anyone cares..and if you don"t, so what?
I wander back in the direction of my hotel/the Fitz/Larry Murphys with no particular plan in mind. I buy a paper in the handy Londis next door (another factoid filed away for next year) and as I come out I see Pat the barman from Larrys opening up.
Well, if it"s fate...it"s fate. I"m first in but not the last. Soon I am joined by many others and we rail Steve Roderick via Live Update from the pub until it"s all over. Many, many hours later...OK 8 hours, I haven"t left the pub yet and it"s time for something to eat. Pat"s probably going to close up soon anyway.
Five of us head over to Chai-Yo, an Asian restaurant next door to my hotel and we get seated at the Teppanyaki table by the front door. However, we"re eating off the cheapo 18 euro for 4 courses menu but Paul McG persuades them to serve us in-situ as we"ll make the place look busy from the outside.
We"re sitting there chatting away and drinking our drink (Oh, you knew there would be drinks didn"t you?) when it turns completely surreal. Four of the waitstaff/cooks break into song with "Ticket to Ride". They then proceed to do two or three more numbers including the "Chai-Yo Song" to the tune of Neil Sedaka"s "Oh, Carol".
#Hilarity Ensued - Good Times
Replete with good food at around 10pm I wish the others good night as I have any early cab in the morning for the journey home. I"m really hoping it"s nothing like the journey over.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 18:57:29 PM
APAT Dublin....the day after the day after.
Monday 26th September 2010
Nope no problems. The taxi I"d booked was waiting for me when I emerged from the hotel at 7am and it was a reasonably quick trip to the ferry port.
Trip across the Irish Sea went off without a hitch and I caught up on some missed TV programmes I"d downloaded to my laptop which helped pass the time.
I wasn"t entirely sure about the train connection at Holyhead. I was under the impression I could get a train at 12.38 but would have to change at Chester. I decided to wait for the Virgin train at 2pm and I took the opportunity to re-charge the laptop at the same time from a handy wall outlet at the station.
Train to Euston took seemingly no time at all and the return trip on the Tube was uneventful...sorry, no drama this time.
I rolled into my front door about 7pm, 12 hours from leaving my Dublin hotel. In hindsight, I probably wouldn"t do it again but like I said before, if you have the time (and nothing goes wrong) it"s a lovely journey.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 08, 2016, 19:05:00 PM
The man has a way with words for sure. Enjoy these ditty"s immensely.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 19:05:12 PM
Ohhh memories...I"ve told this one many times and it still makes me smile.
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from January 2008.
Sidebar: A trip to Vegas with my brother Pete. We"re staying at the Stratosphere. I"d been delayed due to flight connections...Pete arrived early and had been playing blackjack for many hours. He likes Corona.
Las Vegas: January 12th 2008
"Pick a card...any card"
After I crashed out last night and finally nodded off to sleep...my phone rings....
Blearily, I mumble, "Allo?", mentally adding "You git"
As suspected, it"s the sibling spannered out of his skull..."Erm, whash the rhume nummer, mate?"
I dutifully reel off the room number and wait for him to pour through the door...I few minutes later, I hear him trying his room key card in the lock...nope, doesn"t work the first, second or third time.
With a sigh, I heave my aging carcase out of bed to let him in...the problem is clear...he"s using the casino loyalty card instead of the room key card.
Naturally, none of this is remembered the next morning...
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 19:08:12 PM
Extracted from a Trip Report/ Blog entry from January 2008.
Sidebar: A trip to Vegas with my brother Pete. He still likes Corona.
Las Vegas: January 14th 2008
"Hello Pit"
Anyway...I"m up with larks (well, bleary eyed larks that is) after a 3.30 am finish...wait...no Pete!
Another all-nighter I guess, hope he"s doing well. That"s the thing about Pete...it"s not about the winning or losing...as long he"s having a good time..he don"t care.
So, I potter around for a couple of hours until I get a text from my friends Jim and Terry who are also along on the trip..."IHOP, now!"
Sidebar: The food options at the Stratosphere are...adequate...fortunately, within 50 yards there are other options, IHOP and Denny"s being the best.
So we find Pete on our way out...yep, he"s still at the blackjack table...but he postpones food for now, so the three of us head off for some scran.
We"ll have the Big Breakfast Combo....3 bacon, 3 sausage, 3 gammon pieces and 4 eggs...$8.99....Mmmmm, IHOP!
Halfway through, the drunken bum dearest brother wanders in. Honestly, there are only few things funnier than watching a functioning drunk eat. Stabbing at a piece of bacon and missing because he can"t focus, cleaning his plate and then trying to eat the napkin...as I said, a few things funnier...but not many.
After a while, Jim & Terry are done and head off. In an unusual act of familial compassion, I decide to wait for Pete and make sure he gets back. Some time later I pay and I lead the sot back to our room
One of the funnier things...is watching a stuffed drunk trying to undress himself....
OK, a quick aside here, it"s not that I like watching a grown man get undressed, honest guv"nor, but someone has to in case he falls over and hurts humself....plus, they charge extra for cleaning up blood &/or vomit
...anyway, Pete finally manages to fight himself free of his jeans...mumbles something about "Hello, pit...it"s good to be back" and decants himself into bed. 4.7 nanoseconds later the snoring commences.
Good Times.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 19:41:56 PM
Gotta say, I"m enjoying re-reading these as the overworked Matt Dale unearths them from the APAT crypts.
It looks like we"re coming up on a November 2010 Vegas Trip....I think that one was fun....the only chance I have of remembering any of it is the blogs I posted here.
Should be fun. :)
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 08, 2016, 20:12:14 PM
Gotta say, I"m enjoying re-reading these as the overworked Matt Dale unearths them from the APAT crypts.
It looks like we"re coming up on a November 2010 Vegas Trip....I think that one was fun....the only chance I have of remembering any of it is the blogs I posted here.
Should be fun. :)
I am lucky enough that I saved my muses off-line. However, I am the same as you I am loving re reading the posts from years ago. Your posts on trips are a window to my past as it jogs the memories and the laughs.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on November 08, 2016, 21:22:04 PM
Love reading both your blogs. You are both superb writers, keep digging them up please!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on November 08, 2016, 22:31:46 PM
Luton: 22nd October 2010
Up The Hill To Bedfordshire
I managed to persuade the boss to let me out an hour early on Friday afternoon in the hopes of beating the usual congestion on the M25. After checking with all the online traffic sites that I could, I decided to, at least in part, take the scenic route from leafy Essex to the Bedfordshire garden spot known at Luton.
Jumping off the M25 about halfway I came up through the back-roads via Wheathamsted [isn"t that a great name?] arriving at the Days Hotel around 5.45 if I recall correctly. Easy parking next door and no trouble checking in.
After all the kerfuffle that had gone on with rooms being "flooded" or whatever it was a relief to be assured of a relatively decent place to lay my head. Not surprisingly, as I walked into reception, I"m greeted by the sight of the usual APAT rowdies in"t bar...where else?
After a quick wash and brush-up, I was downstairs necking my first, second and third beers of the day.
Around 7.30 or so, I wandered over to the G to meet up with the Luton crowd who had put on a private game and kindly let me play (they must have seen the value there) while the others headed off to downtown Luton for the usual frivolities.
The game got under way after a slight change in plan. It would be dealer-dealt (thank you very much) but a 7500 F/O rather than a 3000 D/C. Fair dos...all good there.
My first two hands were monsters (AK & KK I think...it starts to get hazy for reasons that will become obvious) and pre-flop raises and c-bets won me a few chips early on.
This was not to last. Forty-five minutes in and I once again get KK in MP and 3-bet an EP raiser who flatted. A queen high board saw us get it all in on the flop and he rolls over the (by now) obvious AA. No suck-out for me and I"m toast. C"est le poker as they say at the Aviation Club.
Well...what to do with the rest of the evening? I think you know the answer to that question...come on, you can work it out.
That"s right...I went back to the hotel. OK, I"m kidding, I wandered off to find the usual reprobates at the White House, the Wetherspoons in the centre of Luton where they had, apparently, gathered.
I walk up to the entrance and there"s a security guard standing there who make a gesture towards me...I have no idea what he wants but I assume it"s a dress code check or summat..happens..if they turn me away, I can live with it. Nope, he just wants to stamp the back of my hand the the old UV ink....God that takes me back more years than I care to remember and probably more than most APATers have been around.
Anyway, apparently they don"t care what I"m wearing (heh) and I find the others slinging them back by the bucketful. Soon I"m necking them back too. However, it"s not long before Tighty announces that we"re off to the Chicago Rock Cafe...whatever the hell that is...but we dutifully make our way there.
At least it"s closer to the hotel than the Wetherspoons but, then again, it"s uphill. Never a good thing.
From then on, it"s something of a vague, blurry series of images in the back of my brain. X-Factor contests, blue drinks, orange drinks in jugs, Des buying a round (I saw it I tell you), drinks in bottles etc. etc. You get the picture.
At some point, I realised my feet were bl**dy killing me from standing around all night (no dancing, Praise Be) and I decide to take a pew.
FATAL.
Next thing I know, I"m pretty sure I"ve dozed off and Ger Jr is leaning over me asking if I"m alright. I probably mumbled something incoherent but assuring.
Regardless, I was apparently suitably compos mentis to decide that it was time to call it a morning and started the weary climb up the rest of the hill to the Days Hotel. At this point, the burning plates of meat at the end of my legs decided to remind me of their existence. Every frakkin" step is agony. Take it from me...never get old and fat!
I stop at several points along the enormity of the distance I had to cover (it must have been at least half a mile) to give my barking dogs a rest and during one of these I make my final tactical error of the night.
Yep...a kebab!
I carry it back to my hotel and finally make it into my room and made efforts to consume this delicious morsel before throwing myself into the joys of slumber.
Well, I say throw but, to be truthful, it was more like "place carefully" as the single bed I was occupying was on wheels and the slightest movement would have it careening around the room. It was like kipping on a skateboard.
As it turned out I found the remains of my dinner under the desk in the room in the morning...apparently I missed the wastebaskets when I"d finished.
Oh well, I live and never learn.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: duke3016 on November 08, 2016, 22:38:17 PM
Next thing I know, I"m pretty sure I"ve dozed off and Ger Jr is leaning over me asking if I"m alright. I probably mumbled something incoherent but assuring.
Believe me he is used to it ;D
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 14, 2017, 22:41:19 PM
I"ve been rooting about in some old "cloud" files I recently came across when I was recording trip reports.
Combined with what remains of the old disrupted blog files i"ll try and reconstruct a couple of trip diaries from Vegas excursions, not sure everything survived but here goes.
December 2012 into January (Xmas & New Year in Vegas)....a long trip this one....three weeks. I would be accompanied, at least for some of it...by Ger and Don Logan
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 0 - December 16th, 2012
Planning had taken some months but the time of departure was a less than 24 hours away as I left home for my overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Gatwick.
Immediately, I was in some trouble as the M25 had apparently been closed between my junction and the Dartford tunnel but a judicious bit of backroads driving got me where I needed to be only 30 minutes later.
Comfortably situated in the HI bar I indulged in a few pints and a very nice BBQ pulled pork pizza as I whiled away the evening.
Oh, did I mention that the room and 24 days parking was a mere £127 after discounts and the like? Cheaper than a taxi both ways and long stay parking at the airport.
Upgraded to Executive Room too.
Enough. A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 1 - December 17th, 2012
Getting There Is Half The Experience
The HI threw in a complimentary buffet breakfast and I took full advantage as I dislike airline food and needed to stock up for the 12 hours ahead.
I was on the airport shuttle by 9am and, having checked in online, I was able to scoot through Bag Drop and Security in record time. I only had to wait a few minutes before they announced the gate number and, even better, it was the first one down the line.
Things were looking up. A 20 minute wait before being able to board but I was in my PE seat in short order and on looking round it was clear that this flight wasn"t as packed as those I have experienced before.
Although I did have a gent in the seat next to me he soon moved to another seat once we were in the air for more room (which I had planned to do) and I was in airline heaven. New seatback IFE kit with all mod-cons.
It wasn"t until I went to the loo the first time that I realised just how empty the flight was. There was an older couple seated in the exit row by the door but I swear the next 20 rows back were empty. Apparently the manifest had 114 passengers and 18 crew listed!
Nothing spectacular to mention on the flight, I napped for about an hour I guess but otherwise just watched a few movies or read for a while.
We landed 15 minutes early and taxied for a while to the new Terminal 3 but we were off the plane and down to passport control in no time.
Then it started.
Apparently we had landed just after a full AeroMexico flight and they were just starting processing the passengers. Now, I"m not saying that these passengers were subject to any greater scrutiny than the norm....but they didn"t get to us for an hour. It was quite warm in passport control and we actually had two people faint from having to stand for so long. It could be that they hadn"t hydrated properly on the flight but still!
Anyway, I finally got through the usual Border Control grilling, who always seem surprised that anyone would want to spend more than a week in Vegas. I spun them some bull**** about extending my usual time by "visiting friends in the area for the holidays" and all was good.
Due to the wait the bags were already on the carousel and mine rolled around just as I walked up. I grabbed it and headed outside to grab a cab.
Now it was my own fault but I was kind of tired from the flight and wasn"t thinking and when the driver suggested taking the highway to TI I said OK...forgetting that this is cabbie code for “I"m long-hauling you”.
Whatever, I twigged about halfway there and dunned him on a tip.
Check-in at TI was a breeze and I made my way to my room to rest up for a while. Pretty good size room and a decent view...if you like that sort of thing.
Oddly, I can"t find a power point anywhere near the workdesk which seems very strange but I figure can work around it. Wi-fi works fine and is included in the Resort Fee.
I napped for a couple of hours before making my way down to The Pub at Monte Carlo to meet up with some old friends from the London Poker Meetup who, not quite coincidentally, are also in town for a few days.
Beers were had, I had a very nice Belgian Beer Tasting selection TYVM, food was eaten and memories were shared.
I don"t recall The Pub closing up that early but, then again, it is only Monday...however, I"d been up for over 24 hours with only small catnaps in the interim (and a few beers) so I called it a night and was back in my TI crash pad by 11pm.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 14, 2017, 22:47:52 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 2 - December 18th 2012
Blue Moon Over Vegas
I can"t say that I had the greatest nights sleep but, fortunately, I had ample opportunity to get a nap or two in the morning as, as is usual when I"m in Las Vegas, I"m not planning on leaving the room until noon.
Perhaps it was the delayed sleep after the long flight or the mix of Belgian Beers (the Timmerman Strawberry was very nice) that"s got my sleep clock off a little.
Still the bed is very comfortable.
I did make one discovery this morning, the workdesk does have a power point. It was practically right under my nose but since it was black it was discretely blending into the dark wood panelling surrounding the desk. At least that"s my story.
Noon rolled around and I headed out for something to eat and, of course, to get some cards in the air.
I had a number of reasons for choosing TI as part of my hotel medley, one was the price since I got a pretty good deal (pre-resort fee), the second was the fact that I like checking out hotels I haven"t stayed at before and the final reason was location.
Right opposite the Venetian. That"s right, I can walk out of my room, out of the casino, over the walkway crossing the Strip and be in the Poker room in under 10 minutes. That"s at my walking pace...I reckon anyone else could do it in five.
However, I popped into the big Walgreens store next to the Venetian to buy a bottle of JD Honey for my evening visit (of which more later).
As I said, food was...erm...on the menu, and I wanted to try out Rattlecan, a beer and burger restaurant next door to the poker room at the V.
Heavyish metal / Rock playing over the sound system is my kind of thing especially when it"s not cranked up so high that you can"t hear yourself think. First order of business was a beer though and I have a fondness for Blue Moon...and they have it on draft. Would I like a large one, as a matter of fact, I would. A 20oz iced glass is in front of me in seconds and I"m necking it in no time.
I order their signature burger...hell why not...and that fills a hole...as does another Blue Moon.
Not cheap though, the burger was around $18 and the beers were $11 each. The final toll was over $40 and I left a generous tip for the very attentive (and attractive naturally) girl behind the bar.
Suitably refreshed I got my name down on the list for some 4/8 Omaha 8/b but had to wait for while before a seat opened up.
Lord, I"d forgotten how these players love their poor draws. Even though I won the very first hand by flopping the nut low / nut flush and got paid on every street, I still managed to get out drawn more than a few times in the intervening 4 hours. Backdoor everything seemed to get there, oh, you have a 4 outer to a higher boat than mine...here you go!
Whatever, I dropped about $130 and will chalk it up to first day lessons.
I had made contact with the people at the Vegas Video Network (http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/)some time ago regarding the possibility of making a visit while I was in town.
VVN is a small video company specialising in marketing video, podcasts and the like. However, they have two or three weekly podcasts which, if you are interested in the Vegas "scene", as I am, bear watching.
I jumped in a cab about 5.15 and made my way over to their studio facility on Convention Center Drive (a short walk from the Peppermill Lounge) and was finally able to meet the people I had been tweeting with back and forth for some time. I know that conversation was mentioned during the taping (towards the end) but whether it will make it into the final cut I don"t know.
Take it from me, they don"t take themselves seriously...at all. It was a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the making of a podcast and I plan to make a visit a regular feature on my future Vegas trips.
My main contact there was Jacob, their Technical Director, and we made tentative plans to get together for a few drinks on Saturday. I think Ger and Don will get a kick out of it too.
I was done and dusted by 8pm and after making my goodbyes made my way back out into the cold Vegas evening.
Of course, being the numpty that I am, I had forgotten to consider how I was going to get back to my hotel which was about a mile away. Did I do the sensible thing and call a taxi from the hotel opposite...of course not, I"m an idiot.
So I walked it. Now, I know that for the most of you this is a trivial thing but I"m old and fat and by the time I"d trudged my way to TI I was in a world of hurt, legs aching, dogs barking and, oddly, with an aching back.
There was only one possible cure. Beef and Beer. The logical place for both was Gilleys but I avoided the bar area (with mechanical bull) and made my way to the front for the restaurant area facing the strip.
Blue Moon again?...Ohhhh, yes please. Plate of meat with that? You bet.
Now the food offering wasn"t anything to write home about (or I would be writing about it) but the Blue Moon didn"t let me down.
Nor did the 4th or 5th. By the time I was finished, most of the aches and pains had subsided but I was also in no state for much of anything else so I chose the sensible option and retired relatively early.
Gotta pace yourself you know.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 15, 2017, 17:45:34 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 3 - December 19th 2012
Slowin" It Down & Grindin" It Out
Surprisingly, I awoke without any headache or a visit from the Drinking Bear, I guess he hasn"t figured out that I"m out of the country yet.
Today, Wednesday for me, was one where I had no specific plans and nothing in particular was grabbing my attention for any sort of adventure. So, over to the Venetian then to grind out 4/8 Omaha 8/b.
However, the body needed sustenance so I stopped in at the Grand Lux Cafe for some more Blue Moon (yummy) and a Buffalo Chicken Burger.
Being in no rush I dallied over an extra pint or two before making my way over to the Poker Room. I was on the list only for a short while before they fired up a new "must move" table and I dived into the fray.
If you"ve never played limit O8 then you have no idea how soul destroying it can be. 6-7 see a flop pretty much every hand and some outrageous draws get there.
I had more than a few big hands crushed by low outers, including Kings full beaten by quad 7 (admittedly he flopped it but still) and I was in a hole for quite some time. Eventually though every worm gets his turn and after about 6 hours of play I was a whole $50 to the good and I figured that would have to do.
I couldn"t really decide where I wanted to eat so I thought I would just head back to TI and see what was on offer. As it turns out the options aren"t huge but I plumped for Kahunaville, a sort of Tropical Cafe type place.
The Pit Ribs sounded nice as did a couple of draft beers (no Blue Moon this time, just Bud Light).
Wow, you hear the term "Fall off the bone"...well those ribs were just that...literally. When I picked up the first rib it came away in my hand clean as a whistle. Yummy.
I hoovered up the food and a few more beers before heading out into the casino again. Frankly, I wasn"t in the mood to do much so I wandered about for a while before deciding that sitting in the Breeze Bar while necking some cocktails and doing some people watching wouldn"t be the worst thing.
It wasn"t. The cocktails were very moreish but I managed to restrain myself and just...erm...hung for an hour or two before calling it a day.
Not a late night, I suspect there may be a few of those in the next few days.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 15, 2017, 17:53:42 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 4 - December 20th 2012
Santa Ger Is Coming To Town
Thursday rolled around as it tends to do after Wednesday and my stay at TI is now at an end. So, it"s Moving Day v1.0 and I"m due to switch over to Harrahs.
I check out of TI and take a cab over to Harrahs, I don"t think the cab driver was too impressed with the short ride but a hefty tip percentage seemed to appease him.
Official check in time wasn"t until 4pm but they squeezed me in and I was comfortably esconsed in my room by 1pm.
Decent sized room in the Carnaval Tower. Certainly, I think it"s larger than the one I had last year.
The view isn"t great but if you look closely you can see the some of pylons that will hold up the new giant ferris wheel / observation thingy that"s going up behind the Linq.
Needing food, I examine each of the offerings available to me in Harrahs before falling back on an old favourite, Toby Keith"s Bar. Several beers and a plate of chicken tenders later, Ger enters the bar....somewhat later than I expected. Apparently, he"d got my text telling him where I was, about 3.30 but I hadn"t gotten a reply. Turns out he"d programmed my number wrong into his phone.
We have a few beers although Ger seemed put out that he was drinking his out of a "jam jar" as he called it.
It wasn"t long before he"s off talking to random strangers as he tends to do.
Perhaps he finds me boring?
Anyway, after a couple, he asks me for a plan of action and I suggest Miller"s Ale House which is south of the airport in a shopping / restaurant complex called Town Square. We cab it down and arrive in the early evening.
I immediately introduce Ger into the delights of Blue Moon and he seems to like it. We share our admiration for Linsey the bartender (sorry no picture) but as usual Ger is off talking to randoms again.
The first thing one of them said was "Which part of Scotland are you guys from?” Wow, talk about wrong on so many levels. Regardless, Ger chats to them for a while before coming back and says, quietly, to me “The only things missing from those guys is a white sheet and a pointy hat”. I was amIused.
After only a couple of pints, I can tell Ger really isn"t into it and when he suggests going back to the hotel I agree. The long flight can really take it out of you.
We ask the hostess to call us a cab and he pulls up almost immediately and is, as usual, subjected to an interrogation by The Duke about whether he"s happy in his work and whether he"s having a good day. Sometimes...sigh.
We"re back at the hotel by 7pm and Ger wants to play Pai Gow. I feel like getting my feet wet so we jump on a $10 table. I think Ger made it another 90 minutes or so before deciding that rest was required and reminds me that Chezger don"t do mornings before going to crash.
should have taken that as a sign but I stayed and in the space of 4 hours spanked off $200. Unfortunately, I can"t say that I got full beer value as the cocktail waitress was somewhat slow in coming around. Oh well, I have the hang of it now.
Not the rollicking pub crawl you were expecting I can guess. I"ll see what I can come up with when Don gets in this evening.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 15, 2017, 21:25:01 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 5 - December 21st 2012
Distractions
Despite being wiped out pretty early last night it seems Ger was up an about pretty early on Friday morning as I received a text at 11 o"clock to the effect “3 card poker and in profit”
I, as is my usual practice, wasn"t about to leave until noon but managed to pick Ger up on the way to the Venetian where we breakfasted (real men don"t do brunch) in the Grand Lux Cafe and Ger continued his growing affair with Blue Moon.
Once refreshed, I one again took to the fray of 4/8 Omaha whilst his Dukeness wandered off, I thought, to dabble in some NL cash.
Another disappointing session for me; no bad beats as such just a complete lack of anything to play once I made it to the main game from the "must move" table. When I did get something playable due to blind luck, I"d end up with a kicker problem or the like. Another $150 gone.
To be honest, I"d rather have lost the money via bad play or getting outdrawn but sitting there getting nothing to play is even more soul grinding.
Oh well. After 4 hours or so I decided I"d taken enough and went to find Ger.
Himself hadn"t, in fact, gone for the cash but had instead been glued to a 3 card poker table for the full time and had taken full advantage of the beer bonus.
After chucking $400 across the table and getting down to "dirt" he"d won a like amount by hitting a straight flush and then another $300 by hitting trips.
My mind wasn"t quite straight at that point after having my soul sanded down with a piece of 40 grit but we managed to find a bar for a drink or three while we waited for news from Don Logan.
Remember Ger"s experience with 3 card poker from just above? Now this is a worthwhile little tale but when you"ve heard it 6 or 7 times in the space of an hour it"s tends to get a little...erm...wearing.
Eventually, we heard from Don and decided to make our way back to Harrahs with, I thought, the intention of finding a place, getting something to eat inside Ger and continue the fun.
I shouldn"t make plans like that. While waiting for Don to come down Ger and I sit at a Blackjack table and before long Don is with us.
Me, I cash out after breaking even and watch the other two play before my attention is drawn to the lovely young lady gyrating a few feet above our heads. Ger is blissfully unaware until she descends when her relief shows up and the lovely lass is standing next to him chatting to a co-worker. When Ger"s eyes finally lift from the felt and he gazes, somewhat blearily, around he finally twigs. I wish I could have caught that expression.
At the point I can see that I"m not going to be able to drag these two away from the table any time soon so I retire to a nearby bar and just take in the attractive scenery.
By and by, Ger and Don have had enough but Don, as expected, is suffering, a little from landing day time lag and Ger just needs to sleep.
Ger heads off and Don and I have another beer before I too make my way back to the room.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 15, 2017, 21:32:27 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 6 - December 22nd 2012
Here Kitty, Kitty
I"d made plans with Jacob from the Vegas Video Network to meet up at some point on Saturday and got email suggesting we meet at Lagasse"s Stadium a sports book cum lounge in the Palazzo.
Ger, had apparently been up since very early and was back on the 3 card poker but we walked over arriving at around 11.15.
Jacob arrived dead on 11.30 and we enjoyed a few more Blue Moons and chatted for a couple of hours before we called it a day. Very nice chap, Jacob. He has an English wife and so is fully aware of the differences in the US and UK cultures and has some stories to tell of his own.
Anyway, we"re done by, I guess, 1.30 and we say goodbye to Jacob and cab over to Caesar"s where Don is playing the noon tourney.
When we arrive he"s still in so Ger and I decide to ride the 3 card poker train to Drinksville at the nearby Pu$$ycat Dolls "Lounge" while waiting for him to finish.
Once again, I have plans to make an evening of it by hitting up a couple of places ending at McMullans. As it"s about, I dunno, 2.30 or so, I decide that I will get in a "beer nap" and be fully refreshed for the evening. I walk back to Harrahs past the shell of O"Sheas and the construction surrounding the Quad and get my head down about 3pm I guess.
And that"s all she wrote. Not so much a beer nap as an outright 7 hour coma. Feck, I must have REALLY needed to sleep as I just don"t normally sleep more than 6 hours on a good night.
So there it is, another plan in tatters and on checking my phone I don"t have any messages so I guess I haven"t been missed.
I really can"t summon up the effort to get up again, track down Don and Ger and try and salvage anything so I just chalk it up to experience and slide back under the covers.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 16, 2017, 15:59:12 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 7 -December 23rd 2012
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together...Mostly
After yesterday's fiasco, I was more than determined to get some sort of bar trip in today.
As usual I dossed about in the room until I received a text from Ger that he and Don were heading over to Caesars' Palace to play the noon competition. My initial thought was to head over to the Hash House A Go Go in the IP Quad for a late plateful of breakfast but that plan had to be scrapped when I rocked up and the place was rammed.
Muppet that I am, I'd overlooked the fact that it was Sunday and the whole of Vegas turns out for a late breakfast on Sundays. Oh well. I made my way out of the Quad and could see that although they've made some strides in putting in new signage and re-organising the layout there is still a long way to go until they fully strip out all of the old theming.
I walked over the road to Serendity 3, just outside of Caesars and took a table outside for a bit of people watching. They do the BEST chicken strips with a honey mustard dip that is to die for.
Oh and Blue Moon too. I lingered over the meal and a couple more beers before making my way into the Caesars poker room about 2pm or so.
Ger was just standing up bubbling the final table although Don was still in. Apparently, the competition had only started with 20 runners and so they were only paying top 2.
Ger went back to the hotel for a quick power nap and I hoped he wouldn't have the same experience as me in that endeavour.
I railed Don for a while until he went out in about 6th and we decided to cab over to the Orleans with the idea of going over to McMullans later in the evening.
First port of call was TGI Fridays inside the Orleans so Don could eat...and had a couple of Blue Moons.
Then it was time to properly introduce Don to Pai Gow so we took a seat and played for hour or two until Ger showed up. I cashed out a mere $25 down and chatted to Ger until it was time to walk over the road to McMullans.
John Windsor was already giving his all and I had a couple more Blue Moons...well more than a couple...I think.
It starts to get a bit hazy after that. I think I remember Don leaving and certainly Ger hung around, probably to make sure I didn't hurt myself.
I remember having a good time but eventually I must have been persuaded to leave as I also remember walking back to the Orleans to catch a cab.
I made it back to the room with little difficulty...I think.
Something furry this way comes.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 16, 2017, 16:04:06 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 8 - December 24th 2012
Bear With Me - I"m Weak
Ursis Imbibus, the drinking bear has come to town and taken up residence in Room 1742 of the Carnaval Tower of Harrahs Hotel and Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oh Jeez. I did not feel at all well on Christmas Eve morning.
I let myself suffer for quite a while before sticking my head out of the room. A good solid meal was on the cards so I staggered down to the Coffee Shop / Cafe for a good old fashioned steak, eggs and hash browns with coffee and OJ. That'll set me up right.
I lingered over a second cup before deciding what to do for the day. Nothing really appealed but I decided that I would give the Venetian another shot. That place is certainly turning out to be my kryptonite...in fact, I think I said the same thing last year.
I'm honestly not sure if it's the players there or whether it's just me but I just don't seem to be able to beat that game.
Although I did have to wait for a seat I did eventually get seated and after another several hours I was down another $100.
Enough. Unfortunately, I'd picked the wrong time to get up and eat as the V was packed and every mother's son was trying to do the same thing. I decided to walk back to Harrahs and perhaps get food the KGB Burger Bar.
That hope was dashed as that place was shut for some reason so on to Toby Keiths for chicken and beer.
I had a few, texted Ger but received no reply so I hung out for a while until the live band started playing.....loud.
Time for bed...again.
Santa's coming tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Fatcatstu on January 17, 2017, 01:45:03 AM
Love reading your trip reports mate, excellent as always, keeping me going through a late night poker grind!
Title: Re: The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog
Post by: Paulie_D on January 17, 2017, 12:01:25 PM
A Very Vegas Vacation - Day 9 - December 25th 2012
Not As Good As My Mum"s Cooking Though
I had left out milk and cookies ( OK, Redbull and Doritos ) for Santa but somehow he hadn"t managed to find me in fabulous Las Vegas as there were no presents for me except for some idiot"s alarm clock going off next door.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, I was on the "naughty" list.
Naturally I fell into a slough of despond and refused to leave the room until noon...oh wait, that"s normal for me here isn"t it?
I got a text from Ger asking what the plan was (he"s a forgetful old duffer sometimes) so I texted back the details once again but also made my way downstairs to find him playing (much as expected 3 card poker).
I collected Ger and Don and we jumped into a taxi and drove over to the Crown and Anchor on E.Tropicana.
I have to say that the decor is a little too Britishy. It"s as though it"s an American"s idea of what a British Pub is supposed to look like, this despite the fact that it"s owned by two British guys.
I suppose they are aiming at the college crowd which is their main stock in trade rather than the unlikely Brit who wanders 15 minutes from the strip being desperate for a pint of Bass. :)
More to our liking were the buxom miniskirted (tartan miniskirt...I suppose that"s British...sort of) young ladies serving us.
Unfortunately, I wasn"t able to go into stalker mode and get a picture for you. Don was the only British beer drinker with a pint of Newcastle, while Ger had Coors Light and I continued my love affair with Belgian Whites with something called Pyramid.
We"d arrived early (time for pre-lunch drinks) but after an hour we took our seats in the main seating area ready for our Chritsmas. Very nice it was too. Plenty of it with loverly gravy and stuffing followed by Christmas Pudding with Brandy Custard.
Of course, by 3pm, the usual post-Xmas-lunch stupor had set in and we were sitting there stuffed to the gills on the verge of falling asleep.
Paying the bill we ordered a cab which took us back to Harrahs. Naturally, Ger was immediately on the 3 card poker table while Don and I retired to our respective rooms for a nap.
I came down a few hours later and played some Pai Gow with Ger and surprise guest Lee Mulligan but my heart wasn"t really in it and after only a couple of hours I left him to it. Apparently, we were joined by Don (I blame the alcohol for a fuzzy memory) who napped a little too long as he still had is alarm clock to AM instead of PM...rookie mistake.