My Weekend and Lucky Streak in Vegas- Part II
As if that wasn’t enough fun and excitement for one trip, I darn near failed to share the luckiest aspect of this trip, the whole reason for sharing this experience, the CASINOS! (This blog is continued from Part I…so if you want to know what all the fun and excitement I am talking about, click here to check it out!) Allow me to reel you back into all the feels of Vegas. Snap your fingers in that jazzy way once more to the beat of “Luck be a lady tonight” the ole blue eyes version. Frankly, it's the best (pun intended).
We stayed at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa because their package deal with PBR tickets and shuttle transportation to the event was too hard to pass up. And as an added bonus, you never know who you are going to get to see walking through the casino or playing next to you on a slot machine. The PBR bull riders, stock contractors and all the PBR staff stay here, so I have plenty of opportunities to be a fan girl. After the last day of the PBR finals we decided to forgo the complimentary ride back to South Point and venture out to a few casinos…and this is where the lady luck begins!!!
The initial stop was at the Bellagio, you know the one with the musical fountain show performed over several acres of a man-made lake right in the front on the strip. You honestly can’t miss it and it's utilized in nearly every cinematic quick clip reference. Personally, I appreciate the botanical garden inside, it's like being dropped into Alice in Wonderland. Truly an experience warranting more than a stroll through, but I was on a mission. So, after a once around this magical garden and an obligatory selfie we made our way to the casino floor.
We perused several slot machines that sparked interest but nothing with two seats available for my husband and I. We kept walking until we made our way around the members desk, where we came to a familiar circle of machines my husband, Robert, had some luck on a few years ago, so we stopped. (Same type of game, just different casino.) We both take a seat and commence trying our luck. I pull once, bust. Second pull, score a few dollars, pulled a third time and BAMMMM! Lights flashing, wheels spinning and people turning to catch a glimpse. I’m not sure who lit up brighter…me or the machine!!! I was looking at the biggest win I have ever experienced! It was exhilarating! I decided to play this machine a little longer, low and behold, I continued to win a few smaller jackpots. Nothing that would alert the casino, but a win is a win to me! I was thrilled at the excitement of it all, maybe a little shocked too!! A few more pulls resulted in nothing, so we decided to wander around before moving on to another casino.
I have wondered if I stayed, would I have hit it big on the next pull, or the next, or the NEXT? I realize it sounds like the Gambler’s anonymous introduction. “Hello, my name is Kris… (*eyes wander down to the 8 oz styrofoam cup filled with the saddest excuse for coffee that better resembles motor oil) I’m an addict...” Thankfully I walked away and spared myself the tragic excuse of a cup of coffee, ending the evening with my wonderful husband and a pocket full of cash.
I’m curious, would you have stayed and continued playing or left on the high of the first win?
The following morning, we slept in, then grabbed a quick breakfast at Starbucks. We were excited to see what the day had to offer, still working on our coffee as we walked through the South Point Casino. I must have passed this one machine at least a dozen times paying no attention until that very moment. Everything around it went dark, and the machine was in the spotlight, as if the heavens above opened and shone down on that very spot. No cherubs with trumpets blaring but it was enough for me to give it the old college try. Ok, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic…but looking back on it, it very well could have been. Anyway, I sat down at the machine…. I pulled once, didn’t win, pulled a second time, won a few dollars, pulled a third time and BAM! I WON! AGAIN! **Insert Pink Floyd's laser light show* Now this wasn’t near the pot as the previous evening but still a nice win. I stayed a bit longer and decided to move it along. As Robert wandered about, I felt the beckoning of yet another machine and well folks, I followed my gut and stopped. You guessed it, my lucky streak continued. At this point I’m in deep now. The rest of the morning was mostly a blur of winning at random machines as I floated on the winner’s high. *Queue “Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley. I was probably singing this song as I danced from machine to machine winning money as easy as taking candy from a baby.
As much as I wanted to continue this streak, we decided to go venture out and treat ourselves to a gondola ride at the Venetian. Our gondolier had the most amazing voice, and it was thoroughly enjoyed as we relaxed and took in the scenery. We also learned that if you kiss while drifting under a bridge you will enjoy eternal love and happiness…let’s just say our eternal love and happiness is secured since we took advantage of every bridge, we drifted under.
After the gondola ride, I would like to say I quit the idea of another machine pull…. BUT I have to admit I caved. I mean I had to see if my luck continued at another casino…. Another casino, just one more… reminds me the infamous Godfather quote “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.” We gave the machines at the Venetian a try. And for those of you concerned, my winning streak was still going HOT! At this point I was either in some sort of dream or the luckiest moments of my life! Almost too crazy to even believe! But the time had come, and I was forced to stop as we had tickets to Carrot Top Live at the Luxor.
We strategically arrived early at the Luxor, of course…to see what their casino had to offer. And yes, folks I still had it, I won again, a little but honestly every win, little or small, is a win in my book. We played until it was time for the show.
Side note: SEE Carrot Top live. I recommend it 100%! We actually picked this show on a whim based on reviews. I mean there is a reason he has been a staple in Vegas for bazillion years. This turned out to be one of the funniest shows I have seen in a REALLY long time! And we see our fair share of comedy shows!
The 3 of us
Carrot Top and his Boo Bear
SIDE NOTE: {Scott Thompson (aka Carrot Top) if by any crazy chance you actually read this…and by an even crazier chance you remember…it was a Monday night show, as you walk through the crowd shaking hands… you stopped at my mother-in-law first, you leaned down, shook her hand and told her “you loved her in the “Golden Girls” …you were a huge fan and had seen every episode.” She got the biggest kick out of that! I think you made her night; she was still talking about it when we got home! What made it even better to her, was that she has been told that she looks like “Dorothy” from the show before! So, THANK YOU for a great night! And I was very touched about your love for your boo bear… I think I might have to draw Hailey for you!!}
After the show I presumed the winner's luck was still running through my veins and I got a little cocky, so we decided to gamble a little more. I ended up giving Lexor back the money I won earlier…so I called it quits. That was it for my winning streak. My 24-hour wave was over, my HOT streak was now cold, my run of luck stopped running, my windfall, my boon, my stroke of luck, my cash cow, my bonanza had ended. I think you get the picture. We traveled home the next day. If my calculations are correct, including travel costs, I broke even. As for Robert, we will just consider my trip a success and he can live vicariously through me. I will call that a HUGE win any day!!
This is my Uncle Jesse (in the short sleeve shirt) playing Doyle Brunson in the 1976 WSOP
Although I have never had this type of money winning lucky streak before in my life, I might actually come by it naturally. Here is my Great Uncle Jesse Alto…playing against Doyle Brunson in the 1976 World Series of Poker, where he finished runner up. This picture is hanging at Binion’s in downtown Las Vegas, where the event was held. My great uncle actually made the WSOP Main Event final table 7 different times and was a staple at the event in the 70’s and 80’s. I definitely don’t have the poker face or patience to do something like that, but I will take a little family luck in Vegas!!
So, the eternal question is, if you were in my shoes, would you have walked away after the first big win? Pulled a George Castanza from Seinfeld and “LEFT ON A HIGH NOTE”? from the Episode ”The jerk store called; they’re running out of you!”
Or would you have continued the lucky streak and rode that winning streak for as long as possible? Let me know in the comments below!! Feel free to share your adventures with me. Have you ever won so big no one would believe it unless they witnessed it or did you end up panhandling for a bus ticket home?
