Back to Reality

It was back to reality as Ms. Duck and I returned home last Saturday after a relaxing week in Las Vegas. We caught a Southwest flight from Austin the previous Saturday and arrived at McCarren a few minutes late. Our bags were among the first off the plane, so we grabbed them and caught the shuttle to the Rental Car Center.

We usually use Alamo, but Ms. Duck found a better deal with Thrifty and decided to give them a try. We won't make that mistake again. I won't bore you with the details, let's just say there were quite a few "add-ons" that weren't mentioned on their website. Thrifty, Dollar, and Hertz are all one in the same, so we won't be using any of the three on future trips.

Thrifty? Not so much.

We stayed at Sam's Town the first couple of nights because prices on the strip were a little rich for our blood on the weekend. Although the rooms are nothing to write home about, I always enjoy playing in their casino. Monday, which was Ms. Duck's birthday, we moved camp to the Encore.

Ms. Duck enjoying the view from our room at the Encore.

Since it was her birthday trip, I didn't get in as much poker as I had hoped, but we ate well (too well) and I visited more stores than I cared to. I did find time to play some craps at the Silverton (lost), some blackjack at Sam's (won), and some poker at Green Valley Ranch (won).

Ms. Duck playing a 100 Hand video poker machine at the
Venetian. Because one hand at a time is never enough!

I also won a nice payout at Plant Ho by betting on Calgary to win their hockey game. Our last day I placed several futures bets on the over/under for wins by MLB teams. I bet the under on Minnesota (75 wins), Cincinnati (71 1/2 wins), and Oakland (74 1/2 wins). I also bet the over on the Cubbies (95 1/2 wins). If I'm fortunate enough to win them all, my next trip will be funded.

I hit a nice hand on a Deuces Wild machine at the Orleans.

My birthday is in late October. Sounds like a good time to go pick up my loot!