Last Monday, I signed onto my Total Rewards account to see what kind of offers I had for early August. On a whim, I checked the rates for July 4th weekend. I found that I could stay at IP for $35, total, for Friday through Monday. I couldn't pass that up, so I booked it.

I left Phoenix a little before noon on Friday, 7/2. Except for the large number of AZ state troopers patrolling the highways (kind of expected, being a holiday weekend) the drive was uneventful. That is, until I got a bad feeling that I was forgetting something. I did a mental checklist of the bag I packed, and double checked my computer bag, and couldn't think of anything. Then I checked my wallet, and realized I had forgotten my bankroll! I have a poker wallet, with a spare ID, players cards, and my bankroll. When going to the local casino, I only put three buy ins in the poker wallet. The Wednesday before I left, I lost two of those buy ins, and forgot to reload before I left for Vegas. I never bring a debit card with me, because I know I can't trust myself if I go on a losing steak. So I arrived in Vegas with a grand total of $220.

The check in line at the IP was ridiculously long. I finally got my room after 45 minutes in line. I head up, finish up a few work related emails, and take a quick shower. With no money, and the bank not opening until Saturday morning, I decided to go play some of the smaller games. I went over to O'Sheas, with the intention of playing the $1-$5 SL game. The SL game wasn't going, but they did have 3 tables of $1/$2 NL. I saw the list had about a dozen names on it, so I was going to move on. Then I noticed that O'Sheas had a Mississippi Stud table. With no money, I decided it was a good idea to play a very -EV game. Sometimes I think I need a baby sitter when I start drinking in Vegas.

I started off on fire, winning a few decent hands. At one point, I was up $500, and remember thinking that I should leave. But, I didn't. Instead, I went on a bad losing streak, and was down to my last $120. I bet $10 on the ante, and maxed out my bets when I was dealt a pair of 7's, for a total of $100 in play. The dealer put out 3 jacks, and my full house was worth a cool $1000. I cash out up $900, and head over to Bill's. AlaskaGal, 24Fanatics, and DShapiro were hanging out. I hung out with them for a little bit, and decided to head back to the IP. I sat in a $1/$2 NL game, but was too drunk by this point to really pay attention. I cashed out with a $50 profit. On my way to my room, I decided that it was a good idea to play blackjack and have a few more beers (did I mention that I need a Vegas babysitter?). Pounded way too many Budweisers, and lost $200. Finally went to bed around 4:30 AM.

I woke up at noon, with a massive hangover. I drove down to NYNY to have a slice of Pizza, then walked over to Excalibur. I won a few big pots, then lost a few big pots. My flopped straight got beat by Q3 when she rivered a flush. We got it all in on the turn, when all she had was a naked, not nut flush draw. Of course she gets there. Biggest pot came when I raised with 4d2d on the button, and got 6 callers. Flop came 10d, 4s, 3d. BB bets $40, it folds to me, and I shove all in with my pair and draw. He snap calls with K10o. The 5c on the turn added a bunch of outs with an open ended straight draw, and the Kd on the river completed my flush. I cashed out, after 3.5 hours, with a whopping $18 profit. I head back to my room for a quick nap. Ended up staying in my room until 10, catching parts of the NASCAR race between short naps. I took a shower, and decided to start my evening.

I wasn't sure where I was going to go, and ended up back at O'Sheas, playing more Mississippi Stud. The table was fun, and the beers were flowing. I took turns winning small hands, then slowly leaking it back. Then I finally hit a big score. I get dealt A10 with $10 on the ante bet. I bet $10 to see the first card, which is a 10. I max out my last two bets, and have a total of $80 in play. The dealer ran out the board with the last two 10's, giving me quads! Quads pays 40-1, so after a long delay waiting for the floor guy and surveillance to approve the payout, the dealer hands pays me $3200! I tip her, and head straight for the cage. Then I hit the bar for a few more beers.

I get a text from AlaskaGal who said she was heading to O'Sheas to play poker. I get us both on the $1/$2 NL list, and am in a game about 20 minutes later. My first hand, I get dealt KK, and stack a short stack with QJ on a Q high flop. I switch tables to sit next to AG. The two of us start pounding beers, and I start running over the table. This game attracts the worst NL players in town, and was actually a pretty easy game. I ran my $100 buy in up to almost $500. Then got coolered with KK vs AA, all in preflop, and lost $200. I called it quits around 6:15 AM, with a $160 profit. I was also extremely drunk, and headed straight to my room to pass out.

Massive hangover #2 for the trip started at 1:30, when I finally rolled out of bed. I grabbed a quick bite to eat, and headed downtown to use some free slot play at the Fitz. I cashed out the free play with a $25 profit, and decided to head up to check out the poker room. On a previous trip, it had been “strongly suggested that I leave the Fitz” after the pit boss accused me of counting cards at a blackjack table (which I was, and quite profitably). The same pit boss recognized me as I walked by the pit, and told me that she “had already asked me to leave once, and didn't want to have to remind me again.” I didn't think that I was actually banned from the casino, as I never talked to security, or management, nor was I told not to ever return. I decided it wasn't worth an argument, and left. I guess I won't be heading to the Fitz any time soon.

I went back to my room, and took a quick nap. I hit up Subway in O'Sheas, and started wandering around the strip. It took me a few minutes to figure out why there were so many people lining the strip, until it finally dawned on me that it was July 4th, and they were claiming their spots to watch the fireworks. I grabbed a few beers, and found a nice piece of sidewalk in front of Flamingo to watch the show. The fireworks were amazing! A display that you would only expect from Vegas. I can't imagine how many millions of dollars they blew up that night. But it was definitely the best fireworks display I've ever seen.

After the fireworks, I head into the Flamingo. Dropped a few hundred playing Mississippi Stud, and a few more hundred playing black jack, all the while pounding back way too many beers (Where's that damn babysitter when I need it?). I wanted to play some poker, but was too drunk at this point to play any serious cards. So I head into Bill's to play $0.50/$1 NL. I won a few pots early, and again pounded way too many beers. I lost $100 when my AhKh couldn't improve against QQ, all in preflop. Thanks for dealing me that one, AG. I donk off the rest of my chips, and end up losing $100.

AlaskaGal got off work at 3:00, and I hung around with her and another dealer at Bill's for a few more beers. By this time, I'm really lit. I head back to my room around 4:00 AM.

Massive hangover #3 started when my phone rang at 10:50 AM. I called down to the front desk to see if I could get a late checkout, and was told that they needed my room right away. I do the express checkout on the TV, take a quick shower, stuff my suitcase, and head out. I was still feeling pretty drunk, so I stopped at Aria. I made $100 playing blackjack, all while pounding bottle after bottle of water. Around 1:30, I felt pretty good to start the drive home. I stop at Wendy's for a cheeseburger, and hit the road. Halfway to Laughlin (no way I'm crossing Hoover Dam on a holiday weekend) I realize that I'm not going to make it all the way back to Phoenix without some more sleep. I figured I'd stop at a truck stop and take a nap in my truck. Approaching Laughlin, I noticed that it was getting hot out, and sleeping in my truck in 100 degree heat wasn't a good idea. I called Harrah's Laughlin to see how much a room would be, and was told it would be comped! So I check into the Harrah's, with the intent of sleeping for a few hours, showering, and then heading home. I slept for a few hours, grabbed dinner at the Mexican place, played 30 minutes of blackjack, and headed back up to my room to get ready to check out. I guess I still wasn't feeling too good, as I fell asleep again. I woke up at 3:00 AM, took a quick shower, checked out, and headed back to Phoenix. Rolled into the apartment at 7:00 AM, changed clothes, and headed off to work.

Aside from three of the worst hangovers I've ever had, this was a great trip. When all was said and done, I turned my $220 I had on Friday into $3200, after paying for food, beers, and a tank of gas on the way home. Not too shabby! I think I will now sleep for the next 16 hours.