Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Wednesday 3rd June.

No holiday stuff to report - I played poker @ Golden Nugget, finished 13th for $445, & then had dinner from the Sports Deli. Had burger & chips, followed by two choc ices.

All set then for Thursday & Friday, the Pacific Adventure.

Fly to Los Angeles, get the Flyaway coach to Union Station, get the Pacific Surfliner down to Oceanside, spend the night in a condo on the beach, jump back on the train to San Diego, spend the rest of the day there, & then fly back to Las Vegas.

As it happens, we both love travel, flying, airplanes & trains, so the next 2 days had been something we had planned & looked forward to for a very long time.

It did not disappoint - far from it.

[tikay]

Thursday morning, like two excited school kids going on an outing, we were up early & at McCarron Airport by around 7am, & had breakfast in Wendy's, which is a sort of Wimpy Bar sort of place. Can't remember exactly, think I had fish & chips.

Then it was time to go, & our Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 awaited.

Southwest Airlines was the model for Ryanair, & Sir Lord God Michael O'Leary spent 6 months with Southwest, learning how they operated, then came back to Dublin & made Ryanair the amazing successful & popular Company it is now.

Southwest are, like Ryanair, a "one model fleet", all Boeing 737's, of which 450 are 737-700's, 100 are 737-800's, & the other 140 are 737-300's & 737-500's. That's some big fleet, the biggest in the world I'd guess. Each of those 600 odd aircraft average 6 flights per day.

They somehow manage a turn round time of less than 30 minutes, without seeming to rush passengers. Their profit in 2014 was north of $1 billion. 

Off we go then.

Click to see full-size image.

The aircraft are all equipped with free wifi, so you can fire up the I-pad, & follow the flight altitude, heading & ground speed.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

The flight to Los Angeles took 50 minutes, & cost around $85, with no extras.

Now we had to get to Union Station, which is the other side of town, some 50 minutes by road.

We took the FlyAway Coach, mainly because it'd be a mini-sightseeing tour of LA. The fare was $8. Oddly, you pay the $8 after you alight at the other end.

Click to see full-size image.

The LA road system is quite something, all Freeways, Flyovers, Express Lanes & the like, & you see all those iconic place names on the road signs.

Dodger Stadium. How American does that sound? Dodger Stadium.

Click to see full-size image.

And of course a few other well known tourist spots.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Union Station was everything we thought it would be.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Inside the entrance, there is an extraordinary mural thing which contrasts with the 3-D effect marble floor.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

To be continued......

In the interim, here's an old bloke, living the dream, Starby's in hand, in the luxurious Union Station Waiting Room.

Happy days.

Click to see full-size image.

[redsimon]

Loving the pictures, on Chris Evans, a big fan. Wasn't he found out to be cheat at golf though?

[tikay]

Loving the pictures, on Chris Evans, a big fan. Wasn't he found out to be cheat at golf though?

I seem to recall he was a handicap "bandit" or some such, and got disqualified from the Dunhill Pro Am a few years back, yes.

In the greater scheme of things, not sure the pleasure I derive from being entertained by him will be much affected by that.

[Omm]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

[RED-DOG]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

I have no idea what your health issues are but I'm hugely impressed by your attitude.

Get well soon.   

[Omm]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

I have no idea what your health issues are but I'm hugely impressed by your attitude.

Get well soon.   

Thanks Tom, in Feb 2013 I had a really bad attack of Pacreatitis cause by a gallstone being lodge in one of my ducts, only thing they could do was wait and take my gallbladder out, 9 months later gallbladder comes out, 2 months after this a rouge gallstone (which they missed) got caught in my liver duct and made me Jaundice and very ill for a few months. Been recovering ever since, long and slow process, will live with type 1 diabetes for the rest of my life, currently inject 6 times a day. Never to drink alcohol again as it affects the pancreas (no biggie all things considered) just a very very debilitating disease. Higher risk of cancer and all that. Makes me feel like I'm living the life of a 90 year old man. Strange thing is depending on how bad the attack is can make all the difference, I've met a few people who were out of hospital carry on their normal life within weeks, I spent the best part of a year in hospital and all in all had about 7/8 attacks (pseudocysts formed as a consequence), first one was always the worst and done the most damage. Lots of tough times but some fantastic support from my truly unbelievable wife and very understanding kids along with a bit of professional help us drastically changed my attitude and I'm certainly no longer pint half empty. Anyway sorry for the babble, believe it or not it also helps getting it down on paper, forum or not. Certainly puts life in context and makes you appreciate the things you have no matter how small, family, health and happiness would do for now (suppose 2 out of 3 is not bad).

[RED-DOG]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

I have no idea what your health issues are but I'm hugely impressed by your attitude.

Get well soon.   

Thanks Tom, in Feb 2013 I had a really bad attack of Pacreatitis cause by a gallstone being lodge in one of my ducts, only thing they could do was wait and take my gallbladder out, 9 months later gallbladder comes out, 2 months after this a rouge gallstone (which they missed) got caught in my liver duct and made me Jaundice and very ill for a few months. Been recovering ever since, long and slow process, will live with type 1 diabetes for the rest of my life, currently inject 6 times a day. Never to drink alcohol again as it affects the pancreas (no biggie all things considered) just a very very debilitating disease. Higher risk of cancer and all that. Makes me feel like I'm living the life of a 90 year old man. Strange thing is depending on how bad the attack is can make all the difference, I've met a few people who were out of hospital carry on their normal life within weeks, I spent the best part of a year in hospital and all in all had about 7/8 attacks (pseudocysts formed as a consequence), first one was always the worst and done the most damage. Lots of tough times but some fantastic support from my truly unbelievable wife and very understanding kids along with a bit of professional help us drastically changed my attitude and I'm certainly no longer pint half empty. Anyway sorry for the babble, believe it or not it also helps getting it down on paper, forum or not. Certainly puts life in context and makes you appreciate the things you have no matter how small, family, health and happiness would do for now (suppose 2 out of 3 is not bad).

Best part of a year in hospital? Bloody Hell, that's hard to imagine. I bet it was good to get home.

I have a bit of a personal interest in your gallbladder story. About 3 years ago I was struck down by an all consuming pain in my side that radiated to my back and shoulders. it was so bad I was totally incapacitated for about an hour, then it went away.

This happened like half a dozen times over the course of the next month so I went to see the Doctor, he sent me for a scan and they diagnosed an inflamed/infected gallbladder. They said it would have to be removed and told me I would be put on a waiting list.

Just over a year later I was called in for a pre op assessment. I told the consultant that I had had no pain for over a year and did not want to go ahead with the operation 'in cold blood' as it were.

He said that was fine, and that if it were to flare up again to get back in touch with my GP and start the process over.

I haven't really thought about it since, but your story has made me wish I had had the bloody thing removed when I had the chance.

[atdc21]

Hi Tony,
          Great write ups/reports as usual. Mt Charleston looks a fabulous place, must be amazing how many people go out to Vegas and are too busy to go and see places like that , that are so near. Or maybe they are ignorant of the fact that those type places exist, or maybe they don't care !
Reading all this stuff makes me more and more want to go, cant really afford it all at the moment , but hopefully in a few years will be able to witness it all first hand.
Best of luck in your tourneys, and keep up the writing.

[slowmo]

Great to see the holiday pics and hear about the adventure. More than that it's fantastic to hear you having a good time. As we've heard in the last few pages , Life is short and one never knows if illness or worse is around the corner so if you have a bucket list then the time has come to start doing. 

I understand your reply to my min-cash post but still think you should give that strategy some thought.  I don't know how many WSOP events Hellmuth has played but I suspect it's probably around 500. The greatest player in WSOP HISTORY HAS WON 14 !!!!!  so to talk of your final tables/ win ratio is erroneous.  IMO play the hand you are dealt , win chips if you can, PRESERVE chips and most importantly MAKE THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE IN EVERY SITUATION.  Many top pros don't want to risk their tournament life with cards to come , if they can help it .
I know you want big results , maybe your backers do too but if you made 2 min-cashes in your WSOP events then you and they would be at about break even. Just perhaps contemplate the " playing for stacks "   " must find a spot to double up "  strategies  and see if chipping up without being at risk might have a place in the overall tournament strategies you employ.

JUST SAYING ......   AND YOU KNOW RALPH AND I BOTH CANT BE WRONG

[Omm]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

I have no idea what your health issues are but I'm hugely impressed by your attitude.

Get well soon.   

Thanks Tom, in Feb 2013 I had a really bad attack of Pacreatitis cause by a gallstone being lodge in one of my ducts, only thing they could do was wait and take my gallbladder out, 9 months later gallbladder comes out, 2 months after this a rouge gallstone (which they missed) got caught in my liver duct and made me Jaundice and very ill for a few months. Been recovering ever since, long and slow process, will live with type 1 diabetes for the rest of my life, currently inject 6 times a day. Never to drink alcohol again as it affects the pancreas (no biggie all things considered) just a very very debilitating disease. Higher risk of cancer and all that. Makes me feel like I'm living the life of a 90 year old man. Strange thing is depending on how bad the attack is can make all the difference, I've met a few people who were out of hospital carry on their normal life within weeks, I spent the best part of a year in hospital and all in all had about 7/8 attacks (pseudocysts formed as a consequence), first one was always the worst and done the most damage. Lots of tough times but some fantastic support from my truly unbelievable wife and very understanding kids along with a bit of professional help us drastically changed my attitude and I'm certainly no longer pint half empty. Anyway sorry for the babble, believe it or not it also helps getting it down on paper, forum or not. Certainly puts life in context and makes you appreciate the things you have no matter how small, family, health and happiness would do for now (suppose 2 out of 3 is not bad).

Best part of a year in hospital? Bloody Hell, that's hard to imagine. I bet it was good to get home.

I have a bit of a personal interest in your gallbladder story. About 3 years ago I was struck down by an all consuming pain in my side that radiated to my back and shoulders. it was so bad I was totally incapacitated for about an hour, then it went away.

This happened like half a dozen times over the course of the next month so I went to see the Doctor, he sent me for a scan and they diagnosed an inflamed/infected gallbladder. They said it would have to be removed and told me I would be put on a waiting list.

Just over a year later I was called in for a pre op assessment. I told the consultant that I had had no pain for over a year and did not want to go ahead with the operation 'in cold blood' as it were.

He said that was fine, and that if it were to flare up again to get back in touch with my GP and start the process over.

I haven't really thought about it since, but your story has made me wish I had had the bloody thing removed when I had the chance.

Imagine that pain you was in x10 for 6 weeks solid, intensive care, 24 hr 1-2-1 nursing, morphine every 5 mins and unable to do anything on your own (even move in bed!!). Gallbladder pain is bad enough if it ever progresses to pancreatitis the Dr's say it's the worse pain any human can go through (I'm sure torture might come close).

Apparently 80% of the population get gallstones yet for 90% they never experience any pain. The pain you had I experienced for 6 months (sometimes up at night for 8 hours a time completely unable to do anything but cry)before my first attack, at the time doctors couldn't tell me what it was as there was no signs of gallstones or inflammation, at least on the fateful morning they had no doubt and acted quickly enough to save my life, they reckon an hour later and I would have not made it.

Anyway I do not blame u for not having the op as any operation can be intrusive and puts us a risk, add into that the distant memory of the pain and at the time it was probably the right decision, by any chance had you changed your diet or drinking habits?

The best thing you can do is make sure you eat a balanced healthy diet and it would be best to give up Alchol, if u do not want to then at least drink very sparingly. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we no longer have it, health is one of the most precious things we have and very often take it for granted, I know I did and I wish I could turn back time. its def worth reading up on Tom.

Hijacked Tikay's thread again.

[RED-DOG]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

Not sure that would ever work, Ommy. Nice idea though, a sort of two-headed monster.

Swerve the question if it is awkward, but how is your health now?

Finding it tough Tikay, was told yesterday that it maybe another few years before I'm anything like normal. I'm 36 years old but feel like I'm at the end of my life when I'm in the worst of it, which thankfully nowadays is less more than often. Tried going back to work but has been too soon so now I'm arranging to do 8 hours a week just to get me out and socialising, been so unwell recently that I haven't even been able to get to Luton to play live, which for a while was my only interaction with those out side my wife and kids. Anyway, must stay positive (so they tell me!!) and on the bright side I've been putting a load of work into my online game, starting to pay off, was 5th in roller last week after knocking on the door with min cashing a few times. Made a final table on Stars out of 600 runners this week which has also been getting closer and closer and I have to say with the help of a few friends I've had the best ever Royal Ascot (you might know a bit about this!!) so lots of positives to come out of the negatives, life goes on. Thanks for asking and good luck.

I have no idea what your health issues are but I'm hugely impressed by your attitude.

Get well soon.   

Thanks Tom, in Feb 2013 I had a really bad attack of Pacreatitis cause by a gallstone being lodge in one of my ducts, only thing they could do was wait and take my gallbladder out, 9 months later gallbladder comes out, 2 months after this a rouge gallstone (which they missed) got caught in my liver duct and made me Jaundice and very ill for a few months. Been recovering ever since, long and slow process, will live with type 1 diabetes for the rest of my life, currently inject 6 times a day. Never to drink alcohol again as it affects the pancreas (no biggie all things considered) just a very very debilitating disease. Higher risk of cancer and all that. Makes me feel like I'm living the life of a 90 year old man. Strange thing is depending on how bad the attack is can make all the difference, I've met a few people who were out of hospital carry on their normal life within weeks, I spent the best part of a year in hospital and all in all had about 7/8 attacks (pseudocysts formed as a consequence), first one was always the worst and done the most damage. Lots of tough times but some fantastic support from my truly unbelievable wife and very understanding kids along with a bit of professional help us drastically changed my attitude and I'm certainly no longer pint half empty. Anyway sorry for the babble, believe it or not it also helps getting it down on paper, forum or not. Certainly puts life in context and makes you appreciate the things you have no matter how small, family, health and happiness would do for now (suppose 2 out of 3 is not bad).

Best part of a year in hospital? Bloody Hell, that's hard to imagine. I bet it was good to get home.

I have a bit of a personal interest in your gallbladder story. About 3 years ago I was struck down by an all consuming pain in my side that radiated to my back and shoulders. it was so bad I was totally incapacitated for about an hour, then it went away.

This happened like half a dozen times over the course of the next month so I went to see the Doctor, he sent me for a scan and they diagnosed an inflamed/infected gallbladder. They said it would have to be removed and told me I would be put on a waiting list.

Just over a year later I was called in for a pre op assessment. I told the consultant that I had had no pain for over a year and did not want to go ahead with the operation 'in cold blood' as it were.

He said that was fine, and that if it were to flare up again to get back in touch with my GP and start the process over.

I haven't really thought about it since, but your story has made me wish I had had the bloody thing removed when I had the chance.

Imagine that pain you was in x10 for 6 weeks solid, intensive care, 24 hr 1-2-1 nursing, morphine every 5 mins and unable to do anything on your own (even move in bed!!). Gallbladder pain is bad enough if it ever progresses to pancreatitis the Dr's say it's the worse pain any human can go through (I'm sure torture might come close).

Apparently 80% of the population get gallstones yet for 90% they never experience any pain. The pain you had I experienced for 6 months (sometimes up at night for 8 hours a time completely unable to do anything but cry)before my first attack, at the time doctors couldn't tell me what it was as there was no signs of gallstones or inflammation, at least on the fateful morning they had no doubt and acted quickly enough to save my life, they reckon an hour later and I would have not made it.

Anyway I do not blame u for not having the op as any operation can be intrusive and puts us a risk, add into that the distant memory of the pain and at the time it was probably the right decision, by any chance had you changed your diet or drinking habits?

The best thing you can do is make sure you eat a balanced healthy diet and it would be best to give up Alchol, if u do not want to then at least drink very sparingly. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we no longer have it, health is one of the most precious things we have and very often take it for granted, I know I did and I wish I could turn back time. its def worth reading up on Tom.

Hijacked Tikay's thread again.

Cheers mate. I don't drink but I do eat bad stuff.

I'm not sure what you're telling me to read up on. Gallbladder, pancreatitis or healthy eating.