Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

I check the punctuality of my flight every day, here.....


https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/VIR43/history/20150430/1020Z/EGKK/KLAS


It's never been on time once, but apart from a few bad days, when it left 2 hours late, it's not been too bad, it generally arrives at McCarron around 2pm.

The reason for the anxiety is there is a $220 PLO Tourney at Binions on the day I arrive, which starts at 2pm, & has 4 x 30 minute levels of Late Reg, plus a 15 minute break, so I've got until 4.15pm to get there.

With the Immigration queue usually 45 minutes minimum, it's touch & go.

Would love to play that Binions thing though, to sort of get my eye in, before my first proper Tourney on the next day, Saturday, at The Venetian.

[tikay]

Playing a big schedule this year, which is mighty expensive, but my Team of stakers have put up around half of the cost.

I squirrelled away my rather fortunate PLO cash windfall during the UKPC, which was just the job. I should or could have won a lot more, or lost the bloody lot when I wimped out of that big pot, but it was always in my mind that the cash would be handy for Vegas.  I changed that into USD last week at a good rate, thanks to some help from Ryan. (He has flown out to Vegas today).

Then I went up to DTD last week, to withdraw the balance of my UKPC Omaha bink from last year, & played the Grand Prix thing, to try & show willing, throwing 2 bullets - both duds - at it. Simon Trumper has offered to sell me USD for that cash, at spot, which is very kind of him, so I'm meeting him Tuesday to sort that.

I have built up a bit of a 'roll Next Door too, just under £2,000, playing little DYM's, am currently undecided whether to withdraw that too, to give me  a bit of leeway. Might just leave it there though, as rainy day money.

So, pretty much, it's all been financed by poker. And luck.

This week is going to be a nightmare, with a Show to do on Tuesday, & a long haul up to Leeds on Wednesday for a Meet, as well as still sorting the details for the next UKPC. It'll pass in a flash though, & come friday morning, fingers crossed, off we jolly well go.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Encouraging......



https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/VIR43/history/20150524/1020Z/EGKK/KLAS


See...

Taxiing (pushed from gate 6 minutes ago)


Took off a similar time yesterday, & with favourable wind it took 9 hours 52, arriving at 1.44pm. I'd settle for that.

[tikay]

It was taxi-ing for over half an hour, but eventually took off at 12.01.

Touch and go, that.

[bromley04]

I planned to go up to Foyles early this morning, to get some reading material for Vegas, I generally take 5 or 6, then read 2 or 3. The flight, 10 hours each way, is a great opportunity to read plenty. Luckily, I checked on google, & discovered Foyles does not open until Noon today, though you can browse from 11am.

I'll maybe go tomorrow.

In a departure from my "never read fiction" habit, I'm currently wrestling with Joseph Heller's "Catch 22", said to be one of the greatest pieces of writing this century.

It's a bit of a struggle, though, it is funny, & beautifully ironic, very clever, but it is written in what is, to me, a very weird style, with incomprehensibly long sentences, 90 or 100 words long in some cases.  

I may just have to quit, as I'm finding it very hard work.






I really dislike giving up on a book part way through, but it's a meaty tome, & I have so many other books I want to read, especially factual stuff.

Funny to see you say this as I had exactly the same experience  with this book a long time ago.  I don't read that often but when I do I usually get addicted and fly through a book in a couple of sessions.  With this one however I got a few chapters in and just couldn't muster up the desire to continue.  I have always toyed with trying it again but reading your post makes me realise why I never do!

[Doobs]

You are all weird.  Catch 22 is one of the best books ever.

[pleno1]

Good luck in Vegas tikay. Will see you early next week. Really looking forward to it!

[RED-DOG]

You are all weird.  Catch 22 is one of the best books ever.

It's a good book but it's difficult to read. A real catch 22 situation.

[tikay]

I planned to go up to Foyles early this morning, to get some reading material for Vegas, I generally take 5 or 6, then read 2 or 3. The flight, 10 hours each way, is a great opportunity to read plenty. Luckily, I checked on google, & discovered Foyles does not open until Noon today, though you can browse from 11am.

I'll maybe go tomorrow.

In a departure from my "never read fiction" habit, I'm currently wrestling with Joseph Heller's "Catch 22", said to be one of the greatest pieces of writing this century.

It's a bit of a struggle, though, it is funny, & beautifully ironic, very clever, but it is written in what is, to me, a very weird style, with incomprehensibly long sentences, 90 or 100 words long in some cases.  

I may just have to quit, as I'm finding it very hard work.






I really dislike giving up on a book part way through, but it's a meaty tome, & I have so many other books I want to read, especially factual stuff.

Funny to see you say this as I had exactly the same experience  with this book a long time ago.  I don't read that often but when I do I usually get addicted and fly through a book in a couple of sessions.  With this one however I got a few chapters in and just couldn't muster up the desire to continue.  I have always toyed with trying it again but reading your post makes me realise why I never do!

That is so odd, Adam, as I actually tried to read it about 30 or 40 years ago, but gave up.

I keep seeing references to it though, so, on impulse, I decided to try again. Same result, so far, am not quite getting it.

Don't doubt it is a great book, just not for me. I'll try a few more chapters before giving up though, I want to at least reach the Milo chapter, Milo seems the key character in my mind, with his egg business.

PS - see you Tuesday, looking forward to it. Try and get Natterley to smarten up a bit though, it's Sky Sports.

[Tal]

Must admit, I've never read Catch 22.

[RED-DOG]

Must admit, I've never read Catch 22.

If I'm honest I tried to read it and failed, so I watched the movie instead.

Once upon a time I used to plough through regardless but these days if it doesn't draw me in and propel me along I just bin it and start another.

life's too short and there are too many good books out there.

[vegaslover]

I check the punctuality of my flight every day, here.....


https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/VIR43/history/20150430/1020Z/EGKK/KLAS


It's never been on time once, but apart from a few bad days, when it left 2 hours late, it's not been too bad, it generally arrives at McCarron around 2pm.

The reason for the anxiety is there is a $220 PLO Tourney at Binions on the day I arrive, which starts at 2pm, & has 4 x 30 minute levels of Late Reg, plus a 15 minute break, so I've got until 4.15pm to get there.

With the Immigration queue usually 45 minutes minimum, it's touch & go.

Would love to play that Binions thing though, to sort of get my eye in, before my first proper Tourney on the next day, Saturday, at The Venetian.

Maybe worth checking what other international flights get into McCarron around the same time, as immigration usually hold back later arriving flights until the previous ones are all through.

[bromley04]

I planned to go up to Foyles early this morning, to get some reading material for Vegas, I generally take 5 or 6, then read 2 or 3. The flight, 10 hours each way, is a great opportunity to read plenty. Luckily, I checked on google, & discovered Foyles does not open until Noon today, though you can browse from 11am.

I'll maybe go tomorrow.

In a departure from my "never read fiction" habit, I'm currently wrestling with Joseph Heller's "Catch 22", said to be one of the greatest pieces of writing this century.

It's a bit of a struggle, though, it is funny, & beautifully ironic, very clever, but it is written in what is, to me, a very weird style, with incomprehensibly long sentences, 90 or 100 words long in some cases.  

I may just have to quit, as I'm finding it very hard work.






I really dislike giving up on a book part way through, but it's a meaty tome, & I have so many other books I want to read, especially factual stuff.

Funny to see you say this as I had exactly the same experience  with this book a long time ago.  I don't read that often but when I do I usually get addicted and fly through a book in a couple of sessions.  With this one however I got a few chapters in and just couldn't muster up the desire to continue.  I have always toyed with trying it again but reading your post makes me realise why I never do!

That is so odd, Adam, as I actually tried to read it about 30 or 40 years ago, but gave up.

I keep seeing references to it though, so, on impulse, I decided to try again. Same result, so far, am not quite getting it.

Don't doubt it is a great book, just not for me. I'll try a few more chapters before giving up though, I want to at least reach the Milo chapter, Milo seems the key character in my mind, with his egg business.

PS - see you Tuesday, looking forward to it. Try and get Natterley to smarten up a bit though, it's Sky Sports.

Well let me know how it goes and if you get back into it I might give it another try myself.

Really looking forward to Tuesday too.  We're both not really cash players but will give it a good old try!

As for Natalie's style of dress, I couldn't possibly comment but I presume the Burnley shirt she has picked out will be acceptable for a sports' channel?

[Magic817]

I planned to go up to Foyles early this morning, to get some reading material for Vegas, I generally take 5 or 6, then read 2 or 3. The flight, 10 hours each way, is a great opportunity to read plenty. Luckily, I checked on google, & discovered Foyles does not open until Noon today, though you can browse from 11am.

I'll maybe go tomorrow.

In a departure from my "never read fiction" habit, I'm currently wrestling with Joseph Heller's "Catch 22", said to be one of the greatest pieces of writing this century.

It's a bit of a struggle, though, it is funny, & beautifully ironic, very clever, but it is written in what is, to me, a very weird style, with incomprehensibly long sentences, 90 or 100 words long in some cases.  

I may just have to quit, as I'm finding it very hard work.






I really dislike giving up on a book part way through, but it's a meaty tome, & I have so many other books I want to read, especially factual stuff.

Funny to see you say this as I had exactly the same experience  with this book a long time ago.  I don't read that often but when I do I usually get addicted and fly through a book in a couple of sessions.  With this one however I got a few chapters in and just couldn't muster up the desire to continue.  I have always toyed with trying it again but reading your post makes me realise why I never do!

That is so odd, Adam, as I actually tried to read it about 30 or 40 years ago, but gave up.

I keep seeing references to it though, so, on impulse, I decided to try again. Same result, so far, am not quite getting it.

Don't doubt it is a great book, just not for me. I'll try a few more chapters before giving up though, I want to at least reach the Milo chapter, Milo seems the key character in my mind, with his egg business.

PS - see you Tuesday, looking forward to it. Try and get Natterley to smarten up a bit though, it's Sky Sports.

Well let me know how it goes and if you get back into it I might give it another try myself.

Really looking forward to Tuesday too.  We're both not really cash players but will give it a good old try!

As for Natalie's style of dress, I couldn't possibly comment but I presume the Burnley shirt she has picked out will be acceptable for a sports' channel?

With it being a Burnley shirt I am sure it will go down well

[booder]