Frustrating Start to Las Vegas Trip

I am in Las Vegas, which is almost always good. However, the gambling part of the trip got off to its usually crappy start, despite my consultation with The Poker Meister and trying to adhere to the counsel he offered.

But let me back up a bit. After seeing my Mom for Mothers Days, I headed for Midway Airport. After getting my ID and boarding pass checked, I got through the TSA screening in, I kid you not, one minute! The regular screening was backed up quite a bit, but we harmless people shot right through. Yowsa! Then, after having an extended wait to get my pre-flight sammich at Potbelly, I received a free big cookie for my inconvenience. I tweeted about this and was warned not to use up my run-good at the airport. Well, the run-good ended quickly.

My flight was nearly full -- except for the seat next to me and one other. The plane door was about to be closed when two guys on standby were let in. Instead of having a freed up seat next to me, I had a not-small guy sitting there. Dayum.

Once in Las Vegas, I had to suffer the indignity of checking in with the other peasants in the Gold line since I have lost my Total Rewards Platinum status. The wait wasn't nearly as bad as it would have been if I had no card at all, however.

The beautiful view from my Harrah's room!

I headed to Mirage to play poker (and said hi to Kristi - AlaskaGal1). The past few trips I had really killed it at Mirage. Not so this time as I was card dead and ran decent hands into the dreaded pocket Kings several times. I definitely will be back, however.

I used my poker comps to do something I have always wanted to do in Las Vegas: eat at the Carnegie Deli.

The rather hefty pastrami sandwich

My verdict: It was okay. It was not as big as I thought it would be but was certainly much better than the sandwiches I've had at the Stage Deli at MGM.

I headed to Harrah's and played for a bit there. Meh -- same as Mirage. The only decent had I got was KK after our table had shrunk to five people. My modest raise got no callers.

So ... the trip starts as usual with me: getting in the hole and having to climb out. But I am in Las Vegas, which is almost always good. It is time to turn things around.