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Part One: Opening Day
Monday I went to the Reds Home Opener. I intended to get in Cincy about and hour early only. I hoped that with the weather being crappy and getting there shortly before the first pitch, I would be able to scalp good tickets. What I always seem to forget is that downtown traffic on Opening Day is a nightmare due to the sheer number of cars on the streets and half of the city streets being blocked off for the parade. As I was inching along my blood started to boil. I did not see any parking garages with vacancies, I was passed up by a 80 year old woman carrying a lawn chair, the weather was shitty, I didnt have any tickets yet, and the game was due to start in 45 minutes! Eventually, the parade ended and traffic started to open up. Things were going to get better. We parked in the first garage we found and headed towards the stadium with about 20 minutes before the first pitch. I was able to scalp amazing tickets. We paid $100 for a pair of tickets 8 rows behind to home dugout. The weather was virtually a non-factor since we were well prepared with layers, gloves, and a poncho among other items. Unfortunately, the Reds lost 2-1 but the game itself was decent while displaying several great defensive plays and pretty good pitching from two of the best in the National League.
Part Two: The Argosy
Having enjoyed ourselves at the game, we were now ready to head to the Argosy to warm up, relax, and gamble. After a warm bath/shower, and an hour in bed watching more baseball and Sports Center, my wife and I headed to the Casino. We started by playing some slots. Even though I know it is a losing game, I like to play a little cause it's so fun to hear them go and tryfor a big hit. However, it is a shame that, for the most part, they have gone to a coinless atmosphere. There is nothing like hearing a casino full of slots and all of there wonderful sounds of bells and whistles and the clanging of coins in the metal tray. Anyway, slots were fun, but we netted about -$125. My wife then watched me play about 30 minutes of Caribbean Stud, and Craps while I waited for a $10 Blackjack table to open. My impatience cost me about $200. When the BJ table opened, I sat down and my wife headed to the room. I sat at a cold table that cost me about $300. ATM time. I took $100 of my newfound money and put it into a $5 slot machine, made 10 pulls and came up empty. Kicking myself for flushing $100, I headed back to the BJ table. Things didnt get much better. Even though the count got up to +12 halfway through the shoe, I ent broke again. I got up and reassessed my situation. I was now down about $1000. I made some questionable plays in BJ. Some were textbook, some weren't. But none paid off. I thought about going back to the room, getting more cash and either playing BJ, Baccarat, or poker. I didnt want to go back to the room, and BJ just wasnt working that night. The best way to get back to even was to play Baccarat. However, the strategy I use is high risk/reward and the table was filled with asian smokers (no offense, I'm half asian myself). Poker was questionable since it was already 12am and I could only expect to win a few hundered if I were to win at all, and that is only if I'm committed to play for at least 2-3 hours. I figured a couple hundred back was the option at this point. With another $400 visit to the ATM and a seat at the $1/$3 table, I was ready to start grinding. To make a long story short, I took a bad beat early by a cat chasing a flush that hit on the river, but after that I was determined to play a good game and bust the flush chasing lovers. I played smart, got some good hands when others had slightly worse hands thus paying me off and finished the night by getting in a three way all in pot that I scooped for about $1200. All in all, I won $1465 in poker. It could have easily been over $2000 had I not folded hands that turned out to be the nuts. As I happily walked towards the exit, I stopped by a $1 slot that had been ice cold. It had not paid more that 4 credits ($4) in the 50 - 60 pulls that my wife and I had made. I put in $60 bucks and more of the same. I knew that eventually, it had to hit,at the very least a "spin the wheel." My $60 went without not much more luck. Close to 100 pulls and nothing. I decided to contribute another $100. If I lost, I would still be up about $500 on the night...and it HAD to hit soon. Well, I raced through another 80 credits ($80~40 pulls) and it finally warmed up. In the next 20-30 pulls I hit 3 "spin the wheels" ($150, $40, and $30) and one *doubleBAR**doubleBAR**PAY 4X* which paid $200. There were also several $10 -$40 winners. I finally cashed out for $401, up $261. I was now up around $800 and more importantly, I felt like a conquerer having "beat" the machine that couldnt be beat.
If you have read up to this point, you have too much time on your hands. I probably should have created a blog. But, thanks for reading. I had fun living it and recreating it for you.
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