What Can I Say Except Las Vegas I Love You

What Can I Say Except Las Vegas I Love You

My last blog post was titled Las Vegas a Second Home and Beating Heart. I went on my third trip in just months and returned to Australia to more things to do than imaginable and simply didn't update on my trip or happenings. It seems instead the universe has me putting my personal thoughts out on my second home and beating heart and the tragic events that just happened. I know I am just another post, another opinion, another cry, but, it is my pain and my condolences and my second home and me that wants to express how I feel, my initial thoughts and responses and, so, I am. As I do.

I was sitting at my mothers house with my sister when the Las Vegas Shooting happened. I wasn't even on my phone! A miracle! My cousin came out and told me that an active Gun Man was at Mandalay Bay shooting people. My instant response was of course: PANIC! I suffer panic attacks, bad ones, thank fully it was only my mind going haywire! Without a second thought I started dialing one of my best friends, they didnt answer, it cut out strangely. Then I texted immediately that there was a gun man on the loose. The message didnt deliver. Only my brain would go into panic overdrive and think trampling, broken phone, shot. Though, reality is, this could have been the case.

My sister screamed to call again. I could feel the color faded from my face I started to think that this couldn't be happening and everyone was asleep and no one could be hurt. I didnt call again. I went on to message another. Then I felt my heart sink. It was reality, I wasnt there, people I know are going to be hurt or worse dead. Friends of friends are going to be hurt. You get the hint. My mind stops working properly when my heart is involved in tragedies where those I love are close by.

After what seemed thirty minutes, when it was only around 5-10 my phone rang! I have NEVER been so damn happy in my life to see a name appear on my phone! I can not express the feeling, the lifting weight, the tears that welded in my eyes to see the name on my screen and know that I could check that name off my list! They didnt know about it, they were asleep. No sooner they turned on their TV. The reality hit even harder. One by one my friends contacted me or marked themselves safe. I didnt sleep much through the night with texts, calls, messages all coming through to check I was ok.

I have nothing left to say except I am shattered that any person could inflict such terror and pain and to a group of innocent people in a place of love and freedom. A place I love, with people I love, to my second home. Nothing except my deepest, deepest sympathies to those that have lost loved ones, been hurt or traumatized and to those that have lost their lives, I can only send love to the heavens and my heart felt prayers.

Vegas, I love You.

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Las Vegas a Second Home and a Beating Heart

Las Vegas a Second Home and a Beating Heart

In just five days time I am bound for Las Vegas yet again with my Las Vegas Advisor coupon book and diamond members benefits tightly in my hand. To say that Las Vegas has become a second home would be a correct statement, this is my third trip in just months, the first two for the World Series of Poker and this trip for some business talks as well as a catch-up with my close friends while I am there. So what is it that makes Las Vegas a place to return to, a place to call home and what are you missing out on by not going there? What does Las Vegas mean for this ordinary Aussie Gal?

For starters, Las Vegas is one of the friendliest cities I have ever been to. As I make that statement, I make it as a person that has a lot of friends that live there, frequent there and visit there. Just before I started writing this post, as an example, I chatted to a friend from Australia who will also be there at the same time, clearly its their second home also, they have planted their feet and have a little condo which they can stay in. The person I will be staying with, my second mother, (Marsha Waggoner) was once just like me (no doubt) and is an Australian woman that has immigrated. There are also beautiful people in the poker industry I simply adore that are from the USA and Canada that now live there. It really is like going to a city full of friends and like minded people in the poker and gaming industry, though strangers are also as friendly as can be!

Going to Las Vegas is cheaper for me than staying home and I also eat better! I know it is hard to believe but it is! Not only do I have my coupon book in my hand that I mention above (from Las Vegas Advisor) but food in the supermarket is cheaper and drinks most definitely are! I also eat like a queen as apposed to my bangers and mash (sausages and vegetables) that I frequently eat in Australia. I also dont gamble, not gambling means the city cant take my money. Other people may be able to if I play cash games of poker but not the city. Here in Australia there is so little for me to do I spend money to go out. I spend nothing in Las Vegas! $20 here and there for a show or a meal.

Las Vegas has the warmth my body so greatly needs and the water for my mind. As I sit here freezing with aching joints and no option to hit the pool I get so very anxious and depressed. I dont know that a day will ever arrive when I am in Vegas when I am going to freeze, ache or not be able to swim. Being an Aussie, a woman and an Aquarius I simply crave the sun and the water and so does my physical body, its not just a mental thing. In fact, it isnt just about craving, it is about needing. I dont say i need things lightly so this means a lot.

Las Vegas has a bit of everything! If you feel like checking out nature, you can see it. If you want to go to a casino or club and experience epic nightlife its your oyster. If you want to dine its the place to go with so many different foods and restaurants you simply cant go wrong. If on the other hand you wish to relax there is no better place on earth. When it comes to gambling and of course poker, you have that option and if its your "thing" where else would you want to be? Vegas has a lot to offer for every personality type on earth.

At just $900AUD return (round trip) from Sydney, Las Vegas is as cheap to frequent as the sunshine coast, gold coast, surfers paradise, anywhere in Australia - again though, its cheaper when it comes to accommodation, food and beverages. You need to really shop hard for tickets and take the long haul and tiring journey but its worth it! Traveling to Vegas may as well be traveling to another Aussie state, you can just add a few hours travel.

With all of this said I have discovered that home isnt a place or where the heart is, home is a person, home is people, your type of people. With grown kids (except one) and infrequent contact with my family and friends in Australia as apposed to my frequent contact for hours a day with my best friend in Las Vegas, my person is there, my heart is there and my second home is now there, or is it my home? I write with utter confusion in relation to this. What I do know is making Las Vegas a home, second home or a bi monthly holiday target is most likely. I had a target to move to Vegas in 2021, I will be most definitely spending a lot of time there between now and three years time!

A wise man once told me that humans always want what they can not have. They assumed I wanted a piece of Las Vegas as it could never be something I could obtain. I hope they read this blog post and understand that this IS me we are talking about and that there is nothing I wont go after and get (unless we were talking people who do not want me in return) EVER! I have my business boots, mom boots, lady boots and Vegas boots on and Vegas, I am coming for you no matter how long it takes Las Vegas! Not only am I coming for the pre 2021 move "experience" but I am coming to make more friends, business acquaintances & to warm my heart, love deeply & fill the lonely gap from being away from my second home too long, my person.

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Las Vegas Highs Lows & Extortion - WSOP Trip Two 2017 Update

Las Vegas Highs Lows & Extortion - WSOP Trip Two 2017 Update

By the pool with a Pina Colada FTW!

I have tried to remain extremely positive about my last Las Vegas experience but after day seven of my return home still quite sick with holes in me from blood tests & fear of mutated flu viruses inside my aching body, its tough! I figured now I have risen from my bed I would not just complain, nor would I concentrate on following up on all of the fabulous things that happened, rather, even it all out with some highs and lows and what really got to me the most which can only be classed as time extortion and trickery!

I will start with the highs! I had the most fabulous people around me whilst in Vegas during my time at the WSOP! Not only were these people bright poker players, poker executives, writers and media staff but they were fun loving and never ceased to give smiles and a welcoming feeling! The WSOP and 888 poker crews sure have their stuff in order and I can only extend my congratulations to them all for what can only be classed as a very successful World Series of Poker, which went without a hiccup.

I owe a very big thank you and also some book reviews to D&B Poker for the books they gave to me to read over, sadly, I wasn't able to do on air interviews as promised. I will ensure I make it up to
them by screaming out the books I love most, from the mountain tops, as soon as I am well and writing every few days again.Pictured is Chris Moormans book published by D&B as well as a matching congratulatory cake! Brilliance!

Of all poker highs, one would have to be a little biased and mention the brilliant Heidi May taking down the WSOP ladies event as my all personal favorite. I had always wanted to watch the ladies event conclude and to see a fellow Australian take it down was something that had me jumping up and down and running the halls like a crazy woman (after I went under the rail snapping pics as quick as I could, of course!). Heidi sure has done Australia proud, along with James Obst who I really shouldn't leave out! Back to Heidi, she makes my high of the decade with my two favorite poker aspects joined together: women and Australia. I don't think this can be ever beaten, unless we have a future article title which says something like:

Australian Woman Wins WSOP Main Event Bracelet!

I was very smart, lucky and blessed to sign up as a diamond member of the Las Vegas Advisor which you can read about in my past blog posts. The Las Vegas Advisor gives some beyond fabulous deals, coupons and money savers that I just could never live without again. It is also a wealth of information which helped me along my way, where my friend was absent. Furthermore I was again blessed to go on an excursion to Huntington Press and gawk at the covers of gaming books galore and refresh, rewind and relax for a short while.

I had a lot of relax and rest time whilst in Vegas with again, the most amazing company I could wish for. I had beautiful lunches, dinners, pool side drinks, endless discussions and a lot of fun trekking the streets of Vegas & the casinos as well as going to a fabulous show (comedy hypnotist at V Theater), shopping and laying in bed (theater and shops pictured). My accommodation (talking of laying in bed) was fabulous! Every place I stayed, in fact! I simply can not complain about my personal time in Vegas, other to say that I just didn't have enough of it! I don't think a life time would be enough time anymore! If I could turn back time I would change only one thing, I would have had less sneaky cigarette breaks. It wastes time, life and fun as well as precious moments. Needless to say, I really miss the place and the people already.

When it comes to lows, I will try not to concentrate too much on them and give them much attention, negativity isn't going to make me feel any better. Firstly, the plane trips are always nightmares. I can not wait until they cut the flight time in half, somehow, surely its going to happen one day soon! I think I made my trip a little worse after drinking copious amounts of alcohol (per my body size at least) in order to sleep! Landing in LA wasn't pleasant, though much more pleasant then flying! My next low would be the shock to my system die to the climate difference! From -4 to 48c - HOLY COW! Enough said!

Crazy Aussie Lady needs some more poker action. Hehe!

Poker wise, I was quite disappointed that I didn't do more coverage of the WSOP, I was also disappointed I missed the main event, but there is always next year which may even bigger and better than this years all round record breaker! Either way, I am going to do my very best to get back there, punctually in 2018! I am also disappointed that I missed seeing James Obst win his WSOP bracelet, though, I was there in spirit I suppose and did watch a lot of his play. I am also annoyed as hell I didn't be poker groupie like and annoy the worlds best players for photographs. They are something I will likely treasure one day and well, I was too busy talking and not busy enough thinking! In all honesty, who talks to Negreanu multiple times, interviews him and doesn't get a pic? I suppose I'm just not poker groupie minded? Likewise with Chris Moorman, goodness gracious! Why didn't I get a picture with these great players? Not forgetting, I played no events, another disappointment but an expected outcome. In fact, I played no poker at all (Except a friendly heads up match)... Who does that?

A most disappointing thing that happened was falling victim to what I can only call trickery and to some level, extortion, mostly time extortion. In previous blog posts I mentioned the benefits of MyVegas rewards. Its an application I wont be using so frequently again! I had all the spending of my points penned out for when I arrived in Vegas. Unfortunately on arrival, nothing I wanted was available from my location. I contacted my sister who was in Australia and these reward options were still there for her. Buy before you leave! Some did re-appear again but with price extortion. The helicopter ride worked out cheaper without using the rewards and the Beatles Love show at MGM also worked out cheaper. Maybe it was poor timing for me, I have a lot of friends who use the app. Regardless, I wont be relying on it again for benefits or discounts and I take back everything I have previously said for now.

Ladies, gents, carry masks and have your hands sanitized constantly during travel! I know of three friends from the land down under that became seriously ill while transiting or playing poker. I am sure there are a lot more, I have not really spoken to too many people. I will leave that as my last note and a little tip.

Thank you to each and every one of you that accommodated me in any way during my 2017 WSOP experience. Thank you even more to those that invested a personal interest, added a personal touch or continued to be the very best friends / people that they are. You guys are what makes Vegas so very special and dear to my heart, from now to eternity! You are stars! Until I return again, I will continue to think as I work my way back: Ad astra per aspera. 💗

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