We're here!

Well, we’re in Vegas. Just put our bags in the room and have come out for a wander. This Internet café is only a couple of blocks from the California Hotel where we are staying. I’d be more excited if I wasn’t so pissed at Ronnie. First the fucking kid plays in the Laundry Game when he knows it’s the money I lent him for Las Vegas. Then not only does he not quit when he’s ahead for like the first time ever in that game, he loses his entire tank by bluffing 3000 pounds on the river against Three Chin Charlie. Everybody knows you cant bluff against Three Chin Charlie. It’s a suicide mission. I’m up thousands of pounds against this man, and Ronnie decided he’s going to follow through on his no hand for his entire tank on the river. Now what is he gonna do? I’m not lending him any more money. I’m not. It’s for his own good. He’ll have to play the small game and maybe he’ll have a shot at a satellite. Maybe.

What a disaster last night was. Ronnies supposed to come in and get me and Ozzie, and then we go to the airport. Big mouth Robert’s just had to egg Ronnie to get in the game, although it was really Ozzie they wanted in, and you could just see him salivating. Okay, so we didn’t really have to leave for a half hour, but we could have. It wouldn’t have killed us to be thirty minutes earlier for the plane, it wouldn’t have killed us.

Ronnie and I basically haven’t said ten words since getting into Ozzie’s cab. But I’ve calmed down now. I was just so mad. Still excited about Vegas, but when is Ronnie gonna learn? You can’t just go putting your whole bankroll on the table. If you do put your whole bankroll on the table you’ve got to quit when you’re ahead. And if you don’t quit when your ahead you should never make a three thousand pound bluff on Three Chin Charlie. His name is Charlie Chin, but we call him Three Chin Charlie because Ozzie came up with the name and it stuck. Charlie is a big guy, and he once beat Ozzie in a pot when Ozzie said, “You fat slob! Two chins on your face and one in your name, I oughta call you Three Chin Charlie!

The plane trip was uneventful, but coming through customs was fun. The customs agent asked to see my $20,000 (I declared it on the form), and then said be careful, sir. I told him I’m always careful with my money. I left it all in the safe of the room except for $1000 walking around money. I felt more scared walking out of Lou’s check cashing in Barry the other day when I changed my pounds. It represents almost everything I’m ahead in the Laundry Game over the past eight months, and I don’t plan on going back without at least most of it. But you need money to make money here.

I’ve had everything about our first night planned out for a while. Ronnie doesn’t know I booked us a table at the Binion’s steakhouse. I’ve been reading about that steakhouse forever. Apparently, it’s the same steakhouse that Benny Binion and all the big poker players in Vegas used to eat in during the old world series of poker. Its up on the top floor and it’ll be our first real American steak. I could eat a house right now. We’ll wash that down with a couple of beers and I’m going to have a real talking to Ronnie. He’s gotta grow up, he’s gotta put himself together. I think he fancies himself some kind of Phil Ivey or something, but he’s got absolutely no regard for the money and he seems to think poker is all about big bluffs and television. I know it’s not. Poker is about playing good cards and finding those donks that everyone always talks about, some tourists to give me money. Ronnie and I are here for a vacation, but I’m not gonna be surprised if I go home with more money than I came with. I’m gonna play a couple of good hours of poker every day, and then just have a great time. Head up to the Rio, maybe play a couple of satellites with the money I’m ahead to try and get Ronnie or me into a World Series of Poker tournament, but I’m not gonna jeopardize my trip by getting too involved. I’m here for fun. I don’t know what Ronnie’s about. I’m worried about him. And now he owes me a thousand bucks, which is fine, except he’s already blown all his Vegas money and we just got here. I’m so mad at the twerp. It’s up to me to give him money now, I’ve gotta take care of him. I’m gonna explain to him tonight, we’re here for two weeks, and I’ll give him fifty dollars a day and nothing more. I mean if I was to give him a thousand or something he knows he’ll only go and blow it. I’m not even sure if he can beat any of the games out here yet.

Well, we’re off to Binion’s. I can taste that steak now. I’ll check in tomorrow. Vegas, baby!