Even people 4x4ing in Vegas, need a break in the routine

 HORSESHOE, Day 1

All packed up and ready to go on Sunday morning, Kodi headed for the Gold Card Checkout line. Since it was before required 'leaving time' at the hotel, the lobby wasn't busy.  Their friend Kiddo from Colorado had arrived in Vegas the previous day, and was picking them up in her rental car, and they were all going to have brunch together at MSS.  Since it was checkout day for the Kodis, she then planned to drop them off where their next bed was, afterwards.  They were staying at the Horseshoe ( Which Kodi still thought of as Ballys that night and much of the next day.  ) To get a comped room at their final hotel on the trip, there needed to be 7 days between Boyd properties.  Thus, a two night booking at the Horseshoe for the cost of the resort fee plus tax. Kodi also had a $50 free play component included, so with the Lucky Horseshoe brand, and her lucky bra coins, she was pretty excited to gamble there later that day.

The Kodis stood outside where they THOUGHT Kiddo had said she would pick them up, about 10 minutes early, since she'd always been prompt in her Kiddo Kab, and sometimes a few minutes early. They waited until the agreed upon time, then past it.  The bellmen approached them twice, the valet guys came over to see if they needed help.  They tried to make themselves as small as possible, since they cluttered up the landscape for so long.  Kodi, being a perpetual worrier, was sure Kiddo had an accident, and was right then being airlifted to a critical care unit.  Tom figured traffic was bad.  In the end, it turned out the Colorado gal had finally relaxed after her long travel day, and had hit the snooze button a couple of times that morning, finally becoming fully conscious about the time she was supposed to be pulling into Bellagio's driveway.  Considering that, she made remarkable time.

She was on automatic though it seemed , since she pulled into a spot next to the handicapped parking one at MSS, marked "Law Enforcement Only".  Kodi saved her from embarrassment and a long stretch in prison, by noticing before she turned the car off.  

She was an Emerald card holder, so could skip the longer line ( although it wasn't terribly busy that morning) graciously treating those Canadians to the buffet , saying to the cashier  " What's the use of having all these points if you don't use them." They happily enjoyed her company, and generosity. They left an extra large tip, and offered her some gas money.  She countered by selling Kodi some precious $2 bills that she used for tips. Kodi however,  used her fives and tucked the twos away, like a squirrel hoarding special nuts.  

Kodi's first job was to snag a valuable commodity on the buffet circuit...a piece of her favourite dessert...pecan pie. Boy those lucky coins were working well.  

She then filled a plate with food, doubling up on the beautifully prepared sweet potato, which she was craving.  She was able to eat much of it, making sure she had room for her pie, to which she added a swirl of ice cream. Lots of water, and coffee with  triple cream finished her meal.

Since they had a table for four, the extra chair held Kodi's shawl and bag, Tom's hat and the canes when they weren't being used. After they left the restaurant Kodi went down the hall to the restroom, and Tom stood near the hallway there, while Kiddo headed out to the car, since she walked even slower than Kodi and was using a scooter most often, except out of her hotel, like that day.  Their waiter came out of the buffet and approached Tom, with a tiny cross body purse in his had. I believe your party left this behind, on a chair.  Tom ( remember...he has a man's observation skills) said he didn't think so, and the waiter took it to the security desk.  Just as Kodi exited the restroom hallway, she heard Kiddo's name being called over the loudspeaker.  When Tom told her about the waiter etc. describing the little Las Vegas logo bag, she said..."Yes, that was Kiddo's purse!  She must have tucked it under your hat and my bag, after she took her two dollar bills out of it."    By then , the lady in question had made it back to where they were...she had just been about to exit the casino when she heard the announcement...so another lucky break that morning.  She had her phone with ID that matched the players cards in the purse, as proof of her identity, so had the little bag back quickly.  She seldom carried one, but had brought it that day to show Kodi the quirky money. Things that could go wrong that day, so far were being cosmically adjusted by some lucky energy....hmmm.  Kodi patted her chest discreetly.

Kiddo soon dropped them and their luggage off at the Horseshoe.  Tom waited off to one side of the casino , while Kodi got in line at the front desk.  She stood in line, sighing and leaning on her cane, shuffling forward a foot at a time for over 45 minutes.  She fondly remembered checking in here years ago with Blondeforever, and enjoying the Diamond status lounge and check in.  

It was  just after 2 p.m. when she reached a clerk, and she hoped there would be no early check in fee demanded as it had been at the last two Caesar's properties where she'd stayed.  She smiled at the gentleman and made small talk, about how busy he looked, and how stressful it must be for him. He had been with Ballys for 30 years, and wasn't feeling negative about the name change but seemed a little concerned about Horseshoe becoming a 'boutique' hotel when the Jubilee Tower was assimilated next year by Paris.  Kodi supposed that front desk staff would be cut, once the number of rooms were halved, and older employees might be on the chopping block, but didn't voice this thought.  She was soon checked in, and given the keys to room 2201, next to the elevators. Perfect!  There was a lady at a podium checking keys as you entered the elevator lobby.  Strangely, there was no one there late at night ...perhaps a staffing issue?

They had this room for two nights but would only be sleeping there for one, so only unpacked sleepwear, meds and toiletries, and items for the safe. They were double-booked the following night, so could leave for their last  hotel anytime the next day or evening.  They would be staying at the same hotel as Kiddo, and she said if she wasn't busy, she might Kiddo Kab them from one hotel to the other.

Well fed and ready to play, they headed downstairs to play.  Not having gambled yet that day meant they could probably stretch their daily budget until bedtime, whenever that might be.    They both played up and down but found themselves at least cashing out small tickets to take to other machines.  "This is more like it," thought Kodi..."Finally at least getting some entertainment for my money."  She patted her chest discreetly.

They decided to head over to Nosh, at 6 p.m. and get some supplies for the next morning.  Tom was thinking a bagel, and o.j. and Kodi an iced coffee and muffin of some sort (with extra butter!) but actually got a yogurt and small fruit plate, since they had a small fridge in the room. Kodi wasn't unpacking the Starfrit for one morning.  Tom would take the supplies upstairs, and  he was probably going to stay up there for the night, and watch a bit of T.V. since he was actually tired of gambling and had half his day's money left. Unlike Kodi, who he said couldn't leave the casino until she was broke, he felt he managed his money much better.  Well, some truth there...unfortunately.  That was the reason she had begun the daily envelope system years before. She often got a little too enthusiastic about trying just 'one more machine' on the way to the elevators, even if she had $5 left, lol.

They were at the farthest end of the casino from Nosh, so started walking that way, and Kodi was really hurting.  She needed to stop every few rows of machines to sit for a minute until a spasm stopped.  Just before they turned the corner towards the snack bar, she halted and told Tom she had to sit longer before continuing.  She perched at a favourite 'three pot' machine and said she was putting a $20 into it, rather than just resting there, because she had a feeling. Tom rolled his eyes.  She patted her chest discreetly.  

After a couple of spins, she hit a free play bonus and then got the balls dropping during one of the free games.  She was playing minimum as usual, and because this was just a rest stop, she hadn't even glanced up to see what the larger payouts were.  Tom said " Oh look, you got a mini AND a minor!" ( $10 and $50).  That was exciting.  Thennnn, the Major ball fell onto the screen.  It was over $800!  Strangely, even though the final amount was not technically a handpay ($1200 and above) the Call Attendant screen flashed and music began playing.  To say the Kodis were stunned is an understatement. Kodi patted her chest two times discreetly, while waiting for her money to arrive.  Of course it came in Hundreds and Twenties, (so Horseshoe had the machines set up to promote tips for the floor people when a jackpot was paid out.)

They continued on to Nosh, and besides the breakfast goodies,  Tom was finally taking a healthy meal to the room to feed their 'Take Home Envelope'.

Kodi of course needed to hunt for the next winning machine, and was in the casino until nearly midnight, and falling asleep at the 'next winning machine', she shuffled upstairs, too tired to tell you  that story yet.

HORSESHOE, Day 2

Tom was asleep when Kodi got to the room the night before, so she hadn't been able to tell him about the rest of her evening. She had sat at a row of video poker machines, and played for over 4 hours, on her last $100, and had cashed out a $200 ticket, with her head nodding at the machine.  There were a couple of young German fellows playing, speaking to each other in their own language. They had limited English, and commented a couple of times when she got good hands,  but she realized they were waiting for her departure, while watching her getting dealt flushes, straights and trips,  over and over.  There was a sweet young lady at the end of the row, and she told the cocktail gal ( calling every one Darling) she wanted something interesting to drink.  Kodi does not even recall what the cocktail was, but immediately after the gal getting it, she hit quad Aces.

 Kodi had just been getting waters at that point, but told the server she wanted the 'lucky drink' that she'd served the young woman.  She was given one shortly afterwards, and two hands later, hit her first quad!  

Of course, she had tipped for the drink but called the server over when she was passing by and gave her another three dollars...which the gal tried to decline, and Kodi  insisted.  She still has no idea what the cocktail was...but it was both sweet and strong, so she only had the one. She patted her chest discreetly, and hit another quad afterwards, and the drink made her drowsy enough to leave shortly after that.

 She awkwardly got out of her seat, dropping her cane, but the young German fellow next to her got up to get it for her...and to move to her machine. Kodi thanked him, and warned him, patting the seat, that it was hot, literally!   She been in it for hours by then. He must have understood well enough, saying "Hot seat is good. I like that."

They ate their breakfast in the room, and both showered and dug fresh clothes out of the suitcase.  They planned to play at Horseshoe all morning, then walk to Planet Hollywood, through Paris, since they all used the same player's card.  Their last stop would be The Miracle Mile Mall next to PH, where they would have a late lunch at Ocean One restaurant, and then retrace their steps back to Horseshoe to retrieve the luggage from the room, and check out.  First Kodi wanted to show Tom her magic video poker machine.  He did see it. He watched her put $60 into it, getting only a couple of pairs. He watched her frown and struggle out of the seat.  "Let's go." Kodi grumbled.  

The walk on the cobblestone on the way to Paris was NOT a good idea.  They sat at a couple of machines as they moved thru Paris, putting $20 in, and immediately losing it.   

Crossing the street too quickly and walking along the broken , slanted sidewalk and up the moving ramp that was not moving, was NOT a good idea. When they got into the casino at PH, Kodi was done. Her energy and patience were gone. Her pain was 10/10.  She sat and took some extra medication, without a beverage, and started to choke on it. Tom smacked her back, and she recovered.  

Enough! The plan suddenly changed.  There would be no 'Ocean One' this trip, sadly.  Nope...no cheap lunch for them.  They did have to eat sometime that afternoon, and Kodi could see the Cafe Hollywood sign from where she was sitting, so decided that would be their lunch destination in a couple of hours...it was within crawling distance if necessary.

Tom didn't wander very far away from her, and they decided after very bad gambling results, to head to the restaurant at 1:30.  This was supposed to be the last meal that day, but as early as it was...who could tell?

They waited a few minutes at a very disorganized hostess desk. Two young women were manning it, getting in each other's way while doing so.  The Kodis discovered that the Hostess had just not shown up that day, and no one could contact her. These two girls had opened up that morning, and said neither had had a break yet. They weren't trained on the front desk but were doing their best.  Once seated, the Kodis were served by a fellow that they recognized from a trip report that I believe Royal Flusher posted after his first post-pandemic visit, the previous year.  He used the phrase "You are very much appreciated" or "I appreciate you ( or it)" in at least every second sentence.  He was serving a couple next to them, who had just arrived from England, as well. They kept looking over at the Kodis with amazement and cocked heads, and grins while he did this. When he disappeared for a few minutes Kodi said to them quietly "I think he really appreciates you being here." They  laughed out loud. 

Tom ordered Fettucine Alfredo and Kodi got french Toast and bacon, even though she wasn't really feeling hungry, and she left some uneaten.

Alan REALLY APPRECIATED the tip that they left ( To be fair, he was efficient and pleasant, if rather repetitive). 

They moved very slowly back towards the Horseshoe, and when reversing the walk and having to go DOWN the steep metal ramp to the sidewalk, Kodi's blister opened up, in spite of the bandaid on it.  She told Tom they needed to make a stop at CVS, the drugstore at the edge of Ballys , oops,  the Horseshoe's property.

She found some blister cushions and picked up a bottle of Pepto Bismal, because the damn gastro issue wasn't going anywhere, as evidenced by the way she felt after her lunch.  She then spotted a basket of big beautiful navel oranges for 99 cents each.  She grabbed one that was the size of a 5 pin bowling ball, and added it to the order, for the next day's breakfast.

On the way through Horseshoe, to their  elevators at the far end, they sat at  Kodi's bank of poker machines.  Her original one was in use , so she sat at the end machine for one last play at this Casino before leaving.  She patted her chest discreetly...then put her last few dollars in.  Well, it really was a damn shame they were moving, she thought...

They made it up to the room, where Kodi laid down after taking some Pepto, and feeding the TH Envelope, and Tom checked the corners of the room and packed up his bathroom stuff.  Kodi had a messenger text from Kiddo, apologizing and saying she was going to her room at the Gold Coast for a nap, so wouldn't be able to give them a ride after all. No problem Kodi replied,  as they hadn't at all expected her to.

Kodi left the 'do not disturb' sign off the door when they headed out of the room at 5:00 p.m. because they weren't officially checking out until the next morning.  She wasn't sure yet how to handle that.  

Their  Gold Coast room was calling them so they got into another Lyft and headed West...definitely moving like turtles, since it was now officially rush hour in Vegas.