My life in Vegas

The District at Green Valley

2005-10-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you’re visiting Vegas and the one arm bandits seem to be more taking than giving, I suggest you visit the District at Green Valley Ranch www.thedistrictatgvr.com

This place is amazing! It has a “Main Street” look and feel that has over 40 luxury stores, unique shops, great food, and live entertainment throughout the week. The top two floors are reserved for luxury living, a combination of flats and lofts where residents can look out their windows and view the bustling “main street” or have a fantastic view of the glittering lights of the strip.

The restaurants include Al’s Garage, an all American burger joint, Elephant Bar, Kennedy Tavern, King’s Fish House, La Salsa, Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que and P.F. Changs.

I went there on a Saturday night with some relatives that came in from out of town. It was a perfect evening, about 75 degrees with a cool breeze blowing. We had plans on dining at Lucille’s BBQ. We had about a twenty minute wait for a table because we wanted to eat in the outdoor patio. There were no complaints about the wait because there was so much to see, the time went by extremely quick.

In the center of the promenade, there was a live jazz band playing. In front of the stage is a small park area with soft grass where families would bring their lawn chairs to just kick back and listen to the music. The kids were dancing near the stage and having a great time. The cutest elderly couple were also enjoying a little swing.

While we waited for our pager to buzz, we stepped inside the Fatali Gallery. Michael Fatali, the owner and photographer has an amazing display of his work, primarily photos taken of the beautiful Mount Zion in Utah. No computer imaging, artificial lighting, or unnatural filtrations were used in the creation of these photographs. “I use only natural light for all the images made for the gallery collection of handmade photographic prints. To me, using nature's light is the best way to express the wonders of natural phenomena.”
Says Michael. I encourage everyone who appreciates art to visit this gallery. www.fatali.com

While browsing around in Ann Taylor Loft, we were buzzed to let us know our table was ready. We strolled back to Lucille’s and they had a table waiting for us on the patio as requested. As we were walking to our table, I glanced at the plates on some of the other tables and the serving sizes were huge! I considered just splitting a plate with my cousin but decided I may want some left over for lunch the next day. We decided to order an appetizer first, but there were so many to choose from. Don’t ask me why, but we went with the fried dill pickles. They really didn’t sound too appetizing, but my cousin (from Arkansas) said they were great, I had to try them. Reluctantly, I agreed. To be honest they weren’t too bad if you dipped then in the mustard sauce they provided. For my entrée, I ordered the BBQ Tri-tip sandwich. It was fabulous! It came with BBQ beans and sweet potatoes. I did end up taking half of it home.

After dinner, we took a walk through the rest of Main Street, and then wondered off to the Green Valley Ranch Casino to try our luck once more. Should have called it a night!

Jury Duty

2005-09-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

I've been in jury duty all last week. I found it truely very interesting. This is the first time I have actually been chosen. In the past, I have always been excused due to my background as a correctional officer. What defense attorney would want a correctional officer in their jury? I guess they think we feel they are all guilty! Well duh....if they are in prison, they HAVE been found guilty! Not fair!

In the past, I was honestly glad that I was never chosen. I didn't want to spend my days in a boring court room, getting paid $15 bucks a day for my time. However, now that I am older, I wanted to fulfill my duty as an American and serve.

The charges in this case were 1)attempted murder and 2)robbery with the use of a deadly weapon.

This wasn't a slam-dunk, no "if the glove doesn't fit, you must aquit." There was one eye witness. Most of the jury, myself included think she was involved in the plan, but was offered a deal in exchange for her testimony. I guess as a prosecutor, this is an everyday practice for the greater good. We need to get these violent punks off the street.

The defendant was an eighteen year old kid (seventeen at the time of the crime)who decided to cut the throat of a cab driver, stab him 19 times and then steal his personal property. This could actually fall into the category of the worlds dumbest criminals. They stole the cabby's lunch box full of Pepsi. The driver had all of his cash in his pocket...smart move. Either these kids were either very dumb or extremely thirsty.

Now, this kid is going to be spending a tremendous amount of time in state prison and most likely become Buba's bitch. Then you have his parents, who appeared to be honest, hard-working, law abiding citizens who have lost their son and will be judged by their neighbors as failed parents. I happen to be one of them. Why was this seventeen year old kid allowed to run the streets all night? I think if you raise your kids right, be hard on them when you have to be, but show them love at all times, they will grow to be compassionate, responsible adults.

Now days, you have kids that will take the life of a human being as if they were smashing an aunt on the sidewalk. No remorse, no emotion.

This was quite an experience and I am glad that I was able to participate.

Bakersfield.....blah!!

2005-09-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am spending Labor Day weekend in California. The only good thing about being in Bakersfield is seeing my family. I have been trying to get them to move to the desert for years now, but "it's toooo hot". Maybe someday they will see the light. Anyway, I will be home on Monday night, back to Sin City, the land I love. Maybe I will try to visit the local poker room here in town, (shhhhh) But not tonight! Tonight I am going to a Passion Party. Know what that is??? If not, ask a female friend! I am going to buy me some toys!! LOL
See ya on Monday, Have a safe Labor Day!

Jennifer Harman

2005-08-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been able to post in a few days. I have been working a lot of hours at my 9-5 job. Finally, my company has been generous enough to give me a day off. I will take this time to focus on my blog, Although I wish I could make this blog my full time priority, My mortgage company and Nevada power didn't understand. For some reason, they want money, what gives? Anyway, during my day off, I’ve decided to write about a very special woman of poker. Jennifer Harman.

Jennifer is not only being called the “best woman poker player”, but some also consider her one of the “best poker players” period! She is an internationally known high stakes player as well as two World Series of Poker bracelets holder.

In 2000, she won the Deuce to Seven Draw event (Her first bracelet)

and in 2002, she won the $5k Limit Hold’em event.(Her second)

She took a year off to have a kidney transplant but she has come back strong. Since returning to the circuit, She finished 4th at the WPT Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, 5th in the inaugural Professional Poker Tour event, and 2nd in the WSOP Circuit Championship Event at the Rio.

Her media appearances include making the cover of USA Today, ESPN, ABC Primetime, Ellen Degeneres, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, MPR Radio, and others. And Sports Illustrated has described her as the most feared poker player in the world.

When Jennifer is not playing poker, she authored the chapter on Limit Hold’m in the newly released sequel to Bible of Poker, Supersystem 2 by Doyle Brunson. Super System 2 gathers together the greatest players, theorists, and world champions and expands upon the original with more games, new authors, and most importantly, more professional secrets from the best in the business.

Jennifer playing with Phil Gordon in Aruba.
Phil Gordon is an expert poker analyst and co-host for Celebrity Poker Showdown. Phil is a world-class poker player, adventure traveler, sports fan, and accomplished businessman.

Recently married, Jennifer with husband Marco at he second WSOP in LH

In her leisure time, Jennifer likes to stay home playing with her dogs Stoli and Guaglione.

Jennifer is an amazing woman of great integrity, that has overcome a horrible disease that kills many americans everyday. She is inspiring and I greatly admire her. I will be following her career and report her successes.

Jennifer I wish you the best of luck!.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Harman

Chris Moneymaker and Jeff Gordon

2005-08-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

My life is complete!

If this is heaven, take me now

My two favorite sports have merged; NASCAR and Poker.

I know there are a lot of “Gordon Haters” out there (yeah…as a devoted Jeff Gordon fan, I have heard it all) but you’ve got to admit, there is no better cause than the welfare of our American children, right?

Jeff Gordon the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has been a poker enthusiast for some time now and has played in several celebrity tournaments. But now, he has gone above and beyond.

NASCAR fans and poker enthusiast will be able to support The Jeff Gordon Foundation through a series of “No Limit Hold’em” tournaments. The tournaments will be held both online as well as events at several Harrah’s Casinos. Beginning this fall and running through March 2006, with the championship scheduled for the week of the annual Nextel race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The championship will be held at Caesars Palace – one of Harrah’s Properties.

Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion is going “all-in” and says “As a fan of motorsports and a supporter of Jeff Gordon, I fully expect that this event can make significant contributions to children in need of his Foundation support.”

With 50 to 60 million race fans that play poker each month, The Jeff Gordon Foundation hopes to raise up to $1,000,000.

I think this will be one of the greatest charity events of the year.

For more information, visit The Jeff Gordon Foundation

What! Work swing shift?

2005-08-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I had plans on going out and visiting a few poker rooms that are near my house, but my boss threw a stick in the wheel and informed me that I would be working swing shift this week. So, in light of this I started doing a little reading on my breaks and read some pretty interesting articles.

Get this....... The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has purchased four, year old German Shepherd guard dogs.The K-9 unit trained at Adam Davis Canine in Naples, Fla., will be able to detect explosives that could come into the property via luggage, postal deliveries and cargo trucks, the property says.

-Las Vegas Sun-

What's next, Rottweilers at Disneyland? I am all for security but give me a break, I would be freaking out every time I saw one of those dogs taking a sniff. Howard Stern’s going to have fun with this one on his next visit.

Now, for all you guys (and some of you gals) out there, get ready for what Richard Langlois calls “Hooters on steroids”. Langlois is the executive vice president of the property formerly known as the Hotel San Remo. The $130 million renovation will turn the property into the Hooters Casino Hotel. The Atlanta based Restaurant operator, purchased the Hotel San Remo on Tropicana just east of the strip last year and announced it would rebrand the 711-room hotel and casino with the privately held chain’s theme. Now, if any of you are still interested in going to play poker, the casino will have 32 table games.
-LVRJ-

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. -Robert Green Ingersoll-

Obsessed

2005-08-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

I've been a novelist writer for some time but I have never published anything. What I find so cool about blogging is that people find my stupid mistakes funny. Things that I usually erase because they sound so absurd to me, ends up getting a chuckle.

That's why I decided to start this blog. Well, that's one reason. The truth of the matter is that I am obsessed with getting this blogging job on a poker web site.

You see, I saw this ad about a month ago on craigslist. The ad caught my interest but I never applied for the job. One of the requirements was to send a link to your previous blog as a samle of your work. Well, I've never had a blog. I'm an old fashion kinda gal that keeps all of my writings in a journal.

I kept going back to this web site day after day after day......

The more I read, the more I wanted to write for these readers. Ideas for stories, just started flowing. I knew I had to do what it takes to make this happen.

I decided to send an email to the CEO, letting him know that I was the perfect person to report the hottest poker news from Vegas . Now keep in mind that by this time, he had already hired a blogger. I read the new blogger's post every day and although he is a good writer, (not trying to toot my own horn, but...) I know I can do a better job.

I have yet to hear back from him, but I'm sure he has just been extremely busy and has not had a chance to reply. So, in the mean time I figured that I would just show him why I am the best.

I have a plan. I am going to go out on my own, do what I do best and he will not be able to turn me down.

That being said, my next post will be my experiences of the poker life in Las Vegas.

Poker Quotes

2005-08-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

"I believe in poker the way I believe in the American dream. Poker is good for you. It enriches the soul, sharpens the intellect, heals the spirit and - when played well, nourishes the wallet." - Lou Krieger