T-Minus 30 Days - The Plan 8/'18.

One month from...NOW I will be in the Vegas.

All is progressing as it should. Deep into the save regime for this trip. Haven't been out the last couple weeks and have 5 more hibernation weekends to endure. It's a bitch not being able to go out on my Saturdays but I've certainly gotten used to it now after 24 trips and there's a sort of resigned acceptance at this point. I know the hardship will pay off with the better part of a week in Happyland.

Leaving the car in the long-term parking at the airport this time. Don't want to deal with the shuttle bullshit this trip. Assuming on-time flight, getting in right around check-in time on Sunday, so it's straight to MGM, drop off the bag, freshen up and out into the heat for night one.

I'll be slightly reigned in on money that first night so cheap eats and drinks probably. Also will make sense this time not to go balls-deep with the vodka on the first night. Will be good to work my way into this trip; instead of steak and Belvedere on might one, maybe go nachos and Coors Light. No going straight to the Dorsey and blowing $200 on cocktails. Could be an AmeriCAN/Rock House kinda night. See where the night takes me.

Monday, zero plans whatsoever. Love having a couple days on every trip on which I can let the wind take me wherever. Since I'm at the MGM I can use the monorail to get upstrip for $5 a trip, rather than the $20 cab rides I do normally. I think it closes at a certain time but at least in the daytime on the first three days I can utilize it. Sure there'll be some Linq, V/P and Cosmo on this day. Oh so many choices on a no plans day in Vegas.

Tuesday is a "plan" day, and I'm making it my "cool off" day on the trip, something new I'm trying so that I don't hit the wall so much on the last day like I have on some of the more recent trips. Probably will sleep in, take it slow working into the day with beer and not so many shots. Going to try to eat plenty and hydrate, something I forget to do a lot in Vegas, and in 100+ degree heat, not so great. Maybe even catch a nap late afternoon if I'm feeling it. Possible massage day somewhere. This will likely be the Nine Fine day for a big lunch, and will want to use my $50 Freeplay at MGM this day if I haven't already.

After possible nap, off to find some food somewhere, maybe with one of the Restaurant.com certs I have, then for the later evening I'm over to Mirage to see Beatles Love for the 3rd time. Free ticket and it's an amazing show so I'm all over it. After that I'm freeballing it the rest of the night, I've been a good boy all day so the gloves will come off and the shots will start to flow. Will no doubt be looking for some snackage-type food after the show (something in the Linq maybe?) but aside from that I am cowboy for the rest of the night.

Wednesday morning, shake off the cobwebs and get checked out of MGM, then maybe loaf a bit and play a little VP somewhere before heading over to Palms to get checked in over there. Hopefully be able to do so around noon or 1p so I can get a quick nap if needed before heading down to check out the heavily renovated Palms. Couple bars in there I want to check out and assuming the money is in a good place I will hit Scotch 80 Prime which is supposed to be quite the steakhouse; I have a reservation there for 5:30p. After seeing the sights and of and eating at the Palms, it's a shuttle or cab down to the strip to see another show, Opium at the Cosmo. Got a literally free (minus service fee) ticket, so figured why the hell not. Then it's just do the do for the rest of the night, probably stumbling back to the Palms late as that will be the last stop.

Thursday, stretch run, last day in town. Always try to leave this day free of plans for whatever may come along. Play it by ear in the morning based on how I feel, not going to be in any real hurry to get up unless I got a good night's the night before. Unlikely to be able to nap as I'll be far away from my bed at Palms while on the strip. Zero plan for this day, getting a cab or shuttle to the strip, then going to wander, eat well and drink badly. May make my way down south for the Skyfall thing if I haven't already done so on the trip, not going to be dogmatic about it but it is always cool. Going to try to eat and stay hydrated but it's the last night, not going to leave anything on the field. Blow It Out.

Friday, fly out, check out and head more or less straight to the airport, maybe get something to eat, and out of Dodge hopefully on time around 2:30p. If all goes well I'm back in my hobbit hole, exhausted, by 5p. VERY likely to take the Saturday after off (which I'm SAYING I'm going to work, but we'll see).

Not much gambling worked into this plan as you may have noticed. I HAVE decided not to keep concentrating my play at Cosmo anymore, I love the place but they are not interested in my level of play whatsoever. Since I'm staying at MGM resorts a lot again it's time to start playing there and maximize whatever I can with my sad level of play now. I doubt I'll get back to the healthy offers of 2013-2014 again but it's worth a try. They are out of my doghouse.

If I do gamble at all it will likely be video poker. I'm just getting nothing out of regular slots anymore, win or enjoyment-wise, so I'm taking up the old codger game and am actually doing a little training on how to use perfect play strategy to hopefully come out on top. Still might chase a royal here and there but going to grind out some positive numbers if possible. Will at least be able to drink more or less for free while doing it, so why not.

So that's it. Locked and loaded. Two and a half completely free days, sandwiching a couple light plan days with great shows. Sounds like a winner, T-minus one month lets GET IT ON.