Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:01:45 -0700 From: Eileen Milligan Subject: [BARGE] Trip report 2010 First, big thank's to everyone, organizers of both official and unofficial events and participants, who make BARGE so enjoyable. After working all Sunday night and finishing packing, we got on the road around 10 AM. Our car is full, not just with our stuff, but BARGE badges, and other stuff that Patrick creates plus the BARGE trophies for Peter, some of Rodney's photography equipment, and the sake for the sushi outing. After driving the first curvy stretch over 152 to I-5, I take a nap. When I awake we're in an alien world - few plants, lots of sand and rocks. Patrick tells me it was Tehachapi. We arrive and check into 4 Queens. Our room does not smell like smoke or even "old hotel" like the Plaza. I spend 15 minutes riding up and down the elevator looking for an ice machine that works. It's on the 18th floor - only had to check 4 machines to find it. Binion's staff is happy to have the badges to hand out, even providing space for the BAAG. They check our points from last time we were here. I have $.47. We play some poker. There are already BARGErs playing 3-6 and 4-8 dealers choice. Some locals walk in to play, remember the group from last year. After the light show, Binions and 4Queens hand out free $10 slot play coupons (one per visit). You can play them in specially marked slot and video poker machines. I borrow Patrick's VP strategy cards and cash out more than $10 each. Ding! I only played a couple of tournaments, so played live games instead. Usually cashed out ahead. Last time I joined the craps crawl, I followed Jester's bets and ended up ahead. This time I ran into QB's run and crashed and burned. Thank you Chic for the pointer to restaurants.com. We picked up a $25 gift certificate for Rosemary's Restaurant for $3. (The food was, as usual, fabulous.) I had fun at karaoke. (Rodney, please, Please, PLEASE burn the tape.) After, a group went downstairs and played 1-1 Sing-la-ha. You had to sing a song to drag the pot. Thought my sore throat the next day was from too much singing and laughing. Nope. Curse you virus. I enjoyed Barry's talk. In the early morning after, one of the dealers joined the last reindeer game table, drank a couple of lite beers, and played the drunk, just like Barry described. I think Rich Bremmer closed the last reindeer game table down around 8 AM the next morning. We took our Binion's cards to the 4 Queen's players club before checking out Monday morning. We received comps for 4 nights stay this year plus 1 for the special offer. :) Hope to see all of you next year, Eileen