American Digest Volume 03

I'm currently sitting in my bedroom back at my apartment in Sydney, after almost a month over the USA I'm pleased to slow things down a bit and have some home comforts that are omitted whilst living out of hotels for so long. First thing I noticed was just how much colder it is here in Sydney compared to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, although it is Winter here in the southern hemisphere so it's to be expected really. I can only imagine how cold and miserable it'll be back in the UK right now. To pick up where I left ADV02 I left Las Vegas on Sunday 6th May in the morning, flying into Los Angeles and checked into Hollywod Roosevelt Hotel for three nights. I actually ended up staying eight nights waiting on my passport, so towards the end I was just paying for each night in the morning once I had checked the mail and I knew my passport hadn't arrived.

Once I arrived I didn't really do much to be honest, I had lunch at Palms Thai Restaurant and then just settled in my room and watched Scary Movie 5. The following day I wanted to check out the Commerce Casino and ideally they had there 2013 California State Poker Championship running so I got involved in the $200 evening event they had running. Keeping my amazing run of good fortune going I beat off 72 runners to close it out for $4,750. I was delighted with how I played and to introduce myself to Los Angeles. Much of the same on Tuesday and Wednesday as I was back over playing both the afternoon and evening events on both days, no luck in all four events and I was stuck around $900.

By Thursday I was worn out of poker so thought I would enjoy the entertainment on offer here in Los Angeles. I went to the place where imagination was the destination, for young and old, big and small it was the happiest place on earth! I build memories to last a lifetime and discovered the wonder of this magical, fantastical world. I entered one of the lands that comprise Disneyland Park, stories came to life around me, and I immersed myself in tales from some of my favorite Disney films.

The following day I had lunch and wrote up ADV01 over at Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard, I'm sure everybody is familiar with the Hard Rock Cafe brand and the menu they have on offer. Then I just enjoyed the nice afternoon walking around Hollywood and enjoying the sights particularly The Hollywood Sign, it really is a wonderful city full of beautiful houses and buildings. Then I headed back to Commerce to play the $500 PLO Championship Event, where I made a deep run but bust in 10th for $1,500.

Much of the same on Saturday as I had a relaxing morning chilling in my hotel room but making a move and heading back to Commerce Casino to play the $300 NLH side event in the afternoon, again a deep run in a three figure field but falling short of the big money as I bust in 13th for $600 getting 88 beat vs. 66 after getting it in on a x78 flop for 160,000 chip pot. I then ordered myself a banquet for one and enjoyed supper at Wood Dragon Restaurant before turning in for the evening. The following morning I was glued to my laptop as my very good friend and NPF owner Dave Collins had made the final table of the £500 GUKPT Stockton main event, unfortunately he fell just short finishing in second which by all accounts is still a great achievement but I know the guy well and he would have been so disappointed not to close. Still awesome effort and display, congratulations and commiserations mate.

After sweating out Dave I decided to get out and push the tourist button hard hiring a BMW 3 Series Convertible for the day and with my GPS on hand I headed off to Orange County and Laguna Beach. It was a great day as I worked on my tan in the 28°C by the beach and cruised along the seafront with the top down. I got full use of this as I drove around for the best part of five hours before heading to Commerce to play some cash until the early hours of Monday morning. After leaving the Commerce and arriving back at my hotel I was delighted to find my passport had arrived and I could make preparations to head back to Sydney, I rang Monette and asked to be listed for the Monday evening flight.

I paid for late check-out and relaxed in the room until around 18:00, then after dropping the hire car off I headed to Los Angeles International Airport around 20:00 for my 22:30 flight. As I've come to appreciate and maybe take for granted, I enjoyed the ultimate in comfort and dining flying in BusinessElite for the fourteen hour ultra long-haul non-stop flight from Los Angeles > Sydney. I'll close things up now as I'm heading off to 24/7 Sports Bar at The Star to watch West Bromwich Albion vs. Man Utd in Sir Alex Ferguson's emotional last game in charge. #thankyousiralex

It's Dan Trett's world and everybody else is just living in it.