reflections

[kewljason]

Next week will mark 7 years for me. 5 plus back east, playing mostly AC and 16 months here in Vegas. I certainly haven't gotten rich over that time, as a matter the first few years were pretty slim, even by a McDonald's workers standards...:laugh:. The last few better, making what I consider a reasonable living. I still love what I do (most days). I like making my own schedule, calling my own shots and answering to no one. And I truly love living in Vegas! The excitement, the party atmosphere, a new throng of people arriving every few days, so very excited to be here. And the weather is great 10 months a year. Don't get me wrong, it's not all rosy. There are trying times. Frustrating, nerve racking times when the cards and/or gods don't behave for days turning into weeks turning into months at a time. (I haven't experienced years yet and hope not too) But all in all, I wouldn't trade my experience so far for anything.

I like to think my blackjack play is still improving and I know I am still learning. Most of that is due to you, the members of this board and I thank you for that. I know I have had episodes with some where discussions turned ugly, but I like to think maybe I learned something from them too. So for all of you that have shared thoughts, experiences and knowledge, both on the public board and in private, I sincerely thank you, as well as Ken and the mods for making it possible. Good cards and Karma to all.

 

[psyduck]

Jason,

You are a humble guy. I have to give you a lot of credit for making a living playing this game. I know it would drive me nuts if I depended solely on this game. Wish you continued success.

 

[prankster]

Hey Kewl-
Living in Vegas sounds good to me! I've heard the area between the Strip and downtown is considered "no mans' land"-like you don't want to go there especially at night. If a person were thinking of moving to LV what areas would you say are recommended and not so recommended? Thanks!:joker:

 

[kewljason]

Hey Kewl-
Living in Vegas sounds good to me! I've heard the area between the Strip and downtown is considered "no mans' land"-like you don't want to go there especially at night. If a person were thinking of moving to LV what areas would you say are recommended and not so recommended? Thanks!:joker:

I live very close to the strip (a couple blocks) and just love it. I regret that I didn't buy right on the strip. Of course many people don't feel this way and don't want to be that close. Most of the area west of the strip is decent, going out towards Summerlin which is like the suburbs. Henderson area similar. East of the strip is tricky. East of strip and north of Flamingo is bad. The area doesn't look terrible by daylight, but it is. Lots of drugs, gangs and crime. East of the strip, Flamingo south isn't so bad. The college (UNLV) sits in that area and used to be considered a bad area, but it really has been cleaned up. The buildings (apartments, homes and stores) are a little older but it fairly safe. There is also newer construction, nice areas far south LVB area down by south point that is nice as well as safe. Downtown area is no good, you don't want to live there. Then there is North Las Vegas (northern part of Las Vegas) and the city of North Las Vegas further to the north, both of which I am not familiar with, but have bad reputations.

 

[forwhat77]

Kewl,
How's it going man? I know well for ya!
Prankster, if you have a car you can pretty much get to anywhere within 20 minutes out here. Personally, I like the southwest area of Vegas. There are literally, thousands of vacant homes that have been built within the last 5 years that go from anywhere around 1000-1500 for a nice single-family home.
If you are single condos, which there are alot of also, can go anywhere from 700-1000.
Of course there are plenty of other areas, but it is pretty much the nicest area for the cheapest amount out here right now..

 

[forwhat77]

Kewl,
Is there anything that you wish you did differently in your career so far? If so, what?
Also, given your spread do you get backed off often?

 

[HockeXpert]

KJ:

Congrats and kudos on your fortitude to stick it out through good and bad. I for one could never do this ft and rely on it as income even if I had a huge br. With the crap and paranoia that's out there today, I'm surprised that anyone can still make enough money to survive using just cc'ing. I tip my hat to you KJ and the other pros.

Now that you've experienced AC and LV for some time, weather and living conditions aside, if you were to consider just the playing conditions alone, which do you prefer, AC or LV? I've never been to AC but I've read all the descriptions and I think I know that you prefer LV and that's a major factor why you now live there.

 

[21forme]

KJ,
Congrats on your success. It's been interesting watching you "grow up" on the forum. Personally, I hate LV - what it stands for, what it does to people, the lousy games, etc. I stay away due to weather 4 months of the year. An oven is dry heat, too. That doesn't mean I want to hang out inside one

One thing you may want to consider is taking some classes at UNLV, being so close. You never know when opportunties may change for earning a living as you're currently doing.

 

[kewljason]

KJ:

Congrats and kudos on your fortitude to stick it out through good and bad. I for one could never do this ft and rely on it as income even if I had a huge br. With the crap and paranoia that's out there today, I'm surprised that anyone can still make enough money to survive using just cc'ing. I tip my hat to you KJ and the other pros.

Now that you've experienced AC and LV for some time, weather and living conditions aside, if you were to consider just the playing conditions alone, which do you prefer, AC or LV? I've never been to AC but I've read all the descriptions and I think I know that you prefer LV and that's a major factor why you now live there.

Thanx Hockexpert. I often hear comments similar to this about how bad the conditions are today. I am not old enough to have played many many years and experienced much better times, so the conditions today are all I really know and have played all my career. I can understand that those that experienced better times are more frustrated by the state of affairs today.

The big advantage Vegas has over AC is the quantity of games. With so many more opportunities available, you can still find some decent playable games if you look around and move around. In AC you are limited to playing just a couple stores. Becomes difficult to play these same couple stores with the same personell day after day after day.

Kewl,
Is there anything that you wish you did differently in your career so far? If so, what?
Also, given your spread do you get backed off often?

I don't like to look back at the past with regrets. No points. But I definitely would have come west earlier.

I don't get backed off often. It is a very rare event for me. I play limits and spread that seem tolerated, (at least in short spurts) and I play a style (hit and run) that evades heat for the most part.

 

[MeWin$]

I live very close to the strip (a couple blocks) and just love it. I regret that I didn't buy right on the strip.

U say u regret not buying right on the strip?
What condo complexes are right on the strip?

Good luck and enjoy the great Vegas spring

 

[Automatic Monkey]

...One thing you may want to consider is taking some classes at UNLV, being so close. You never know when opportunties may change for earning a living as you're currently doing.

:1st:

Great idea! Maybe some math and computer courses to start, as they directly relate to AP and coming with it will be the ability to directly attack opportunities you find in LV. Solve the math for a crazy promotion, write a sim for a new game, etc.

And of course any education increases your enjoyment of life.

 

[blackjack avenger]

A Different Path

:1st:

Great idea! Maybe some math and computer courses to start, as they directly relate to AP and coming with it will be the ability to directly attack opportunities you find in LV. Solve the math for a crazy promotion, write a sim for a new game, etc.

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And of course any education increases your enjoyment of life.

Are you talking Coed's :cat: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz now we are talking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:joker::whip:
good cards

 

[ohbehave]

Next week will mark 7 years for me. 5 plus back east, playing mostly AC and 16 months here in Vegas. I certainly haven't gotten rich over that time, as a matter the first few years were pretty slim, even by a McDonald's workers standards...:laugh:. The last few better, making what I consider a reasonable living. I still love what I do (most days). I like making my own schedule, calling my own shots and answering to no one. And I truly love living in Vegas! The excitement, the party atmosphere, a new throng of people arriving every few days, so very excited to be here. And the weather is great 10 months a year. Don't get me wrong, it's not all rosy. There are trying times. Frustrating, nerve racking times when the cards and/or gods don't behave for days turning into weeks turning into months at a time. (I haven't experienced years yet and hope not too) But all in all, I wouldn't trade my experience so far for anything.

I like to think my blackjack play is still improving and I know I am still learning. Most of that is due to you, the members of this board and I thank you for that. I know I have had episodes with some where discussions turned ugly, but I like to think maybe I learned something from them too. So for all of you that have shared thoughts, experiences and knowledge, both on the public board and in private, I sincerely thank you, as well as Ken and the mods for making it possible. Good cards and Karma to all.

KJ
Congratz on the path that you've taken your BJ career. Its been awhile since we last spoke. When I returned to the forum a few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the direction you have taken since I was last here.
I hope you continue to prosper and enjoy your career. One question, where do you see yourself in another 5 years?

 

[Billy C1]

Good post

Thanks for your OP Jason. I always enjoy your "progress reports". A few months ago, you mentioned the possibility of playing some AP/VP.
Am I right in guessing you found less opportunity in that direction?

BillyC1

 

[TheMadHatter]

:1st:


And of course any education increases your enjoyment of life.

I have to lol at this. The pharmaceutical industry, drug cartels, and alcoholic beverage producers are making a killing off of the so-called "highly educated workforce".

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f7564m22066l7621/

And P.S. Yes, I did go to college.

 

[FLASH1296]

My feelings re: Las Vegas closely mirror those expressed by 21forme

L.V. is a repugnant cesspool re: what it represents culturally, politically and philosophically.

 

[blackchipjim]

Reflections off cesspools

Hey Kewl you are living the dream most of us will never see come true. The city has alot to offer for certain professions and in the same breath the area is limited to the service industry. I enjoy your prespective on life and games you play. Las vegas is a good place to visit even on a regular basis but it takes a certain type to live there. I regress on the last statement with there are places outside the city that are more, for a lack of a better word, livable and normal. Regardless keep us updated on your endeavors it will be a good read if you ever write a book.

 

[nottooshabby]

KJ . . . congratulations on your past success and longevity . . . and even more props for being able to navigate A.C. almost exclusively for your first several years. I've enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to more :cool2:

 

[aslan]

I have to lol at this. The pharmaceutical industry, drug cartels, and alcoholic beverage producers are making a killing off of the so-called "highly educated workforce".

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f7564m22066l7621/

And P.S. Yes, I did go to college.

You get out of education what you put into it, same as everything else in life.

 

[aslan]

My feelings re: Las Vegas closely mirror those expressed by 21forme

L.V. is a repugnant cesspool re: what it represents culturally, politically and philosophically.

But then, you don't live there. Like everywhere else, there are many fine people in LV, and on any large holiday weekend, there may be a million visitors in addition to the million and a half residents.

I have several good friends in LV. Last year I brought a younger Brother out with me, and he hated it at first, until I took him to my friend's house for a casual dinner party. After that, seeing real people, not just the insides of casinos, he loved Vegas.

You just can't judge a book by its cover. My first few years of visits all I could see were the people who came to LV to get rich-- people with schemes and scams and cons. I met mob people, party animals, people with wrecked lives from gambling.

But as time went on, I also met hard working people, people who never ventured to the strip (which is true of most Vegas residents), businessmen, lawyers, architects, office workers, trades people, union workers, and of course, casino employees. There is a real city underneath all the glitter, with real people living normal everyday lives.

Yes, it is a challenging place to raise children-- obviously. LV has more than it's share of temptations for young people-- drugs, gambling, party lifestyle, alcohol, same as everywhere else, but more concentrated.

LV also has a large retirement community, which has a stabilizing effect on the city.

Great restaurants abound, and there are tons of things to do, such as hiking, skiing, boating (at Lake Meade), horseback riding, not to mention the greatest collection of shows and extravaganzas anywhere. And if you're a night person, there are not too many places in the USA where you can find coffee shops and restaurants open all night long in numerous locations.

Now is an excellent time to buy a home in Las Vegas. You are guaranteed to find housing that is 60% to 70% discounted from three years ago. What's there not to like about that?

And like AM pointed out, you have UNLV. Take some courses, better yourself, inprove your game skills, or train yourself for a supplemental source of income.

All in all, Las Vegas is not the worst place you could wind up, and it has a lot to offer if you know where to look and if you reserve judgment until you get to know the place.

PS--If you do live here, it might be wise to find a summer home elsewhere-- the mountains of Arizona, northern Nevada, or even somewhere far away, like the east coast or Washington/Oregon/Idaho, etc., because the summers are brutal as Flash and 21forme have said. People largely just stay indoors. Blackjack anyone?