Pete started out the Go Jumbo trip on Tuesday with a trip to the Neon Sign Museum Another great Go Jumbo trip. And not just any Go Jumbo but the 50th anniversary of the Hole. Amazing really. Our lives have gone through marriages, divorces, children, grandchildren, moving to the four corners of the country, with one common thread, an enduring friendship.
Our annual trips cement this long held friendship through retelling and embellishing old stories, new stories that will grow over time and recently, lengthening updates on our medical conditions.
It’s a tradition I cherish and look forward to continuing for a long, long time.
And the length and membership of the get together continues to grow. What used to start on Friday has now started to begin much earlier in the week. Pete started out on Tuesday going to the Pinball Hall of Fame and Neon Sign Museum. He was joined by Woz on Wednesday at the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
Thursday is when the full gang got together with as you guessed it – football in the SuperBook.
We also welcomed a new member to the trip – Chris an old friend of mine from back in Atlanta. He easily fit in giving back banter as easily as we gave it to him. It was like he’s been with us throughout the 50 years.
Our annual trips cement this long held friendship through retelling and embellishing old stories, new stories that will grow over time and recently, lengthening updates on our medical conditions.
It’s a tradition I cherish and look forward to continuing for a long, long time.
And the length and membership of the get together continues to grow. What used to start on Friday has now started to begin much earlier in the week. Pete started out on Tuesday going to the Pinball Hall of Fame and Neon Sign Museum. He was joined by Woz on Wednesday at the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
Thursday is when the full gang got together with as you guessed it – football in the SuperBook.
We also welcomed a new member to the trip – Chris an old friend of mine from back in Atlanta. He easily fit in giving back banter as easily as we gave it to him. It was like he’s been with us throughout the 50 years.
Not sure how he did it but Woz got his name on the Sphere screen We weren’t the only ones in the Westgate. We ran into folks going to a line dancing convention, a US amateur billiards tournament, even a wedding planner convention. My favorite was a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps. Plenty of Dress Blues in the house.
Friday is our annual trip. This year it was to go to the Sphere to see the Wizard of Oz movie. Absolutely fantastic. The screen is 18 times larger than the largest IMAX theatre screen. A screen that wraps around the audience. Seeing a seven story tornado come right at you, with a wind hitting you and your chair shaking was amazing. That scene alone was worth the price of admission. Same with the larger than life Munchkin land, flying monkeys coming at you from every angle and the massive, intimidating Great and Powerful Oz. Fantastic sensory overload.
On the way out, not sure how Woz arranged it but the screen showed #WOZatSphere.
Afterwards Pete decided it was best to walk over to the cigar bar at the Paris resort. With the set up for the F1 the following weekend already in progress we had to make several detours to get there. These old bodies were straining at the end. We wisely took the monorail back afterwards.
I decided to try craps on Friday but the table was full so went over the the Bubble Craps machine. Big mistake. That thing just ate my money. At one point I said to Chris who was watching “You watch, this thing is going to hot seven for the third time in a row.=” Which of course it did.
Friday is our annual trip. This year it was to go to the Sphere to see the Wizard of Oz movie. Absolutely fantastic. The screen is 18 times larger than the largest IMAX theatre screen. A screen that wraps around the audience. Seeing a seven story tornado come right at you, with a wind hitting you and your chair shaking was amazing. That scene alone was worth the price of admission. Same with the larger than life Munchkin land, flying monkeys coming at you from every angle and the massive, intimidating Great and Powerful Oz. Fantastic sensory overload.
On the way out, not sure how Woz arranged it but the screen showed #WOZatSphere.
Afterwards Pete decided it was best to walk over to the cigar bar at the Paris resort. With the set up for the F1 the following weekend already in progress we had to make several detours to get there. These old bodies were straining at the end. We wisely took the monorail back afterwards.
I decided to try craps on Friday but the table was full so went over the the Bubble Craps machine. Big mistake. That thing just ate my money. At one point I said to Chris who was watching “You watch, this thing is going to hot seven for the third time in a row.=” Which of course it did.
Who knew, Iceland of all places, has a Big Lebowski bar I swear, it knew what number what eat my money and then roll it. As I was getting ready to call defeat, the piece of crap machine broke down. Normally, a guy in a dark blue shirt would come down, unlock the machine, reset the dice and we would be off and running (or losing as it were). But this time, I got the legendry blue screen of death. A guy in a light blue shirt eventually arrived from who knows where, kept fiddling with the machine and finally gave up. He handed me my last $20 remaining and left shaking his head I must have overstuffed it with so much of my money that it choked and up and died.
FFDY! Saturday is always the highlight of the weekend. I was down way too early to grab our traditional table in the back. Woz joined shortly thereafter followed by Pat, Pete and Chris. Joe and Fuss came for the first time in years. The table was overflowing as was the banter.
When I mentioned my best bets Joe got wide eyed and said “Pitt? Are you sure? Don’t you remember getting Wanstated the last time Pitt played Notre Dame?” I had forgotten but quickly took that game off my bet list. Good thing, the bet would have been crushed. Thanks Joe.
Pat regaled us with stories of Iceland including a Big Lebowski bar. I sent the pictures to Bruce who has since added Iceland to his bucket list.
During lulls in the games we tested each other’s sports trivia knowledge. Joe would text his boys the questions too. Go Jumbo is becoming a family affair.
As for the games themselves, Woz won one Mega Bet but went 2-8 on his other to breakeven. I went 4-4 on my big bets to about break even too. My track record continues at dead even 21-21.
They day was capped off with Johnny E joining us for some late night conversation. A great day with great friends.
Sunday started out the same way with me going down far too early. I thought with a 6:30 am local kickoff for the NFL game in Madrid there would be more people in the place but it was virtually empty. I sat down at our normal table wondering when they will name it after the Hole given how many times we have gathered there.
FFDY! Saturday is always the highlight of the weekend. I was down way too early to grab our traditional table in the back. Woz joined shortly thereafter followed by Pat, Pete and Chris. Joe and Fuss came for the first time in years. The table was overflowing as was the banter.
When I mentioned my best bets Joe got wide eyed and said “Pitt? Are you sure? Don’t you remember getting Wanstated the last time Pitt played Notre Dame?” I had forgotten but quickly took that game off my bet list. Good thing, the bet would have been crushed. Thanks Joe.
Pat regaled us with stories of Iceland including a Big Lebowski bar. I sent the pictures to Bruce who has since added Iceland to his bucket list.
During lulls in the games we tested each other’s sports trivia knowledge. Joe would text his boys the questions too. Go Jumbo is becoming a family affair.
As for the games themselves, Woz won one Mega Bet but went 2-8 on his other to breakeven. I went 4-4 on my big bets to about break even too. My track record continues at dead even 21-21.
They day was capped off with Johnny E joining us for some late night conversation. A great day with great friends.
Sunday started out the same way with me going down far too early. I thought with a 6:30 am local kickoff for the NFL game in Madrid there would be more people in the place but it was virtually empty. I sat down at our normal table wondering when they will name it after the Hole given how many times we have gathered there.
Apparently, humping the goal post is a penalty We were more somber on Sunday. Along with our ever growing prescription list, we also can’t recover from a day long drinking extravaganza. The recovery period, which used to be half a day now takes at least two.
The wagering was more tempered too. It started with our annual Go Jumbo parlay. Everyone contributes their best pick and $5 to the parlay with one caveat. If you are the only one to enter a losing pick into the parlay you owe everyone else their money back. Pete has the only 10:30 game and it was a blow out loss. He was seating as our afternoon games started winning. Finally Pat’s team lost too saving Pete.
Pat wasn’t worried. He was making money as usual at the Poker spin slots.
Using our findings last year that the way to make money on NHL bets is to take just underdogs. So he made a 4 team underdog parlay bet paying 36-1. The first three games were all winners. He made an executive decision. Hedge his bet by taking the reverse on the last game. He was up no matter what. Worked out perfectly as the last team lost but he still won.
I had a slight loss on the NFL bets but made most of it back on some prop bets and college basketball.
The night ended with us watching the Lions unable to move the ball against the Eagles. Goff always struggles in outdoor games with windy conditions. Not sure why the Lions continued to try and throw the ball. The ending may have been controversial, but the Eagles were going to win anyways.
After the game we held an Executive Committee Meeting. The first order of business was establishing the 2026 GO Jumbo date as Nov 14th 2026. Basically the same as this year the weekend between the SEMA convention and F1 race. There was also some discussion as to having a mid year meeting for the first round of March Madness but that was tabled.
Next was the appointment of Woz a member of the Executive Committee (probationary). Some discussion was had about adding Tom as well but you have to be present to win Tom.
Finally by unanimous consent we made Chris an honorary Hole Member, also probationary, one year of not rooting for Michigan, As a BuckNut I doubt this will be a problem.
With the Executive Committee responsibilities completed we started our goodbyes and committing to be there next year.
On Monday I checked out and on the way out walked by that piece of bubble crap machine. I gave it a swift kick. Never again. Well maybe next year.
Another great Go Jumbo trip!
The wagering was more tempered too. It started with our annual Go Jumbo parlay. Everyone contributes their best pick and $5 to the parlay with one caveat. If you are the only one to enter a losing pick into the parlay you owe everyone else their money back. Pete has the only 10:30 game and it was a blow out loss. He was seating as our afternoon games started winning. Finally Pat’s team lost too saving Pete.
Pat wasn’t worried. He was making money as usual at the Poker spin slots.
Using our findings last year that the way to make money on NHL bets is to take just underdogs. So he made a 4 team underdog parlay bet paying 36-1. The first three games were all winners. He made an executive decision. Hedge his bet by taking the reverse on the last game. He was up no matter what. Worked out perfectly as the last team lost but he still won.
I had a slight loss on the NFL bets but made most of it back on some prop bets and college basketball.
The night ended with us watching the Lions unable to move the ball against the Eagles. Goff always struggles in outdoor games with windy conditions. Not sure why the Lions continued to try and throw the ball. The ending may have been controversial, but the Eagles were going to win anyways.
After the game we held an Executive Committee Meeting. The first order of business was establishing the 2026 GO Jumbo date as Nov 14th 2026. Basically the same as this year the weekend between the SEMA convention and F1 race. There was also some discussion as to having a mid year meeting for the first round of March Madness but that was tabled.
Next was the appointment of Woz a member of the Executive Committee (probationary). Some discussion was had about adding Tom as well but you have to be present to win Tom.
Finally by unanimous consent we made Chris an honorary Hole Member, also probationary, one year of not rooting for Michigan, As a BuckNut I doubt this will be a problem.
With the Executive Committee responsibilities completed we started our goodbyes and committing to be there next year.
On Monday I checked out and on the way out walked by that piece of bubble crap machine. I gave it a swift kick. Never again. Well maybe next year.
Another great Go Jumbo trip!
