SLOTOLOGY: ����SLOT STRATEGY WORKS...most times!!

FEELING ENLIGHTENED

Something I have learned in my old age, you really cannot expect social or emotional support from people you have known for over 3 years. 

What I have given in support has NEVER been reciprocated. 

In the last few months, I have been attending many funerals lately and the one thing the ceremonies/moments all have in common is that funerals are not about the deceased. 

As I have watched human beings over the last few decades, it has become extremely clear why Donald Trump is our president. Most people act in self-centered, non-emotional and money-oriented ways as Trump demonstrates. 

Six months ago, I stopped writing my blog to interact with people again through social media channels on Youtube.  I also, mainly, wanted to give people a second chance, a third chance (I accepted social media into my life late. I started my first Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google and Instagram pages in December 2016. After 1 year, I was extremely saddened by what was being written, deemed acceptable and what was being ignored. So, I shut them down or walked away.) or even a fourth chance to show me a sense of caring, a sense of humanity or even any action-oriented kindness. 

Yet, these last 6 months have shown me what exactly what I saw the first time I shutdown all of my social media. The only interests of human beings, especially people I have known for over 3 years seems to be the following: 1. themselves; 2. celebrities and rich people; 3. Donald Trump and 4. sexual relationships. 

Lastly, what I have learned about strangers--social media "friends and followers"--is the following: 1. they interact to grow their numbers of friends and followers; 2. words and thumbs up do not represent action and 3. watching sports, make-up and gambling videos hold greater value over the negative direction in which this country and its people are headed. 

Therefore, I have come to the decision to spend more time writing my blog to relieve life's social and emotional stresses and less time trying to connect to people who will not ever attend my funeral nor care about death.    I AM FEELING ENLIGHTENED.

THANK YOU READERS!

I am grateful to all of you for supporting my blog and YOUTUBE channels.  As of 10-1-19, I decided to also post my Youtube channel videos here.  My 3 channels are as follows:

1.  CASINOLOGY (My own Horse Race handicapping picks offered on Wednesdays and Fridays.  When I travel to casinos and races, I show a video of my low-roller slot play.)

2.  SLOTOLOGY (On Saturdays, this channel features my low-roller slot play.)

3.  The Race and Casino Club Channel (On Mondays, this channel features snippets of my travel to casinos and race tracks plus a little of my low-roller slot play.)

Thank you for supporting my 3 Youtube channels. Please remember to do the following:

• SUBSCRIBE (It's free!  Just click the red Subscribe Button on the Youtube page next to my channel name.)
• LIKE the videos  (It's easy!  Just click the blue "thumbs up" symbol.)
• COMMENT on the videos (Much appreciated.  The "comment" section is located under the actual video on Youtube.)
• Click the NOTIFICATION BELL so you know when I post a new video. (

Thanks again and have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!!

SOUTH POINT CASINO AND HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS: A GREAT PLACE FOR GAMBLERS TO VACATION!

SOUTH POINT CASINO AND HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS:  
A GREAT PLACE FOR GAMBLERS TO VACATION! 

Few places cause me to exhale and smile as much as the South Point Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Why?  It's a splendid feeling of full relaxation.  

Is it grand?  No.  Is it exclusive?  No.  Is it in a trendy location? No, it is not any of those things.  

So why do I find myself so excited about going to South Point Casino year after year?

I suppose after all these years as a gambler, I'm old enough and experienced enough to know what truly makes me happy and comfortable.  Sure, I love the finery of life.  And yes, I enjoy all the glitz and glam on the main strip in Las Vegas.  But at this age, I just want to vacation in a place where I can have fun playing bingo; trying an array of slot machines; and drinking my favorite beverages while consuming my preferred foods all in a clean, low-key and convenient environment at an affordable price.   

I have no need for the crowded and loud atmosphere of the Las Vegas Strip anymore.  Like most of the young hipsters on the Strip nowadays, I too, started gambling at the tender age of 21.  In fact, I couldn't wait until I turned 21 so I could go to Vegas!

Granting my wish, my mother and her sister coordinated my first gambling trip.  Las Vegas was called "Sin City" back then, but for me, it was an adult playground.  Once I turned 21--a legal adult--there was no stopping me.  I wanted to know first-hand and see everything I'd heard about Vegas!  I wanted to see the shows, eat the foods and try my luck.  Believe me, I did!!

For two decades, my game of choice was roulette.  I had an obsessive liking to that table game.  Until after my 50th birthday did I finally move on to playing penny slots almost exclusively.  Initially, my interest was in playing nickel slots, then quarter slots.  For a few decades, I was even focused on playing dollar and five-dollar slots.  

During those years of high-roller sessions and taking junkets to various cities in the nation just to visit and play in casinos like Foxwoods and Mohegun Sun casinos in Connecticut or The Atlantis casino in the Bahamas, I had seen and been lavishly treated to the best of times in fancy high-limit rooms with my mother and her high-roller friends in tow.  There was little I had not done in a casino, been offered or seen.  

I had lived the exhilirating casino life and experience for over 20 years.  Yet, it was the mundane game of bingo that finally tamed me.

Every now and then you have to "check" yourself as a gambler.  You can easily slip off the slope if you are not careful and aware.  Getting caught up in the high life on high-rolling on slot machines is a fast and furious way to lose sight of the real goal.  The goal of making money and relaxing.  The loud group yelling and celebrating at table games is contagious and intoxicating...even mesmerizing.  Although, I'm not sure that it is profitable for the average Joe.

Playing slow and easy bingo is a better way to gamble without losing your focus and cool. 

At almost 40 years in the gambling hobby, I am most content with staying at a casino hotel that offers me not only slot machines, but the inexpensive game of bingo.  For me, South Point Casino and Hotel, on the other end of the Las Vegas strip near residences and grocery stores, offers me the best vacation for the buck.

I usually rent a car in Las Vegas.  South Point valet is johnny-on-the-spot ready!  I don't recall ever having to wait long for parking my car or picking it up.  The rooms are simply decorated but clean and comfortable.  However, the walk from the registration area to the room elevator area is the longest and worst on the planet.  As a person who suffers with arthritis, that LONG walk kills my knees every time.

Once I'm settled in the room, my adventure begins immediately.  My usual daily schedule includes the following routine:

The day starts with espresso at Seattle's Best coffee near the main entrance.

Running upstairs afterward to grab my free donut at the 11 a.m. bingo session is a sight to behold.  Sadly, the coffee place is near the registration area in the front of the casino while bingo is located all the way towards the back of the casino by the room elevators.  Actually, the walk is even longer because you then have to take the escalator upstairs to the bingo parlor.  I always make it on time...for the free donuts!

Bingo sessions last 1 hour, so it's easy to take the escalator back down to the floor and play a quick slot machine game or two between bingo sessions.  

After the 1 p.m. bingo session (ending at 2 p.m.), I tend to walk across the casino floor to the left and take the elevator upstairs to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants--Baja Miquel's.

After lunch I tend to make a few bets on the horse races.  Yes, I'm an avid thorough-breed race horse fan.  I love horse racing (see my blog on the Kentucky Derby)!!  I lived in Louisville, Kentucky for 4 years.  I have been to Churchill Downs countless times.  Having the convenience of a sports book betting and viewing area at South Point Casino is another draw for me.  You can even watch the sports event of the day on larger viewing screens in the adjacent area.  And if you don't want a Mexican lunch, you can settle for other foods near the sports book, such as deli salads and sandwiches, a GOOD hot dog, Japanese fusion food or Steak and Shake hamburgers. 

By the time I have watched the ponies and screamed for number "3" to win, I am usually ready to sit at a slot machine to slow the action back down.  Knowing the 7 p.m. bingo session is the most popular session, I usually head upstairs to the Bingo parlor to get a good seat.  The 7 p.m. is packed with locals because it allows them to come after work.  The prize structure also includes three $1,000 coveralls so even the tourists are there.  Watching until the crowd thins a bit downstairs, I stay for the 9 p.m. bingo session as well.   

On vacation, I tend to eat a late dinner.  Around 10 p.m., I'm starved for a meal.  There are two high end restaurants and a 24-hour cafe.  My money is reserved for gambling so the cafe is fine for me.  Depending on the day, I would have eaten lunch at the buffet and filled my belly pretty well to last the day.  A late meal of something lite is my usual fare.

It's around 11:00 p.m. now.  Time to do what I came to do.  I try to play two solid hours of slots until almost 1 a.m.  I've found that the money falls more freely during those hours.  It's the best fun!  

Of course, if I'm running low on moola, I can also take advantage of their 24-hour bowling alley or their inexpensive movie theater.

I'm rarely sleepy around 1 a.m. from the excitement.  Good ole' bingo has a 1 a.m. session to make me drowsy.  I love South Point Casino!  It has everything to offer me a fantastic vacation.  

Yet, I don't give all the credit to South Point.  After all, I'm in Las Vegas.

My routine changes a bit each day.  When I'm in Las Vegas for at least 3 days or more (my longest vacation was for 9 days there), I have to do the following:

1.  SHOP--There are three malls near the main strip so with a car I can easily check-out each one.  

2.  EAT--The Wynn casino has a buffet that is out of this world fantastic!!  They have also revamped their sports book so it's the largest in Las Vegas.  

Additionally, I lived in southern California for a few years and there's a chain of broiled chicken places called "El Pollo Loco" that I have to visit while in town.

3.  PLAY--There are several properties owned by Caesar's in Las Vegas.  To build up my main player's card, which is under Total Rewards (Caesar's player's card), I stop in to gamble at a few of their casinos.

Lastly, the skyline of Las Vegas changes yearly.  While in town I usually visit new casinos or casinos that I didn't visit on my last trips.  I always find thrills in Las Vegas casinos.

So now that you know why I love South Point Casino and Hotel plus why I love Las Vegas, I should also reveal a secret.  When traveling to Las Vegas make sure you take the late night flights home.  I take the 11:30 p.m. flights.  I have the entire day in town plus I sleep soundly on the plane ride home.  When I arrive home, it's morning in my city.  Breakfast at Waffle House let's me unwind and recall all the fun of my vacation.  Once I'm at the house, my real life is always waiting for me.  

Viva Las Vegas!!!

GONE TOO SOON. Good-bye ANTHONY BOURDAIN.

GONE TOO SOON.  GOOD-BYE ANTHONY BOURDAIN.

Please re-read my December 2017 tribute to him.

Women's History Month: VANESSA BRANTLEY'S NEW ATTITUDE.

Women's History Month: VANESSA BRANTLEY'S NEW ATTITUDE.

As it is Women’s History Month and this is my blog and I am a woman, an African-American woman, it seems only natural for me to document my history.  In reference to my “firsts” as an African-American woman, I would have to list the following accomplishments (Of course, this information is offered to the best of my knowledge.):

1.  I was the first African-American woman accepted in the Master of Science degree program in Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors from The University of Georgia.  I took a break after getting my thesis proposal approved.  Later, in 1996, I became the second African-American woman to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors.

2.  In 1999, I became the first African-American woman to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Textiles and Apparel under the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University.

3.  In 1999, I was the first African-American woman at Florida State University to graduate as a Southern Regional Education Board [SREB] Doctoral Scholar.  I was also the second graduate and woman to represent Florida in the SREB Doctoral Program. 

4.  In 1999, I became the first African-American assistant professor hired in the Family and Consumer Sciences department at Southwest Texas State University [currently Texas State University-San Marcos]. 

*Please note, I could have other “firsts” unbeknownst to me.

If you really want to get to know me, then you should read all of my blog entries.  I reveal so much about myself in the writings.  Think about it.  If I don’t document my existence, who will?

FACT 1--You will find that I like to travel to well-known and little known places.  I like to meet interesting people and I LOVE to eat scrumptious-looking foods.  Oh, I also LOVE grand and fine clothing.

FACT 2—For the past 30 years, I have primarily drenched myself in BLACK clothing.  My weight kept increasing after I stopped exercising.  For me, wearing mainly black clothing looked chic and smart.  It also gave me confidence to feel sexier.  Sure, I could have just exercised, but for some reason designers always included great-looking black clothes in their collections.  I didn’t have a personal connection to any other hue.  Occasionally, I would wear cheetah or leopard prints, but nothing felt or looked as “right” as black apparel.

FACT 3—Vanessa Brantley has a new attitude!  Recently I turned 59 years old.  Accepting this is the last year to be called “middle-age,” I’m mentally and visually preparing for senior-hood.  I have a new outlook on life.  I am older and wiser.  I DO NOT want to be associated with youth.

What’s so great about being young?

I like knowing what I now know.  I know what I like.  I now know whom I like.  I now know what I want.  I now know and accept that I don’t have forever to get things done.

I now know the freedom of “not making decisions or not having a goal.”   

I’m not going to get richer.  I’m not going to find Prince Charming.  I’m not going to become a celebrity.  I’m not going to stress the rest of my life away.  I’m just not.

What I am going to do is stop wearing black all the time.  Stop being so serious about life.  Stop caring about what other folks need and want from me.  Stop hoping for a tomorrow of dreams that will probably not come, happen or manifest.

Yep, what I AM GOING TO DO is wear anything I want to wear, anytime and anyplace.  I am going to date any man for any reason I choose.  I might even find time to make a new friend…or not.  I might get yet another degree.  Who knows? 

I am going to live for me.  That’s it.  No goal in mind.  Just living out my days remaining on Earth.

See ya!

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com, March 29, 2018, “Women's History Month: Vanessa Brantley’s New Attitude,” Volume 13, Blog 1b [vol. 13, 1a-1c].

Women's History Month: POWERFUL FEMALE STUDENT LEADERS OF SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

Happy Women's History Month

POWERFUL FEMALE STUDENT LEADERS OF 

SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

THANK YOU SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL! YOU ENCOURAGED LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPED OUR SENSE OF CIVIC PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY.

I became a freedom fighter at the age of 7, learning from young Black Panthers in my neighborhood and joining youth groups in church. From there, I was determined never to let the works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and all the active fighters in the Civil Rights Movement be forgotten or stopped. Even at Peyton Forest Elementary School, I knew how important our communities and neighbors were to the local movement.

Like Audrey Phillips Wilcox recently shared, the body of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. laid rest in public display at Spelman College for us to never forget what he and thousands of others stood for during our childhoods. Audrey, please consider posting your photos in this group. We need to be reminded of who we were and are as a student body of leaders, parents and grandparents. We come from COURAGE! We come from THE FIGHT...THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT!

We come from SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL.

In Mr Johnson's homeroom class in 1972, I had to make a decision about who I would become at Southwest. Mr. Johnson supported and encouraged my sense of civic duty and responsibility. It was students--especially FEMALES-- like Evelynn Newman, Sheila Quarterman, Jennifer Freeman, Evangeline Brown Evangeline Colbert, Valya Souder, Valya S. Lee and countless others who gave me peer encouragement to STAND FOR FREEDOM and serve my class and the student body. We were not afraid to speak up as women, Blacks or people during those days.

WE ALL MADE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER BY BEING STRONG.

So I'm saying to Southwest High School, we are the ones who must RISE again to correct the ills in this nation, this state, and this CITY. And yes, we MUST CORRECT the ills of this millennial generation. We cannot allow this generation--fully distracted by gangster culture; fast money; the degradation of women and the disrespect of our historical fight--to ignore the decades long battles of the Civil Rights Movement. For this millennial generation has emerged as a "Strip Club Addicted Court of 80% Poverty Dwellers." They are not US. Further, I don't believe they reside on the same mountaintop referenced in our valorous Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dream.

I'm back, Atlanta. Thank you Jennifer for sending us posts on how to get involved on the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board. I will become active. I will also rejoin the Atlanta Democratic Party. Stacey Abrams will have my support and Keisha Lance Bottoms will have my watchful eye (and actions). Additionally, Southwest Atlanta must regain its position on the world stage. My focus will be on growing and supporting Black entrepreneurship. I will look to Maynard BMaynard Scarborough and Gina Rogers for direction on Education and Community Services.

Also, I will rejoin the Atlanta NAACP. They need our help and input. In other words, now that I have joined Facebook and learned in 2017 where my energies should go in 2018, I am resolving to return to the level and sense of civic pride and responsibility I had when I was at Southwest High School. I pledge once again my civic and social involvement to the people and city that made a path for me.

It's one thing to complain about the state of my Atlanta community. It's another to actively try to improve it. I was active in civic and social fights in other cities where I resided. Now it's time to once again join the fight for Atlanta.

My original 2018 mantra: Stand up for freedom. Sit at the table for equality. Take a knee against oppression.

I hope to see my fellow WOLVES in the new Civil Rights Movement.

I ain't scared. I'm back.
Vanessa Brantley, Ph.D.

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com, March 24, 2018, “Women's History Month: Powerful Female Student Leaders of Southwest High School,” Volume 13, Blog 1a [vol. 13, 1a-1c].