A week from Saturday, I will be attending opening weekend at Petco Park, watching the Padres play Pittsburg from the comfort of a skybox behind home plate, as an invited guest of Valley View Casino. I'm looking forward to it, I've yet to go to a game at the new stadium, and this will be a fun way to check it out, get some nice free food, see fireworks afterwards. It's a bit odd to have to drive up to Escondido to go to a Padres game (they're driving me and my guest to the game from there), but should be a good time. It's hard to find a reason to drive all the way up there to gamble, even though they have good video poker (the tables stink), but with the good freebies they send out, they definately have something going for them (a fantastic buffet, as well). Just wish they were closer, and had better blackjack (double-deck with some decent rules).

On a related note, Harrah's sent out my offers for the month of April, and they weren't bad, either. $30 free slot play every week, two two-night stays in the hotel (Sun-Thurs, of course), and some free food. When I called to book the Padres game, my host at Valley View signed me up for "comedy night" later on in the month (sounds painful, but I'm curious to see where they put on a show in their tiny casino--are they closing the buffet for the night?). So I thought I'd see if I could get a room that night at Harrah's. No, they told me, they don't have any free rooms available that night, but they would be happy to sell me a room for the night for $129. That just bugs me so much. If you think you can get more money for a room that night then you can generate from my gambling, just tell me the hotel is booked solid. Don't try to sell me a room. Because I'm not paying. All you've done is just pissed me off, so that when I go up to Valley View, I will probably go to Harrah's, play my free $30, and leave. I hate Harrah's. As I'm sure I've said here before, I'm dreading the day their merger plans with Caesar go through.