Getting into Sports Betting...online?

My friend was recently able to convince me to try a sports betting app now that gambling is legal in Arizona.  I signed up on Fanduel and he and I both got $100 in bonus credit.  I honestly don't bet much on sports, other than Fantasy Sports where you put down say $100 at the beginning of the year and just see how things pan out on a weekly basis.  Or putting down $100 on a team to win the title and seeing how far they can go (like I did with the Chiefs in 2020).

With the Fanduel app, I mostly stick to $10 single-game parlays, but I only if I am able to watch the game in its entirety.  I also like to pick the prop bets for individual player performances tied to my fantasy teams.  So if they have a good game, not only does it win me some money, but it helps my fantasy team as well. :D

Here's a screenshot of my first parlay I won:

As you can tell, I have both Trae and Capela on my fantasy basketball team.  They both performed well and I won $50 as a result.  Honestly, I only hit these parlays maybe 20% of the time, so I've been breaking even so far.  I don't really expect to win big on these bets, but it does add another level of excitement to the game.  (Or frustration when you lose a bet by an assist or a point.)  I'm also learning a lot about betting in the process, regarding lines and lingo commonly used in these propositions.

Anyway, so ends 2021, another Covid filled year.  Hang in there everyone, it has to get better eventually, right?

Review: Bam Kazam in Scottsdale, AZ

A fun new "Escape Park" just opened up in Scottsdale this year, called Bam Kazam.  I stumbled across the place looking up escape rooms for when I was in Scottsdale this past weekend and was intrigued to hear about a place that offered an extended experience.  I don't usually write reviews about places I visit like this, but I had so much fun that I had to share and let my friends know so that they can check it out!

I describe Bam Kazam as an "Escape Park", but they call it a "Human Arcade".  Basically there are various themed games and each game takes up a section of the building.  Each game has 3 levels inside, where each level is basically a room.  You have to clear the first room to get to the next and so forth to finish a game.  If you fail in any room, you have to exit fully and start over at the beginning, just like a retro video game.  You can attempt each game as many times as you like until you are successful in completing all 6 games (a total of 18 rooms).

Each level can be completed in about 1-3 minutes and if you don't figure out the solution within 3-5 minutes, you will fail, so you also have to be quick.  The games have a mixture of puzzles that require both physical activity and mental acuity.  It's really unlike anything I've ever tried and I'd say they're way more fun than your conventional escape room.

My group consisted of 4 people and we booked 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon.  (Groups are a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 6 people and there are clearly reasons why it's these numbers).  There are other groups there, so you might have to wait a short while for a room to open up, but we were always busy going back and forth between games.  The games were also really challenging and in fact, we only fully solved 1 game out of the 6 and in two games we didn't even get past the first level...

For $35 a person, you get 2 hours to explore and try the games.  I honestly don't think 2 hours was enough time to do everything successfully, but my guess is that they made it difficult so that you will come back to try again.

The place has grown steadily in just 4 months.  They had 4 games in August, 6 games as of October, and they are building 2 more games that should be ready by the end of the year.  That's 24 unique and challenging rooms!

I can't recommend this place enough for anyone living in or visiting Scottsdale, it's sooo much fun!  I can't wait to go back and I'll probably book 4 hours so I can try and solve everything the next time.  It's family friendly too, although I imagine if the kids are less than the age of 12, they might struggle or even one kid found the haunted game way too scary.  You also might struggle to make it through the physical rooms if you are very out of shape, overly obese, or don't have people in your group who can climb awkward structures well.  Some rooms are clearly not intended for senior citizens either.

Check out their website at: https://bamkazam.com and enjoy a new and unique experience!

Playstation 5!

So I finally got my hands on a PlayStation 5, but how I did it was not very common (at least I don't think it was).  If you haven't been tracking how difficult it is to get a Playstation 5, it's been really challenging with the pandemic and bots buying them when they go in stock only to resell them for more than they MSRP.

I had to tried to use some websites to track when PS5 would go on sale, but I had no luck or perhaps the notification process wasn't working for me.  Regardless the reason, I basically gave up on trying to get one myself.

Enter my cousin! So recently, one of my cousins found my Twitch channel and started watching me.  He wanted to get into streaming himself, so he was super excited to know someone that was already into it and he says that my channel has been an inspiration for him.  Anyway, I told him that I haven't been able to get a PS5, so he offered to get one for me!  He had gotten one for himself and said he'd continue to use his tracking methods to try and get one for me.  And since he's my cousin and someone I could trust, I just gave him my home address and he was eventually able to order one for me from Walmart!

The PS5 is a massive system, so much larger than the PS4 or PS3.  The first game I loaded up was Final Fantasy VII Remake, since you get a free copy of the PS5 version if you own the PS4 version.  PS5 is also backwards compatible, but just with PS4 games.  I plan on playing FF7 Remake Intergrade and then venture into the Dark Souls and Demon Souls games.  Excited to own one of these highly in-demand consoles and thanks to my cousin for making it happen!

If you want to follow my cousin on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/itsalwayssunnyc

Commenting on this past NBA Playoffs

I didn't really know what to blog about this month, so let's blog about sports!

The 2020-21 NBA season was an interesting one, coming out of a global pandemic where arenas around the country had 0 fans.  Players missed a lot of games due to being in health and safety protocols.  And the season was even cut short from 82 games down to 72 games.

Nonetheless, I still had fun watching this past season, spending most of my time watching Philadelphia 76ers games and as usual, I still made my yearly bet for them to win the NBA championship, putting down $75 on 14:1 that would have paid $1050.

But of course, we know what happened in the playoffs in the East, with the Sixers getting eliminated in a 7-game series with the Hawks.  One of my favorite Sixers players (Ben Simmons) was the major scapegoat for the series, many blaming him for his extremely poor free throw shooting and offensive tentativeness.  I have to agree, because the games are still won by scoring points, something that Simmons just didn't do in that series when we all know he's capable of averaging 15 a game throughout the year.

With the Sixers out, that basically destroyed my interest in the Eastern Conference Finals.  However, the Phoenix Suns had managed to blow through the entire Western Conference, easily knocking out formidable teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers.  Granted, each of those teams had a major player out (Davis, Murray, Kawhi), they still were able to take care of the matchups they played in.

I've lived in Arizona my entire life, but the Suns haven't really been good since the Barkley years.  I still remember watching games on channel 45 growing up as a kid.  My dad loved watching the suns and one of his quotes he'd always tell me is "When the Suns run, the Suns win!"  Also, I remember Al McCoy with his "Shazam! Another 3-pointer! Suns donate $50 to charity!"  I even had a chance to meet Kevin Johnson as a kid and I was so nervous that when I went up to him, I looked away and couldn't make eye contact.

That was almost 30 years ago, and the Suns had finally made it back to the NBA finals.  I even won my NBA pool because I was the only one who picked them to do it, netting a modest $200 for my confidence in them.  But after Tuesday, you all know how the finals went.  The Suns, after taking a 2-0 lead, fell up way short by losing the next 4 games, a disappointing turn to the series.

Kudos to the Milwaukee Bucks, who in their own right had not won a championship in 50 years.  Giannis is very deserving of a title.  Maybe the Suns get another chance down the road, but hey, that's just the way sports go sometimes.  Now I patiently wait until next year, to see what players end up where...

Best Bowling Season Ever!

The 2020-21 bowling season was an interesting one. The IBM league didn't have enough players returning to comprise a full league, so as a result we had to go join the house league.  At the beginning of the year, I was on the fence about playing, but I was invited by one of the IBM teams to be their 4th bowler in this new league, so I decided to give it a shot.  Something last year just clicked for me.  I don't know if it was the new competition, the fact that I was bowling on a team with other good bowlers, or the adjustment in my approach (stepping up closer to the lane and starting more boards to the left), but I ended up bowling my best season ever!  I finished with a 206 average, which is simply incredibly considering in my 15+ years of bowling, I had never finished above a 193 average and had just come off a 189 season.

In case you're wondering what I look like when I bowl, I uploaded a bowling video to my YouTube, which I live streamed on Twitch: 

It was a fun season, but also a long one at 30 weeks.  And while we came up short of winning the first half, I'm very proud of the improvement I've had with bowling.  I'm gonna enjoy the offseason and hope to put together another 200+ season next year, since I've now set the bar for high expectations. :)

Hope everyone is doing well!  On a side note, I finally got my 2nd vaccination (Pfizer) as well and I felt alright afterwards.  The only side effect being a sore throat for about a week.  See ya next month!

First Vaccination Down

Short blog entry today because I don't have a whole lot to report from the last month.  The highlight I guess is me getting the first vaccination for COVID-19.  After trying numerous websites to try and get an appointment booked without any success, my coworker pointed me to https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/, where I was able to find plenty of openings at the University of Arizona.

The U of A has a really good setup in my opinion.  I apparently registered for a drive-thru vaccination, so I was in my car the whole time.  They blocked off a part of the grassy mall area (usually where football game tailgates are held) and I drove up to get my shot and was in-and-out in about 30 minutes.  [mmm...In-n-Out...]  You have to wait 15 minutes after getting the shot just to make sure that you don't show any allergic reactions or immediate side effects.  After getting my first shot, I felt fine and all I had was a sore arm for a few days.

My next appointment is scheduled for May 7, but I hear the second shot could make you feel sick/weak.  I prepared for that consequence by scheduling it for a Friday afternoon should I need all weekend to recuperate.

Here's to trying to get back to a normal life!  Bowling league ended and I finished the season with a 206, my highest score ever and since I averaged 193 many years ago.  We're back and playing pool at the hall without masks and gyms don't even require masks upon entry.  And I've got my first out-of-state travel planned for next month when I'll be flying out to D.C. over Memorial Day Weekend.

Stay safe out there everyone!  We're almost FREEEE! :D

2nd Home Refinance

The Details:

Home mortgage interest rates were really low in 2021 and I hadn't refinanced since 2012 when I went down from a 5.875% 30-year-fixed to a 4.625% 30-year-fixed.  When I saw rates as low as they were this year, I decided to inquire if it would be worth it for me in order to pay off my house quicker.

With my 1st refinance with Wells Fargo, my monthly payments on a $235,000 home was about $1600/mo at 4.625%.  On top of that, I would add $50 of principle every month for the past 9 years to shorten the life of the loan.  All of my credit card purchase rewards with my Wells Fargo Credit Card would go towards the principle as well, which ranged anywhere from $25-75 a month.

Before I inquired about a 2nd refinance, I was on track to pay off my house in 11 years, so by 2032.  After talking to Wells Fargo about my options, I decided to refinance with a 15-year-fixed at 2.25% for the remaining $127,000 on my loan.  However, my plan was not to pay the minimum monthly payment of $1070/mo, but add $600 of principle to basically maintain the same exact payments as I have right now, which is comfortable for me.  In essence, I would basically be able to pay off the house in 8 years now (by 2029) without having to do anything but sign some papers.

The Annoying Experience:

I went with Wells Fargo because my original loan was with them, my first refinance as well, and I have a credit card too and to this point I have enjoyed their services and rewards.  However, this time around, I had an annoying experience with their Home Mortgage team.

At first, the mortgage consultant, the mortgage processor, and the mortgage closer were all really helpful in helping my pick a refinance that meets my goals.  They would check up with me daily to make sure everything was going smoothly.  The process finally got to a point where I was ready to close and all I had to do was sign papers in front of a notary.

In 2021, branches were still limited in bank personnel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, they still scheduled me to meet with a notary at one of their local branches close to my home on a Monday afternoon.  I went to the Wells Fargo at 2pm and waited 30 minutes for the notary to show up and no one appeared.  I contacted my closer, who then told me that it was actually scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

I returned to the same branch on Wednesday and waited another 30 minutes, with no appearance by a notary.  I tried to contact the closer and was unable to reach them.  They didn't respond to my voicemails or my emails.

The next day, I called Wells Fargo to file a complaint.  At this point, I basically felt like the mortgage closer no longer cared about me since the deal was already been done.  All that extra daily attention is gone and I'm stuck wondering what's going on.  After I filed a complaint with Wells Fargo, the closer immediately called me and tried to get something scheduled for Friday, with the notary coming to my house this time for my convenience.  I finally saw a confirmation for an appointment and was able to sign the papers and finalize my loan.

As a result of my poor experience, I was gifted a $300 value item off their Wells Fargo Home Mortgage gift program to compensate for the bad service.  I don't know if it really makes it right, but I redeemed a Ninja combination air-fryer and pressure cooker with the gift.  I was planning on getting one anyway and that was really the only gift on their website I thought was worth getting.

In conclusion, my experience with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage started out well, but once the deal was ready to close, things went south badly.  I eventually got it done and the compensated me, but based on this experience, I'm less likely to use them again should I ever need another home mortgage loan.

Anyway....

At least I finally got my home refinanced how I want it and I was able to take advantage of low interest rates!

Ann's Bachelorette Party in Flagstaff/Sedona; APA 8-Ball City Tournament

Ann's Bachelorette Party in Flagstaff/Sedona (Feb 19-21)

This past weekend, I attended my friend Ann's bachelorette party in Flagstaff and Sedona.  I had only attended bachelor parties up to this point, so this was a first for me.  However, I do agree with her philosophy: why not just invite all your friends regardless of their gender?

On Friday night, we arrived in Flagstaff and stayed at a large AirBnB.  Living in Arizona, I don't see snow very often, so it was nice to see some when we arrived!  The first night was pretty chill because we got in fairly late, so we just played some Playstation 5...something I can never complain about. :D

On Saturday, we drove out to Sedona to hike the "Devil's Bridge Trail".  It was about a 4-mile hike and the top featured a stone bridge where many people got their picture taken.  I don't ever do much hiking, in fact I probably did more hiking on Saturday than I have in the past decade. :P 

After the hike, we stayed in Sedona for food and drinks and finally made our way back to Flagstaff.  The girls did bachelorette stuff that night while I grilled some steaks and cooked mashed potatoes and asparagus for everyone.  It was nice to see Ann this weekend and hang out with a bunch of friends in Flagstaff and Sedona, a couple cities I've never really experienced visiting before.  Ann gets married in early March!

 

APA 8-Ball City Tournament (Feb 19-21 & Feb 26-27)

The same weekend I went to Ann's party was the same weekend we had the cities tournament for 8-ball.  Fortunately, the team could still play without me and they played well enough to advance to the next rounds!  The tournament usually spans a weekend, but this year it's occupying two weekends since less people can be at the pool hall at a given time (COVID social distancing and health + safety protocols).

We are currently waiting to play our next match on Friday night and it's win or go home from that point forward.  The best my team has ever made it is to the semifinals, so here's hoping we can pass that this year!  Would be so cool to qualify for Nationals!

Everything's Broken

In case you didn't realize, there was no post in December, which is the first of the many things to be broken. I usually try to post once a month, but sometimes there's just nothing to blog about. The theme for me this month has been things breaking on me...and ultimately needing repairing or replacing.

One of my 70" TV's (the top one, which is the older Sharp TV) finally had its backlight burn out.  There is no longer a picture, but the audio still works.  This TV has had so many problems from the day it arrived and it finally reached its end of life after about 7 years.  I've ordered a new 70" LG that should be arriving next week, but it will still be a pain to remove the old mounted TV and put up a new one.

Another item that recently broke on me was the ceiling fan in my master bedroom.  One night, I yanked the chain that adjusts the fan speed and it just snapped off.  The fan is permanently stuck spinning, but at least it's in a favorable setting which is speed 1 out of 3 (so the lowest spin).  However, there are times I definitely want to boost that up or turn it off completely without turning off the light. :(

The final item that is breaking down on me is my car.  It's got over 180K miles, so I know things will continue to break down around this mileage, but the next things to go were the tire pressure sensors and the climate control & radio.  The tire pressure sensors I could replace but for $90 a piece, which doesn't seem worth it.  And the climate control & radio could likely cost me up to 2 grand. :( Fortunately, the AC/heater still works, it's just permanently set to 74 degrees.  The music also works, but it's hard to tune into stations because I can't see what frequency the radio is on, so most of the time I just listen to mp3 CDs.

I also think the termites are back.  One made it into the house, I could see it through the wall.  So that's just another thing, but it feels like there's always something around the house that needs fixing. :(

Anyway, I hope all is well with you guys and thanks for stopping by today!