Part 3 of Our Winter Stay in Nevada

Hello again. Our last episode concluded on Wednesday, November 14^th, while we were still in our official “home” of Pahrump, Nevada. Thursday was a fairly quiet day and we stayed home most of the day so Jackie could continue her recovery from her knee surgery. She is still in a lot of pain, even two weeks after the surgery and is getting frustrated. We did go out briefly in the late afternoon to get pedicures.

Friday, November 16^th, we went out after lunch so Jackie could go to PT, then we ran a few errands afterwards. We went back to the coach and did some chores, then after dinner I went down to the clubhouse for karaoke. Jackie didn't feel like going down there and having to sit for three hours, so she stayed home. After I got back from karaoke we watched a little TV and went to bed. Saturday we again left after lunch, stopped and picked up our mail, which today was the last package of several that I had coming from Amazon over the last two days. I ordered a couple of new speakers for my music system. The ones I have still work, but over the years they have become really ugly and are large and hard to store. They were my original speakers from when I ordered all the sound system stuff in 2001 and have served their purpose. The new speakers are more compact, but have comparable performance to the old ones. They are also in more durable cabinets so they won't get so beat up over time. After we got our mail we went to the big park in Pahrump for the annual Pahrump Pow Wow, which is always the weekend before Thanksgiving. They pull in a lot of Indian tribal members from California and Arizona, and there are even a couple of tribal areas in Nevada. We walked around the vendors for a while and watched some of the drummers and dancers. Some of the costumes were outstanding. After visiting the Pow Wow we went back to the coach and spent the rest of the day relaxing.

Sunday, November 18^th, I went out in the morning and got a paper and we had a nice relaxing Sunday morning. About 2:00 we drove over to the Escapee's Park for a party with our friends, many of whom either are staying, or used to stay, at Wine Ridge RV Park. Dick and Millie Duffin were doing the party, Millie actually, and she used to do them every couple weeks when they were staying at Wine Ridge. This year their name came up at the Escapee's, so they now have a lot there. This is the same park where we just recently put our name on the list for a lot. There were a couple dozen people there, most of whom we know fairly well. We had a nice snack pot luck, played some games and talked for a couple of hours. After the party was over we went back to the coach, had a light dinner and watched TV for the rest of the evening.

Monday, November 19^th, my brother Russ, who lives in North Las Vegas, came up to spend the day with us. He is a Floor Manager for the craps pit at the Golden Nugget in downtown Vegas and has Sundays and Mondays off. We spent some time talking and catching up. The last time we spent any real time with him was back in February, although we did get to say hi to him at work a couple of times during the year when we found ourselves in Las Vegas. We also stay in touch on social media of course. About 12:30 we went to the Chinese buffet and had a nice lunch, then went out to do a few geocaches. We had gotten Russ interested in geocaching about six or seven years ago and he has stuck with it and still enjoys caching. One of our “caching kids” who hung in there with the sport. There is a new caching team in Pahrump and they are starting to put out caches in the urban area, so we actually have something to go look for again. We have long ago found all the urban caches in Pahrump. About 3:00 we dropped Jackie off for her PT, then Russ and I continued to drive around, talk and check on a couple of our own caches that had been reported as having problems. We fixed the caches, stopped at Walmart for a bit, then picked Jackie up and drove back to the coach. We sat and talked until about 6:30 when Russ decided he needed to head for home. We spent the rest of the night with the TV then went to bed.

Tuesday, November 20^th, we had a stay at home and do chores day. Never left the park, but both of us got several chores finished and off our To Do lists. Wednesday we left the coach about 12:30 and drove to the Mountain Falls Country Club grill for lunch. We had eaten here once before earlier this year and had enjoyed the food. I had a Reuben, which was very good, as was the bean soup, but Jackie's chicken sandwich was overcooked to the point of almost inedible. After lunch we went to Walmart and did some grocery shopping, then Jackie went to her PT appointment. After PT we went back to the coach, put everything away and relaxed for a while. About 6:30 we went down to the clubhouse for poker night. Jackie lost a dollar and I came out five ahead. After cards we went back to the coach, watched a little TV and then went to bed.

Thursday, November 22^nd, Happy Thanksgiving, very early this year. We had a relaxing day and about 2:00 we went down to the clubhouse for the Thanksgiving Dinner party. It was a pot luck of sorts, but the park provided the turkey and all the plates and plastic ware. Jackie made a big Chinese Chicken salad, which went over well. We didn't bring much home. The place was full, with probably over a hundred people there, but there was more than enough to eat. We sat and talked with folks after dinner until about 5:00, when we went back to the coach, had cocktails and spent the remainder of the evening with the TV.

Friday, November 23^rd, we had a 10:00 appointment at the Verizon store to take advantage of their Black Friday sales event. Jackie has been wanting to upgrade her phone for a few months now, but we waited to see what sales might be going on. Jackie go a new Samsung Note 9, which is a little larger and more powerful than the regular Samsung S9 phone. It also has a stylus that stores in the bottom of the phone, the first Android phone with a “pencil” attached. Our intention was to follow our usual routine, which was that Jackie gets the upgrade, newest phone and I get her hand me down. In this case it was a Samsung S7 Edge, a nice phone that has worked well for Jackie. Jackie's new Note 9 had a $400 credit for Black Friday, which was a good deal, glad we waited. While we were doing all the paperwork and stuff for her new phone the gal who was helping us was telling Jackie that we were lucky because apparently the Samsung S7 phones had battery issues, with the batteries overheating, swelling up and occasionally even catching fire. We never had any problems with her phone, so didn't give it too much thought, but when she pulled the phone out of the leather case Jackie kept it in the battery was swelling and popping the back off the phone! A dangerous situation, which meant that I wasn't going to get a hand me down this time. To the rescue, the gal told us that the Samsung S9, which was the latest regular Samsung smart phone, also had a $400 price reduction offer and so long as we did two separate transactions we would get both offers since both phones were upgrade eligible. So, I did get a new phone, a brand new phone! Yea! After paying the taxes on $1,400 in phones, as well as screen protectors for both new phones we were $300 poorer, but both had nice new phones. Our Christmas presents. After the phone store we headed back to the coach and played with our phones for a little while.

About 2:00 we left and drove over to the Escapee's RV park to meet with our friends Dick and Millie, who now have a spot there. They had invited us over to go with them to a post-Thanksgiving leftovers dinner and music at the clubhouse there. They know that we got on the list to get a spot at the Escapee's, so they wanted us to see what the clubhouse looked like and meet some of the other residents. It is a nice clubhouse and they had a lot of leftovers. Most of the people were friendly and the music host was pretty good. They even did some karaoke so I got to sing a couple of songs. The only thing was that it started at 2:30 and by 4:30 they were done and packing up. This is NOT a night crowd at all. We went back to the coach, relaxed for a bit, and then at 5:30 went down to the clubhouse at Wine Ridge for the leftovers dinner there and then karaoke again. They had a lot of food and we had a good crowd for karaoke. We stayed, listened and I sang about four songs. By a little after 9:00 we were back in our coach, watched a little TV and then went to bed.

Saturday, November 24^th, we had a stay at home day. Both of us got a few chores done and had a quiet day. Sunday I went out in the morning and got a paper and we relaxed with our coffee and Sunday paper. About 12:30 we drove over to the Escapee's park for a party with Millie and Dick Duffin and a number of other friends, most who are staying at the Wine Ridge RV Resort with us. There were a couple dozen people there, lots of good snacks, visiting and some fun games. About 4:00 the party was finished and we went back to the coach. We stayed in the rest of the evening, watched some TV and then went to bed.

Monday, November 26^th, Jackie had early PT, at 11:00. After PT we went to the new BBQ restaurant here in Pahrump, called QU BBQ. I had the pulled pork and chopped brisket combo and the food was quite good. The pork was better than the beef. The beans and mac and cheese sides were also very good. Jackie had pulled pork and pork ribs. The ribs a bit dry, but with sauce were also good. In my opinion the ribs at Red Sky, the other BBQ place in town, are better, but they don't have any pulled pork on the menu, so we will probably be back. After lunch we did a Walmart run and picked up our mail, then headed back to the coach. At 6:30 we went down to the clubhouse for poker night. Jackie and I both lost, me about $7, her about $10. Couldn't get a good hand to save my life. After poker we went back to the coach, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Tuesday, November 27^th, we left the coach about noon and drove to the new doctor's office for my first appointment. Unfortunately, we got there at 12:15 and I found that I had put 12:30 on the calendar when it was supposed to be noon. They couldn't get me in and had to reschedule me for Saturday. Not a great first start with a new doctor. We went out and got two of the new geocaches that have been put out in Pahrump, our first finds in a few weeks. After that we went back to the coach and spent the rest of the day and evening relaxing. Wednesday we left the coach about 10:30 and drove to China Wok, the buffet here in town, for lunch. Today was a free lunch put on by Medical Air Transport Association (MASA), which is a sort of insurance for emergency medical transport, either by land ambulance, helicopter, or fixed wing plane. They also perform emergency asset recovery, for instance, if you have a heart attack in New York they will bring your motor home and car back to your home if you can't. We are lifetime members of MASA, joining in 2007 shortly after we went full time. We haven't had to use it, but it gives great piece of mind with the amount of money that the various medical transport companies charge. Periodically MASA puts on lunches and welcomes current members to come. Of the 50 or so people at the lunch today at least two thirds were existing members. Dick and Millie Duffin, who are also members, joined us at our table. After a great free lunch we took Jackie to her PT at 2:00, then went back home for a while. At 6:30 we went down to the clubhouse to play poker. A little better night tonight, each of us only lost a couple dollars. After cards we went to the coach, watched a little TV and then went to bed.

Thursday, November 29^th, we were up and on the road by about 9:15, driving over the hill to Las Vegas so Jackie could do another follow up with the orthopedist. There was a winter storm moving through so it was cold, cloudy and sometimes rainy for the whole trip and after we got to Las Vegas. Again the doctor didn't come in to see Jackie, but the nurses and assistants did an interview and exam and gave Jackie some modified PT orders and some medication samples. They just told her to keep doing what she is doing and wait for the pain to lessen with time. After the doctor we stopped at a restaurant called Distill, which is almost next door to the ortho center. We had eaten here the last time we came down,

but we were in a hurry and didn't get to enjoy the meal. They have a great menu with some really interesting items and we wanted to try again when we didn't have to rush. I had a BBQ brisket grilled cheese sandwich which was wonderful. Jackie had a blackened chicken club. After lunch we went to Costco for some things, then stopped so Jackie could get a haircut. After the haircut we went back over the mountain. By the time she got done at the salon the rain had stopped and it was clearing up. We got home in time for cocktails, then watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Friday, November 30^th, we left the coach after lunch and went to do our laundry. While the clothes were washing and drying Jackie went up the street for her 2:00 PT appointment. By the time she was done with PT the clothes were also done. We went home and put everything away and had dinner. About 6:00 I went down to the clubhouse for karaoke. Jackie didn't feel like going as they kind of beat her up during her PT. By a little after nine I was back home after a fun night of singing with friends. We watched a little TV and went to bed.

Saturday, December 1^st, the end of the year is approaching. I went to my doctor's appointment at 10:30 and got to meet our new family doctor, Dr. Wiggins. He is a fairly young guy who said he recently relocated to Pahrump from Alaska. We talked a little about the recent earthquake, which was centered not too far from where he lived. The exam went well, he reviewed my meds and put me on an additional blood pressure med. He also told me to come see him again in April when we get back and to get my lab tests done then. He said he would send all my med renewals to the pharmacy. He also gave me an order to have an abdominal aorta ultrasound exam. He said it is recommended for men between 65 and 75 who have ever smoked. Even though I quit 40 years ago he thought it was good to have the test. After seeing the doctor I went to the imaging center, which is conveniently in the same building, to set up an appointment. To my surprise they said to come in tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., which is a Sunday. After my doctor's appointment I went home. After lunch we went to Walmart for some supplies, then went back home and stayed in for the rest of the day and evening.

Sunday, December 2^nd, I was up and out for a quick 8:00 appointment at the imaging center. It was the only section of the building that was open, all the doctor's offices were locked up and dark as were the lab, pharmacy and coffee shop. I got right, in, the young gal did the ultrasound, and I was on the road for home by 8:30. I picked up a Sunday paper on the way home and we enjoyed the rest of the morning with the paper and our coffee. About 1:00 we went down to the clubhouse for another of Millie Duffin's Dilly Muffin parties. Since it was getting really cool someone had made arrangements to use the clubhouse at Wine Ridge for the party. There were about 25 people there and lots of food and snacks. We talked, played some games and ate. We had a great time and the party was over about 4:30. We went back to the coach and spent the rest of the evening watching TV.

Monday, December 3^rd, we left the coach a little before 1:00 and took Jackie to her PT. While she was in PT I did my exercise walk. After her PT we went home and I spent a little bit of time taking down and putting away a few things. Our original plans were for us to leave Pahrump tomorrow and head down to Silent Valley, near Banning, California for almost a month. However, we decided a couple weeks ago to extend our stay here in Pahrump so Jackie could continue her PT. As it stands now we have to move to another spot in the park tomorrow. When we decided to stay for another month the park was pretty much booked up and the only thing open was one of the pull through sites. I don't have to take the screens down since I can see good enough through them to move a few hundred yards, but I had to put away the flagpole and some other stuff. After I got done with those chores we relaxed for a while and then had dinner. About 6:30 we went down to the clubhouse for poker. Unlike last week, both of us had good nights. I ended up nine dollars ahead and Jackie was three dollars ahead at the end of the two hours. Yea! After cards we went back to the coach and watched TV until bedtime.

Tuesday, December 4^th, moving day; or so we thought. I got a call a little after 7:00 a.m. from the manager of the park telling me that they had some cancellations and we would be able to stay in our current spot for another month. Yea! I spent a little bit of time in the morning putting some of the outside stuff back in place, the BBQ, our chairs, a few things. I didn't put the flagpole back up because in a day or two I will be putting up our Christmas decorations since we will be here in Pahrump over Christmas. About noon we left and went to have Mexican food at El Jefe, one of the several Mexican places in Pahrump, and one we haven't been to in a while. The food was good and there was lots of it. After lunch we picked up our mail, which is significantly less now that the election is over. We then went to Walmart and then stopped at one of the casinos in town to game for a while. We both lost our small stakes, Jackie down $40, me $25, but it took an hour and a half and we had fun. After the casino we went home and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in the coach.

Wednesday, December 5^th, we left the coach just before 1:00 and took Jackie to her PT appointment. We actually got a little rain overnight, but only enough to just dampen the ground. After her PT we went out to do some geocaching. We have already gotten all the urban caches in the Pahrump area, and we no longer have a high clearance vehicle suitable for getting the ones on the gravel trails outside out town, so we have not done much caching lately. However, some caching acquaintances of ours from Pahrump are putting out some new caches, so we now have a few that we can go out after. This series of caches is not far from the RV park, on a good gravel road that our little electric cart can navigate, so we started doing the series. Today we got the first ten of the ones that are out, leaving another dozen or so to get another day. It was cloudy and cold and after ten we decided that was enough. We went back to the coach, relaxed for a while, had dinner, then at 6:30 went down to the clubhouse for poker. We did OK, I lost about six and Jackie lost two. We still had fun though. After cards we went back to the coach, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Thursday, December 6^th, we had on and off drizzly rain all night and it appeared that it would be that way all day too. Considering the torrential downpours in Southern California I guess our light rain is a good thing. I spent about three hours, with short rain breaks from time to time, putting up our Christmas decorations. This is the first time we have been in Pahrump over Christmas. After decorating we just relaxed and watched the rain for the rest of the day. Friday we went to Jackie's PT at 1:00, then after PT we ran a couple of errands. We picked up our mail and made a quick Walmart stop. We went back to the coach and relaxed and had dinner. At 6:00 we went down to the clubhouse for karaoke. We had a good time, there was a pretty good sized crowd, but only about eight singers, so we had a quick rotation. By 9:15 we were home relaxing with the TV until bedtime.

Saturday, December 8^th, we were up and out of the house just before 9:00 a.m., early for those of you who know us well. We got out early to go to a small geocaching event here in Pahrump. It was put on by a winter visitor geocacher from New Hampshire who was going to be in Pahrump for a few weeks and wanted to meet some of the local cachers. It was a small group, about a dozen people, and we had a good time talking caching. We knew most of the people by their caching handles, and even a couple that we have previously met. They were mostly from Pahrump and Las Vegas with a few Rvers thrown in for good measure. The event lasted about an hour and half, after which we went home and relaxed for a while. After lunch we went out to do some geocaching on our own, picking up 13 new finds, which, when combined with the event this morning, gave us 14 finds for the day. After caching we went back home and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

It has now been about three weeks since we published and we have about two weeks left here in Pahrump, so it would be a good time to get this episode published. Until next time remember the words of Will Rogers, “if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” See ya soon.