Hi there. Our last chapter concluded on Tuesday, September 30th, while we continued our well-earned retirement in Pahrump. Wednesday was pretty normal; Jackie going to Pokeno, me playing guitar with my jam group. It was also one of my great granddaughter’s birthday, Zoe. She is the daughter of my oldest granddaughter, the oldest of my oldest daughter’s children. In other words, the first child of the first child of my first child. We went to happy hour, then came home for dinner and a night with the TV.
Thursday, October 2nd, we got of to an exciting start. At 10:30 we drove to our attorney’s office to pick up our settlement checks from our auto accident last December. I won’t say how much in this public forum, but it was more than we would have had we not gotten an attorney and it will help make our retirement more comfortable. There is also a very interesting side story. An acquaintance of ours, another member of the Co-op, has been working in Singapore for the last year or so and came back for a brief visit with family. When he came to happy hour one night in early September with a box full of fortune cookies he brought back with him. Everyone at the table took one and my fortune said “Next month will bring financial abundance.” The first day of the next month we got our checks from the accident. Yikes! Jackie had a mani appointment at 1:00 and I went across the street to play guitar with my friend Scott. We went to social hour, then home for dinner and night watching the TV. Friday, we went to the China Wok buffet at 11:00 to listen to another MASA presentation and get a free lunch. MASA is Medical Air Services Association, it provides insurance for any type of emergency medical transportation, land or air. After lunch I had to go to the office to sign off on the weekly payroll for the Co-op employees. The Board President is out of town and left my as “acting president” for the weekend. At 5:00 we went to the clubhouse for Bingo. Jackie won a couple of games while I continued my losing streak for another week. After Bingo we went home and relaxed with the TV until bedtime.
Saturday, October 4th, we went to the clubhouse at 9:00 for “First Saturday Breakfast” put on by the Silver Seekers. We then spent the rest of the day doing chores and relaxing. We went to happy hour, then came home and had dinner. We watched TV for the rest of the evening. Sunday, another Sunday-Funday. We left the park about 10:30 and drove to Las Vegas for the day. We stopped at a breakfast restaurant on Blue Diamond highway as you come into Vegas, called Whidbeys. It is just breakfast and lunch, but the food and service are excellent. After lunch we did a quick stop at a new thrift store just down the street from the restaurant. We then headed to our real
destination for the day, the Las Vegas Sphere. We have come here to see the Wizard of Oz in the Sphere. For those who don’t know, The Sphere (also known as Sphere at the Venetian Resort or The Las Vegas Sphere) is a music and entertainment arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States, east of the Las Vegas Strip. Designed by Populous, the project was announced by the Madison Square Garden Company in 2018, known then as the MSG Sphere. The venue, which seats 17,600 people and has total capacity of 20,000, is being marketed for its immersive video and audio capabilities, which include a 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen, speakers with beamforming and wave field synthesis
technologies and 4D physical effects. The venue's exterior also features 580,000 sq ft of LED displays, making it the largest in the world. Sphere measures 366 feet high and 516 feet wide. The arena cost $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment venue built in the Las Vegas Valley. Sphere opened on September 29, 2023, with Irish rock band U2 beginning a 40-show residency called U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere. Director Darren Aronofsky's docu-film Postcard from Earth opened on October 6, 2023. Since its opening, the venue has also hosted residencies ranging in length for Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, and the Backstreet Boys, and has begun screening an immersive 4D version of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The venue is owned by Sphere Entertainment, which was created as a spin-off from the original MSG Company. The sphere-shaped project was designed by Populous, with an interior that includes the world's largest LED screen. MSG initially estimated the project cost at $1.2 billion. In February 2020, the company said the cost had increased to $1.66 billion as a result of design changes consisting of guest enhancements. The cost continued to increase, eventually surpassing $2 billion due to the 2021–2023 global supply chain crisis and the 2021–2022 inflation surge. With a final expected cost of $2.3 billion, it is the most expensive entertainment venue in Las Vegas history, beating out the $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium.
We came here for the Wizard of Oz movie. The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is a 2025 American 4D film. Created specifically to be screened at Sphere in the Las Vegas Valley on the venue's 160,000 square-foot video screen at 16K resolution, it is an "immersive" version of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1939 musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz. The film's visuals and soundtrack were remastered and enhanced to fit the venue's capabilities, and multi-sensory effects were added to immerse audiences in the film. It is the third film to be screened at the venue under the "Sphere Experience" program. The Wizard of Oz at Sphere began screening on August 28, 2025, and is scheduled to run until March 31, 2026.
As guests enter the Sphere's atrium, the room is lit and designed to resemble sepia-toned Kansas as depicted in the film's opening scenes. Replicas of Professor Marvel's cart and the Wizard's hot air balloon, as well as glass-case displays showcasing historical prints of L. Frank Baum's original Oz books and a pair of ruby slippers from the late Debbie Reynolds' personal collection are showcased. The audience is then led into the auditorium 45 minutes before showtime. As the audience is seated, the Sphere's screen displays a sepia-tinted image of a large modern-day auditorium resembling that of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. At showtime, the sound of an orchestra tuning up and a conductor's baton can be heard, signaling that the film is about to begin as the lights dim. The auditorium's curtains then rise up on cue with the film's opening theme to reveal the MGM "Leo the Lion" logo (with the Cowardly Lion taking Leo's place inside the filmstrip circle and roaring once), segueing right into the opening credits sequence whose cloud background fills the entire screen, followed by the film itself. Highlights of the film experience include wind, fog and leaves blowing around the auditorium during the tornado scene, which now places the audience inside its funnel, foam-made apples falling from the ceiling when Dorothy and Scarecrow deal with the angry Apple Tree, snow falling onto the audience when Glinda the Good Witch of the North lifts the spell on the poison poppies, pyrotechnics during the scenes in the Wizard's throne room, and life-size flying monkeys flying into the audience through the use of UAV technology. After Dorothy's final line ("Oh, Auntie Em. There's no place like home!") and the original film's "The End" card and cast list, an added closing credits sequence crediting all those who worked on the film experience spread across the screen. At the conclusion of the film, the audience is led out of the auditorium and back into the atrium, now lit and designed to resemble the Emerald City in Technicolor. They are then directed by the Wizard's Guard towards a life-sized replica of the Wizard's throne room (complete with a projected motion-capture image of his ghostly green head) where guests interact with him.
It was an expensive afternoon, tickets are not cheap, but it was well worth the experience. We really enjoyed it. After the movie we got in the car and headed back home. We got back to Pahrump about 5:00, but instead of going home we went to the nearby Lakeside casino. We gamed for about an hour, then ate dinner in the restaurant. We finally got home about 7:00 and spent the remainder of the evening watching TV. A very special Funday-Sunday.
Monday, October 6th, I had a practice session at 11:00 with friends Scott and Bob, who are currently the other members of the Pair-a-dice jam group. About 4:00 I went down to the Quail Run outside recreation area here at the park to set up to provide some music for our Howl at the Moon party tonight. The three of us in the park’s jam group are planning to do about 45 minutes or so of music. The party started at 5:00 with a bring your own something to do on the BBQ. We did hamburgers and chips. We had a couple dozen people come to the party, which was a pretty good turnout. At 6:00 our little makeshift group got up and played. We weren’t horrible and got some polite praise for our performance. Our timing was off because the moon didn’t come up until we were almost done with our set. After the music we just stayed around and visited around a campfire until about 7:30. After the party we went home and spent the rest of the night with the TV. Tuesday was mostly a stay at home day. I had a 1:00 meeting with the people that are going to be presenting a New Member Orientation meeting next week, just to be sure everyone knew what they were supposed to cover. We spent the rest of the day just relaxing around the house. We had dinner and watched TV until bedtime.
Wednesday, October 8th, I was up and out of the house by 6:45 am to go to the dermatologist to have the basil cell carcinoma taken off of my forehead. I was fortunate that they got clean margins on the first slice they took from the site, so I was stitched up and out of the office by 9:00. We went to the clubhouse at 11:00 to attend another MASA presentation. He usually comes to our Co-op once or twice a year to try and get new people, and he always brings Panda Express lunch for everyone. After the lunch I spent the rest of the day just doing chores. We went to happy hour where I had to explain the giant bandage on my forehead. After that we came home and had leftovers for dinner and watched TV for the rest of the night. Thursday, I had a 9:00 Town Hall meeting, which turned out to be pretty contentious with some of the older members complaining about the lack of participation by the younger Gen X people that are now coming into the park. At 1:00 there was a Silver Seekers meeting which was mostly just outlining upcoming events in the park. After the meetings we went home and spent the rest of the day just doing chores and relaxing. We had dinner, then watched TV until it was time for bed.
Friday, October 10th, I had a practice session with the park jam group at 1:00, then we went out and did some shopping after. We went to happy hour, then came home for dinner and another night with the TV. Saturday, I was up early to go out and be the security guard for our annual park garage sale in the clubhouse. We had slow but steady traffic for most of the morning. I understand that the Silver Seekers ended up making about a $1,000 on sales of donated stuff. They also sold 63 hot dogs for whatever profit that brought in. The sale was over at 2:00, after which I just relaxed for the rest of the day. We did go to happy hour but then came home and had dinner and watched TV until bedtime.
Sunday, October 12th, another Sunday-Funday. We just stayed home and relaxed, watched some movies on TV and just had a relaxing day. I made chili Colorado for dinner, after which we went to the clubhouse for movie night. Tonight it was “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” which was a very funny movie about drag queens. After the movie we went home, and I did my last tour of security for the month. We then watched a little TV and went to bed. Monday I had a 9:00 Board meeting to set the agenda for this month’s regular meeting, followed by another Board Budget meeting. Both meetings were pretty short, and I was back home by about 10:00. At 11:00 we left to go to the Lucky Rollers Camping Club monthly lunch. We had planned to go to the Dry Creek Saloon, but when everyone got there we found that they didn’t open until 1:00 on Mondays. The President of the club had made reservations, but when she called they told here they didn’t have any. Somebody messed up. No big deal, we went next door to the newly remodeled Jackpot Joanie’s casino and they were happy to take our party of 20 with no advance notice. The staff did a wonderful job setting up a big table and taking care of us. Plus, the food was excellent. Kind of glad we had to change. After lunch we ran some errands, then headed home for the rest of the day. We went to happy hour, then came home and relaxed with the TV until bedtime.
Tuesday, October 14th, our housecleaner came at 10:00. About 12:30 we went out for lunch at the Sushi place here in town. We had a nice lunch, then headed home and spent the rest of the day doing chores and office stuff. I went to happy hour at 4:00, then came home and we had dinner, then watched TV until bedtime. Wednesday, Jackie went to play Pokeno at 1:00, I did some office work. I skipped guitar practice this week because I have 3:00 New Member Orientation meeting that I have to attend and present information to. At 3:00 we did the meeting, which lasted until almost 4:30. After the meeting we went home and had dinner, then watched TV for the rest of the night.
Thursday, October 16th, I had a Board meeting at 9:00, however, we were unable to start then due to problems with the Zoom system. Several of our Board members are out of the park and need zoom to attend the meeting. The meeting was recessed until 12:00 while my friends Don and Scott, and myself, tried to fix the problems. We ended up going back to the old computer and got it working, deciding to try and figure out what the problem with the new computer is later. The meeting started at noon and only went about a half hour. After the Board meeting I went home and relaxed for a while since I was highly stressed from the Zoom difficulties. I was the one primarily responsible for getting and installing the new computer and was worried about figuring out what the problem was. Jackie had a 1:00 hair and nail appointment and didn’t get home until just before happy hour. We came to happy hour about 4:30 because there was a 5:00 “picnic basket dinner” scheduled. We had hamburgers, hot dogs and sides. There were about 40 people show up so it was a good turnout. After the dinner we went home and relaxed with the TV for the rest of the night. Friday I went across the street and played with some of the park musicians for about two hours. After that we went out to do some shopping, then came home, had dinner and watched TV until bedtime.
Saturday, October 18th, Jackie had her ladies luncheon at 12:00, they went to the Pour House. I went with the Mens Group, The Romeos, and we went to the Roadhouse. Our group only had four today, the ladies had a couple dozen. We both had a nice lunch. After the lunch my friend Max and I went to the gun show at the Pahrump Nugget. Only bought a holster today. Jackie got home shortly after I did. I went over to the clubhouse to work on the zoom system and within a half hour I had it fixed, tested and working properly. It is a lot easier when you are not under pressure. We did happy hour, then came home and the pizza that Jackie brought home from her luncheon, for dinner. We watched TV for the rest of the night. Sunday was Sunday-funday and for the most part we stayed home and relaxed. We did go out in the afternoon to Walmart to get some supplies. We had steaks for dinner and then spent the rest of the night watching TV.
Monday, October 20th, I went over to the clubhouse about 11:30 and starting setting up for the jam session at 1:00. By 1:00 we had 13 people participating in the jam. We had one bass player and one on “drums”, which was actually a cajon, a wood box specifically built to be a percussion instrument, and one with a washboard. The remainder of the people were guitar players. We had a great session and went over the two hour scheduled time by about 15 minutes. After the jam I broke down the setup and then went to happy hour. After happy hour we went home, had dinner and watched TV until bedtime. Tuesday I had a calendar meeting at 9:00 with the Silver Seekers. After that meeting I had a 10:30 appointment with the dermatologist to take out the stiches on my forehead. The incision has healed nicely and the stiches came out with only a couple being scabbed over and harder to get to. After the appointment I went home and just did some chores and relaxed around the house for the rest of the day. I went to happy hour, Jackie stayed home since she had a “jammie” day. We had dinner later and watched TV for the rest of the night.
Wednesday, October 22nd, Jackie had a 10:00 appointment with her doctor to get some more Novocain shots in the back of her neck for the headaches she has been getting for quite a while. The last time was in April and she hasn’t had any headaches of that type until the last few weeks. She was only in there about half an hour, getting the shots and talking to the doctor about other issues. After the doctor we went back home. Jackie went to play Pokeno at 1:00, I didn’t have guitar practice because most of my Wednesday group was at the jam on Monday, so they cancelled Wednesday’s session. I spent the afternoon in the office doing some work and playing. Thursday, we left the park about 10:30 and drove the 40 miles west to Shoshone, California, to spend the day with the park’s camping group, the Lucky Rollers. They had eight people in six rigs that have been out there since Monday. There was another six people, including us, that came out today. We had a nice lunch, then had the raffle drawing, where we won a bottle of 100 proof vodka. Yea! They then had the club meeting where it was decided that, due to the number of club members who no longer had RVs and didn’t go to camp outs, and the apathy on the part of many of the other club members regarding camp outs, the club was going to go in inactive status for 2026, reporting the same officers and members to the Escapees National club, but not doing any formal campouts or having any meetings. We would continue the monthly dine-outs, but just as social events. After the meeting we had an afternoon of talking and playing games. At 5:00 we had a pot luck dinner that was very good. At 6:30 we packed up our stuff and left, getting home by just a little after 7:00. We spent the rest of the evening with the TV.
Friday, October 24th, I had a luncheon in the clubhouse with the Board and the employees of the park. This BOD has tried to do this at least quarterly to keep open communications between all of the Board and the employees. We had sub sandwiches and sides and a nice discussion with the employees. After the meeting I went back home and we spent the rest of the day working around the house and relaxing. We went to Bingo at 6:00, Jackie won one game, I didn’t get anything – again! After Bingo we went home and watched TV until it was time for bed. Saturday we went out about noon and went to El Jefe’s for lunch, then ran some errands. We also got out annual Covid booster shot. We had to go to CVS instead of Walgreens because Walgreens only had the Piezer vaccine and CVS only has the Moderna vaccine. All our previous Covid shots have been the Moderna, so we to stick with it. After we got home, we just spent the rest of the day relaxing.
Sunday, October 26th, this was a stay at home day. I didn’t have any reaction to the Covid shot, but Jackie was feeling tired and kind of poopy. She always has a mild reaction to the Covid vaccine. We spent the entire day just relaxing with the TV. Monday, we had lunch at the clubhouse, the Silver Seekers had ordered Subway sandwiches for lunch. We had a half sub and chips for $3 each. After lunch my friend Len came over, and we played guitar for an hour or so. We spent the rest of the day relaxing around the house. We went to happy hour, then came home for dinner and another night with the TV.
Tuesday, October 28th, our housecleaner came at 10:00 and I went over to the clubhouse to work with my friend Don on the Zoom system. We bought a new computer a couple of weeks ago and are having some sound issues. After working with it for about an hour and a half we finally had it working properly. Spent the rest of the day around the house. Wednesday, I had a short Board meeting at 1:00 and Jackie played Pokeno at 1:00 also. After the meeting I went home and did some office work and relaxed. We went to happy hour, then went home for dinner and relaxed with the TV until bedtime.
Thursday, October 30th, Jackie had a 1:00 mani and I took her so we could run some errands afterwards. We went grocery shopping and made a couple other stops before heading home. We went to the clubhouse at 7:00 for a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Although I am familiar with the movie, I have never actually seen it, nor has Jackie. A dozen or so Members of the park are big fans and went to a lot of work to set up the “shadow cast”, which is live actors that play out many of the scenes from the movie as they are showing on the screen. They also had all the props for use at various points in the movie where fans of the movie throw stuff and yell stuff. We had probably 50 people in the audience, and it was a great night. We got home about 9:00, watched a little TV and went to bed. Friday was Halloween. I went over to the clubhouse after lunch and got all my
equipment set up to do music and karaoke at the party tonight. Jackie made a pot of pea soup for the potluck tonight as well. At 4:00 they had a parade of costumes that went all through the park. We were in our golf cart for that and had a good time. The pot luck was great and we had about 60 people in attendance, with lots of food. About 6:00 or so we started to the music and had a great dance party, interspersed with the occasional karaoke singer. The party went until 9:00, and probably lasted longer than that, but I stopped the music and went home. It was really a great time. We watched a little bit of TV, then went to bed.
That is it for October. We will get this online and start the next month’s diary. Until next time, be careful but have fun.
