November 12–27. 2022 Our Time in Pahrump Nevada

WOW!  Hard to believe we have been here for two weeks.  Time sure does fly.  So what have we been up to?

On November 13, 2022, our time was up at Preferred RV so we moved to the local Moose Lodge.  They have water and electric and a dump station when the lodge is open.  Had a great time that afternoon, chatting and drinking with the local folks.  We really love the Moose Lodges.

On Monday, November 14, 2022, we moved to the Escapees Co-op, Pair-a Dice for a week (or so we thought!)

Our Anderson Kantleak part arrived on Tuesday and Andy replaced the part.  It is wonderful to have water again without the pump going crazy.  We also thought our pump was dying but it turned out that it was only the valve that we replaced.  Yippee!  So we celebrated that night at the VFW at their Taco night.  Another great place here!

But the next day, Andy had a fever and did not feel good and it continued!  On Thursday, we went to the local Urgent Care and he was diagnosed with pneumonia and given meds. Every day he has improved and as of today (11/27), he is much better.   It was a little scary!  (And that is why we stayed an extra week here.)

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So I want to talk a little bit about the VA.  Andy’s home VA is in Lebanon, PA.  First we called and left a message for his PA.  Second, we remembered we received a brochure in the summer from the VA about what to do if we were traveling.  We called that number (VA TELE-URGENT 833-835-3874) and they answered right away.  We explained our situation with the nearest VA is about 50 miles away and that it was not our home VA system.  Once we gave her the zip code where we are located, she gave us the name and location of a local Urgent Care and told us to tell them that Andy is covered under the MISSION ACT.  So off we went and they knew everything about the Mission Act.  How Wonderful! 

As for the medications, we had them call in the prescriptions to the local Walmart.  When we went to pick them up, they helped us get the cost down with Good RX.  The pharmacy tech came out to talk to me about the VA.  Walmart does not have a contract with the VA, however, many other places do.  She told me to call around wherever we are and ask if they have a contract with the VA under the Mission Act.

I am writing all this here in case my blog is read by traveling veterans and they did not know about this.  When we were at the VFW this past week, we got to talking with the couple that are in charge and they did not know about it as well as Andy’s local PA in Pennsylvania.  So please spread the word… remember the telephone number and the Mission Act.

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As some of you may know, I have arthritis and osteoporosis, so on a daily basis, I deal with a little pain.  But, I can tell you that the pain almost disappears when I am in the desert.  Last summer, I got a new Fitbit and this week decided to learn how to use it (besides telling time – LOL!).  Now I am starting to walk again with small daily step goals. It is wonderful not to have that pain!!  Hopefully I can keep it up and have more strength when I get back home.

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Andy is also teaching me some of the systems on the RV that I did not know.  So in the past week, I have learned how to flush the black tank.  (We did not have that system on the Bounder.)  Also learned how to regenerate the catalyst on our osmosis system.  Fun!

And in keeping with learning and keeping my brain active….   In the summer I got a new camera and know it can do a lot!  So that is my goal over the next few months – to learn all it can do. 

For some who didn’t know, two summers ago, I started occasionally helping my friends, Gerry and Chuck of King Cole Winery with wine tasting at some festivals.  It has been so much fun.   My RAMP certification has come due so I finished that course this week.  Yes, I passed – YEA!

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Another fun repair this week – NOT!  Our toilet came off its foundation!  WTH!  Never had that happen.  So Black Friday, we are traveling to find parts.  Even traveled to Las Vegas but nope, no part.  So we ended up at Lowes and Andy has pieced it together.  Next week, we will be in Yuma for a few weeks and we will be able to order the correct part.  Sheesh, it never ends!

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In between is the usual, laundry, cleaning, organizing the RV, etc.  I am going to do a blog on all our improvements, repairs, upgrades, etc.  sometime this winter season.

We did get out to the Moose for Thanksgiving and the VFW for their Taco Salad night.  We did not do much around the Co-op Park.  This park was very active at one time but the COVID shut downs really stopped a lot and they have not come back.  So so sad. 

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Here is a funny that happened during this time too.  I started an Instagram account and then realized that I was not receiving anything from them.  When I checked, I received a notice that my account was disabled because I violated their rules.    HAHAHAHAHA!  I had 0 posts, 0 followers and I followed 1 person.  So I wrote to them and had them explain to me what I violated since I did not post nor does anyone follow me and I only follow 1 person.   Their response:

Now how funny is that.  Makes one wonder, doesn’t it?  Still having problems seeing messages so if you send me anything, I may or may not see it….   Sheesh!

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Thanksgiving Weekend is famous for lots of craft fairs and I just love craft fairs.  On Saturday, I went to the Tivoli Village in Las Vegas for their show.  The village looks like a little place in Italy where you walk the street.  I had a blast!

What a cute little place!

Scenes from the trip to and from Las Vegas:

The snow has been on that mountain for the past 3 weeks.  Some days it is heavier than others:

Going thru Red Rock Canyon:

Coming back to Pahrump and the wind was blowing:

The colors of the mountains when the sun is setting – Beautiful!

We really like Pahrump and will be back when the weather is a little warmer.  I would like to explore more here and more in Nevada.  Maybe next year.

So now that I am caught up on the blog and rambled enough, tomorrow we head south.  We are going to spend a few days in Quartzsite and then head to Yuma for a few weeks.

So stayed tuned and enjoy today.

 

 

December 24 – December 31, 2010

 The end of another year – 0h my – where does it go!!!

Here is what we have been doing over the past week:

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we had a great time at the Clubhouse with our fellow SKPs – lots of good food, good company and good music.

On Monday, we all did a road trip Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, Arizona – what an incredible experience.  Here is some information from the internet:

“Its primary attraction is as the home of what it claims is the largest Wurlitzer theater organ in the world.^[1] Powered by three turbine blowers (with a fourth as a standby) it has more than 5,500 pipes. The original organ was built for the Denver Theater and was installed in 1927. It saw service there until the 1930s. Rebuilt in 1975, including pieces from other Wurlitzers, it eventually ended up as a 78 rank organ.”

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“During the early silent film era, motion picture theatres throughout the country engaged pit orchestras and pianists to provide the background music for their stage shows and silent movies.  With the escalating costs of musician labor, not every performance could afford the expense of an orchestra.  This monetary constraint was the inspiration for the concept of a "unit orchestra," where one musician could do the work of many.

The unit orchestra, later known as the theatre pipe organ, was designed with imitative orchestral tones in mind, rather than the customary liturgical sounds found in church instruments.  The theatre organ has been described as part military band, part symphony orchestra and part theatrical sound effects.

During the late teens and early twenties, nearly every theatre, large and small installed theatre pipe organs.  Though they were manufactured by many companies, the Wurlitzer product was considered by far the best.  The "Mighty Wurlitzer" enjoyed familiarity with such names as Frigidaire, Victrola, and Kodak.

Organ Stop's Wurlitzer theatre organ was built for the Denver Theatre and was installed in 1927.  The organ was used regularly until the early 1930s.  With the advent of the talking picture and the 1930s depression, the organ was rarely heard.  It was silenced when a fire in the auditorium caused extensive damage to the organ's relay.

In the theatre, the organ was a style 260, having a three-manual console and 15 ranks/sets of pipes.  Organ Stop purchased the instrument in the early 1970s and undertook the mammoth task of rebuilding the instrument.  Several additions were made to the instrument by acquiring parts from other ill-fated Wurlitzers.  The resulting 23 rank organ was installed in our original facility in 1975.

The enlargement and improvement of this instrument has been an ongoing project... In 1997, a larger four manual console was added to the instrument.  The new console is an exact replica of a "Fox Special" French case, ornamented to match the famous Brooklyn Paramount Wurlitzer.  This is the largest console type ever designed and built by Wurlitzer.  Through the years, several rare sets of pipes have been added to the organ, including a massive set of 32' wood diaphones (visible from the front of the building).  As of 2006, the organ boasts nearly 6000 pipes.  The massive quantities of wind required for operation are provided by four huge turbine blowers (visible from the outside of the building in the blower complex).  The resulting instrument is the largest Wurlitzer theatre organ in the world!

The building's design is expressly for the enjoyment of patrons, with the organ installed in four chambers at one end of the restaurant..  Forty-three foot ceilings provide unparalleled acoustics.  The console is "presented" on an 8000 pound rotating hydraulic elevator.  Many of the percussions (such as the xylophones, glockenspiels, drums, etc.) are installed in the dining room for greater audience appeal.”

http://www.organstoppizza.com/welcome.htm

Here are the numbers:

• 4 manuals - 61 keys each
• pedalboard - 32 keys
• 422 stopkeys (red denote reeds, amber for strings, ivory for flues)
• 113 combination action pistons and toe studs
• 5 expression pedals: Foundation, Main, Solo, General, and Crescendo
• 5 toe levers controlling traps and reversible stops
• 2 drawers housing 327 switches controlling various selective stops, sound effects, theatrical lighting and effects, and other console functions “

Now here are the pictures:

The Mighty Wurlitzer – see the numbers above:

And the rest of the building – there were instruments ALL OVER – what great sound and what an incredible show – WOW:

     

Even the pussycats performed – :-))):

    

And it is all controlled by this one gentleman – AMAZING!

Andy and Pete getting ready to enjoy the show:

Joyce, me, and Carolyn:

 

 

We all had a great time!

Tuesday, Norval and Kay stopped by on their way towards Yuma and we had lunch – it was good to see them again.

Pam and Steve who we met in Albuquerque and last saw in Pahrump are back in the park and it was great to get caught up with them.    We hope to see everyone in Quartzsite next month.

On Friday, New Year’s Eve, we had a great party at the clubhouse.  We watched the ball drop in New Year (10 PM here), then the party ended – HA!

We are still getting settled in our new (to us) home.  We have been arranging, then rearranging; organizing then reorganizing…. we will get there soon.   We did get shelves put in by the dinette for my printer.   Also some shelves in the washer/dryer cabinet (did I tell you I sold the washer/dryer) – now all my pots are together – Yea!!

I have not been doing any beading nor sightseeing because….well, I haven’t been feeling well..   In short, for the past two months, I have had a lot of facial pain.  In November, I did two rounds of antibiotics and no change.  Since it has been getting progressively worse, I went to Urgent Care this past week.  After an exam, blood work, and x-rays, we are trying steroids and painkillers for the next week.  (My sinuses are extremely swollen and irritated – which is why I am having so much pain).   So hopefully we will get to the bottom of why they are swollen…    Andy said maybe I am allergic to something in the desert and we will have to winter in PA – LOL!!!   I told him I am also allergic to the cold and snow – LOL!!!

Speaking of weather, we are in the middle of a cold spell – it is in the 20’s at night – BRRRR!!!   It is supposed to warm up next week – Yea!!!!

Have a very HAPPY, HEALTHY, and BLESSED 2011!