Earlier this week I was in Las Vegas, for the first time since I left to return home in February 2016. I was originally going to be there last week but a medical issue in the form of infection erupted, and Sheila had to go there with one of her daughters while I stayed home to get medical attention. It wasn't serious, but it likely would have gotten that way if I didn't get a doctor to look at it.
Sheila came back, and on Monday we drove up to retrieve her son who she drove up there some days prior. If I hadn't had the infection we would have made side trips to Rhyolite and a few other places. As it was, we drove up Monday, I was too tired to do much of anything the next day, and on Wednesday we drove home.
While I was up there we did drive around the old neighborhood where I lived, and by Bigelow Aerospace, where I worked when I was up there. The only employees remaining at Bigelow are the security guards who don't have very much to do unless some coyote trips the perimeter alarm. As for who I knew when I was living up there, we've all scattered to our separate ways, and the only one I'm now in touch with is Ron S. who is on the east coast and will be retiring. I would like to get out there and see him, he's a really great guy.
Anyway, I was really glad to be home when we got back Wednesday night. Yesterday I had a follow-up appointment with the specialist about my infection and I am well on the mend. Today I was exhausted for some reason and some things I needed to do were put off until Monday. I have spent a lot of time playing radio, and Mark and I have been experimenting with some interesting modes on the ham bands.
As for Las Vegas, I think I would now enjoy a three day stay there, provided it's Downtown and not on the Strip. I definitely want to see Rhyolite again; it was the first ghost town I ever visited and it's something I want to see on those rare occasions when I'm in the area. I hope that on the next trip we overnight in Fallon, and then drive across to Ely, and then back down to Las Vegas before we start the trip home.
Being able to do this when we want is one of the many blessings of being retired. I am enjoying this much more than I thought I would. I haven't forgotten some conversations I've had with a previous employer and I have reason to believe I will be working part time next year.
In the meantime? I feel the need to research some more family history. There is evidence, not yet corroborated, that I am a descendant of William the Conqueror, thru my paternal grandmother. There's some more research I want to do re the Parker family who settled North Carolina and Virginia. I am way overdue in creating pages on the Bonsall and Pilkington families.
I think with that, I'm going to call this a post.
