Macular Degeneration Injection

Several years ago, I developed the wet form of macular degeneration in my right eye. It tends to be hereditary and I believe I got it from my mother. At the time she had it, the treatment involved a laser cauterizing the leaking/growing blood vessels. Unfortunately, that procedure destroys the cells that allow you to focus on objects and she was left with peripheral vision only. She was legally blind with 20/200 eyesight.

Fortunately, by the time I needed treatment, a new procedure was developed that requires an injection of medication directly into the eye (it sounds a lot worst than it really is). It does not destroy any cells and as a result I have 20/25 vision in my right eye. The biggest disadvantage as compared to the old procedure is having to get the injections every six weeks which is a bit of a hassle for a full-time RVer. However, I consider it a small price to pay for being able to see and do pretty much everything I did before developing the disease.

Today, the doctor was kind enough to allow his assistant to video the procedure...

FYI - the cotton swap contains a numbing compound

VIPs In Town

Yesterday afternoon, while checking the Munzee map, I saw that Jim & Ellen, friends from the Arizonian RV Park, had captured a munzee very close to where I am staying. I emailed them and learned they were spending the night at Sam's Town just down the street (serendipity) which allowed us to get together for dinner...

Good friends, good food
(I like to think we were celebrating the recent anniversary of my having circled the sun 72 times)

Delivery Exception, Animal Interference

My mail forwarding service in South Dakota sends me my mail once a week with a tracking number. Normally, I receive it within 2-3 days with no problems, but this week I get the following message:

Alert

August 22, 2018 at 11:50 am

Delivery Exception, Animal Interference

LAS VEGAS, NV 89121

In as much as I reside in a gated RV park where pets are required to be on a leash and the pavement is so hot they are driven or carried to the "doggie park", I find this excuse a little suspicious. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the mail carrier was looking for a way to knock off early and this was it. Then again, the carrier may have considered Jack in the office to be an animal in which case their action would be justified. <grin>

Nelson Ghost Town

Keith, Jayne and I rode down to Nelson Ghost Town to look at the old vehicles and memorabilia. I found a couple of items that I missed on my last visit...

Considering I am based in Las Vegas, perhaps, I should trade my R-Pod for a more bullet-proof travel trailer

I like the car headlight so you can mow at night

Valley of Fire State Park

One of the most scenic and unique places I have visited is the Valley of Fire State Park northeast of Las Vegas. There are an endless variety of sandstone rock formations that change color from a plain tan to a brilliant reddish orange depending on how the sun hits them...

Visiting Highrollers

One of the nice things about RVing is the people you meet. Keith & Jayne, friends from the Arizonian RV Park, are in town visiting for a few days. After getting caught up on each other's lives, we took a short tour of the city by driving up the strip and then taking in the Fremont Street Experience...

Must see area in Las Vegas

Checking out the scales at the Heart Attack Grill

Giant, fire spewing Praying Mantis in Container Park

Good information to know - would not want my horse to get a ticket

Social Security @ Age 62 or 67

A friend recently asked me if he should take Social Security at age 62 or 67. To answer the question, I put together a speadsheet that allows you to enter your income at both ages and then see cumulative totals for each.

In the example below, if your age 62 income is $1000/month and your age 67 income is $1500/month, you would need to live to age 78 to benefit from taking Social Security at age 67 (I have included a 1% increase for inflation in yearly incomes)...

Click on the above image to enter your projected incomes and see your own numbers

If there is a problem with the spreadsheet, please let me know in the comments section below.

70 MPH Winds

High winds with gusts up to 70 mph swept through Las Vegas last night creating a major dust storm and leaving thousands without power. It was the scariest time I have spent in a RV in the seven years I have been on the road. First, there was the extreme rocking. It was so violent that I was beginning to think my fifth wheel might turn over. Second, was the noise. The fabric slide covers and rubber roof sounded like they were about to be ripped off. It all lasted around 30 minutes but seemed like a lot longer. Fortunately, there was no damage to the RV and the park did not lose power. However, I did age a few years that I can hardly afford to lose.

Here are some photos of the aftermath that I downloaded from the Internet...

Pinball Hall of Fame

When I was a kid (yeah, we're talking ancient history), there were no digital video games. There were board games like Monopoly and outdoor games like the incredibly dangerous Dodge Ball but the closest we came to first person action games were pinball machines. I still remember playing them in the arcades at Myrtle Beach.

In a nondescript building on Tropicana Avenue east of the strip is the Pinball Hall of Fame where you can play over 300 machines from the very old to the very new...

I spoke with one of the owners and learned that they have over 1100 pinball machines in their collection and have purchased property on the south end of the strip where they are planning to move in 2020.

Vegas Money Saving Tip

I am not a gambler so I had not given much thought to those casino player cards that allow you to earn points for comps. What I did not realize is most casinos give you a discount on meals with those cards. In as much as I dine at casinos off the strip because they are some of the least expensive places in town to eat, I am becoming a player card collector...

A $6.49 breakfast was only $3.99 with this card

I would recommend getting a casino card(s) as soon as you arrive in the city, particularly, if you gamble. They are free (my favorite price) and can offer substantial rewards to you high rollers.