February 18 & 19 & 20 2016 Laughlin, Nevada

     Thursday Feb.18     We said our goodbyes to our friends Gary and Connie this morning and we headed for Laughlin, Nevada, we have reservations for a week. We fought a real strong wind all the way and that is not good for our mileage per gallon. We were sure glad we had reservations because when we pulled in at 4:00 PM and checked in, they were completely full. There was a large motor home behind us and they were upset  because they had no large sites for them and they needed 50 amp. All they had was a 30 amp.  There are about 300 spaces in this campground.  A lot of people stay for the winter, I can't imagine staying in a campground in the desert with nothing to see and do but go to the casinos. We are usually here with our friends and we play cards and our fast track game a lot. Our friends had to cancel their reservations this year, we sure missed our time with them and all the fun we have together. We hope to see them later on.
     Friday Feb. 19  Everyone knows how Kent has a Starbucks frappe everyday, down here the Starbucks is 1 mile from our campsite and Kent has been walking there most days. I walk part way with him and I stop at the Aquarius Casino and he stops there on his way back. He says the walk was tough at first, but now it is getting easier. Kent saw on TV where the desert flowers are really in bloom this year and the pollen is the highest in a decade. Kent never has any allergies and this year he is really suffering, I always have allergies and trouble breathing. Tonight we went to one of the best fish places here and the wait was about one half hour. We played a slot machine for 10 minutes and then we started visiting with another person waiting when they called our name. They seated us and brought our beverages and took our order, wow we were all excited how fast we were getting served. Shortly the waiter told us our food was about ready and   as he was walking away, the lights went out and we were in complete darkness. They had no backup lighting or flashlights but with everyone now days owning a cell phone, there was soon and warm glow of light. The waiters were bringing out the food that was ready, using their phones to get around. Soon we heard sirens from police cars and firetrucks screaming all the way  up the strip of Laughlin.  everyone was told we had to leave, they had to shut down by state law. So much for the fantastic fish dinner! At least we weren't on a slot machine with money in it, those people had to stay to get their money. The street was full of people leaving the casinos and some just arriving to check in at the Casinos. There was a little old lady who was gambling with her husband in the Aquarius casino and she couldn't find him in the casino and she was pretty shook up. Kent and I took her back inside and then they had back up lighting on and we found her husband for her. We wondered how they would know what to do with all the people sitting at the slot machines waiting for their money. We stopped  and listened in on a conversation with the casino worker at a slot machine with the player on his walkie talkie, talking to the control person and they were telling them the serial number of the machine and he knew how much money was played
and won and it looked like they were giving out pay vouchers to be used when they reopened. We walked backed to our house on wheels and because we have a converter to convert the  battery to electricity, we had lights, TV and I fixed us dinner at home. Not as good as the fish would have been, but good. It was kind of eerie, scary with the whole town on black out. I can't imagine the panic and fear the people in New York suffered in that terrible day of the twin towers. We found out later that night the electrical transformer overheated and caught fire. They called in the city of Bull Head next door to help with it. All that hub bub and the next morning the casinos were in full operation with the parking lots full. I didn't go to any of them as I thought they might tighten up the winnings to make up for having to close for the night.
     Saturday Feb. 20th  Today we walked the river walk along the river heading back to the Riverside Casino where we will go to 4:00 PM Mass that is held in the theatre at the casino. Father hears confessions on two metal folding chairs before Mass each week. They have beautiful music and the theatre is packed. Father Blaise Baran is such a cool Priest, we both really enjoy his sermons and he always has a joke or two. There must be 350 or more who attend the Mass, that is a lot of money in the collection box.