Leaving Las Vegas

Yes you read that right We left Las Vegas. But only for a little over 30 days, or maybe less. For sure, not more. 

Yes we left Las Vegas. But only for about 34 days, or maybe less. For sure not more. We decided even with Bills health scary we were going to keep our reservations and go. We think it will improve our mental health just getting out of the house for awhile. So we were up at two in the morning on Tuesday. Uber showed up at four and we were supposed to take off at 6:22. We left at 7:15. A computer problem in the plane. Luckily we had a two hour lay over in Phoenix. Which also left the airport late. Got smart this time Both of us had wheelchairs. From check in in Vegas to the taxi in Mazatlan. Phoenix waiting at gate. 

I know I've said it before  this camera is amazing. We were at 30,000 feet and taken through a not so clear window. Sure a lot of dirt between Vegas and Mazatlan. 

More dirt.

This was taken over Mexico a little town on a river valley.

A lot of turbulence for a while.  That is a nasty looking cloud  - looked like it was connected to the one below it. 

Going into Mazatlan. Except for the trip back, I am done flying. Just getting too old for the  uncomfortable seats and lack of water. 

We got to our hotel about two o'clock. We were both exhausted. But we decided to go out to eat in a nice cool restaurant about a half block from hotel. You can tell how tired Bill is. I wasn't much better. 

I had shrimp tacos, very good. 

He had chicken fajitas. He has to think about what he is ordering as his gums are still a little touchy. The chicken and the vegies were cooked very soft.

After eating we just sat out on  the balcony and listen to a live country band at the restaurant next door. Not a special sunset but our first one here this trip.

We were in bed by eight. And both of us had a bad night. Guess we were just too tired to sleep good. Today was our first full day here. So more about it tomorrow. Still feeling a little tired. But we got a few things  done. 

Been a busy week.

Had to go back and read the last blog, a lot has happened since then. Bill ended up back at the dentist for the swelling in his face.  Dentist said it wasn't for infection in fact his gums were healing really well. Then that night I looked at him and his right eye - his only good eye - was blood red; the entire white of the eye was full of blood. OMG - Friday got in an emergency trip to retina doctor. Not a problem with the eye. Might have been the trama from the tooth pulling. Might want to ask heart doctor if he could get off aspirin. Cool packs. Okay. 

One of the Spheres different looks. Never know how it will look. 

The last blog I wrote I mentioned the wall hanging quilts that were on display in the Nature Center. This was my favorite. 

A close up of one of the butterflies. Amazing work. 

There were about 15 different wall hangings. All had something to do with bugs, butterflies and flowers. This one interested me too. 

And the week continued. On Sunday Bills cheek was still bothering him. We were talking about going to a clinic when he suddenly said he was dizzy and not feeling good at all. So called 911. They actually got here pretty quick. First thing they did was hook him up to an EKG. Paramedic looked at me and said, "He is in AFIB, how long has he had it?" I was stunned. I told them, he doesn't have AFib. He saw the doctor in September and he was fine. Well I guess it can come on at any time especially as we age. So off to the hospital. He spent Sunday night and most of Monday there. Heart rate was normal blood pressure was normal. But he wanted out. They wanted to do an echocardiogram but couldn't do it until Tuesday afternoon. Oh Oh, he had an appointment at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning with the Retina doctor for his eye shot. Hospital staff was not impressed. He had to stay for test or leave hospital against doctors orders. He left. No real diagnosis no meds to take home. So saw retina doctor for shot. That went okay, no problems. A couple good days and we spent a lot of time on computer looking up AFib. One thing we found out is that Prednisone especially 20mg a day and be an Afib trigger. Lovely. Saturday he went in to take a nap and was back up in about 40 minutes. He had had another AFib episode. This time he recognized what it was. The fluttering feeling.  So off to the hospital again. Different hospital. Care was excellent. When we got there heart enzymes were up a very little bit. They continued monitoring them, each time they went down. No AFib episode while we were there.  Again no diagnosis and they couldn't admit him because he showed no sign of a problem. So we came home and spent more time on internet. Found out that laying on the left side with arm extended could trigger episode. Of course that is the way he sleeps. Nothing since then. 

Sunday my walking friend and I took another 2.8 mile walk in the Wetland. Beautiful day for it. Some pictures.  Saw an egret were we've never seen a bird. In a little creek. 

There he goes, camera shy maybe. I love my camera. 

When we got up to the river we saw where he went. Hard to take a picture when he was in the weeds. 

On the way home we stopped by the Boardwalk pond and saw this turtle and coot sharing a piece of log. 

Just a beautiful day.

Walked to the other side of same pond. Same big turtle and just as we got there he was joined by a little one. 

See how little he is compared to the big ones flippers/feet.

He heard the sound of the camera and turned his head to check us out. Turning his nose up to us. 

Another look on the Sphere. Kind of weird.

Hummmmm.

I love this camera

Another week has passed already. Not much in the way of excitement going on around here. My friend and I have managed to walk in the Wetlands three times this year already. After five walks there we get a new button. Every year the Walkers program starts at zero miles. Last year we managed to get in aboutg 115 miles over there so yesterday we went to the Nature Center to pick up our 100 milestone reward. This Coffee Cup. Checking back I realized we didn't walk at all in June and only twice in July. So we did pretty good getting the 100 in. 

These pictures are from last week on our second walk of the year. It was a cold and dreary day. Even the river looks cold. We did not see one animal or any birds. Guess they are smarter than us, and stayed warm somewhere.

We had a lot of foggy mist for a couple of days.

Some of the winter colors on the bushes. 

We walk by here all the time but I don't remember seeing this interesting rock before. Lot of layers in it. I wonder where it came from originally. We got in about two and a quarter miles that day in an hour and a quarter. 

Yesterday we were walking along when we spotted this Snowy Egret all by himself in a place we've never seen any birds. Very pretty bird. And nice of him to pose for me. I love this camera with its view finder and 30x zoom.  

When we got to the river we were amazed at the amount of birds there. This cormorant was airing his pits.

And the white pelicans. We knew there were some in the area but this many at once was a real treat. Total there were nine of them.  

One was antisocial I guess. And two cormorants. 

Keeping his nose out of anyone's business. 

And much to our surprise the blue heron flew in for a visit. 

Does this count the same as ducks in a row?

Could never have got this picture without this camera. 

Same with this one. The pelicans leaving us. 

We spent about 10 minutes on the bridge just watching the birds. Then continued walking. I like this kind of sky. So pretty. These are some of the burnt trees. 

No hope for them to come back. What a shame. Last summer there were four fires in The Wetlands. These are from the biggest one. 

We continued on to the Nature Center and picked up our coffee cups and I was entranced by the art exhibit - all wall hanging quilts. Some were absolutely amazing. Will post some pictures next time.

On Monday Bill's face had swollen up from an infected tooth. He got in to the dentist on Tuesday and ended up having four teeth pulled. And is on antibiotics. He is kind of quiet but doing fine. Really like the dentist and his staff. 

And that is it for now. 

Quick walk yesterday morning.

New Years Day sunrise. So beautiful. Friend and I managed to get out and walk about 9, still cold out about 47. First time I've ever worn long pants to walk here. Cold enough we managed to do 2.5 miles in an hour and 15 minutes and  that's with stopping to talk to other walkers and stopping to look at the water fowl. 

The first time this year one of the pelicans came up to the area where we walk. Such pretty birds.  There is a whole bunch of them and Canadian Geese about 3.5 miles from our area. Still in the Wetlands. One of our neighbors has an electric bike and rides down there and takes lots of pictures. 

A heron. I' been told what kind a lot of times but always forget. 

Busy piece of the river yesterday, the heron, pelican and several cormorants. And mallards and coots. 

This is kind of scary to look out your window at. 

Well we made it to another year. If he wasn't half blind we are both doing pretty good. 

Ah - New Years Day. Dark and dreary. Lots of low clouds and fog and rain. Hope this isn't a warning for the new year. 

Today is our 61st Anniversary. So many years. So many roads traveled. We were thinking about going out to lunch but it is going to be cold and rainy all day. Do not want to drive in the rain with a bunch of hung over drivers. The drivers here on a good day are nuts. 

Yesterday I went to the cardiologist to get results from all the tests. From when I had the panic attack and ended up in the hospital a few months ago. Everything is fine. Doc says I am boring. Come back in September. Stopped in a the grocery store on way home. Note to self NEVER go to grocery store at 3:00 on New Years Eve.

Just finished backing up my computer. Try to do it the end of every month, but especially the end of the year. Still need to look into "The Cloud"