Las Vegas Desert BigHorn and Rattlesnakes

While driving around Las Vegas last year, we've seen a lot of this  big horn statues along the road. I am so intrigued about it so I did a little digging online when we came back home.  I've learned that   these Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) are large sheep of desert mountains with a tan coat and white rump.  Below are its characteristics:

•  Adult males are recognized by their large, curled horns. 
• Females and young males have smaller, straighter horns. 
• Adult males weigh about 140–180 pounds, while females are somewhat smaller, weighing about 90–150 pounds. 
• They stand about 2-½ to 3-¼ feet at shoulder.

Males and females gather to breed in the fall so it's about time for them to breed this year. It's interesting to know that the males leave the females and young to form separate bachelor herds during the summer.

 We did not see any live one in Vegas but we did see some when we had our road trip from Vegas to Grand Canyon.  It was so nice seeing them.

 Aside from big horns, rattle snakes are also very common in Vegas so you will see these displays along the road walls.

 It was the hottest when we visited last year so I would love to go back there during the cooler months to fully enjoy the view. 

I think the best view we've seen in Vegas was in Boulder City.  I would have loved to walk around  the city and explore their music and food.  Maybe next time when we are given a chance to visit again.  I would love to  walk around there, it was a more relaxing atmosphere in Boulder City than downtown Vegas.

What Do You Do After a Car Accident?

There is a sense of guilt and disgrace associated with car accidents that can often prevent you from thinking clearly and taking the proper steps after you’ve been involved in a car wreck.  The feeling of shame that you are not a very good driver can creep into your consciousness and distract you from some of the important tasks you must complete after the accident. 

And do not let guilt, that you are somehow an incomplete and irresponsible person, cloud your judgment at this crucial time.  Even if the accident was your fault, remember this – accidents happen to everyone, even the best among us.  So gather your wits about you and concentrate on the following tasks and you should end up coming through this unfortunate mishap in pretty good shape.

Exchange Information with the Other Drivers

The first thing you need to do after the accident, once you make sure that not you, nor anyone else, are seriously hurt, is for all of the participants to share their pertinent information with each other.  This includes all of your names, addresses, contact phone numbers, insurance companies, policy numbers, driver license numbers and license plate numbers for everyone involved in the accident.

There is absolutely no need to argue with each other about whose fault the accident was at this point.  That will all be determined much later.  And discussions of accountability right after an accident can easily turn into shouting matches, which could be dangerous, and libelous, for you.  If other participants start doing this – whatever you do, stay out of it.

Once you gathered the information, and especially if you have input it into your smartphone, create a specific folder for this information, name it ‘Car accident’ and affix the date to that folder title. 

Then take a few pictures of the scene – anything that can help you remember details, which you may need to recall many months later.  Make sure all of these pictures go into the accident folder as well.

If any of the other drivers are reluctant to share their contact information, and especially if they don’t want to share the name of their insurance company and their policy number, you need to call the police. 

This will be a hassle and will delay moving on with the rest of your day, but you have no other choice.  Often if you explain to the emergency dispatcher that an accident participant is refusing to share insurance information, this may speed up the police response.  The main thing you want is a police report stating that this other participant in the accident refused to offer insurance information.  Your insurance company will require that police report later in the settlement process.

Hire a Lawyer

Unless your car accident is very minor, you should hire a car accident lawyer, one particularly experienced in auto accidents and the injuries that can result from these types of accidents.  There are lots of different ways to find a good attorney.  Probably the most reliable method is to benefit from the experience of friends or family members who have recently hired an attorney.  If they had a good experience, chances are, so will you.

If you can’t get a personal endorsement, try the online referral sites, such as Angie’s List and Yelp.  Be mindful when you are reading the reviews of the attorneys in your district that some of these reviewers may have a personal stake in their praise – these reviewers could be family members or close friends of the attorney, or even individuals acting as agents for the attorney who are paid to write positive reviews.  Make sure you check the history of the reviewer and inspect their other reviews to determine the validity of their praise.

Also, be wary of extremely negative reviews on these websites.  They often come from trolls, lonely people who are angry and have nothing better to do than disparage specialists and services for their own amusement.  A quick check of the other reviews by critics like these will reveal whether they are trolls or not.

Get Well

Your attorney and insurance company will make sure your car is returned to the condition it was in before the accident – or may even replace it.  That won’t be much of a problem. 

But, more importantly, your lawyer will probably ask you to be examined by a doctor to make sure there aren’t any soft tissue injuries that may not be apparent right after the accident, but can intensify after a while and even become debilitating much later in your life.

Make sure you follow the instructions of your lawyer and doctor and adhere to their recommendations for physical rehabilitation carefully.  Down the line, your life could depend upon it.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Moms

Although it’s only October, it’s never too early to start looking for Christmas gifts for your mom—especially if you’re on a tight budget and will need to save up. If you start thinking about what to buy early enough, you might even catch a good Black Friday deal that helps you save some serious cash.

 

Even though chances are no one knows your mom as well as you, that doesn’t make shopping for the perfect gift any easier. Sometimes, after years of Christmases, your ideas can start to run dry. However, with the right preparation and research, you can succeed with a great gift. Here are a few ideas for awesome Christmas gifts your mom will appreciate:

Skin Care Products

Skin care products are always a great idea when it comes to getting moms gifts. After all, there’s a reason why the skin care industry is booming, particularly among mature adults. If possible, try to stick to natural skin care products, as they’re much better in terms of health and longevity. For example, Egyptian Magic is just one product on the market that will make all the difference.

 

The company behind the all-purpose skin cream uses a proprietary blending process to create a moisturizing cream with nourishing properties, inspired by the ancient skin care regimens of the Egyptian pharaohs. It doesn’t use any added parabens, preservatives, additives, or GMO ingredients. Always look at the ingredients list when purchasing products for your friends and family. Believe it or not, there’s a long list of ingredients that aren’t good for you and are used in beauty products.

Hair Styling Tools

Hair styling tools are often used for many years until they’re replaced. Great tools are little more expensive, which is why it’s hard for a parent to feel the necessity to invest in them—especially if their old tools aren’t broken. However, these tend to make for a great gift because they stand the test of time.

Take a look at the hairstyling your mom is currently using, and use that as a springboard to replace it with a brand new and upgraded version. Pay special attention to the brands they tend to use as well. Flat irons/hair straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers are sound investments. Take a look at this article on best hair styling tools, which offers a roundup of ideas that suit a range of budgets.

Jewelry Organizers

Over the years, a mom accumulates plenty of jewelry pieces. And while jewelry is a popular gift for mothers, jewelry organizers aren’t gifted nearly as often as they should be. With a jewelry organizer, your gift recipient can keep all their jewelry in tact. And fortunately, there are jewelry organizers to suit all types of styles and tastes.

You can go for a simple fancy hanging jewelry stand that holds just necklaces or you can get a full organizer that holds a plethora of different types of jewelry. Here’s a roundup of jewelry organizers to choose from. You should also look into Etsy for a wide range of custom made organizers created by artists from all around the world. Here’s a list of what’s available on Etsy.

Cozy Home Items

There’s nothing like a gift that brings a little luxury into the house. Try putting together a basket of several cozy home items that will make your mom feel like she’s in a hotel in her own home. This might include a great bathroom, some slippers, and a fuzzy throw blanket that compliments her style. Add other nice additions to the basket like scented candles, a cashmere hat or sweater, comfy socks, fleece-lined leggings, or face cloths. There are plenty of cozy basket ideas you can come up with, and your mom will certainly appreciate the effort.

Tech Accessories

Moms enjoy catching up with the latest technology, even if they are a bit behind. And for that reason, throwing in some tech accessories to jazz up their current products is a great way to go. These help them take their devices to the next level. Here are a few tech accessory ideas:

• A photo printer that’s attached to a smartphone
• A Google Home or Amazon Echo
• Phone selfie sticks
• Car chargers
• Phone and tablet cases (especially those that double as small wallets and wristlets)
• A Popsocket to keep their phone balanced while they use it
• Portable travel charger
• Bluetooth headphones