Week 43: Why I was part of both old, and New Vegas this week.

I live in Las Vegas.  Actually, I live in a place called Henderson, Nevada, but it might as well be Las Vegas.  I work in a Las Vegas hotel/casino and have been here now for over 20 years.  This week I got to be a part of both old, and new Las Vegas.  Let’s start with the new:

In modern Las Vegas you have to pay the state of Nevada to work in a casino.  Yes, you have to pay them.  It’s called a “Sheriff’s Card” or gaming/non-gaming card, or whatever else you’d like to call it.  It’s basically permission to work for five more years in a casino.  It’s also a pretty big money grab for the state of Nevada.  I HATE when my card is due!  My current “card” (I’m being generous calling it a card because they don’t even issue you an actual card anymore!) is due in December, but since I’ve been notified, I might as well get working on it now.

Back when I first moved to Nevada there was only one place you could get your Sheriff’s card.  That would be the Sheriff’s office.  And since everyone in town needed a card, you would get to the Sheriff’s office bright and early and wait in a four to five hour line to get fingerprinted, background checked, and finally you would get your card.  They did issue actual cards back then.  Today, it’s much different.

Today, I just had to go to an office where I worked, log on to a computer, assure the computer that I hadn’t been arrested, or have any child support, or any felonies, or whatever, and then use my debit card to pay $75.  Actually, they charged me $0.50 to use my card, so my total was $75.50.  I’m still not finished with all of that.  I still have to find some place to fingerprint me.  My finger prints are already on file, but I still have to have it done again every five years.  I’ll also have to pay for that, too.  Sheesh, it’s expensive to work!  But at least I wasn’t waiting in line for four hours this time!

Moving forward, let’s forget about the Sheriff’s card for a moment.  This weekend I was invited to the Neon Boneyard Park.  Usually they charge to see old Las Vegas neon signs, but for today it was free!  And it was quite a trip into the past!

Before entering the Boneyard place, I found a truck serving some food.  It was called “StripChezze”.  I don’t know what they were serving, but I loved the name!  *chuckle*

Getting inside the boneyard we began to see old, retired Las Vegas neon signs from Las Vegas past.  Those were the glory days of this town!  I found the La Concha sign.  I think this was way before my time and don’t know where this hotel was, but it looks so fabulous in old photos!

The Yucca, Las Vegas.  What was this place like?  Wow!

I remember driving by the Silver Slipper when I was a really young kid while we were passing through Las Vegas on vacation.  I don’t think we ever went in there, but I loved the neon shoe!

These signs reigned back when the hotels had “color TV” and gift shops would promise “Tender Sympathy” and "free aspirin" for a hangover.  *chuckle*

My last photo is of a giant neon duck.  I don’t know where this came from, but I loved it!  I guess I could have asked someone, but it was more fun for me to just have a photo of the duck without really knowing anything about it.  Feel free to comment if you have any idea what this neon duck is really from.

So there you have it.  This week I was part of modern Las Vegas paying for my new work card, and I also experienced some of Las Vegas’ past.  I’m sure I could have wandered around and asked everyone why there, but it was more fun just to think about those bygone days when those old places were still open.

So until next week, keep asking why.  And get out and experience part of where ever you’re at.  Fun things lurk everywhere, sometimes you just have to find them.  So do something fun, and then ask why!