Sunday, September 28, 2014

9/28/2014 Another Month About To Bite The Dust.




              Hello!   As many of  you ---including the great state of Wyoming, seem to be jumping right over fall and going right into winter--we are really enjoying the cooler temperatures finally moving into the desert.  I love many of the fall and winter holidaze.  Although it is a long drive to see any fall colors from here.  And not ever having to change our clocks in the state of Arizona is beyond great.  Although I find I never know what time it is, when I try to call my family and friends.  I think the worse part of fall may very well be that everything from coffee to air fresheners turns to pumpkin flavor.   I strongly believe the only things that should taste or smell like pumpkins is pumpkin pie, pumpkins, and maybe jack o lanterns. 


     Tomorrow is National coffee day!   Like I do not celebrate this every day.  At any rate if you have a Pilot truck stop near you--you can download a coupon and get free coffee there in the morning.   And I do believe it is the last day of free coffee's at Mc Donald's also.  I am still not sure why--but free things always taste betterer!   OK not always, those free Maxi pads left a strange taste in my mouth. 







     **So you took the time to find a picture clip ---saved it--and posted it here to show us how little you care about the topic?? Kudos!**---- I have several pages online.  And other people often annoy me on these pages.  I posted the above after someone put a picture link on my page describing how no one cared about my long winded topic.   The other thing I really dislike is people that write and announce that they are leaving the page.  Why they dislike the page, why they are leaving, how much they dislike the page owner   etc etc etc.   Just leave the Dam page, it does not have to be an all day event. 





 

**
Is a sign that says "cash only" prejudice to other forms of payment? And is this only for American cash? Change bills??**----   Just curious.   I am so tired of political correctness.   About the only PC term I tend to use a lot is   "vertically challenged."

 
My wife prefers to say she is "fun sized."


                            **"Support the economy    Buy more ammo!"**

                                                  **"Water makes me wet!"**


  
    **So at work---I work in a casino--- right across from the restaurant I work in are two huge slot machines. I watch people hit $$ on them all the time. This morning some lucky guy won $2555! I really want to drop $50 on max bet into the machine some day but my buddy says I will only get max screwed in doing this. lol**


 
    **"Just killed a black widow on our front deck. O the joys of living in AZ were everything is sharp-- including the grass and everything wants to kill you."**---This also includes my co workers it seems.   ;)

 
 
 
Want to feel small?
The above picture does a great job of that for me.
 
 
 
And now for your moment of Zen.....
 
 
 
 

Friday, September 26, 2014

A Hike In Beautiful Saguaro National Park--Tucson Arizona

 


        **Another blog post first published in my Exploring Arizona page!   Please check out all the posts and pictures and share them!!    http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com  **





  



                         I might have mentioned a that a few months back a buddy of mine came to the area to visit.  While he was here we crammed in as much Exploring as possible.  Years ago we used to go on long hikes and than pull the closing shift at work.  Few other people seem to go on hikes with us more than once.  Mainly because one of our hikes seems to involve getting lost, a lot of cussing, falling down hills, and a lot of repeating the phrase "This is stupid!"   We said the this a lot on this hike.   Mostly because we found ourselves high up on a mountain-- trying to climb at about noon.  Never the best idea in the middle of the desert.  We also spend a lot of time wondering what happened to our youth and more importantly all the energy we used to have.   My wife seems to wonder the same thing.   On this day we ventured to Saguaro National Park.


 
We hit several neat spots on this day around Tucson.
I have a whole list of places in the area I want to visit.
And am slowly working on the list. 
As our personal bank account grows, so will the adventures. 
Across this entire amazing state!
 
 
So many trails   So little time!
 
 
I am always amazed at the huge variety of plants that thrive in this area.
And try to capture different plants in each post.
 
 
 
 
On this day -first we visited the information center. 
And than drove around the twisty roads taking in the sights.
At one point -we decided this hill would be a great place to attempt to climb. 
 
 
I am still not sure why the best hikes are always greatly up hill!
 
 
 
Before and after cactus style. 
 
 
 
 
 
Nearing the ridge. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some views from the top.
 
And some well earned time to catch our breath.
Only to loose it again from the view. 
 
 
 
 
Greetings!!
 
 
 
 
So this whole time we kept wondering why we did not see another person on the trail.
As the sun grew higher and higher we deeply started to regret playing mountain goats.  Near the ridge --we did get some cross winds. 
My shorts were covered in tiny cactus points  almost to small to see. 
As we walked on the prickly points would work there way into our skin, not out -and to the ground. 
When a large group or even one of them connected with the skin, we would yelp out in pain and than exclaim again how -not smart this hike might of been. 
I would like to say the way back down was easier,
but time consuming because we had to wind back down the hill attempting not to fall or
touch any more cactus. 
 
It seemed like the more we walked --the further the car got from us. 
I was sweating so much that all of my sun screen was now in my eyes.
Making navigation even easier of course.
And at this point-- it was high noon, and the sun was just above us.
I had work later that evening and was already thinking of reasons to call in.
Top of the list could have easily been a broken leg. 
 
 
 
Suddenly---minutes away from the car my buddy found a sign facing the other way from us.
He rushed around to read it.
And than started laughing very loudly. .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This was facing the parking lot, but we had by-passed it some how. 
We had seen no one else the entire time---because we were not actually on a trail.
 
Sorry park rangers!  
 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

He Was As Popular As A Turd In A Punch Bowl!


 
Amen to that!


                         A hearty hello this fine evening!   First off I would like to thank all of my viewers to this page.  The more I try to define this page, and set goals for it, the more my mind seems to stray.    I am happy to say that my thoughts here do not usually make it obvious that my mind seems to have a permanent home in the gutter and does not stray far from there.  Making me the person at the party that is often by themselves and possibly not minding that loneliness.   The life of the party until they start speaking---don't like my thoughts--don't ask me for advice or read my blogs--- just like a lone turd in the punch bowl.  This page most often resembles a journal for me.  And I enjoy reading past posts quite a bit.  To see if I have grown in the years I have been writing these.  And to see what has been on my mind, and what I have been up too.  I hope that you the reader also like the journey.  Through the random rambling and around the poo in the punch!   If it was Hawaiian Punch -the poop might actually make it taste more appealing.  ---Just sayin'   All that said--- I am not sure where I was going with this sentence anymore.  I thank all of my readers from the top and bottom of my heart!   Truly.  And I know you are out there    just this page of mine is about to hit 34,000 views! 




      I have other pages too!   Here is the run down on a few of the betterer ones.  Better at least in my eyes.   But what do I know??

Rains back---seems like a great time to check out some of MY pages. Maybe a great Exploring blog---read them all and tell me what you think! And than roam around this page.



** My "Mini Rants" will make you smile.
...
400+ blog posts to roam through.

Surly one will even make you smile!
http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/


**My second blog series has some of my best personal pictures and lots of Exploring!**
Please take a look around.

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

Newest blog page takes us ALL around beautiful Arizona
http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/

**Tell me what you really think about all of my thoughts!**
This page gets updated first.

I love all comments good bad or ugly!

And I really love haters!

So please share.
Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head
 
 
 
     So the other day I was talking about gloom and doom and rain and flooding and depressed storms--O my!   Since it took me awhile to get back to the subject I hope that no one was waiting with bated breath to see if we got washed away into the Mexican Ocean.  Or wherever all our water goes.  Water does not stick around long in the desert.  Part of the problem in this big storm.  Luckily Tucson and our area did not see to many problems.  Although much of the rain came our way.  Local rivers are still way above normal.  Actually they are usually dry, so WAY above normal.  And many places saw some flooding.  But all in all it was a very calm storm for Arizona.  Luckily for us all. 
   I did spend lots of time arguing with ill informed Tucson residents that were very angry that the storm was not really much of anything.  They had missed several days of work, because of threats of a huge storm and were mad about loosing cash and pay.  Probably not as mad about missing work time.  I was thankful that the storms were not that bad and still think that missing a few days of work, beats having your home or family wash away in the flood waters.  Plus think how many days of work one would miss if they died in the huge storm?  But as many times seems to be the case, me using logic made me the turd in the drink.  ;)
     As the storm grew nearer and the rain got worse, and the flash flood warnings got extended, I was actually pretty nervous about a very bad after effect for our area.  We started to see pouring rain about 9 PM and well after midnight the rain had still not let up.  I did not sleep much that first night, fearing waking up to a trailer surrounded by water and a town that needed to file for an emergency plan.  Some how things were not that bad at all for us.  I do not know where all the water went, but it did not pool up in our town.  I do have some pictures of local back ups of water.  No actual flooding.  But I will post them next blog.  For they are still in my camera. 
 
 
Actual sign from Tucson
Where city officials handed out 1,000's of sand bags.
 
 
 
 
And now a few of the many slam jokes I have about a little city
named Detroit.....
 
 
 
 
 
Tomorrow just happens to be Monday so I thought I would share this now.
 
 
 
 
My wife's grandmother is coming to visit us this week.
She is an amazing person, but I can't help but find it odd that she is coming all the
way from Washington to visit.  Many times it was hard to catch up with
her in the same state.  Never the less  I/we are VERY glad she is coming to visit!
 
In preparation I have been trying to go through all of my pictures and organize them.
Mainly so that I could make her a special gift. 
I have a lot of pictures so this is no small task.
From pictures of the kiddos   to Exploring pictures to just random pictures I use for my pages.
 
Today I want to share three of my favorite pictures of our amazing kiddos!
 
 
Two years ago we escaped to Mt Vernon Washington
and went to the amazing tulip festival. 
 
 
 
On WWU campus Belingham WA
while we were visiting all of the sculptures and artwork on the large campus.
 
 
Train ride we all took out of Bellingham, WA
Seahawk Pride!
 
Each of these adventures just happens to also have it's own blog post  in case you were wondering!  
 
Next  I feature my favorite tree pictures from across the country. 
 
 
 
 

Z Z Top Concert

 
 
   **Another thrilling blog post first published in my newest Exploring sight     Check all the posts out at    http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com  **
 
 


         About a month ago on what started out to be a beautiful night, but was soon very full of rain--our oldest and I ventured to Tucson for a great concert.  I happen to work at Casino Del Sol and they give out tickets to many of the concerts to workers plus one guest.  I find myself at work during most of the concerts, because that is were the tip money is at for sure.  It just happened on this night I was off work.  A few days before, I asked our fourteen year old to Google some Z Z Top--and tell me what he thought of the classic music.  They have been playing concerts for 40+ years now, so finding the music was easy.  He liked what he heard, and was more than ready to come along with me that night.  Especially because the next day was a school day and we would be out late.  I have not been to a concert for a very long time so I was also very excited.

 
 
 
My camera decided to stop working before the main act.
So I am very sad to say I have no actual pictures of the seasoned bearded performers. 
This is the casino's stock picture and I hope it is fine to use it. 
 
 
At first the real show was the amazing sun set. 
It started out as a great almost cloud less night.
 
 
 
 
 


 
We found a prime spot on the bright green grass - wishing we had brought a blanket or two.
 
 
As it grew darker the clouds started to move in.
And the show again was in the sky.
With the clouds growing ever darker.
And the lightning moving in.
 
All the band equipment was covered just in case.
 
And as the opening acts came out  we thought the rain was going to blow around us.
 
 
                                                   Still dry as Jeff Beck put on a great show. 

 
On one of the many big screens.
 
 
 
 
 

 
As they were exciting the stage the rain started to dump down.
In fact the area was starting to flood out.
And we were soon completely soaked.
At one point we joined some concert goers by the fence line, and helped hold up a beer banner over all our heads to stay dry.
 
 
                      The beer tents were packed because they had beer and because they were covered. 

   Soon enough the rain moved on, and we could leave our cover and enjoy the rest of the show.

As I said my camera gave out before the main act.  But it was an amazing show and night. 

            Next post more adventures with my buddy while he was in the area visiting. 
For all of our Exploring please check out my first blog page  at     www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com