Hello this fine morning to y'all --y'all!   The wind has been blowing like crazy for hours now and I am hoping that means a storm is on it's way.  Although I must go to work soon and can not really enjoy the rain storm much.  I am surprised it did not dump on us a few daze back, when I finally gave our vehicle a bath.  It was long over due, for sure.  Lots new to talk about  not really going to get into to much of it this fine morning.  As the coffee is still soaking into my soul--and defiantly not waking me up yet for some reason.  Speaking of coffee--since I so rarely bring it up on this blog page    ;) .....

Signs You Drink To Much Coffee:
- You answer the door before people knock.
- Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.
- You ski uphill.
- You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
- You haven't blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
- You lick your coffeepot clean.
- You're the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don't even work there.
- Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
- You chew on other people's fingernails.
- Your T-shirt says, "Decaffeinated coffee is the devil's blend."
- You can type sixty words per minute ... with your feet.
- You can jump-start your car without cables.
- Cocaine is a downer.
- You don't need a hammer to pound nails.
- Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."
- You don't sweat, you percolate.
- You buy 1/2 & 1/2 by the barrel.
- You've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
- You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.
- You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.
- You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.
- Charles Manson thinks you need to calm down.
- You've built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.
- People get dizzy just watching you.
- You've worn the finish off your coffee table.
- The Taster's Choice couple wants to adopt you.
- Starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
- Your taste buds are so numb you could drink your lava lamp.
- Instant coffee takes too long.
- When someone says. "How are you?", you say, "Good to the last drop."
- You want to be cremated just so you can spend the rest of eternity in a coffee can.
- Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil.
- You're offended when people use the word "brew" to mean beer.
- You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.
- You can thread a sewing machine, while it's running.
- You can outlast the Energizer bunny.
- You short out motion detectors.
- You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.
- Your nervous twitch registers on the Richter scale.
- You think being called a "drip" is a compliment.
- You don't tan, you roast.
- You can't even remember your second cup.
- You help your dog chase its tail

   How many signs do you have?   And do you really wish to do anything about your "problem?"

        Found this picture last night   kind of goes with all my train pictures of late.   

Out getting more pictures.  

Always!!

      Please check out my Exploring Arizona blog page.  I have been updating and getting pictures for it like crazy.  Now for free time to update and push the sight even more!   Check out all the posts so far and share and comment  so I can make the page even betterer for all!!

http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com


   

Alert reader sent me this. 

They call me Pepe at work

probably because I am the whitest boy there for sure.

Trump does not approve...

     So while it continues to be very warm here, even with the cloud cover---it just snowed back home in Wyoming.  A lot of snow.  Every year they get dumped on one last time in April it seems.  Another reason I have been stalling on traveling home.  Yes I am going to fly there, but than get a rental car.  And yes I can drive in the snow, but many of the residents can't.  Thus full coverage insurance on this rental car for my voyage.  About 0 percent of this being an issue here this April.   Although a pretty good sized earthquake was reported up near beautiful Flagstaff a few days back.   Here we are dealing with a massive fire.   Very close to hear in terms of big  fast moving fires with lots of dead beyond dry landscape in between.  Sunday I believe--I saw the start of the smoke in the hills by Mexico.  By Tuesday it had tripled in size-burning 40,000 acres.  And they were talking evacuations of the small towns very near here.  Huge winds, with no rain in those clouds, were making conditions almost imposable to predict and fight.  Someone eventually turned themselves in---as starting the fire.  The poor fool was shooting at exploding targets and set the desert on fire.  They have not pressed charges yet, but if any more communities burn down, he is screwed for a long long time.  Yesterday they finally had the blaze 60 percent contained!  And I have not heard anything about the fire all day long so far today.   So am praying the winds today are not raising havoc.  Also really hopping these dark clouds are full of rain!   
   I have seen some amazing pictures and video of the fire---but on my Exploring sight I try not to use other peoples pictures.   Here---on this page anything goes---thus why I can't go to public with this page, because everything except my thoughts is swiped of the Internets.  ;)  So on Wednesday I battled for hours with the smartness of this---and than ventured out to attempt to get well behind the fire lines and get some after shots.  Of charred ground and such.   You could not get any were close to the fire in any area.  Roads blocked off   etc.  Probably a good thing for me in all actuality.   I did spot some areas fully on fire, and I could have accessed them, but it was than 7 at night, and they were ten miles away at least on a trail I would have to walk.   I did manage to sneak some kool pictures that evening though.   Of the sunset and such---   All of the smoke in the sky kind of gave them a creepy look.   Today I am only going to share a couple of these pictures.    More tomorrow!   

I got lots of pictures of this here barn too.  

Just down the road from our house. 

I pulled up just as the light was hitting perfect.

More pictures next post    if your lucky!

Making A Splash San Pedro--ST David

Another blog post first published in my Exploring Arizona blog page.

Check them all out!!

http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/

          I would like to thank everyone that is making my local train engine bone yard Exploring post so popular!  That post alone has 1200+ views the short time it has been up for reading.  Making it my most read blog posting by far---ever!  Please feel free to help share all the posts on this page --like crazy, until I stop slacking and promote this page much more to greater Tucson and beyond.  I have so many new posts and pictures to put up on this very page----so please keep checking back for updates.   For more Exploring and personal pictures please check out my longest running blog page  ---I update it much more often too----at    www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

      So today is a rare day off work and I thought I would post at least once today.  Which is becoming even more rare than days off of work for me.  ;)   My puppy, Shadow and I are hanging out at the homestead trying to beat the heat, and thinking about all of the chores I should be doing.  I am also trying to monitor the huge forest  fire that is creeping very close to our area---- with the high winds the last few days --it is spreading super fast and hard to contain I am sure.  Stay safe out there ---my readers!   More on this --when I know more.  I have some amazing shots that other people have takin' ---but I try to keep only my pictures on this page.  I am debating trying to sneak well behind the fire line ---and get some after shots later this evening.  I also feel I could get some great sunset pictures in, because of all the smoke and such altering the sky for the better come sun set time.  Of course this will become a post if I decide I have the balls to venture out later.      Today I post about a recent Exploring trip where I had a rare Saturday off and our youngest and puppy went along with me.  

   The river is just a trickle right now---but still water!  And walking and playing in it was very relaxing all day long.  Some places were actually kind of deep.  And we found out that Shadow loves splashing and frolicking the water-to no end.  We followed a run off just to the left of the monastery  on this day after parking at the monastery itself.  You can avoid going through barbed wire fences and such if you just hike through the beautiful grounds--heck there is even a trail right down to the water--but we have done this before.  Besides with sad word of the grounds closing soon, you will have to find new ways to Explore this area.  Look!  We found one for you right here!  ;)   Always here to help.    I have several Exploring posts on this very page from the amazing monastery also that you should feel free to check out. 

Watch out for low branches!

Lots of creatures to Explore

Like these tadpoles  

and lots of minnows were darting about. 

We even found a few frogs

     The water path was mostly shallow and thin but it roams across the country side so much, we soon found it easier to just walk in the cool water instead of trying to jump over time and time again.   

      As I said Shadow loved the water and would not stray far from it.  At one point -when we were not watching she found a huge cow pie to roll around in.  And we soon found a deeper section of river and dunked/washed her clean.  

     I might have got to many water pictures, but again any time we find water in Arizona, I get lots of pictures and very excited.  We lived in Washington for many years, and it is hard to get a good picture without water in the pictures.   While roaming some extra wide areas it was kind of amazing to think how all of the area would be under water when the stream was really going.  

Caterpillar cacoons every where!

Several miles in to the hike I ventured up the dirt banks to see what I could see.

I found several very nice homes surrounded by this perfectly maintained set of soccer fields. 

With amazingly green grass galore. 

Complete with goal posts and all.

Strange for being in the middle of no where. 

Just to the right of the soccer fields. 

Literally feet away.

We easily went at least three miles on this day.

You can just spot the fake flowers at the top of this dirt ridge.

The property owners up there also had several fake flamingos on display

A dirt road soon passed through the water bed 

and we followed it out to eventually find civilization.

I have already pictured this tree a ton  but think it is beyond kool!

I will have to look up the name of this road but we found it an quick and easy route back.  But it landed us across from the cemetery in ST David. 

Close to our house but not real close to were the car was parked.  

I sent our son across the street and home with the puppy and than hoofed it back to our vehicle using my Lambre-feeties    as my wife likes to call walking feet. 

Sunset from the homestead.

One worn out puppy!

But that was short lived.  

That night it was time for a calming bon fire.

    Next I hope to locate my pictures past from Bisbee.    The big B here shown above an amazing coffee shop down town.  I have climbed to the top of the B   and in doing so realized it is hot in Arizona---always, and that I am out of shape.   

     Until than     as always

     HAPPY TRAILS!!!

Fine Paying & Hanging With The Wife

                  **"You can't say happiness without saying Penis!"**---Just sayin'

   There's a dumb ass between the Y and I on your keyboard.                    Look.

   **"I put Redbull in my coffee instead of water today and now I can see noises!"**

Did I fail to mention that today is also the Dreaded Monday?

My pet name at the casino I work at.  

Or the casino I gamble at.

Also the book title of a book we found today. 

    Howdy all!   As the sun has pretty much disappeared for yet another day --I am pleased of a few things.  I am pleased that it is eight at night --and we just now have to turn inside lights on.  I am please that we got some things done on our to do list today  for sure and for a change.  I am pleased that the Mrs and I hung out all day long and actually had a good --non fighting time.  But mostly I am pleased that I did not have work today, and will not again tomorrow.  And that with the now dark skies, it is very nice temperature outside.  Although it is now to dark out to read the thermometer.  ;)   It is still spring time, so not to stressfully and or un Godly hot out yet.  Pretty soon it really stays to hot to sleep, eat, move, or breathe until about 2 AM.  When you can sneak in a few hours of sleep  without sticking to your bed sheets, or partner before the heat kicks back in again.  The ADOT -transportation dept. overhead signs have been entertaining to me for awhile now, but I really like the newest one proclaiming, "that is the temperature, not the speed limit, slow down!"
    Any time I make it to Bisbee Arizona, I enjoy myself and get some great pictures.  There is so much to do there, and defiantly something new to see around every turn.  I have several Exploring blog posts from there that are picture filled of course, and today's trip makes me wonder what happened to my pictures from the last trip  months ago.  Were I finally made it to the old cemetery there.   I will have to dig through my pictures although I already know I am months behind on posts in my Exploring page.  On that day I was attempting to fight a traffic ticket I had gotten while getting our pickup out of impound.  I thought if I talked to the judge I might be able to keep some of my hard earned cash.   Turns out he had an emergency and did not make it to court that day, joys of small town living---but I could still pay the fine in full!   I decided to attempt court another day and roamed around getting lots of pictures.   As I said I need to find those and post right away!  Today was mainly because I never made it back to Bisbee for court.  Whoops.  They were about to suspend my licence and I am on the road way to much to gamble with that.  That is the kind of gamble from my past.  When I may or may not have went eight years with no licence.  ;)  Anyways I had my beautiful wife drive--in case this getting a ticket thing was now chronic when I went to beautiful Bisbee.  And on the small chance I had already lost my licence and they wished to talk to me further from a jail cell, until the judge arrived the next morning.  So my morning started by donating a lot of cash.  But for a good cause--those police departments need most of our cash.  And keeping me on the road and able to get to work helps me pay the police department more next time they pull me over for random BS.   
      After that expensive chore ---we had some us time.  And as I said it was nice.  And much needed.  

Coffee break time!

And a bag of yummy-yummy fudge. 

For the kiddos of course. 

The Big B over the town.  

Over a very fine coffee house. 

Great coffee shops are few and far between around here  but Bisbee has several

On my last Exploring trip I decided to climb to the top of the big B  

I made it   but quickly recalled it is hot in Arizona and 

I am out of shape.  

Do as the banner says

Peep   spotted way up the side of a building in a flag pole holder.

More pictures soon of course, when I feel like it.  Although we were mostly just living in the moment and 

I did not snap to many pictures today.  

Late Afternoon Exploring & A Few More Trains

                                       I find very few dirt roads non appealing.

       First off I would like to thank everyone that viewed my last post!   And there were a lot of you.  That makes me smile.  ;)  That Exploring *About the train engines* Arizona blog page alone already has over 700 views and it has not been up more than a week yet.  I have been working on getting off my butt -and Exploring, taking pictures, and promoting this page---usually in that order.   But all those views makes me wish to post more!   Today I had a rare Tuesday off work---even more rare since we were just closed down for four days over Easter, and than I worked Monday and, Bam got another day off work.  Today was going to be about running errands with my beautiful wife, but she was feeling sickly.  I don't sit around the house well, and around one in the afternoon I grabbed my camera and jumped in our vehicle.  After I got all those pictures of the train engines last week, I quickly returned to I-10 and zoomed back towards home.  But while nearing the highway on ramp, I noticed the road I was on continued into the distance and was paved.    This afternoon that is were I returned.  To Explore where that road would take me.  Again thank you for being a reader!   And please share -- share  -- share this link if you like what you see here!    Also my long time personal blog page has lots to offer from Exploring, to more of my personal pictures, to gallons of coffee love.  And I usually update it more often than this blog page.   Check it out:  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

   Off I-10 just past the Marsh Station exit, there are a few blog posts on this very page that start around Marsh Station.   Heading towards Benson or Texas, the next exit is Empirita Road.   At the above sign   if you venture right   it soon dead ends or you end up back on the interstate.  Today took us to the left.  And  it starts as a well maintained oil/asphalt road.  Just past the large boarder patrol tower it turns dirt road, but is still nicely maintained.  With few washboards    at least on this day.  

Another long set of train engines.  

I actually missed the exit today   

and ventured just up the road to the Marsh Station exit to loop back around. 

Here even the desert plants tell you what way to go. 

Just past the above pictured road sign. 

View from my parking spot today.

   I actually strayed away from the private property on this fine day.    Although I was very curious what this ranch might look like.      Just to the left of this was a main dirt road, less restricted, but rough enough looking I did not want to drive any further.  Plus I needed to Explore.  

Cheater cattle guard walkway cover.

For weenies.  

In case your not fully sure what a cattle guard is for.

       Speaking of cattle, I soon got bored of the main road and ventured on some well worn cattle trails through the brush.   At one point these went through river run offs, and on the way back I may have lost my way for a little while.  ;)   I knew were my vehicle was and were I wanted to be, but the cow trails were running out and I have issues walking through open desert --especially when tall weeds are abound.  Mainly that I deathly afraid of snakes.  In all my Exploring of Arizona --both times we have lived here I have seen surprisingly few snakes.  And I am just fine with that.   I also wish I had pictures from all of our Exploring when we lived in the beautiful state before.  But since I try to keep this page very up to date, and that was years ago, we will just have to Explore all these areas again!  At the point of being lost, I was also fearing I was nearing the ranch property and true ranchers like there privacy and shoot with great accuracy.  Just sayin'

I thought this was a very kool old tree!

I am always surprised this time of year how green the desert really is. 

View of part of the ranch    from very far away.
I just have a good zoom on my camera. 

    This is all I have to share today.  I got a late start on my Exploring today, and it was rather warm out.  I really did not notice this until I was lost.  I hope you enjoyed!

       Next Exploring blog post we make a splash down by the San Pedro River.  Which was just a trickle of water.  But still water in the desert.  It amazes me how much area this river curves and wanders around on it's way to the Gulf of Mexico.  

As always

HAPPY TRAILS!!