ST David Monastery Another Fine Day Exploring Arizona!

    **Another amazing Exploring blog post first published on my newest sight    Please come Explore with us, and check out all the posts across amazing Arizona!  http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/**

        Hello everyone!   So I have been greatly slacking on posting on this page.  For many reasons.  But I have not been slacking on Exploring and taking new pictures!  Both huge stress reliever for me.  Tonight because a loved one is once again in the hospital, I find I can not sleep---and wish to post at least once to get the ball rolling again on this great page.  As always this page stays mostly local and is all Exploring done by myself and my kiddos.   All of the pictures are my own. I hope you enjoy---and share the links to help this page grow!  

     A few weeks ago, when my car was still running well---our youngest--who is now twelve, some how, and I ventured Trinity Monastery in St David.  I have passed the place many times---and have always thought in the back of my mind that I wanted to look around.  But have never had the time to actually stop and look around.  Plus the thoughts bouncing in the back of my head about nuns running up and throwing holy water on me because the could tell I had not been to church in awhile, and me melting/withering away like the evil witch on "The Wizard of Oz."  In all actually we went on a Sunday and did not see any nuns or anyone holding holy water.  Unfortunately because it was a Sunday the museum and thrift store were closed.  Pity -both looked pretty interesting, at least through the many windows.  On this fine day we were greeted with full on sunshine, and at least an hour to kill.  

              If you have never been---Driving towards Tombstone soon after the major curve in the road in the heart of St David watch for the above huge cross on the right side of the road.  Once you can fully see the cross, you have passed the turn by the way.   So also watch for the large gates and signs.  I must say the grounds and building are all kept up amazingly.  Allowing for lots of picture opportunities.  I also believe my son might have snapped more shots than I did on this day, but I don't currently have access to any of his pictures from the great day. 

Some fall leaves to enjoy with the cross just in the back ground could be spotted just outside the main parking lot.  

A large book store was here--but also closed because we happened to visit it all on a Sunday. 

These plants droop over to make an amazing back drop.

Inside view. 

Just beside the chapel.

Burial plots with quite the view!

Ponds and trails were also plentiful on the property. 

And of course any time I spot water in Arizona, I snap a picture of the rare sight.

Taking the lead.

Another small grave yard near by.

Also beautifully maintained. 

Super neat---at least to me large old trees  down another trail we found. 

An old well perhaps?

Main pond further down the trail.

You can just make out the large statue in the middle.

Here the many ducks follow your every move.  

Hopping you are going to drop some food!

Gated off reflection area and quiet zone. 

Complete with more water and huge KO fish.

Closer to the main buildings peacocks run wild. 

We kept attempting to get shots with there amazing feathers out for show. 

Past the main buildings we found leads to more trails.

Down by the river!

This really was a most enjoyable day. 

And I wish I had stopped sooner to check things out. 

I do believe I will stop back on a week day when all the closed buildings are open. 

3/4/2016

                          **"I must say it is a bad day when you argue with yourself, and loose!"**

                                                 **"Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?"**

                                                                              **"I'd give my right arm, to be a juggler!"**

              Hello pot of coffee/Hello faith full readers!  Today is a very rare Friday at work that IS my Friday at work.  Last week was rodeo week in Tucson--don't you know.  And although I did not make it to any of the actual events---many of them came to the casino I work at.  It was plum packed all week long--and full of cowboy clad customers.  Although much calmer than any rodeo week I ever worked in Sheridan Wyoming, my home town.  So much so--busy wise, that I worked seven daze in a row.  Enough to make one weak!  And it was crazy busy each one of those days.   Great for tips, hard for any type of life away from work--beyond sleeping mostly.  Because of this ignorant volunteering, after tonight I get three days off in a row.  I will get back to y'all how I feel about that.  I have a ton on my to do list--but also no working vehicle, no tax return, and have been hearing nothing from my wife --to brighten or sour more, my days.   Hopefully with enough coffee, enough sunshine, and enough stollin Wi-Fi, all of my tasks will still get accomplished.  At the current rate-- the odds of actually having all of these days off work is very low.   Today is also the last day our current main boss is in office.  She is leaving us----  and I am more than a little worried about who will be taking over.  Although this boss rarely agrees with me--she defiantly has always had my back.  I can't say that a lot of the people that applied for the position would.   But luckily with all my years working at Wally World---I learned how to always cover my own back side.   I did last there eight years---something most people are amazed of, when  I start telling stories of working there.  ;)   Speaking of that, in May I will have been at this current job for two full years---sure does not seem like it.   

                                                              Near the zoo in the park---Tucson, AZ
Come Explore with me MANY new pictures and posts coming to all my sights but most deff. my local and newest page Exploring amazing Arizona Please check it out and share the link....http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/ 

                                                               Downtown Tucson Arizona
     

True story

Is this what they call a car pool in the big city's??

To soon?

Speaking of the above---I just watched a clip from one of the Back to The Future movies---where "Marty" jumped into the future--and Trump  the Trump was president----pretty funny and worth looking up.....

Assignment Filler

      **Writers note:     I am currently taking a restaurant/motel manager certification class.  The instructor from a local college comes to our casino every Tuesday.  The casino pays for everything ---unless we do not finish the class with a C grade or betterer. I am currently very behind.  But this is an amazing opportunity, so have been quickly trying to catch up.  We just had to write a report on a restaurant we had recently visited--tuff assignment right?  Anyways I am going to post this as my blog post for the moment, but while you are reading this, am working on a new blog post---and a pot of coffee!

      HRM 110

Project 1 Marketing

     With three kids, full time work, and a wife that is diabetic and in and out of the hospital a lot it seems right now--going out to eat is usually not an option for us.  Enjoying the experience is a seldom found privilege for us.  Although we try to sneak away from the kids and eat some were good as much as life allows.  If we have the kids with us, it is usually a quick in and out meal.  Last week after visiting my wife who was admitted to TMC hospital, I noted that there was an Apple Bee's on Grant Road.  I personally love the restaurant.  But had not been able to find one in Tucson before this.  The only places my wife and I repeatedly visit are The Olive Garden--- hidden meaning in our long relationship, and Denny's   A place that is consistently the same, no matter where you visit.    A few days later after a check up doctors visit, we stopped at Apple Bee's.

     It has been three years since we have been to an Apple Bee's and the menu has changed a lot.   But everything on the menu and advertised looks amazing.  From there commercials to there on table tablets---advertising is key.   Multiple menus--and ads all over the table, the server mentions random specials while placing our drink orders.  The on table tablet lets you play games and such, BUT is also loaded with more ads and deals the restaurant has to offer.  It was almost over kill---like stepping into an online store jammed full of pop up ads.  Like they were pushing there deals at us, not a bad thing, but they had SO many deals to offer.  The target market seemed to be twenty something diners to about forty year olds.  But there was so much marketing for sales going on at once, it was a turn off for me. Luckily my beautiful wife's company was enough to keep me there.  

     We did pick a great two for one meal deal.  With an appetizer, two meals, and a desert for only twenty dollars.   The food was amazing, and after ordering, the sales pitches pretty much stopped.   And we were left to enjoy the great food and attmospehere.   The food was just like I recalled from the past, and a major reason we visited that day.  All of the products were amazing.  And a quick scan of the adult beverage menu offered some favorite choices of mine---including "Fat Tire" beer.  Although we did not indulge on this day.   A mental note was takin' for our next visit.   

      The property was not very appealing---at least on the outside.   Just off of Grant Road--and mainly surrounded by lots of parking lot and other low end businesses.  I believe there were a few dying bushes outside surrounded by rocks.  And of course lots of pavement.  Inside is a different story.  Very homey and comforting.  With local decor all over the walls.  Each location appears to be the same inside at first glance ---but the pictures and decor of each are catered to the town or city they are in.  Or even neighborhood, if several stores can be found in the same city.   I enjoy this.  

       Maybe I do not pay attention---or maybe until just lately I did not have access to local TV stations.  But it took us three years of living here to find this location.  They do any amazing job of product marketing once inside the location.  Although I felt there was to much product marketing going on at the same time.   Where it was hard to focus on any one deal.   But there focus on getting people to there location has been lost---at least to us.  

        The service, store cleanliness, attitude, and food was amazing.  And now that we know where the restaurant is located, we will defiantly be back.  The outside of the store could have been spruced up a lot in my eyes, but the looks outside would not keep me from coming back.  Although I could see how this might keep diners in there perfect market from even stopping at the location.  It is not enticing from the outside at all, except for the stores name and brand.  I also noted that almost no menu items were near the healthy range.  Most items were deep fried or the likes.  I personally did not have a big issue with this selection, but feel many people in our target age bracket are much more health concerned.  My wife is also diabetic as are many people, and found it hard to order things she was supposed to eat.  But that goes for many restaurants.   

Mmmmm Coffee!

             Hello everyone.   And by everyone---I mean the one lonely/lost Internet surfer that just happened across my page this fine day!  If you can imagine it is full on sunny outside today for day number 215 in a row---welcome to the desert!  I am sitting here sweating this fine morning, but drinking coffee--watching a family move into the apartment across the way.  Mostly glad that it is not me moving, or helping them move.  I have a ton of moves under my belt---and it seems that for the most part we have moving down to an art.  Any type of move.  It also seems that my family and I are constantly moving, in a pattern just away from each other.  So what am I going to write about today?   No I am asking y'all----because some days I have an actual topic for these posts.   Most daze though --even I am surprised what gets discussed.  I have brought up before how I would love to own a coffee house---but fear I would drink away most of my own profits.  Maybe open a topless coffee shop and call it Perkies?  Just don't ask for fresh milk for your coffee!----Maybe that should be the slogan.   Just down the street I would open a liquor store ---- to cover both bases of the drinking day.   I wish to call this booze provider The 13th Step!  In coming up with all of this, I must say I have to much free time for sure.  ;)

    Work is always majorly busy--- the publicity people for the casino I work at are amazing at keeping people wanting to come through the doors.  But of course some days are much crazier than others.   And some are just plain heck with a capital ECK!  A few nights back the power went out in our whole area.  When this used to happen when I worked at Wally World---we had to attempt to get all of the customers out of the store---telling them it was for there safety, but mainly to keep them from stealing multiple crapily assembled items.  I say attempt, because the customers did not wish to leave---and because most of the workers were actually busy finding places to hide in the dark so they could jump out on co workers when the lights soon came back on.  This casino has multiple generators and you usually can not really even tell the lights went out.  But this was a big outage.  In fact the whole place went black for about five minutes.  Most power was quickly restored---but on this night ALL of the other food outlets had to close there doors for about three hours.  We some how were the only outlet mostly open --and it was beyond busy.   In fact it was an hour wait for a table during this whole time.  It was beyond crazy---and since we mostly had full power--we would have been more than glad to share our power with the other restaurants.  One saving grace---with the other joints closed, many of the workers had nothing to do---instead of being sent home, they came to our restaurant and helped bail us out.  I believe at one point we had 12 cooks behind the line --multiple table bussers-etc.  Yes it was great tip money once again that night, but the jury is still out if it was worth it.  

True story--except I use a coffee can.

         Once again I am going to promote my newest Exploring blog page.  Please check it out!!  And share the link when you enjoy what you see.  I know I keep promising this---but MANY new pictures and updates are in the works.   http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/

But I like to color!

Earliest picture of me I could find.  

Now that's funny right there--

I don't care who you are. 

2/26/2016

             Hello this early a** morning to all y'all!!   I hate to proclaim that I am in a very bad spot in many ways right now.  A spot that I fear no amount of adult beverages could get me out of.  A spot that after all of these years, I should not be in.  This time I can not/will not let her win  will not let the booze take priority   I can not let her get the best of me this time around.  Although I might very well soon have to vacate Arizona to escape the memory's.  I am only in this God awful---home of the Devil, because of her and the kiddos.  I can not go any further in this right now---but I can say I am beyond sad and heart broke and beyond angry this time around.  I have lost everything that is me, lost a lot of years, lost myself fully, lost my chain of thought, my drive, a few good friends, lost my balls, Although they are in a jar over her fire place, and in the full divorce I should get one ball back----half of everything .....    I can't loose anything anymore.  Although the trail to my happiness now appears to be highly grown over.  I have put myself last for so long for no real reason, that I am no longer really sure what I really even enjoy.  No wonder I am suddenly single, I am such a push over I could even push myself over I fear.  A shell of a man for sure---one must love them self fully before they can love anything else, and I don't.   I don't like anything about what I have become.  A very hard fact as I find myself living in a studio apartment.  I was so worried about us  that I didn't see the big a** cliff in the distant horizon.  A cliff I am now dangling onto ---praying for my life with all of my might.  To an amazing God, I have also put not in the back seat   but in the back seat of a limo sized bus.  And surprise !   This cliff I am hanging off of with buzzards circling me in the air and lions circling below, angry lions, is a huge cliff.   A cliff that would make any over look into the grand canyon seem like a baby canyon.  Where am I going with all of this???   You don't know either??  Only time, a lot of booze, and gaining at least one of my balls back will tell for sure were all of this rambling and my life will go from here.   But rest assured this blog page will reveal what I learn along the way.  Maybe I will find my true love actually loves me back.  maybe I will feast on the circling lions.  Maybe I will  find and release a huge trouser snake.  maybe just maybe I will love life again. Maybe I will find a way to finish this very long paragraph.    But at the moment I must say I am very angry, lonely, confused, and or lost.  And that is a very dangerous combo.   Here is to making right choices and living life again!   This very page has seen me through a lot, although I try to keep away from the highly negatives.   

      Speaking of the good----a few nights ago in my class at work we ventured to the world class steak house and spent two of the classes three hours learning all about wine!   I have to say it was an amazing class!  At the start we had to sign an agreement, that we indeed work for the casino, and would not indulge to much  and would present ourselves as workers.  Maybe because we were tasting 20 some different wines on that night.  Pared up with some amazing food from the steak house.  Along with some great knowledge on the wines and wine in general.  I have to say that I do not really enjoy wine   but have a better appreciation of wine now, and DID enjoy that night.  ;)

     I do not officially have Internet at home again----so posting on any page is a challenge many daze.  I also do not currently have reliable transportation once again---BUT that said, I am hoping to post a ton on this very page AND on my local Exploring page.  I have lots of pictures and Exploring to talk about on my newest page------and I hope you enjoy everything each page has to offer.    http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/   When you check it out, and enjoy what you see   PLEASE share the link!!
      

2-23-2016

                 **"My resume is really just a list of sh*t I hope to never have to do again."**---
                   And mine is a long long list.   

                              **"Shut up and let me practice my people skills."**

     **"Did you know?    Coffee spelled backward spells  "while you were reading this, I took your coffee!"**

    This page is a page for sure----and like most of my pages, I have found if you do not like the page, the feeling is most defiantly mutual!   As I sit here and sip more coffee I realize how much I have already not accomplished this week.  Yesterday was supposed to be all about catching up on things ---and than work called me in.  I was happy for the distraction from life in general, mostly because I can mostly shut off my brain while at work, and come home with a few bucks in my pocket.    Not as much so as when I worked at Wally World of course.   There I found I was ready to clock in just after I blocked my mind out almost completely.  Just before the stage were your mind is so blank that when asked a question, you just stare and drool all over---I am sure YOU know that stage well---than I was ready to clock into work at Wally 
World.  

But this kept me from studying--yes I have yet another class today  so that I can get even further behind.  And I did not get to post any in my Exploring blog page last night. I have much Exploring and pictures to share on this new-ish page.  Please check out the old posts, while I slack in updating.   http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/

          While at work I also learned that I won the stupid sales contest we are having last week.  Our burger of the month--is a great burger--but a Dam hard sell.   Anyways, during week one I sold the crap out of it--and one first place in sales, by a long run.  Than was a little more than surprised after selling almost $400 worth of burgers ---that my prize was a single bottle of wine, left over from Valentines Day.  The prize actually went to my beautiful wife, because I do not really enjoy wine, and because she offered me a better incentive.  Either way, I did not really sell the next week at work---and ranked 4th at the end of the week.  Last week I realized that no one was really attempting to sell the burger, and pushed my sales again---winning top sales once again.  The big question now is who will have the top sales for the whole month---the real contest---and what kind of a prize the managers feel is worthy of this. 

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**The cops never find it as funny as you do**

                                                             I believe Saint Paddy's day is just around the corner...