Friday, April 25, 2014

A Night Under The Big Top




          Hello all!  And cheers!!  Because I am of course starting this early morning out with some great coffee.  As always I want to thank you for finding this page and being a reader.  This is my newest page, and next month is all about promoting the page and getting more readers.  If you enjoy what you see here, please share this page!   In case you have not gotten the memo I have several other blog pages.   Another Exploring page, full of pictures and thoughts about our time living in beautiful Washington -is well worth a look or three at:  http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/   and of course my first and longest running blog page---full of random rambling, jokes, pictures, and lots of coffee love--can be viewed, and maybe enjoyed at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com      And lastly --mostly because I have to much free time, I also have a Facebook page full of stuff.  This is the fastest way to contact me-about anything you see on any of my pages --or to complain, and I always update the Facebook page before any other sight.  ;)  Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head    Click on them all!    Now on to the big show.....


         Last weekend we had planned to sneak away to the local fair, but those plans did not pan out.   We heard that the circus was coming to little ol Benson and thought that would be a great way to spend the night.   I have not been to a real circus in a long time, and the kids could say the same thing.   I say real circus, because while I lived in Oregon state the circus would come to town, minus all of the animals.  Oregon and all of the Great North West is a very special place, but with all of the hippies that have gathered in Oregon over the years, well lets just say they like to boycott things.  It was decided in the state at some point that people were not responsible enough to pump there own gas into there own cars.  So in the entire state, it is illegal to pump your own gas--a spill might get four drops of fuel into the nearby ocean.   I believe CT is the only other state in this great nation that also has this rule.  On the same note, at some point all of the hippies decided that circus acts were cruel to the animals who only work for applause and all the oats they can eat.  So although I am not sure how they protested this, you will not see ANY animals in an Oregon circus.  The residents really have become amazing at protests--and they practice a lot.




    
 
The clouds could not decide what they were doing on this day  so I was glad we were under a huge tent. 
 
 
 
First the petting zoo outside the big top.
This is were the kiddos learned that the llamas will steal your food cups and all.
At least they did not learn, that they also enjoy spitting in peoples faces. 
 
 
 
 
Elephant and camel rides could also be bought.
And several little kids rides circled the animals.
This crew defiantly knew what they were doing and how to push more sales through the entire show.   At one breaking point, they had all of the attending kids so enthused over buying bags of peanuts -with the chance to win a free circus balloon, that they were lined up around the sellers. 
  I can also say it the crew is amazing.  I have been saying for years now, that no one actually knows how to do there jobs.  From call centers, to retail workers.  Many jobs this isn't really a factor--you kind of go into a store figuring no one will know to much about any product.  But when your auto mechanic and cable guy also have no clue, there might be an issue.  These guys are on it--to the minute!   A crew of only four people set up and tear down the massive big top!  Maybe they should be used for company motivational videos.  And the next time some cashier explains how they can't handle all of the stress --I will inform them how quickly a circus worker would laugh at them. 
 
 
A fat as@   at least that's what my wife kept saying.
Maybe she was pointing at me though.
 
 
My wife quickly fell in love with these kids.
And was sure she could fit them both in her purse.
 
 
The announcer for the evening.
I was very surprised at how many empty seats there were. 
In the distance you can see all the empty VIP chairs. 
I really hope the earlier show had a much better turn out.
This was all held at the local Arena Bar--a quick thank you to them again, for bringing in family entertainment.
I have several past posts from this great bar.  Check them all out--and than check out the bar!
 
 
 
The opening act. 
Complete with a jazz playing group of animals.
 
Leaping poodles.
 
 
Easily the biggest hit of the night.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In enter the performing heroic horses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yo yo!
These clowns danced there way through the slow parts of the show.
 
 
 
 
Just a swingin'!
 

This trapeze artist-sitting near the top of the big top, might well have the best seat in the house! These swingin' performers came from Circus Circus in Viva Las Vegas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Thankfully there safety net was only needed for an exit strategy.
 
 
 
 
At one point 3 motorcycles were going at the same time in the steel ball dome of doom! I have never seen three ride at the same time before. And I would have to say that the hardest part really looked like stopping.
We have seen similar acts in Viva Las Vegas -BUT never with three riders at once.  It really was heart stopping.
 
 
 
 
 
At the end a huge American flag flew among the tents painted stars.
Beautiful but also amusing because none of the crew appeared to be Americans.
But how many of us are really native?
 
 
 
Possiably best of all--the show got over after 7 in the evening and it was not yet dark outside. 
 
 
 
 
Last shot looking back at a truly terrific night.
I tried to capture the worker on top--working on tearing down the tent.  But he was to quick.
 
 
 
Arizona Easter Lilly!
Even the desert is full of blooms this time of year. 
MANY new post, pictures, and features coming you way.
Including a post full of blooms.
Please continue to share this page. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Thunder & Lightning Air Show Tucson




           Welcome back readers!   I have so many posts, new features, and pictures waiting to go on this new page.  Thank you all for being so patient with me.  And thank you to everyone that enjoys and shares this page.   I have been to a lot of air shows through the years, but none compared to how great this one was!  On this day not only was it enough of an under taking and joy of course, to bring along all three of our kiddos --our daughter brought along a friend of hers.  We left the house to mommy and the dogs, so that she could enjoy herself alone.  Free time is very rare in our house.  Each of the kids had there own camera --to take in the action.  And after viewing the film--I have to say they are very random--but have you seen my pictures,  so am I.  I have to also say that they have a great eye!   Many of the pictures were better than what I am showing here today.  Maybe soon I will rewrite this with the kids help, and there pictures.  I purposely never put our kids names in these pages--- to keep it more secure.  But if you ever are bored enough to know way more about me than anyone should--or wish to see many more Exploring trips---please check out MY first and longest running blog series at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com        As our budget gets better, the trips on this very page will get better too.   At the moment many of them are very local to our new home in beautiful Benson, Arizona. 

 
Notice the smiley face in the sky.  ;)
 
 
Did you buy tickets to the gun show??
Sadly for me--it is only a cap gun show.
At any rate for this event --you did not have to  because most things were Free.
 
 
 
After a long bumpy ride across much of the base I was really wishing we had not brought our low to the ground car.   Than through the metal detectors. 
Police and security were all around.  But we were on an air force base.
The officers and such were very willing to talk to anyone even if you were not wearing a sun dress.
 
 
Is this a photo bomb?
I will leave the jokes about dropping the bomb in this case to you.
 
 
To serve and protect?
 
 
The air show started off with the flag slowly dropping to Earth
as a jet circled it and the pilot sang the national anthem.
 
 
 
I give this performance and the entire air show a 9 ranking out of 10!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             My jokes --usually do this....

  I apologize if I snapped you in any of these shots.  But with 250,000 visitors expected over the two day event, snapping any pictures with out people in the back ground was nearly imposable.  Especially as the day grew warmer, and any spot of shade-even if it was connected to an airplane, was filled with people. 

 
Several water refill stations lined the air field.
 
 
A drone.  I was also informed how bad idea it really would be to use one of these for target practice--no matter how tempting it may be.  I have since gotten reports from fellow hikers in other states, seeing these fly around them "observing."  Kind of creepy-for sure.
 
 
Speaking of target practice.
Do not give our youngest a gun, look at the look on his face.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mission control and the kids confirm --the show was a huge success!
 
 
 
 
 
Even some past classics to enjoy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Of course the real show was up in the air.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We opted to leave the heat and check out a local park before the main stars of the show took to the air.  The Thunder Birds.   Luckily they perform in the air, so we got to see much of the show while sitting in the park and eating lunch. 
 
 
 
 
 
We used our GPS to find a park, so it took several attempts to find a park with actual shade and fun things to do.
 
 
This great mural was at the edge of this park.  I believe it was called Swan Park.
 
 
Any guesses were we Explore next?
 
 
 
Quickest way to guess or send any comments about what you see here
is on MY Facebook page    Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head