Exploring Arizona One Picture At A Time!: Casino Del Sol

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Zoo Lights---- Seasons Greetings!

This post was supposed to be all about the Christmas light parade in wonderful Benson, Arizona. Last year was our first experience of this, and the whole family loved it! In fact here is my blog post from 2013 in case you are one of the many that missed it: http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-light-parade-benson-at-its.html
This year night was meet with a light drizzle of rain. We left the house early to get a great view of the parade route. Cliff notes: if you did not make it you certainly did not miss much! The parade started about thirty minutes late and lasted about 12 whole minutes. Compared to about an hour last year. In fact when the last float went by, with Santa and his lovely wife, no one thought the parade was actually over. Lame sauce for sure. So please enjoy my pictures and such from last year. I will provide a few pictures from this year just because I can. And than go on to talk about our great night at the amazing Reid Park Zoo and zoo lights. And as always for more Exploring please check out my first blog page at www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Benson light parade 2014----booo!

This horse never got to play any reindeer games.

The power company of course always has a great light display.

O Christmas tree....!

Last but not least Santa & Mrs. Clause!!

Viewing these pictures took about as long as the total parade.

Our attempt at putting up lights!

I work at this little casino

and love my job!

This is in no way a publicity shot, or endorsed by the casino

I just thought it was a good shot of the building I got one fine day.

AND the casino let us workers and family enjoy the zoo lights before anyone else, for free.

We visited Reid Park Zoo for the first time a

few months ago and I must say it was amazing!

Check it out:

http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/2014/08/reid-park-zoo-tucson.html

They put all the animals up to sleep, but I still highly recommend zoo lights!

A truly great mixture of familiar characters, zoo life, lights, and wonder!

They even had a section of snow falling.

A true wonder in the heart of the desert.

We soon indulged on some hot coco.

And of course Santa was there to visit the young and young at heart.

Live music
And of course lots of lights!

My wife loves dolphins so we thought this picture was perfect.

Still enjoying the hot chocolate.

Even the cactus were lit up.

Not Christmas lights but a very lit up entrance for sure!

Not lights but I thought this stare down was a good picture.

Not sure what the caution tape was for.

Possibly the best part of the night.

This whole light section was also set to music.

Our amazing daughter paused to sing with the music and lights.

With an amazing now duo to a Frozen song.

Many paused to listen to her sing.

This was a truly great night a huge thank you to Casino Del Sol
and of course Reid Park Zoo and all of it's workers!

Much more Exploring and pictures on my Washington state blog page

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

And my first blog page www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Please check them out.

And as always

**HAPPY TRAILS!!**

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Z Z Top Concert

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