Field Trip!

            A huge greetings from Sunny Tucson to all of my readers!   I have so many posts in the works for this very page.  Many of them from a great little city named Tucson.  My buddy and best friend "Professor Getty" is coming for a visit next month and we will be doing lots of Exploring and possibly terrorizing of the local residents.  This and much more will be posted with lots of pictures of course.  For much more Exploring please check out my first and longest running blog page by far  at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com   This page just hit 32,000 views today--so please check it out and find out what all the fuss is about.  Today a quick post from Tucson several months back when I joined our youngest on a school field trip to some museums on campus.  Since the kiddos all return to school again this Thursday--Happy day for us adults!  I must say this trip was about three months ago now.  The trip was very enjoyable for Exploring, but much of the time the adults just seemed to be chasing there group of kids around.  Maybe not the best places to visit with ten year olds---I believe most of the wonder was lost on them.  Luckily my group of kids only had four and one was my own-so I could yell at him and have him help me round up the others.  Because of this I did not get as many shots as I had wished.  That and because there were a lot of kids--and I really did not want any pictures with other peoples kids in them.  The trip did make me want to visit campus again and Explore.  I have been on some great college campuses across the country and the old buildings and such seem to always make for some neat pictures. 

 

 

 

We first got guided tours of this great museum.  The tour was very good although for how much there was to see--we moved rather rapidly through it all even with the young-ins short attention spans. 

 

 

Every corner of this state seems to be full or rich history. 

Rich and interesting history. 

I will not ruin the story's by trying to share any of them here.  Because I will get them wrong.

 

 

 

Sorry about the extra blurry picture. 

I was rushing through this part of the building chasing after some kiddos, when I snagged this quick shot.

Any guesses what this very old devise is??

As a hint---if you were ever put in one--you were in for life.  It is medical.

That is all I can say for now. 

I will reveal what this is near the end of this very post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First mini van?

 

 

Arizona's first state police car--no really.

 

 

 

 

Upstairs was a large area filled with hands on exhibits. 

This is a model of an old time convenience store long before Wally World took over your town.  Here I have to note that the yellow boxes in the picture hold coffee!

 

 

 

A large part of the museum was dedicated to mining.  With full sized equipment to check out and a mine shaft to go into. 

 

 

This section is relatively new--sadly we had to rush through the area to keep on our tour schedule.  

 

Once your eyes get used to the light again some great landscaping can be found outside also.

 

I believe the best part of the tour was while the kids were all seated in front of a life sized oxen pulling an old wooden card with wood wheels.  The ox was also mostly anatomy correct  and the kids questions soon focused on what was hanging down under the great ox. 

Our tour guide was about 80--he simply stated that this was a boy ox and that was a penis --and told the kids to move onto other questions.  Many hands went down after this announcement.

After this it was time for some home packed lunches in the grass.

And for the kids to run off some energy!

Than we entered the Natural History museum on campus.

 

 

 

Just outside. 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of this building is devoted to Native Americans.

There is a full room of great photos of native dwellings of the past.

And a full theatre to enjoy.

 

 

                Another huge part of the building is devoted to pottery.   Housing one of the largest collections in the World.   Above is just part of the display case leading into this section.  You can view all shapes and designs of pottery.  There is also a large viewing window into were the scientists piece together the pieces they find. 

 

 

 

                                                                        Peace pipe of old?

     This section also has a computer system that lets you roam around and view all of the logged in pieces of art.  You can electronically move shelf upon shelf and Explore the thousands of amazing pieces that call this home. 

OK boys and girls--we are nearing the end of this today's tour and blog post.   Have you had a chance to Google what this contraption is?  It is an Iron Lung. 

Three gold stars for you if you guessed right!

Two frowny face stickers for you if you have ever needed one of these.

 

 

 

Many more Exploring posts in the works!

Thank you for being patient.

Please share this page if you enjoy it!

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heads You Win--Tales I Lose!

              This page is usually about Exploring everything Arizona has to offer through trips and pictures.  And there are a lot of new ideas, pictures, and Exploring still coming your way!  Please continue to share this new page.    Today I take a different approach.  Being locked in a local issue in an attempt to get paid and get others I have found the pay that they are owed.  I usually save this type of post for MY first and longest running blog page at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com      Although I am sure it will appear there also.  If you live in the Benson, Arizona or Tucson---Please take note of this -my main goal now is to spread the word far and wide.  A business --no matter how small should have to follow the rules.  I will try and keep this as short and non bitter as possible.  

    Mar 20 at 10:47 AM

       Last week I made the mistake of taking a job at Lupe's Mexican restaurant in Benson.  After my third day-I asked when I would sign my new hire paper work   and they fired me via e mail.  In three short days of work I learned MANY bad business procedures they use but the most blaring was that they do not pay there workers.  I have found at least 8 more past workers that have not been paid there wages due from working there.  One is owed almost $700.  I have been holding a sign just past the restaurant that says " Lupe's doesn't pay it's workers!!"   They attempted to pay me yesterday---to get rid of me.  But it was a check and the amount was way low.  In fact it added up to me only getting paid $3.00 an hour.   I will be protesting off and on  until everyone I have meet receives there full pay for hours worked.  But it would really help to have more coverage on this  to help spread the word. 

   Before all the sign holding fun--I meet with the manager in the parking lot of the restaurant  to see when I would be receiving pay.   He instantly started cussing me out, and two other workers appeared.  They wanted me to come into the back of the restaurant, but were not offering any pay so I refused.   I came back with some poster board signs and sat just beyond the place -holding them.  The workers came at me, tore up my signs and called the police.  They than tried to block me from getting into my own vehicle.  

  The very next morning I had a new sign---made on wood-so that it would be much harder to break.  I went to the owner of the next door Chevron, and asked permission to stand out front  ---right next to Lupe's.   The restaurant soon called the cops on me---who quickly told me I was perfectly in the legal.  Each day I get lots of community support, and convince others not to eat at the place. 

 I have contacted state agencies at this point--but it has become personal for me now.  I work for myself-- and if I were to hire on more workers--I would have to have record of them, and pay them.  Why does a larger place of business not have to do the same??  I also was lucky enough to have landed a very good job in Tucson--so I am protesting here while I wait on the paper work.   I realize that this for me only adds up to around $100   but $100 is $100.  We have three kids with a mother that is disabled and terminal so we can't afford to eat the cash.  Plus I was under the understanding that I had found a decent job, that would keep me close to my family instead of driving miles to Tucson, in case a medical emergency were to happen.  

    On day three-  the store sent out there dishwasher-punk to hand me a pay check.  It was short pay--in fact it came out that I made $3.00 an hour.  Yes servers make less cash in Arizona, but not that much less.   The dishwasher than asked me to leave.   I said I would when everyone I had found, got the back pay they were owed.  I than did leave---to make a bigger sign.   And returned for several more hours.  

    The next day --we took pictures of the check--to show to the Labor Board --and than my wife took the check back into the restaurant--advising the managers to re calculate the total before the Labor Board did.   I than held my sign just beside the restaurant again.  Something I will continue to do in my spare time until we all see pay or everyone hears about what this place does!    

   PLEASE pass this link to everyone you know in the area!!   And thank you for your time.