Wild West Warning Signs

 

When people tell you to watch for signs, you really should. Even though I just created the one above, something tells me, it may be warranted. Oh the reality of work re-entry after a nice vacation!

We did see our share of warning signs out West. Some typical, some scary and some entertaining...

You know you're in the wild west when you see this! (Actually in Black Bart's restaurant, but worth a chuckle nonetheless.) Speaking of horses...

If you love horses, like you'd see in any cowboy movie, there were a lot of places with marked and unmarked trails for riding. This one was a steep, rocky, uneven trail that Carter and I couldn't imagine attempting to navigate with a horse or bicycle. Crazy.

This was just a warning that John Wayne or Clint Eastwood could come galloping down the hill and around the cactus. So keep an eye out!

Not to be confused with horses, but there were mules, too. You can see from their forward ears and silhouette of a rider looking like Alice from the Brady Bunch Grand Canyon episode. Just sayin'. By the way, the mule rides are not available until May, otherwise we'd have been all over that.

And this sign just warned us of a political convention up ahead. Or filming of another Jackass movie??

Then there was the wildlife I actually wanted to see... like big, bad elk!

There was even one sign warning of elk for the next 30 miles. Do you think we'd see one? No.

Not even these fat ones on their way to a Weight Watchers meeting in the Grand Canyon.

The animals I am glad we did not see were the snakes, scorpions and sunscreen boy.

Especially glad we stayed on the trail and did not encounter the clown making balloon animals! (Or something.)

Not everything was about animals...

Here you just figure you better hold your horses... or someone else will!

What don't cars like? Heat AND elevation. Since we were climbing, drivers had to be careful about overheating engines on the way up and overheating brakes on the way down. Our highest elevation of the trip was 8,000+ feet, which is 4 times the highest point of elevation in Wisconsin. (In case you read this blog to actually learn something.)

Loved these signs. First, you gotta love towns named Mystic and Hog Wash! Secondly, wouldn't it suck to lose your drone over the Grand Canyon? Pretty much no way you'd get it back. Ever.

I found this "no rock climbing" sign amusing because there is no apparent place to even get a foothold to begin your ascent! But people will try anything. I mean anything...

The only reason they have warning signs anywhere is that someone already tried it – and it didn't turn out well. So whoever drank the toilet water in Arizona, thank you. You spared me a bad decision about hydrating.

And it gave me the perfect sign to signal vacation is in the toilet and I must go set my alarm for work tomorrow.

Signing off.

Here's a Story...

For some reason, while flipping through channels, we stopped on the Brady Bunch the other day. Carter had never seen it and, naturally, since it was so hokey, he assumed it was from the '80s. (That's his dad's influence, not mine!)

I had to laugh -- and sort of groan -- at how they portrayed the women and their roles in the household. Here's a conversation that wouldn't fly in this house...

Mike (leaving with golf clubs in hand): Honey, have fun around the house today!
Carol (all smiles): I will! (Not sarcastically.) I'm going to start by cleaning the girls' room! (Still smiling.)

Yeah right. Not happening here.

I do like how Mr. Brady always had to teach a lesson. At least he took time to be a positive influence on their kids. Not all dads are like that.

I feel fortunate that Jim is a modern-day Mike Brady. Well, yes, he likes to golf. That's true. But he also takes time to help Carter with everything from baseball skills to homework and, in between, teaches the value of humor and charm. I think he's got that down!

I, on the other hand, am nothing like Carol or even Alice. I am an undomestic goddess to the core and some days am lucky to have patience and understanding for one child, let alone 6. But I guess I am a typical female in that a simple trip to the beauty parlor (when did that nomenclature die?) can make my day. I bonded with my "hair artist" first thing this morning and it put me in a good mood all day.

Well, not good enough to sing and make supper for the guys or anything silly like that.

That's not how the Austin Bunch rolls.