{"id":3249,"date":"2022-01-14T09:39:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T16:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/janetalcorn.com\/staging\/1364\/?p=3249"},"modified":"2022-05-27T13:23:08","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T20:23:08","slug":"gila-bend-arizona-travels-a-few-laughs-and-a-great-tune-weekend-coffee-share-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/janetalcorn.com\/staging\/1364\/2022\/01\/14\/gila-bend-arizona-travels-a-few-laughs-and-a-great-tune-weekend-coffee-share-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Gila Bend, Arizona travels, a few laughs, and a great tune (Weekend Coffee Share #21)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Happy Friday, friends! In last week’s edition of the Weekend Coffee Share<\/a>, I shared pictures of our visit to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, part of our short winter break road trip. This week I’ll share pictures from Day 2, along with a few laughs that have crossed my screen this week, and, well… you’ll just have to read to the bottom to find out the rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer<\/a>. This week, she’s shared some incredible dinosaur murals. Don’t miss ’em!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Winter Break Road Trip Day 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

About 12 or so miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona, is the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site<\/a>, which actually contains a whole bunch of painted rocks, so it really should be called, Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site. I’m sure the Bureau of Land Management will get right on that change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a hillside strewn with boulders decorated in petroglyphs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Hillside<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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According to the brochure, available from the link above, the site currently contains over 3800 images on 428 boulders. The first images were likely created over 1400 years ago. Visit the link to learn more about this remarkable place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birds in Fields<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The road to the painted rock site passes through farm fields, and those fields were full of birds (probably because those fields are irrigated, and water attracts wildlife, especially in the desert). The most common birds we saw were egrets, which always remind me of the San Joaquin Delta near where I grew up. Egrets are so lovely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Many
Egrets in a field outside Gila Bend, Arizona<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"White
Egret beside the road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Less lovely but still interesting–turkey vultures!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Turkey vulture coming in for a landing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A trio of turkey vultures in a field outside Gila Bend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We couldn’t get close enough to get really good pictures, but thanks to a long zoom lens, they’re at least recognizable as vultures. I think this is the first time I saw several vultures together but not feeding on a carcass. I’m used to seeing them as solitary hunters circling above my head, which always makes me wonder if they know something I don’t. Perhaps I should see my doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aliens!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well, OK, an alien. Singular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, yeah, a fake alien. But still…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An alien! A festive alien! A festive, beer-drinking alien! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cutout
Greeter at the Space Age Restaurant in Gila Bend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And on that absurd note, it’s time for… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Weekly Funnies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New year, new you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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I feel seen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy it while you can<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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I’m a librarian. Why didn’t I think of this?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Embracing our authentic selves in 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n
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But… but… pants are so 2019. And pie… mmmm… pie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pandemic blues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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I kind of want to make shooting targets that look like SARS-CoV-2. I think they’d sell well here in AZ.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In case you were wondering…<\/h3>\n\n\n
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And since I love that song (it’s pretty much a personal anthem for my husband and me):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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