Exploring Your World: Basket BINGO

This weekend, some friends and I attended a great event on post, Basket BINGO!

What is Basket Bingo, you ask? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. Bingo games with various baskets as prizes. Longaberger baskets, to be exact. And they were filled with fun stuff!

Now, I've got a confession to make. I am extremely unlucky when it comes to bingo, but only for myself. Ironically, those around me seem to have way better luck. I think my mojo leaks out of my ears or something, and then all my peeps snatch it up before I know what's happening.

So, you can imagine how I felt as I walked into the bingo room... I knew I wouldn't be winning a basket, but I had high hopes that some of my pals would.  In fact, as we settled into our seats, I was so confident in my mojo, I announced my predictions:

"I'm not going to win anything, but the three of you? Y'all are all going to win." 

The table chuckled a little, and the conversation progressed even further.

"In fact, if y'all win, I think I should get a commission or something, because I'm giving you all of my luck."

Ha. Ha. Ha ha. Hardee har har.

No way they would all win something, right? There were ten games, only so much luck could go around.

Yeeeeeaaaaaaah.

They all totally won.

My mojo lives on! Not only did our table win the majority of the games, but they also snatched up some of the door prizes.

And since I was smart enough to add conditions on their wins (and the use of my mojo), I actually wound up with my commission, hahaha. I may not be lucky for myself, but I really think there could be something to this. I should start renting out my mojo to deserving peeps. What do you think?

My commission

I love my new basket, and all the cute stuff inside of it. Poor guy, my friend's husband originally won this pink Army wife basket. I think you can see why this is my commission, yes?

At the end of the evening, we'd all had a blast. I loved playing bingo even though I didn't technically win.

No matter where you're stationed, there are usually great events like this on your post. Check out your local MWR for all the cool events taking place each month. If you're currently stationed at Ft. Bliss, here's the link for yours: Bliss MWR.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and enjoys their Saint Patrick's Day! Please feel free to share some of the fun events in your town.

As always,

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Email me: armylifefromthewife@gmail.com

Bosque del Apache

The Hubs and I love to get out and about, exploring our world. We've seen big cities, and will likely see more, but what we really love is the great outdoors.

Now, I'm not exactly an outdoors-woman. I'd be perfectly happy to... ahem... "camp" at the lodge. What I enjoy most is the hiking, and an opportunity to photograph the wildlife. And then I want to sit in front of the fire at my lodge, with a cup of hot cocoa, and a great book. This makes sense to me. 

Sleeping in a tent, with bears and spiders and God knows what out there? Not so much.

There are many places, no matter where you live, to explore the great outdoors. Heck, even if you're in Manhattan, get out and wander Central Park! There are always ways, you just have to look for the opportunity. 

A few hours from our home is a bird sanctuary. The Hubs and I have driven past it on various road trips, but never taken the time to stop. Until, our recent trip to Albuquerque where everything went wrong. Since we couldn't see what we were there for, we adjusted our plans to stop at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge instead. 

We enjoyed our short stop there so much, we decided to go back again during the winter months, when the Bosque is home to thousands of Sandhill cranes, snow geese, and a variety of other wildlife. Although we didn't attend the Festival of the Cranes, there were still thousands of birds to see every day. 

For my first visit back to the Bosque, I made the road trip with my gal pals, Abby and Becky. We left in the middle of the night, hoping to arrive in time for sunrise. 

We made it! 

The Flight Deck

Our journey began at the Flight Deck, just a short distance down the 12-mile tour loop. A thick fog blanketed the water, providing cover for the cranes we could hear, but couldn't see. Dozens of photographers were scattered in various locations around the loop. Avid bird watchers came armed with binoculars and cameras.

Photographers and bird watchers waiting for a glimpse of cranes 

The heavy fog prohibited even the most basic photography. We couldn't see the cranes with the naked eye, but we could certainly hear them calling to each other. Becky, Abby, and I were struggling with our disappointment. We had hoped to see the cranes take flight, a common occurrence at the Bosque.

Just as we were about to give up, shadowy figures emerged from the fog. The sun rose higher, clearing our line of sight.

The cranes! Rather than take flight, the birds were walking across the shallow water, in search of their breakfast.

Our excitement returned. Camera shutters clicked. Our middle-of-the-night, impromptu road trip had been worth it!

The plan was to stay for a few hours only, then return home. Becky was due back at work, and we were all running on very little sleep. Instead, we began the tour loop. How long could 12 miles really take, especially by car?  

Um... it takes a lot longer than you would think!

Every pull-off offered new views and different wildlife. The cranes weren't the only creatures awake. Snow geese, mule deer, hawks, eagles, and coyotes... these are just a few of the species we spotted.

Thousands of snow geese take flight 

Hours later, we finally started the journey home. Becky and I had plans to return later in the week, with the Hubs in tow. This time, I couldn't wait to see sunset at the Bosque!

I wasn't disappointed. Not only did we see sunset, but the sunrise as well. AND, I tried my hand at star photography for the very first time!

Highway 1, leading to Bosque del Apache 

Granted, it's not a perfect picture, but I think it's ok for my first time. The experience was the best part.  Driving into the middle of nowhere, in the dark, and listening to the coyotes howl... quite the adventure!

During the daylight hours, we spent more time photographing the birds. I quickly grew to envy some of my fellow photographers, with their giant lenses that could reach out and touch someone. My 18-250mm lens was a baby in comparison.

Lucky for me, the birds flew overhead so often, I had plenty of opportunity to capture their images.

A Sandhill Crane in flight 

The Hubs (without a camera) was enthralled with the birds too! The binoculars seemed permanently glued to his eyes. Several times, he referred me to The Big Year, a movie we recently watched together. I'm pretty sure he wants to try for a Big Year himself once he retires (If you're wondering what a Big Year is, check out the movie)!

He took a few breaks to film the birds. Their calls pierced the air, soothing at times and annoyed at others. When a coyote (or a stray human) came too close, the birds screeched their displeasure, even taking to the air at times. When not in sight of the birds, you could still sense their mood easily, simply by listening to the pattern of their calls.

The video shows the snow geese flying in at sunrise, a gorgeous sight.

After repeated trips to the Bosque, I can now say it's one of my favorite places we've visited. I might even let the Hubs talk me into that Big Year one of these days!

I'd love to show you all my photos from the trip. If you'd like to see more, be sure to check out the Facebook Photo Album!

As always,

Thanks for reading, everyone!

Follow me on Facebook @ OurArmyLifeAccordingToTheWife

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Snow Geese in flight 

   

Fall is in the Air...

Fall is in the air! This is the Hubs' favorite time of year (and mine!). He loves everything about it, especially Halloween and all the festivities that go along with it (more about that coming soon). I love the crisp bite in the wind, and the smell of autumn. We pack our fall dates full of as much fun as we can. Haunted houses (ugh!), pumpkin patches, hiking, apple picking... the list is endless.

However, we've made a few dicoveries along the way. Where we are stationed can determine our fall activities. Apple picking in the desert? Not so much.

Over the years, we've learned to adjust to our surroundings. The leaves don't change colors when there aren't many tress. Adaptation: Drive a few hours into the mountains, or take a long weekend away (check out our recent adventure to the Santa Fe National Forest)  No apple picking? Adaptation: purchase store apples and make apple cider at home.

You get the picture, yes? Bloom where you're planted!

In recent years, we've devolped a new tradition, one I know we'll miss when we're restationed again. We've grown to love our outings to the Mesilla Valley Corn Maze.

This outing is MUCH more than a maze... there are games, contests, and rides. Pumpkin and gourd picking, fresh food, and of course, the maze itself.

We've gone as a couple, and we've gone with our friends. I have to say, the bigger the group, the better! This year, we introduced my good friend Abby, and her husband Paul, to the maze. I'm sure you remember Abby, yes? Not only is she awesome in every way possible, but she writes an excellent outdoorswoman blog. It's all coming back to you, isn't it?

There we all are! Ok, so I'm behind the camera, but I'm there too. Technically.

 

Since the Hubs and I stop here each year, we already know our favorite pasttimes (Big Wheel Racing!). But Abby and her hubs have yet to explore. Sometimes I miss out on all the other games, since the Hubs and I make a beeline for the race track. It was great exploring with some newbies! We saw all our favorite things, and we experienced all the games we sometimes forget. We started at the beginning, wandering through the entrance and stopping at each attaction along the way.

 

First stop?

 

 

 

A giant tic-tac-toe board, using tires... I mean, what else would it be?!

 

I know it seems simple, but we really got into this old-fashioned pastime. I mean, REALLY got into it. As in, we all played several games apiece.

 

No, we're not OCD (except for me, ha). The real reason we played so much is because nobody could beat this guy:

 

 

Yes, Paul is the champ. But I think he cheated. (Is that even possible in tic-tac-toe??) Regardless, we all lost miserably, or else we tied The Man. Of course, I'm used to losing at these types of competitions, since the Hubs regularly kicks my butt in all things game-related. It's sad, but true.

 

Moving forward, I was looking for a little activity. Something that required a little less strategy. Something I could hope to win.

 

Something like... Giant hamster wheels for humans.

 

YES.

 

 

 

 

Turns out, giant hamster wheels are AWESOME! Especially when you're racing. The Hubs and I raced too, but I'm on vacation as I write this post, and I'm completely scatterbrained. The end result is I left those pictures halfway across the country, so this is all you get. I'll be posting the complete set of photos to my Facebook page as soon as I get home, I swear.

 

Except the ones that make me look like an idiot.

 

But you can see all the rest! (Or, you can check out Abby's blog post from the same day and see my silliness).

 

Needless to say, we spent quite a lot of time on the hamster wheels. Boys will be boys, and when it comes to toys, the men are still little boys. They raced, climbed, and jumped. The tried different techniques, and compared wind speed. The womenfolk (me and Abby), shouted words of encouragement and then words of caution. We played too, but mostly with our cameras! It was an exhilerating half hour. Seriously.

 

After all that spinning, we were feeling a little goofy. We relaxed with a few more candid pictures of each other...

 

 

(See, I was there, for reals!) We meandered around, enjoying the day and the atmosphere. Of course, the boys found plenty to keep them amused:

 

 

I just shake my head and repeat my mantra, boys will be boys. Apparently, being a boy involves riding a miniature tricycle, but what do I know?

 

Abby and I didn't ride the tricycles, but that's because we're smart enough to know they were for children, and we let each of ours run ahead to play, haha! We did have fun recording their silliness (By the way, doesn't it just make you smile to see your hubs so happy? I know it totally gets me).

 

There are so many fun activities here, it's hard to keep track. But, I know we hit up the store for snacks and drinks, the food booths for lunch (Omg, the corn on the cob was to die for!), the big sack slides, Scotty's Scoopers (playing in the dirt, great for the boys!), Paver Mazes, and all the photo ops.

 

The BEST part though??

 

The Jo-Jo-A-Rama Speedway!

 

 

Two tracks, side by side, armed with grown-up Big Wheels for racing!

 

So comletely cool.

 

Of course, we had to race. Several times, in fact, both against each other and sometimes just for fun. I gotta say, this track is hard work! After a few laps, you find yourself wearing down, ready to man the camera for a while instead.

 

We all had a turn, on the track and as the photographer:

 

 

 

The best race, though, was between the Hubs and Paul.

 

The Hubs was just a little too cocky... laughing as he rounded the corners, cackling when he pulled ahead...

 

He was in the lead as they screamed around the last curve (easily doing 3mph, hahaha)...

 

AND THEN.

 

 

 

The Hubs looked behind him and laughed... and then he CRASHED. Paul raced into the lead at the last moment, fist pumping as he crossed the finish line.

 

Don't worry, the Hubs' ego was more bruised than anything else. And this picture was priceless, yes? Totally worth it.

 

ANYWAY, I know you're wondering by now where the actual 'maze' is at the Mesilla Valley Corn Maze. There really is a corn field, with a fun maze cut into it. Actually, the shape of the maze changes every year... this way, you never know from one year to the next how to get through it.

 

I'm not sure that knowing ahead of time would have helped us at all...

 

 

 Which way do we go???? No one knows.

 

The boys braved out the entire maze, determined to complete the whole thing. But Abby and I dipped out early when we passed close to the beginning again. The pumpkin patch was calling our names!

 

 

Granted, we didn't actually pick any pumpkins. We took the hayride just for the photographs and the spin around the fields!

 

For normal people, the patch offers not only pumpkin picking, but also gourd and squash picking too. If you're not into the whole pick-it-yourself adventure, Pumpkin Junction has a great selection of already harvested pumpkins (and gourds, etc.).

 

By this time, the boys had worked their way through the maze, and they were tuckered out. Plus, Abby and I were a bit sleepy ourselves!

 

The Mesilla maze has been a tradition with the Hubs and I since our first year at this particular duty station. I think we've now converted Abby and Paul into avid maze goers as well.. If you're ever in the area, be sure to check it out, and don't forget a spin around the Jo-Jo-A-Rama Speedway!

 

The Facebook photo album will be coming soon, with even more pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Until then, happy Fall to you... make the most of it before the winter comes!

 

 

 

 Thanks for reading, everyone!

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or on Pinterest, my newest obsession @ ArmyLifeFromTheWife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The View From my Window: Dublin, Ireland

I've made many promises that a post about my recent trip to Ireland is coming soon. And... ok. The trip isn't so 'recent' anymore. And truthfully, it's going to be more than one post. BUT, I have been working on it when I can.

See, here's the problem: I have a slight obsession with my camera. This may not seem like a huge deal, but trust me on this... it is. For sure. Any number of my friends and family can attest to this. For example, a normal person may take a few hundred photos on vacation, right?

I, on the other hand, took several thousand.

No worries, I won't be posting them all here. Especially since some of them are pretty awful. However, it takes time to sort the bad from the good. It also takes time to compose those photographs to tell a story along with the blog post.

So, I PROMISE, I'm working on it. Really, really hard.

In the meantime, I thought I'd post some pictures to whet your appetite. Much of our vacation was spent behind windows of one kind or another. The bus window, the window from our hotel, the window of the Guinness Storehouse...

My buddy Becky is almost as obsessive about her camera as I am about mine. So, despite the glass barrier, we were both clicking away. Rain or shine, didn't matter. We were having a fun, girl-vacation, and we didn't want to miss recording a second of it.

So, take a sneak peak at Dublin, Ireland, where we spent the first two days of our vacay. Much, much more on Dublin will be coming soon. I hope you enjoy the view from my windows!

(P.S. You can click on the images to see the full screen version)

Rain was our almost constant companion, but we didn't mind! 

General Post Office of Dublin 

A neighborhood street 

A church we drove past 

A city corner

Dublin canals along the River Liffey 

Pedestrian Signal 

Local bakery

The Papal Cross in Phoenix Park, Dublin 

View from the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse 

More coming soon to a blog near you... I PROMISE! 

Time to Fly! Indoor Skydiving

Yes, you read that right... indoor skydiving. Some of you are thinking, "Oh, no. Not me. I wouldn't do it!" And the rest of you are thinking, "Why indoor? If you're gonna go for it, then do the real thing!"

I agree with both of you completely. And yet... what happened was this:

Several years ago, the Hubs and I visited the fun city of Las Vegas. Actually, we won a 7-night trip, woohoo! Only one problem: What do you do with 7 nights in Vegas? Man can only gamble for so long before all the money is gone, especially when we're talking about the Hubs. He has awful luck in casinos!

So instead of losing time in the clock-less casinos, we made the smart decision to check out some of Vegas's other sights. We took a gondola ride, hiked in Red Rock Canyon, and tried out the Adventuredome in Circus, Circus. In short, we had a blast.

However...

Vegas is also home to one of the few indoor skydiving adventures in the USA.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving

Of course, we couldn't resist (Translation: The Hubs teased me into submission). And I was really, really brave... all the way up to the point where we entered the tunnel area.

Then I wanted to run away, and possibly lose my breakfast.

At that moment, all I could remember were the waivers they forced me to sign. You know, the ones that say you won't sue, even if you're maimed or dead? They must have those waivers for a reason, right?!?!

Just as I was contemplating my quickest exit, the Hubs shoved me through the door, and it was too late.

And as much as it pained me to admit this to the Hubs...

I LOVED IT!

I loved every crazy, windblown second. There was no sensation of falling, though I was sure there would be. Instead, it's as if you're flying. I wanted to shout and laugh and cry, all at the same time. In fact, I'm pretty sure I did. We left the tunnel with adrenaline rushing through our veins, and the desire to go again very strong. Somewhere inside, a tiny hankering to jump out of a real plane developed (I know, crazy, right?!).

We left Vegas with a video and the amazing memory. I passed our experience on to family and friends, but only one was brave enough to step forward and say "I want to go!"...

You guessed it. The Kid. (If you don't remember the Kid, check out the guest blog she wrote, but don't believe everything she says!)

My baby sister has adventure running through her veins; she's an adrenaline junkie in the making. Her bravery pushes me to be braver, and forces me to try things I might otherwise walk away from. Last year, it was parasailing. This year, indoor skydiving was our sport of choice.

No, we didn't go back to Vegas. I found a new place, where you can not only indoor skydive, but you can hop right out of the plane if you've a mind to!

Wind tunnel from the outside 

SkyVenture Arizona... such fun! Unfortunately, the Hubs wasn't able to go (work) and my mum chickened out (though she'll deny it!). So it was just me and the Kid, ready for our adventure!

After our experience in Vegas (and upon seeing the video), the Kid begged me, "Please, best sister in the whole wide world... take me indoor skydiving! You're my favorite, I love you best... please, please take me!" (Ok, I might not be remembering our conversation word-for-word, but you get the point).

How could I resist? So, we hopped in the car and drove. And drove. And drove some more. You just can't find indoor skydiving facilities on every street corner. This one is in Eloy, Arizona... pretty much the middle of nowhere. Not only do they offer the wind tunnel, but the extra brave can also go for the real thing at Skydive Arizona, also on the property.

Needless to say, I was pumped! Having been once already, my nerves were a distant memory, replaced by excitement instead. No fear of falling, no sinking sensation in my stomach... just pure adrenaline. I explained the process to the Kid, but I can imagine her nerves. Whenever something is unknown, fear settles in.

A quick video and a tutorial are all the training you receive. But you don't need any more than that for this simple, fun experience! After signing the dreaded waivers, it's time to suit up.

Ready to rock

Yep, I know we look funny. Ridiculous even. Laugh all you want, but the gear is necessary. Goggles, because that kind of wind would not feel good rushing into your face. Helmets, in case you crash into the wall... ahem. Wind suits, which help with aerodynamics. Underneath the wind suits, we're equipped with elbow and knee pads. Add a pair of well-fitting sneakers, and we're ready to fly!

Our group was five people, but we each entered the tunnel alone. Well, alone except for the instructor. You have a choice between two, one minute flights OR two, two minute flights.

Your first flight is mostly instructional. During the ten minutes of "training", you're taught various hand signals, since speaking in the tunnel is impossible. The peace sign is given when you need to straighten your legs. A peace sign with bent fingers means to bend your legs a little.

And I've forgotten most of the others, whoops!

Your second flight is more free. You've mostly mastered the basics, and now it's time to enjoy!

Flying! 

From the first moment you're in the tunnel, all fear is forgotten. It's such a thrill! I wouldn't lie to you about this. If you've never been, this is an experience worth having. I know a lot of people would say it's not the real thing. And it's not. But this is a good in-between event, something to build your courage.

Unfortunately for me, the Kid has courage leaking out her eyeballs. She can't wait to jump out the door of an actual plane.

Luckily for me, she isn't 18 yet, so that experience will have to wait. I have a few more years to pretend I'm brave before that moment is upon me. As much as I loved this indoor version, I'm sure I'll be a gooey mess of nerves when I look down at the earth, far, far away.

I'll leave you with a quick video of our fun (about 3.5 minutes)... if you're curious or always wanted to try this out, I say GO FOR IT! You only live once, take advantage while you can.

Happy flying, my friends!

Exploring your World: Mexican Cook-Off

Before the Hubs was The Hubs, I considered myself quite the adventurer. I liked exploring new places, and trying out new things. I've seen and done quite a bit.

Funny thing is... I didn't know what adventure was until we started our life together. The military lifestyle adds whole new meaning to the word.

You learn to be flexible, otherwise you'll break. You learn to make friends quickly, and you learn too often how to say goodbye. I know how to manage our finances, change a tire, and fix a leaky toilet. I carry in all the groceries, even the heavy ones (of course, the bottled water might only make it to the stairs for a few days!). We explore our surroundings together while we can, because tomorrow we might be somewhere new. 

What I've learned is that I wasn't really an adventurer before this. Sure, I did fun things with my friends. The same fun things weekend after weekend. Once a year, I travelled to NYC or the beach. I ate at the same restaurants, shopped in the same stores. I didn't realize it at at the time, but I was quickly slipping into a rut. 

Moving so often forces me to try things I'd never even thought of before. When you live in a place where all the roads, stores, and restaurants are unfamiliar, you learn to Google... A LOT. Entertainment which was popular back home might not even exist in your new space. I find myself searching the net with phrases like, "Fun things to do in... (fill in the blank)". Or "Where to eat in... (fill in the blank)". 

On a whim, I once typed in the name of my hometown. A few familiar things popped up on my computer screen, places I'd been or events I'd attended. What surprised me, though, were how many things I never knew existed! After living in the same town for 20 years, I should have known all about the area... but I didn't. There were parks and museums I'd never explored, local events I'd never attended. Hundreds of restaurants and shops I'd never crossed the thresholds of. 

All of that adventure and excitement in one town... I expanded my search to the surrounding counties and cities, and guess what? More stuff than I ever imagined! Turns out, my hometown isn't so boring after all. And I've missed out on a lot of adventure simply by not taking advantage of it while I could. 

The Hubs and I don't ever want to lose those opportunities again. As a military spouse, it's always in the back of your mind that today could be the last day before any number of things take you away from each other. You've got to explore, laugh, and live while you can. Even when the Hubs is away, exploring with friends is an important part of keeping yourself sane. You must get out of the house occasionally, or else risk the slow descent into Crazyville. 

This weekend, a friend and I explored a little section of our world. A local event, a Mexican Cook-Off, was occurring downtown. The advertisements promised excellent food, along with traditional dancers and mariachi bands.

They didn't disappoint. 

The mariachis and dancers performed intermittently throughout the day. Front-row seats for their exhibitions were hard to come by, but we managed for several events. The food was as promised: amazing! After checking out the menu at each tent, I finally decided on loaded chicken nachos. 

Mmmmmmmm..... nom, nom, nom, nom..... mmmmmmmmmm........ 

Yep, it was that good.

We enjoyed our street food while watching the various shows. The performances are so different from anything I've seen before. And I love it! The mariachis performed traditional music, but they also transformed modern rock songs, blending the old with the new. Totally fun, and completely surprising. The dancers encouraged audience participation, often pulling spectators in with them. We are all grateful I wasn't one of them!

Mariachi

       

Dancers

For a few hours, we experienced something unique to this area. If our next duty station is in Kansas or some such place, I highly doubt we'll find performing mariachis. And those nachos? Pa-lease. Not going to find those in Kansas either (no offense to my Kansas friends!).

My advice to you? Get out and explore!! Find the things unique to where you are, and enjoy them while you can. Whether you're on a budget or not, there are things to see and do. Last night's Mexican Cook-Off? The entrance fee was a mere $3. That fee bought a lot of fun, and an evening to remember.

If you don't know where to look, or how to find your local attractions, try these websites:

1. Trip Advisor
2. Uptake
3. Virtual Tourist
4. Yahoo! Travel
5. UrbanSpoon (for local cuisine)
6. U.S. National Park Service

Also, look for state and local parks. Google is your friend!! Search through your local paper, check websites for local news stations. Often the city will publish a monthly events calendar or magazine. Local churches hold fundraisers, chili cook-offs, and lots of other fun events. Be creative, get out and explore your world a bit. I promise, you won't regret it.

Happy exploring, my friends. I'd love to hear about your adventures, feel free to post in the comments below!