I HOPE ..

MAKE NO MISTAKE .. I FULLY REALIZE HOW BLESSED AND HOW LUCKY AND HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AS I DO. THE ENTIRE POINT OF MY WEBSITE HERE IS TO REALIZE MY DESIRE THAT .. IN SOME SMALL WAY .. ONE OF MY POSTS OR ONE OF MY PHOTOGRAPHS WILL MAKE ONE PERSON'S DAY JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

TO FEEL GOOD .. DO GOOD !

I HOPE THAT SOMEONE VISITING MY WEBSITE WILL SEE SOMETHING ON IT THAT THEY WILL NOT EVER BE ABLE TO SEE OR TO DO OTHERWISE .. AND THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE THEIR DAY OR THEIR LIFE JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER !


IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH AND ADEQUATE MONEY TO FOLLOW-YOUR-DREAM .. WITH DISCERNMENT .. FIND THE COURAGE AND HAVE THE GUTS TO DO WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO!


TRULY THIS IS MY DOXOLOGY .. MY PRAISE TO GOD!

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT .. http://babakaps.net .. TO SEE MY OTHER WEBSITE.

Saturday, 28 June 2025

JUN 28, 25.. OUR WILD CRANES HAVE RETURNED FOR A YEAR 2025 VISIT..

 I was literally sitting here at our laptop, mentally "wringing my hands" and sad and frustrated because, so far, we have not published any Posts on Google Blogspot yet in June 2025.

Then (Who knows why? A nudge from a Guardian Angel?) I casually glanced outside and there they were. Two wild Sandhill Cranes en route North! 

Our personal, very first ever sighting of the Cranes here at our Condo, occurred two years ago on Saturday, June the 10th, 2023, when the below two cranes just casually wandered into our lives out in front of our Condo.



They seemed to have absolutely no fear of us!


Two photos showing last years Crane visit on 
May the 26th, 2024.



Voila! Our visit on June 28th, 2025.

In Early Spring, sandhill cranes migrate north and can be seen in a variety of states in the West and Midwest, including Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana, Illinois and Indiana. 80 percent of all sandhill cranes in North America use a 75-mile stretch of Nebraska’s Platte River during spring migration. From March to April, more than 500,000 birds spend time in the area preparing for the long journey north to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska.

As summer approaches sandhill cranes are usually spotted in the most northern regions of the contiguous U.S. and in Canada and Alaska. About one-third of the entire North American population of sandhill cranes breeds in the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska. Outside of the Americas, they can be found as far north as Siberia.

As fall approaches, the cranes then reverse this treacherous journey and start to head South again.

We are just thrilled to have seen the Cranes again.

Out in our back yard area.

The Cranes "were on the move" so I had to race out back to photograph them the best I was able to accomplish.







And off they strolled!

Not that they can hear us but.. 

"Cranes. Thanks so very much for your third visit with us!"

Cap and Patti

Saturday, 31 May 2025

MAY 31, 25.. THE DETROIT, MICHIGAN ZOO..

 Let's begin with a hearty..

THANK YOU Ginny and THANK YOU Linda for being our guest contributors for this Post.

Ginny's sister Linda lives in the Detroit Michigan Metropolitan area and it was Linda who snapped the below photos she snapped recently at the Detroit Zoo.

A small giggle. Actually the Detroit Zoo is not located in Detroit. It is located in the two Northern Detroit suburbs of Royal Oak and Huntington Woods about 12 miles due North of downtown Detroit.

The Detroit Zoo covers 125 acres and houses 2,000 animals of over 200 different species. It was opened August 1st 1928.

The Detroit Zoo's general admission cost is $27 for adults (ages 13-64) and $24 for youth (ages 2-12) and seniors (ages 65+) when purchased at the gate. 

However, tickets can be purchased online in advance for varying prices depending on the date and time of visit, ranging from $14 to $24 for adults and $12 to $21 for youth/seniors. Parking at the Detroit Zoo costs $8 per vehicle. 

Along with Ginny and Tom our Laughlin, Nevada friends, I was born in Detroit and raised in or near Royal Oak, so the Detroit Zoo is like a lifelong friend. Patti has also enjoyed several visits with me.

THE DETROIT ZOO..



It is one very beautiful venue.







Thank You again Linda and Ginny for sharing these photos with all of us.

Cap and Patti

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

MAY 13, 25.. BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA HIGHWAYS..

Patti and I returned north to Anchorage, Alaska from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, last April the 24th.

Oh BUT we still have very close friends such as Ginny down in Laughlin, Nevada and that part of the country that continue to send us great photos.

Below are some great photos that Ginny snapped on a recent drive from Laughlin over to Kingman, Arizona, on Arizona Highway 68.










Ginny's grand daughter is named Evelyn.










How Is That For Some Wonderful Guest Photos from "Our Ginny".

Cap and Patti 

We are NOT talking while the flavor lasts!

Sunday, 11 May 2025

MAY 11, 25.. MOTHER'S DAY 2025

Patti and I find it difficult to believe that, here on Google Blogspot, we have not ever published a Mother's Day Post.

The time has come to change that. Yes we have published several Mother's Day Posts over on our Dotnet website but none here.

I am going to utilize the NATIONAL TODAY website to explore what NATIONAL TODAY has to say about Mother's Day.


The beautiful and unparalleled bond of love shared between children and mothers is honored and celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday of May, this year being May 11th. 

Mothers Day celebrations go back to ancient times when Greeks and Romans held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. 

However, the early Christian festival, known as "Mothering Sunday", stands as the modern precursor. This European tradition fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent. Many believed the faithful would return on this day to their “Mother Church”— the main church near their home — for a special service. The Mothering Sunday tradition shifted over time into a more secular holiday where children would give their mothers flowers and other gifts. 

Anna Jarvis successfully initiated Mother’s Day after her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died in 1905. Jarvis noted that Mother’s Day should contain a “singular possessive,” (hence the apostrophe) so each family might honor its own mother — as opposed to all mothers. Jarvis, who neither married nor had children, organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration in May 1908. A Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker lent his financial support to the cause. That same month thousands of people attended a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s stores.

Jarvis soon lobbied to make Mother’s Day a national holiday — urging prominent Americans to join the effort.  By 1912 many states, towns, and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual event. Jarvis also started the Mother’s Day International Association. 

President Wilson would soon establish the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914. 

Hallmark began selling Mother’s Day cards in the early 1920s.

It is interesting, and it is sad to say, that Jarvis’ love affair with the holiday she worked so hard to start did not last. She grew to resent its commercial appeal. As florists and greeting card companies began to cash in, she soured on the idea of a national day — urging people to stop buying flowers, cards and candies. Jarvis spent most of her personal wealth hiring attorneys to file lawsuits against groups using the term “Mother’s Day.” She even tried to persuade the federal government to remove it from the calendar.

Yes Oh Yes! There is a lot more information about Mother's Day if you choose to go directly to the NATIONAL TODAY website by clicking onto the link shown below.

https://nationaltoday.com/mothers-day/


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It is not unusual for NATIONAL TODAY to have other very "Similar Holidays" for the same basic Holiday.

Below you will see what I mean.


MOTHER'S AT THE WALL DAY?

We've never heard of this Holiday!

Mothers at the Wall Day (M.A.T.W.D.) is observed on the second Sunday of May every year. This year it falls on May 11. Moms don’t get days off. Instead, they are rewarded with sticky kisses, the occasional macaroni necklace, and the gratification of seeing their children grow into happy, healthy adults. That’s probably insufficient compensation for all they do, so give Mom an extra embrace this Mothers at the Wall Day.

As we did above, if you wish to more to read about Mother's At The Wall Day on the NATIONAL TODAY website please click onto the below link.

https://nationaltoday.com/mothers-at-the-wall-day/

We checked the above link out and, for the life of us, can't find much difference between Mother's Day and Mother's At The Wall Day.


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Patti and I hope, that all of you who celebrate Mother's Day, have a wonderful day full of love and kindness for your very own special Mother!

Cap and Patti


Wednesday, 23 April 2025

APR 23, 25 ( 1 / 2 ).. STAIR SAFETY..

Please understand that some of our writings are for our own personal recollections. This is one such a Post.

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Falls. Falling down. These are very serious matters for we senior citizens. I myself have had several very serious falls. I have broken both knee caps falling on the winter ice. 

On November the 25th, 2016, my most serious fall was in the Dubai (United Arab Emirates)  Airport and over the next five days I flew to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona for a hip replacement surgery on December the 1st 2016. 

https://babakaps.net/?p=23901 

On September the 27th 2020, I took a very bad fall while we were up at our cabin in Manley Hot Springs. I could have died "on the spot". 

Below is a link to that severe fall.

https://babakaps.net/?p=41865

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This recent March the 15th, here on Google Blogspot, we shared with you a new technique for walking down a flight of stairs. 

https://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2025/03/mar-15-25-safely-descending-stairs.html

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Here is where we are going with this Post.

We are still using the technique we shared with you in the above Post.

Yesterday Patti had to climb up, and back down, thirty three (33) stairs.

She made it safely down and she was relaxed knowing she would probably not have a bad, even life threatening fall!

Both hands holding firmly onto the stair railing. Stepping sidewise down one step at a time.





Smiles.. Cap and Patti

To read about our adventures with Shamrock, our Edgewater Casino Hotel slot machine, please continue to scroll down or click onto the below link.

APR 23, 25 ( 2 / 2 ).. SHAMROCK.. OUR SLOT MACHINE AT THE EDGEWATER CASINO HOTEL..

Well "go figure". 

Up until this moment, here on Google Blogspot, I have not had a Subject Index or a Label or a Category titled Slot Machine(s), or Shamrock.

Yes Oh Yes! Over on dotnet I have slot machine(s), Rocky and Shamrock at the Edgewater!

The Edgewater Casino Hotel is a member of the True Rewards network, a system where members get various discounts (depending on how active your are) on room rates, meals, etc.

For more information you can check out the below link:

https://www.truerewards.com/

I have found that the easiest way for both Patti and I to build our True Rewards accounts is via the slot machines. You play $1 and you get 1 True Rewards point. 

But on some days, usually a Tuesday or a Thursday, for each $1 you play, you earn 4 True Rewards points. So we always try to play on a 4x Tuesday or a 4x Thursday.

To keep your True Rewards Account active you must have at least some activity on your account at least once every thirteen (13) months. Just $1 of activity each 13 months, will keep your True Rewards account open.

Since we are here at the Edgewater several times a year, it is no problem.

So yesterday Patti and I went down to the Casino and played on Shamrock.



To play a game, or to spin the slot machine, you can either pull a handle on the side of the slot machine..


Or you can simply press a PLAY button on the slot machine.


In this modern era, the majority of slot machines only have a PLAY button and no handle. Some years ago, all slot machines had the handle on the side of the machines.

I FAR prefer pulling down on a handle like the one Shamrock has.

I reach out and firmly grasp the handle..


And pull it down and towards me.



You can see in the below photo that Rocky and Wonder Woman, along with all of the other slot machines at the Havasu Landing Casino near Lake Havasu City, Arizona, all have PLAY buttons.


All of you who read dotnet understand how I play the slot machines. I sit down with a fixed amount of money (usually $20) and only play that fixed amount. I kind of alternate between playing 50-cents a spin (so for my $20 I get forty spins) or $1 a spin. I do not play until all of my $20 is spent!

So yesterday evening, a 4x Tuesday, Patti and I went down to play on Shamrock.

Sitting side by side in front of Shamrock, I played $10 and Patti played $10. 

I won $2 with my $10. Patti won $26 with her $10. So with our $20 we won $28! 


Then Shamrock said very quietly (so no one else could hear him) won't you play just $1 more Cap and Patti?

And this is exactly how you end up losing your money by listening to the "Siren Calls" of Slot Machines.

"Patti what do you think?"

"Cap we can afford to play an additional $1."

So into Shamrock went an additional $1!

Smiling to himself Shamrock said to us.. 

"See? I paid you $5! I told you to play just $1 more!"


So our bottom line for yesterday, Tuesday the 22nd of April 2025, was a net winning of $12!


We bet $21. We went home with $33.

Ah yes. Then after we had returned to our room, after resting for awhile, I decided to go down and snap some photos of Shamrock.

When I arrived at Shamrock, a well dressed and groomed elderly man, perhaps age 65 years, was playing the adjoining slot machine to the left of Shamrock.

He was tapping the PLAY button fairly quickly. Then I noticed that he was playing $10 for each spin! So figuring he was playing 15 spins a minute, one spin each 4 seconds, he was spending $150 a minute! 

Well (he was VERY laid back, polite and relaxed) we got to talking and he paid 100% attention to me. 

I asked him how he was doing. He smiled and calmly replied.. "I'm trying to win back "a Grand" ($1,000)."

Now I can say that I have met a "Real Gambler"!

He said that he lives in Orange County, California.

Amazing!

He also said that sometimes he plays Shamrock.

So back up in our room, after a short nap, I asked Patti to join me and back down we went to Shamrock.

My friend THE REAL GAMBLER was gone.

On Shamrock however we noticed his last payout was $800! It could have been him playing $9 a spin, one that covers all 9 of Shamrock's 9 lines.

As we passed the payout counter, I told one of the payout clerks about MY GAMBLER acquaintance.

She said that one night, at a slot machine close to the payout counter, she and the staff were watching a man play $36 per spin on a slot machine.

Big Smiles.

Cap and Patti