Texas Swimming In The Dark With Nancy's Fried Pies In Oklahoma On Route 66

I was up way before the crack of dawn, again, this morning.

When I checked email I found one from Perkins telling me that the Nancy's Fried Pies Video was not working on my Eyes on Texas website.

What fresh hell is this I thought. It did not take me long to find out that Perkins was correct. Nancy's Fried Pies was not working, nor were several others. It did not take long to figure out the code had changed.

The process of getting new code over taxed my computer and brain several times, severely vexing me. By 5 am I had the videos all back working and had added two new ones to go along with the webpages I made yesterday, so now there is video about Grand Lake O' the Cherokees and Beavers Bend Resort Park & Broken Bow Lake that you can look at and be surprised at how scenic Oklahoma is in certain locations.

After all that video exhaustion I decided to go take a cover of darkness dip in the pool. It was pleasant. The rest of the morning was filled with more website stuff. Oh, and one extremely rude person said my sad sleepwalking episode sounded like a drunken stumble bum. I can not remember when last a remark filled me with such a high level of umbrage.

It's cloudy and not hot again today, only 86. By noon all my travails had my head hurting, so I went to Oakland Lake Park for a walk. The walking turned extra long because at the start of the walk I called Chris M.P. up in Washington, formerly of Oklahoma. A fellow Pacific Northwesterner, she abandoned me last summer, leaving me with hardly any long time acquaintances within a 1,000 mile radius.

I must remember to call Chris M.P. more often. I always enjoy talking to her. Chris is missing Oklahoma, I'm sure, below is a video of Ollie's Station Restaurant on Route 66. I don't remember if this is one of her favorite places or not...

Dallas Cop Car Chase Update With A New Cop Car Chase

This morning I looked online to see if more was known about yesterday's wild car chase in Dallas. I could find nothing. That seemed odd.

Then a few minutes ago I looked at the Dallas Morning News, online, and saw that there has been another Dallas cop car chase. This time involving a woman leading the police on a 90 minute chase through Dallas County.

This morning's chase started in Irving and ended in Dallas on Buckner Boulevard near White Rock Lake. At one point the woman was driving 100 mph, but slowed to 20 mph after her tires were popped by spikes. The woman is in custody, obviously, with no other details.

But, in this same article, about today's chase, there was information about yesterday's chase that ended in a crash at an intersection on Plano Road. The driver's name is Shane W. Michel. He was taken to Baylor University Medical Center where he is in critical condition as of this morning.

Michel has a record of arrests for drugs, resisting arrest and burglary. There was a warrant, active, for his arrest on a forgery charge.

Michel's dad, Bill Michel, told local TV that his son is bi-polar and that this was not his first police chase.

Jerry World Stadium Bust To Area Business

I've lost count of the number of comments I've gotten from ill-informed bozos telling me how wrong I am about some things I have said about the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. As in there are actually people out there who think that Jerry Jones could not have taken people's homes unless they willingly sold them.

And then there are the ones who have told me that I have no idea what an economic boon this stadium will be to Arlington, sparking all sorts of development. Unlike what happened in Irving during the decades that the former Cowboy Stadium sat in a blighted area that did not seem to economically benefit from the stadium.

And then this morning there was a letter to the editor, in the online version of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in which an Arlington business owner, operating near the new stadium, begs to differ with those who think the stadium has been and will be a great thing for Arlington.

Below is the letter....

Business bust

Having a business for more than 27 years in the Lincoln Square Shopping Center along Collins Street, we have seen ups and downs, but nothing compares to the desperation since the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium opened. Wal-Mart can’t conduct business during events; Arby’s is giving away sandwiches to attract attention. Buffalo Wild Wings has a poor soul stand on the corner in 103-degree weather in a Buffalo suit just to attract customers back into the area.

Longtime stores such as Laura’s Closet, Paper Capers, Mexican Inn and Shady Oaks were forced to close because of the lengthy construction and lack of traffic along Collins Street. A recent poll of our customers revealed that people are more repelled by the stadium than attracted. Stores such as ours, Petland, and new stores like 5 and Dine are struggling heavily under the Jerry’s Palace construction deal with the city of Arlington that has reduced our exposure and traffic by 50 percent.

I call for the city and Jerry’s World to provide the businesses along Collins Street south of Interstate 30 to be subsidized 1 percent of gate and concession sales. The city and Jerry Jones can take responsibility for the businesses that helped build the stadium and will continue to support it through our property tax dollars, only to have our throats cut and still have to pay for it.

Paul Thomas,
Arlington

Watching A Dallas Cop Car Chase During Lunch

I turned on the TV during lunch to check in on the news to see that the news on all the cable news channels was a car chase in my neighborhood of the world.

I've watched a few of these live police chases in the past. I remember one in the LA zone that ended sort of anti-climatically on a dirt road.

And then there was another Dallas one where the police had flattened the chasee's tires, but she kept on going. That one ended when the woman stopped on a freeway bridge over a lake in east Dallas. I remember thinking, where did she think she was running to? On a lake.

The chase I watched during lunch began with a routine cop stop that quickly spun out of control when narcotics were detected. One of the Dallas TV stations already had a copter in the air, heading to get video of a bunch of dead cows. The copter got diverted from the cows to the cops.

I've never seen one of these cop chases be so wild. The guy trying to escape careened off the freeway, throwing the cops momentarily off his trail. The bad guy zoomed through intersections, flipped U-Turns and finally came to a stoplight where he got past the stopped cars and then was hit on the driver's side by a fast moving truck.

The driver of the truck was not badly injured. His truck was though. The bad guy's car was smacked pretty bad, sort of bent out of shape. The cops had trouble getting inside the car, ended up breaking windows to get the doors open. After about 5 minutes emergency crews arrived and were setting up to help the bad guy when Shepard Smith and FOX News went to commercial.

I decided I'd seen enough and turned off the TV.

Update: As you can see in the photo, the suspect's car was heavily damaged in the crash. Authorities have yet to disclose the suspect's condition. He was brought to an area hospital. I don't know why news reports refer to the driver as a suspect. Is there any doubt he led a large number of police on a dangerous chase?

Update 2: The driver is in critical condition at Baylor University Medical Center. More Details Here.

YouTube video of the chase below....

Hiking To The Top Of A Fort Worth Mountain While Thinking About An Oklahoma Lake

That's the noontime view of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth from high atop the summit of Tandy Mountain.

As you can see, we are under a cloud cover. We will not be feeling 100 degree heat today. The humidity has gone back up, so it felt hotter than the chilly 83 degrees.

I've been webpaging the Grand Lake o' the Cherokees, Beavers Bend and Broken Bow Lake up in Oklahoma today. Anyone been to any of these places and have any opinions they can share?

I had no idea there were big dams up in Oklahoma, as in Pocatello Dam that makes Grand Lake is the longest multiple arch dam in the world. It's almost a mile long. That is one long dam. And Grand Lake has 1,300 miles of shoreline. That is a lot of shoreline. I've seen the lakes in northeast Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas from the air and was surprised by how many there were. Now I want to check out Grand Lake on the ground.

Speaking of Oklahoma, yesterday on the History Channel I watched a documentary about the Dust Bowl. I had no idea it was so horrible. The dust and drought were bad enough, but then came the plague of locusts and then jackrabbits got out of control. The whole eco-system got out of whack. I didn't know that one of the dust storms reached as far as New York City. Or that the area affected included North Texas.

The dust here in Texas is one of the few things about Texas that I don't like. The west side of Washington is not dusty. Eastern Washington is much more Texas-like, dust-wise.

I forgot to mention, there is still some color on the prairie in the form of wildflowers. I saw several today whilst hiking the Tandy Hills Natural Area trails.

So, that's been my day so far this Monday in Texas, up early, in the pool for a long time, virtual trip up to a cool lake in Oklahoma and a colorful hike at noon.

Another Sleepwalking In Texas Incident

I had myself another sleepwalking incident. It's only when there is evidence evident in the morning, or an eye witness reporting, that I know I've been sleepwalking again.

Unlike the last known incident, last night's did not involve any bruise-causing fall.

About 2 in the morning I woke up and couldn't find my second pillow. I reached around on both sides of the bed. No pillow. I knew something was not right, but I ignored it and fell back asleep.

I woke up again about 5 and decided to get up. Turned on the light. The second pillow was no where to be seen.

I go to make coffee and then walk out to the patio to get my swimming suit. I slide open the patio door and there it was. My swimming suit and my pillow.

I don't think I went swimming. The exit door was locked. My previous leave the house sleepwalking incidents have always left the door unlocked.

It's a bit unsettling to know you've been up wandering around with your pillow in the middle of the night and have no memory of doing so, because I've no idea what else I may have done. Or where else I may have gone.

Below is a YouTube video of a sleepwalking dog....

HOT Texas Sunday Hiking River Legacy Park Looking For Alligators

It is another HOT Sunday in Texas. We have gone over 100 again. That makes 3 days in a row, I think, maybe 4. Methinks it is going to be one Long HOT Summer.

With my mountain bike currently on the disabled list, rendering wheeling not an option, I decided to go to River Legacy Park today and walk the mountain bike trail, specifically the section of trail where a woman was badly injured a month or so ago.

I was on the trail soon after the accident, saw all the emergency workers, heard voices in the woods trying to figure out how to get the injured party out of there. I later heard from the injured lady after she read my description of that day on my blog.

This section of trail, I think they call it South Pass, but I'm not sure, is one of two that opened in recent months that are marked RED, indicating the need for an expert skill level. The other new section is called Fun Town. I could see right at the entry to Fun Town that it would be no fun for me. But I did try to bike the South Pass Trail. I made it up and down 2 hills. And then when I saw the third one, I thought, no, ain't gonna do it. It was a struggle to push the bike back out of there.

Walking this section of trail today was hard. There were far more challenging parts, that I hiked today, that I did not get near, when I made my bike attempt. A couple times today I saw what the trail was doing and thought to myself they have got to be kidding. I can see how someone could get injured in there and why it would be hard to get them out. I was just carrying myself today and I had trouble making it down several of the slopes.

I took pictures, hoping my limited photo skills would do justice to the trails, showing how, well, adventurous they are. I don't believe I succeeded.

The above picture is where I gave up my one and only attempt at biking this. Since that aborted attempt a bypass around the treacherous trail to the right has been built. As I walked the bypass I was thinking to myself, I could bike this, maybe I'll try this again. I soon was to see that that will never happen. I now get why I hear so much screaming when I bike the South Pass bypass when I'm on this part of the trail.

The above picture does not come remotely close to showing what the trail is like. I am standing at the top of the hill. The trail down to that wood bridge at the bottom of the ravine is very steep, as in so steep I was not sure I would be able to get down it without falling. And then the uphill across the bride is also very steep. I thought to myself, this could easily be the spot where the injury occurred.

Once more the picture does not do justice to this fun little section of trail. A very steep uphill, then down, then up. Did I mention that it is very steep?

And then there was the swamp. For quite a distance the trail does its ups and downs along side a swamp covered with green swamp goo. With the cicadas in full summer swoon with their constant noise-making, along with the jungle vegetation and then this swamp, I felt like I was in Africa. This looked like the type of swamp an alligator might leap out of. Or a snake. The day that lady was injured I was talking to a guy who had come out of the South Pass Trail, asking me how the hell do you get back to the parking lot. He told me he'd seen a big snake on the South Pass Trail. I was hoping for an encounter with one today. I was being very vigilant. But, no snake. No armadillo. No wild boars. No bobcats. No alligators. No tarantulas.

I was a hot, wet mess by the time I got back to more sedate trail. I then made a bee-line for my vehicle.

Texas Hot Water Hot Air & Broken Bikes

In the picture you are going swimming with me early Sunday morning. The water was warmer than the air.

The overnight low was 80. It is not even 10 a.m. yet and it is already over 90. So, it'll be another scorcher in Texas this last Sunday of June.

Next Saturday is already the 4th of July. Towns in Texas put on the best parades I've ever seen, with two of them being 4th of July Parades. One of the biggest in Texas is the 4th of July Parade in Arlington. My favorite, that I've seen, is the Granbury 4th of July Parade.

I won't be going to any parade today, as far as I know. I still have not gotten around to getting my bike wheel fixed. I never think of it until I'm in the mood to do something aerobic and then remember my bike is disabled. Bike riding is easily doable when the temps are over 100.

It Is Saturday June 27 In Texas & 105 Degrees HOT

I experienced none of this last summer. I was suffering icicles in Tacoma when my zone of Texas had its 100 degree days of the year. So, this is being my first HOT time for a couple years. Last year it did not get HOT til after July 20. This year it's not even July and we're HOT.

By tomorrow the pool will be even less refreshing than it was this morning. When we get a week or two of being over 100 news items will appear advising people that it is impossible to cool down their pools with ice. Evidently, every year, a lot of people try that. Apparently the amount of ice needed to lower the temperature in a certain volume of water makes it physically impossible to lower it enough to make a significant difference.

On good thing to make note of on the weather gauge, the humidity is down so far we no longer have a Heat Index temperature that is higher than the actual temperature.

And on a totally non HEAT related subject, when I logged in to write this blogging about it being 105, I saw that the previous blogging was number 1,500, which makes this one number 1,501. When I started doing this blogging thing I figured I'd last a month before I got bored with it. As I often am, I was wrong.

Texas Tarantula Terror With Hot Hiking & Texas License Plates

Like I said would happen, in a blogging earlier today, about 1` this afternoon, when it was only 102, I went to the Tandy Hills Natural Area. There was no breeze today. But as long as I keep moving the heat isn't too hot. But, if you stop walking for just the time it takes to take a picture, well, suddenly it goes to drenched in sweat mode.

I tried to take a picture of one of the remaining wildflowers, but every attempt turned out blurry. Why? I do not know. It perplexes me. I think it may be a heat related malady.

When I got back here I was mortified to learn that out in West Texas, in the metropolis of Wink, Jammin Mole had been Terrorized this morning by a Giant Tarantula. Homeland security eventually subdued the beast.

Back in my Tarantula free world, I hope, this morning I made a different sort of webpage on my Eyes on Texas website, one where I'm trying to be helpful. That often is not the case. This past week I've gotten 5 or 6 people asking me questions about Texas Personalized License Plates, and the "It's a Whole Other Country" one in particular.

Why do people think I'm the go to guy with such a question? The questions about rattlesnake skins and rattles, I sort of understand, due to the webpages about the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. Or questions about next month's Parker County Peach Festival, those I understand. I understand why I'm getting the question, I mean, I don't understand why they think I'd have the answer.

As for Texas License Plates, I have no idea where these questions are coming from or what on my website would make anyone think I know anything about the subject. But helping people solve their problems is what I'm all about, so now I have the answers to the vexing Texas License Plate Questions.

Abrupt change of subject, returning to Jammin Mole and Wink. Earlier today I was surprised by an invitation from Jammin. Inviting myself, Gar the Texan and Mister Twister to Wink. This is what Ms. Mole had to say (she is commenting on a comment by Mister Twister regarding Wink in previous blogging you can read here)...

"Twister, if in fact you were expressing apathy for Wink, I'd leave it alone, BUT I'm sensing that you're actually expressing a sorta disdain for the place, making a prejudgment without having seen Wink in person. So, here it is...I'm cordially inviting you, Durango and Gar to come down to Wink in October for the Halloween Carnival and Spook House. It's only a seven hour drive and between the three of you, ya'll should be able to handle 2.5 hours of driving time each. If you like, I can even get you an Orbison T-shirt, but you'll have to supply your own shades."

Now, it's time for lunch.

Looking At Ads While Drinking Heavily & Stripping

A few days ago I think I mentioned I wised up regarding my search for the world's biggest of one specific subject.

This morning I was looking through this week's Fort Worth Weekly and saw an ad for the Mule Pub. In the ad there is a person who might have been a candidate for my search, if I were still searching.

The caption under the potential biggest candidate says, "Screw working out...drink instead!"

I know that has always been my philosophy. Lately I've been pretty much drinking all day long.

You have to in this heat. Since we've hit the 100 zone I've been taking 3 bottles of water with me when I go take a hike. All day long I'm wandering into the kitchen to get yet one more glass of water with ice cubes floating in it. It's not quite as bad as being in Death Valley when it's 124 where you pretty much have to be constantly sucking on liquid, but it's close to that. I think I'd be shocked if I figured out how many gallons I drink a day.

It's supposed to be around 100 by noon, so I'm thinking since it Saturday and I'm a creature of repetitive habit, I'll likely go do some heavy duty sweating and drinking on the Tandy Hills today. Due to issues previously discussed, I no longer make mention of my hiking attire.

Speaking of water, we've got a lot of Watering Holes here in my zone of Texas. Right in my neighborhood there is the Ozzie Rabbit Lodge. Ozzie Rabbit was Lee Harvey Oswald's nickname. Lee Harvey is buried near the Ozzie Rabbit Lodge. Apparently the Ozzie Rabbit Lodge is the east side's hippest watering hole.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex also has a lot of restaurants, so many that they add up to being the world's highest number of restaurants per capita. Why is such information always stated as "per capita" I typed and wondered? I believe "capita" means head. Maybe it's Latin.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex we are also very proud of having the world's highest number per capita of women working in the stripping industry. Over 4,000 are gainfully employed doing that hard job. There are a lot of strip clubs here. In Washington there were very few such establishments, and none as elaborate and big as those here.

In FW Weekly the listings for strip joints is coyly under the heading "Cabaret." The Fort Worth Gentleman's Club was this year's FW Weekly critic's choice as Best Strip Club 2008. You have to wear proper dress to enter this club. I have no idea what proper dress in Texas might be. The Gentleman's Club has a real good seafood buffet on Wednesdays. Not that I will admit to knowing this from personal experience.

Rick's Cabaret was FW Weekly's reader's choice for Best Strip Club and FW Weekly's critic's choice for Best Exotic Dancer (China) and Best Place to Nurse a Hangover in 2008.

Both Illusions and Main Stage make reference to sleeves being required, with Illusions insisting that sleeves are required after 6 p.m. Does this mean long sleeves? Is it tank tops they are trying to ban?

The Texas Cabaret gives us a better idea of what proper attire must be with their rule of "No cut-off shirts or cut-off pants." So, I'm thinking if you wear a nice pair of cargo pants shorts and a shirt you'll be properly attired. To play it totally safe I suppose one would wear regular pants, as in slacks, not jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt, buttoned to the max. I wonder if I still own such things? And why are they so picky about what men wear while the women have very little or nothing on? That's perplexing.

Today I Am 34 Years Old

Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, is always sending me good, funny, upbeat stuff via email. Alma is the opposite of a toxic person. She is more like a daily happy tonic.

Some of this morning's messages bordered on the bizarre, with those bizarre ones, for the most part, emanating from Facebook world, that being a world who's charm has not quite revealed itself to me, yet. As in I don't quite get it.

Maybe it has something to do with it being something like 2 decades now I've been, in some way or the other, social networking via a computer.

And then there was a blog comment this morning that said I looked like a thuggish, gangster porn star. I'm not quite sure what that is, but I liked the sound of it. Then again the source of this compliment was someone with demonstrably bad taste in multiple areas, so I suppose I must consider the source and not be too thrilled at being described as a thuggish, gangster porn star.

Back to Alma. This morning she sent me a link to a website that calculates ones Virtual Age. I took the test and learned I am a virtual 34.5 year old with a life expectancy of 97.5. A 34.5 year old thuggish, gangster porn star.

Life is good. And now it's time to go swimming.

Flashing Stop Signs With Freshwater Seafood & A Blogging Moment Of Silence

I was observing a Blogging Silence in memory of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

To find myself appalled to be getting emails and one phone call asking if I am all right.

Yes, I am all right. I got up at a reasonable time this morning. I went swimming after the sun had lightened up the place. And then the morning was consumed by website nonsense and doing a background criminal check for Tootsie Tonasket regarding yet one more boyfriend of dubious character.

It was well past noon before I got away from the computer. I decided to walk around Oakland Lake Park. There is a stop sign I always see on my way to Oakland Lake. It is solar-powered. You'll likely need to click on the picture to make it bigger to see them, but I can tell you there are flashing red lights around the perimeter of the sign. Why? I do not know. It's a 3 way stop. 2 of the 3 stop signs have the solar-powered flash lights. It's not a particularly busy or hazardous seeming intersection.

And then at Oakland Lake Park I saw yet another of the signs I've mentioned before, those ones that tell you that there is a fish consumption advisory for this body of water. I had not noticed, previously, that the sign directed me to a State of Texas website. To a website about seafood. Doesn't seafood come out of saltwater? Not a polluted landlocked lake?

So, I followed the sign's directive and visited the website to find no mention of freshwater fish. The verbiage mentions oysters, clams, mussels, scallops and crab. I am fairly certain none of those can be caught in Oakland Lake. I have no idea what "molluscan" is. Below are the words one reads when one goes to the website one is advised to go to....

The mission of the Seafood and Aquatic Life Group is to protect the consumer from disease or other health hazards transmissible by oysters, clams, mussels and scallops and crab meat produced in or imported into Texas. The Seafood and Aquatic Life Group also protects recreational fishers from disease or contaminants found in fish and other aquatic species caught in Texas' lakes, rivers, bays or nearshore state waters. We carry out this mission by classification of shellfish growing areas, certification of molluscan shellfish shippers and crab meat processors, and testing tissue samples from fish and seafood harvesting areas.

It is 99 right now, heading to a predicted high, this Friday, of 102. It was 95 with a Heat Index of 100 when I went walking at Oakland Lake. It did not feel particularly hot. A breeze blew, there are trees with some shade.

But, as I walked I realized in less than a month it will be a year since I flew up to Tacoma to spend a month feeling so cold, in so many ways. I realized today, as I walked comfortably in the heat, that by the time I flew up north last July 20 I was so used to being out in the extreme heat. I keep my A/C at around 80. And that feels cool. The temperature never got to 80 my entire time I was in Washington last summer. I remained cold the entire time I was up there.

I remember towards the end of my stay one of Washington's most obese residents, wearing a coat of at least 400 pounds of insulative blubber, called and asked how I was feeling. I said I was feeling cold. Because I was. That bloviated gasbag had the gall to tell me I had had plenty of time to acclimate, that I was not the only skinny person in Washington and that I only complained about being cold to get attention. Which was pretty much projection from a person who constantly engaged in attention getting behaviors. I said something like, "oh yes, I feel so good now, I'm getting attention because I'm cold." Geez, I'm glad I'm rid of that idiot.

Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett: A Pop King & Queen Gone

I turned on the TV during lunch to find myself quickly feeling sad to learn that Farrah had died. This was not too shocking to me. Farrah's condition was well known. I liked Farrah Fawcett a lot, going back even before her Charlie's Angels days, when I first saw her in the bizarre movie Myra Breckenridge.

And then in the last hour to first hear Michael Jackson had gone into cardiac arrest, then a coma, then when I click on a news website I see that the King of Pop is dead.

I'm sad about Farrah due to thinking she really was one extremely special woman who suffered a miserable last couple years. I'm feeling bad about Michael Jackson due to thinking what a sad life he lived. He had no one who could tell him no. No, Michael, you do not need to have your face altered, you look fine.

Sad day. Hopefully this bumps the governor of South Carolina off the TV screens.

Wink Delivers A Texas Christmas In June

Christmas was pretty bleak this year in Texas, not that I'm complaining. When it comes to Christmas, I'm pretty much Jewish. I've never been a fan of the holiday. Am always glad when it's over. I don't send anyone a Christmas card. I may get a card or two. I don't buy anyone a Christmas gift or mail anyone anything. I don't think anyone mailed me anything this past Christmas. I may be remembering wrong.

So, imagine my surprise upon going to the Post Office today and opening the P.O. Box to find a note telling me a box too big to stick in the box was awaiting me at the service counter.

There was no line, I walked up and handed the nice Post Office Mail Lady the note and she soon came back with a BIG BOX. The return address on the BIG BOX was Wink, Texas. Wink is the West Texas where Jammin Mole resides and Gar the Texan used to reside til he was asked to leave town. I think there were issues with his mullet style hair, what we in the Pacific Northwest call a Pocatello Doo, due to people in that isolated Idaho town having a fondness for the mullet style.

Anyway, I digress. So, I hauled the BIG BOX to my vehicle, got back here and with great struggle, in the 100 degree heat, managed to get it inside to air-conditioned comfort. I was so thrilled at the unexpected surprise BIG BOX that I decided I had to photo document this rare moment. The first picture, above, is the BIG BOX.

I studied the intricate wrapping and taping on the BIG BOX a long time to figure how best to open it. Eventually I decided on a course of action involving a knife. Soon after that I was lifting a variety of objects out of the BIG BOX. I arranged some of the objects to facilitate a photo.

In the BIG BOX there was a real cool Roy Orbison t-shirt, from last weekend's Roy Orbison Festival. There was a book. A cool little cowboys card. And I don't mean Dallas Cowboys, I mean little boy cowboys. And then there was a bird house in the BIG BOX. With the shape of Texas carved on one side. And a business card so I can arrange to have the Roy Orbison Museum opened for me next time I'm in Wink.

The above is on the bottom of the bird house, confirming that the BIG BOX came from Jammin Mole. I was pretty much 100% certain of that, but this confirmed it.

The Roy Orbison t-shirt was an X-Large. I was afraid it wouldn't fit. But as you can see, it fits. It's also really really long. Like a night shirt. If I was a pajama user this might be a nice substitute on a cold night. That's the Wink Birdhouse that I'm holding.

So, I've really been having myself one HOT BIG DAY in Texas. Up before 3 in the morning, swimming in the dark, virtually going to New Braunfels and the Schlitterbaun, hiking at the HOT Tandy Hills and getting a Christmas present in June from Wink.

I am so looking forward to tomorrow. I'll be looking at Austin. And hopefully wide awake sometime closer to the crack of dawn. See you then, or maybe sooner.

Other Natural Hikers At Tandy Hills Natural Area Today

Incoming from Don Young. I do not know if the event DY describes occurred before, after or during my noonish hike at the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

Regardless, below is what also went on at the Tandy Hills today......

Debora and Don Young led a prairie tour today at THNA for a group of 18 enthusiastic folks from around the Metroplex enrolled in a Permaculture class. The class was organized by Meadowbrook resident and Prairie Fest volunteer, Kirsten Huber, who helped kids make seed-balls at Prairie Fest.

The Permaculture Design Certification Course instructor is Illinois resident, Wayne Weiseman. Read more about Wayne and the course in the attached document.

This is the first time a Permaculture course has been offered in the Fort Worth area. The Permaculture ethic exemplifies the essence of what it means to "go green". We should all be grateful to Kirsten for her passion and vision that made this happen. Fort Worth and planet Earth are better off thanks to her effort.

Hot Tandy Hills Natural Area Hiking

I would think I would be a bit tired by now, having been up since sometime before 3 this morning. But I feel fine.

I made my virtual trip, as planned, this morning, to New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort. I found out later I also need to go to Austin. I thought I'd already done that, but I hadn't.

Then around noon, with the temperature approaching 100 it seemed like a good time for some heavy duty sweating, so I went to the Tandy Hills Natural Area. Again.

Yesterday. Or was it the day before, the light bulb finally came on and I realized I'd made a mistake by blogging so often about my search for the planet's most overly developed backside, which led to way too many people, from all over the world, coming to my blog for no good reason.

Well, another light bulb finally came on regarding bloggings in which I mention what clothes I am wearing or not wearing for a particular activity, like hiking the Tandy Hills Natural Area. Now, the ads that those bloggings generate are not as worthless as the ones generated by the search for the over-sized derriere, but still, I decided to cease at once mentioning certain keywords that brought me certain type blog visitors.

This should have dawned on me before, due to a lot of people come to this blog via searching for info about Austin's Hippie Hollow, it being a rather free-spirited location on Lake Travis. That one I don't mind so much, but when I see that this blog now Googles #1 when someone looks for info about a certain type of hiking, with Texas in the search string, well I don't want to be the #1 info source for that, even if it is just in Texas.

I really need to start thinking things through better before I create these little nuisances for myself.

Anyway, back to today's HOT hiking. I wanted to know how much water I lost today, so I weighed myself before I left. 176. I drank two 16 ounce bottles of water while hiking. When I got back here and weighed myself again, I was at 173. Which would seem to indicate I contributed 5 pounds of moisture to the humidity while hiking up and down hills today.

So, I'm glad I followed my physical therapist, Dr. L.C.'s advice today, and went hiking at my usual time, rather than yesterday's late afternoon jaunt which she felt wreaked havoc with my sleep pattern. I should learn to always follow doctor's orders...

Texas Skinnydipping In The Middle Of The Night With A Fort Worth Water Report

I think I may be going to have myself one ultra-hellacious day today. I woke up about half past 2. I was fairly certain I was not going to fall back asleep. So, at 3 a.m., I got up.

I checked email, read the news, saw the Scrabble Queen of Washington had played 3 words, so I played 3 words.

I got bored preparing for this morning's virtual trip to New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn, so a bit before 5 it seemed like a good time to go for a relaxing skinnydip.

The air temperature is 80 this morning. The pool was warmer than the air. Even though we are currently suffering with a Level Red Pollution Alert, I saw stars twinkling above me. That is not the moon behind me in the photo, it's a big round light.

On the way out of the pool I got the mail. There was one odd thing in the mail. A bi-lingual publication from Fort Worth. The 2008 Drinking Water Quality Report. In a city so pinched for money it has cut back library hours, this seemed an odd thing to waste money on. On page 2 under "A Message from the Water Director" there is a full color photo of the "Water Department Leadership Team." Why didn't they save a few bucks for the city by foregoing the color photo?

Also on page 2 of the "Water Report" it says "Mailing this report to our customers is a federal and state requirement. It also is posted on our website."

In all my years of drinking water in Washington I never received an annual "Water Report." Did this federal mandate come along after I moved to Texas? Or is this a mandate that only applies to places that get their water from sources that require extensive treatment?

I have long found it a bit disturbing that the drinking water here comes out of reservoirs that are also used for recreation, like boating and swimming. Where I lived in Washington, Mount Vernon, the drinking water came out of a reservoir that was totally closed off to human access by a chain link fence.

It's a puzzlement. I can see that so far today, I'm being all about water.

100 Degree Naked Tandy Hills Hiking In Deadly Air Pollution

In the photo you are looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, as filtered through a Level Red Air Pollution Alert, viewed from the western side of the Tandy Hills, near the I-30 freeway.

This afternoon I was feeling cooped up and cranky. I'd been to the Kemah Boardwalk, near Houston, virtually, this morning. After that I went north to Southlake, non-virtually.

The past two days I did get in my morning swim, but yesterday the 100 degree plus outdoor oven had me not feeling it, or wanting to feel it.

By early afternoon my physical therapist, Dr. L.C., was telling me, despite the warnings from the National Weather Service that the elderly should not go outside in this dangerous air, that she thought I had to, or my crankiness could turn ugly.

So, sometime after 4 in the afternoon, with Mother Nature heating it up to 101, I took off to the Tandy Hills Natural Area to be natural. I wore cooling mesh shorts, not my usual cargo shorts, because my intention was to try the Naked Hiking thing again. I knew there was absolutely no chance that there would be any other idiot in this 6 million person Metroplex, so deranged, as to be out hiking in killer temps in killer air, so there was no more chance of running into another human, whilst sans outerwear, than there is where I am right now.

I gotta tell you, I've decided there is something to this skinnyhiking thing. I ended up hiking for well over an hour. I did not overheat. The only time I broke out into rivers of sweat was when I stopped to get a drink or look at something.

Abrupt subject change.

We appear to be building to a possible storm. There has been one short burst of hail and some wind. High temperatures wreak havoc with stability, both weather-wise and mental-wise.

Tomorrow morning I think I'm heading to New Braunfels and a place called Schlitterbahn. That should be interesting. Jammin Mole has volunteered to do some of the driving and buy some gas. I told her that was not necessary.

See you tomorrow.

Lunch Spoiled By South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford

Last Thursday was the first I heard of the disappearance of South Carolina's governor, Mark Sanford. I'd turned on the Rush Limbaugh show, on WBAP, to find Mark Davis was subbing for the day. Rush Limbaugh can get on my nerves due to what he's ranting about, but I find him pretty funny. Mark Davis quickly gets on my nerves due to his overly affected speaking manner grating on my ears.

So, I only listened long enough to hear Mark Davis go on about the mystery of the missing governor of South Carolina.

So, I got back here a bit after 1. It was Wednesday, so I'd been up north, in Southlake, and yes, as usual, I went to Sprouts Farmers Market. I got back here, made lunch, sat down, turned on the TV, hoping to see how Iran was doing.

Instead all the cable news stations were covering, what seems to be being characterized as, the Mark Sanford Scandal. He had somehow led people to believe he was off for some solitude, hiking the Appalachian Trail, when in reality he was down in Argentina, crying for 5 days with his Argentinian mistress, who is also married.

Apparently the affair has been going on for years, with Sanford and his wife working on the problem the past 5 months or so.

All the cable stations were either covering Sanford's news conference, or commenting on it. Evidently, recently, another Republican, this one a senator from Nevada, fessed up to an affair. Some of the commenting was along the line of what dire doom does this epidemic of cheating husbands do to the Republican party?

What bugs me is I don't care if some politician has an affair. Unless that affair somehow messes up with his job, or he is engaging in the affair by somehow abusing the power of his office. With all the serious stuff that should be focused on and debated, going on and on about some poor guy's stupid infidelity, is just wrong.

I was so annoyed it gave me a headache. I don't know if Sanford's affair indicates a character problem, like John Edward's tacky affair did. Edward's revealed himself to be a shallow, self-centered, insensitive bad man. His political career is over. I found myself liking this Sanford guy, listening to him confess to his bad boy behavior.

John F. Kennedy was a serial adulterer. He was all over the place, from Marilyn Monroe to Judith Exner, she being a mob boss girl friend. Now, I think JFK's behavior was not a good mark on his character, but did it have anything to do with how he did his job? I don't think so.

If the JFK era were like it is now and it became public fodder that he was busy boinking Marilyn Monroe, while Jackie was shopping in NYC, well, it'd be non-stop scandal blather on all the news stations, eventually the JFK/Marilyn Scandal would grow so HUGE that JFK would have been forced to resign to restore calm to the country.

Had that happened, JFK would not have been in Dallas that fateful day in November. Lee Harvey Oswald would not be buried in my neighborhood. And Marilyn Monroe would likely be alive today, having married Jack, after he and Jackie got divorced. I suspect even John Jr. would still be alive, due to his dad still being alive to advise him that he was too scatter-brained to be an airplane pilot.

Okay, I realize what I've just done with my circuitous stream of consciousness rambling. I've just made the case that airing all dirty linen is for the greater good in the bigger scheme of things. That really is not the conclusion I had intended to come to.

Revisiting Garfish In Texas Lakes

Someone named Julie sent me an email regarding a blogging I'd written about garfish encounters in Texas lakes. How Julie found my email address, I don't know. It must be on my blog somewhere. Why Julie didn't send her message as a blog comment, I also don't know.

The end of Julie's email had the following dire warning about her message...

This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. This information is intended to be read only by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are on notice that
any review, disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete or destroy any copy of this message.

Okay, one of my hobbies is being a scofflaw and a bad boy, so I'm gonna be a bad boy and copy Julie's nice message below. And below that a YouTube video of a garfish, so you non-Texans can see what we put up with when we go swimming in one of our garfish/water moccasin infested lakes. I put the link to the blogging to which Julie refers, in her message below....

Hello –

About a year ago, a coworker of mine (who was also exiled to Texas for a period of her life) told me about her first experience with a gar fish. She said it was so enormous it was hanging off the back of someone’s pickup truck. Thinking she was exaggerating, I looked up photos and was HORRIFIED that something like this exists! How is it that people aren’t talking about this fish all day long, every day? Shouldn’t it at least have a show dedicated to it on the Sci-Fi channel?

Anyway, I was revealing the existence of the gar fish to a friend and we came across your blog while looking at scary photos. A hilarious entry – thank you for helping me illustrate the horrors of Texas waters to my friend. (Though I have to say I did end up siding with the fish after watching the video - yikes.) I’m not much of a blog reader, but I am truly enjoying yours and will continue to check it out. Just thought I’d let you know, since you probably get nasty comments from weirdos all the time.

Thanks again, and keep writing!

Julie

Did Barnett Shale Drilling Lead To Burleson Woman's Fatal Accident?

On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that a Burleson woman, Megan Porter, 24, died at the scene of where her Chrysler Sebring ran head-on into a tractor trailer, about 5 miles south of Cleburne, on Farm Road 1434.

State troopers arrived at the wreck at 7:20 pm, Monday.

There was no mention made in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram regarding what the tractor trailer was hauling or why it was on a Farm Road.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, the Cleburne Times-Review reported that on Monday, the same day as the fatal wreck, Johnson County Commissioners voted to close County Road 426 to truck traffic. The closed section runs from County Road 317 to Farm-to Market Road 3136, in an area known as the Midway Community, where about 25 families live.

An area resident was quoted as saying, "We’re asking the commissioners to eliminate the gas-related water trucks from using the road as a cut through to the highway. It’s a danger to the residents; the road wasn’t built to handle that kind of traffic; and the damage is going to cause the county to spend more money to repair the road.”

Another area resident told the commissioners he had counted 36 trucks traveling the road from 7 - 8:30 a.m. Monday. The resident said, “Some were going the speed limit; some were not. I’ve been challenged by trucks several times. There’s no shoulder to speak of to pull off on.”

Another resident, living at the end of the road, said gas-well trucks use the road to access a well site and frequently back up onto his property to turn around.

There was no mention made in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article regarding gas-well truck danger leading to Johnson County road closures.

And there was no mention made in the Cleburne Times-Review article on road closures regarding the fatal head on collision between a truck and a car in Johnson County.

Strange.

Gluteus Maximus Only Child Syndrome Ukrainians

Well. I have had me a day. In addition to our first one over the 100 mark, I've been extra HOT for other reasons.

One reason is the past couple days I finally wised up and realized I'd done a dumb dumb thing by blogging repeatedly about the search for the World's Biggest Gluteus Maximus. (I am not using the more common term I used before, the one that starts with a 'b' and ends with a 't'.)

When I wrote about that subject, repeatedly, after seeing the biggest one I'd ever seen, making it's way through Wal-Mart, little did I know that all over the world there are people searching for the world's biggest GM.

I thought it was all in good fun, me and my search, til that search, by all those people, all over the world, overwhelmed my blog. As in, at times 75% of the blog visitors are looking for that one thing. This would be fine with me. Except, understandably, the ads that that subject generates are pathetic. So, no more mention of the search for that particular ultra big thing, by me.

And then there is Only Child Syndrome. I'd blogged a lot about that subject after being traumatized by one of the worst of the breed last summer in Tacoma. I got a lot of my info from the Wikipedia article about the subject, then put my own spin on it. I was appalled to soon see my Only Child Syndrome stuff Googling #1, ahead of Wikipedia, making me, in the eyes of those OCS sufferers looking for relief, the World's #1 Only Child Syndrome expert.

I was pleased today, when I Googled "Only Child Syndrome" to see that Wikipedia is back in the #1 spot. That might not last for long, with me blogging about the subject again. I'll keep it to a minimum. At least the OCS ads are good, so I don't mind this one, like I did the biggest gluteals one.

And then there is today's Ukrainian encounter. I had not looked at my webstats in awhile. I was led to do so today when I saw the new version of Google's Webmaster Tools, in which there was a long list of search strings that bring up my webstuff at a high position. I randomly knew of some that were #1, but I had no idea how many there were. This was new information. I was sort of pleased.

So then I went to look at my website stats. I had not done this in months. They generate a lot of info. Mostly useless to me. There is a section where I get a list of websites with external links to mine. This is always interesting. Sometimes I'll find someone hotlinking to one of my pictures. I then replace it with something embarrassing and see how long it takes them to discover it.

Today on the list of links from an external page there were about 30 like the following:

http://woxifedaqiiqadefixow.durangotexas.com/

Okay, that is my domain, with a lot of gibberish in front of it. This gibberish followed by a period is known as a sub-domain. When I clicked on that link it brought up my website, only via that sub-domain, that does not exist.

This freaked me out. I thought someone had hacked my website. The potential for disaster was huge. Or so I thought.

I went to my webhost and logged in to do a live chat. I hate live chats. With my webhost their live chat center is in the Ukraine. If I'm lucky I get someone who's English is not too fractured.

Today I got Evenka. Her English was not badly fractured. After a few confusions she understood the problem. She told me that any line of gibberish, pointing to a non-existent sub-domain will bring up the referenced URL. I made up one and she was right.

I asked who was doing this and why? Evenka told me it was not human, it was search bots doing their thing. She said I had nothing to worry about. I chose to believe her.

So, that's been my HOT day in Texas.

I gotta go now. I've got some Only Child Syndrome victims seeking advice who I must attend to.

Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Hits 101 Level Red Polluton Watch

Well. As you can see, we have gone over the Century Mark for the first time this year, sometime before 3 pm getting to 101 with a Heat Index of 103.

As you can also see via the wind gauge, it is not being very breezy.

I went swimming early this morning. I felt no strong desire to go out walking at noon. I had to go to the Post Office and grocery store. That was enough hot walking.

A little after half past one this afternoon the National Weather Service lifted the Air Pollution Watch to Level Red. I don't remember it being Level Red before. In the warning below the NWS warns that those with breathing problems, asthma, children and the elderly, should stay indoors where there is air-conditioning.

Since I hit bingo on at least 2 of the vulnerable categories, I guess it was a good thing I didn't risk going hiking in this.

Air Quality Alert Message National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 137 PM CDT Tue Jun 23 2009

Air Pollution Watch - Level Red - For Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality (tceq) Has Issued A Level Red Air Pollution Watch For The Dallas-Fort Worth Area For Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

Atmospheric Conditions Are Expected To Be Favorable For Producing High Levels Of Ozone Air Pollution In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area On Wednesday. Ozone Levels Could Reach The Level Red "unhealthy" Category.

Elevated Concentrations Of Ozone Can Act As A Lung Irritant. Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease, Such As Asthma And Emphysema, As Well As The Elderly And Young Children, Are Particularly Sensitive To Ozone And Should Attempt To Avoid Exposure. To Avoid Exposure, Minimize Exertion Outdoors During The Mid-Day To Early Evening Hours Or Stay Indoors In An Air- Conditioned Room During This Time.

Friday's Arlington American Idol Audition

I barely hit the publish button on a blogging where I mentioned the upcoming American Idol auditions at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. In Arlington. With American Idol's website info having the stadium in Dallas.

I hit the publish button and checked email to find incoming from Kay in Houston asking "How much will parking be this week for the American Idol auditions?"

Good question. Concert goers were charged $40 for the stadium opening George Strait concert. I suspect this will not be the case for the auditions. But what do I know?

Arlington's Convention & Visitors Bureau is mounting an email campaign to let American Idol auditioners know what a "bustling" city Arlington is.

A bustling city, which also happens to be the largest city in America with absolutely no public transit, no trains, no buses. Many are concerned that the Fox American Idol website info is leading contestants to erroneously believe they can stay in Dallas and commute to Arlington via public transit. Dallas has many miles of light rail, called DART, as in Dallas Area Rapid Transit, that go no where near Arlington.

Audition registrations start tomorrow at the stadium, continuing on Thursday, with the actual singing, in front of Simon Cowell, starting on Friday, continuing on, I assume through Saturday.

But, Saturday night the Jonas Brothers are filling up the new stadium. I assume Paula Abdul & Friends will be out of town by then. We can only hope.

Kay, if you're reading this, you can park at my place for free. I can drop you off at the stadium and come pick you up, after you get your ticket to Hollywood. Of course, a small transit fee will be involved. But it won't be $40.

Grapevine, Bonnie & Clyde & American Idol Auditions in Arlington

I have been all over Texas the past several days. It is starting to sort of exhaust me. This morning I did not go far, just up to Grapevine. Grapevine is a very nice little town. Grapevine is where Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located.

A lot of things in this zone are not located in the place their name would indicate. Like this morning there are people in Arlington all in a huff because American Idol has been advertising auditions soon to take place in the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. In Dallas. Where there are many attractions to visit.

Somehow the people in Arlington thought that since they helped pay for the stadium, that it was theirs to be associated with. The people of Arlington should have consulted with the people of Irving to learn how it actually works out when you build Dallas a new stadium for their football team.

Today, while visiting Grapevine, I learned that Bonnie & Clyde did a couple of their murders there, killing 2 young motorcycle cops, E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy. I think the actual murders may have taken place in what is now Southlake. I believe there is a historical marker.

I don't know if I'm going to go anywhere else in Texas today. I need a break. Yesterday I went to Fredericksburg, in two places, here and here. That is too much Fredericksburg for one day.

Eminent Domain, YouTube, Dallas Cowboy Stadium & Texas

When someone comments on this blog I get sent an email with that comment, with the option to publish or reject. When someone makes a comment to one of my YouTube videos I also get an email, but it is to an email address I seldom check.

So, I was surprised, yesterday, to see how many comments there have been to the video I made that showed some of what was destroyed to build the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The building of which I characterize as a scandal, due to the flagrant abuse of eminent domain to acquire the land for the stadium. An abuse so flagrant that a bill was introduced in the recent session of the Texas legislature to put an end to this type eminent domain abuse in Texas. I don't know if the bill made it into law. I doubt it.

One thing I've long made note of, regarding comments to the blog or YouTube, the more ignorant the person is, the more likely they will verbalize their ignorance in a hostile fashion. I've never understood how it is that someone who is ignorant is so oblivious about their ignorance that they are confident to advertise their ignorance in comment form. One would think if one was ignorant one would be a bit shy of verbalizing an opinion. Or, maybe part of being ignorant is being ignorant of being ignorant.

Of the YouTube comments the most ignorant was one where the commenter opined that what was done in Arlington is not a scandal because "nothing illegal happened. Jerry Jones bought the land, and built on it. All the people and business that were there would have had to agree and sell their property for him to build it. Who ever made this is kinda dumb?"

Whoever made this is kinda dumb? While this ignorant moron has no awareness that dozens of people did not willingly sell their land and homes, hence the scandal, with many of the cases still being argued in court.

Anyway, below are most of the YouTube comments, with the video that got them commenting below the comments.....

yikeroo3
Thank you for this. My family were among the Dallas Cowboy's and Jerry Jones victims. We were forced out of our home of over 25 years. I will never forgive or forget this. A stadium could have been built without doing this to people. There is plenty of open land in Arlington. The shame of this will forever stain the town of Arlington and the Dallas Cowboys with Jerry Jones answering to God, in the unlikely chance that that it is to heaven he is going when he dies.

Blu53
I assume by "Don't ever do this again," you mean don't ever abuse owners of private property again like what was done in Arlington. Well, Arlington is already shell-shocked enough by their growing national bad rep for their part in emiment domain abuse that Arlington is telling Jerry Jones they will not be party to more eminent domain use for his project. The power of the internet to enlighten and inform is amazing.

M2200
I'm as disgusted as you are about what was done in Arlington to get the Cowboys a new stadium. Don't these morons realize this isn't how this type thing is done in the rest of the country? Eminent domain exists so that the public can take private land for the public good. Like roads, hospitals and schools. Not for football stadiums. A person should be secure in their home and should be removed from their home for only the best of reasons.

robabyluv
And NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

blue99blue
Stadium name: Hickville
Welcome to Hickville.

Mikey78418
It's "inbred", you quasi-literate buffoon.

alanpetsche
I've lived in Arlington since 1966 and the apartments that were the vast majority of the buildings that were torn down were havens for criminals and crack dealers. That area of town was responsible for the highest total cost of police calls in all of Tarrant County. The last holdout homeowner received $1.5 million for her house. Everyone who lived or owned a business there got paid well. Scandal my ass.

IronMaidenBeast1982
Then try and get a loan to try and buy a ticket for a game, loser...

Mikey78418
Woah, lookit the internet tough guy! Bruce Dickinson's a fag.

IronMaidenBeast1982
..and you are still a tool!

Mikey78418
That may be true, but at least I'm not a pathetic internet tough guy.

IronMaidenBeast1982
How am I being an "internet tough guy", you douchebag?  Because I called you a loser, a tool, and a douchebag? That`s not being tough--that`s being honest!

turduckens4u
You meen built of the ruins of slums i think. Old run down, even though they were your homes. You have the right to protest and i feel for you but the new stadium will also bring millions worth of buisness and jobs to the state year round. I say make another.

PowrSurge
I lived in Arlington when it all went down. Jerry did get this built legally. But I have to side with the fellow who made this video. If he is such an idiot, why did 13 states immediately pass laws restricting the use of eminent domain? It should be used for public use, i.e., airport, freeway, etc., but not for a private entity.

trendsetter74
destroyed property my ass, they bought the land from ever person there so quit your bitching, this will bring a lot of extra revenue into arlington and in these times, more revenue and more jobs are a great thing.

theonetitty
this guy must have lived in one of the homes destroyed to build it. its not really a scandal cause nothing illegal happened? Jerry Jones bought the land, and built on it. all the people and businesses that were there would have had to agree and sell their property for him to build it. who ever made this is kinda dumb. sorry

69SoccerMVP69
Why the Hell did this guy make this video. Who cares what was destroyed to make this stadium. When this opens its going to be Bad Ass. I live in Dallas and this staduim is BEAST!!

allpeeps4me
ATTENTION all DALLAS fans!!!**!!! WITH THIS NEW STADIUM NEEDS TO COME NEW FANS!!!!! WE HAVE TO BE LOUDER, ALL WEAR THE SAME COLOR AND START CHANTS LIKE NO NFL STADIUMS HAVE EVER DONE... WE NEED A CRAZY FIGHT SONG THAT WE ALL SING AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS, WE NEED TO HAVE TOWELS AND FLAGS AND BANNERS..... WE NEED TO BE MORE LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS AND HARDCORE EURO SOCCER FANS......if you are truly a fan of the ALMIGHTY COWBOYS OF DALLAS copypaste this on every COWBOYS video spread the word

blue99blue
Stadium name: Hickville
Welcome to Hickville.

blue99blue
Dallas is full of inbread hillbillies.

tscon55
aww boo hoo

TYX91101
The stadium is a major upgrade to the Arlington neighborhood. Combined with the Ballpark, Six Flags, and the hotels and restaurants on Lamar Blvd it forms a family friendly destination for year round recreation and sporting events. There's no shortage of real estate in Texas.

K80blogfan
L
O
L

copznrobbas
yay no more ranger's field fireworks blasting off right outside my window. city kickin us out had to be the greatest day off my life. mansfield is such a better city

thomasuras
you said 'However it is still sad that all those memories took place in a small run down neighborhood that no longer exist " yea its real said to see those run down neighborhoods in detroit that are still run down with out a new stadium , look up some of those videos

furrflys
wow thats wierd to watch. we were relocated due to the new cowboy stadium. we were some of the last to leave. it's very surreal to watch your nieghbor hood where you live be torn down around you. I'm not whining about it, we are now much better off for having moved. However it is still sad that all those memories took place in a small run down nieghborhood that no longer exists

phatmattcowboys
pussies stop compaining

SFFOOL76
tell u what, im gonna get enough money to build a poop factory where your house is.

Getting HOT in Fort Worth On Top Of Tandy Mountain

That is the view of the skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth from atop Mount Tandy at the high point in the Tandy Hills Natural Area some time after noon, this second day of summer.

Currently it is 96 degrees out there, with a Heat Index of 99. A slight breeze brought slight relief.

Earlier today I went to Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock Natural Area. That makes for 2 Texas natural areas in one day.

I called my dad yesterday for Father's Day. Mom and dad weren't home. So, I called my sister. My mom answered. My mom and dad were taking care of my sister's cats, because she'd left the Phoenix zone, a week prior, to go to Washington until August 11.

If I understood correctly this means my sister has been up there since June 14. And is staying for almost 2 months. After my horrible month up there last summer I talked about it to the Phoenix sister and she and I were, at that time, in agreement, a month was too long. I can't imagine 2 months. Then again, she spends most of her time with some real nice people in Marysville, while I was stuck with varying degrees of psychopaths in Tacoma.

I was fairly certain I was going to be up in the northwest for a short period in June, but those plans got changed. I missed experiencing any 100 degree days last summer. They occurred while I was suffering with the frigid temperatures in Tacoma. I suspect I will be experiencing a lot of 100 degree plus days this summer. I am well acclimated to it. The HOT hiking will continue.

100 Degrees In Fort Worth

That's our Fort Worth, Texas 7-Day Forecast above. It would appear things will be heating up in these parts. But right now, a half hour before 9 in the morning, the windows are open, the temperature is a chilly 75 and it is peacefully quiet due to no air conditioning running. And no ceiling fan spinning.

Yesterday my only aerobic activity was swimming. No hiking, biking or blading. This had me running a bit of an endorphin deficit that had me cranky by late afternoon. I won't let that happen today. I am still in endorphin bliss mode from this morning's alligator-free swim.

I'm heading to the Tandy Hills, today, before an endorphin deficit kicks in again. Before that I'm visiting Fredericksburg, Texas, virtually. I like that town.

10 Foot Long Alligator Killed In Fort Worth

I did not know, Sunday morning, when I blogged about an alligator skinnydipping in my pool that Saturday night a short distance from my abode a 10 foot long, 400 pound alligator had been roaming around.

A comment from Mister Twister, to the blogging about the gator in the pool, was the first I heard of this other alligator incident.

The alligator had been hit by a vehicle, breaking the gator's back legs and tail. A person in another passing vehicle spotted the injured alligator on Trinity Boulevard, south of the Bell Helicopter/Hurst Trinity Railway Express Station.

A call to 911 had Fort Worth police and a Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife responding. It was decided to put the alligator out of its misery, rather than try and tangle with a live, injured alligator in an attempt to get it to a vet who was willing to work on a giant reptile.

The area were the alligator was found is sort of a lowland, Trinity River flood zone where there are a lot of ponds and lakes. The paved trail at River Legacy Park goes by several of those type lakes. I had no idea I should be on the lookout for alligators, in addition to snakes, bobcats, panthers, tarantulas and armadillos, while pedaling my bike at River Legacy. The mountain bike trail there goes through what would seem to be prime alligator territory.

At the Fort Worth Nature Preserve there is a sign letting you know that there are alligators in the marshy waters between Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth. The sign warns you not to feed, kill, molest or attempt to move an alligator. What sort of pervert would molest an alligator?

Close Look At The New Dallas Cowboy Stadium

When I left here to drive to the Hong Kong Market in Arlington's Chinatown it did not cross my mind that I might be seeing the new Dallas Cowboy stadium up close for the first time.

After I got my goods at the Hong Kong Market I headed north towards the Wal-Mart Supercenter that sits across from the new stadium.

There has been extensive roadwork in the area around the stadium. I have been through this area since the stadium had its ribbon cutting, but at that point access to the new roads was still blocked.

So, I was a bit surprised to see I could take a left on to the new bridge that crosses Johnson Creek. That's what you see in the first picture, with the Stadium dead ahead.

My next surprise was I came to a new intersection with a wide boulevard. These new roads serve to funnel the traffic to the multiple parking lots that surround the stadium. I took a right at the intersection. I was surprised that I was driving so close to the east entrance. I could see cars were parked, people were wandering about.


So, I joined them. Over the past 4 years I've watched the stadium grow, starting with piles of rubble from destroyed homes and apartment buildings. My usual vantage point to look at the construction was the parking lot of the Wal-Mart. That's the Wal-Mart parking lot, today view, of the new stadium, in the above picture. Make note of that big arch coming out of the stadium. We'll get right up to it from the other side in the next picture.

Looking under the northeast supporting arch anchor at the Super Wal-Mart across the street.

In the above picture I'm standing on the plaza outside the east end zone, where Jerry Jones is planning to let people stand during a game for about 30 bucks. What we are looking at at the end of the plaza is the world's biggest sliding glass door. During a game the sliding panels can be opened, conditions permitting.

The above picture was taken through one of the glass door panels. You can see one of the world's biggest flat panel TVs and some of the seating. But you can't see the playing field. It is well below ground level.

There were people walking all around the stadium. This view is looking north from the east end. Parking lots were open, making it easy for the people of Arlington to see what they helped pay for.


Here we're looking at the south side roof support arch and the giant chunk of cement that it is anchored to. Watching these arches get built, piece by piece, eventually meeting up with its counterpart from the other side, was an interesting engineering feat to get to observe.


A close up look at the arch roof support on the north side. The two arches hold up the massive, movable roof and the hugely heavy giant TV screens. I really would like to know if earthquakes, of the type we have been shaking with here in North Texas, were factored into the design.

Like I've said before, the new stadium is not in a very nice location. Industrial, commercial and residential squalor sits on its south and west sides. However the view to the north and east is not eyesore/squalor material. In the picture above we are looking east at the Ballpark in Arlington. That is where the Texas Rangers play this game named baseball. That orange thing to the left of the Ballpark is the Titan Hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas.

Also, from the same location as where we were looking at the Ballpark in Arlington and Six Flags Over Texas, you can look north, across Interstate 30 and see Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Because all these attractions are in such close proximity is why this is called Arlington's Entertainment District. It will soon be an even more cohesive entertainment district when 3 very elaborate new bridges connect the north side of I-30 with the south side.

Well, in the next picture we are back on the other side of Randoll Mill Road, heading into the aforementioned Wal-Mart. Make note of the baseballs on the building. There are a lot of baseballs stuck on this Wal-Mart, that sits directly across the street from the world's biggest football stadium. Methinks Wal-Mart needs to add some footballs.

I have to say, as much as I have criticized what was done to build this stadium, there is no denying the fact that up close it is one impressive structure. During the construction phase a high fence surrounded the property. I was very surprised to see how totally open it now is. There is no fence. Anyone can easily walk on the property and check out the stadium. Several parking lots were open, allowing anyone to drive right up to the monster and walk around. The landscaping is still a work in progress. A lot of grass sod appeared to by dying and in dire need of water.

Speaking of water, I was surprised by the water features. At the parking spot at the far end of the east end zone plaza there is a water wall, that's about 100 feet long and 6 feet tall. People were using it as a photo spot. On the other side of the water wall, leading to the plaza there is a long rectangular reflecting pool.

Summing up, if you are in D/FW zone and are curious to see the new stadium, you needn't be shy, just drive right up and check the thing out.

And below is the YouTube video I made in which you can see some of what was done to build this stadium. I'd not looked at the video comments for awhile. There are 3 pages of them. I'll see if they are blog worthy. Some commenters are so totally clueless that it's very amusing...

Texas Skinnydipping With Alligators

Usually I am the only one dipping skinny in the pool in the morning. This morning was an exception to that rule.

A reptile that looked like a small alligator, with no clothes on, was in the pool skinnydipping.

This was not the first time I've shared water with a reptile. I think I've mentioned previously that I was swimming in Lake Grapevine, on a 110 degree day, in a No Swimming Zone, when a huge reptilian head popped out of the water right in front of my face.

I thought it was a water moccasin. I swam for shore at a speed I did not know I was capable of. I reached the shore and ran out on the metal floating dock, forgetting how hot that metal would be on my bare feet. By the time I got to the end of the dock I saw that it was not a water moccasin that was trying to kill me, it was a giant turtle of some sort.

It is a myth that turtles can't move fast. In water they are little speed boats. I was at Oakland Lake Park and came upon a big turtle, startling it. The turtle took off running for the water at a speed I did not think them capable of.

So, that has been my exciting day, so far, this Father's Day, Summer Solstice, Naked Hiking Day in Texas. It is half past 9, only 81 degrees, heading to a high near the century mark. I'm heading to Arlington's Chinatown some time this morning. I need supplies.

Below is an educational YouTube video about skinnydipping. I did not know, til today, that the proper term for skinnydipping, when the person swimming sans swimsuit is overweight, is "chunk dunk."

2009 Revolution In Iran

It's been awhile since the planet has seen events like what's been happening in Iran ever since the recent presidential election.

It's also been awhile since the last Iranian Revolution, as in that was thirty years ago. 65% of Iranians have only known the repressive regime of the Ayatollahs and their Islamic extremism.

The Iranian youth have had a lot of exposure to Western and American culture, snuck in via satellite dishes and the Internet. I don't think today's crackdown is going to stop this latest Iranian revolution. It seems way too big to suppress.

This all seems very similar to the collapse of communism, something many thought would never happen, yet it did happen, and with stunning speed. And then there was the revolt in the Philippines that booted the Marcos.

The Iranian government has tried to suppress news coverage. But that is not working too well, due to a few American invented freedom of expression devices. As in, today, an Iranian managed to YouTube a video of a huge clash between protesters and security forces. Iranians are twittering like mad, getting out little bits of info about what is happening. Some of the Iranian twittering is to other Iranians. letting people know where to take the wounded, letting people know alternative routes around police blockades.

It was so bizarre watching CNN, during lunch, to see the news talking heads using YouTube and Twitter as news sources. We live in a very different world that no one foresaw coming. Instant news reporting, all over the world, by ordinary citizens using their cell phones, camcorders and computers. I'm thinking tyrants can't long survive when the people get the power to control the information flow.

I heard not a word explaining how it is that Iranians are managing to access the Internet during this crackdown. The government turned off cell phone transmissions. I assume TV is tightly controlled. I don't know by what means Iranians access the Internet. Dial-up? Unlikely for uploading a YouTube video. Do Iranians have broadband? Seems unlikely, but they must. Are the Ayatollahs clueless about the power of the Internet, so they don't realize they need to shut it off if they want to survive?

A couple years ago I had my vehicle worked on at a shop owned by an Iranian who was going to school somewhere in East Texas when the 1979 Iranian Revolution shook things up and made America a bit cranky at Iran. He told me it was not pleasant for him, here, at that time. He did a very funny mimicking of a redneck Texan, sounding so funny trying to sound Texan, while filtered through an Iranian accent.

Anyway, this Iranian told me that most of the Iranians were fed up with being ruled by the Ayatollahs. This conversation took place during the months before George W. began his unfortunate Iraq boondoggle. Well, this Iranian was all gungho for the takeover of Iraq. He thought with the U.S. in power, next door, that the Iranian people would feel strong enough to revolt.

Well, it didn't quite work out that way. Or maybe it did. Maybe it just took a few years and a catalyst to light the explosion of the Iranian Revolution of 2009. If the Ayatollahs and the current regime get toppled, I'm thinking this will bode well for America and the Middle East.

So, interesting day, today. It has been awhile since we have had one of those type days when events seem to be occurring that might bring a big change in the world. Then again, I remember thinking the same thing during huge protests in Tienanmen Square. That did not work out so good. I'm thinking if the Iranian government goes for a China type suppression it will spark an explosion, with a Full Blown Revolution in its wake, if we aren't already at the Full Blown Revolution point.

Tandy Hills Jungle Hike With 2 New Wildflowers

It was only about 90, with a breeze, when I hiked the trails at the Tandy Hills Natural Area today, around noon. It is being a bit humid. When I'd stop and set up my camera, to document me walking through the Tandy Hills Jungle, I got instantly drenched in natural cooling moisture.

Very refreshing.

The Tandy Hills Waterfall has totally dried up. Jammin Mole has never seen a waterfall. She is coming to Fort Worth next month for a class reunion at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I think her class had something like 11 students, with one of them being Gar the Texan.

Gar the Texan was the top student in his class, with Jammin Mole being #2. I think they went to Wink High School. I may be wrong. Sometimes I don't pay sufficient attention and so I don't retain information very well. If your class has only 11 people in it, I really don't know if that means much of anything to be #1. That's being a Big Fish in a really really little pond.

Since Wink High School is in Wink, which is way out in West Texas, near New Mexico, I don't understand why a class reunion would be hundreds of miles to the east. It's very perplexing, but really none of my business. I only mention it because I have nothing else to talk about.
I thought seeing new wildflowers was over for the year. As I often am, I was wrong. I saw two new ones today. Both were seen in only one location. The purple one was real delicate looking, like an orchid. It looked like something that would sprout from a bulb, like a tulip.

The other new wildflower was a white and purple striped stalk, in a group of several dozen stalks.

So, that's been my exciting Saturday in Texas, so far. In the pool early, then visiting and webpaging Tyler, Texas, then hiking the Tandy Hills Jungle and seeing two new wildflowers. I am easy to entertain.

Rain Falls On Wink's Roy Orbison Festival

We are on the road to Wink in the picture above. Today is Day Two of Wink's Roy Orbison Festival.

My on the ground corespondent in Wink, Jammin Mole, reports this morning that Roy Orbison is crying on his festival in the form of continuing rain.

Jammin Mole did not say how the rain has affected the festival. Or who won Friday night's Pretty Woman Contest. I am fairly certain that Jammin Mole won, but that she too modest to be the one to report that news.

Earlier in the month Jammin Mole reported that a big storm had passed through Wink on the morning of June 10. By 6 pm, that same day, that same storm thundered through North Texas, dropping a lot of rain, knocking out a lot of power and blowing a lot of wind, some in tornado form. I don't know if today's Wink storm is heading this way.

A Hot Sunny Saturday Morning In Texas With Magnolia Fumes

Early to bed, early to rise. Again. Still not feeling any wealthier, healthier or wiser. Just feeling monotonous, like my weather forecast.

The sun has been up for awhile. The birds are chirping. Magnolia fumes are wafting in through the open windows. I hear the fountain splashing down by the pool, reminding me that it's about time to go swimming.

I've got a long list of things to get done today. Of which, most likely, not much will get done. Yesterday I went to San Antonio. Today I think I'll go to Tyler. And then when I'm done with Tyler I think I'll go up to Bob Jones Park in Southlake to do me some beach hiking on Lake Grapevine.

Naked Hiking Day At Tandy Hills Natural Park

In the blogging previous to this one I blogged about this coming Sunday's Summer Solstice Naked Hiking Day.

There have been articles in various media today about the naked hiking phenomenon.

The New York Times had an article in which a machinist from Warren, PA, Andrew Williams, 28, said, "There's no way to explain it until you experience it. It's not about being lewd and crude and all that. It's just enjoyment."

Well. Now, I have used some basic photo-chopping to fake that I've gone hiking at the Tandy Hills, au naturel, previously, just to amuse myself with the reactions of some. Some did not disappoint.

And then today, with Naked Hiking Day looming 2 days hence, I decided today I was going to see if it actually is true that hiking in the buff is a fun thing.

Now, I've long been a fan of skinnydipping. That just seems natural. One does not wear shoes when one skinnydips. So, there is a basic problem with naked hiking, in that one needs to wear hiking boots.

I got to the Tandy Hills Natural Area around noon. I knew there'd be no one there. This time I was going to test if Naked Hiking is enjoyable. I took along a backpack to carry my water, cameras. And, eventually, shorts.

As soon as I reached the point where I was no longer visible from the road I doffed my shorts and stuck them in the backpack. And then started hiking like I usually do. Only in Naked Hiking mode.

Well. It did not take me long to feel totally ridiculous. I did not see anything remotely enjoyable about it. Yes, it was a bit cooler. But it quickly became apparent that skinnyhiking is not like skinnydipping. I don't worry about going through brushy areas when I'm skinnydipping. I did not like feeling exposed to something poking me.

And then there was the issue of areas being exposed where normally the sun does not shine. I had not thought to sunscreen those areas.

I did maybe a half mile of naked hiking before I decided this was one of the stupider things I've done in awhile. It was not in the slightest enjoyable. I don't know what that Williams guy from Pennsylvania is thinking. From this day forth, when I am hiking, I am keeping my shorts on. My shirt, not so much.

Fathers Day, Summer Solstice & Naked Hiking Day At Tandy Hills Natural Area

That is a photo from the Seattle P-I taken at last year's Fremont Solstice Parade. I really can't imagine a picture like this appearing in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Or the Dallas Morning News.

In a rare confluence of events, Sunday is Fathers Day, the Summer Solstice and Naked Hiking Day.

Naked Hiking Day has grown into a Summer Solstice event in recent years. It is very popular in Europe. And in some parts of America. On Sunday there will be a lot of naked hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Law enforcement authorities say the naked hiking rarely presents a problem due to most of it taking place in remote areas. But you could get a citation if caught clothes-less at the wrong time and place.

One naked hiker said he was inspired to hike, sans clothing, after reading passages from Henry David Thoreau, naturalist John Muir and backpacking guru, Colin Fletcher, that suggest that hiking naked enhances the appreciation of nature.

If you want to ride your bike, naked, in this year's 2009 Fremont Solstice Parade, it begins at noon, on Saturday, June 20. This is the 21st annual celebration of life, art and being naked. The parade starts at N. 36th and Leary Way, then winds through downtown Fremont on the way to a picnic and beer garden at Gas Works Park on Lake Union. I do not know if clothes are required at Gas Works Park.

According to the Fremont Arts Council's website, regarding the Solstice Parade, "In the parade nearly anything goes...just remember Three Rules:

1. No printed words or logos
2. No motor vehicles (except wheelchairs)
3. No animals (except aid animals)

In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex we have no naked bike riding, that I know of, to celebrate the Summer Solstice. We do have several Naturists & Nudists Camps in the area. Yvonne is taking me to the one in Midlothian.

Here in Fort Worth we do have the Tandy Hills Natural Area, where all things natural are encouraged. I often enjoy a nature hike at the Tandy Hills, getting in touch with my inner Thoreau, feeling one with the flora and fauna of the jungle. It's primal, it's primitive, it's healthy and it's fun. I love nature and being natural.

Below is a YouTube video of last year's Fremont Solstice Parade in Seattle....

Tandy Hills Lightning Bug Fire Fly Potential Expedition

I was promised 100 degrees today. I don't like being misled by the weatherman. I get all looking forward to it being HOT and then it's not. As HOT as I expected.

I think I mentioned earlier today that I got up around 3 am. This is making for an interesting day. Around noon I headed to the Tandy Hills Natural Area to be natural for an hour or so.

It was only about 88, the humidity made for a Heat Index of 94. But it was windy. I think a Wind Chill Factor should be figured in to the calculation. Because the wind was making for an almost chilling effect, every once in awhile, when a good gust would hit my drenched in sweat, long-suffering body.

That's the today view of downtown Fort Worth, in the picture above, as seen from the Tandy Hills jungle. I was told today that last night the Tandy Hills jungle came alive with Fireflies. The last time I saw Fireflies was years ago at River Legacy Park, pedaling the paved trail with darkness setting in towards the end, with hundreds of Lightning Bugs lighting the way through the darkness.

The first time I saw Fireflies was at a Concert in the Garden at Fort Worth's Botanic Garden. The theme that night was Star Wars. The flashing bugs darting about fit the theme perfectly.

If I remember, maybe tonight I'll drive back to the Tandy Hills Natural Area and see if I can see some bright bugs and get pictures or maybe video.

Jesus Saves Me Again

I am not the biggest fan of jokes. I really don't like being told a joke and having to pay sufficient attention to give a courtesy laugh when the punch line arrives. I don't mind written jokes nearly as much as spoken ones, because I can read them if I want to, with there being no one requiring a courtesy laugh when I reach the punch line.

Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, each and every day sends me at least one email joke that I find amusing. Alma has a really good sense of humor.

Below is one of today's amusing Alma jokes....

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, 'THAT'S IT! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job.'

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused. They faxed. They e-mailed. They e-mailed with attachments. They downloaded. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They created labels and cards. They created charts and graphs. They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off.

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and Jesus and the Devil restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming:

"It's gone! It's all GONE! I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work.

Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait!" he screamed. "That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?"

God just shrugged and said............

"JESUS SAVES!"

An Early Morning Texas Tequila Sunrise Swim

I think it was Benjamin Franklin who said "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

I don't think Ben knew what he was talking about.

I went to bed real early last night. I was exhausted. The early to bed thing had me up early, way too early, as in 3 am early.

I got up, got coffee, got on the computer and clacked on the keyboard for awhile. About half past 5, even though it was quite dark outside, I decided to go swimming.

Paddling about in water while the sun gradually turns on the light is a good thing.

The most spectacular sunrise I have ever experienced was at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A lot of people make sure they get up in time to watch this, cameras ready. It's like a colorful light show as the sun comes over the horizon gradually casting more and more light onto the canyon walls.

So, it isn't even 8 in the morning yet and I feel like I've already had myself a day. Since it is Thursday I guess I'll be hiking around the Tandy Hills when it gets HOT. Which today, supposedly, will be 100 degrees HOT. I'll see if that is still the forecast. Nope. 95 is now the predicted high for today. 98 tomorrow. No 100s in the forecast. For now.

I suspect I will be going to bed early again tonight, and that by the end of this day I will be no healthier, wealthier or wiser than I am right now. Ben Franklin also thought the turkey should be America's national bird, instead of the eagle. Clearly, the man had some clinkers in his thinker.

The Dallas Cowboy Stadium Is Not Open To Former Residents

That's the west side view of the recently opened new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. It does not seem all that long ago that I took photos and video of all the houses and apartment complexes that were destroyed in this, the worst abuse of eminent domain in American history, so that a stadium could get built.

Several of the cases are still in court, with victims fighting to get properly compensated.

I have often mentioned, in this very venue, my thinking that the victims should get invited to some event once the stadium opens. I don't believe Jerry Jones invited any of his victims to the grand opening concert with George Strait and Reba McEntire.

For that opening concert Jerry was charging people $40 to park on the land that used to be owned by others before he took it from them against their will. One of the cases still in court is arguing that the value of the property must be compensated for at whatever that land's greatest value is. Since a $1.1 billion stadium now sits on that land, that becomes the figure used to assign a value to the stolen property.

One thing about the new stadium, that strikes me eye, is the total disconnect between the architect's rendering of what the stadium would look like and the actual finished product. In the drawing the stadium looks to be sitting, like a futuristic spaceship, in a park-like setting. In reality the stadium does look like a futuristic spaceship, but instead of a park-like setting, it sits in run-down industrial, commercial, residential (for the most part) squalor. It is not an attractive setting. It is definitely not like the setting I have ever seen any other major professional sports stadium sit in.

And this morning I was pleased to see I am not alone in my thinking that the victims should have had some gesture made towards them, allowing them into the building that now sits on top of where their homes once stood. A letter to the editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram verbalized the same thought about the victims.

Below is that letter......

A gift to whom?

Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck’s comments in a story regarding the "gift" of a suite from Jerry Jones’ Cowboys to the city said it will be used for "personal use by city officials and city employees."

What crust! It reminds me of the way that gas royalties from city property were swept into a fund, without resident input, only to be doled out through applications by the very people whose idea it was to encapsulate it. (And now the city is crying poor and screaming budget cuts.)

I’ve thought all along that the ’Boys should give the city some seats, maybe four in the end zone, to be distributed lotterylike to the residents who are helping to pay for the stadium, but a suite? How sweet! I still think the seats should be made available to taxpaying residents, with the first ones going to those who were displaced by this project.

At the very least, let’s have an open meeting and input regarding this "gift to the city."

— Jill Wesstrom, Arlington

Texas Air Pollution Alerts And Dangerous Nitrogen Tanks

Every Wednesday on my way back south from Southlake, and Sprouts Farmers Market, I see two Air Pollution Alert signs on the west side of Davis Boulevard. I don't see any Air Pollution Alert signs on the east side when I'm heading north.

What perplexes me is wondering what the purpose of these two signs can possibly be. What is one supposed to do with this alert? Watch out for incoming Air Pollution?

And why are these two Air Pollution Alert signs the only two I've ever seen? These signs are in North Richland Hills. Are they all over North Richland Hills? The only other North Richland Hills road I have driven on lately is North Tarrant Parkway. I saw no Air Pollution Alert signs on that road.

The two Air Pollution Alert signs on Davis Boulevard are within about a half mile, or less of each other. Maybe that stretch of road is extra polluted, thus the signs.

There is another disturbing thing I see each week on Davis Boulevard. It is between the two Air Pollution Alert signs. About 6 feet from the side of the road there is this big metal tank that says "Nitrogen" on it. Above the tank there is a sign that says "Danger."

Today I had resolved that I would get pictures of the Air Pollution Alert sign and the dangerous Nitrogen Tank sitting along side a busy, heavily polluted road. When I saw the Nitrogen Tank up close and personal, I could read what was written below "DANGER"....

FIBER OPTIC CABLE ROUTE
CITIZEN ACCESS TO 911 OR OTHER
EMERGENCY SERVICES MAY BE
INTERRUPTED AND YOU WILL BE
SUBJECT TO CIVIL LIABILITY AND/OR
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU DIG,
TRENCH OR PUSH PIPE IN THIS
VICINITY BEFORE GETTING PERMISSION

Well, that cleared that up. Near as I could tell, the Nitrogen Tank is being used to help hold up the DANGER sign. Probably because a proper sign hole could not be dug without damaging that fiber optic cable. One would think something could have been found to accomplish this other than a Nitrogen Tank that looks a bit foreboding sitting 6 feet from the curb with a big ol' DANGER sign above it.

So, that's been my exciting day, so far, this fine Wednesday in Texas. Despite forecasts that said otherwise, we will not be hitting 100 today. Maybe tomorrow. At least I will sleep better tonight, now that I've sorted out what that disturbingly dangerous looking Nitrogen Tank is all about. But, then again, I do still have that Air Pollution Alert to worry about. I'll probably sleep anyway.

Texas Miscellaneous Madness

Another goofy day in Road Rage Mad Fort Worth. Up before the crack of dawn, swimming at day break. Computer burnout continued over from yesterday.

I am finding myself learning way more about Texas than I think is healthy. My Regions of Texas Project is wearing me out. I'm learning all sorts of odd things. Like little Midland, Texas is nicknamed "The Tall City" I assume by people who have never seen a tall city. Midland used to brag that their 22 story Wilco Building was the tallest building between Fort Worth and Phoenix. That's like saying that some building in Spokane is the tallest between Seattle and Chicago. Or so it would seem to me.

And then I got one of the more absurd comments in a long time, from what I assume to be either a know-it-all Texan or a Chesapeake Energy shill operating out of Oklahoma City. This comment was in regards to yesterday's blogging about today's EPA meeting at D/FW Airport regarding pollution from cement kilns.

Anonymous said.......

Dude, Seriously, you think that a drill rig that uses 1000 gallons of diesel fuel per day to drill a well is "pumping" out more fumes than all the cars and trucks in the DFW area in one day - You are getting some seriously wrong information. There are over 1 million cars in DFW and all of them are using 1 gallon per day bud... and there are only 72 rigs drilling in Texas as of today. Go ahead and drive your car to a meeting about pollution... That a joke. you are the problem - not the solution.

Apparently the Anonymous dude does not pay a lot of attention to the news. As in last week it was widely reported that Dr. Al Armendariz was right about the Barnett Shale drilling operations contribution to North Texas air pollution.

With the State of Texas agreeing.

As in "State environmental officials say that an SMU researcher (Al Armendariz) was correct: Gas drilling in the Barnett Shale contributes about as much air pollution to the Dallas-Fort Worth area as car and truck traffic."

I'm guessing that Anonymous Dude is one of those Texas Road Ragers that have us being America's second most mad drivers.

I'm hitting the road in a bit, to head north. It being Wednesday I'm likely going to go to Sprouts Farmers Market while I'm out dodging Road Ragers.

Dallas/Fort Worth Drivers 2nd Most Angry Road Ragers

I don't know who did the survey, but the results somehow determined that New York City drivers are the worst Road Ragers in America.

25 Metropolitan areas were surveyed. The #2 location for angry, aggressive, tailgating, horn honking, overreacting, temper losers is my current location of Dallas/Fort Worth.

I have been accosted by a Road Rager or two in Texas. Just a few days ago someone got quite agitated at me because I'd stopped in the middle of an intersection to take a picture of a spouting leak.

If I'd been taken that picture in Baltimore, Sacremento, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Portland I likely would not have gotten yelled at, due to those towns being the top 5 with the most courteous, considerate drivers.

I don't know what makes these Texans in D/FW so angry. It could have something to do with the heat. We are expected to hit 100 tomorrow.

I'm feeling a bit angry and aggressive today. I have not felt any rage on the road though. I did get a bit agitated at Wal-Mart due to seeing this woman in super short shorts and a top barely covering her top, with a big belly button adorned by a piercing. She was not fat, but she was super homely, with a pimply face and stringy hair. Why does such a person bother to get a belly button pierced? I don't get it.

I'm also agitated due to having been up since 4 am. I was in the pool this morning while it was still dark. That was a bit odd. Then I turned into a webpage making machine again. Then around 8 am I realized I needed to alter every page on my humongous Eyes on Texas website, removing elements that only Internet Explorer displays, which look odd on other browsers.

To make the fix involved 5 changes on each page, with each change involving multiple mouse clicks. I figured I could go through the entire website in 2 hours. I was wrong. It took til past noon. My mouse clicking hand is worn out. If I were to drive anywhere right now the slightest little thing might set me off with an explosion of Texas-worthy Road Rage. I say might, because it's never happened before, no matter how cranky I am.

Downwinders At Risk in Dallas/Fort Worth

It really is a miracle that somehow there are not 100s of us Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplexers dropping dead daily from breathing the air here. We've got Barnett Shale gas drilling operations that apparently spew more bad stuff into the atmosphere than all the vehicular traffic in D/FW.

And then there are the cement kiln spewers that pump bad stuff, like mercury into the air that we breathe, along with a lot of other bad things, like soot and hydrochloric acid.

I know it's short notice, but tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17th, at the Grand Hyatt in DFW International Airport inside Terminal D the Environmental Protection Agency will take public testimony from 10 am til 8 pm. The EPA is working on some new federal rules that might decrease some of the most dangerous types of pollution being spewed by cement plants.

In a surprising twist, the cement industry is lobbying against any new rules that might force them to clean up the air and so they are working hard to thwart President Obama's EPA's first attempt at reigning in some of America's worst polluters.

Go to the Downwinders at Risk website for more information.

Roy Orbison Festival This Weekend In Wink

My West Texas Corespondent, Jammin Mole, has told me that this coming weekend, June 19 & 20, the 20th Annual Roy Orbison Festival is coming to Wink.

The festival will feature a California Rockabilly Boogie group called Truly Lover Trio.

On Friday the Pretty Woman Contest takes place. I'm pretty sure Jammin Mole will be the winner of that contest.

On Saturday the festivities start off at 9 am with a parade, likely featuring the winner of the Pretty Woman Contest. There will also be an antique car show and flea market.

Then, Saturday evening, Wink's main drag gets closed to traffic for a street dance and concert.

Big crowds are expected for the Roy Orbison Festival. There is plenty of parking. Please be careful when driving in the Wink vicinity. Sinkholes are known to suddenly appear. If Wink's infamous ghosts worry you, you needn't be concerned. The Wink ghosts are all friendly.

Swimming & Hiking All Over Big Bend Country

I got up a bit early this morning, about 5. Then after my early morning skinnydip I turned into a webpage making machine til about noon.

I have not gotten around to getting my bike wheel fixed, so my only aerobic outlet is on my feet. I don't go roller blading when it gets over 90. I've had too many incidents.

The humidity has dropped a bit from yesterday, so I did not overheat as much as I did yesterday, whilst hiking the Tandy Hills Natural Area. All the rain from a few days ago has really amped up the jungle-like foliage in parts of the Tandy Hills. My camouflage cargo shorts almost blend in with the jungle.

I mentioned earlier that I had gotten back to a project I started a long time ago, that being webpaging The Regions of Texas. It's a daunting task. Currently I am in Big Bend Country. Some call this West Texas.

Today I have been to Alpine, Balmorhea, the Big Bend National Park Area, Del Rio , El Paso, Fort Davis, Marfa and Wink. Like I said, it's exhausting.

I'm off to Fort Stockton now and Paisano Pete, he being the world's largest roadrunner.

Wink Texas Ghosts, Sinkholes & Roy Orbison

My West Texas Eyes On Texas corespondent, Jammin Mole, has been sending me pictures from West Texas for my humongous Regions of Texas Project that has been tormenting me for a year.

Actually, it has been tormenting me for a bit less than a year. A year ago this coming July 20 I flew up to Tacoma for what turned into a torturous lost month. Prior to leaving I'd built the website framework for my Regions of Texas Project. I brought the reference materials north with me and my intention was to make 5 to 10 webpages a day.

By the time I escaped Tacoma I'd been so traumatized that I'd totally forgotten about my Regions of Texas Project. When I got back here I was more interested in regaining my sanity than working on that website project. And so it remained way in the back of my mind for months and months.

And then last week I was looking at my Google webstats and I saw that the few pages of that project that I had gotten done were doing real well. I had not noticed. I have an awful lot of webpages to try and keep track of. That and I forget things.

So, I'm currently in what's called Big Bend Country. That is where Wink is. Wink is both famous and infamous. Wink is a very little town, it's seen better days. Wink was Roy Orbison's hometown. There is a little Roy Orbison Museum in Wink that you can visit by appointment.

Wink needs to have someone make the town a statue of Roy Orbison, similar to what Lubbock has done for Buddy Holly. And maybe someone could make better signage for the Roy Orbison Museum and for the sign that says "The Original Home Site of Roy Orbison."

Wink is also known for its Sinkholes. There are two of them. The first Sinkhole sank on June 3, 1980. Then, almost 22 years later, to the day, an even bigger Sinkhole sank. And now there is a sagging in the ground, near Wink, that geologists say will become Wink Sinkhole #3.

My West Texas Wink Corespondent tells me that locals travel about Wink in pairs. One car following another with about a 100 foot gap. If the ground sinks underneath car #1, car #2 is supposed to get help, and vice versa if car #1 sees car #2 disappear in the rear view mirror.

That is Wink Sinkhole #2 in the Sinkhole picture.

Little Wink is also famous for being really HOT. As in Wink is often the HOTTEST spot in Texas and the entire country.

Wink is also known for its ghosts. There are several Wink ghost stories. The Wink ghosts are nationally known. By those who pay attention to such things.

So, for a little town of less than 1000 people, Wink has a lot going on. Ghosts, Roy Orbison, record breaking temperatures. And giant Sinkholes.

The Iraqi/Nigerian Scam Targeting A Gullible Texan

I've gotten the Nigerian email scam many many times. There have been a few variants over the years, but, til today, they have always been African.

I've figured these scams must work, otherwise they would have long ago disappeared from the Internet.

Reading the Wikipedia article about the Nigerian Scam, apparently it is quite a little industry in Nigeria and has been for quite some time.

And now Iraq is getting in on the act. Or maybe it is Nigerians posing as an American major in Iraq who somehow came into possession of $45 million of Saddam's money.

Below is the scam email. One would have thought the scammer would have properly spelled "good luck." And properly signed the major's name....

Dear Sir,

I am Major.scott J.wright, an American soldier in peace keeping force in Iraq, I am serving in the military of the 1st Armoured Division in Iraq, as you know insurgents everyday and car bombs are attacking us.

We managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussein's family in the tune of USD$ 45 Million Dollars in cash. We want to move this money to you, so that you may keep our share for us till when we will come over to meet you.

You are to take 40% of the total 45 Million Dollars and keep 60% for me and my partners. Please No strings attached, we plan on using diplomatic courier and shipping the money out of Iraq in three large silver boxes using diplomatic immunity.

The boxes can be shipped out in 48hrs,so If you are interested kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick communication, then we can send to you the shipment details and the fright number and labels.

goodluck,

major.scott J.wright.

Natural Hiking At The Tandy Hills Natural Area & Whataburger

Apparently today is Au Naturel Day in Texas. So, after this morning's refreshing skinnydipping and way too much time clacking on a keyboard, and even though the Heat Index was 92, I decided that it was likely that the Tandy Hills had dried out from our recent deluge, so I went to the Tandy Hills Natural Area for some natural hiking.

It was HOT. The humidity has dropped, so it was not quite as HOT as yesterday. At noon, on a Sunday, when it's this hot, you have the Tandy Hills to yourself. Except for noisy birds.

I saw a few diehard wildflowers today, but most of the color has left the prairie.

A long time ago I blogged about Whataburger after Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, sent me a disturbing email about her Whataburger experience. The last few days I've been getting rather detailed comments from Whataburger employees, pretty much guaranteeing that I am never going to ever experience what a burger Whatburger makes.

Speaking of lunch, mine is done. Time to eat it. Talk to you later.

Sunday Morning Texas Skinnydipping Before Church With President John Quincy Adams

It is 10 am, Sunday morning. The humidity is at 64%, the temperature is 80. The Heat Index is 83. We are gradually burning off the excess moisture that has us being way too humid here in my zone of Texas.

Yesterday, when the Heat Index was 104, I went in to Wal-Mart. It was like walking into a refrigerator. Icy. And then walking out of the refrigerator, back into the hot, humid air, it was instant sticky. I am not a fan of instant sticky.

I did my usual Sunday morning skinny dip later than usual. Which made the moon a bit more faded than normal and the sun a bit brighter.

I'm always getting asked if I have had any embarrassing skinnydipping incidents. The only one I can think of was at my previous abode, the meter reader showed up in the back yard while I was au naturel. I think the meter reader was more embarrassed than I was.

Did you know one of our Presidents was a skinnydipper? John Quincy Adams liked to take a daily skinnydip, weather permitting, in the Potomac River. John Quincy had a couple embarrassing skinnydipping incidents.

One involved a female reporter named Anne Royall. Adams had over and over again refused interview requests from the woman, she being the first female professional reporter in America. When Ms. Royall learned that Adams skinnydipped in the Potomac virtually every morning at 5 am, she went to the river, waited for the President to get in the water and then sat on his clothes until he answered all her questions.

Another time, while the President was skinnydipping in the Potomac, a bum stole his clothes. President Adams stayed in the river for almost an hour, til he saw a boy walking by. He hollered at the boy to go up to the White House and ask Mrs. Adams to send down a new set of clothes for the President. About 20 minutes later the boy came back with a servant carrying clothes for the President.

I don't know if President Adams continued his Potomac River skinnydipping after that. I suspect he continued.

Walking The Dog At The Gateway Park Sauna In Fort Worth

Well, there seems to be a lot of concern regarding my failing health as evidenced by my headache epidemic. As in someone emailed me inquiring as to my current status.

I am happy to report I am currently headache free.

Going swimming this morning did nothing to help my head pain. But going walking sometime after noon did have a salubrious effect. Possibly this salubrious effect was due, in part, to the natural sauna we've got going on here today in Tropical Texas. It is 94 with the high humidity making a Heat Index of 104. It felt like 114 to me.

To do my walking today my only choices were Oakland Lake Park, Quanah Parker Park or Gateway Park. Village Creek Natural Historical Area is still closed due to flooding. I don't like walking at River Legacy Park, and I'd just been to Veterans Park 2 days ago and Oakland Lake yesterday. It'll take a few days for the Tandy Hills to dry out.

So, the walking choice was Gateway Park. I had an ulterior motive. I wanted to take a picture of the long abandoned sewage treatment plant that Fort Worth wants to turn into an amphitheater. About a year ago I discovered the old treatment plant. I did not know, then, what it was. It looked liked an old fort with guard towers. It reminded me of Fort Casey in my old home state of Washington. Fort Casey is a Spanish-American War era fort.

While I thought the treatment plant looked like a fort, I could not imagine why a fort would be in such a location. Then I decided it must be an abandoned jail. Sewage treatment plant did not cross my mind as a possibility.

Today I was unable to get through the cyclone fence that guards the perimeter of the jail/fort/treatment plant. Previously there were several breaks along the fence. It has now been made impenetrable again.

I was hoping that the Trinity River would be running a lot of water due to the deluge two days ago. But it was only slightly higher than the norm. We are looking at the Trinity in that picture at the top, when the water is running high that area turns into rapids.

Gateway Park was very busy today. Several girl softball games were being played. At noon. With a heat index of 104. It looked miserable. Spectators watched from the shade of trees. No one sat in the uncovered stands.

Fort Woof had a lot of dogs running around. Have I mentioned before that Dog Fancy magazine, whatever that is, has picked Fort Woof as the #1 Dog Park in America? We are very proud of that here in Fort Worth. Having the #1 Dog Park in America is the first time in history Fort Worth has been #1 in anything. There was talk of having a city wide celebration, but none materialized.

A Saturday Morning Headache In Texas

Yes, that is me this fine Saturday morning. My one longtime reader may recall me mentioning yesterday that I'd come down with a headache, 2 days in a row, and how this used to happen to me all the time, but has not for a long time. With me crediting Texas with the cure.

When I used to have headaches, the worst were the ones that continued for days, as in go to bed with a headache, wake up with a headache. When your head aches that bad it is pretty much all you can think about. And then when it finally goes away it is such a relief and you feel so good.

My only multi-day bout I can remember in Texas happened in July of 2001. I drove solo up to Washington for my mom and dad's 50th. I was barely 100 miles in when a headache started up. By the time I got to Pueblo, Colorado, for that day's pitstop, I had a blinding, eyes weeping, throbbing headache. The next morning I was still throbbing. On into Wyoming my head ached. I was hoping the All You Can Eat KFC Buffet in Rawlins, Wyoming would cure me. But, no buffet, it was summer, tourist season and all the fast food joints in Rawlins had long lines. I ended up finding food in a grocery store and continued on, stopping at Little America for coffee. And then, as I descended into Utah, to the Great Salt Lake Basin, the drop in altitude seemed to melt the headache away. By the time I got to that night's pitstop in Twin Falls, Idaho, I felt great. I remained headache-free for the rest of this trip.

This morning when I woke up and found my head was still aching I thought floating in the pool might cure it. It did help, but no miracle cure. I will say this in my headache's defense, this current pain in my head is not nearly as bad as the epic bad headaches of the past. I'm just hoping this isn't some sort of new trend and that I'm not sliding down some slippery slope that ends with me being a chronic aching head sufferer again. Because that will make me very cranky. Me being cranky is not a good thing.

Microsoft XP Update Headache

I used to get headaches all the time. But, somehow moving to Texas cured that. Yesterday I could not have told you the last time I had a headache. And then by late in the afternoon, I had my first headache in a long long time. And now, 24 hours later, another headache.

I used to so regularly get headaches I just assumed one would arrive whenever I was doing something fun. Like both times I went to Vancouver's Expo 86. Splitting, blinding, throbbing headaches. And then the drive back to the U.S. You don't know fun til you drive from Vancouver, south to the border, past midnight, brain in going to have a stroke mode, to find the border crossing you chose to use, closed at midnight, requiring a multi-mile detour to get to another crossing.

And now on to a more metaphorical headache. Microsoft and its relentless Windows XP Updates. They are automatically downloaded. You get that little notice that Critical Updates are Ready to Install. I look at the 5 or 6 Critical Updates and each says something has been discovered that may allow some rogue force to take over my computer.

The only rogue force that has taken over my computer has been Microsoft.

The last time I chose to ignore the update notices, I'd select 'Cancel." Figuring I'd install the Critical Updates when it was convenient. A couple days go by, Microsoft continued to nag me. Then, in the middle of the night, my computer woke up. Microsoft had taken control of my computer and was installing the updates!!!

To me this would seem to indicate that Microsoft is the problem from whom I need protection. I had several programs open. All gone when the computer was restarted.

Who are these people who are finding ways to exploit security breeches and supposedly take over random computers? Why would anyone want to do that? If there are people doing such things, why not go after them and leave my computer alone.

I should not have even started this blogging. My headache is now much worse.

Humidity, Oakland Lake Park & Pineapple

I did not have insomnia last night. I was up early. In the pool early. On the computer early. And by noon I had to get out of here. Oakland Lake Park was the only place I could be sure would be dry enough, after our recent deluge, to allow mostly damp-free walking.

I'd forgotten about the rain-caused jump in humidity that follows a storm. As in it is only 90 out there, but the Heat Index makes it feel like 96. It felt more like 106, to me.

That's Oakland Lake on the other side of the trees in the picture.

I got back here, turned on the A/C when I walked in. And then took a cold shower. That helped.

Yesterday at the Hong Kong Market, in Arlington's Chinatown, I got a pineapple. I'm making a Canadian bacon/pineapple type thing for lunch. This is the best pineapple I remember tasting since year's ago when my, now deceased, Uncle Ivan, showed up where we were staying, near San Fransisco, with 2 fresh pineapples that he'd brought back with him from Hawaii.

So, that has been my exciting day, so far, this Friday, about half way through the day. I see a lot of typing and picture scanning in my future for the rest of the day. And some very very good pineapple. As soon as the rice gets done cooking.

Juneteenth Next Week In Texas & Most Of The Rest Of America

One week from today, on June, 19, the Juneteenth holiday takes place. I had not heard of the Juneteenth holiday until I moved to Texas. Now, less than a decade, later Juneteenth is celebrated in 31 of the United States, including my old home state of Washington and all the other west coast states, including Alaska.

For those who do not know what Juneteenth is, like I didn't a decade ago, it commemorates the abolition of slavery in America.

Since Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day one might think that June 19 was the day Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It is not. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862, effective January 1, 1863.

In reality, the Emancipation Proclamation pretty much had no effect on those living in the areas under Confederate control.

What Juneteenth commemorates is June 19, 1865, that being the day that Union General Gordon Granger, along with 2,000 Federal troops, showed up in Galveston, Texas to take control of Texas and emancipate Texas slaves.

General Granger stood on the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa and read General Order #3.

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

The newly freed men and women erupted into happy celebrations on the streets of Galveston. The following June 19, Juneteenth celebrations happened all over Texas. The newly freed pooled their money to buy land for parks in which to hold their Juneteenth celebrations, including Mexia's Booker T. Washington Park, Austin's Emancipation Park and Houston's Emancipation Park.

It took well over a century for Juneteenth to spread to most of the rest of America.

In a week there will be a wide range of events, parades, street fairs, BBQs, block parties,with a lot of music and dancing.

Most Juneteenth events include a big feast that goes on all day in a park or other outdoor venue. It is usually a potluck type deal, with a lot of barbecue, greens, watermelon and pies. Along with the traditional red soda. And a lot of ice cream.

The original Juneteenth celebrants in Galveston feasted on fried chicken, watermelon and red soda. Hence the red soda tradition that continues to this day.

There are a several Juneteenth celebrations in Fort Worth. I don't know which one I'll be going to next Friday. I would think the celebrating will be especially happy this Juneteenth due to who is currently doing Abraham Lincoln's job.

Chesapeake Energy Drill Site Fluid Kills 19 Cattle In Louisiana

Deep in a surprisingly critical, full of surprising facts article published Monday, June 8, 2009 in the Fort Worth Business Press I was shocked to learned that the Shreveport Times, on April 29, reported that 19 Louisiana cattle died after exposure to a fluid that originated from a Chesapeake Energy drilling operation in Louisiana.

An entity calling itself Schlumberger Ltd. was doing a frac job when the cattle died.

The cattle poisoning is being investigated by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

Below is the first paragraph of the Fort Worth Business Press article titled "States or Feds: Who gets to regulate hydraulic fracturing?".....

A controversial process used in natural gas drilling, and crucial to the Barnett Shale’s development, is at the center of a tug-of-war dispute between the energy industry and some legislators over whether hydraulic fracturing should be regulated by the state or the federal government.

A recent push by federal legislators to repeal the Energy Policy Act of 2005 could mean companies that employ hydraulic fracturing, a means of stimulating and opening up a well, would have to answer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act about the chemicals they use in the injection process.

A Wet Walk In Arlington At A Very Crowded Veterans Park

Around noon the rain sort of let up. A bit. I couldn't take being cooped up like a prisoner in a cage any longer.

I decided to head to Arlington, ready for a walk at Veterans Park, ready to skip that if the deluge resumed and head on to Chinatown for some good stuff.

It did not look promising when I left here. I-820 was backed up to I-30. Traffic was at a standstill on the flyover that connects 30 to 820 northbound. It looked like a big mess. Fortunately that was not the direction I was heading.

Driving by the entry to Village Creek Natural Historic Park I could see the gate had it closed due to flooding. I continued on to Veterans Park, where I figured I'd have the place all to myself.

Well, on the rainiest, stormiest day so far this year, Veterans Park was the busiest I've ever seen it. The north parking lot was completely full, with people parking on the street. I found one empty parking space at the south lot.

A school was having a graduation party. I thought it rather daring of them to go ahead with their party plans, what with the weather being in lightning, rain, hail, wind, tornado mode.

Though it was damp, the party goers seemed to be having fun playing games in the mud, like volleyball and some other team type game, I had not seen before, that involved a lot of yelling. A good time seemed to have been being had by all. Loud music played from the covered amphitheater.

I only unleashed my umbrella once, even though it was not raining, under the trees a deluge still fell, shaken off the leaves by the wind.

After the Veterans Park walk it was off to Chinatown, got my goods, and now brown basmati rice is cooking in the rice cooker. And I await it being done.

I am seeing some blue sky through the clouds. Hallelujah!

It Is Thursday And We Are Still Heavy Duty Storming In Texas

That's my closed in stormy view at 11 this morning. We have now been storming here in Fort Worth and North Texas for about 17 hours, give or take a few.

This is the worst Mother Nature behavior I can remember in a long time. The caretaker of the Haltom City creeks is having a lot of extra worrying being forced upon her today, due to Mother Nature and the inept local powers that be who have done nothing to fix the Haltom City creek flooding woes in all the time since their deadly flash flooding a couple years ago.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has just issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 pm.

I had planned to go to Veterans Park in Arlington and then to Arlington's Chinatown. I don't think that is going to work out.

This is the first good test of how all that new paved parking at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium is going to affect runoff into Johnson Creek. Johnson Creek flooded into Six Flags, even before the Dallas Cowboys removed a lot of acreage of water absorbing land, replacing it with water repellers, like asphalt and a huge stadium. I'm guessing 6 inches in 2 hours and we'll be looking at a Dallas Cowboys Stadium caused massive flooding of Six Flags.

That'll be interesting. I suspect the Johnson Creek problem will get fixed before the flooding problem in Haltom City, that has killed people, gets fixed.

Rosa Discovers Reason Fort Worth's Santa Fe Rail Market Failed.

One of the real interesting aspects of getting comments to my blogs or my Eyes on Texas website is the extreme range in the quality of the thinking that goes in to making the comments.

Some are so inarticulate I can't fathom where they get the idea that they want to be expressing themselves. Some get themselves so upset, with no understanding that there can be all sorts of points of view on any given subject. Or that, maybe, they are having a comprehension problem.

The most amusing, of the worst of the comments, is the commenter will use insults to buttress their, well, non-existing argument. Because the low end of the spectrum commenters seem to be a bit on the dim side, I always think they must often be told the same type vitriol they are directing at whatever web thing they are upset about.

Like this morning I got a classic that should make all thinking Texans freshly concerned about the state of education in this fine state. The commenter is named Rosa. Apparently Rosa came upon the webpage I made regarding Fort Worth's long defunct Santa Fe Rail Market or as Rosa called it "Dante fe put mix market."

Rosa seems to think that me accurately describing Fort Worth's lame, little, overly hyped and falsely advertised attempt to have a public market modeled after Seattle's Pike Place Market, is what caused its demise.

Yeah, I'm sure me accurately describing that boondoggle caused its demise. The demise had nothing to do with the fact that there was no there there. That when locals visited they shook their heads and walked away, disgusted at the disconnect between how Fort Worth's propaganda mouthpiece, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, had irresponsibly misrepresented that travesty, and the reality they experienced when going to the time and bother of visiting the travesty.

Below is Rosa's comment about my disgraceful, tacky website and my moronic, idiotic thoughts. See if you can count how many spelling and grammar errors Rosa makes. I gave up, it was hurting my head, likely due to sleep deprivation...

What a disgraceful tacky website. I take it that you are not a happy fort worth person.your an idiot who cares if a town wants to say they are the best at sow Thing(yea it may not be true)but that where pride of The city comes from moron negativity also breaks things down like say Dante fe put mix market being constintley compare to pike but you obviously took point after point to tear it down no wonder it really never took off.I lived in tacoma for 2 years and visited Seattle on several occasions. I still missed my hometown one thing snobby liberal Seattle can't say they have is nice sweet people like fort worth does.

Texas Thunder Booming All Night & Insomnia

It's been a loud, rough night here in my Fort Worth zone of Texas.

I must have misunderstood the chattering TV weather guys. I thought I heard that yesterday's storm that rolled in to my location about 6, moved on east and was done, once it moved past ones location. I heard nothing about more incoming.

The worst of it did pass quickly, maybe an hour of heavy wind and rain and thunder. But, then a few hours later it started up again, not so much with the wind, but heavy rain and thunderstorming.

I didn't even try to go to bed til after midnight. Partly due to uploading a video of the storm to YouTube, which had some complications that took longer than normal. If I remember right it was almost quiet when I finally went to bed.

And then at some point after that the storming started up again, with everything but the wind worse than the first storm, I had 2 direct lightning hits. You know, where you see the lightning and hear the boom at the same time, with the boom hitting with a concussive force, like a bomb.

Which makes it really hard to try to get to sleep when you are in what amounts to a bomb shelter.

A tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Plano. Daylight needs to arrive before damage can be assessed. Thousands of people are without power. I am not one of them.

More storms are predicted for today. Right now it appears to be the calm before the next storm.

Well, ignore the previous sentence. I'd barely put the period on it when I saw a flash and a quick boom. It's starting up again. And another flash and boom followed that period.

I love this time of year in Texas.

June 10, 2009 Texas Tornado Thunderstorm

It's coming up on 11. I can see I am going to have another night of insomnia. Though the worst of tonight's storm has been over for a couple hours, lightning continues to strike and thunder continues to roll.

I took video during the worst of the storm with my new Canon camera. Trying to get that video off the camera failed a couple times. I had to do a re-start of the computer to get it to work. And even then it took a long long time. When it was done I saw why. The video was over half a gigabyte big.

After I'd made the video into a movie it was just a bit over 42 megabytes. YouTube is processing the video right now. In the video you'll be watching the storm from my balcony window. In the background you'll hear the nonstop TV weather guy chatter on channel 5. You'll hear mention made of a tornado being spotted.

Big Storm Hitting Knocking Power Out

Power has gone out 3 times. Very windy. Big hail. Picture taken at just before 7. Getting very stormy. TV out.

This is being the worst storm we've had for awhile here in Fort Worth.

I'm hitting the publish button and turning this off.

Wednesday Night Windy Lightning Hail Storm In Texas

I can hear thunder rumbling to the west. I'm seeing lightning flashes in the distance.

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning a few minutes ago. It should be here soon. I have already heeded the warning to be in a sturdy shelter and not near a window.

Below is the NWS Warning....

Bulletin - Eas Activation Requested Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 608 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2009

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For, Denton County In North Central Texas, Parker County In North Central Texas, Tarrant County In North Central Texas, Wise County In North Central Texas

* Until 715 PM CDT

* At 608 PM CDT, National Weather Service Meteorologists Detected A Line Of Severe Thunderstorms Capable Of Producing Golf Ball Size Hail, And Destructive Winds In Excess Of 80 Mph. These Storms Were Located Along A Line Extending From 5 Miles East Of Bridgeport To 4 Miles South Of Springtown To 21 Miles Southwest Of Cool, And Moving East At 45 Mph.

* Severe Thunderstorms Will Be Near, Decatur, Weatherford, Reno And Briar By 615 PM Pelican Bay, Azle And Aurora By 620 PM Willow Park, Pecan Acres And Hudson Oaks By 625 PM

For Your Protection Move To A Sturdy Shelter And Stay Away From Windows Until The Storm Has Passed.

If You Are Caught Outside, Seek Shelter In A Strong Building And Stay Inside, Away From Windows Until The Storm Has Passed.

This Storm Has A History Of Producing Destructive Winds And Large Damaging Hail. Seek Shelter Now Inside A Sturdy Structure And Stay Away From Windows!

Insomnia & A Punch Drunk Drive In Texas

Night Two of my latest Insomnia Outbreak was not too bad. I went to bed well past 11 and got up a bit before 4 this morning.

My synapses seemed to be firing with some accuracy, so I was a blogging maniac this morning. I was even able to think clearly enough to figure out two words to play in my ongoing word game with the Scrabble Queen of the State of Washington.

I was a bit concerned to learn this morning that there had been 2 more earthquakes in my zone of Texas. Even though I was awake for a lot of the night, I did not feel the earth move.

My one longtime reader may remember that since it is Wednesday I probably went to Southlake and likely went to Sprouts Farmers Market. My one longtime reader would be right.

I tried to snap pictures of the bizarre "Air Pollution Alert" signs I see each week on Davis Boulevard. I don't quite get what one is supposed to do with these alerts. Right after the first alert that nitrogen tank with a warning sign, that I've mentioned previously, still sits about 5 feet from the road. I tried to snap a picture of the tank when I drove by, but my timing was off.

Due to that sleep deprivation thing, driving was fun, it felt like being punch drunk after 600 miles on a long Roadtrip. Speaking of which, my favorite nephew named CJ, was reading my Roadtripping Blog and a posting I wrote today about White Sands National Monument. I mentioned this was a stop on a trip that led to 4 days at the Luxor in Vegas. My nephew somehow misunderstood and thought I am currently on my way to Arizona and Vegas and asked if I'd pick him up on the way.

Maybe my nephew is being sleep deprived too, hence the confusion.

Two More Earthquakes Hit Cleburne Texas

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I blogged about a 3rd earthquake shaking Cleburne, Texas, Monday morning, that I did not learn of til Tuesday.

Little did I know, even as I was typing the blogging about Monday's Cleburne quake, that quake #4 was shaking Cleburne with a 2.6 magnitude that shook at 5:16.

The 5:16 pm shaker prompted city officials to call an emergency meeting to hire a geologist to investigate the quakes and their possible cause being the fracturing of the Barnett Shale.

About an hour before the emergency meeting another quake struck at 6:19 pm at 2.1 magnitude.

The mayor of Cleburne, Ted Reynolds, said residents want to know if the earthquakes are related to natural gas drilling in town. I want to know if it is what is causing all the water leaks oozing out of the ground

SEO Spam Scam Watching In Texas

In 2004 I made a website for an older guy up in Tacoma. It was an e-commerce site. This guy was a handful. One thing after another. I made the website deal in August. He flew me back up there the following November. Because they couldn't get their email working. I had his website ready to go live in October. I told him it would take awhile for Google to properly index it. One week later he was whining that he'd had no online sales.

Then someone told him that you to have a certain amount of keywords, and certain meta-tags. I told him that this is no longer the case, that Google and the other search engines make their own judgment about content, that you can get penalized by jimmying the system with bogus meta-tags that did not match the content.

He sold things like Market Spice Tea and Space Noodles. By month 4 I had several of his products Googling at #1 and flying out of the store. This happened not due to doing some tricks with keywords, it happened because I injected a lot of specific content about the products.

Today I got an email from a relative I've not heard from in a long time. Offering to help this very blog you are looking at, telling me "Might I suggest you optimize DurangoTexas.com, Get some relevant ads up there and quit wasting space! Optimize your tags and drive some traffic to the site. It's time to make money!"

I was appalled. He was referencing this blog, but using my Eyes on Texas domain name to reference it. He told me I should at least specify the ads that are running. Which tells me he has no idea what he's talking about. Google generates those ads, the only control I have is placement and whether I want to allow image ads.

I think this blog has over 1400 postings now. Most people come to a single post after this blog shows up in a search.For instance, it shows up high with all sorts of search strings involving the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, and right now, Texas Earthquakes. And unfortunately, The World's Biggest Butt. Which, admittedly, brings up really bad ads.

There is a lot of website info out there with warnings to beware of SEO Spammers. According to one, the #1 indicator that it's a SEO Scam Spam is that they contacted you via email.

Anyway, that's the end of this day in Texas, a SEO Scam Spam from my dear little nephew.

Third Earthquake Strikes Cleburne As North Texas Continues To Tremble

Go here for the latest Cleburne Quakes.

The constant earthquaking here in North Texas has grown so common, I did not know til today that Cleburne was shaken, again, Monday morning, for the 3rd time in a week.

This time the earth moved at 8 am.

Monday morning's Cleburne quake was a 2.3 magnitude, making it less powerful than the previous two.

The latest quake struck about a mile west of Cleburne.

Today, the leak I told you about yesterday, was mostly under control. Today I asked one of the people working on one of the leaks why we are having so much leaking. She told me it's because the ground is moving. I asked, moving from all the earthquakes? She shrugged her shoulders, in a who knows type gesture.

Meanwhile, I think I'll start securing things as if I was still living in the northwest, in anticipation of the big one that may strike North Texas. This daily quaking reminds me way too much of the daily rumbles that led to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I guess it is a very good thing that there are no mountains in the vicinity of the cracking Barnett Shale.

The Texas Burger Guy & Kincaid's Hamburgers

A few days ago I blogged about a Fort Worth Sacred Cow, Kincaid's Hamburgers, and how I'd never understood the burger worship this place gets and my pleasure at reading others were also perplexed, with a poll showing that there are a lot of people who have thought that this particular Emperor had no clothes, while everyone seemed to be admiring his attire.

Then I got a comment from my most frequent commenter, Anonymous, chastising me for my demonstrably bad taste, after he had trusted my supposed rave review of Zorro's Buffet, to the point that he and his wife went to Zorro's one Friday night, with the subsequent discovery that I have very bad buffet tastes. I felt really bad when Anonymous told me he felt he'd thrown 20 bucks down the drain by following my misguided words.

I feel so bad about it that I'd happily send Anonymous 20 bucks if I only knew his last name and address. Or maybe Anonymous is his last name, I'd need the first name, in that case.

In the interest of fairness, and that really is what I am all about. Being fair. There is a website run by this guy, Texas Burger Guy. He goes around Texas writing very extensive, very detailed reviews about non-chain, Texas burger joints and the burgers, fries, onion rings and other stuff these places produce. The exception to the non-chain Texas burger joint aspect is a review of a McDonald's in Arkansas. Why not a McDonald's in Texas? I don't know.

Texas Burger Guy pretty much gave such a rave review to Kincaid's Hamburger it almost makes me want to give the place a 3rd chance to appeal to my demonstrably bad tastes.

Below is part of what Texas Burger Guy had to say about Kincaid's Hamburgers burger (go here to read the entire review and see pictures of burgers, fries, onion rings and the restaurant).....

Since the very first time I started discussing the TexasBurgerGuy concept with people - EVERY person I spoke to said I had to try Kincaid's in Fort Worth. They claimed it was hands down the best burger joint in Texas. That is a mighty bold statement. Obviously with such high expectations, I was prepared for a royal letdown. I am happy to report that Kincaid's definitely lived up to at least part of the expectations. They do have without a doubt the most unique atmosphere I have EVER witnessed in visiting various burger joints. I'll talk more about this later. As for the burger... mmm mama... it was a big, thick, juicy, 2-handed monster that made me remember why I enjoy traveling around the state enjoying mom and pop burger joints.

An Orchid, Lost Monsters, Foul Moods & Tandy Hills Hiking

My Physical Therapist, Dr. L.C and I have been in a foul mood today for a long list of reasons, with any single reason being good enough for a bad mood. But, all together, it's a Perfect Storm of Reasons for a Bad Mood.

Even though I communed with nature yesterday, Dr. L.C. prescribed solitude with nature, for its possible salubrious benefit, hopefully somewhat mitigating my foul mood.

I needed to go to a location on Beach Street. The Tandy Hills are sort of on the way, so that was my go to choice for peaceful solitude with nature.

However, it was not as peaceful as I would have hoped. At the Tandy Hills I am hiking almost at the heart of a really big city. But it feels like you are not in a city, that you are isolated out in the wild. Because you sort of are. As I carefully picked my way down a steep, rocky slope I heard noises to my right, as if something large was walking in the trees along the creek. Then I saw movement in the trees, along with the noises, very much like when the "monster" blows through the trees on LOST.

It was unsettling, but I continued on. When I crossed the dry creek bed I looked to my right, to where the noise had come from. I hear and see nothing. I continued on walking.

I really wasn't getting that feel good endorphin thing happening, I cut the communing with nature short and continued on to Beach Street. During the communing I did see a delicate new wildflower, it sort of looked like an orchid.

So, that's been my day today in semi-hot 88 degree Texas, up at 4 am, starting up a new blog, gradually developing the aforementioned foul mood, a Doctor prescribed hike, that really did nothing for me, but make me sweat and now I'm back here, typing out my whining to no one.

Only Child Syndrome: The Epidemic Continues

Like I've said before, every day a lot of people come to this blog looking for relief from having to deal with Only Child Syndrome.

The various bloggings have gotten a lot of comments from victims of OCS. And from those who are OCS Deniers. I've previously likened OCS Deniers to Holocaust Deniers.

I've gotten a few comments from Only Children. Some admitting to suffering from the Syndrome, others denying its existence, others verbalizing in stereotypical Only Child Syndrome fashion.

Some of the commenters, like two of yesterday's Anonymouses seem very earnest, yet also sound as if they've not actually read the blogging to which they are commenting, or somehow missed the drift.

Below are the 2 Anonymouses comments, with links to the blogging they are commenting on...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Only Child Syndrome Strikes Again":

One only child is not like every other only child so do not get stuck in grouping them all together. You limit your ability to expand your horizons and accept others for who they are when you label and classify people. There are plenty of people out there that are insulting, disrespectful, troublemakers and are manipulators and has nothing to do with with their birth order or with being an only child - it is a choice!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Only Child Syndrome":

Yeah, only children are the bane of society. We should exterminate all of them, because they're all exactly how you described. All of them. At least you aren't stereotyping.

And thank God you were lucky enough to not be an only child and too bad for those poor bastards with parents who had only them because they couldn't afford more children, they couldn't have more children, they simply were smart enough to know they shouldn't have more children for whatever reason, they had other children who died, they died, whatever other scenario. You are SO lucky. The rest of us are just selfish, I guess.

There is an Urban Dictionary website. The Urban Dictionary entries for Only Child Syndrome are amusing, and seem rather on target....

ONLY CHILD SYNDROME

1. A terrible disease that typically effects only-children, but can occasionally strike people with siblings. It may also effect children whose parents divorce.

Symptoms include: playing mind games with members of the opposite sex, a crippling desire for instant gratification, the inability to compromise or share, and a total disregard for anyone's thoughts or feelings but their own.

2. The self-centered attitude and actions that a large percentage of people with no siblings make their calling card.

3. Only children sometimes exhibit characteristics resembling women who have their periods. This can occasionally lead to flashes of intense anger when they don't get their way or someone insults them even the slightest bit. Also, when there is dissent in the friendship ranks which they are a part of, they lash out and try to make the other friends seem more culpable and especially more gay than they are. They have an overwhelming feeling that the world is against them and they tend to ruminate a lot as well. When you factor girls into the picture with an only child, it is never a pretty sight.

Jungle Hiking, Dogfights, Earthquakes & Big Texas Leaks

Around noon I figured it was HOT enough to go hiking in the Tandy Hills Jungle. The wildflowers have taken a beating in the Tandy Hills Natural Area. But, there did appear to be one I had not seen before.

On the way to the Tandy Hills I saw something disturbing. At the intersection of Boca Raton Boulevard and Bridgewood Drive, water was bubbling out of cracks and holes in the cement, like a Yellowstone mudpot.

A city worker was trying frantically to turn a valve that he was accessing out in the street. I thought that the spot where I first saw the Yellowstone mudpot was the source, but, heading up the hill, I kept seeing water running down the street, eventually seeing the source of that water, that being water spewing out of a manhole cover type thing.

I've no idea if it is two separate leaks, but I don't see how the leaking water up the hill caused the massive mudpot spouts further down the hill. I came upon this scene too quickly to react with my camera. But, on the way back from the Tandy Hills, I had the camera out, ready to take a picture if the geysers were still blowing.

Well, there were still city workers at the scene. The water spewing seemed to be running at a lesser volume, but it was still leaking a lot of water in this drought stricken area.

These spontaneous leaks seem to happening with increasing frequency. I've heard no explanation. Today's leak is right by where I live. On that same street, within 1 block, there are 2 other spots where holes have been dug to fix a leak. One leak is so chronic it looks like whoever has been trying to fix it, has given up, so now there is always water running along side the curb.

Yesterday we had another earthquake here in Texas. I mentioned this earlier today. I'm wondering if maybe we have been having way more earthquakes than what are detected by seismic detectors, like little .5 or .1 earthquakes. Too small to be detected as being any different than a Big Truck thundering down the freeway, but big enough to cause pipes to break.

Could it be that the shattering and fracturing of a layer of the earth's crust, that being the Barnett Shale, is shaking all over? Not just the bigger shakes detected in places like Arlington and Cleburne, but little tiny trembles all over this metropolitan zone, cracking pipes, sidewalks, foundations.

If it's not a bunch of mini-quakes, then what is it that has North Texas leaking?

Speaking of getting wet. I saw a very interesting Mother Nature Moment I'd not seen before, this morning while on my back in the pool. A grackle, that's a bird, was flying like it'd gone rabid crazy, darting about, swooping up and down. Then I realized the grackle was chasing a flying bug of some sort. It was like watching fighter planes in a dogfight. A couple times the flying bug led the grackle close to the water. I did not like that. I did not want to get caught up in their battle.

The flying bug seemed to have more maneuverability than the grackle, able to make real tight turns that the grackle had trouble with. I do not know who won the dogfight, if the flying bug successfully escaped, or if the grackle had breakfast.

The Parker County Peach Festival

A couple months ago someone associated with the Parker County Peach Festival let me know that I had the date wrong for this year's Peach Festival.

I fixed it. Or thought I did. Sometimes I do these things too fast. Today I looked at that webpage due to a Roadtripping Blogging I was writing about a Daytrip, when I saw the error.

So, I fixed it and uploaded. Then I look at that website again to get a picture for this blogging, that I'm writing right now, and I see another error. That fix uploaded right at the time I was writing about it, as in right now.

I hope I've got it all correct now. One would think this would not matter, and in the bigger scheme of things it doesn't, but the problem is, my webpage about my visit, years ago, to the Parker County Peach Festival, comes up #1 or 2 in searches, causing people to think it's the Official Parker County Festival website. How people can be that clueless perplexes me, but it happens all the time.

This year alone I've gotten at least a dozen requests for information about how to be a vendor. I always direct them to where they can get that information. It's sort of annoying, but I bring it on myself, so I guess I shouldn't be whining about it.

The Peach Festival is a one day only event. Which has always seemed odd to me because it is so HUGE. All that bother for one day. I assumed it was a Friday, Saturday, Sunday type deal, a few years ago, and went on a Sunday to find it was done with. Ended up at the Weatherford Iron Skillet Buffet instead of a Peach Festival. I think I had peach cobbler there.

I'll repeat the Peach Festival information, that I hope is now correct on my website, below, as yet one more public service helping the Parker County Peach Festival.

Weatherford hosts the 2009 Annual Peach Festival on Saturday, July 11th. This year's festival features more than 200 arts and crafts vendors. Come to the Peach Festival in Weatherford’s historic downtown, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will find a children’s area, a food court, non-stop entertainment, and of course sweet, juicy Parker County Peaches. Beat the heat with Peachy treats of all kinds - Peach ice cream, Peach juleps, Peach smoothies, Peach cobbler, Peach jams, and just plain ol' Peaches to bite and let the juice run down your chin. Admission is $5 for adults and FREE for children 12 and under. There will be free parking from the Ninth Grade Center (1007 S. Main St.) Exit 408, Weatherford College (225 College Park Dr) Exit 409, and the First Monday Grounds (100 Block Santa Fe) Exit 409. Free Shuttle services are available from these sites as well. Free handicap parking and handicap shuttle from Weatherford Ninth Grade Center. The Peach Pedal Bike Ride is on July 14th. Visit www.peachpedal.com for more information. Call the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce for more information: Toll Free 1-888-594-3801.

The Earth Quakes In Cleburne Again

Go here for the latest Cleburne Quakes.

We've had ourselves another earthquake here in previously earthquake-free North Texas. The latest quake struck the Cleburne area, again, for the second time within a week.

The epicenter for the latest shaker was around 11 miles southeast of Cleburne. The magnitude of the latest quake was 2.6 and relatively shallow at around 3.1 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake struck at 5:56 pm, Sunday. A couple dozen people have reported feeling the earth move.

I don't know how many earthquakes I have experienced, which indicates I have experienced a lot of them. What people don't know, who have not been through one, is that even though a 2.6 sounds like it must not be much of a quake, if you are near the epicenter, trust me, you know you're going through a seismic event.

The big quakes that make big news, the 7.0 magnitude quakes, those do damage over a large area and are felt over an extremely large area. I remember a 6.5 magnitude quake, the epicenter was southwest of Seattle. I was 60 miles north of Seattle. The ground where I was shook violently for about 30 seconds. The house felt like it was coming apart. I was in the house with my mom. We ran outside. Everything was moving.

Several years later I lived in the town of Mount Vernon. We went through a period of quakes, centered about 3 miles east of my house. The quakes were in the 2-3 magnitude range. I definitely felt those quakes. One time I was watching TV when one hit. Quakes are very noisy. My windows all popped as if something had hit them. The whole house moved. One of those quakes caused a crack all across my tiled kitchen floor. For another of those quakes I was laying on my waterbed. That bed turned violent and almost tossed me to the floor.

The 2-3 magnitude quakes that I experienced were very shallow, which helped to make them more noticeable. I don't remember how deep they were, to be able to compare them to these North Texas quakes. I'm guessing the Texas quakes are deeper, or people would be talking about popping windows and cracked floors and foundations.

Anyway, I'm hoping we are not heading towards a Big One here in North Texas, that all that fractured, formerly solid, Barnett Shale isn't heading towards some critical point where a massive geological event is triggered. In earthquake zones big buildings are designed with earthquakes in mind. The new Dallas Cowboy Stadium was designed before Texas started having earthquakes. I wonder how it would handle a 2.8 quake shaking the ground under it?

There was an earthquake during one of the last games in the now dead Kingdome that scared a lot of people. Ken Griffey Jr. signaled for his family to get out of there. I don't remember if the game was stopped or not. The cement arches that held up that dome made people nervous even before the Kingdome opened. I don't think I'd want to be in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium to experience how well those roof arches hold up during a quake. I think Arlington has had 2 of this year's Texas quakes, if I'm remembering right.

Broken Spoke Causes Quanah Parker Blading

Yesterday I figured out that the wobbling of my rear bike tire was caused by 2 broken spokes. I probably should have tried to figured out what was causing the wobbling earlier, because, apparently, continuing to ride on a wobbling tire likely does some serious damage to the rim that may not be fixable by simply replacing the broken spokes.

I don't know how many wobbly rides I've gone on. At least once on the River Legacy Mountain Bike Trail. One wobbly ride on the River Legacy Paved Trail. And at least 3 wobbly rides at Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

I finally grew concerned enough to look closer at the wobbly wheel when, when last ridden, the wobbliness seemed to be causing a sort of instability, similar to when a tire goes flat.

This rim has had spokes replaced before, and the wheel rim trued, at Bicycles, Inc. It was somewhat wobbly after that, so I was used to some measure of wobbliness. And then it got worse. And I continued to ignore it. I don't think it was trued correctly the last time.

Looking it up on the Internet I found a bike repair website with how-to videos. The how to replace the spoke video made it seem like the easiest thing in the world. For the rear wheel you have to remove the gear cassette. Again, easiest thing in the world.

That's easy for them to say, hard for me to do. It's like me telling someone, who has never made one, go ahead, making a website is the easiest thing to do, which it is, for me, due to having made one or two before.

The truing the wheel video admitted this was a bit more difficult. I knew I was out of my league at the remove the gear cassette part.

So, I've been up since a bit past 4 this morning. By the time the sun finally got up I hit the pool. Around noon I felt the need to be on wheels of the non-motorized sort. All I had available to me was my roller blades. I have not been on them in months. So, I motored down to Quanah Parker Park, that's the park closest to where I live, about 2 miles from here, put on my blades and bladed.

It took me about a mile to remember why this is not a favorite hot weather activity of mine. On a bike the rush of the air is cooling. Hiking there's a lot of shade and not as much exertion as it takes to roller blade. In other words I got a bit overheated. Several years ago I roller bladed to the end of the River Legacy Park Paved Trail, about 12 miles round trip. By the time I got to the end I was badly overheated. You see a lot of people overheating on that trail. It was a rough return that time. I've not been back on blades there since that incident.

As you can see in the picture above, it may be HOT, but it's nice and green. Which one would think would be cooling. But it's not. And it was very windy. Also not a big help with the cooling. So, I need to find new wheels, I don't think I'm going to be doing a lot of roller blading as the temperatures get ever hotter.

Dallas Cowboy Stadium Opens With A Few Glitches

Last night's George Strait/Reba McEntire concert in the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium apparently pleased most of the 60,188 people in attendance.

Yet there was country singer Blake Shelton saying, "Traffic coming into this thing sucks. I didn't know if we were going to make it here on time."

When you did make it to one of the 14 parking lot entrances you learned it cost $40 to park. There was off-site parking available for an even steeper price. Like the CiCi's Pizza on Collins Street, directly across the street from the west entry to the stadium, charged $60 for parking. With that $60 you also got access to the CiCi's Pizza Buffet.

In some areas of the stadium the air-conditioning was not working. It being a 90 degree day, that might have been a bit uncomfortable. Construction was not completed in some areas of the stadium, with insulation awaiting a sheetrock cover, painter's tape was stretched along a wall.

There was an hour wait to get a frozen Margarita, trash bins were overflowing, some of the concession stands ran out of straws, others ran out of hamburger buns, Pepsi dispensing machines malfunctioned.

On the plus side, apparently the humongous video screen was very impressive and people liked the restrooms.

At some point during George Strait's time on stage he said something about opening the roof, saying only one man, Jerry Jones, has the power to open the roof. So, the crowd started chanting, "Jerry, Open The Roof." Soon the roof began to open.

Arlington's Cluck mayor declared that the stadium "will be a wonder of the world."

I suspect Mayor Cluck may be right. Where else in the world can you get all the pizza you can eat and park for $60?

Don't Mess With Texas You Rude Yankees

Feedback comments to my Eyes on Texas website, from Texans, has been a gift that keeps on giving for years now.

This morning I found a good one in my email inbox with the subject line being "Rude Yankees."

The commenter calls him/herself "One Angry Texan." This angry Texan seems a tad defensive regarding Texas being known as the most Littered State in the Union.

Below is the comment from "Angry Texan"......(spelling and grammar left uncorrected, you don't wanna be messing with an Aangry Texan's spelling and grammar)....

I have several comments re: your website. As you may have learned Texans are very proud of our traditions and our beautiful variety of landscape. Your website commented on "Messing with Texas" writing about how we litter even though our slogan is "Don't Mess with Texas". Has it ever occured to you that unlike the stigmas ya'll have about us; not all of us are the exact same. Its like you make it seem that all of the state gets together and has a meeting and says "Okay nobody litter the Yankees might look down on us." You cannot stereotype an entire group of people like that. Is there not litter anywhere else in the country? Let's think about some of the biggest cities in the U.S. Hmmm......Is New York City clean on every single street? What about Washington D.C.? Or perhaps Philadelphia is sparkling clean every day of the year. Maybe you should spend less time pointing out what is wrong in your opinion of Texas and use that energy to figure out ways to help clean up litter or make an old building look nicer.

From one Angry Texan

Gar The Texan Takes On Jerry Jones

Gar, the Texan, possibly the most erudite person I've ever come across, today wrote yet one more of his erudite bloggings.

In this blogging, Gar, the Texan managed to zero in to the heart of what was and is so wrong about the perverted abuse of the perfectly legitimate concept of using eminent domain, to acquire property, for your own private gain, like what Jerry Jones did, in Arlington, to get himself a new football stadium. That opens tonight. Hopefully to massive traffic jams and noise complaints.

I did not know about the old guy in Hurst, who Gar, the Texan talks about, who was booted out of his home because a mall wanted a parking lot. In his home were murals painted by his kids. I've never managed to put into words, in a way that nails it, why these abuses of eminent domain, in Texas, are so wrong. Gar, the Texan, managed to do that.

But, not to the extent that I'm going to go see that PIXAR "Up" movie.

Boycotting Grapevine In Texas Among Other Things

Since it is Saturday and those are wildflowers in the picture, my one longtime reader probably thinks I went hiking at the Tandy Hills Natural Area today. My one longtime reader would be wrong for once.

The wildflowers today were seen at Horseshoe Trails Park in Grapevine. My intention had been to go hiking at Rockledge Park to walk along the beach at Lake Grapevine and use my imagination to create the delusion that I was walking a saltwater beach. This is an easy delusion at Lake Grapevine. There are seagulls and clam shells.

But my Rockledge Park plan came to an abrupt halt soon after I crossed Lake Grapevine Dam and turned into Rockledge Park. The City of Grapevine is now charging an entry fee to this Army Corps of Engineers built park.

I had no cash. The Old Geezer money taker couldn't take a credit card. So, I U-Turned and got out of there, thinking, as I left, that I'm never going to come back and pay to go to that park. The entry fee was $5 per vehicle, $1 per person in the vehicle, $1 per bicycle. I assume that meant a person pedaling in on their bike and not an extra $1 charge per bike.

If I understand the entry fee correctly it would have cost $9 for me and my hikers to enter that park today. The pay station was really tacky. I should have thought to take a picture. Orange traffic cones led to a trailer-like structure, set on the ground, no wheels. An old guy and lady ran the toll booth. I don't know if they live in the trailer. There is not much tacky in the town of Grapevine, so this could easily be the tackiest thing in town.

A few years ago, the State of Washington started charging a fee for day use at the state's state parks. The public rebelled. The fees were removed. The principle is that parks like this are paid for by all the people, from money raised by taxes, in order to provide recreational opportunities to all the people, regardless of where they sit, income strata-wise.

I have been at Rockledge Park many a time and have seen many large family groups. It was easy to see that, for some of these people, paying 5 bucks to enter and another buck for each person, would be money they likely would not want to spend. So, Grapevine is locking such people out of the park. That is just wrong.

This is the same reason I found it so wrong and offensive when Fort Worth began charging an entry fee to the Fort Worth Nature Preserve.

Grapevine is one very well off town. Improvements have been made all over town, paid for by being flush with funds, due to there being things in town like Grapevine Mills, Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge. I've complained, before, that Fort Worth neglects things like landscaping the freeway exits to tourist attractions, like the Fort Worth Stockyards. Grapevine has the money to landscape pretty much everywhere. And put up special signage that matches the Grapevine theme.

Many a time, when I've gone to Rockledge Park, I've spent money in Grapevine. Either at a restaurant or at Grapevine Mills. I'm now going to boycott Grapevine and will not spend a penny there until Rockledge Park is back open to the public.

Leaving Rockledge Park I headed to another Grapevine park on Lake Grapevine, that being Horseshoe Trails Park. I've probably mountain biked the Horseshoe Trails more than any other Texas trail. But not so much in recent years, because I don't live close to it anymore.

I was fairly certain that the parking lot I use would not have a pay station. There are not enough cars to make that work. And there are way too many entries to the parks that Horseshoe Trails Park connects too. And I knew Grapevine was already charging a fee to use the boat launches.

I'd brought a swim suit with me. I'd intended to go swimming when I was done with the beach hike at Rockledge Park. I have swam there many times. But, swimming was not going to happen on this end of the lake, because this is the spot were I was attacked, while swimming, by a rabid attacking turtle, that I first thought was a snake, when its reptilian head popped up in front of me, causing me to find out I can swim really fast when fear motivates me.

A short time later I was at the same spot, telling a couple fishermen about the turtle attack and they told me they'd seen 2 water moccasins by the dock, that morning. And if that was not enough to keep me out of that water, a few days later I was talking to a pair of girls, sitting at the end of the dock, telling them about my near death experience with the turtle and they told me that, a few days prior, they and their boyfriends swam out to Water Moccasin Island and on the way back one of the boys stepped on a garfish, getting badly cut, requiring stitches.

I'd seen a garfish in Village Creek. Scary alligator eel looking things. I had no idea they were in Lake Grapevine. But I was more stuck on Water Moccasin Island. I asked why they called it that. They said everyone called it that because there are so many water moccasins out there. I asked why would you swim out there if you know there are water moccasins. They told me if you don't bother them they leave you alone. This seemed insane to me and I didn't say another word.

So, that's been my day today, so far, in Texas, started with an early morning swim, capped, so far, by yet one more thing I'm boycotting in Texas. I hope the boycott gets lifted by December, so I can go to the Christmas Party at Austin Ranch in Grapevine.

Dallas Cowboy Stadium Opens With George Strait & Reba McEntire

Tonight the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium gets its first use, with a sold out George Strait, Reba McEntire Concert.

I don't know how many tickets were sold, so I don't know how many people will be there tonight. The stadium has seating for 80,000, expandable to 100,000. Tickets to tonight's concert went on sale February 28 and sold out in one hour.

Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough will also be singing. I like Juliane Hough. I don't know if she'll also be dancing tonight.

Apparently the food offerings have been upscaled from what was available in now defunct Texas Stadium, with many more concession stands with kitchens, which means food freshly cooked. Including an on-site beef smoker.

You can get a Kobe burger with onion rings. A guacamole hot dog with white cheese and blue corn chips. Or a Texas dog with BBQ sauce and coleslaw on it.

The prices seem a bit steep. But something has to pay for this $1.1 billion building. You'll be paying $9 for draft beer, $5 for water, $5 for french or sweet potato fries, $10 for a catfish po'boy, $13 for a green chile Kobe burger, $14 for a beef sandwich, to give you an idea of what it'll cost you to eat and drink in the new stadium.

$5 for water?

I'll try and remember to check out the new stadium tonight. I believe it is supposed to pretty much glow in the dark with a big beam of light pointing skyward. It'll be interesting to see how the neighborhood reacts to the noise. And how well the roads handle the traffic. I'm expecting it's going to be a big mess.

Another Copperhead Encounter In Texas

I was up way before the sun was this morning. Again. Soon after it got bright I was in the pool. Again.

Then after way too many hours hitting buttons on a keyboard I needed to escape. My escape route, this time, was to pedal my bike at Village Creek Natural Historic Area. Again.

I've never seen so many people as were there today. The parking lot was almost full. I've never seen that before. At the pond viewing area there were 3 separate groups of people sitting at picnic tables. I rarely see a single person there.

I think it's the perfect temperatures that is drawing people outdoors. It was around 85 when I headed out of here at noon, 89 now, 3 hours later. I saw a pretty young mom and her little boy, both on scooters. I've been seeing a lot of people on scooters lately. There were 3 different scooter groups at Village Creek today. Has scootering become some sort of fad?

I would have thought that with so many people on the Village Creek trail that snakes would be gone. I was wrong. I came upon a copperhead again. I got closer to it this time and got a better picture. It posed politely, barely moving. And then when I turned the camera off it began to slither off the pavement at an alarmingly high rate of speed. If it had decided to head towards me, that fast, I don't know if I could have backed up fast enough.

And then I remembered what Jammin Mole told me a couple days ago. That rattlesnakes travel in pairs. She learned this after finding a rattlesnake in her laundry room. Her dad came over and helped get rid of it. And told her they usually travel in pairs. Soon the second rattlesnake made its presence known.

While I was snapping pictures another copperhead could have slithered up behind me. I will take this possibility into consideration during my next snake encounter and constantly check behind me to make sure I'm not about to be attacked.

So, that's my exciting Thursday in Texas, so far.

Oh, I forgot a funny thing. Earlier today I blogged about thinking Kincaid's Burgers were overrated. I got a funny comment from my favorite commenter, Anonymous, basically telling me my restaurant opinions were overrated, complaining that my rave reviews of Zorro's Buffet caused him to take his wife there on a Friday night only to find leathery steak and overcooked shrimp. Anonymous started off his comment with this funny line, "In defense of Kincaid's, you defiantly have bad taste!"

I'm defiant about everything.

Kincaid's Burgers Are Overrated

I was not long in Fort Worth when I heard that Kincaid's Hamburgers made the best burgers in the world.

Year after year the locals vote for Kincaid's for burger awards. On Kincaid's website their customers are thanked for this...

"We Won Best Burger! Thank you to all our customers who helped us win the 2009 Golden Local Best Burger Award. We look forward to serving you at Kincaid's soon."

So, with all this hype I was looking forward to having the best burger ever. The first time I went to Kincaid's there was only the original, that being the Kincaid's on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth. Kincaid's has since opened several more burger joints, including one in Southlake that was the location of my second visit to a Kincaid's.

Both times I was totally non-plussed. I didn't get it. But this was not the first time I've seen something hyped here that made me wonder things like have these people never had another burger? Have these people not seen any other downtown besides Fort Worth's? That after one of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's goofy uses of their patented "Green With Envy" verbiage, as in cities and towns, near and far, are green with envy over the success of Fort Worth's downtown. (No, I am not making this up, go here for more examples)

I may have bad taste, but I prefer a Whopper or a Jumbo Jack burger over a Kincaid's burger. My all time favorite burger came from the legendary In & Out chain.

After all these years of thinking the Kincaid's hype was insane, finally, someone has said the Emperor has no clothes. A blog called Best of Texas had a post titled "5 Most Overrated Burgers in Texas." Kincaid's was #1 on the list, saying the Kincaid's burger was a "tasteless, lifeless, dry burger."

Then the new FW Weekly wannabe, DFW.com's Ink Edition, conducted a poll, asking "Are the Burgers at Kincaid's Overrated?"

32% said yes, Kincaid's burgers are nothing special. Another 32% thought Kincaid's burgers were maybe a little overrated, but who cares? While 29% thought absolutely not, Kincaid's burgers are the best. While 8% said they'd never had a Kincaid's burger.

So, I'm feeling a little better about the good taste of Fort Worth's burger eaters. And I'm glad to learn it's not just me who doesn't get the fuss made over those mediocre Kincaid's burgers.

The Mystique Of The Dallas Cowboys & Their New Stadium

This morning I read a Jerry Jones interview about the recently completed new Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington.

The interviewer repeated the local myth that gets repeated a lot and annoys some people in other parts of America, that being the myth that the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team. Most Americans beg to differ.

The Dallas Cowboys being America's Team really is ridiculous. When it came time to build the Cowboys a new stadium they weren't even Dallas's team, they became Arlington's team.

In the interview one of things Jerry Jones says is the following...

"Where we have invested the money in this stadium for the long term will create more people that can come to the Cowboys than could have ever come normally because of the size of the stadium.  . . . More people will have the experience of what the Cowboys are, our mystique, what we’re about. The Cowboys have been about Dallas in the sense that it represents the idea of Texas, and it represents the idea of larger than life and this image that we want for the stadium, which is one of the future."

This is not a very well-spoken, articulate man. The Dallas Cowboys have some sort of mystique about them? What is this mystique? The Dallas Cowboys represent the idea of Texas? What is the idea of Texas? The new stadium is larger than life?

Well, it is rather large. I'm going to make a prediction about what much of the rest of America will think about "their" team's new stadium. There will be a lot of talk about how out of place the building looks, like it does not belong there. Much will be made of the commercial, industrial and residential blight that is to the south and west of the stadium.

I've never seen a major sports stadium in such a rundown setting. Seattle's new football stadium has the Seattle skyline on the north end and the Mariner's ballpark on the south end, with no blight no matter where you look. Denver's new football stadium, same thing, no blight. Houston's, no blight.

Now, I've really not seen all that many professional football stadiums. Maybe there are others that have been built in a residential neighborhood, using eminent domain to move people off their property, surrounded by pawn shops, boarded up businesses and other blight. I suspect not, though.

It will be interesting to see what America thinks when they see where their team is playing. It ain't gonna be pretty, is my guess.

That's the new Dallas Cowboy stadium in the picture at the top, hovering over a FINA gas station.

No Sidewalks Or Safe Fish To Eat In Fort Worth

I was up way too early today. I was already tired of looking at a computer screen when the sun turned the light on enough that I could find my way to the pool.

Swimming perked me up and slightly improved my dour doom of gloom mood.

After several more hours of seeing way too much of this computer screen I had to get out of here. Due to all the rain, of late, Oakland Lake Park was pretty much my only choice to go on a walk.

On the way there, heading west on Bridge Street, I was stopped at a light. Across the street I saw the 3 guys in the picture walking on the grass at the side of the road. Where there is no sidewalk.

I've mentioned before how appalling it is that Fort Worth lacks sidewalks in so many locations where one would think a sidewalk would exist and where I'll see people have worn a path in the grass, totally indicating the need.

I've seen places where the lack of a sidewalk is dangerous. Like when I made the mistake of thinking it would be fun to walk to the Post Office. That turned into a nightmare of picking my way through litter-covered, no-sidewalk sections.

When I took the picture off the camera I was even more appalled. I'd zoomed in to take the picture, so when I saw it I saw way more detail than I saw with my eye. Like I didn't realize that the 3 guys were walking to a bus stop! That's the sign they are standing by, waiting for a bus. No sidewalk to walk to a bus stop on a very busy street. Did I already say I think this is appalling?

A sad sidewalk lack in a town with a "Vision" for the river that runs through it that will cost, currently, somewhere around a half billion dollars. If it ever gets built. I've said before, I think Fort Worth should start with some basics, like the Fort Worth Sidewalk Vision, before moving on to more grandiose visions, like building a little fake lake, some canals and an unneeded flood diversion channel.

At Oakland Lake Park there were a lot of people walking around, picnicking, playing tennis and fishing. The fishing I find disturbing. There used to be signs forbidding you to eat the fish you might catch. The new version is milder, telling the fishermen that there is a "Fish Consumption Advisory." Oddly, this warning is only in English, while the other warning on the sign, not to boat or swim in the lake, is in both English and Spanish.

I saw one group of Spanish speakers fishing, using beer bottles that they wrapped the line around. I figured if you are so desperate to catch a fish that you are using a beer bottle as a fish pole, then you are likely going to eat any fish you might catch. They were gone my second time around the lake. Likely they'd caught lunch and were heading somewhere to cook it.

Speaking of lunch, that's what I need to have right now.

Microsoft's Bing Launch Flickers

This morning I was looking at my blog stats and saw someone had come to the blog, for the first time, via Microsoft's new search engine called Bing.

I'd not seen Bing, so I clicked on the search string Bing link to see what the person had been searching for in Bing that landed them on my specific blogging about A Big Foot Sasquatch in Georgia.

I think maybe Microsoft should have done some more Bing Tweaking before having last night's Bing Launch Party in Seattle, because the person from Kathleen, Georgia who was searching for info using Bing was looking for "big breasted woman in georgia" when Bing directed the searcher to this blog, which comes up #2 in Bing when looking for a big breasted woman in Georgia.

I was curious how my webpages did in Bing. In Google my webpage about Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma always comes up near the top. In Bing it didn't show up at all.

I was really not liking Bing at all at that point.

Then I looked up some of my other pages that Google does not rank as high as I might like, like Googling for "state fair of texas" usually shows up on the second page. In Bing that page was #4. I'll go see what it is currently on Google. I went 9 pages deep without seeing my State Fair of Texas webpage, then decided to look at the first page again, figuring must have missed it. I had. The fair page is currently #5.

So, I guess, other than what Bing does with Turner Falls Park and Georgian breasts, it does a good enough job, but might not be quite ready for prime time.

From what I read about Bing's Launch Party it would seem it may have been launched prematurely too. The Bing Launch Party took place at Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center. Around 100 Microsoft marketing people were there, plus some press people. The press people were a bit non-plussed, wandering around wondering when the event would start, not realizing it already had.

The lighting of the Space Needle was turned off. Normally the Space Needle glows in the darkness. Instead of a glowing Space Needle a bright bluish point of light took its place. This had people concerned that the Space Needle had burned out. Others thought it was a bright light beam coming from above.

The view in the picture is looking across Elliot Bay from West Seattle. That little white thing just to the right of the blue beam is the over 600 feet tall darkened Space Needle.

Few could see that a blue light spelled out BING in the grass in front of Fisher Pavilion.

Apparently the Microsoft marketing people planned a big event and then forgot to tell people it was going to happen. Then again, apparently the mysterious blue light did get people talking and people like me blogging about it this morning. Those Microsoft people are such crafty little devils.

Any of you reading this who are from Fort Worth who are wondering if that water feature you see in front of the Seattle skyline was the result of a Seattle River Vision, the answer is no. That water feature was provided naturally by Mother Nature, no rivers were altered, no use of eminent domain was abused.

A World's Biggest Butt Candidate From West Texas

Looking at my blog stats this more I'm again a bit embarrassed and mortified that, once again, for who knows what reason, people all over the world are looking for Big Butts.

Some are looking for the World's Biggest Butt, some are more specific and just want America's Biggest Butt.

Last week I thought I'd finally found the answer to the mystery of why so many people would think that somewhere out there, somehow, the World's or America's Biggest Butt had been found. I thought I had my answer when I learned that the World's Biggest (cigarette) butt had been erected on Trafalgar Square in London as part of a UK anti-littering campaign.

That made me think that all along it was people looking for a picture of that Trafalgar Square Biggest Butt in the World instead of looking for the Biggest Human Butt. But then, soon after that, some of the search strings had Women or Person in it, which ruled out the Butt on Trafalgar Square.

And now this morning, a lady from West Texas sent me a picture of herself and asked to be considered for the honor of possessing the World's Biggest Butt. Apparently I am now a Big Butt Authority with the power to assign the title of World's Biggest Butt.

Well, I hate to disappoint the West Texas lady, but I've seen at least 2 Texas Butts bigger than hers. I think I even have a relative or two who outdo the West Texas Big Butt.

So, I guess the search continues. I think I'll go Big Butt Hunting at Oakland Lake Park today.

The Ghost Hunters Of Wink Texas

There is a very small town out in West Texas, in the Midland/Odessa zone, called Wink. By some odd confluence of natural forces, Wink is some sort of Texas Twin Peaks, X-Files episode type town.

Gar the Texan was spawned from Wink. He has special powers and regularly consults the stars, prays to his special gods and sings karaoke.

Currently back in Wink, after having escaped, and then drawn back, is a young lady I will call, for anonymity purposes, Jammin Mole.

Jammin Mole has a blog. She tells good stories.

A few days ago Jammin Mole told a Ghostly Wink story that she had experienced in Wink. It's a pretty good story.

And then Jammin Mole expanded on the originally story with an even better one, with corroboration, in the form of a comment, from one of the persons in the story. I tell you, we are talking X-Files/Twilight Zone territory here.

And then today, surprising new news, that being that, apparently, Jammin Mole hates men. I'm shocked. I was of the impression the exact opposite was the case...

North Texas Storms, Earthquakes, Sprouts & Insomnia

Go here for the latest Cleburne Quakes.

I have had myself a rough past 36 hours, give or take an hour or two. The night before, I had a bad insomnia bout after being chased by Jabba the Hut in a nightmare.

I was stuck inside most of yesterday, unable to swim, due to a shocked pool, unable to hike or bike, due to a big Thunderstorm dropping a lot of water.

Last night Jabba the Hut left me alone, but Mother Nature did not. There were way too many flashing lights and explosions during the night. And downpours. That got me worrying about those long-suffering creek dwellers in Haltom City. I've not heard from the chief of the creek dwellers today. That is unusual, so I'm concerned.

Yesterday at 3:06 in the afternoon we were hit with another earthquake here in North Texas, where earthquakes used to be extremely rare, til recently.

There have been thousands of holes drilled in the ground in North Texas in the past several years. These holes are drilled so this material called shale can be shattered by a process called fracking. Yes, basically solid rock, underneath us, is being shattered.

And now there are earthquakes. Which used to be very very rare here. It seems sort of intuitive that there might be a connection between shattering a layer of the earth and the earth quaking.

Yesterday's quake was a puny 2.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The quake was centered about a mile west of Cleburne. Cleburne is a town outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, about 30 miles south of my location, about 12 miles south of Kelly Clarkson's hometown of Burleson. Several people reported hearing a loud boom and feeling the ground rumbling.

My one longtime reader may guess that, due to today being Wednesday, I likely had to go up to Southlake and, in doing so, I likely went to Sprouts Farmers Market. That guess would be correct. You can see how stormy it was up at Sprouts in the picture above, that was taken at noon.

Due to the storming I was up really early today, the pool is now un-shocked, so I was in it when the sun tried to break through the clouds. Swimming was a good thing, but I still feel beat up. I'm hoping for peace and quiet tonight, with no earthquakes and no earplug piercing thunder. And please, no Jabba the Hut.

Only Child Syndrome Strikes Again

Like I've said before, every day a lot of people, from all over the world, come to this blog looking for relief from Only Child Syndrome.

The OCS Sufferers leave a lot of comments. The past couple days a lot more people than usual seem to be seeking relief.

Among the comments there have been a few who deny the existence of Only Child Syndrome. I consider these people no different than Holocaust Deniers.

Last night I got a real good comment to one of the many Bloggings I've written about Only Child Syndrome. The commenter was my most ubiquitous commenter, "Anonymous."

Below is what Anonymous had to say....

I deal with an only child every day. She is one of the rudest, most manipulative individuals I have ever had the misfortune to meet. She's continually sulking and brazenly insulting towards coworkers and disrespects her supervisors behind their backs. And, in spite of this, and her own admission that she is known to be a troublemaker, she would emphatically deny having OCS. I am just continually flabbergasted by her lies and manipulation tactics. How do they even bear to face themselves in the mirror? Amazing...

I feel your pain. You seem to be dealing with an extreme case. Does yours spew out the rude remarks, and then when you, or anyone, says anything slightly similar in return, the OCS pitches a fit? It's as if the OCSers somehow have completely convinced themselves that they have their own set of rules, while insisting others play by the OCSer's rules.

Like the 550 pound overweight OCSer can say to a healthy weighted co-worker that she looks like she's put on a few pounds. If the healthy-weighted co-worker then says something like, "uh, I really don't think you should be making comments about anyone's weight," the co-worker's perfectly appropriate remark sends the OCSer into fit mode, saying something like, "you are being so mean, making a veiled reference to me being fat."

It really is an amazing and weird phenomenon to experience. That is best avoided if you can.