Apparently This Summer In Texas Is Gonna Hurt Like A Mother Trucker

Yesterday on the next to last day of May we hit 100 for the first time this year at my location on the planet.

On this, the last day of May, we have gone to 101, as you can see via the screen shot I shot of my phone a couple minutes ago.

I was hotter earlier in May, in Arizona, where a record breaking temperature was reached. 106 was the number, if I remember correctly.

101 in Texas feels way HOTTER than 106 in Arizona, due to that vexing humidity thing which causes the Texas air to sort of feel like one is getting swatted with wet hot cotton.

I started up my abode's air-conditioning for the first time this year the night I got back here from Arizona, due to the relatively cool Texas temperature in the high 70s, at that midnight time frame, felt so HOT, due to that aforementioned humidity, I flipped on the A/C as soon as I got my hand's on my thermostat.

I fear, to paraphrase Adam Levine, taking out his bad taste profanity, that this summer is gonna hurt like a mother trucker. I do not remember many, if any, 100 degree plus days last year. And now, with summer still three weeks distant we are already hurting like a mother trucker...

Rolling Wheels To Lake Wichita Finds Big Caterpillar Dredging Lake Sludge

I took the first photo you see here a couple days ago at a point in time when there were a few clouds in the otherwise clear blue sky.

I parked my bike and took this photo because it seemed to me someone was making some sort of subtle political statement, what with someone moving a "SUPPORT LAKE WICHITA" banner and a "VOTE YES" sign at a location quite visible atop the Lake Wichita Dam, at the point where the Circle Trail reaches the top of the dam.

VOTE YES turned into a NO VOTE on May 5, failing to pass the two bond proposals which would have finished circling the Circle Trail and would have finally funded the revitalizing of Lake Wichita.

I have not heard if there will be another attempt to get Wichita Falls voters to vote YES, or not. It would seem a better job could be done of convincing voters it is in their interest, and for the betterment of their town, to vote to support returning Lake Wichita to its historical former glory, that and finally completing the Circle Trail.

So, this morning I opted to do my semi-regular bike ride to Lake Wichita via that aforementioned Circle Trail. Upon arrival on top of the dam I saw the sign you see above is still there.

Looking up, from the banner sign, across the lake, at Mount Wichita, I saw that a piece of heavy equipment which I have been seeing stationary for over a week, was, on this day, in full action mode.

I figured by the time I got to Mount Wichita I would be getting an up close look at what this heavy equipment operation is doing.

And now we are at that location, sort of in the shadow of Mount Wichita. A fellow biker bikes towards the Caterpillar dredger dredging mud sludge from Lake Wichita.

And then I rolled on for a closer look. Is this a stage of the Lake Wichita Revitalization underway? If not, what is going on here? There were several City of Wichita Falls dump trucks parked a short distance away, engines running, headlights on, manned with drivers, waiting, I assume, to haul away that which is being dredged.

I thought the plan for revitalizing Lake Wichita called for the lake to be drained and then the sludge dredged, in order to render, eventually, a deeper lake.

Has enough money been raised by the car washes and other somewhat pitiful Lake Wichita Revitalization fund raising efforts to pay for some dredging?

I first learned of the plan to revitalize Lake Wichita soon upon arrival in this town in spring of 2016. Learning the details of this plan it seemed like a good idea. And the informational website devoted to this project, when I first saw it in 2016, indicated the project would be underway by 2018.

Somehow I do not think this Caterpillar dredging on the shore of Lake Wichita indicates the lake's revitalization is underway. But, if not, why is lake sludge being dredged?

Rolling Wheels Over Wichita Bluff Nature Area Circle Trail

Til today I  had not been back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area since this natural area opened at some point in time last year. Late spring of 2017, if I am remembering correctly.

Til today it had not crossed my mind that it might be mighty fun to roll my bike wheels on this only section of the Wichita Falls Circle Trail which has elevation changes sufficient enough to cause a high speed descent and an aerobically stimulating ascent.

Well, slightly aerobically stimulating ascent. The ascents are not all that steep. But one does go fast on the downhill sections.

As you can see the Wichita Bluff Nature Area is green with foliage. This may later turn a bit more brown as the heat of summer arrives.

Above you see my bike taking a rest on one of the side trails off the Circle Trail, with the side trails affording views and benches, with several of the side trails also providing picnic table pavilions, shaded from the HOT sun.

Above my handlebars are high atop a Wichita Bluff overlooking the Wichita River.

Here we have a more natural bluff overlook, without any bike or fencing blocking part of the view.

And then, turning around from that Wichita River overlook we see the current end of this section of the Circle Trail.

I am assuming this missing section is one of the sections voters did not vote to fund finishing in the recent May 5 bond vote.

So foolish. The two Circle Trail & Lake Wichita Revitalization proposals were to pay the required 25% of the project's total, with the 75% made up of grants, with the granting of those grants predicated on Wichita Falls coming up with 25%.

Like I said, so foolish. And sadly short sighted....

Memorial Day MSU Bike Ride Remembering Seattle's International Fountain With Overpriced Space Needle

This Memorial Day morning I had myself a memorably long bike ride north, taking my rolling wheels first around Sikes Lake, then to the MSU (Midwestern State University) campus, which is currently abandoned.

And then further north, eventually getting lost on Speedway before finding my way to the Circle Trail via Holliday.

At MSU I stopped the bike at the location you see here. A fountain spewing jets of water.

Refreshing on a HOT day, such as is the case today.

The MSU fountain brought to mind my longtime favorite fountain, that being the fountain known as the International Fountain at the Seattle Center. That fountain came into existence at the Seattle World's Fair, which was known as the Century 21 Exposition. The International Fountain is about 100 times bigger than this fountain I got cooled by today at MSU.

Googling International Fountain Seattle Center brought up multiple websites, including a Wikipedia article about the International Fountain, which included some statistics giving one an idea how big this centerpiece of the Seattle World's Fair is...

• 56 "Micro shooters" arrayed as a ring buried in the granite blocks of the fountain floor, on the outer perimeter surrounding the dome. These shoot straight up.
• 77 "Fleur-de-lis" - plate-sized nozzles on the dome, shooting medium-high arcs.
• 4 "Super shooters" - four nozzles on the top of the dome capable of shooting up to 120 feet (37 m) high. Each "super shooter" peak shot uses 66 US gallons (250 l) and is driven by 120 pounds per square inch (830 kPa) of air pressure.
• 137 "Mist nozzles", each with an opening the size of a pinhead to generate fog
• There is an additional ring of floodlights between the "micro shooters" and the dome.

I do not know if the current iteration of the International Fountain still plays music timed to the fountain spouts. Playing dodge the fountain is a popular pastime for kids of all ages on a hot day at the Seattle Center.

Speaking of the Seattle Center. A couple days ago that location came to my mind for another reason.

The Space Needle.

I was reading an article about the newly re-opened re-modeled observation level atop the Space Needle. In the article I read that the elevator ride to the Space Needle observation deck now cost $26. I found that hard to believe, figuring this must be a mistake.

Trust me on this, even with its new glassed over look a visit to the Space Needle observation deck is not worth $26. If I remember right the last time I was at the top of the Space Needle was with Spencer Jack's dad, Jason, and his uncle, Joey. Both were younger than Spencer Jack is now. I don't remember how much it cost to get on the Space Needle elevator at that point in time. But I doubt it was more than a couple bucks. Maybe five at the most.

What does it cost to ride the Seattle Monorail in 2018? Last time I took that short ride I think it was 50 cents each way.

When the giant observation wheel opened on the Seattle waterfront a couple years ago I recollect reading the fee to ride was $13. That seemed reasonable. But, $26 to ride to the top of the Space Needle? That's ridiculous...

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Poo Water Warning Makes No Mention Of Trinity River

I saw that which you see here this Saturday morning in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a pseudo newspaper which ill serves as the Pravda-like propaganda organ for Fort Worth's corrupt ruling oligarchy which rules Fort Worth in what is known as The Fort Worth Way.

In this Going to the beach this summer? Make sure you're not swimming in poo water article we read...

Oil and water. Peanut butter and pickles. Or, a relaxing beach outing and high fecal bacteria readings.

Yuck.

But that’s exactly what some Texas Gulf Coast beach destinations are plagued with as summer approaches, according to a website called Texas Beach Watch.

No mention is made in this article of the fact that the entity known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, in one of its few "accomplishments" in almost two decades of getting little accomplished, has managed to convince Fort Worth locals, apparently starved for something to do, to get wet in the polluted Trinity River in events known as Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats and Funday Sundays.

With those events held when the monitoring of the pollution in the Trinity River indicates an e.col and fecal bacteria level low enough to supposedly make the Trinity River water sufficiently safe.

Those Thursday Rockin' the Polluted River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats should be starting up soon, what with summer soon arriving.

I wonder if now that the TRWD agency which oversees what has become America's Biggest Boondoggle, that being the sponsor of those polluted river events, no longer has its one and only watchdog of the public welfare, Mary Kelleher, on board, if those weekly testings of the Trinity River will still take place prior to allowing the River Rockin' to happen...

Rockin' Sikes Lake At Wichita Falls MSU Priddy Pavilion

Yesterday early evening I decided to enjoy the mighty fine semi-balmy weather to get myself some fresh air and aerobically induced endorphins via riding my bike on the Circle Trail, eventually ending up circling around Sikes Lake.

Near the north end of the lake I found myself needing to slow down due to a large number of small humans darting about erratically.

When I approached the bridge which crosses over the north end of Sikes Lake I saw that a large assembly of full size humans had assembled.

I quickly determined the assemblage was assembled to listen to music, which started playing soon after I stopped to observe the scene.

Upon arrival back at my abode I consulted the May edition of The HUB of North Texas to learn what I listened to last night was part of the Midwestern State University Live at the Lake Concert Series at Priddy Pavilion, with last night's concert featuring an entity known as the Jay Hollis Band.

The HUB info suggested one bring blankets or lawn chairs. I imagine the blankets were to sit on, not to use to keep warm, since such is not needed in late May at this part of the planet.

I took a photo or two and then switched the camera to video mode to record that which you see below. In the video my pithy commenting alludes to Fort Worth's Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube floats in the polluted Trinity River. And those pitiful little bridges Fort Worth can not seem to successfully build over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

I think Wichita Falls should dredge the north end of Sikes Lake to make it deeper, then line the bottom with cement. Then hold Rockin' the Lake Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats at their real pavilion with a real bridge over real water.

Wouldn't that be something?

Stop At Wichita Falls HOOTERS On Way To ALDI

On my way to ALDI this morning, stopped at the stop light at the intersection where Kemp and Call Field/Midwestern Boulevard meet, I looked up to see a new sign has arrived in Wichita Falls.

HOOTERS.

I believe this incoming HOOTERS is coming in to the location previously occupied by Logan's Roadhouse, which hit the road after closing a year or two ago.

I have not read anything about HOOTERS coming to Wichita Falls in the local newspaper. Nor have I seen advertisements soliciting for local talent to staff the cast of the Wichita Falls HOOTERS.

I hope I do not sound too rude, but since I have been in Wichita Falls I have not seen many, if any, of the type talent one sees being in the cast of the HOOTERS I have previously observed.

A HOOTERS recruiter will soon succumb to a sense of hopelessness if he or she tries to find HOOTERS type talent in either of the Wichita Falls Walmarts I frequent. The recruiter would find plenty of candidates with two of the expected HOOTERS assets, but the full package, this I have not eye witnessed in the nearly two years I have been in this town. Well, I may be forgetting one or two full package incidents.

And if HOOTERS has a no tattoos policy, well, from what I have seen in Wichita Falls, that recruiter will have a lot of trouble finding local talent without tattoos.

I have never seen so many tattoos on so many people, as I have in Wichita Falls, with the tattoos displayed on such large surface areas. And so proudly displayed, or more accurately, proudly exposed, due to an insufficient amount of clothing material modestly covering that which one would think those of such ample size would want covered.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how well HOOTERS does in Wichita Falls...

Before Possible Elsie Hotpepper Lunch Look At Fort Worth's Gateway Park & Trinity River

Today was that last Wednesday of the month, that being the day when I usually return to the Dallas/Fort Worth zone for a variety of reasons, including a perpetual lunch date with Elsie Hotpepper.

On this particular Wednesday I had a couple hours in need of killing, and since I had my bike along I decided to go rolling around Fort Worth's Gateway Park.

We will take a look at what I saw today, sort of in reverse order. I parked near the western Gateway Park boardwalk overlook looking over the Trinity River. We will get to the Gateway Park boardwalk overlook later.

But first, near the end of today's Gateway Park area exploration I found myself atop the last dam which impedes the Trinity River as it flows through Fort Worth. After this dam the river returns to its more natural state as it flow east through Gateway Park on its way to Arlington and then Dallas where the river gets sort of returned to being un-natural again.

As you can see, via the above DANGER sign, it is advised that one not wade, swim or boat in the current state of the Trinity River. Yeah, I'm sure without that sign there would be a lot of people wanting to get wet or float at this location.

On the way down the trail to the dam and that WARNING sign the above additional warning has been added since I last rolled at this location.

"WHEN FLOODED TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN".

Yeah, I imagine before this sign was added a lot of people ventured past this location when the river was in flood mode and met a sad drowning fate. Actually when the river is in flood mode this location is a bit scary and I can not imagine anyone being dumb enough to get near enough to be in danger.

Above, another look at the dam and the Trinity River's current dried up status at this location. This photo was taken part way down the Trinity Trail leading across the dam. You can see that DANGER sign you saw in the first photo in the middle of the dam in the above photo.

Above my handlebars are under the Beach Street Bridge, looking east at that dam we are heading towards, crossing the dried up Trinity River.

The above is new paved trail, accessed via rolling under that aforementioned Beach Street Bridge. This used to be a primitive gravel trail, with the paved Trinity Trail on the other side of the river. Now there are paved trails on both sides of the river. This new paved trail terminates with a return to gravel at the location of the long abandoned original Coyote Drive-In. Or whatever that long ago movie viewing venue was called.

This new paved trail ventures into the zone which I believe the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, more commonly known as America's Biggest Boondoggle, has excavated a lot of dirt, moving that dirt to the east side of the Trinity River, and Gateway Park, where it has been piled into a sort of mountain. I believe this excavated area is intended to store water when the Trinity River floods and that flood water is diverted at high speed through The Boondoggle's flood diversion ditch which may one day be dug under the three simple little bridges currently being built in extreme slow motion on dry land, hoping one day to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

I also believe this area I biked through today is the location where J.D. Granger has said his Boondoggle would plant thousands upon thousands of flood impeding magic trees.

I saw no new trees which I could identify as such today.

Speaking of bridges. Today I saw evidence that Fort Worth does know how to build a new bridge.

A new section of the paved trail in Gateway Park took me to the Trinity Trail which is now using the old bridge over the Trinity River as a bike and pedestrian bridge. Above you see my bike stopped in the middle of the old bridge, looking at the new bridge.

That new bridge was built in about a year's time. Built over the actual water of the Trinity River. Water which went into extreme flood mode during the building process. Twice. With one of those times seeing the flood water rise so quickly that heavy equipment had to be abandoned, unable to be moved to dry land before being flooded.

Meanwhile in another area of Fort Worth, under a corrupt Fort Worth congresswoman's son's inept management, three simple little bridges have teetered on ineptly designed V-piers, for years, over dry land.

Early on in today's Gateway Park bike ride I came upon the overlook boardwalk on the east side of the park.

What an improvement over what used to be at this location. Well done.

And look how scenic the Trinity River is at this location. So peaceful. The river almost looks inviting enough to go inner tube floating in it...

Dead Calm Lake Wichita Bike Ride

What with the blowing as near dead calm as this windy location on the planet ever gets I decided a late morning rolling of my wheels to Lake Wichita seemed like it would be a mighty fine time, what with that zero wind blowing thing combined with a relatively cool temperature and air freshly cleaned by day after day of negative ions flashing from lightning bolts.

Due to rain falling of late the Lake Wichita reservoir is at full pool and thus spilling some water over the Lake Wichita Dam Spillway.

You can sort of see via the refection on the dam water how dead calm the air is being currently. A couple ducks were peacefully floating in front of the Lake Wichita Dam Spillway mural, likely pondering if anything on that wall was edible.

A couple miles from the above location, after crossing :Lake Wichita Dam via the Circle Trail, the trail leaves the dam to continue on towards Mount Wichita.

About a half mile after leaving the dam one comes to an overlook spur off of the Circle Trail which overlooks the Lake Wichita wetlands.

I remember years ago, after seeing some photos I took in Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area, Betty Jo Bouvier asked me if it really was as green in Texas as my photos made the landscape appear. Betty Jo lives in what is known as the Evergreen State, on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, in Western Washington.

The last couple times when I have returned to Washington I have found the west side of the Evergreen State not being all that green, with brown being the dominant color, due to not enough rain falling to maintain the dominant green color scheme.

Such is not a problem at my location in North Texas, where green is currently the dominant color.

Below the view is turned around 180 degrees on the above overlook, with the view now looking north at where the spur to the overlook meets the Circle Trail. That is another lake, well, pond, you see in the distance.

It appalls me the two bond proposals proposing to complete the Circle Trail and to revitalize Lake Wichita failed to gain sufficient support in the May 5 bond election.

So short sighted...

Saturday Night Bike Ride With Mountain Climbers Fishing Followed By Thunderstorm

An hour or so before last night's Saturday night scheduled setting of the sun, and a couple hours before last night's scheduled thunderstorm, I opted to roll my bike wheels on the Circle Trail to Lake Wichita and the mountain which hovers over Wichita Falls like a mini dormant volcano with zero chance of ever erupting.

Mount Wichita might wash away in an extremely heavy rainstorm, but erupt? Never. No chance.

Last night when Lake Wichita came into view I saw more fisher people fishing than I had ever seen previously at this location. The fishing dock was crowded with poles. A couple boats were angling in the bay. Multiple people were fishing from shore.

I have yet to see anyone catch anything at this location other than a bug bite.

When Mount Wichita came into view I saw more mountain climbers climbing the mountain than I had ever seen previously. Including the guy in blue you see closest to my handlebars. He was descending the mountain barefoot, holding his shoes.

I can not imagine why anyone would opt to go barefoot on the rough surface of Mount Wichita.

Last night's thunderstorm arrived on time. When the light of day showed up this morning I did not like looking out my bedroom window to see multiple large branches had fallen on and behind my mechanized means of motion.

Just a second while I photo document what I am seeing from my bedroom window this morning...

When, or if, the moat which currently surrounds my abode, subsides, I will likely be doing some log removal.

Anyone need some firewood? I think it's Mesquite....

In The Pink With Post Thunderstorm Early Morning Sikes Lake Bike Ride

Gradually I am recovering from a couple weeks in the desert in Arizona, with the Texas HOT humidity bothering me less and less.

This morning's early morning bike ride around Sikes Lake was cool. In more ways than one.

Last night ending around midnight my location in North Texas was once again boomed by a drippy thunderstorm.

Rain and lightning bolts seems to have a salubrious effect on air quality, washing away dust and pollen.

As you can see via the view above my bike's handlebars the wildflowers have greatly expanded their colorful display since I last saw them last month.

One does not see delicate wildflowers in the Arizona desert. One does see a lot of color, though. Color from blooming hardy desert plants. Like Saguaro cactus and these big trees called, I think I can get close to the spelling, Jackaranda trees.

Yeah, I spelled that tree correctly. Jackaranda. Trees covered with purple flowers.

Bougainvillea is also currently in bloom mode in the Arizona desert. My mom calls these bushes "Bogeys", like Bogey and Bacall. Mom has a row of Bogeys in her backyards. I pruned mom's Bogeys when I visited in February. Bogeys have nasty prickly thorns, I soon found out.

Sister Jackie has a big tree in front of her house which blooms delicate little yellow flowers in copious amounts. So copious the yellow flowers pile up like snow, and blow into yellow flower drifts.

Sister Jackie has a flower plowing device which electronically blows her carpet of yellow flowers into big mountains of yellow prior to being bagged by a vacuuming device. These yellow flowers are a seasonal vexation, tolerated because the tree is so impressive, as is its vexing yellow coloration.

I wonder how long a Texas Evening Primrose would stay pink and proper in the Arizona desert heat? Probably less than an hour before wilting away to dust...

Miss Daisy Pocket Talking With The Arizona Sun Lakes Ladies Swim Club

When I arrived in Arizona late last month, David, Theo and Ruby had arranged to arrive at their grandma's, a product called a Pocket Talker, scheduled to arrive simultaneous with my arrival.

I opened the Pocket Talker soon upon my arrival at Miss Daisy's.

Miss Daisy is also known as David, Theo and Ruby's grandma, and my mom.

The Pocket Talker was easy to figure out, and seconds after I installed it on Miss Daisy she lit up with a big smile, hearing better, and louder, than she had for a long time.

I then texted David, Theo and Ruby's mama Michele, with a pic of Miss Daisy in Pocket Talker mode, and I said Miss Daisy was gonna go to the pool with me for my morning assignation with the Sun Lakes Laidies Swim Club.

Mama Michele was skeptical of this happening and said she would need photo documentation.

Well, that photo documentation took place two mornings later, which is what you see above. That is Miss Daisy in the foreground. You only see three of the Sun Lakes Ladies Swim Club ladies, Miss Jacqui on the left, then Phyllis, with Ann on the right.

I did not bring the cable to Arizona by which I transfer photos from phone to computer. I did not get around to doing so til this morning. I sort of forgot there were photos on my phone.

During my stay in Arizona Miss Daisy joined me and the Sun Lakes Ladies Swim Club only one more time. And that time without the Pocket Talker, true to the prediction of Sister Jackie, that after a day or two of Pocket Talking Miss Daisy would forget it was not embarrassing to have headphones on, and would revert to thinking using her not as useful, but invisible, hearing aid was good enough.

Even though on that second pool visit Miss Daisy lost the ability to hear what was being said, and thus reverted to using the word "what" frequently.

Have I mentioned how relieved I was to leave Arizona for the fourth time in less than a year?

My Favorite Brother-In-Law Jack's Long Life With Bacon Secret

One does not need to spend much time with my Sister Jackie's first husband, my favorite brother-in-law, Jack, to notice bacon is a large part of his health food regimen.

A couple times a month, give or take a time or two, Jack is in Maricopa at the Ak-Chin Casino Resort buffet where he starts off with a salad, followed by a plate loaded with bacon, followed by another plate of palate cleansing salad, followed by another plate loaded with bacon.

Jack is a health food trailblazer. Just like how chocolate went from being something supposedly bad to consume, except in small quantities, and then was discovered to have multiple health benefits, such too is the case with bacon.

Apparently.

As witnessed by the 109 year old woman I saw yesterday on Facebook who attributes her long life to lots of bacon.

Consuming a lot of bacon has not seemed to have had any sort of adverse effect on Jack's health. He is a trophy winning athlete, winning Pickle Ball Tournaments where he regularly defeats opponents ranging in age from the 60s to the 90s.

Bacon has kept Jack young. He passes for being in his 50s in these tournaments, and due to looking so young Jack is regularly asked to prove his actual age when Pickle Balling against those 60 to 90 year old opponents.

I have not yet decided if I want to hop on the bacon bandwagon. I've never been a fan of bacon, except in small doses. But, I remember when I felt the same way about carrots, broccoli and garlic, among multiple other healthy food items.

I guess I should buck up and make myself eat bacon....

Inspector Reveals Fort Worth's Panther Island Bridges Are Engineering Nightmare

The above came to me via Twitter via Mr. Galtex who was replying to a Tweet I Tweeted on Twitter, with that Twitter Tweet being a link to a recent Fort Worth Sheep Lemmings Fall For Trinity River Vision Propaganda blogging in which I made mention of the fact that the misinformation propaganda spewed during the recent Tarrant Regional Water District bond election made mention of those pitiful three bridges being built in slow motion to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

With that propaganda repeating the absurd lie that those bridges are being built in slow motion over dry land in order to save money.

Mr. Galtex's reply to my Twitter Tweet was the screen cap you see above, gleaned from a Fort Worth discussion forum about which I do not know specific details.

But, the information in this screen cap certainly warrants sharing, because the information appears to be accurate, and explains why the construction progress on those bridges has been so slow.

This is also the type information one wonders why one does not see such in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Surely that pseudo newspaper could do a temp hiring of a real investigative journalist who might investigate why and how the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision has becomes America's Biggest Boondoggle.

I will type out what this screen cap has to say to facilitate easier reading than trying to read the screen cap...

"I am currently working on this project as an inspector, and the bridges are a night mare. The V piers are so difficult to build up, they've changed plans so many times I don't even know which ones are the standards. The contractors jump from place to place because none of the engineers can agree on how to build the V piers."

Oh, and I am sure if those bridges ever do become anything anyone can see, they are going to be real easy to dig a ditch under without additional complications.

Boondoggle.

America's Biggest...

An Ahwatukee Sweet Tomatoes Mother's Day With Miss Daisy

A couple months ago at the time I booked the flights I did not realize that I was flying away from my mom the day before Mother's Day.

With me leaving on Saturday, on Friday Miss Daisy had me drive Sister Jackie and mom to see the Eddie Basha Collection in the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery, where all three of us greatly enjoyed the HUGE collection of Western American & American Indian Art. The most extensive, most valuable such collection in the world.

Maybe more on that later.

So, after seeing the Eddie Basha Collection we headed west to Ahwatukee, an urban village of Phoenix, located south of South Mountain. Our eventual Ahwatukee destination was Sweet Tomatoes, which is a restaurant I used to like in the D/FW zone, before it went defunct.

The Ahwatukee Sweet Tomatoes still prospers. Brother Jake was already there when we arrived. Soon my favorite brother-in-law, Sister Jackie's first husband, Jack, also arrived.

Did I already mention this Sweet Tomatoes outing was Miss Daisy's pre-Mother's Day outing, scheduled Friday, due to my leaving the next day, like I already mentioned, the day before Mother's Day.

Speaking of Mother's Day. I forgot to mention something else, that being the flowers you see photo documented above.

Around noon I returned from a walk to the Sun Lakes Community Club to find the vase of flowers you see above, sitting on mom's kitchen counter.

I located mom and asked if she knew there were flowers in the kitchen. Mom indicated she was aware of this, a man had delivered them.

I asked mom if she wanted me to put the flowers in her TV viewing room so she could view them.

Yes, was the reply. And then mom wondered who the flowers were from. Well, said I, there is a card, would you like me to read the card?

Please, said mom.

It's real long, do you want me to read the entire thing?

Please, said mom again. I can't read.

Yes, said I, think I remember hearing before that you can't read.

Since mom can't read I felt compelled to use some poetic license in the card reading...

Happy Mother's Day Mom, from your sons, daughters, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, grandchild-in-law and great-grandchild---

Much Love from Durango Dean, Jake, Jackie, Jack, Michele, Kristin, Clancy, Fancy, Jason, Joey, Monique, Christopher, Jeremy and Spencer Jack. And the grand-dogs, Tilly, Blue, Eddie and Raven.

_____________

That's nice, said mom, after I "read" the card. But, who is Monique, mom asked?

Monique is your new daughter-in-law, I reminded mom. Remember, Joey surprised us all by getting married recently in Helena, Montana? And that come October you will be seeing the arrival of your second great-grandkid?

Oh, Monique, how could I forget that?, said mom.

Anyway, I hope all you Mothers out there have yourselves a mighty fine Sweet Tomato of a Mother's Day....

Finding The Right Price With Miss Daisy & The Right DFW American Airlines Wichita Falls Gate

Well, after two weeks of being in one of the un-South regions of America, on Saturday night, the day before the latest iteration of Mother's Day I found myself back in Texas, in DFW's airport's Terminal B, Gate 17, waiting to fly out of there in about an hour.

It had been a long day. It began with my final swim of this most recent Arizona visit. Followed by my final McDonald's visit of this visit.

After McDonald's I drove Miss Daisy to Sister Jackie's where I finally got to watch the infamous episode of The Price is Right where McDonald's Jon worked with Drew Carey to try and find the right price.

I had been told few details. I did know, due to a noisy hint from Jon, a few days ago, at the Maricopa McDonald's, that one of the items he won made noise. And that all were enjoying the noisemaker much more than was anticipated.

Mom is able to see, somewhat, when the images are big and bright and the viewing angle is maximized, which is what was the case this morning at Sister Jackie's Price is Right viewing theater, which is what you see photo documented above.

The first iteration of this blogging was written last night whilst waiting to get on board a teeny plane for the short hop to Wichita Falls. The above was edited this Mother's Day morning. The following I will leave as is, telling some of the fun of flying with American Airlines....

A person who seems to have some limited English speaking ability is telling us, loudly, that boarding will soon take place.

The boarding gate has been changed twice since my arrival. I am fairly confident this is the final gate. I had yet one more bizarre DFW American Airlines landing experience today. That makes three times in a row we land, get to the gate, sit, sit some more, sit even longer, with the pilot eventually telling us the gate crew is not yet making the walkway connection by which we exit the plane.

Almost a half hour later we were finally allowed off the HOT plane. I was sitting next to a nervous older guy, well, a couple years older than me, flying from Oregon, to a class reunion in Abilene. He was afraid he would not make his connection. This was his first time flying in decades. So he had had no experience with the uncomfortable flying experience we all enjoy nowadays.

We landed in Terminal A. The Abilene connection was in Terminal D. So, we had fun riding the SkyLink, or whatever it is called. I was pleased because I had time to kill. Over three hours of time in need of killing.

Like I said, the above was written last night. Now I am back in the present, the morning of Mother's Day. So, after I wrote the above and shut down my computer, we were told to move to yet one more different gate. This time to Gate B-14. And then a few minutes later, back to Gate 17. This was a shorter move than the one from Gate 44.

And then as we sat there waiting the waiting passengers who had had bad experiences before with the last flight of the night to Wichita Falls began speculating that the flight might be getting cancelled, since they had experienced that misery before, with American Airlines only offering a hotel voucher and the first flight out in the morning. Along with the suggestion one could rent a car to drive to Wichita Falls, but, without American Airlines paying for the rental.

It was nerve wracking. I just wanted to get home.

And then when the boarding time arrived there was no move to do so, for a couple minutes. And then the boarding began, with me first onboard.

The short flight between Wichita Falls and DFW is a bit bizarre. The plane only gets to an elevation of around 16,000. It barely reaches that elevation when it seems the descent begins. And yet the solo flight attendant passes out bags of pretzels, and then goes down the aisle holding a big bottle of water in one hand and a handful of plastic cups in the other hand. The water wanting passenger pulls off a cup and holds it whilst the flight attendant fills it.

Halfway.

Water service barely ends when the pilot informs the flight attendant it is time to prepare for landing.

Unlike the last time, last night the pilot did not get lost on the Sheppard Air Force base tarmac. He pretty much quickly found the terminal.

I guess I am glad to be back in Texas. I am running my A/C for the first time this year.

I have a backlog of blogging fodder from my two weeks in Arizona. I may get to that in the coming days. Maybe. We shall see....

Mom Watchdogs Sun Lakes Dull Episode Of Arizona Cops

One of my mom's many activities is being a volunteer neighborhood watchdog, keeping a close eye on traffic, or if a neighbor is home, or not. And if someone has not taken in their recycle and garbage bins.

Yesterday mom's watchdogging went into overdrive when a Maricopa County Sheriff parked across the street, exited his vehicle, holding some paperwork, then walking to a house two houses north, one house outside mom's watchdog zone.

The sheriff remained in that house for well over an hour. While the sheriff was in that house four other vehicles, unmarked, showed up, with one man in each vehicle. Mom deputized me to determine if the men in the four other vehicles were in uniform.

They weren't.

At some point during this ongoing pseudo episode of COPS, mom directed me to photo document the sheriff's vehicle, which he had left noisily running during the entire incident.

That is one of the surveillance photos you see above, with me hiding behind one of mom's cactuses.

After a couple hours of watching mom being the neighborhood watchdog I tired of the drama, so I went to one of my favorite swimming pools for some cool off time. Mom was not happy that I was leaving her alone when all this potential criminal activity was underway.

An hour later I returned from pooling to find calm restored to mom's neighborhood watchdog zone. The sheriff was gone, but due to mom's limited visibility ability she had not seen the cop leave, and so mom was still glued to the window doing her watchdog duty.

Mom seemed relieved this nightmare was over, but still concerned, worrying what this was all about. I then took mom on a long drive in the desert to take her mind off her neighborhood possible crime spree troubles.

I do not remember ever looking so forward to returning to Texas as I am looking forward to tomorrow...

Sun Lakes Lady Swim Club & Sister Jackie Rescue Mom & Me From Dead Battery

Only a couple days left in my most recent Arizona visit. Not that I am counting down the days, or anything like that.

This morning's swim with the Sun Lakes Ladies Swim Club started off being mighty fine. Mom came along to supervise from her seated position on wheels.

After about an hour of mom's swimming supervision the temperature had reached a level of slight discomfort. So, it was time to wheel mom to the air-conditioned comfort of her mechanized transport device.

I got mom on board and did the turn the key to do the ignite the engine thing. But turning the key did nothing.

Dead battery.

A relatively new vehicle with a dead battery. Such calamities are common, apparently, in this HOT dry desert climate.

I left mom guarding the vehicle and went back to the Sun Lakes Ladies Swim Club, which was now mostly in the hot tub.

When the SLSC heard my tale of woe they leaped into action.

I forgot to mention that this one time only I did not bring my cell phone with me. Several of the SLSC ladies offered me the use of their phone, but I knew no number committed to memory which I could call.

Miss Jacqui offered to take mom and me home via her golf cart. Phyllis and Ann offered transit in their car. We took the car offer.

Back at my phone I called Sister Jackie, who soon met me back at the dead battery. AAA was called and about an hour later a new battery had me back rolling Miss Daisy around town again, with the first stop at Sister Jackie's so I could take a picture or two of her blooming Saguaro Cactus.

That blooming Saguaro Cactus is what you see above, looming high above Sister Jackie's house. That is the aforementioned formerly dead batteried vehicle you see looking white to the left of the cactus.

Apparently the Saguaro blooming so copiously in highly unusual, usually happening only during periods when a lot of rain has fallen on the desert. But, this desert has been unusually dry for quite some time.

Below is a closeup of the blooming buds. The blooming buds close at night, and then re-open as the sun does its daily lighting duty. Coming up on noon Sister Jackie's buds were not yet in full blooming mode.

Seeing Chandler Rawhide Before Maricopa's Penny McDonald's & Ak-Chin Jackpots

For yesterday's Arizona Adventure Miss Daisy directed temporary driver, Sister Jackie, to drive me and Brother Jake, also known as Spencer Jack's grandpa, on a tour of a new Chandler development with waterfalls and a riverwalk in the making along with a western town called Rawhide.

Leaving Rawhide Miss Daisy directed Sister Jackie to head south towards Maricopa. Sister Jackie drives at a speed known as the speed limit. So, we arrived at Maricopa much faster than when I am Miss Daisy's driver.

The view you see above is a look at the Chandler desert, currently undeveloped, prior to eventually turning into modern America. With water features. And excellent landscaping. Along with streets with sidewalks.

Upon arrival in Maricopa I soon found myself inside the Ak-Chin Casino Resort where I once again won a HUGE jackpot via a complicated slot machine which erupted with noisy sound effects and a lot of visual action which eventually counted down to a point where my dollar take was revealed.

After winning enough money to buy lunch Miss Daisy directed us to our favorite Maricopa McDonald's, where our favorite McDonald's manager, Miss Penny, was expecting us for lunch.

While Miss Penny quickly delivered lunch, Mr. John, also known as that Price is Right Guy, entertained us.

I had myself quite a McDonald's buffet, starting with my favorite, the Fish Sandwich, plus a Double Cheeseburger, some Buttermilk Chicken product, a lot of fries, stuff I am not remembering. And then when Miss Penny asked if we wanted dessert I ended up with a giant Mango Smoothie.

Hours later, with the sun now setting, I don't think I am requiring any additional food calories today.

Today is FNJ3's Happy Birthday.

FNJ3 is Favorite Nephew Jeremy, my number three nephew with a "J" name, hence FNJ3.. Jeremy's Happy Birthday may involve going to yet one more restaurant.

I do not yet know how much weight I have gained during this current Arizona visit. I suspect I may have once again crossed over that 200 pound Rubicon...

Fort Worth Sheep Lemmings Fall For Trinity River Vision Propaganda

So, on Saturday, the voters who voted in Wichita Falls voted to not pass all but one of seven propositions. Well detailed, well planned propositions, a couple of which needed to pass in order to secure matching funds far in excess of the bond amount in the failed propositions.

Meanwhile in another town in Texas, Fort Worth, something like 3% of the eligible voters actually voted and actually passed several bond proposals.

With even Boondoggle Cheerleader, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, making note of the fact few Fort Worth voters, because fewer were allowed to vote in it, than the other proposals, voted to approve a $250,000,000 bond for imaginary flood control and drainage. When the quarter billion bucks are actually a fund infusion into the long floundering Trinity River Vision, which, after almost two decades of dawdling along, has morphed into being America's Biggest Boondoggle.

And, in reaction to what local wags have taken to calling the Pirate Island Bond, the lead Pirate, Fort Worth Congresswoman. Kay Granger, is touting this bond approval as indicating the voters having finally approved, via voting, of the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, more commonly known, as we already indicated, as America's Biggest Boondoggle.

So, this corrupt woman who has financially benefited in multiple ways from this eminent domain abusing boondoggle thinks less than 3% of voters approving of a ballot measure described as being for Flood Control and Drainage, with no mention of the Trinity River Vision, Panther Island or Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats, that this approval means the voters of Fort Worth have now approved of that which has become America's Biggest Boondoggle.

Methinks not.

This quarter billion bucks is not going to rescue this ill-conceived, ineptly implemented project, originally touted, long ago, as a vitally needed flood control and economic development scheme.

So vitally needed, the project has been limping along almost since the beginning of this century, with the current project completion supposedly being in 2028.

Yeah, really vitally needed.

So vitally not needed that until last Saturday no voters had been allowed to vote on this project. And, in reality, still have not been allowed to vote on this project.

This bond measure of which a few Fort Worth voters approved was misrepresented by an incredibly idiotic propaganda campaign designed to scare the ignorant with visions of an impending flood of biblical proportions if this proposition was not approved, with that approval supposedly allowing the removal of levees which have kept downtown Fort Worth flood free for well over half a century. The idiotic propaganda claimed if this bond proposal was not approved those levees would have to be raised, you know, because Fort Worth's population has grown so much since the levees were installed.

Like I said, idiotic nonsense.

And yet a majority of the few who voted, voted yes.

Idiots.

Utter Idiots.

Utter, ignorant idiotic fools, apparently.

Utterly ignorant idiotic fools willing to be mindless sheep.

No one knows the price tag for the parts of this project yet to be designed. Like the ditch to go under the three simple little bridges being slowly built over dry land.

Or the flood diversion dam mechanism which will supposedly divert a flooding Trinity River into that ditch, speeding the flow of water towards Arlington and beyond.

Or how much it will cost to clean up all the underground pollution, some of which recently seeped to the surface, sickening workers. The pollution aspect of this boondoggle is only gonna get worse.

And the price tag is only gonna go up.

And in the end, the voters of Fort Worth will get exactly what their inept idiotic ignorance deserves.

Or, maybe there is still time for common sense to prevail, and some clear thinking adult to ride to the rescue and lead Fort Worth from its current path of continuing to be an embarrassing American backwards backwater.

With Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats in a polluted river at an imaginary music venue with an imaginary pavilion on an imaginary island.

With world class outhouses....

Not Protesting Price Is Right At Arizona McDonald's On Cinco De Mayo

You are possibly guessing that that which you are seeing here is some sort of protester protesting the bizarre results from yesterday's Texas voting activity, protesting by hanging some sort of protest sign from a Texas McDonald's.

Well, you would be wrong to think this is a protesting protester.

Or that this was taking place in Texas.

This protester was not protesting anything. He was trying to hang a banner from the roof of the McDonald's at the intersection of Dobson and Warner in Chandler, Arizona, with that banner celebrating the re-opening after the re-modeling of one of my favorite brother-in-law's dozens of Arizona McDonald's.

Mom directed me to this location mid-day on Cinco de Mayo.

Inside the re-opened McDonald's I was unable to find my faovorite brother-in-law. Or see my favorite brother, who I later learned was there at the same time mom and I were.

But I did see the McDonald-ite you see here. You probably recognize him if you are a fan of Price is Right. In March there were watch parties in Arizona to watch this particular McDonald-ite, John, and his current wife, Ricky, have fun with Drew Carey whilst guessing what various products, like cars, cost.

On Tuesday my favorite brother-in-law's favorite first wife, my favorite sister Jackie, is taking me and mom to one of the Maricopa McDonald's to see Penny, and possibly John.

Way back in February I saw the Price is Right John, with Penny, at that Maricopa McDonald's. At that point in time he could not reveal the results of his Price is Right appearance. He was able to reveal the details of the process which ended with his face time with Drew Carey.

I am looking forward to a fish burger on Tuesday. It does not take much to give me something to look forward to...

Vote NO To The Criminally Fraudulent Fort Worth Boondoggle Way

Tomorrow an election in Fort Worth, Texas gives the few voters allowed to do so the first chance in almost two decades to actually vote on a bizarre, corruptly implemented public works project the public til tomorrow has never approved of via the time honored American way of the people saying yes via a ballot.

But, that is not the Fort Worth Way of operating in a town where a long entrenched good old boy and girl network runs the town like some sort of anachronistic throwback from long ago America.

On tomorrow's Fort Wort ballot the Tarrant Regional Water District is asking those allowed to vote to vote to approve a quarter billion buck bond. The ballot fraudulently describes the bond as being for flood control and drainage.

Flood control in an area of downtown Fort Worth where the Trinity River has not flooded for well over a half century due to being protected by levees long ago installed.

And now I find that the TRWD propaganda purveyors have mailed a scare tactic piece of perversity full of lies and ridiculous claims, apparently assuming, (sadly possibly accurately), that those Fort Worth voters allowed to vote are mindless, ignorant, ill-informed, illogical, clueless sheep with zero memory retention or ability to tell right from wrong or legitimate from criminal fraud.

The TRWD Trinity River Vision propaganda is claiming this quarter billion dollar addition to the already bloated 'project' is needed to protect downtown Fort Worth from a catastrophic flood, you know, because the population of the town has grown so much since those levees were built. You know, levees which the Trinity River has never gotten close to topping in a flood.

The propaganda claims if the voters do not approve this bond why there will be no option but to increase the height of those levees, in order to prevent the type flood which has never occurred.

To enhance flood protection the Trinity River Vision Central City Uptown Panther Island District wants to remove those levees which have long prevented flooding, and replace the levees with a flood diversion channel.

Because, you know, a big new cement lined ditch will afford much better flood protection than long installed levees built along the actual river.

If this "new" flood control method is so good and so important and so vitally needed why has this project dawdled along in slow motion for almost two decades with little to show for the effort?

Beginning in 2014 the Trinity River Vision, which is now known as America's Biggest Boondoggle, began construction of three simple little bridges, built over dry land, to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

Those three simple bridges came with an astonishing four year construction timeline. Longer than it took to build the Golden Gate Bridge and many other actual feats of complicated engineering.

And now, four years after starting that bridge construction with a big money wasting TNT exploding celebration no bridge exists. Some concrete forms have been poured.

And yet this bizarre propaganda mailer in support of this funding subterfuge brings up those pathetic, pitiful bridges and repeats the ridiculous propaganda that the bridges are being built over dry land in order to save money, as if doing so is by some sort of fiscally responsible design.

Which is a lie.

The bridges are being built over dry land because the funding to dig the ditch to go under the bridges does not exist. The design of the ditch has not been completed. The cost of digging the ditch has not been calculated. The added costs caused by having to dig the ditch under bridges absurdly built over dry land has not been calculated. The design of the water diversion dam which will divert a flooding Trinity into that ditch has not been done, or the estimated cost determined.

And yet these idiots, foisting this on Fort Worth, spew nonsense as if this is not an embarrassing disaster for Fort Worth with no end in sight.

Unless those few allowed to do so say NO tomorrow on that likely criminally fraudulent ballot.