Microsoft Remembering The Slotemaker, Jones, Hershberger, Barry Cousins

Another interesting photo showed up today in my email, one of those daily emails from Microsoft's One Drive, showing my memories from this particular day, which I usually do not remember.

The memory we see here would have come from the 1960s, towards the end of the decade. The photo was likely taken at my grandma's house in Lynden. These would all be grandma's grandkids, the Slotemaker, Jones, Barry, Hershberger cousins.

That would be me on the far left. Sitting next to me, behind two little kids, is my sister, Nancy. Cousin Scott is the next big cousin, in the middle, on Scott's left is my little brother, Jake. The next full sized person is Scott's little sister, cousin Linda. The little blonde girl next to cousin Linda is my little sister, Jackie, much later to become the mother of Christopher and Jeremy and grandma of Cade.

Three of the little cousins are my cousins from Australia, the Hershbergers, on one of their visits back to America. On the right side of sister Nancy, I think that is the youngest Hershberger cousin, Steve, with cousin Danny on the other side of Nancy, which I think makes that little blonde girl on Scott's right cousin Carol.

The other two little kids would be the Slotemaker cousins, Sheryl to the left of brother Jake, and cousin Jeff in front of cousin Linda.

Two more cousins were added a few years after this photo was taken. Those being my little sister, Michele, and Jeff and Sheryl's little brother, cousin Mike.

A Visit With David, Theo & Ruby In Tacoma

I emailed David, Theo and Ruby's Mama Michele yesterday, after someone made mention of the fact I had not made mention of the Tacoma Trio in quite a while. Hence emailing my baby sister yesterday.

After that return emails had me seeing oodles of photos, along with explanatory text.

It likely does not need to be explained that that photo above is David, Theo & Ruby's Halloween Trick or Treating gang, in front of their Tacoma house.

The explanatory text for the above was...

Ruby and Theo spent 3 nights at the Mount Rainier Institute last month. Camping, hiking, sciencing up near the mountain. They loved it. Ruby spends her free time walking the dogs and playing a lot of soccer. She also made her middle school junior varsity volleyball team, so she’s been practicing that too.

The explanatory text explaining what Theo is doing above...

Theo has been enjoying taking pics on walks, playing the sax, ice hockey and practicing for New Year's Eve.

Upon first reading the explanatory text I thought it was the saxophone Theo was practicing for New Year's Eve. Then, upon second thought I realized this was referring to the above photo.

That #13 would be Theo in his hockey uniform.

And then we come to David, with the explanatory text explaining.....

David broke his leg skateboarding last month, had to have surgery. He gets his cast off tomorrow..

David now goes to Tacoma's Stadium High School, where, apparently he has been hobbling along on crutches, til today, when the cast comes off his leg.

Way back in summer of 2004 I stayed a month in an apartment overlooking Stadium High School. It is an impressive building, sort of built on a cliff, with the football field featuring a steep natural bowl making a large section of the stadium's bleachers. 

The Wikipedia article about Tacoma's Stadium High School, has some good photos illustrating why I said it is an impressive building. There is also a photo of the football stadium.

Chilly Walk Around Sikes Lake With Blue Heron & No Rainbow Trout

We chilled below freezing, again, last night. By the time, this final Monday morning of November, that I drove the short distance to Sikes Lake, the temperature had risen to a relatively balmy 45 degrees.

As you can clearly see, it is another calm, clear blue sky day in North Texas. Nary a ripple disturbing the lake's surface.

At the west end of the lake, crossing the bridge which goes over the Olive Green Lagoon of Sikes Lake, I saw the bird you see above, standing in the murky water. 

I think this was a Blue Heron in trying to catch a fish mode.

Someone should let the Blue Heron know he'd have better luck at South Weeks Park Lake, due to the fact that that little pond was stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
with rainbow trout a couple days ago. 

South Weeks Park Lake is a short distance from my abode. I drive by it when I drive to my closest Walmart. The past few days there have been a lot of poles dangling over the pond.

344,000 rainbow trout were added to the lakes chosen to be blessed with incoming fish.

Texas lake water gets too warm for trout most of the year. But when the chilly temperatures arrive several lakes get trout added to them.

Two lakes are so blessed in Wichita Falls. But, not Sikes Lake.

The other Wichita Falls lake which had trout added to it is Plum Lake. I have no idea where Plum Lake is in this town.

Cool Sunday In Lucy Park

It was back to the Lucy Park backwoods jungle I ventured on this frigid final Sunday of November, for some well insulated nature communing.

The temperature went below freezing last night. How low below, I do not know.

That is a pile of debris from a windstorm a couple months ago, you see in the photo, waiting for a lightning bolt to strike the pile to make a big bonfire.

Yesterday I made it through an entire football game. That rarely happens. I did hit the pause button at halftime to go to Walmart, and then quickly got back live upon my return, fast forwarding through commercials.

It was the Apple Cup I was watching. The annual final game of the season, between the University of Washington and Washington State University. This has been a thing since way back at the start of the previous century.

The Apple Cup alternates where the game is played, one year in Seattle, one year in Pullman. 

This year the Apple Cup was played in Seattle on a bright clear blue sky day. So, you could see the mountains to the east. And all the boats on Lake Washington.

A lot of boats float outside Husky stadium on a game day. A big floating party called sailgating.

The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to get beat by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday. It is the Thursday night game on Amazon Prime. I suspect I will be able to watch that game via local broadcast, what with being in the Dallas zone. Or watch it on Prime.

Or watch the bizarre spectacle of a Fox debate monitored by the inanity named Hannity, with Ron DeSantis debate Gavin Newsom. A red state/blue state debate. I suspect DeSantis will not do well in this debate.

Zoomed Look At Mount Rainier From Texas

I saw that which you see here, this morning, on Facebook.

Anyone who has been to Seattle on a clear sky day knows that this is not what the view of Mount Rainier actually looks like from a Seattle vantage point.

Seeing this reminded me of something from way back on April 5, 1984. Well, it may have been April 6.

The reason I can sort of pinpoint the date is because on April 5 or 6 I was riding a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, with nephews Jason and Joey.

When we got onboard the ferry and made our way to the upper deck we saw a newspaper stand with a Seattle Times sporting a big headline, reporting the news that Kurt Cobain had committed suicide. I do not remember the exact headline.

What I do remember is nephew Joey being upset at this news, asking me why would Kurt Cobain do such a thing. 

A cousin of Jason and Joey's mother was Kurt Cobain's teacher in grade school, in, I think, Montesano.

Strange coincidence, way back on August 16, 1977, I was on another ferry, heading to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, with Jason and Joey's dad, my little brother Jake. We were barely onboard when we heard on the radio and saw a newspaper headline announcing that Elvis Presley had died.

Back to the subject of seeing the Mountain. That ferry boat ride to Bainbridge Island was on a cloudy, foggy, rainy day. A few minutes after leaving Seattle a couple engaged us in conversation. Asking if we were tourists or natives. We live here, said we, in a valley about 60 miles north.

The couple then told us they were first time visitors to Washington and Seattle. The husband of the couple asked if we could point to where Mount Rainier would be seen if it was a clear day. All three of us pointed in the Mount Rainier direction.

So, that photo at the top, and others like that, cause me to wonder how many first-time visitors to Washington arrive thinking if the sky is clear that Mount Rainier is going to look as big as it does in photos which have taken a zoomed view.

I doubt many are disappointed. The real view is still extremely impressive. I remember a Wichita Falls local, having visited Washington for the first time, found seeing all the mountains to be mesmerizing, especially when she was taken by the friends she was visiting in Seattle, to their cabin near Mount Rainer. 

I can see how if one had lived in a flat place like most of Texas, that being in a mountainous zone might be a bit overwhelming.

Thanksgiving Walking Fantasy Of Lights With Mean Step-Sister

This morning of Thanksgiving of 2023 I drove to MSU (Midwestern State University) to walk around this year's Fantasy of Light installation.

I saw a few new installations.

And above, one of Cinderella's mean stepsisters looks different this year, that being the one on the left, looking meaner than the one she replaced.

I saw this dachshund weiner dog when I drove by this location a couple days ago.

I know an elderly lady from my old home state of Washington, now living in Virginia, who would be a likely candidate to be an old lady with way too many cats. Instead, this elderly lady collects dachshunds, both live and in other forms. 

Such as dachshund decorations of various sorts. Like dachshund Christmas tree ornaments, dachshund figurines, dachshund themed dinner plates, clothing with dachshunds, paintings of dachshunds, dachshund wallpaper, I forget what else. 

Plus one real live cat. The dachshund elderly lady has one cat.

The above is something new. It looked sort of Stephen Kingish, like Children of the Corn. Apparently, it is some sort of choir. A sign said as much, plus I saw a loudspeaker.

It has been a couple years since I walked the Fantasy of Lights at night. I think it was the Christmas season before COVID when last I joined the throngs walking among the lights.

Anyway, I hope y'all have yourselves a mighty fine Thanksgiving....

Cloudy Chilly Windy Lucy Park Jungle Visit

It is a dark, stormy looking, rain-free, windy, third Tuesday of November.

So, with multiple layers of outerwear insulating me from the chill, it was back to Lucy Park today for a fast-paced walk around the Lucy Park backwoods jungle, which remains mud-free, despite the rain which dripped upon us a couple days ago.

Those clouds looked like they should be sending lightning bolts and raindrops to the ground. But, so far, nary a drip, flash of light or boom of thunder

One still sees a lot of wind damage from that extreme windstorm a couple months ago. A lot of trees died from that wind, or survived with severe injuries.

Last night I got all the goods to make Thanksgiving vittles, which will have as the main feature, crockpot lasagna, and barbequed babyback ribs.

The vittles will be on the table and ready for consumption around 1 in the afternoon.

Followed by watching the Seattle Seahawks likely lose another game, viewing provided by Amazon Prime.

If you are an invitee to the lasagna babyback ribs feast, please do not be late for dinner...

Gas Price Rapidly Falling In Wichita Falls

 A couple days ago I got gas at the gas station you see here, across the street from my neighborhood ALDI. At that point in time filling the tank was $2.61 a gallon, about 40 cents cheaper per gallon than the previous time I got gas.

And now today, back at ALDI, gas has dropped to $2.49 a gallon.

Just read on CNN price of gas is falling across the country, with the average now being something like $3.33 a gallon.

Apparently the price is going to continue falling for a while.

Now, back when the price of gas was rapidly rising, due to things like Russia destabilizing the world by invading the Ukraine for no sane reason, and other factors, the chronically clueless rightwing nutjob sorts were blaming Biden, indicating their lack of understanding about what causes the price of gas to fluctuate, and that the president has little to do with it.

That and the price of gas soared world-wide, you know, the part of the world of which Biden is not the president. America's gas price did not rise as much as other developed countries.

Same with inflation, which the nutjobs also blamed on Biden. America's inflation rate is far lower than what has been happening in the rest of the world...

A Wichita Falls Possum & Taters Thanksgiving

The Wichita Falls Times-Record-News this morning shared an interesting alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving. The article quoted from an earlier Wichita Falls newspaper called the Wichita Daily Times. 

Following is an excerpt from the aforementioned article...

The Wichita Daily Times reported in 1907 the turkey crop in Wichita County that year was “very scarce” and the birds were small. Farmers blamed it on a cold, damp spring.

That forced the price of turkey to jump to 15-18 cents per pound, or more than $3 for a decent bird.

The article suggested that many Wichitans might have to seek alternatives.

“A sucking pig properly prepared makes a man quite thankful and a fat chicken or duck will also answer modest demands,” the article said.

But it also suggested something “infinitely better.”

“We refer, of course, to possum and taters,” the article continued. “As a dish for the epicure there is no discounting possum and taters, for it is always a winning combination.”

The dish was so popular back then it was served to President-elect William Howard Taft in 1909 at an Atlanta Chamber of Commerce banquet. An 18-pound possum named Billy was served to Taft, who became the nation’s greatest president, as measured by girth.

“After several helpings to the dish, Mr. Taft received a message from a doctor sitting nearby, to be careful, but he paid no attention to the warning,” the Associated Press reported.

Recipes vary, but most often call for one large, skinned opossum cut into four pieces, surrounded by cut up potatoes, with a half stick of butter, a pinch of sugar and salt and pepper. Cook until tender.

A random check of Wichita Falls supermarkets found no possums in the meat sections, so no price check was possible, but the marsupials can usually be found locally in trees, swampy areas and along highway center stripes.

________________________________

I have not seen a single possum since I have been in Wichita Falls. I did see a possum, or two, when I lived in Fort Worth. And, at my old home zone in Washington, my garbage can was regularly visited by possums. 

Possums are so homely it makes them sort of cute. But it can be quite startling to find one rummaging through one's garbage can.

I knew a lady in Tacoma with a basement infested with possums. She moved to a new location and somehow possums showed up in the new location's basement.

I do not think I could ever be hungry enough to want to eat a possum...

Microsoft OneDrive Has Me Remembering Fetching An Ostrich Egg With Miss Puerto Rico

Second day in a row a Microsoft OneDrive memory showed up in my email, with me remembering what one of the memories was remembering.

That being the one you see above.

This memory did not take place in November. It was February 16, 2016. I was driving Miss Puerto Rico to the airport to fly to her home island.

I knew I was taking a backroads route to the airport. I thought Miss Puerto Rico would get fussy as soon as I did not get on the freeway, and instead headed east on Randol Mill Road. That road soon leads to farm country, with cows and other such things.

Miss Puerto Rico had lived at the same location as me, way longer, yet she had never been down this road before.

I expected Miss Puerto Rico to get fully animated when I stopped at a mailbox by a sprawling ranch, opened it and pulled out a large egg.

Shortly thereafter Miss Puerto Rico took the photo of me holding the ostrich egg.

Eventually Miss Puerto Rico asked how I knew there would be an egg in that mailbox.

I said I got a text message from Mary K, that morning, telling me there would be an egg in the mailbox.

Miss Puerto Rico asked no further questions. She was not an inquisitive sort...

Microsoft OneDrive Takes Me Back To The Broaster Cafe With Wendy, Beth & Urbs

Today saw another memory I remember, arriving in my email from Microsoft and its OneDrive daily memory, which rarely is from that day, way back when.

This photo was part of an advertisement in my high school senior annual. 

That would be in on the left, sitting next to Miss Wendy. On the other side of the table is Miss Beth, sitting next to the entity known as Urbs. I do not know why Urbs was cropped out of this photo.

I also do not know how this photo showed up on Microsoft's OneDrive.

In the photo we are looking at the Broaster Cafe menu. We were looking at the menu for photo purposes, we did not order anything from the menu.

The Broaster Cafe was a popular restaurant, known for its chicken.

I think the Broaster Cafe is long gone, with the Mexico Cafe taking over its space, in West Mount Vernon.

It is disconcerting to see a photo of myself from back when I still had a mop of not gray hair... 

Remembering Maxine & Me Hiking Up Mount Baker

The photo you see here showed up this morning in my email, a Microsoft OneDrive memory. Mostly I do not remember the OneDrive memories. 

But, today I did.

The other memories, were a bit embarrassing, including one of me and Linda Lou and Big Ed at a Toga Party.

The memory I am only slightly embarrassed to share, that which you see above, is Maxine and me frolicking our way to Mount Baker, starting at the Schreiber's Meadow trailhead.

This could not possibly have happened in November. By November snow would make the hike not doable. 

This was my first hike to Mount Baker, hiking as far up the volcano as possible, before it becomes mountain climbing, far up the mountain enough to smell the sulphur odor and see steam venting from the volcanoes crater.

Maxine had hiked the hike to Mount Baker, previously, so she was out trail guide. Miss Chris was also along for the hike and would have been who took the photo of me and Maxine.

This hike to Mount Baker happened sometime during the 1970s. I still had ridiculously long, curly brown hair, well before it turned gray.

I think the last time I hiked up Mount Baker was with nephew Joey. That would have been sometime in the early 1990s.

I can not help but wonder if I am ever going to hike up Mount Baker this century...

Neither The Mountain Or Space Needle Is Out At My Texas Location

Saw that which you see here, this November 16 afternoon, on Facebook, with the verbiage in the posting saying, "Mountain was out...11/14/23".

In Western Washington Mount Rainier is usually referred to as The Mountain. If you say something like "The Mountain is out, clear and bright today", one knows it is Mount Rainier being referred to, even though Washington has many big mountains, five of which, including Rainier, are volcanoes.

But, what I was most interested in in the photo was the Space Needle. What is going on on top of the Space Needle?

Is a new observation deck being added to the top of the Needle? It costs over 20 bucks to ride the elevator to the top of the Needle. Is there going to be an option to pay a few more bucks to get to climb a ladder totally to the top of the Needle?

I think I would pass on that option.

Fun fact. If you are ever in Seattle and an earthquake is pending, the safest place to be in Seattle is at the top of the Space Needle. The Needle will sway in the quake, in a big one the swaying would be carnival ride worthy. But it will not topple.

The bulk of the weight of the Space Needle structure is a HUGE base of concrete, to which the Needle's steel legs are solidly bonded. 

Supposedly the transit tunnels which go under downtown Seattle are also designed to survive a strong earthquake. I think I'd rather be at the top of the Needle, than underground, if that ground starts quaking...

Sikes Lake Thin Man's Shadow Takes You On A Scenic Tour

Well, we have passed the Ides of November. The year 2023 is zipping to a close.

Yesterday I was back at Lucy Park, fast walking the park's backwoods jungle. 

We have a couple more summer-like days before the return of fall, this coming Monday. The air turning cold, with rain possibly falling.

Today it was back to Sikes Lake I drove, for a fast walk around the lake.

Recently some Texas entity named the MSU (Midwestern State University) campus as the most attractive in Texas. Or was it most scenic? I don't remember.

But, the above view from the bridge across Sikes Lake, looking west at the Sikes Lake currently Greenish Lagoon, is a good example of this college campus being both attractive and scenic.

And the above would be the Shadow of the One-Armed Sikes Lake Thin Man, standing on the deck of that aforementioned bridge. As you can sort of see, it is a t-shirt and cargo shorts type day, again.

Another look at why the MSU campus is thought to be attractive and scenic. Here we are at the north end of the lake.

That structure at the center is known as Priddy Pavilion. Music events take place there.

That structure to the right is a covered walkway leading to the entry to Wichita Falls Museum of Art.

If you look closely under the Priddy Pavilion you can see the bridge across the lake at the north end of the lake.

That bridge leads to the parking lot where my vehicle was located.

And that ends your tour of Sikes Lake for the day...

Warm November Walk Around Mirror-Like Sikes Lake

Today is one more pleasant November day in my North Texas location.

As you can see, Sikes Lake is wave-free, due to no wind blowing, creating a mirror-like surface reflecting the clear blue sky.

A large number of geese have arrived from the north.

Apparently not aware of the danger they face by stopping at Sikes Lake, site of a mass murder of 383 geese a couple months ago.

Today's super pleasant weather had a large number of fellow walkers and joggers walking around Sikes Lake today.

Leaves have begun falling copiously the past couple days. Today I was parked under a tree, with the falling leaves sounding like hail hitting my vehicle.

Pleasant weather is forecast to continue til next Monday, with the return of rain and temperatures in the 50s.

Mid November Mud-Free Walk Through Lucy Park Jungle

Almost halfway through the 2023 version of November, it was back to the Lucy Park backwoods jungle I ventured today, back in cargo shorts and t-shirt, due to the return of warm temperatures.

Usually by this point in time the Lucy Park backwoods jungle is too muddy to walk in, unless one wants to gain a few inches in height due to a thick layer of muds sticking to one's shoes.

We have had a couple nights where the temperature went below freezing, but, apparently, not freezing cold enough to cause the trees to lose their leaves.

Today's photo of the Lucy Park backwoods jungle looks spring-like, not fall or winter-like, what with so much greenery due to rain last week.

Snow Closes No Mountain Passes In My Texas Location

 ALERT: The SR 20 North Cascades Highway is CLOSED as of 10 am today - Saturday - due to a combination of current weather conditions, forecasted weather and significant slide concerns - they're seeing a lot of precipitation, up to 6 inches an hour. The closure will be between the two usual points of milepost 134 Ross Dam Trailhead on the west side and milepost 171 Silver Star Gate on the east side. The pass will remain closed through the weekend and will be reevaluated on Monday. While recreation is still permitted beyond the closure gates, anyone going past them should be aware of the potential weather-related hazards.

That which you see above showed up yesterday on Facebook via WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation).

State Route 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway is a road which goes through my old home zone of the Skagit Valley. 

It has been a couple decades now since I live nowhere near mountains, let alone mountains with mountain passes. 

It was a short drive east from my old home zone to be surrounded by mountains. And a short drive on State Route 20, west, to saltwater, and a float on a ferry.

I am hoping to make it through this coming winter without seeing white scenery like you see above. It is treacherous to drive in this flat land when the roads are covered with thick ice.

Wichita Falls Veterans Day With Flags & Santas

A couple days ago I was driving south on Hamilton Boulevard in the Beverly Hills of Wichita Falls, and was surprised to see a HUGE Christmas display already on display.

So, today I drove to Hamilton Park to park and walked to that aforementioned early Christmas display for photo documenting purposes.

I would hazard to guess that this Christmas display in in the running to win this year's coveted Griswold Award.

That photo above was taken from across the street, trying to capture the entire scene, but there was more to see to both the left and right in the photo.

I crossed the street, to the sidewalk, to take a closer photo, which captured way less than the above photo.

Flags were planted in the ground, everywhere I drove this day before Veterans Day, which for some reason is officially somehow on November 10, this year, not November 11.

My wall calendar has both today and tomorrow being Veterans Day.

For today my wall calendar says...

Veterans Day observed (US)

For tomorrow my wall calendar says...

Veterans Day (US)
Remembrance Day (AU, CA, NZ)
Armistice (BE, FR)

The Actual Seasons In Texas

Saw that which you see here, today, on Facebook. And thought it to be so true, so accurate.

We are currently in Hotumn.

Yesterday the temperature sizzled into the 90s.

Today the temperature de-sizzled, into the 50s, with drizzle.

I did not turn on the air conditioning when we were sizzling and have not turned on the heat now that we are currently not sizzling.

It is highly likely I will feel the need to turn on the heat, by morning....

One More HOT Wichita Falls Day Before Big Chill Returns

Apparently today, the 8th day of November, also known as the second Wednesday of the 2023 version of the aforementioned month, the return of summer-like HEAT ends today.

With a return to a drizzly chill tomorrow.

Despite getting HEATED to the low 90s the past couple day I have not succumbed to turning on the air conditioning in my living space.

In my motorized means of mechanized motion, yes, I have turned on the A/C.

I hope not to feel the need to turn on the air conditioning in my living space til well into the next year of 2024...

Wichita Falls Midwestern State University Campus Most Beautiful In Texas

Saw this yesterday, via the Midwestern State University page on Facebook. A website called The Travel had named MSU the "Most Beautiful College Campus in Texas".

I went to The Travel website and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled down the entry page, and after an awful lot of scrolling I came to the entry about MSU and the school's beautiful campus, an article titled These Are The 10 Most Beautiful College Campuses In Texas.

What The Travel had to say about the MSU campus...

Despite being founded as a junior college in 1922, Midwestern State University has blossomed into a world-class university. It features tiled roofs on top of arched facades and signature maroon (red brick) exteriors.

The 255-acre campus has 70 buildings and notable attractions like the Sunwatcher, The Gates of Hercules, and a replica of the Liberty Bell.

Top attractions: The Sunwatcher, The Gates of Hercules, Castaway Cove Waterpark, The Family Fun Zone, Wichita Falls Museum of Art, Kemp Center for the Arts, The Juanita Harvey Art Gallery, Jenny to Jet Exhibit, Kell House Museum, MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights, Museum of North Texas History, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, etc.

_______________________

The article fails to mention the trail around Sikes Lake on the MSU campus. I was going to go to Sikes Lake this morning, but the walking plan has switched to Lucy Park.

I have been to a couple other Texas college campuses. Baylor University, in Waco, and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

TCU in Fort Worth is quite nice, slightly hilly. I do not remember much about Baylor.

In another of The Travel college campus lists, one listing the most beautiful college campuses on the west coast, the University of Washington, in Seattle, was one. The UW is a nice, scenic campus. Unlike MSU, the UW has a big football stadium on the campus. 

The MSU football stadium is miles away from the MSU campus, that being Memorial Stadium, a football venue MSU shares with the four Wichita Falls high schools.

Western Washington State University, in Bellingham, was not on The Travel's list of the 10 most beautiful west coast campuses. Methinks WWSU is as beautiful as the UW campus, being nestled up against Sehome Hill.

I can see why The Travel would have MSU as the most beautiful campus in Texas. I was impressed with it upon first seeing it. The MSU topography is totally flat. The buildings all sort of match, architecturally, with new buildings incorporating elements from the older buildings, which is quite aesthetically pleasing. 

Centennial Hall, the newest building on the MSU campus, is a good example of how MSU blends a modern building with the ones built in decades past.

I will be driving by the MSU campus in a few minutes....

At Lake Wichita Park Seeing Mount Wichita Is Getting A New Parking Lot

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured this first Monday of the 2023 version of November, for some extremely windy fast paced walking, with the temperature in the low 80s.

I did not climb to the summit of Mount Wichita today. I was concerned a gust of wind might send me flying.

I was curious to see if the recent rain had raised the water level of Lake Wichita. It looked like the water level is a bit higher than when last at this location a couple weeks ago.

Ever since my first visit to this Lake Wichita location, years ago, I have opined that the entry road and parking lot was in dire need of an upgrade, due to it being one of the most bumpy potholed locations I have ever rolled my wheels on.

A few months ago I read that the parking lot and entry road were going to be paved. 

Well, that project is now well underway. I had to find an alternative parking location.

The current return to summer-like weather conditions is not scheduled to last long.

Cold returns in a couple days...

Sunday With The Shadow Of The One-Armed Lucy Park Thin Man

With the temperature in the mid 70s on this first Sunday of the 2023 version of November, it was back to the Lucy Park backwoods jungle I ventured for some high speed, mud-free walking.

Lucy Park was busy on this perfect weather day.

Real busy.

Lots of disc golfers, walker, baby stroller pushers, dog walkers, biker, scooters and picnickers. 

I can not remember when last I went on a picnic. I used to have a small portable grill to take to a park for barbecuing purposes. I need to get another one of those.

I forgot to make mention of the photo. That looks like the Shadow of the One-Armed Lucy Park Thin Man, in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

The next several days are scheduled to be warm, before we get chilly again...

Lives Now Complete With Overdue Sense Of Parade Celebrating The Unthinkable Texas Rangers World Series Victory Parade

I saw that which you see here on the Saturday version of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, online.

On the Star-Telegram version the three images and captions were side by side. I turned them from being horizontal to vertical for blogging purposes.

I thought those not in the Texas Ranger's universe would find this to be a tad amusing.

According to the Star-Telegram, winning the World Series has put, I guess, Arlington, finally on the map. Maybe it is all of North Texas, now on the map. 

On the map with an overdue sense of pride.

How does a sense of pride become overdue?

And then we learn that winning the World Series renders the lives complete for those living in the Texas Ranger's universe.

The Star-Telegram's pre-parade prediction was that a quarter million Texas Ranger's fans would descend on Arlington for the victory parade.

The Star-Telegram now has that crowd being a half million Texas Ranger's fans for the actual event.

Why is a Texas Ranger's parade unthinkable?

I have heard from one Arlingtonian, Miss Martha, who attended the victory parade. 

According to Miss Martha...

We had a great time. The route was spread out so that there wasn't a huge crowd anywhere along the route except the one parking lot where all the speeches were. We parked in a neighborhood and walked over. Got in and out in 15 minutes.

Miss Martha did not share if her life is now complete, now that the Texas Rangers have won a World Series. Or if winning the World Series ignited in Miss Martha an overdue sense of pride...

Will I Be One Of 250,000 In Arlington For Today's Texas Ranger's World Series Victory Parade?

I need to leave soon if I am going to make it in time to Arlington to join the quarter million of us ardent baseball fans to watch the Texas Rangers World Series victory parade.

The image you see above is from today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram's online front page.

Both Arlington and Fort Worth are in Tarrant County.

Dallas is in Dallas County.

One of America's creepiest politicians, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, had many D/FW baseball fans upset when he referred to the Texas Rangers as the Dallas Rangers.

The Dallas Cowboys football team also does not play in Dallas. The Dallas Cowboy stadium shares parking space with the Texas Ranger's ballpark.

If a quarter million baseball fans actually show up to watch the victory parade it will make one BIG traffic mess.

Arlington has no mass transit. No city buses. No light rail. Nothing. 

Well, I have seen rickshaw type transport devices wheeling people from remote parking lots to the Dallas Cowboy stadium...

Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle With Three Deer

I was on the east side of town, this morning, to pick up a pharmaceutical product, so, after getting that, I headed west to Lucy Park for some fast paced endorphin inducing aerobic activity.

I had previously opined that rain would render the Lucy Park backwoods jungle impassable. A few days ago I walked part of the Lucy Park backwoods trail, turning around when I came to mud.

Today I made my way the entire distance, finding mud easy to avoid due to the grass having been cut, making for dry bypasses.

I was deep into the jungle when I was startled to see three four-legged critters, moving at high speed. At first reaction I thought they were wild boars, and then I realized they were three small deer, moving too fast for me to get the camera turned on and photo document them.

The temperature was in the 50s for today's outdoor fun. I am quickly acclimating to the cold...

In Mountain=Lite Texas Going Up Tabletop Mountain & Mount Shuksan With CJ & JR

The theme of my wall calendar, this year of 2023, is scenes of The West.

For 10 months I have been flipping the calendar to the next month to see a scene of The West that I do not remember seeing.

And then, this morning, I flipped the calendar to Novembe,r and finally, a scene of The West that I have seen many times, and thus, do remember.

Mount Shuksan.

The caption under the picture of Mount Shuksan says, "Mount Shuksan, North Cascades National Park, Washington".

I did not know Mount Shuksan was in North Cascades National Park. I know a big mountain a short distance to the right, or south, of Mount Shuksan, the Mount Baker volcano, is not in North Cascades National Park.

One of my all time favorite photos has Mount Shuksan in the background.

That would be nephews JR (Jeremy Ryan), on the left, next to his big brother, CJ (Christopher Jay), on top of Tabletop Mountain, with Mount Shuksan looming behind.

This photo was taken some time in the 1990s, I think. JR was be about 8 years old, with CJ about 12, give or take a year, or two.

We hiked the switchback trail to the top of Tabletop Mountain, and then made our own trail back down the north side of the mountain, with Mount Baker looming large a short distance away. There was a lot of slipping and sliding to get off Tabletop Mountain.

Let me see if I can find other photos from that day JR & CJ went mountain climbing with me...

Here JR leads the way up Tabletop Mountain. You see a bit of Mount Shuksan to the right.

At the top of Tabletop Mountain, with Mount Baker behind him, JR threatens his favorite uncle with a snowball.

Above is a look at how we got down off Tabletop Mountain.

And here we see JR sliding towards Mount Baker.

Now, you might think my nephews are a bit under dressed to be playing on snow, wearing shorts and t-shirts.

Well, this hike up Tabletop Mountain took place in late August.

In Washington you can find frozen white stuff to slide on, year round, if you go high in the North Cascades.