Another Dark Stormy Night Followed By Lush Lucy Park Jungle Walk

A strong storm last night, in the middle of the night, dropped a lot of water, along with close, loud, lightning strikes.

Power was knocked out for a short duration.

By morning the sky was back being bright blue.

With the outer world temperature in the pleasant 70s, it was to Lucy Park I ventured for some salubrious endorphin acquisition via fast walking.

As you can see via the view looking across the Lucy Park suspension bridge, the Wichita River is running much higher than its norm, almost reaching the bridge deck.

All the rain has the Lucy Park jungle looking particularly lush this Spring season.

I continue to be plagued by bug bites, despite anti-bug bite countermeasures. I was talking to a fellow Lucy Park walker today and he said he is being plagued this year by bug bites, and, like me, has been trying to thwart them with various counter measures.

We need a good solid over 100 degrees day after day heat wave to kill off all the biting bugs.

I hope that happens soon...

Faulty Family Reunion Memory

Yesterday's email included one of those Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day, that I do not remember.

I knew this photo had to be on my computer for it to end up on Microsoft's cloud. This morning I found the photo file and saw it was named "Reunion76". 

Indicating, it would seem, that this reunion took place in 1976.

After seeing this photo, yesterday, I emailed it to my little sister, the sibling with the best memory. She identified one person as possibly being herself. The only ones in the photo I sort of recognized were Grandma Slotemaker, Uncle Mel and Aunt Judy.

This morning it was speculated that the one holding a baby is Aunt Jane, holding baby Amy. Aunt Jane, Uncle Mooch, the now grown up Amy and son Quan, currently in the Boston area, will be in Washington in a few weeks.

My little sister thinks one of those in the photo looks like me. I don't think so. I don't think I was at this reunion.

Methinks the only entities still on this mortal coil who might remember this reunion are the aforementioned Aunt Judy, Aunt Jane, and maybe, Uncle Mooch.

Sikes Lake Waterfall Roaring Without Bug Bites

We have had some rain falling this past week, with more scheduled to arrive today.

I do not recollect previously seeing so much water spilling over the Wichita Falls Sikes Lake Dam Spillway's waterfall as you see via the photo documentation.

I like the roaring sound of a good waterfall.

Since I have been using Nurse Linda Lou's prescribed anti-bug ankle and wrist bracelets, combined with Cutter anti-bug spray, I have not made note of any new bug bites.

The existing bug bites are slowly healing, with each day me looking less like an acne infested teenager.

I'm hoping my bug bite infestation is all cleared up before I get on a plane to fly to a family reunion type thing in July....

Microsoft OneDrive Remembers The Ennis National Polka Festival

That which you see here showed up in my email this morning, a Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day that I clearly remember.

I do not remember if this took place in May. I do remember it was a warm day, so likely May. That photo is of a float in the Ennis National Polka Festival Parade.

The Ennis National Polka Festival Parade was one of the best parades I have ever eye witnessed.

Parades are one thing I have experienced which Texas does quite well.

Like the Arlington 4th of July Parade. All the town's high school bands, pep clubs and cheerleaders participate. Unlike parades in my old Skagit Valley home zone.

Granbury's 4th of July Parade is another incredibly well done one, again with the town's schools participating, including the high school football team. I remember that was one extra HOT parade to watch.

I've experienced Fort Worth's Stock Show Parade a couple times. It is billed as the world's biggest non-mechanized parade, as in no motorized vehicles. The Stock Show Parade is the best thing I ever saw Fort Worth do. Highly entertaining.

The Texas town I am currently in, Wichita Falls, has an annual 4th of July Parade which serves up oodles of small-town charm. I've watched this parade four times. The parade was cancelled during COVID. Last July the parade returned. I did not attend. I likely will this coming July.

Check out the blog posts about the Wichita Falls 4th of July Parades and you shall see what I mean by small town charm...

2015 Wichita Falls 4th Of July Parade With Uncle Sam

2017 Wichita Falls 4th of July Parade

2018 Wichita Falls 4th of July Parade Extravaganza

Super Sweet 2019 Wichita Falls 4th Of July Parade

Now, that is enough memories for today....

Imminent Severe Weather Alert Arrived Early Before Thunder Storming Came To Town

Yesterday, early in the evening, whilst the sun still shined, with the sky clear of clouds and brightly blue, my phone loudly erupted with the dire weather warning you see here.

The warning repeated four times during a half hour period.

The sun soon set, with no clouds seen before the end of the day's solar illumination.

I assumed the National Weather Service made a mistake with the weather warning accidentally going to areas not in dire danger of baseball size hail.

And then in the middle of the night, around three in the morning, all hell broke loose.

And continues to break loose, well after the sun's resumption of illumination duty. 

It looks like I can not make it to the carport without going through the moat which looks to be surrounding my abode.

Below is a screen cap of today's weather prediction from the Wichita Falls Times Record News.

I have not seen any baseball sized hail. Soon after last night's storming began I did hear several loud thumps which I assumed were hail.

Memorial Day Memory Remembering My Old Home Zone In Mount Vernon Washington

A Memorial Day Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day that I actually remember, unlike so many of those Microsoft memories.

What we are looking at here is part of the front of my house at my former home zone of Mount Vernon in the great state of Washington.

There were two front entries, one from the carport on the left, and the other at the top of the stairs.

Above the carport I had a rooftop patio garden growing all sorts of good things.

Blueberries, strawberries, various herbs, tomatoes, a lot of flowers and I forget what else.

I do not try to grow anything at my Texas location.

Trying such would likely be frustrating. Way too many things can go wrong here.

Golf ball size hail pummeling the plants. Various critters, like locusts, feasting on the plants. 70 mph gusts of wind. A flooding downpour. Temperatures way too HOT.

Speaking of which, it is another HOT one this Memorial Day. Not predicted to hit 100, but neither was yesterday, when my vehicle's thermometer hit 102. 

I think I will dose myself with anti-bug spray, and arm myself with my anti-bug bracelets, and have a mighty fine walk around Sikes Lake in about an hour...


 

Final May Sunday In Texas Over 100 Degrees

On this final Sunday of May of 2024, I was able to hike the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle trail, with absolutely no mud, even though rain downpoured Saturday afternoon. A slight breeze blew through Lucy Park, the leafy trees provided some shade, the temperature was in the 80s.

And then, later this final Sunday of May of 2024, I drove to Walmart around 5 in the afternoon. When I parked and started to turn off the ignition, I looked up at the rear-view mirror's temperature and direction information to see the temperature over 100 degrees for the first time this year.

This bodes ill for the coming Summer. I suspect a record-breaking heat wave will be happening soon.

Today on Facebook I found myself in a conversation about taking a roadtrip, due north around 700 miles, to South Dakota, to see Dignity.

It is likely cooler in South Dakota than it is in Texas.

There is no Dignity to be seen in Texas, no matter where I drive...

Texas Cold Water Is Almost Hot Water

Saw that which you see here this morning, on Facebook. Just yesterday I was lamenting that the cold water option is no longer anywhere near being cold.

Currently cold water is warmer than lukewarm.

Just had myself a not refreshing not cold water shower. 

I suspect in a month I will be emptying the freezer of ice cubes into my bathtub in an attempt to have a nice cooling soak.

I may need to buy big bags of ice from Walmart...

It Is Not Even Summer & I Am Already HOT

We are still about a month out from the arrival of the 2024 version of Summer.

I saw that which you see above, on Facebook, this morning, accurately expressing my current sentiment.

This HOT time of the year is the earliest I remember losing cold water. Rendering there being no such thing as a refreshing cold shower. The former cold water is now warmer than lukewarm.

The cold water is already overheated and we have yet to go over 100 degrees. What happens to the formerly cold water when we have a couple dozen days in a row over 100?

I suspect I shall soon find out.

The new heat pump system so far is managing to keep my interior space a pleasantly cool temperature.

We are being told the Texas grid is stronger now than when it totally collapsed a couple Winters ago, with the outer world below zero. I had to escape to one of the few motels that still had power. 

If the Texas grid collapses this Summer my escape plan is to head north, to Oklahoma, and hope to find a room available at one of the casino hotels.

And if that fails, continue heading north, all the way to Washington if need be....

Fort Worth Is Not The Most Laid-Back City In America

Yet one more sort of goofy item on the Microsoft News page I see via my Windows Edge browser.

Titled "This Is The Most Laid-Back US City"

I do not know if the above link works on all platforms, or just on the Edge browser.

Anyway, this was a gallery one scrolled through, listing the 50 most laid-back cities in America. By what criteria? I have no idea.

Several Texas cities showed up on the Laid-Back list. With Houston being in last place, at 50. San Antonio is #47, followed by Dallas as the 46th most laid-back city. Continuing on, expecting to see laid-back lazy Fort Worth show up, I came to the last Texas entry, Austin is the 29th most laid-back city.

And, the most laid-back city in America? Why, it is the big city in America about which I am most familiar.

Seattle.

Like I said, I do not know by what criteria it was decided a city's level of laid-backness is. As I have experienced Seattle, the town is way too bustling to be considered laid-back. The downtown area of Seattle has throngs of people bustling about. If a couple cruise ships are docked, with the cruisers off the boat, the Seattle waterfront is bustling, not remotely laid back.

The most laid-back city I have experienced, by my idea of what laid-back is, is Fort Worth, Texas, with the deadest big city downtown I have ever been in. A ghost town on the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Fort Worth never shows up on these type lists. On the rare occasion something about Fort Worth is made note of, a big fuss ensues. Like the time a Washington, D.C. lobbying group, who were advocates of the Urban Village concept, had Fort Worth as one of the Top Ten American Cities with Urban Villages.

You likely will not believe this, but Fort Worth actually had a city-wide celebration celebrating showing up on this list.

I was in Tacoma a short time after this, talking to the guy who was Tacoma's Deputy Mayor at the time.

Tacoma was also on this list of cities and their urban villages. I asked the Deputy Mayor if Tacoma had a city-wide celebration after getting this esteemed honor. He laughed, and said, no, we just politely sent them a thank you message.

I then told the Deputy Mayor that Fort Worth had a city-wide celebration over this esteemed honor. You have to be joking, was his replay. Nope, not joking, said I.

I think the rarity of Fort Worth being the recipient of any sort of accolade is a big contributor to what seems like the town's civic inferiority complex. Part of that complex is caused by being linked to Dallas in a large metropolitan area known locally as the Metroplex. Dallas is the well-known, handsome big brother, whilst Fort Worth is sort of the homely sister, to use a metaphor.

My early years in Texas, living in Fort Worth, reading the local newspaper called the Star-Telegram, I made frequent note of the inferiority complex as manifested by what I called Green With Envy Syndrome, where that newspaper would opine that some perfectly ordinary thing would be causing towns far and wide to be green with envy.

Again, I am not making this up.

Years ago I made a webpage making note of multiple instances of Fort Worth's Green With Envy Syndrome.

I have been told that the Star-Telegram has dropped its Green With Envy nonsense. I know it has been years since I have seen an instance of the syndrome...

Arizona's Cade Christopher Weston Almost A Year Old

I talked to Baby Cade's Grandma, yesterday, she being my sister, Jackie. I was surprised to learn Cade is nearing being a year old, a month or two to go. Right on the edge of walking, starting to form words.

Soon after terminating the phone call, Cade's grandma sent me the video you see above, where you will see that Cade has mastered the art of clapping.

Jackie and Jack are leaving Baby Cade behind in Arizona next month whilst they head to Oregon and Washington.

Annoying Multiple Phone Calls From Something Called Leaf Filter

For weeks I have been getting phone calls from something called Leaf Filter. If I let the call go to voice mail a robo-call type message gets left. If I answer a Leaf Filter call, hoping to tell them to quit calling, I get nothing.

It just happened again. Above is a screenshot from the phone. I do the block the number thing and it just causes Leaf Filter to call from a different number.

I Googled "Nuisance calls from Leaf Filter" and learned Leaf Filter's spam calling is epidemic. I clicked a link which was supposed to take me to the Do Not Call Registry. That did not work.

Why is this type thing allowed? Aren't there FCC rules of some sort making such some sort of thing warranting a stiff fine?

HOT May Monday Sikes Lake Walk Looking For Wildflowers

HOT Monday in May today. With the temperature in the upper 80s, with a strong wind blowing, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured today to provide feeding material to the various bugs which seem to find me tasty.

I do not recollect ever having such a big collection of bug bites as I currently am sporting. Not even on a hike on a trail on one of the Cascade Mountains did I ever get this many bug bites, and those trails are notorious for biting bugs til you get above the timberline. 

Now that I am thinking about it, to hike a Cascade Mountain trail during bug season I would douse myself with bug spray. I do not like dousing myself with bug spray. I may have to start doing that. The bug repelling bracelets do not seem to be working.

Last night something happened which I do not recollect ever happening before. I fell out of bed. We are at that time of the year when one does not sleep under the cover of blankets. Apparently with no blanket to restrain me I rolled out of bed, onto the floor. This was not a pleasant wakeup. 

And not til walking around Sikes Lake did I realize I am a bit sore in various locations, I assume an after effect of the fall out of bed.

We are past the middle of May and I have not seen many wildflowers. Just the pink evening primroses. One would think with the copious amount of rain that it'd be a banner year for wildflowers.

Those are not wildflowers you see in the above photo documentation. 

Well, they may be wildflowers, but those flowers are not growing wild, they are part of the landscaping at the entry to the Wichita Falls Museum of Art.

In addition to this being the time of year that one does not sleep under blankets, it is also the time of year when taking a shower with no hot water added to the mix is refreshing. Cold water is currently sort of lukewarm, due to that vexing outer world HEAT...

Microsoft OneDrive Memory Of Pioneer Plaza In Dallas

On this third Sunday of May, incoming email from Microsoft had this OneDrive Memory from this Day.

I do not remember if I was at this location in May. I do remember I was at this location many times whilst I lived in the Dallas/Fort Wort Metroplex.

That Longhorn you see behind me is one of many such sculptures at Pioneer Plaza, in Dallas. Cowboys on horses are driving a herd of Longhorns by a waterfall.

Pioneer Plaza is adjacent to a cemetery which is adjacent to the Dallas City Hall.

That cemetery has many interesting gravesites. And is the location of the largest statue I've seen since I've been in the South, commemorating the Confederacy. I may not remember all the heroes of the Confederacy that make up this statue, but, I think among them were Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson.

I suspect, like what has happened to many such statues, this one has been removed. I've long thought do that is a bit wrong-headed...

Finally Water Spilling Over Lake Wichita Dam On Mt. St. Helens Eruption Anniversary

It was to Lake Wichita I ventured on this fine May Day.

The third Saturday of the month.

And the anniversary of the day Mount Saint Helens exploded in my old Washington state home zone.

I was taking a bath on the Sunday morning that volcano blew up. I heard three loud concussive booms. Did not know it was the mountain exploding til a few minutes later when the next-door neighbor checked in to see if we knew the volcano had erupted. That turned into one long day of watching the non-stop news.

Anyway, back to Lake Wichita. This was the first time in over a year, maybe way over a year, since water was seen spilling over the Lake Wichita dam's spillway. And spilling in copious amounts it was.

Now we are at the top of the dam, looking through a chain link fence at the water spilling over the spillway.

Walking to the end of the Lake Wichita Boardwalk I saw these two guys fishing amongst the wood piers that are all that remains of the Lake Wichita Pavilion, which burned down way back in the 1950s.

The temperature is heading into the 90s today. The A/C is keeping my interior space cool.

Summer will soon be upon us. Record breaking heat is currently predicated. Not looking forward to that...

The Remains Of The Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda Remain No More

The rain has let up on this third Friday of May.

Since I was in the neighborhood, getting meds from a nearby pharmacy, I opted to continue on to Lucy Park for a bout of nature communing.

A year or two or three ago, time flies, who can keep track, I was surprised to see that the Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda had gone up in flames, leaving only the metal framework upon which it had been built.

That remaining metal framework began to look like an intended work of sculptural art. Some suggested painting the metal before it succumbed to rust.

But, such is no longer an option. 

The metal framework remains of the Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda have been removed, as you can see via the photo documentation above.

I never saw mention made of the Lucy Park Pagoda flameout in what passes for a newspaper in this town, the Wichita Falls Times Record News.

So, I do not expect to see an article about the removal of the Pagoda's remains. Or if a new Pagoda is planned to arise from the ashes.

I have never been able to learn why a Japanese Pagoda was erected in Lucy Park. There must be a reason for it...

Microsoft OneDrive Memories From Today Of Baby Beauty Sister Nancy & Baby Bobcat

Amusing baby pictures today in my email, via Microsoft's OneDrive's Memories from this Day.

No clue how it might have been determined the Memories from this Day were from May, let alone this day in May.

In this photo of myself on the left, my little brother, Jake, on the right, we see what may be the first instance of our eldest sister, Nancy, all dressed up looking like she must be going somewhere real special.

Nancy won a Baby Beauty Contest around this time, sponsored, if I remember correctly, by the Skagit Valley Herald, that being a real newspaper in my old home zone, a newspaper of the quality sort which had me realizing such was not the case when I began reading the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, widely regarded as a really bad newspaper, but not quite as bad as the newspaper of record in the town I am now in, the Wichita Falls Times Record News, which mainly covers local sports, local crime, and a few other things, once in awhile, such as recently there was an article about a few new restaurants opening in town.

Okay, that was one super long run-on sentence, beginning with 'Nancy' and ending with 'town'. I just could not stop that sentence from running on and on.

Continuing with the baby theme of today's Memories.

Over my years of biking, hiking and roller blading in Arlington's River Legacy Park, I came upon many critters. Many snake encounters of various sorts. And armadillos.

And bobcats.

My first bobcat encounter scared me. At that point in time I did not realize they were harmless.

My most amazing bobcat encounter was on the park's trail bridge across the Trinity River. I was on my bike, heading onto the bridge, when I saw a big bobcat entering the bridge at the other end. I continued on, as did he. We met in the middle, with me saying "Howdy kitty." The bobcat paid no attention to me, just continued ambling across the bridge.

My best bobcat encounter was with the bobcat kitten you see above. I zoomed in with the camera, knowing I did not want to get too close, which would have made the bobcat mama nervous.

I do not see much wildlife of the bobcat, snake, armadillo sort at my current location. I did come upon a cute lizard a couple days ago at Lucy Park...

Another Sleep Disrupting Thunderstorm In The Wichita Falls Disaster Area

Last night, around three in the morning, thunder booming began, after lightning lit up the darkness. This lasted for hours, along with copious amounts of rain hitting the ground.

I was able to sleep through some of it.

The sun has been doing its daily illuminating duty for about an hour, but it still looks dark, rain is still dripping, thunder continues to boom, off and on.

Yesterday we learned, surprisingly, that Wichita County has been declared a Disaster Area due to recent rains doing damage, none of which I have eye witnessed.

I assume the current drenching is amplifying the Disaster Area into being even More Disastrous. 

Walmart will be my venue today for acquiring endorphins via high speed walking and anthropological observations...

Apparently Rain Has Turned Wichita County Into A Disaster Area

Saw that which you see here, this morning, on the front page of the online version of the local newspaper called the Wichita Falls Times Record News.

Wichita County has seen a lot of rain fall the past couple weeks. But enough to have made the county a disaster area? Apparently there has been some road damage. I have not seen any road damage.

I have been in an area where a disaster has struck a time or two or three, with, if I am remembering correctly, the area not declared a disaster area.

Like when downtown Fort Worth was struck by a tornado, early in this century, killing several and doing a lot of property damage. I do not recollect a disaster area being called.

When Fort Worth and Tarrant County were hit with deadly flash floods, again earlier this century, drowning some, including a little girl named Ally Collins, and leaving Elsie Hotpepper's home teetering on the brink of falling into a raging creek, I do not recollect a disaster area being declared.

In my old home zone I think I recollect when the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted, killing dozens and doing an incredible amount of damage, I do not recollect a disaster area being declared. Maybe because it was so obviously a disaster no one needed to declare it as such.

I remember the valley I lived in before moving to Texas, the Skagit Valley, being hit by destructive flooding due to the Skagit River breeching dikes intended to contain the river during floods. Was a disaster area declared? I do not recollect it, if it was.

Anyway, more heavy rain is on the way at my current location, arriving later today, compounding the situation in this area, which is already, apparently, a disaster...

In Lucy Park With High Wichita River Water & No Bug Bites

It was back to Lucy Park on this HOT humid Tuesday, for some nature communing and a walk to the center of the Lucy Park Suspension Bridge over the Wichita River.

As you can see, the Wichita River is running high. What you can not see is the river is moving fast.

Usually this river lumbers along in real slow motion.

Today's fast-moving river, barely below the suspension bridge deck, a deck which sways at the slightest movement, made for a sort of dizzying effect when looking down through the wooden planks which make up the bridge deck.

I like the color scheme of the river's redrock red, and the blue of the sky. I think I'll paint my house that shade of red, with the trim blue. With a little tree shade of green thrown in, here and there.

Day two of wearing anti-bug-bite bracelets on my wrist and ankles, with no new bug bites. Lucy Park is usually my most bug-bite prone park.

Hot Humid Sikes Lake Walk With Ankle Wrist Bracelet Bug Protection

Yesterday, the day known as Mother's Day, Mother Nature opted to unleash an almost all-day long downpour temper tantrum at my North Texas location.

Including many lightning strikes and thunder booms.

By today, as in Monday, the sky has somewhat cleared, rain is not on the weather menu for today. But all that rain, the past couple days, combined with a lot of sun HEAT, is making both outdoors and indoors super humid.

Yesterday my daily endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation took place in Walmart, due to that aforementioned excessive drippage.

Today I opted to drive to nearby Sikes Lake for some fast humid walking with my fellow fast humid walkers.

This marked the first opportunity I had to make use of the wrist and ankle citronella bracelets I got upon advice from the Skagit Valley's favorite Linda Lou nurse.

That is what you see photo documented above. My left wrist, bug bracelet protected, with my pointing finger attempting to point at the Sikes Lake dam spillway, which is spilling some water today.

So far I make note of no new bug bites. The biting bugs should be out in force today, what with all the rain, the heat and the humidity.

I hope Linda Lou's anti-bug bite prescription works.

I have grown weary of having so many bug bites.

Why I have become attractive bug biting material, this year, after never being attractive bug bite material my previous years in Texas, is a mystery, with no current apparent explanation readily available...

Happy Mother's Day To All You Moms Including Mine

It has been five years since I have made a Happy Mother's Day call to my mom. Hard to believe it has been that long.

The photo you see here is of me wheeling mom towards the restaurant at Tortilla Flats, in Arizona. With mom providing directions I drove myself, mom, Big Ed and Linda Lou on a treacherous twisty road to our final Tortilla Flats destination.

This was in October of 2018.

The next year, 2019, I was back in Arizona in March and July.

Both times being the worst flights I have experienced. Almost half a day stuck in DFW International, waiting to fly to Phoenix. And the other incident having flights out of Wichita Falls cancelled due to weather so bad planes could not land at DFW. So, I had to book a new flight for the next day.

Both incidents had me out of my usual window seat, stuck in the dreaded middle seat.

I have not flown since 2019. COVID put an end to doing such for a year or two. Or was it three? All I know is I really do not have much desire to fly anywhere.

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day!!!

Seeing The Northern Lights With David, Theo & Ruby At Dune Peninsula Park In Tacoma

At some point in time yesterday I was told that the Northern Lights Auroa Borrelis light show was going to be visible all the way to the southern United States.

I erroneously opined that this was erroneous, that it is rare for the Northern Lights even to be seen in the northern states, like my old home zone of Washington.

Well, I was wrong. Such happens so rarely it is an unsettling sensation.

All my years in Washington I only saw the Northern Lights once, in the early 1990s, from the roof deck of my house in Mount Vernon, looking at the lights through the wall of trees. I had never seen anything like it before, like a fireworks display on steroids.

When my little sister, Michele, flew the family to Paris earlier this year, or was it late last year. I don't remember. Time flies. Well, the route to Paris had a stop in Iceland on the way. Favorite Nephew Theo was hoping he'd get to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. But, that did not happen.

So, I emailed Michele yesterday, in the oft chance she was not aware that the Northern Lights would be appearing in Washington last night, and tonight. I suggested a better chance might be had by driving over the Cascades to Eastern Washington where cloudiness is much rarer than it is in Western Washington.

Well, Michele emailed back that going to Eastern Washington was not doable due to other plans, something to do with Theo and Ruby and soccer.

But, they'd been told that a new Tacoma park, Dune Peninsula Park, between Point Ruston and Point Defiance, was expected to provide excellent Northern Light viewing, if the clouds cooperated.

Well, the clouds did cooperate, as evidenced by the photo above, sent to my phone, this morning, from Michele.

Last night I totally forgot about the Northern Lighs and did not look outside to see if I could see them. This morning I saw photos of the light show taken in Austin, a Texas town a couple hundred miles south of my North Texas location.

I will try and remember to look outside tonight. Currently the sky is cloud covered....

Lake Wichita Finally Full Floating Former Dry Docks

Went walking at Lake Wichita Park for the first time since the downpours of the past week have raised the lake level to just about full pool for the first time in well over a year.

Thus, for the first time in a long time, the lake is now deep enough for speedboats to zip across the lake. Today I saw two doing so.

And the new kayak launching dock is fully floating for the first time, something I had started to think I would never see.

More rain is on the menu for the coming week.

Meanwhile, if I was up north in my old Washington home zone, tonight I would be seeking a clear sky so as to see the Northern Lights light up the night. I have only seen this once, from my house in Mount Vernon. It was spectacular.

I just learned from sister Michele that she has been told the new Dune Peninsula Park at Point Defiance is a recommended viewing location. I'd suggested heading over to Eastern Washington, which regularly has way fewer clouds than Western Washington, but that is not doable due to the twins, Theo and Ruby, have soccer games on Saturday.

I do not know if Theo and Ruby play on the same team. I suspect not...

Floating With Mr. B Seeing The Mount Baker Volcano

 

The past couple weeks, on Facebook, the entity known as Mr. B, the Forrester, has been documenting something I did not know was something someone could do.

As in fly from Seattle to Sydney, Australia, to get on a cruise ship, to float to New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and then back to Seattle.

This morning's view from the boat is from Puget Sound, looking east at what looks to be the Mount Baker volcano.

That is a view of Mount Baker I do not recollect myself previously seeing, even though I have been on boats in Puget Sound many times.

Bug-Free Muddy Lucy Park Nature Communing

 It was back to Lucy Park I ventured for the first time since last month, on this second Wednesday of May.

Recent rain has the Wichita River running slightly higher than the norm, as you can see via the look across the Lucy Park Suspension Bridge.

The area I call the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle apparently was flooded by the recent rain. The grassy undergrowth appeared to be covered in mud, thus not accessible for easy walking.

So, it was on the bug-free paved trails I stayed today. And so far I have made no note of any new bug bites.

The temperature seemed perfect today. Not HOT. Not cold. Simply pleasant with a gentle breeze blowing.

Summer is rapidly approaching, in a little over a month.

I fear this is going to be a record-breaking Summer, heat-wise.

I need to shed some more pounds to rid myself of any extra insulative adipose tissue rendering me cooler than if I still had that extra insulation heating me up...

Tuesday Sikes Lake Walk With Monarch Waystation

It was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured on this first Tuesday of the 2024 version of May. 

A HOT and humid Tuesday in May. 

I'd previously walked near the sign you see here, but had never, til today, walked up close enough to see that the sign was signaling that this location is something called a Monarch Waystation.

A butterfly protection zone.

I saw plenty of flowers, but no butterflies.

Of late I have made note of the fact that there seems to be an uptick in the number of people I see out and about in the various parks I visit.

Methinks that, perhaps, a lot of people are finally getting around to doing something about the weight they gained during the long COVID nightmare.

I know I am finally shedding all that weight I gained during the long COVID nightmare...

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge & Mount Rainier & The Imaginary Panther Island

I saw that which you see here on Facebook, yesterday. The Tacoma Narrows Bridges, with Mount Rainier hovering on the horizon.

Unlike those zoomed photos of the Seattle skyline which make it look like Mount Rainier is way closer than it really is, this Tacoma photo of Mount Rainier is pretty much how it actually looks.

When you drive around Tacoma it can seem like the mountain is moving. It's a weird optical illusion. 

I was in Tacoma several times during the construction period of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. That would be the span on the right, with more lanes than the original bridge.

I realize it would have been difficult to make the new bridge look just like the much older, original bridge. There seems to have been some attempt to do so, but can't the towers be painted green to match the other bridge?

It was interesting to me to get to see this bridge under construction. Built over deep, fast moving saltwater.

During the same time frame, I marveled at the bizarre spectacle of Fort Worth, Texas struggling for seven years to build three simple little freeway overpass looking bridges, known as the Panther Island Bridges, over dry land, to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island, with the hope that one day a cement lined ditch will be dug under the three bridges, with Trinity River water diverted into the ditch, creating the imaginary island.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge does not cross from Tacoma to an island. It crosses over the Narrows to the Olympic Peninsula....

Big Bella Fort Worth News With Texas Cowboy Cutting Horses

I saw that which you see here, this Sunday morning on the front page of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram online edition.

Apparently, it is big news that the younger sister of super model, Gigi Hadid, has moved to Fort Worth to cut horses with her Texas cowboy partner.

Years ago, I found myself finding one or two of Bravo TV's Real Housewives shows to be amusing.

Yolanda Hadid was one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. When she was a lot younger Yolanda Hadid was a super model. Eventually becoming the mother of Gigi and Bella.

I do not remember Bella showing up on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I do remember Gigi, and the storyline which had her moving to New York City, to an expensive apartment her uber-wealthy Hadid dad got for her. Soon thereafter Gigi followed her mother's path and became a well known super model.

I think Bella Hadid also does the super model thing, but is not as well known as her older sister.

Why it is front page news that Bella Hadid has moved to Fort Worth to help her Texas cowboy partner cut horses, I have zero clue...

Hot Humid Friday Sikes Lake Walk Around With Coyotes

This first Friday of May it was to Sikes Lake I ventured today for a humid walk around the lake. The temperature was in the upper 70s, but felt way HOTTER due to that annoying humidity.

The Sikes Lake Pack of coyote goose guards seems to grow each time I return to this location.

Some coyotes have now been spotted on the MSU (Midwestern State University) campus.

I have seen a few geese willing to risk being in the presence of the artificial coyotes, but doing so at a coyote-free location, like the coffer dam that crosses Sikes Lake, with a fence making coyote access to the geese impossible.

Thunderstorms and possible tornadoes were on the weather menu yesterday, but there was no booming or twisting. The same thing is on the weather menu for today. So far, nothing has thundered or been excessively windy.

Wichita Falls 2nd Day Of May With Thunderstorms & Possible Tornadoes

This morning Miss Chris, of the duo known as Chris & Sheila, a pair of my favorite Washingtonians, who were often an island of sanity for me, in a sea of madness, whilst I was visiting in Washington, asked me a question last night via Facebook...

"Is the town you live in threatened by a tornado?"

I replied that, yes, the town I live in is currently being threatened by tornadoes. A couple have touched down in recent days slightly to the west of the Wichita Falls city limits.

The above is a screen cap about today's, second day of May, weather prediction for Wichita Falls.

And yes, a tornado is on the menu again today.

Last night, around three in the morning, a thunderstorm arrived, booming, and dropping rain for a couple hours.

I think I will do my daily nature communing in Walmart today, safe from lightning strikes, possibly not so safe from a tornado....

May Day Memory Of Galveston Crawdads & Moody Gardens

No, that is not a throng of people enjoying the first day of May at the newly restored beach at Lake Wichita, restored after recent downpours of lake restoring water, raised the lake's level to almost normal.

It took me a moment or two to remember what this Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day was.

Galveston.

On the Texas Gulf Coast.

Galveston is just about the best tourist type town I've been to in Texas.

As you approach the island, on the bridge connected to the mainland, you see large pyramids of various colors. That was the first surprising thing. Later to be learned the pyramids are part of the Moody Gardens complex.

When I got to the gulf side of the island, I quickly found a place to park. As soon as I exited my vehicle I was hit with two things I had not experienced since I was last in Washington. The smell of saltwater. And the sound of waves.

I think it was soon after smelling that saltwater smell and hearing those crashing waves that I saw the throng of people playing in the water.

The water did not look too inviting, to me. It looked murky, muddy, dirty.

I later that day learned the quality of the water was being affected by the Spring runoff of the Mississippi River draining dirty river water into the gulf.

I had my evening feeding that day in a seafood restaurant on a pier out over the water. This marked the first time since I had been in Texas that I eye witnessed people eating bowls of crawdads, looking to me like they were biting off the heads of the reddish insect looking things and then sucking out the contents.

I have had many opportunities since to avail myself of the crawdad delicacy. I have not succumbed to the temptation...