Happy 75th Wedding Anniversary To Mom & Dad In Heaven

On this day, in 1951, August 6, my mom and dad got married.

Today, August 6, 2026, is mom and dad's 75th Anniversary.

The last time I attended an Anniversary party for my mom and dad was way back in 2001. 

25 years ago.

This was the last time I drove back to Washington. And the only time I did so, solo. 

No one knew I was going to be there.

The actual party took place on a Saturday, August 11, which also happens to be my birthday.

Somehow a happy birthday card was hastily assembled and given to me.

I was barely back in Texas when the 9/11 nightmare happened.

A month after 9/11, in October of 2001, mom and dad made their first trip to visit me in Texas. That time they still had their RV and stayed in an RV park in Arlington. Mom and dad made one more visit to Texas, I don't remember the year, but that time they stayed in a hotel in Arlington. I think by then I was doing the blogging thing. I shall see if I can find those posts.

Above is a photo from an earlier Anniversary party. This would have been sometime back in the 1980s, or 1990s. That is nephew Jeremy I am holding. Nephew Jason is in front of me. Nephews Christopher and Joey are in front of mom and dad. Sister Michele is sitting next to mom. Standing, from the left, my favorite brother-in-law, Jack, his wife, my sister Jackie, sister Nancy, ex-sister-in-law Cindy, and my brother, Jake next to me.

I think, in this photo, mom and dad are younger, by far, than I am now....

HOT Wednesday Burning In Wichita Falls

A few minutes before 5 o'clock, on this first Wednesday of the 2026 version of August, I exited my abode, heading for my almost daily visit to air-conditioned Walmart, when, as soon as I shut the door I heard shouting, someone screaming "call the police" and then what I thought were gunshots.

I went back inside my abode, looked out the window and saw a car on fire. I could see people standing, watching the fire, not in any sort of panic caused by guns shooting.

So, I exited my abode again, got to ground level, and took the photo you see above. There were multiple bursts of flame, making that noise which sounded like gunfire.

By the time I got to my motorized means of motion, two firetrucks had arrived. Then a lady drove onto my driveway, asked me if she could park there, and that that was her husband's car burning. 

By the time I got back from Walmart the entire scene was totally cleaned up.

No clue as to what caused this car to burn.  

We are well over 100 degrees today. I don't think that could be the cause of a car catching fire.

Nature Communing At Parched Sikes Lake Thinking About Washington Wildfires

For the first time in several days, on this third day of the 2026 version of August, it was to an outdoor venue, instead of Walmart, I ventured to do my nature communing and endorphin acquiring.

That outdoor venue today was Sikes Lake.

The temperature was in the low 80s. The past two days we have not heated over 100 degrees. Starting today, and into the near future, each August day is predicted to get over 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

As you can see, via the photo documentation of the view, looking south, from the north end of Sikes Lake, the lake is currently experiencing a water shortage. That is a line of geese on the sand bar created by the falling lake level.

So far, our lack of rain has not caused that which is green to turn brown, for the most part. 

Meanwhile, the longtime drought and parched conditions in my old home state of Washington has resulted in massive wildfires. The worst of which has forced the evacuation of over 60,000 Spokane residents, and has burned and destroyed hundreds of Spokane homes.

My longtime dear friend, Alice, has been reporting, via Facebook updates, her current condition in Tonasket. Tonasket is a small Eastern Washington town, north of Chelan and Wenatchee. Two days ago, Tonasket's law enforcement rolled through town with a loudspeaker informing Tonasketans that they were under a Level 2 Evacuation Warning. Level 2 means you need to be ready to evacuate, should the Level go to 3.

So far, Alice has seen a lot of smoke, and flames in the distance, but the fires have stayed out of Tonasket.

HOT Final Day Of July Nature Communing In Walmart's Air-Conditioned Comfort

Washington's Linda Lou called me when I had my hands full, whilst leaving my abode, on my way to Walmart for some salubrious late afternoon air-conditioned nature communing and wildlife observing.

When I got to my vehicle my hands were no longer full, other than the phone in my two hands, aimed at the rear-view mirror so as to photo document the temperature inside my vehicle.

120 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

The outer world temperature was way cooler than 120 degrees, at a relatively chilly 107 degrees.

Walmart's air-conditioner does a fairly good job at keeping it cool. My personal abode seems to do a better job at keeping cool, than Walmart. 

Rain and thunderstorms had been predicted for today. So far, neither has happened. Looking out my window all I see is a clear blue sky. No clouds.

The final day of July has been a HOT one. The first two days of August are currently predicted to be relatively chilly, in the low 90s.

July Goes Out In A Blaze Of HEAT

The final two days of the 2026 version of July are currently scheduled to be HOT. 104 degrees on the final Thursday of July, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, with it being three degrees HOTTER for the final Friday of the month.

We are currently on track to break the record for number of 100 degree days.

During my years of living in the west coast state of Washington any day with a temperature in the 70s, or above, was considered hot. In Washington, if you wanted to experience Texas-style heat all you had to do was head east of the Cascade Mountains, to the more desert-like climate of Eastern Washington.

Tomorrow's 107 degrees is also predicted to include a thunderstorm. That should be interesting, if it happens.
 

Avoiding Monday Heat Stroke Via Walmart Air-Conditioning

Due to the extreme current heat scorching us in North Texas the National Weather Service advised that it would be wise to limit one's outdoor exposure on this final Monday of the 2026 version of July.

So, it was to Walmart I ventured for my daily salubrious endorphin acquisition and nature communing.

Which would make the above photo documentation me aiming my phone camera at one of the Walmart security monitor screens.

You would not know it by the photo documentation, but it is actually quite bright inside Walmart. I do not know why my photo documentation seems to indicate otherwise.

Currently we are scheduled to have one HOT Day after another for the next 10 days, give or take a day or two. I think tomorrow I might opt for a different indoor nature communing location. Target. That store is not quite as big as Walmart, it is about the same distance from my abode, maybe closer, than Walmart.

The selection of wildlife one gets to see at Target is never as entertaining as that which I see at my nearby Walmart.

HOT 112 Degree Sunday Walmart Experience

A few minutes before 5 this last Sunday afternoon of the 2026 version of July, I opted to exit my air-conditioned comfort to walk the short distance to my air-conditioned motorized means of motion to drive myself to Walmart to enjoy some more air-conditioned comfort whilst observing the interesting wildlife.

The above photo documentation is me taking a photo of my vehicle's rear-view mirror, which also serves to indicate direction and the temperature.

As you can almost clearly see, we are heading South and the temperature is 112 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

Walmart's air-conditioner seemed to be having a little trouble keeping up with its cooling duties. Some must have known this would be the case today, as I have never seen so many scantily clad shoppers in Walmart on any previous visit.

Tomorrow is currently scheduled to be hotter than today.

A Relatively Chilly Thursday Sunflower Hike Around Sikes Lake

The last couple 100 degree plus days my nature communing has taken place in the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart.

Today, the 4th Thursday of the 2026 version of July, with the temperature in the relatively chilly 80s, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some salubrious outdoor nature communing and that activity's endorphin acquisition. 

In the photo documentation you are looking northwest from the eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking through what I think is a patch of sunflowers.

According to the current forecast we will be having a lot of the coming days getting heated to over 100 degrees.

I no longer have cold tapwater. I have lukewarm tapwater. Actually, I think it feels warmer than lukewarm.

The swimming pool is too warm to make for a cooling dip. I half fill my bathtub with that lukewarm tapwater, which eventually cools to the air-conditioned temperature of 78, which makes for a cooling dip in the tub, which I did when I got back from Sikes Lake.

I am looking forward to Winter...

Escaping Dangerous 107 DegreeHeat Nature Communing In Walmart

The HOTTEST day of the year, so far, is currently predicted to happen today, going to 107 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method of measuring the temperature.

We are being advised to minimize outdoor activity today. So, no Sikes Lake, no Lake Wichita Dam, no Mount Wichita, no Wichita Bluffs Nature Area, no Lucy Park.

It is to Walmart I shall venture this morning for my nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

The wildlife at Walmart is actually more varied and interesting than any wild thing I see at any of my outdoor venues.

Hot Humid Sunny Sunday Lucy Park Nature Communing

On this third Sunday of the 2026 version of July, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured for some much-needed endorphin acquisition  acquired by doing some nature communing whilst high speed walking.

I avoided the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today assuming it had been rendered muddy by the recent rain. The paved trails in Lucy Park do not get muddy from rain.

Due to that recent rain, humidity is high. By the time I was back in an air-conditioned space I was as wet as I would have been had I been walking in a downpour rainstorm.

Sikes Lake Fishing With Grandpa

With the temperature in the 70s, heading to a relatively chilly predicted high of 90, on this second Tuesday of the 2026 version of July, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some much-needed nature communing and its resulting endorphin dose.

The bucolic scene you see in the above photo documentation is from the bridge at the west end of Sikes Lake, looking at a grandpa fishing with his grandkids.

You cannot see it in the photo documentation, but the grandpa is holding up a fish he'd just caught, whilst a lady to his right took photos at the same time I was.

Hard Hitting Jouralism About Golden & Bald Eagles In Wichita Falls Times News Record

What you are seeing above is a screencap of the front page of today's Wichita Falls Times Record News.

The pitiful publication which is this town's local newspaper of record. 

When I first found myself living in Wichita Falls I subscribed to the online version of the local newspaper. I did not subscribe for more than a year or two, as I gradually realized there was very little news of any interest in this newspaper.

Today's front page is a good example of how lame this newspaper is. The top story, "Why golden eagles are different from bald eagles."

Eventually I learned an online publication called "Texoma's Homepage" was an actual good source of local info.

For instance, this past 4th of July I saw nothing in the Wichita Falls Times Record News about the annual parade in downtown Wichita Falls. I found that info, easily, on Texoma's Homepage. Including a second article the day after the parade, about the parade.

When I still subscribed to the local newspaper of record I soon began to think this newspaper had no actual reporters working at reporting local information of interest.

I've lost track of how many times I have opined if this town had a real newspaper we'd be reading an article about this, that, or the other thing.

For instance, starting on this year's Flag Day, I saw an incredible number of flags. Hundreds of flags. Even more on the 4th of July weekend. Where did all these flags come from? Who is distributing all these flags? Where are all these flags being stored when they are not on display?

I asked people in other towns if they've been seeing a similar huge increase in the number of flags. No, they have not.

So, what caused this to happen in Wichita Falls? That is the type question you'd find answered in a real newspaper reporting real news, and not revelations about the difference between a golden eagle and a bald eagle...

Balmy Lucy Park Sunday Backwoods Jungle With No Snakes

 On this balmy second Sunday of July, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured for some salubrious nature communing, completed before the temperature soared over 100 and the predicted thunderstorms arrived.

I hiked the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today. That is one of my favorite hiking venues. That is the Wichita River you see photo documented, meandering its way through the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

The Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle is the location where I saw the biggest snake I have ever seen, outside of a zoo.

I think of that huge snake every time I walk by this location you see photo documented. 

It has been many years since I saw that over-sized snake. I don't think I have seen a snake of any size since I saw that really big one. 

Did that deep freeze below zero a few winters ago kill off the snake population?

HOT July Saturday Nature Communing Around Sikes Lake

Another HOT July day at my north Texas location.

Before it got too HOT today, I opted to do my daily nature communing at nearby Sikes Lake.

Which would make the above photo documentation the view looking northwest from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake.

A steady wind was blowing whilst I was nature communing. But not at the air-conditioning level I enjoyed yesterday whilst nature communing at Lake Wichita.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu this afternoon.

With the current clear blue sky, I don't see that likely happening. Weather predicting at my location does not have a good record of accurately predicting.

So far the second Saturday of the 2026 version of July is being relatively pleasant.

Breezy Friday Naturally Air-Conditioned Lake Wichita Dam Walking

With the temperature below 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, with a strong wind blowing, it was to Lake Wichita Dam I ventured this second Friday of the 2026 version of July for some salubrious nature communing whilst enjoying natural air conditioning.

Via the photo documentation, you can see the wind was making for some good wave action. This made for wobbly walking on the walkway and dock.

I don't recollect ever seeing anyone kayaking, canoeing or boating by any means on Lake Wichita. At the part of the lake by Mount Wichita there is a boat launch for kayaks and canoes.

I have also never seen anyone swimming in Lake Wichita. There are no signs advising against doing so. I suppose the lack of the type beach one sees on a lake in which people swim, may explain the lack of swimming. 

That and the murky nature of the water does not look too appealing...

HOT Thursday Shady Lucy Park Nature Communing

On this second Thursday of the 2026 version of July, my Texas location on the planet is scheduled to get heated to over 100 degrees today, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

Today's weather advisory advised using caution regarding outdoor exposure to the extreme HEAT.

With that HOT advisory in mind, I opted to take myself to Lucy Park today for some shady nature communing on the Lucy Park paved trails.

As you can see, via the photo documentation, the shaded Lucy Park trail does not look even remotely like a location in need of using caution in the extreme HEAT. The relative pleasantness was helped by a steady cooling breeze.

I only came upon one other person, today, nature communing in Lucy Park. And that person was doing his nature communing on a bicycle.

If I think about it, I miss bike riding. I think it was pre-COVID my final bike was stolen.

HOT Hiking Around Mount Wichita Power Outage

This first Tuesday of the 2026 version of July I needed to visit the post office to securely mail an envelope which contained something which needed to be securely mailed. 

And so, since the post office is about halfway to Lake Wichita Park, which is located at the west end of Lake Wichita, and since it had been a long-time since I had been to the park where Mount Wichita is located, I opted to drive there to get myself overheated hiking the HOT Circle Trail to its termination point.

That would make that a statue of a couple veterans in the Veterans Memorial Plaza, which is near the base of Mount Wichita, you are seeing in the photo documentation above and below.

There are multiple installations on the Veterans Memorial Plaza. It is a well-done memorial.

When I was first living in Wichita Falls hiking to the summit of Mount Wichita multiple times, during one visit, was the norm. Now that I am elderly there is no way I would try to even get to the summit, one time.

A couple years ago the Circle Trail was added to, a couple new miles, terminating where a property owner has put up a fight, not wanting this well-done paved trail to cross his property. I walked to that termination point today. The property owner is still blocking the trail with multiple boats.

This was the view I saw when I turned around from the trail termination point, with Mount Wichita looking as if it rises from a lush jungle.

Returning to my abode, parking, I could not get my vehicle's interior lights to turn off. That took about 15 extremely overheated minutes to figure out.

And then, after I got the vehicle's lights out, I opened the door to my abode to find the power was out. Lunch was in the timed oven, now no longer cooking.

With no power it does not take long to miss the comfort air conditioning provides.

About a half hour later the power came back on.

A few winters ago, it was a Texas-wide nightmare when the power went out for several days, with the temperature below zero at my location. I think the power going out for days with the temperature reaching over 100, would be worse than it happening when it is below zero. 

I hope I don't get to find out if that is true.

Rocking & Swaying 4th Of July In Lucy Park

With the early morning temperature already in the 90s, I opted not to go to the downtown Wichita Falls Old-Fashioned 4th of July Parade.

And instead opted to go to the relatively shady Lucy Park to get myself some much-needed endorphins.

Til today it has been a year or two or three or more since I walked myself onto the treacherous Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River.

I made it to the middle of the bridge before taking a photo. The bridge rocked and swayed more than I remembered previously. It made me dizzy.

Lucy Park was busier than I thought it'd be today. I guess a lot of people make Lucy Park their 4th of July destination.

Nature Communing With Lake Wichita Dam's Green Reflecting Pool

It was to Lake Wichita I ventured this second morning of the 2026 version of July, for some hot, but breezy, nature communing atop the Lake Wichita Dam.

I do not recollect previously seeing the DANGER sign you see above, previously. There were two instances of the sign. One on top of the dam, another near the bottom of the dam.

The warning on the sign...

DANGER

HAZARDOUS RECIRCULATING

CURRENTS BELOW THIS DAM

CAN TRAP AND DROWN A VICTIM

It has been a few years since I have seen any water spilling over this dam's spillway. But, somehow there has managed to be water at the base of the dam. But that water is definitely not presenting any sort of recirculating danger. As you can see via the below photo documentation.

The water at the base of the dams appears to be colored in the currently popular Reflecting Pool Green color which has been so often talked about of late.

A short distance from looking over the Lake Wichita Dam's spillway the Lake Wichita Boardwalk takes you out over the lake. I took the photo from this view due to the fact I don't remember seeing this tall, green vegetation, at this location, before. I like this lush jungle-like vegetation.

Lake Wichita is only about a mile south of my home location. Sikes Lake is about a quarter mile from my home location. The nearest Walmart is about a mile east of my home location. It's nice having so many nearby walking venues.

Enjoying July 1 Hot Wind Chill Factor Hiking Sikes Lake

With the temperature in the relatively chilly mid-80s, on this first day of the 2026 version of July, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for some salubrious endorphin acquisition gained via fast walking.

Which would make the above photo documentation the view to the southwest from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake.

As you can see from the wave action on the lake the air was being a bit breezy, which made for a nice cooling effect.

Today we are not scheduled to go over 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, with the predicted high to being only 97 degrees. The past several days we have been heated to over the 100 degree mark.

The 4th of July is currently predicted to heat to over 100 at my location. The downtown Wichita Falls 4th of July Parade starts at 9 in the morning. Currently I am not feeling too eager to attend this, though I have rather enjoyed past times watching this parade.