Day Before Christmas Eve Colorful Fun at Walmart

No, that is not my vehicle, festively decorated with Christmas spirit. This vehicle was parked next to me when I returned to my vehicle after enduring the throngs crowding in Walmart.

The above was the second photo I snapped of this truck, with the first photo snapping just as the vehicle owner returned.

I thought the person might object to being photographed, but I took a second photo, anyway, after the truck's door was opened with the owner not positioned in a way able to see a camera, well, phone, aimed at them.

Why would someone paint Christmas lights on their vehicle, even if somehow only temporary?

Yesterday, after the day's sun illumination had ended, I saw another truck, totally covered with blinking LED type lights in multiple colors.

Why is such not considered to be a road hazard distracting fellow drivers who might suffer from being easily distracted, such as myself?

Sunday Pre-Christmas Deserted MSU Bike Ride

Yesterday I got myself some much needed endorphins via mild aerobic stimulation gained by visiting Lake Wichita Dam.

Today, Sunday, the day before Christmas Eve, which makes today two days before Christmas, I was back in the mood to go on a roll on my bike's wheels.

So, I layered on the outerwear to roll around Sikes Lake, and then cross Midwestern Boulevard to the main campus of MSU which is currently deserted, due to that Christmas break thing currently happening.

You can see how deserted the MSU campus currently is via the photo documentation of my handlebars chasing a pair of racing bike riders frozen in time atop a slab of bricks.

I need to try to remember to try and see if I can photo document, or take video, of the Fantasy of Lights to which five trams loaded with light seekers run nightly through the Wichita Falls Beverly Hills.

I have seen many over the top displays of Holiday Lights during my time on the planet.

Christmas in Yuma, Arizona comes to mind.

And then there is the Interlochen Lights in Arlington, Texas. In Interlochen the various neighbors seem to compete to see who can be the brightest and most creative. This results in HUGE traffic jams of light seekers. I don't think anyone has thought of having people board trams to haul them to see the Interlochen Lights in Arlington.

Arlington also has no public mass transit bus system of the sort most modern towns in the world have to move people around town.

Now, Wichita Falls is a much more progressive town than Arlington, apparently, because Wichita Falls does have a public mass transit bus system. That and five big tram trains carrying people to see this town's Fantasy of Lights.

Just last night, returning from Aldi, as I waited for the light to turn green at Hempstead, that being the road at the north end of MSU, one of those five tram trains passed by on its way to see the lights. The tram appeared to be fully loaded. Mostly full size people, few kids.

The Holiday Lights which light up the Wichita Falls Beverly Hills are the most over the top I have ever eye witnessed. And while the various mansions do their own thing, there is also a sort of light cohesiveness lighting up the trees which are on both sides of the streets which make up the Fantasy of Light.

Before the New Year arrives I must see if I can do justice, photo documenting-wise, to the Wichita Falls Fantasy of Lights....

First Hot Sunday Of December Finding Wichita Falls Polar Express Mass Transit Trams

On this first Sunday of the final month of 2017, with the weather outside not even remotely frightful, unless one is scared of a December heat wave, I took my bike, again, on a long roll around my neighborhood, enjoying a strong balmy breeze whilst staying cool attired in shorts and a tank top.

Biking on to the MSU campus from the north I was quickly reminded we are in the winter weather time of the year, with this reminder arriving when I saw the Wichita Falls Polar Express mass transit trams lined up and ready to take seekers of bright lights on a Christmas tour of my neighborhood.

Wichita Falls Christmas mass transit is relatively expensive, as public transit goes, costing $5 per person for a half hour trip.

A front view of the Wichita Falls Christmas mass transit trams. The red line trams are the North Pole Polar Express trams, which would make the yellow line trams the South Pole Polar Express trams. I do not know if the two different Poles go different routes through the Christmas lights zone, thus motivating light seekers to ride both route options. I also do not know if one gets a transit discount if one opts to go to both Poles.

At the Solar Express ticket booth we get frequently asked questions answered, thus learning one does not need a reservation, just show up, because a tram leaves every 15 minutes. You will be riding approximately 30 minutes. Do not even think about bringing a pet on board. But you can bring drinks and a blanket to keep you warm. The Polar Express runs all week long, after dark, til December 25, which also happens to be Christmas.

During last year's Christmas time of the year I drove much of the route the Polar Express trams travel, stuck, was I, following one. I have seen a Christmas display or two during my time on the planet. I am not easily impressed. I gotta tell you, the Wichita Falls Christmas lights are the likes of which I have not seen anywhere.

Well, okay, Interlochen in Arlington, Texas is pretty cool, but way too congested. Arlington needs to copy the Wichita Falls Polar Express concept. And then there was Yuma, Arizona, with luminarias, I think that is the word, these lit up candle works of art arrayed on the ground. Festive in a way I'd never eye witnessed previously.

I doubt I will load up a flask with a warming liquid and take a blanket with me on the Wichita Falls Polar Express, but I may drive the route again, with no need for a flask or blanket...

Dense December Fog After Night Of Christmas Lights Before Arctic Blast

This first Monday of December, by the time I took a picture out of my computer room window, the dense fog I saw when I first looked out a window, whilst making coffee this morning, had somewhat lifted, with the level of fog denseness no longer rendering it dangerous to float ones boat on the nearby inland sea known as Lake Wichita.

Last night when the sun ended its daily illumination I toured the Christmas light displays one starts touring near the east side of MSU (Midwestern State University).

To tour the lights for a short distance I followed a horse drawn light touring carriage. After that I followed one of the lights touring trams, and then a few blocks later I came upon a second lights touring tram.

I have no way of knowing if the art of Christmas displays has ratcheted up to new levels nationwide, or in Arlington's Interlochen. But what I do know is I have never seen homes with Christmas displays the likes of which I saw last night.

Incredible.

It has long been a mystery, to me, why anyone would go to such effort to put up such elaborate displays for such a short time frame.

I will return to the lights sometime before Christmas to photo and video document that which I saw last night.

But, before I do that this current Arctic Blast that is chilling North Texas needs to come to an end with the return of reasonable temperatures.

As you can see, above, by Thursday the outer world at my location is scheduled to be chilled to 18 degrees.

18 degrees is cold. Real cold.

I must go on an extensive search for my illusive long underwear today in preparation for the incoming Deep Freeze....