Fort Worth Gas Price Rises Fast Again

Yesterday a gallon of regular unleaded at my neighborhood QT was $1.92. This morning, when I went to Arlington, I needed gas. So I went to the QT. Overnight gas had gone up to $1.98.

I got gas, but did not call my mom with my usual call to tell her I got gas and how much it cost. It was not convenient at the time. I intended to make a gas call, later, but I forgot, til now, when it is also not convenient to call.

A few minutes ago I had to go to the Post Office. The route there goes by the QT. Now, just a few hours since I bought gas, it has gone up another 7 cents, to $2.05, as you can see in the picture, in which you can also see it is foggy here today in North Texas.

Are we in for another round of fast rising gas prices? If it zooms back up to $4 I think that'll be the blow that totally knocks the current situation into truly being The Great Depression 2.0. That is truly greatly depressing.

Gas Price Falls and the Texas Wind Blows

I started the day with a heavy rain and tornado warning. By noon I was having lunch at Costco. After that I went to the Horseshoe Trails on Lake Grapevine to go on an 8 mile walk. My hiking boots do not make good walking shoes. I'm assuming that's why my feet hurt.

As you can see in the picture, Lake Grapevine is running a bit low. I don't remember the last time I saw this dock floating. This is the exact location where a snapping turtle disguised as a water moccasin tried to kill me in July of 2002. At that point in time the dock was floating.

I would have gone swimming in Lake Grapevine, today, if the dock were floating. And if it weren't so windy. It was so windy you had to lean into it at times to keep moving. As you can see, in the picture, I was having to hold my hat on at the lake's edge due to the wind being so much stronger there.

For the most part the leaves have totally left the trees, particularly the oaks have now been totally denuded of their foliage. I think the bare oak trees are very spectacular works of Mother Nature.

I don't know why the Grapevine Parks people have added street signs to the Horseshoe Trails intersections.

After walking way too many miles in way too strong wind, I went to Sprouts Farmers Market for my weekly stocking up on good stuff.

And then heading back here, south on Davis Boulevard, I think still in Southlake, I came upon a QT with the lowest gas price yet. On the way north, to Lake Grapevine, I saw a QT in Hurst with what was then the lowest I'd seen, at $1.31. But then the QT in Southlake broke that at $1.29. 20 bucks got over 16 gallons.

This is the lowest gas has been since 2001. I remember driving back here, from Washington, the week before 9/11. Gas had been $1.19 in Amarillo on the way north. A month later it was $1.42. More than what I paid today.

At this rate I'm expecting gas to go under 1 buck soon. Of course, like I always do when I get gas, I called my Mom in Phoenix. She's been ailing since before Christmas. She's still ailing. And still determined to head here on January 6.

Zorro's Buffet and the Fort Worth Cops

Being deeply depressed due to my swimming pool being closed on a day so warm I've got my windows open and the ceiling fan spinning, I went to Zorro's Buffet, again, for lunch.

Friday is Seafood Day at Zorro's. I've decided Seafood Day is my favorite Zorro's day. I didn't care for Thanksgiving at Zorro's. Mexican Day is okay. But Seafood Day is more than okay, as in I liked it as much as my first visit to Zorro's, which was also on Seafood Day.

One thing about Zorro's, that I like, is there are always new things. Today I had a really good spring greens salad that had apples and walnuts mixed in with bleu cheese. There was a couscous type salad. You don't see couscous in many mainstream buffets. The grilled shrimp were prawn-sized, tasted like they'd been grilled in butter with garlic. Speaking of butter. Despite being told twice by commenters that the yeast rolls were excellent, I'd not had one til today. They are homemade, like mom's, well, actually better than mom's. And mom's are darn good. The Zorro's yeast rolls are very light and very buttery.

Anyway, good pigout at Zorro's today.

I like to take the backroads back here from Zorro's. It's like a drive through a 3rd World Country. I take visitors from up north on these type tours and jaws always drop. You just can't see this type scenery anywhere that I know of in the Pacific Northwest.

On the way back from Zorro's, last week, I came upon a long abandoned gas station which still had its gas prices on display. Gas prices which, ironically, match about what we are paying now. So, I wanted to take a picture of this to show you. And so I did.

I snapped several pictures, not realizing that there were 2 Fort Worth cop cars parked under the dead gas station's awning.

After taking the pictures I went down a side street, for a bit, due to seeing an odd scene of a kid on a horse in a fenced yard. These were little houses and little yards. The horse and rider looked way out of place.

I'd made it about a block when I saw a cop car behind me, lights flashing with one toot of the siren. I pulled over.

The cop got out, walked up, asked to see my license. I showed him. "What did I do wrong, officer?" I politely asked.

"Why were you taking pictures of us?" the cop asked.

"Huh? You mean just now?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"I didn't see you. I was taking a picture of the gas price sign."

"Why would you take a picture of that sign? They don't sell gas anymore.

"It's for my blog," I said.

"Why would you put that on your blog?"

"Because I think it's ironic and sort of funny."

"I don't see anything funny about it," the cop said, starting to sound cranky.

"Well, you probably don't wanna be reading my blog then."

"Okay, I'm gonna let you go. Watch what you're taking pictures of next time."

"Thank you, officer, I will be more careful in the future."

So, that's been my day. First Fort Worth robs me of my pool. And now the Fort Worth police are harassing me for taking pictures. What's next I tremble to wonder?

Horseshoe Trails, Lake Grapevine, New Gas Low & Extreme Home Makeover

Well, I've had me a day. Did my usual early morning swim thing. Done with that by 8am. Then I put my new bike seat on my old bike. Pedaled around testing the seat. I liked it. Then I hit a bump and the seat came loose. Back to the tools for some better screw tightening.

A bit after noon I headed up to Southlake and Grapevine. I was hungry so I went to Costco for their extravagant free sample lunch. Today was the best ever. A lot of very good cheeses and breads. Giant shrimp. I had the sweet chili shrimp. Beef stroganoff, pork tamales, cheesecake, fudge, chicken pot pie and other stuff that I can't remember.

After eating too much at Costco I went to the Horseshoe Trails Park on Lake Grapevine. I used to mountain bike the Horseshoe Trails a couple times a week. I used to live closer. That's the view from the Horseshoe Trails, looking out at Lake Grapevine in the photo above. It has been very windy today here in North Texas. It made for a fun hike in the wind. Gusts to 45 mph.

We hiked for about 5 miles, 7 if you factor in the extra exertion required to make headway into a heavy wind.

After hiking I went to Sprouts Farmers Market in Southlake. Got a lot of good stuff, like oranges and broccoli and apples and ham hocks. I'm making pea soup tomorrow.

I mentioned a couple days ago that if I were in the area I might try and find the Extreme Makeover Home Edition house under construction up in far north Fort Worth. Well, I was sort of in the area. So, I left Sprouts and headed west on Southlake Boulevard for a few miles. Took a right on 377 and then left on to Keller-Hicks Road.

Keller-Hicks Road is where I'd read the new house was being built. This area is where I first lived when I moved to Texas so it's familiar territory to me. Except so much has changed. As in new houses as far as you could see.

Eventually I came to a detour with cops blocking any further driving on Keller-Hicks. A sign said "No Walk-Ins." Following the detour I came to another guarded access point to the TV production.

I could see a lot of cars, tents, light poles and someone being loud over a sound system. It did not sound like Ty Pennington.

Finally I got out of the detour on to a main road. That main road was the main access point for "volunteers" working on the new house. They had to drive a bumpy field of dirt to get in and out.

I could see across the field to a better view than the one by where the cops were blocking the road. I could see a lot of people and I think the new house. You can see that house in the photo to the right of the big white tent.

After all that excitement it was time to head back here. Horrible traffic on I-35. So, I got off the freeway at Western Center Boulevard and made my way to Beach Street, stayed on Beach til Randoll Mill, which leads me to where I am now.

I forgot to mention, on Beach Street, near the Beach Street Super Wal-Mart, I saw a new gas low. $1.42 at a Racetrack station. I didn't need any, so I got none, so Mom didn't get a gas call.

Fort Worth Space Shuttles, Swimming, Hiking & Zorro's Buffet

I did not see the Space Shuttle Endeavor fly over me when I was in the pool this morning. I was not in the pool very long. I got up real early, as in before 4, I was down at the pool a bit past 7. I don't know when in the morning the Shuttle lifted off from Fort Worth.

It is supposed to get in the 70s this weekend, followed by an Arctic Blast coming in on Monday that might bring snow with it.

I went hiking at the Tandy Hills around noon. And then on to Zorro's Buffet. It's Mexican Food Day on Thursday. Zorro's has added some new Mexican food since my last Thursday visit. There were tamales, chipolte chicken, chicken mole, BBQ pork ribs and all sorts of other good stuff I'm not remembering right now due to a cerebral bloodflow problem.

The chicken mole looked like chicken covered with thick chocolate. I had to ask what mole meant. I was told it's like BBQ. It was messy, but tasty.

Every other time at Zorro's the nearby gas station has a new record low. But not today. The Tandy Hills Gas Station remains the lowest I've seen, at $1.44. Zorro's gas was $1.48.

But on the way back here I saw a Fina station at $1.43. Trouble was this Fina station appeared to have been closed for years. I don't know if it was ironic or funny that this long closed station's long ago prices are now back what we're paying today. Just a couple months ago I would have seen that sign and thought, those were the days, we'll never see them again.

Gas Hits New Low In Fort Worth So I Went Shopping

I've had me a Sunday and it's barely 2:06pm. I got up early, went swimming for a short duration at 8 this morning.

At 11:30 or thereabouts I was in the Tandy Hills zone and saw that gas at the Tandy Hills Gas Station had fallen to $1.44.

Phone call. I've gotta go. Will be back in a bit and continue with this fascinating missive.

Okay, I'm back. It's about a half hour after I had to attend to an "emergency." Like I was saying, gas was $1.44. So I got myself some. And then, as my one reader may remember, when I get gas I call my Mom in Phoenix. No one answered, so I left a message, which was, "$1.44, got to freezing last night, went swimming anyway, talk to you later..."

After I got gas and called my Mom I headed north to Southlake to go to Sprouts Farmers Market. It was the busiest I've ever seen Sprouts. I keep looking for signs of the 2nd Great Depression, but I can find none. I must look harder. I got all sorts of goodies at Sprouts, black grapes, ground buffalo, white cheddar, I forget what all, but it was more than one trip to haul it all in here.

On the way back here I stopped at the North Richland Hills Wal-Mart Supercenter on Davis Boulevard. It's a nice Wal-Mart. Not like my not so nice local Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart was super busy. Wal-Mart may be Great Depression proof.

So, that's my Sunday so far, coming up on 3pm. Miss Puerto Rico called a bit ago. She wants me to come over for a libation. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

Nice temps have returned so I've temporarily returned to wearing shorts. I like it when that happens.

Durango World Is Going Up While Gas Keeps Going Down

Another beautiful cold Fall day in Texas. I went swimming, as usual, this morning. It was cold. I did not last long. I went hiking at the Tandy Hills again today. It was too nice a day not to. That's from today in the photo. Very bright red leaves on the oak trees today.

Every day there seems to be more bad economic news. But in Durango's Contrary World things seem to be going in the opposite direction.

I went to the China King in Bedford today about 2pm. I'd not been there in a long time. My fortune cookie said, "An enjoyable vacation is awaiting you near the mountains." Did the fortune cookie foresee my likely roadtrip to Seattle in a couple months? Spooky. Those Chinese have special psychic powers.

Friday I'm going to a Christmas Party. It's at a place called Austin Ranch. That's a Dude Ranch up by Lake Grapevine. Last year's Christmas Party was at this awful place called Dave and Busters. Everyone hated it. So, it got moved back to Austin Ranch. Austin Ranch is a lot funner. There's a big open bar, lots of food, a DJ, casino gambling. And dancing. I will be forced to dance. I hate it when that happens.

I came the closest I've come to a wreck in a long time, this afternoon up in Hurst. I was using a Texas Turn-Around to switch from one side of the freeway to the other. A merging lane came in at an odd angle. I'd not seen the yield sign. Brakes had to be used along with a deft swerve. It was scary. I came really close to running into another car. That would not have been a good thing. Particularly when I'd been having such a good day.

I didn't need gas today, so I didn't get any when I saw the Tandy Hills Gas Station is now down to $1.58. A couple hours later I saw the stuff for $1.56 at a QT in Bedford.

Gas Hits New Low Of $1.61 In Fort Worth

The last time I bought gas I paid $1.74. That was about 5 days ago. Yesterday, when I went to my neighborhood Post Office the nearby QT was selling the stuff for $1.71. An hour later I drove by that QT again and it was $1.69.

Today I went hiking at the Tandy Hills. The Tandy Hills Gas Station, once more, is the cheapest gas in my zone, at $1.61.

Why is this happening? How and why did gas go up so fast and now down so fast? Yes, I know the barrel price went high and is now low. But still, what causes QT to drop the price 2 cents in an hour? Just the day before QT was $1.74, by the next day it was down 3 cents to $1.71 and then an hour after that $1.69. What determines the drop? It perplexes me.

On a totally non-gas note. I forgot to report on my icy swimming yesterday. I was reminded of this by an emailer urgently wanting to know. Well, yesterday I could take it for maybe 3 minutes, then I got in the hot tub. This morning it was about 35, when I walked into the water it felt warmer than the air. So I quickly started swimming. And I just as quickly realized this was too cold.

The ice water had so numbed me that when I got in the hot tub I could not feel the heat. But it felt good. Eventually I thawed.

I knew we'd crossed a threshold when I opened the door this morning and realized the air temp outside was about the same as inside here. As in cold. So, I turned on the furnace for the first time this year. I don't like that thing running.

Don't Mess With Texas At The Tandy Hills

Texas has an anti-litter campaign that tries to convince Texans to stop throwing garbage on their great state. The anti-litter campaign's slogan is "Don't Mess With Texas." Unfortunately a lot of people do mess with Texas. There is so much litter here.

Washington has kept Washington Green for decades now with its anti-litter campaign. You see so much less litter on the ground in Washington and Oregon. It gets a bit messier by the time you get to Southern California.

Maybe it's a function of too many people, so here in the D/FW Metroplex and in Southern California you have too many people willing to toss their McDonald's bags and beer cans out the window.

At Tandy Hills, hiking today, I saw a big mess of litter that must have washed into the park from last week's big rainstorm. Huge mess. That's what you see in the photo above.

In the second photo you see the new low price at the Tandy Hills Gas Station. $1.77. I didn't need any so I got none, so mom did not get a call telling her I got gas.

A Cold Day In Texas Hiking The Tandy Hills Where Gas Is Cheap

The Tandy Hills have dried out enough from the Big Storm earlier in the week that hiking was doable. Cold, but doable. It's only 49 out there, with a heavy wind making it feel like 45. Brrrr.

The view in the photo is from the highest point in the Tandy Hills, looking west towards beautiful downtown Fort Worth, with the notorious Chesapeake Energy Tandy Hills gas site drilling rig visible on the left. It wasn't making hearable noise today. The wind likely drowned out the drilling noise.

Gas at the Tandy Hills station once more set a new record low for my zone of Fort Worth. I didn't need any so I got none and so mom did not get a gas call from me. Maybe I'll get gas tomorrow and call my mommy.

Gas Gets Down To $1.89 In My Neighborhood

Yes, $1.89 is the new low in my zone of Fort Worth.

I remember in July of 2001, my last road trip back to Washington, filling up in Amarillo for $1.19. Gas remained in that range through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. But then I needed gas in La Grange, Oregon. I was appalled that it was $1.79.

I figured it was so high in La Grange due to the town being up in the mountains and out in the middle of nowhere. And that it'd be cheaper in Washington. So, I only got enough gas to get me to Washington. And soon learned gas was even higher in the Evergreen State.

On the way back, a month later, gas was now $1.41 in Amarillo and people were grumbling about President Bush. I don't recollect what he'd done at the time that had people blaming him for the gas price jump. 9/11 happened a week or so later, with most of us happy with how George Bush handled that. For awhile.

And now gas is almost back to being at pre-9/11 prices. Likely actually lower if inflation is factored in.

One personal note of how this drop in gas prices is affecting me. When last I talked to my mom she told me with the newly cheap price of gas they are thinking of taking a road trip to Texas again. I hope they don't plan on making any raspberry jam. We don't have raspberries in Texas. Not that I know of.

Gas Falls to $1.94 in Fort Worth

On the way to the Tandy Hills today to go hiking with Anonymous 1 & 2 I saw gas had gone down another nickel at the Tandy Hills Gas Station. So, when I was done with the hiking, 2 hours of hiking, I got me some gas.

It was not convenient to call my mom likely I usually do when I get gas. I'll call tomorrow to tell her I got gas. She'll want to complain about her weather. Last week when I called after I got gas she told me they'd not gotten under 90 in the Phoenix zone yet. But last night I saw it got down to 49. So, mom should be chilly.

Mom and dad suffered along with me with the frigid winter-like cold of Tacoma last summer. Those who've never acclimated to a HOT climate don't understand what it's like to go from being acclimated to 100 degree plus temps to a place where 60 is considered hot.

Have I mentioned my friend from way back in grade school who moved to the South the same time I did? She moved to Ada, Oklahoma. She has now moved back to Washington. They have been up there since June. I talked to her earlier in the week and I asked if she's gotten acclimated to the cold yet. She said she hasn't.

I remember my next to the last day up in Tacoma, it was so cold, I was shivering. Someone called and I said I was freezing. I was told I complain about the cold to get attention. That annoyed me. Because it was an ignorant thing to say. It still annoys me. How can someone be so stupid as to tell someone they are trying to get attention due to saying they are cold? What is the attention one would be getting. I really can not stand stupid people. I've just now made up my mind on that serious issue.

The hike on the Tandy Hills trails went in some new directions today, all the way out of the park to the west to view the Chesapeake Energy Tandy Hills Desecration Zone and all the way to the east on a trail I don't remember being on before. This trail went over the boulder strewn creek bed you see in the photo. It ended at a nice little pocket part that had a picnic table, BBQ and strange square wooden places to sit.

I think I'm going to the Fort Worth Stockyards tomorrow. That plan may change. I want to have a Dirty Love Burger at the Love Shack. That's one of Fort Worth's celebrity chef, Tim Love's restaurants.

The Love Shack used to be the outdoor singing zone for the White Elephant Saloon. But now it's been turned into the outdoor eating zone (and likely singing, too) for the Love Shack.

The Love Shack's Dirty Love Burger keeps getting mentioned as being among the best in various venues, like magazine articles, ranking burgers. My best all time burger is an In & Out burger. The locals think this place called Kincaid's is the best local burger. I didn't care for Kincaid's. These people need to get out of Fort Worth more often.

Fort Worth Gas Below $2

On the way to going to the Tandy Hills to go hiking I go by a gas station that always has the cheapest gas. My regular co-hiker and I regularly guess as to what the latest price will be. There is no prize for being closest to the correct price.

Today as we neared the Tandy Hills gas station I guessed $1.99. My regular co-hiker guessed $2.03. $2.03 was correct.

Then, a bit over an hour later, driving back by the Tandy Hills gas station, the price had fallen by 4 cents and I now had the correct amount.

And now for today's early morning swimming news. The overnight low got down to 54. So, it was a bit nippy going outside. But the water was warmer than the air. I swam for a half hour or so.

Gas Price Falls Fast In Fort Worth

Just a couple days ago I bought a couple gallons for, I think, $2.61.

And now today my neighborhood QT is practically giving it away for $2.39.

There are no long lines like what happened a couple weeks ago when a local rogue station started a gas war by lowering his station's price to the what seemed like a bargain at the time, now outrageous price of $2.99.

As my longtime reader may remember, whenever I get gas I call my mom in Phoenix. Today I couldn't find my phone, so mom got no gas call. I feel bad about that. I guess I should go find my phone.