Remembering Rolling Mom Over Tempe Town Lake & Up Piestewa Peak

Another Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day which I do remember, and which may have taken place on this exact October day, with the year being 2018, part of a month long stay in Arizona.

That is me, above, wheeling my mom across the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge over the Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, Arizona.

That month in Arizona saw taking mom on many rolling adventures. I remember at one point mom saying "I never thought I'd get to do something like this again."

That comment happened on the trail at Piestewa Peak Park, in north Phoenix, the second highest peak in the Phoenix Mountains.

Now, to be clear, we did not roll mom all the way to the top of Piestewa Peak, but we did roll up and down some steep trails in the park. 

Thinking back on it later, some of those steep downhill sections could have gone badly wrong. The wheeling device did have a braking mechanism. But, it was quickly obvious the braking mechanism needed some help when the trail got too steep.

I sort of miss going to Arizona several times a year. Have not done so since July of 2019...

Remembering Nervous Linda Lou Driving To South Mountain Summit

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

The memory did happen in October. The precise day, I do not remember. Oh, wait a second, I can find out the exact date via looking at my blog. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

That photo at the top was taken at the South Mountain summit. You can read all about it in Miss Daisy Drives Nervous Linda Lou To South Mountain Summit.

South Mountain is an extremely large Phoenix city park. An Indian Reservation, I think Apache, is a short distance south of South Mountain.

When we got to the summit of South Mountain parking lot we saw an unexpected scene, part of which you see in the first photo. Multiple Native Americans, likely Apache, selling their handicraft trinkets. 

Linda Lou was in the process of buying some of those cool-looking handicraft trinkets when the Native Americans went into a sort of panic mode. Apparently, the city of Phoenix Park Department objected to Natives selling their wares at this location. 

The Indians had a spotter, lower down the mountain, who called when law enforcement was spotted heading up the mountain. So, the Indians quickly packed up their goods and basically joined us tourists, who were all sympathetic to the Indians, who we all thought were totally harmless marketing their wares at this location.

It really was totally off-putting. Phoenix should instead install a kiosk of some sort, for the Indians to sell their stuff to the eager to buy tourists.

The entry to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, also in Arizona, has multiple kiosks, dozens of them, with Navajo selling stuff they'd made. I bought several things and enjoyed talking to various Navajo, who really do live up to their Beautiful People nickname.

Anyway, hard to believe it has been six years since I drove to the summit of South Mountain, with Linda Lou, my mom, and Big Ed...

Looking To Stay Cool In Arizona With McDonald's Stroopwafel

In less than 12 hours I should be touching down in Phoenix where I just checked the temperature and see it is currently a relatively chilly 78 degrees at 6:18am Arizona time.

The temperature will likely be closer to 119 by the time I exit Sky Harbor today.

It is highly unlikely I will be brought to a restaurant tonight where TODAY'S SPECIAL is 5 minutes in the walk-in freezer, with any purchase.

Tomorrow I may have that walk-in freezer option, if needed, due to being currently scheduled to head south to Maricopa to see Penny at McDonald's.

But, McDonald's is cool without needing to take refuge in a walk-in freezer.

Tomorrow, in addition to being cool in McDonald's, I am looking forward to sampling an item or two from McDonald's new International Menu.

I will be trying the Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich from Canada, which is a chunk of crispy chicken, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, mozzarella cheese and some sorta special sauce. This sounds better than the Grand McExtreme Bacon Burger from Spain which has some sorta special bacon sauce. I may succumb to the Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands. I have already had confirmation from one of my fellow half Dutch relatives that the Stroopwafel is good.

Spencer Jack and Hank Frank's Grandpa Jake is also scheduled to return to Arizona this week, on Friday. I do not know if Miss Daisy and I will be involved in the Grandpa Jake airport pick-up. I suspect not...

Eventually Escaping The Trump Phoenix Debacle

What you are looking at here was my view on the world for well over an hour yesterday, stuck on the tarmac in Phoenix at Sky Harbor Airport at over 100 degrees, with the plane in stuck mode not able to keep the plane interior comfortably cool.

We were boarded and starting to move when the pilot informed us that ground control had halted all flights due to an incoming menace to the world, America's international embarrassment, Donald J. Trump.

The first pilot announcement announced that the delay would be for 30 minutes, approximately. Because the president's plane was landing and security had to secure the airport. The collective anti-Trump groan was pleasant to the ears.

A half hour later, give or take a minute or two, the pilot had a new announcement. Turns out the president's plane had just landed, the pilot saw it land, and that now we were to be stalled for 40 more minutes.

There was palpable panic onboard as victims tried to make arrangements to fix their connecting flight woes. It was pitiful to listen to. I assume this was taking place all over the plane, in addition to the lamenting I heard all around me.

I did not have a panic attack because I had almost three hours to make my connection. With that multi-hour window greatly shortened by the time I arrived at DFW.

The flight from DFW to Wichita Falls was what is known as a bumpy flight, due to passing through a thunderstorm. I left Phoenix sweltering with Trump over 100 degrees. I arrived in Wichita Falls to an outer world chilled into the low 70s, lightning striking and rain downpouring.

Getting struck by chilly rain was quite pleasant last night. I did not get horizontal til well past midnight, with my alarm set to wake me at 6am. However, soon upon getting vertical I got a text message postponing a meeting this morning back in DFW. I could have slept in this morning, had I known.

So, this morning, rather than driving back to the Dallas zone, I think I will find  myself going through the thumbdrive of photos I have collected the past couple weeks.

On another Dallas note. Last night I wondered how bad it bugs Fort Worthers when they land at DFW and hear the pilot welcoming them to Dallas. Or mentioning the impending arrival in Dallas, multiple times.

I see a bike ride in my immediate future today, weather permitting...

Record Breaking Phoenix Rain Has Spencer Jack's Dad Worried About Flash Flood Danger

What you are looking at here is a phone snapshot of a blurb in my old home zone newspaper, the Skagit Valley Herald.

So odd that Skagit County, population of around 130,000, a fraction of Tarrant County's population, has a real newspaper, while...well, I digress.

Spencer Jack's dad, my Favorite Nephew Jason, aka FNJ, emailed me the blurb, along with a message verbalizing concern regarding the safety of his grandparental units, aka my mom and dad.....

Hot and toasty today in the PNW. Currently 80 degrees in my A/C free home. Has anyone checked your parental units today? Today's  Skagit Valley Herald reports they had record rain yesterday. Would hate for them to be in danger of a flash flood.

Previous to FNJ sending this I'd already heard the news that the Phoenix zone had been hit with record breaking rain on June 5, with one one-hundredth of an inch saturating the desert. Upon hearing this I was not too concerned mom and dad were in any flash flood danger.

And, anyone currently in Texas reading what my FNJ had to say, isn't his weather humble bragging cute? Hot and toasty at 80. With no A/C. Yesterday I was using my A/C to bring the interior temperature down to 80, with the outer world being heated well into the 90s.

I suspect the first 100 degree day of the year will soon be upon us....

A Tale Of Three Town's Temperatures

I was on my way to Wal-Mart, not to get gas, but to get milk, and, even though there was no gas involved, I called my mom.

I'd not called for a few weeks, so my mom answered the phone with "Howdy Stranger."

I was being a bit overheated waiting for the vehicular A/C to cool me down. My mom asked what our temperature was.

I told my mom it was currently 107, because that was what I'd just heard on the radio.

My mom matched my 107 and said it was HOTTER in Phoenix, well, Sun Lakes, which is a suburb of Phoenix.

When I got back to my abode and checked my computer based temperature monitoring device I saw that that device was indicating the radio was correct regarding the Fort Worth temperature.

But, when I checked my mom's Phoenix temperature, via my computer based temperature monitoring device I saw that Phoenix was actually way chillier than Fort Worth, at only 104 degrees.

Now looking at this temperature data for both towns I see a problem. The temperature in F-Town is 107, with a wind speed of 5 mph and a humidity of 20% making it still really feel like 107. Meanwhile Phoenix, with a temperature of 104, also has a wind speed of 5 mph and also a humidity of 20%, yet really feels HOTTER than Fort Worth, at 108 degrees.

So, my mom was right, after all, it is hotter in her AZ zone. But, how is it that in Phoenix having a lower temperature than Fort Worth, with the same wind speed and humidity as Fort Worth, somehow feels hotter than Fort Worth? This is very perplexing.

Meanwhile, up in Tacoma, where my nephews David and Theo live, along with my niece, Ruby and their caretaker poodles, Blue and  Max, it is a very chilly 73 degrees, with a wind speed of 8 mph and a balmy humidity of 47% making it really feel like 78.

A Pleasantly HOT Bike Ride With Indian Ghosts & TV Crews After A Vexing Library Experience Thinking About Going To Phoenix

Video Crew At Village Creek

My temperature monitoring device indicated the outer world was feeling like a 107 degrees around 5 this afternoon. The real temperature was only 96.

So, I decided to escape air-conditioned comfort and go warm up by riding my bike with the Indian Ghosts at the Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

But, before I visited the Indian Ghosts I went to my neighborhood Fort Worth Public Library because I was in dire need of reading material.

My neighborhood public library is quite nice.

Except for one thing.

Waiting in a long line to check out books. Very inefficient. I know that self checkouts have arrived in Texas, because I have seen them. Fort Worth needs to upgrade.

I was, eventually, at the head of the long library line. I sort of inadvertently started a minor revolt when I turned around and said this library needs a self check out line. Suddenly the line of waiters got loud, sharing their experiences in other, more modern, libraries, in other towns, more modern than Fort Worth.

Like Arlington and Grapevine.

I saw a sort of odd thing (picture above) when I exited the Village Creek trail onto the Bob Findlay Linear Park Pioneer Trail. There was a lighting set up for TV filming, with an old geezer, in a suit, being a talking head to a camera. This was in front of the informational memorial type installation that explains who Bob Findlay was and how he created Interlochen.

Changing the subject back to my bike ride.

I'd forgotten how pleasant it is to ride a bike when it is HOT. You stay cool as long as you are moving. But, when you stop, you're an instant sweat monkey.

I got back here to find a pleasant surprise in my email. My baby sister emailed asking if there was any chance I could join her, Kristin, Ruby Jean, Theo John and David Jay in Phoenix in December.

I think that is very doable. I have not yet met my two new nephews and niece.

Spencer Jack's favorite uncle, that being my nephew, Joey, texted me last night with a question about Dallas. So, I called him back and had myself a fine time talking to Joey.

The subject of Joey going to Phoenix, came up. Methinks maybe Joey should also go to Phoenix in December. If Joey's big brother, Spencer Jack's dad, and Spencer Jack, also journeyed to Phoenix in December, that would have only one of my closest relatives remaining in Washington, that being my oldest sister, who is currently lost somewhere in the wilds of British Columbia, trying to find her way to Alaska.

Hiking With My Sister To A Hole In The Rock In Papago Park In Phoenix

My Sister Gearing Up For The Hike To The Redrock Top

Does my sister look a bit reluctant regarding the idea of climbing the Papago Park redrock butte behind her, with the hole in the rock being the goal?

Papago Park is a hilly zone, primarily in Phoenix, but spreading into Tempe and Scottsdale.

Papago Park's redrock sandstone buttes make for an unusual feature inside a major city. In Papago Park you will also find the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.

This is only 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix and attracts millions of visitors a year.

Arizona Hikers Trekking To The Top Of
The Butte With The Hole

My current hometown, Fort Worth, Texas, also has an unusual feature about 10 minutes from its downtown, called the Tandy Hills Natural Area. The Tandy Hills Natural Area does not attract millions of visitors a year. Nothing in Fort Worth attract millions of visitors a year.

Oh. I forgot about the sporting goods store, Cabela's, which sold Fort Worth a bill of non-sporting goods, promising, in exchange for tax breaks and other perks, to give Fort Worth the #1 tourist attraction in Texas.

I digress.

Kids Coming Through The Hole In The Rock

I was very surprised at the large number of little kids making the trek up the redrock butte to the hole in the rock.

In Papago Park, in addition to the trail to the top of the redrock butte you see in these pictures, there are many miles of other trails for hiking and biking.

I saw a lot of mountain bikers today, in Papago Park, which made me feel very nostalgic for Moab and my mountain bike.

From the Hole in the Rock you can see a white pyramid. This is known as Hunt's Tomb, due to this being the burial location for Arizona's first governor, George W. P Hunt. Since Arizona is currently celebrating its centennial of being a state, this would seem to indicate that Mr. Hunt became the governor of Arizona in 1912.

Kids Inside The Hole In The Rock

I have already mentioned my noticing the huge reduction in the number of balloon people that I am seeing in Arizona compared with all the balloon people I see in Texas.

This particular Saturday, in the urban zone of Phoenix, is instructive as to why there is such a big girth differential between the two states.

Today I would hazard to guess that there were likely no more than half a dozen people on Fort Worth's Tandy Hills. Granted, the Tandy Hills are not nearly as scenic as these redrock buttes in Papago Park, but that really does not explain the difference in outdoor activity levels.

My Sister Looking Through The Hole In The Rock

That difference in outdoor activity levels sure would seem to go a long way to explain why I'm experiencing the same thing I experienced the last time I had spent way too long in Texas and then flew to a skinnier part of the country to find myself thinking the people looked as if they've had the air let out of them

Today I saw 100s, maybe 1000s of people out and about, hiking, biking, boating, climbing. Every butte or hill we came upon, today, had people either hiking or biking, or both, on it. Including a very steep paved trail on something called A Mountain, in Tempe, near Lake Tempe and Arizona State University.

My sister's pedometer indicated by the end of today's trekking we had trekked about 4 miles. Much of that trekking involved elevations gains.

I do not know what is in store for me tomorrow. Church has been mentioned. My mom just came into my quarters to give me a church worthy shirt. Against my will I was fed dinner tonight. My mom was unsuccessful  in her turkey leg hunt. I have heard Sweet Tomatoes mentioned multiple times this evening as a possible dinner zone for Sunday. Along with my sister....

A Second Sun Lakes Walk Without Getting Lost This Time

If I Had A Pole I Might Go Fishing

This morning, unlike yesterday, I managed a walk along the Sun Lakes greenbelt without managing to get lost.

I did not get lost and I managed to find two more of the Sun Lakes.

My lungs are really appreciating breathing in all this clean air.

The Sun Lakes are also clean. I learned this via signs posted next to the lakes. During some months of the year you must release any fish you catch, but, with most months of the year, releasing is not required.

I saw catfish among the types of fish that can be caught in the Sun Lakes. So, a Texan would be right at home fishing here. You are restricted to using only one pole. This seems reasonable to me.

I Am Planning On Moving To This House

I don't remember if I have mentioned, previously, that the Southwest style of architecture is my favorite. My house in Mount Vernon, far north of the Southwest, was Southwest inspired, with a touch of Frank Lloyd Wright thrown in.

I liked the house you see in the picture. It faces one of the Sun Lakes. It has a driveway that leads to the greenbelt's paved trail. In the driveway sat an electric golf cart.

A lot of these Sun Lakes people motor about on electric golf carts.

With no golfing involved. You can drive to the Sun Lakes' Basha grocery store in your golf cart.

I have seen no electric Volt cars motoring on Sun Lakes' greenbelt's paved trail.

We are currently in a BBQ cooking frenzy here in preparation for this afternoon's BBQ in Chandler.

This morning, for breakfast, among other things, I picked a grapefruit. Making this the absolutely freshest grapefruit I've ever had. Freshly picked oranges, too. But, I did not pick the oranges.

I have been told there is a pass for me to go swimming in any of Sun Lakes' 5 swimming pools. These are heated pools. I do not know if my delicate sensibilities can handle a heated pool.

My First Day In Arizona With A Double Filet-O-Fish & Lost Bets

Desert Mountains East Of Phoenix

In the picture I am about 30 miles from being on the ground in Phoenix. It'd been about 3 years since I've seen scenic scenery of the mountain sort.

I was surprised by the big lake to the east of Phoenix. I later learned it was called Lake Roosevelt. Washington has a Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia River behind Grand Coulee Dam. I saw no dam that accounted for this Lake Roosevelt.

I had no annoying incidents flying US Airways today. Except for the fact that the last time I flew this airline it was still US West and then, in addition to something to drink, they also threw you a bag of something to open up and eat.

Hiking Through Sky Harbor Airport

Today was my first time experiencing the new thing, to me, of ordering small morsels of food and paying for it with a credit card swiping device.

This was also the first time I've flown since virtually every airline, except Southwest, charges to check in a bag. This charge to check in a bag seems to have caused people to try and take too much on board, which resulted in the overhead bins getting too full and causing those with wheeled on carry-ons to be told they had to check in their bag.

I said earlier today that my only walking today would likely be via the long hike through an airport. This turned out to be true. So far. The Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport helps speed up the walking with a moving sidewalk. At the end of the moving sidewalks I had to do some auto-walking en route to the baggage claim area.

When I finally saw the baggage claim area I also suddenly saw my mom and dad and sister. Soon my sister was driving us out of the Phoenix Airport. My sister said it was the biggest airport in the world. I did not disabuse my sister of this notion because I'd already been humiliated by saying that Susan Lucci had never been on Dancing with the Stars. My sister made a bet with me on this issue and then quickly used her smart phone to prove me wrong.

McDonald's Is My Kind Of Place

The loser of the Susan Lucci bet has to get into my sister's swimming pool. Methinks this may have been what is known as a sucker bet, with my sister, apparently, not knowing that me getting in a pool this time of year is no problem at all.

After we finally left the world's biggest airport my sister drove us all over looking for a place to eat.

I have to say, one thing has really struck me, so far, every where I go in the Phoenix zone the land is landscaped. Every intersection, every freeway exit, everywhere. It is such a contrast with a certain other area of the Southwest with which I am familiar that does not even landscape the freeway exits to its top tourist attraction.

Eventually my sister found this really cool restaurant called McDonald's. My sister told me all the McDonald's with which she is associated have been re-tooled into the slick ultra modern type one she took me to today.

Heavy Traffic In The Desert Outside Phoenix

I had a Double Filet-O-Fish. With some other things. One of which was a Mango/Pineapple Smoothie.

Soon after we left McDonald's, we left civilization and passed through desert that is Indian land. Eventually this led us to Sun Lakes and my mom and dad's place, which is where I am now.

It is rather warm. I don't know if air conditioning exists in this part of the country. I suspect it does, but it is not running at my current location.

I just checked. It is currently 84 degrees at my current location on the planet. The location I left a few hours ago is currently 74 degrees.

I think I'll take a walk around the grounds and take some pictures of palm trees, citrus trees and cactus.

Soon I Will Be Leaving Texas & Greeting You From Phoenix

Starting Thursday, March 15, I will be sending blog greetings from the Phoenix, Arizona zone.

I called my mom and dad a few minutes ago to tell them I'd soon be incoming.

Apparently there will be a BBQ the day after I arrive. Spencer Jack will be there. I have not seen Spencer Jack since August of 2008.

I did not use the Southwest Airlines gift card I got at a Christmas party to book the flight. Flying Southwest to get to Phoenix is just way too much bother, what with that annoying Wright Amendment ridiculousness. I would have had to fly to Denver, Albuquerque or Las Vegas, before continuing on to Phoenix.

US Airways will be taking me directly to Phoenix, with no visit to Las Vegas, Denver or Albuquerque.

Now that I finally got around to booking a flight to see my mom and dad, sister, brother, brother-in-law, nephews, sister-in-law and Spencer Jack, I'm sort of looking forward to it.

Apparently I get to go to an olive grove, among other things. I don't recollect ever going to an olive grove before.

A Texas Cow Wash With The Saloon Hopping Wild Woman Of Woolley Washington & Twister

That Wild Woman of Woolley, Miss CVB, sent me the picture of a Texas Car Wash. The caption said "Only in Texas."

I do not recollect seeing a Cow Wash in Texas. I also don't know where Miss CVB found this picture. Maybe she came across it while doing research for her upcoming trip to Texas with Miss BS(-M).

I can't remember the last time I went sightseeing with Miss CVB. I recollect years ago, Miss CVB and me, driving up in the Cascades, driving over Diablo Dam, prior to the existence of the North Cascades Highway, and getting sort of stuck on a narrow logging road. Miss CVB has never gone saloon hopping. I am so looking forward to that.

Miss CVB regularly reminds me I need to go to Phoenix to visit my parental units. This morning Twister tweeted me a picture of himself deep in the aforementioned North Cascades. The full picture is a panoramic view. You can look at that here.

Why am I mentioning Miss CVB and Twister in the same paragraph? Well, the two of them have put it in my mind that it is time for a roadtrip. I have not driven back to Washington since July of 2001. I am thinking a roadtrip to Phoenix to see my mom and dad, sister, brother-in-law and nephews, on the way to Washington, would be a real fine time.

I will make sure this trip to Washington has none of the problems that I dealt with the last time I was there. In other words I won't be staying in Tacoma. I likely won't even do a Tacoma drive-by, due to the fact that that town is south of what will be my location.

The True Story Of The Little Boy Who Wanted To Be A Fireman & Was Not From Fort Worth

This morning Miss CVB of Sedro Woolley, Washington emailed me the story of a little boy who died from Leukemia, who wanted to be a fireman when he grew up. It was a touching story, but seemed hokey to me. So, I looked it up and quickly found there were several versions. The one Miss CVB sent me had the little boy being a Canadian in Calgary, Alberta.

So, with me thinking the story was a total hoax, urban legend, myth type thing I changed all the instances of Calgary to Fort Worth. And blogged it.

Soon after that Miss CVB emailed me that she was "crushed to learn it was not true."

Then I got a message from Steve A telling me, "The story IS true, albeit from Phoenix rather than Fort Worth. Even the off the wall bit about the firefighters climbing through the window is true."

Well, sort of true. In the real story it was 5 firemen, not 16. The boy's name was not "Billy." It was Frank "Bopsy" Salazar. The boy was 7, not 6. The story was lifted from the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book. The boy was the first "wish child" helped by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The little boy wanted to be a fireman, ride in a hot air balloon and go to Disneyland. He got all 3 wishes. It is true the little boy was given a fireman's uniform. In the real story he got a ride in a firetruck and squirted a few cars with the fire hose.

In the real story the boy's condition worsened after the trip to Disneyland. He was back in the hospital, third floor. A fireman knocked on the room's window, it was opened and in crawled the 5 firemen. Later that evening the boy died.

The Heart Attack Grill Is Not In Texas

One of my sister's lives in Chandler, Arizona. My mom and dad live nearby in Sun Lake. My slightly overweight brother lives 30 miles south in Maricopa.

My brother-in-law runs several McDonald's in the Phoenix zone. When I fly up north I try and arrange a layover in Phoenix, on the way back, for at least a couple hours.

The longest layover was 11 hours. That time I got picked up and brought to one of my brother-in-law's McDonald's for All You Can Eat. It was breakfast. I didn't eat much.

Then we went back to the airport to pick up my other incoming sister. Then it was back to McDonald's again. This time breakfast was over. So, I got a salad of some sort, a fish burger, a couple double cheeseburgers, I forget what else. At one point I was two-fisting food, as in holding one burger in one hand, while the other hand held something else. I'd been up since before 5am and had not slept well. I was hungry.

There was more food when we got to my sister's place. Then she gave us a tour of the area, while we ate more food. Then we went to some place, the name of which I do not remember, for Happy Hour and even more food. After that it was my one and only visit to an In & Out burger joint. I had two In & Out burgers. At that point in time it seemed to me to be the best burger I'd ever had.

By the time they got me to the plane, I was so uncomfortably stuffed that takeoff felt like it might cause me to explode. Luckily I had a row to myself and could lay down. I got back here to learn I'd gained over 15 pounds during this trip.

This morning I was shocked, well, maybe not shocked, let's say surprised, to learn that, in my sister's town of Chandler, there is this place called the Heart Attack Grill, where everything they serve is bad for you. No diet Cokes, only the full sugar kind. No trans-fat free frying. Only lard is used. And if you weigh over 350 pounds you eat free.

Faux Medical staff, in the form of a doctor and scantily clad nurses, are in attendance to monitor your condition as you consume the Heart Attack Grill's food.

What I don't get is why have my burger loving relatives not mentioned this place to me. The last time I was in Phoenix they took me to a Ruby Tuesday's. I would have greatly preferred the Heart Attack Grill had I known of its existence.

Why is the Heart Attack Grill in relatively lean Arizona, and not here in relatively not lean Texas? It's perplexing. Below is an amusing YouTube video showing you the deliciousness of the Heart Attack Grill.

Etcetera

North Texas has been through a hellacious storm today. Golf Ball size hail pummeled parts of the D/FW Metroplex. Areas that were spared the huge hail got hit with heavy rain and really really loud thunder. As far as I know, right now, no tornadoes were spawned.

So, during the storm I took off to go to Wal-Mart. I needed gas. But the gas station's credit card readers were not functioning, likely a casuality of the lightning. So, I drove on to Wal-Mart on an empty tank. I did my standard call to my mom whenever I get gas, or attempt to get gas. My mom kept me entertained in the Wal-Mart parking lot while I waited for the rain to let up. After what seemed hours, but was likely only minutes, I decided I would need to use my umbrella to get through the downpour and inside Wal-Mart.

I finished with my Wal-Mart foraging and made it back to my vehicle, almost dry. I then decided to call my sister in Phoenix. She lives about 5 miles from my mom and dad. When my sister answered the phone I'd forgotten why I called her. So, we chatted purposelessly while I headed back here. And then my vehicle did that stalling thing that indicates it wants gas. I'd forgotten I'd not gotten gas. I got my sister off the phone and limped into a Shell station. Where I hit the wrong button and got Plus gas at $2.98 a gallon. So, I got a gallon and stopped the hemorrhaging.

We've lost power several times during today's bad weather. The internet connection is off and on. I've got no energy to try and find any sort of pic that might illustrate the horror of today. Let us all just imagine one big oversized lightning bolt crashing down and making a really really loud noise and call it a day.