Republicans Make Me Grumpy So I Went Wildflower Hunting

The temperature when the sun arrived at my location this morning was only 46. So I opted out of making it four days in a row in the pool.

As you can clearly see, due to that fountain burbling beside my left eye, today I took my grumpy self to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdick Lake, along with a lot of other people enjoying the pleasantly warmed 4th day of March.

I only made it through the first hour of last night's Republican Embarrassment.

A couple days ago one of my progressive liberal democratic socialist type friends up in Washington asked me if the Republicans are seeming stupid to us now, because we are older, or have they always been this stupid?

The day before that I had asked my mom the same question, to which my mom said she'd just asked my dad the same thing.

Imagine Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan or the first Bush up on that stage last night. Any of those four would have made Trump, Rubio and Cruz look so far out of the presidential league. Kasich at least acts grown-up.

Apparently a lot of people are like me and have an instinctual visceral bad reaction to Ted Cruz, sort of like how those of us who are snakeaphobes react to a snake. Which makes sense, what with Ted Cruz seeming so reptilian.

Anyway, the walk around Fosdick Lake put me in a better mood, particularly when I came upon what you see below, a patch of purple wildflowers in the early stage of blooming.

The hills in these parts should soon be alive with color. Last year the wildflowers were a bit of a dud, due to the drought. I suspect this year's wildflowers are going to be spectacular, due to that drought thing no longer being a vexation.

A Presidential Presidents Day Walk Around Fosdick Lake Debating Feeding Ducks

What with it being Presidents Day today I decided to go to the nearest location I know of which I think of as presidential.

That being Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park, for a walk around Fosdick Lake.

Don't ask me why I think of this location as being very presidential. A fortune cookie said I would utter a nonsensical sentence today, so I got that out of the way with that first sentence.

A lot of people were enjoying the ultra pleasant Presidents Day temperature at Oakland Lake Park, including the group of Fosduck feeders you see above. I was on the east side of the lake when I saw this group at the base of the Fosdick Steps on the west side of the lake. I zoomed in for the photo, with my steady hand rendering semi-good results.

Speaking of Presidents.

Last night I watched Saturday's Republican Presidential Debate whilst over at Miss Puerto Rico's. I'd set the DVR to record the circus the day before. Til last night I'd not made it through an entire Republican Presidential Debate during this current election debacle.

But, what happened in South Carolina on Saturday was an embarrassing train wreck that I could not quit watching. A monumental embarrassing entertaining train wreck.

How could the party of Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and Bush the First have devolved into such a mess of nincompoops running for President?

Last night Trump looked so orange. And I'd never noticed Marco Rubio's huge ears before. They looked like wings to me. Was this just because I was watching on an extra big screen? Ben Carson has written a book about the U.S. Constitution? But does not know that that document spells out how a new Supreme Court Justice is appointed? Jeb Bush whining about Trump picking on his family was funny, what with the back and forth between the two which then erupted.

I'd not witnessed a debate so out of control before. Is the Republican Party toast? It seems that might be the case, at least in its current version.....

Solving The Mystery Of Spencer Jack's Dad's Liberty Bell Location With The Republican Debate

This morning when I woke up my phone I found a couple text  messages from my favorite nephew, Jason, he being Spencer Jack's dad and my favorite ex-sister-in-law's eldest son.

Soon after reading my FNJ's text message I saw that which you see here, on Facebook. A posting from the aforementioned FNJ.

To that post my favorite ex-ex-sister-in-law's favorite mountain hiking partner, Michele, asked Jason "where are you".

The photo in Jason's Facebook post might suggest he is Philadelphia, or in California, at Knott's Berry Farm.

Jason's second text, which he sent last night, might provide a clue as to the why of the Liberty Bell photo. Below is that text message in its entirety....

Howdy --- FUD must be in his horizontal position. Fires in Eastern Washington subsided and North Cascades  Pass is open thanks to much needed rain in the area. We did not have an Indian Summer. Cold and rainy tonight! Furnace on. Heard the east is much warmer. 85 degrees daytime high. Looking forward to such. As I am going to visit Liberty Bell tomorrow. Wish me a safe journey. Will for sure share new photo documentation of the Liberty Bell, and post the Eastern Washington devastating fires. -FNJ

Translating a few terms in FNJ's text message. FUD is Favorite Uncle D. Horizontal position means in bed. Liberty Bell is a mountain one drives by when one crosses the North Cascades Pass from Western to Eastern Washington.

FNJ is heading to Eastern Washington to get some natural heat at a temperature about what I set my A/C to. Currently, well before noon on this Friday morning the outer world is chilled to 81 at my location, heading to a predicted high today of one degree under 100.

FNJ's first text message said....

Thought I'd see some Trump blogging this morning. Did my FUD not watch the 3 hour long entertaining debate?

I watched. For awhile. I did find it entertaining. For awhile. But, after awhile it gets a bit annoying listening to a group of grownups spout so much ignorant nonsense. Methinks Lincoln would be appalled at what now passes for Republicans. Teddy Roosevelt would likely also be appalled.  Now that you are making me think about it, Dwight Eisenhower would likely be appalled. I think even Barry Goldwater would be appalled and embarrassed by some of the irresponsible things spewed by too many Republicans.

Is that a good enough debate take, FNJ?

Oh, I forgot to mention Trump. Well, I find him amusing. He sure is living proof that just about anyone can become a billionaire. Apparently being smart, well educated and well mannered are not requirements. In Trump's case it helped that he got help due to inheriting his dad's real estate business. Or was it dad's money? I forget.....

The Final Thursday Of February Underwhelmed By Last Night's Arizona Republican Debate

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world on the final Thursday of the second month of 2012, the day appears to have dawned with a pleasantly blue sky.

I can tell via my computer based temperature monitoring device that the outer world at my location is currently heated to 56 degrees.

My attempt to go swimming yesterday morning did not succeed. I got waste deep and decided it was too cold to go any deeper.

The temperature got into the 70s yesterday and is almost 60 right now. I don't know if I will make another swimming attempt. I do know at this time last year I was swimming. I fear I may have become somewhat of a cold water wimp.

Speaking of cold water. I made it through last night's Republican Debate in Arizona. I thought Newt Gingrich did the best. At times Rick Santorum seemed borderline convoluted. Mitt Romney continues to annoy me, but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's my aversion to used car salesmen. Ron Paul continues to amuse me.

But, where is a Ronald Reagan when the Republicans so desperately need one?

I think I will go try and go swimming now and take my mind off the sad state of American politics.

Up Late The 4th Tuesday Of 2012 After Republican Debating & Too Much PDFing

Looking closely out at the outer world from my primary viewing portal on this next to the last Tuesday of the first month of 2012, you might guess I am up after the arrival of the sun on this 4th Tuesday of January.

You would be guessing right.

I was up real late last night, well past midnight, obsessed with the complex task of extracting text from a complex PDF document. Eventually I got the task completed and was able to go to bed and get some much needed sleep, much needed because Monday was a very exhausting day.

I am continuing to have a problem with something irritating my vision orbs to the extent that Artificial Tears are required to abate the irritation. I have no idea what irritant is in the air that is irritating my eyes.

The only variable that I know of is in the past week Chesapeake Energy has hydraulically fractured the Barnett Shale at my local neighborhood Fort Chesapeake.

Speaking of Big Brother Chesapeake. My favorite hole pokers have announced they are drastically reducing their hole poking into the Barnett Shale, due to the price of natural gas being at such a low level.

What did Chesapeake Energy think was going to happen to the price of natural gas when the supply was greatly increased by all those new holes poked into the ground all over America? Isn't that covered in Economics 101?

Speaking of Economics. I did not make it all the way through last night's 2 hour Republican Debate. The DVR recorded it, so I can watch the last 45 minutes later.

What I concluded from last night's debate is the more I see of Mitt Romney the less I like him. To me he comes across an an unctuous car salesmen with a tendency towards making low blows, always with a smile on his face. The more I listen to Newt Gingrich the more I like him. Same with Ron Paul. He amuses me. Rick Santorum annoys me and I don't quite know why.

Changing the subject from the ridiculous to my favorite one, the weather.

It is currently 44 degrees in the outer world at my location, heading to a high of 58, today, with rain predicted for today and the following two days. Like I said before, I will believe that when I get wet from something falling from the sky.

Up Late The 2nd Sunday Of 2012 After Saturday Night's Republican Debate

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world you might guess I got up after the sun on this second Sunday of the New Year.

Your guess would be correct.

The sky appears to be bluer than yestermorning's gray, cloud-covered sky.

I was not at a location with television viewing capability until about a half hour in to last night's Republican Debate.

On my way back to a location with television viewing capability, that being my abode, I saw some oddness at my neighborhood Fort Chesapeake. It was dark at that point in time, so I did not think I could document the oddness with photos. I will walk to Fort Chesapeake this morning, with the hope that the oddness will be available for photo documenting.

Regarding last night's Republican Debate. Methinks there have been way too many Republican Debates this election cycle. To me the debates have seemed to spiraled down to being somewhat farcical.

The most strangely farcical moment last night came from a bizarre, nonsensical question from George Stephanopoulos, asking something about contraception. The question was asked of Mitt Romney, who was just as perplexed as the viewers about the question. Even after Romney made it clear that Stephanopoulos' question made no sense, Stephanopoulos proceeded with pressing for an answer to his nonsensical question.

Ron Paul seemed to loop into loopyland more than normal last night. I like Ron Paul. But, he has articulation problems at times.

Rick Perry continues to embarrass me. And himself.

Rick Santorum bugs me. I'm not quite sure why.

It was an improvement to be rid of Michelle Bachmann.

I wish I could say I am going swimming now.

The 3rd Friday Of December Thinking About Not Swimming & A Republican Debate

This morning is already the morning of the 3rd Friday of the last month of 2011. Day 16 of December appears, judging from the view from my primary viewing portal on the world to be, currently, free of rain, with a sky only partially covered by clouds.

The outer world is being chilled to only 10 degrees above freezing at this point in time.

After yesterday's aborted attempt, due to lightning strikes, to walk around Fosdic Lake, I am desperate for endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation. I suspect I will find such stimulation somehow, somewhere, today.

Speaking of endorphin inducing stimulation, I made it all the way through last night's Iowa Republican Debate on Fox News.

I don't quite understand why I am finding watching the Republican debates this election season to be entertaining Reality TV.

From watching the debates I've come to an opinion or two. One is, I really do not like Michelle Bachman. She is like some bad substitute for Sarah Palin. Less good looking and, I think, even dumber.And not nearly as likable. I can't stand how she seems to be always squinting and smiling at the same time as she says the dumb, misinformed things she says. I liked Newt Gingrich calling her on her nonsense last night.

I like Ron Paul. Methinks his thinking is in the right place, though he seems to have trouble articulating what he thinks in a way that does not come across as wacky doodle.

I never hold anyone's religion against them. Unless they wear it on their sleeve and try and convince me that I must think what they think.

However, I have long had a bit of a problem with the Mormon religion. Somehow believing that Jesus left Jerusalem and journeyed to the New World where he preached to the Natives is just a tad odd. When the Spaniards arrived in the New World they did not find the Natives practicing Christianity. The Spaniards got very violent trying to force Christianity on the Natives.

So, how do the Mormons explain Jesus' apparent failure in the New World, while he sparked the start of Christianity in the Old World?

This is very perplexing to me.

I knew nothing about Mormonism til I visited the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, years ago. And saw murals on walls depicting Jesus ministering to the Native Americans.

Bizarre.

And then there is the comic relief provided by Texas.

Rick Perry.

I actually like Rick Perry more now than I did before all his exposure due to running for President. I had no idea he was such a clueless goofball.

John Huntsman is probably a very competent guy. Saying this is what is known as damning by faint praise.

I don't like Rick Santorum. Don't quite know why. Maybe it's my aversion to people who seem to always be smiling when they talk. Yes, I can be very shallow at times.

And then there is Newt. I have always liked Newt Gingrich. He had me last night, again, when he referenced Thomas Jefferson, once again displaying his knowledge of the actual history of America, as opposed to someone like Michelle Bachman, who was unaware that America has not had an embassy in Iran for decades.

Enough of politics. It is time to go swimming. Unfortunately it is too cold for that.

Two Weeks Til Thanksgiving With Rick Perry Being A Turkey In Last Night's Republican Debate

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world at the bright beginning of Day 10 of the next to last month of 2011.

It is only two weeks until Thanksgiving. We are on the fast track to Christmas and a New Year.

Speaking of turkeys, I got a strange thing from TXU in the mail yesterday. You non-Texans reading this, TXU is a Texas electricity provider. Yesterday's TXU mailing thanked me for being such a good customer by giving me an up to 16 pound turkey or up to 9 pound spiral cut ham.

To acquire the turkey or ham requires going to Krogers. I don't like going to Krogers.

Still speaking of turkeys, Rick Perry had another really bad debate night last night. Perry's gaffe that had the pundits in full punditry mode came when Perry said he'd eliminate 3 departments of the government. He then proceeded to try to name the three he'd get rid of.

The Commerce Department, the Education Department and, uh, uh, uh, uh. Not able to remember the third one. Perry ended his gaffe by saying "OOPS."

Later in the debate Perry remembered the third department he wanted to get rid of was the Energy Department.

I'm finding the Republican Debates to be rather entertaining. I don't recollect making it through to the end of so many debates the last Presidential Election cycle as I have already during the current one.

It's getting late. It is currently 41 degrees. Time to go swimming before it gets any hotter.

Did Rick Perry Embarrass Himself At Last Night's Entertaining Las Vegas Western Republican Presidential Debate?

The early morning sky of the 3rd Wednesday of October is glowing clear and blue, which you can clearly see looking skyward through the bars of my patio prison cell.

I watched the Republican Presidential Debate last night, which overstimulated me and made me want to go to Las Vegas.

I don't think I've been in Las Vegas since 2005.

I've never watched a Presidential Debate with so much amusing bickering as I heard last night.

I don't know if my opinion is shared by anyone else, but to me, it appears Rick Perry is in way way way over his head. He seemed, to me, to make a big fool of himself. He even got the audience booing at him with his stupid harping about Mitt Romney supposedly being an illegal alien enabler.

Ron Paul makes a lot of sense a lot of the time. And then sometimes he says something fruitcakey. I can not think of a specific right now.Maybe one was the Wall Street occupiers should be occupying the Federal Reserve instead.

I don't know how many people watched last night's Vegas debate. If millions upon millions were viewing I suspect Newt Gingrich will be taking a jump in the polls, while Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann continue to plunge.

On a totally non-political note. Last night we got down into the 40s for the first time in a long time at my location on the planet, as you can see via my computer generated weather graphic.

My going swimming rule, that I adopted during our last swimming season, is that swimming is doable if the 24 hour temperature average is 50 degrees or above.

I am fairly certain the temperature has averaged 50 degrees, or above, during the previous 24 hour time period. So, I am going swimming now. I will let you know later how that worked out.

Up Late The 2nd Thursday Of September Pondering Wednesday Night's Republican Debate

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world you may be able to guess I am up and about well after that glowing yellow orb in the sky arrived on this 8th day of September.

I think I overstressed my personal infrastructure, so I am not going to additionally stress my personal infrastructure today. Which means, no pool or other stressing today.

Something is seriously irritating my eyes this morning. I am almost sure this was not caused by watching the Republican Debate last night.

I also do not think my eyes burning is being caused my toxic chemicals released in the air by my new Chesapeake Energy neighbor, because I have heard no screeching drilling noises so we are not at the squirting toxic water into the well part of the process yet.

Back to that debate. My little sister, the lawyer, told me that of the Republicans the only one she could remotely consider letting in her house, if he knocked on her door, was John Huntsman.

When my little sister said this to me I had no clue who John Huntsman was. I do now. He seems like a very bright guy.

Last night's debate was my first exposure to Michele Bachmann. I did not react well to Michele Bachmann. Not well at all.

I find Ron Paul amusing. No bat's chance in hell he'll be president.

I liked Herman Cain a lot. I could see him being our first successful black president.

Newt Gringrich seems like yesteday's news to me. I do think he's a smart guy though. But with way too much baggage to make it to being president.

I'd met Rick Santorum previously. I like the guy. He seems smart. I don't think he has a chance of winning.

I was sort of hoping Rick Perry would stage an epic fail in his first debate. I was disappointed in that hope. Rick Perry did a good job last night. This sort of surprised me. I might even have found myself liking him last night, if it were not for the weird history of wearing his religion on his sleeve.

Of the 8 debating last night, I can see Mitt Romney being a good president. I think any of the 8 would fare well against the current state of Barack Obama, with the possible exception of Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul.

Enough with the politics. I am not going swimming now.

Up After The Sun Thinking About Basketball Fanatics, Republicans & Bachelorettes

I am up after the sun, looking out my bedroom window at water colored turquoise. I do not think I will go swimming in the turquoise colored water this morning.

I am trying to break free of being a creature of habit.

I admit that, beyond knowing the Dallas Mavericks were playing in the final round of the NBA championship, I really paid no attention.

So, I did not realize til this morning that the final game was played in Miami's American Airline Center, not the Dallas American Airline Center.

I had seen the news footage of the huge crowd going nuts in downtown Dallas outside the American Airline Center and wrongly concluded this is where the game was played. Why was there such a large crowd in downtown Dallas during the final basketball game if it was not being played in downtown Dallas? Was the game being shown on big screen TVs?

Sports fanatics perplex me.

But not nearly as much as Republicans. I watched last night's Presidential Debate on CNN til it wore on my last nerve. So I switched to watching The Bachelorette til it wore on my last nerve.

And on a HOT temperature note. Yesterday the official temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport made it official. Yesterday was our first 100 degree day of the year.

We are currently scheduled to only get to 99 today. Brrrr.