Tuesday Air-Conditioned Walmart Nature Communing With Cowboys

With the temperature already in the 90s, heading to a predicted high today of 104 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, I again opted for the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Two days from now, on the second Thursday of this 2026 version of September, we are currently predicted to get chilled to a high in the mid 90s, followed by a few more 100 degree plus days, and then a cold front blowing in, chilling us to highs in the 80s, with thunderstorming and rain.

I'll believe that when I hear the thunder boom and raindrops hitting my windows.

As you can see, via today's photo documentation, Texas cowboys do their grocery shopping at Walmart, along with all the non-cowboys.

124 Degrees Going To Walmart To See Weird Stuff

One of the reasons I enjoy going to Walmart is one never knows what one might see there. For instance, that which you see photo documented above. I parked a couple slots away from that unusual vehicle.

How is this thing street legal? It had a Texas license plate. How is all that stuff stuck on the car secured sufficiently to render it impossible for stuff to not come flying free whilst motoring, even at a slow speed.

Why would anyone want to drive such a thing?

That is just a variation of a thought which often crosses my mind whilst nature communing in Walmart, with that thought being why would that person wear that in public, or have that part of their body pierced or that hideous tattoo on their nose?

Below you see the temperature in my vehicle when I climbed aboard shortly before 5 this afternoon. 124 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. Currently 100 degree plus days are being forecast well into September.

It was so HOT for Saturday's Hotter 'N Hell 100 bike race event, with the humidity so low, the dehydration danger so high, that the race was shortened from 100 miles to 100 kilometers.

Over 7,500 rolled their wheels on Saturday, with over 120 of the wheel rollers needing to be hospitalized.

I am so looking forward to winter and getting my long pants out of storage...

Back To Communing With Nature In Air-Conditioned Walmart

Our couple day break from being way too HOT ended today, just in time for the Hotter N' Hell 100 bike race to be as HOT as advertised.

So, with the outer world being way too HOT, it was back to air-conditioned Walmart, this morning, for my daily bout of endorphin acquisition and nature communing.

Outer world nature communing will not be doable for quite a few days, if the current weather forecast is accurate.

Escaping Possible Record Breaking HEAT In Walmart

Another way too HOT day in North Texas. 109, nearing the record for this day, of 110. 

A chance of a thunderstorm later today.

Some lightning strikes and thunder booms, along with a good downpour, would be a nice break from the monotonous clear blue-sky HEAT.

It was back to Walmart, again, this morning for my daily walk.

I am not the only one using Walmart for this purpose. One starts to see the same people, day after day, enjoying the air-conditioned hiking venue.

Today HOT Walking Walmart In Ghost Town Mode

Yesterday I did my daily salubrious endorphin inducing walking at WinCo, which I said was like a Ghost Town, with so few people in the store.

This morning, the third Wednesday of the 2026 version of August, it was back to my closest indoor air-conditioned walking venue.

Walmart.

This morning it was Walmart which was like a Ghost Town, as you can see via the above photo documentation.

Today's predicted temperature high is 108 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. 108 is a few degrees shy of the record on this date, 111 degrees, back on August 19, 2014.

The HEAT does take a toll on one's energy. I can see why a lot of people do not want to venture out, unless they are in dire need of something. Maybe Walmart and WinCo get real busy after the sun leaves for the day. Both are open around the clock.

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.

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.

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.

Final July Friday Sizzling At 115 Degrees

This final Friday of the 2025 version of July found the outer world at my North Texas location warmed to 99 degrees at my regular morning communing with nature time of the day.

With little wind blowing.

So, I opted to travel in air-conditioned comfort the short distance from my abode to the nearest chilly Walmart to get in my endorphin acquiring aerobic stimulation.

And, since it was Walmart, the aerobic stimulation was combined with fascinating anthropological observations.

So, what's up with the photo above showing 115 degrees? 

Well, a couple minutes after 5 this Friday afternoon I exited my air-conditioned interior space to walk the short distance to my air-conditioned means of motorized motion.

It was a HOT short walk.

When I ignited the vehicle's engine, I saw the vehicle's temperature monitor informing me that the reason I felt HOT was because the temperature was 115 degrees, as measured via the Fahrenheit method.

I had exited my abode because I wanted to go to ALDI to acquire ingredients I needed to make a burrito casserole tomorrow.

It's only a couple miles to ALDI. And a short HOT walk from parking to store entry.

But, ALDI did not have a couple of the ingredients I needed. That necessitated driving to the store across the street from ALDI.

Walmart.

And parking a longer distance from the store's entry than is the case at ALDI. Thus, a HOT walk to get to air-conditioned comfort.

You may be wondering why I did not go to ALDI this morning, when I went to Walmart, with you thinking the Walmart by ALDI is the one I went to this morning. 

I have two nearby Walmart's. The one I went to this morning is about a mile from my abode. The one by ALDI is about two miles from my abode.

This town has three Walmart's. The third one is at the north end of town, by the air force base. It is the biggest of the three Walmart's in town. And the least entertaining, anthropological observing-wise...

Chauffeuring Senior Citizen To Walmart Drug Pusher For Daily Walk

Yesterday I volunteered to be today's chauffeur for a senior citizen who should no longer be driving who needed to see three local drug pushers to get vitally needed prescriptions. 

The final drug pusher was the Walmart pharmacy.

I knew yesterday such would be the case and agreed to chauffeur duty if the Walmart part would also be the location of my daily brisk walking constitutional.

Which explains the photo documentation, looking down an empty aisle in the massive Walmart store.

Walmart was not as empty as the photo documentation suggests.

Due to privacy concerns, that and fearing triggering someone getting irrationally upset if they saw a camera phone aimed at them, I had the camera turned on, and as soon as I saw an aisle free of human occupation, I snapped the photo.

Walmart in the morning does not provide as many anthropological observations of unique versions of humans as I see on my later in the day Walmart visits. I did see some unfortunate tattooing on elderly persons today, but no odd piercings in body locations one would think a person would not want pierced. 

It was nice doing my daily brisk walk in air-conditioned comfort, particularly after yesterday's blistering bout on the Wichita Bluffs...

Thursday Thunderstorming Getting Soaked At Walmart

Rain was dripping slightly a half hour before 5, this Thursday afternoon, when I left my abode to drive to Walmart.

Arriving at the Walmart parking lot rain was still dripping, but not copiously. I saw no reason to bring my umbrella into the store with me.

And then, about ten minutes into the store, a downpour began pouring down, copiously.

With hail.

Along with thunder booming.

The sound inside Walmart was like what it would likely be like to be inside a snare drum, when someone is pounding the drum.

As I self-checkout-ed the few items I'd collected, the noise grew significantly louder. The effect seemed sort of concussive.

By the time I got to the exit a crowd had gathered, waiting for the downpour to abate. I waited with them for about five minutes and then made a run for it.

Halfway to my vehicle I was soaked. But, the rain was warm, and hail had ceased pummeling, so getting totally soaked was not too miserable.

The photo documentation at the top is the view through my windshield after successfully making it back to my vehicle. 

Rain was still downpouring when I got back under my carport. The umbrella I wish I'd taken into Walmart with me, made the wet trek to my abode not another soaker. 

Remembering Pooling With Nephew David In Arizona

The Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, arriving in my email a few minutes ago, was definitely not from this day in July.

This particular memory happened one day in March of the year 2019.

Over five years ago.

That would be me lifting nephew David out of my sister Jackie's pool in Chandler, Arizona. I think David is 15 years old now, which would have made him 10 when I was able to lift him. I doubt I could do that now.

I can not remember when last I got wet in a swimming pool. I do not like the pool at my current location. No shade and the water gets way too warm.

The cold snap, which last week was predicted for this week, never much materialized. I think one day this week managed to stay in the low 90s at the hottest. 

My Friday walking venue was once again Walmart.

The Walmart anthropological observations are particularly interesting when the temperature is way too HOT, and way too many attire themselves in way too skimpy, ill-fitting clothing, revealing way too many garish tattoos, and other things best not seen in public.

Do some people not own mirrors?

Perplexing Survey Experience With Walmart

Perplexing email this morning from Walmart. The email asks that I confirm I visited the Greenbriar Road Walmart on March 12, 2024 to begin a survey about my Walmart shopping experience to get a chance to win a $1,000 gift card.

I never win anything, ever, that I can remember, so I clicked to Begin Survey.

After answering several questions that seemed totally easy to answer, the survey suddenly took a perplexing turn which I can not figure out.

The survey mentioned several items I bought that day and asked me to rank them.

How does Walmart know what I bought that day and thus able to link that information to my email address?

The only identifying element is I do use a debit card. And that debit card does have my name on it. 

But how could that debit card lead Walmart to my email address?

If this survey was from Amazon it would not be at all perplexing. Amazon knows my email address, as it is linked to my Amazon account.

I have no Walmart account. 

Even if I did have a Walmart account that still would not explain how Walmart linked my purchases that day, to me, and my email address.

There likely is a simple explanation which I am too simple to figure out...

Final February Rainy Day Walmart Walk With Alligator Nuggets

I have not ventured into the outer world for walking purposes the past couple days due to cold temperatures and strong winds rendering doing such to be unpleasant.

Today, on the last day of the second month of 2024, we are still cold, not so windy, but rain has been added to the weather mix.

The rain seems to have dampened down the smoke blowing in from the Texas Panhandle wildfires.

So, today, what with beginning to feel the effects of wanton slothfulness, I made my way to my nearest Walmart, for a cart pushing walk with the Walmart throngs.

I walked 44 move minutes, according to my phone's Google Fit app.

During the course of those 44 Walmart Google move minutes I walked by the seafood display. 

Are Gator Nuggets and Filet of Alligator sold in Walmart's outside of the South? That is what you see photo documented above.

I have not had myself any Gator Nuggets or Filet of Alligator, and have zero intention of ever doing so.

I don't even like catfish, which is a sad seafood staple here in the South...

Nightly Walmart Swarm Of Thousands Of Blackbirds

Alfred Hitchcock Birds night, again, at my least favorite local Walmart. Thousands of these devils fly about, as the sun sets, looking for a roosting location. The photo does zero justice to how bizarre this is.

Thousands of what I have been told are blackbirds, roosting on every tree, on every building. Filling the sky. 

It is like a dystopian nightmare of bird weirdness.

Til I was corrected by a self-proclaimed ornithologist, I thought these birds were grackles.

I have been seeing this blackbird swarm at Walmart, and neighboring stores, for about a month. And that first experience with the blackbird invasion was a doozy. I drove onto the Walmart parking lot, immediately startled by seeing so many birds, in the air, in trees, on the pavement, on the building's edge, lined up like sentinels doing guard duty.

I parked, opened the door to find myself startled by two extremely loud explosions across the street.

Explosions with fireballs.

I quickly assumed the birds had somehow shorted out a transformer. Or two.

And then walking towards the Walmart entry I saw the store was dark. The exploding transformers had knocked out Walmart's power. Oddly, the stores on the side of the street where the transformers exploded, still had power.

Why do these birds choose to roost each night at Walmart, and Walmart's neighbors, like ALDI and Home Depot? Where do the birds go during the day? Why don't they choose to nightly roost at a less congested by humans location, like Lucy Park, or Lake Wichita Park?

It is quite perplexing...

Today I Had A Walmart Wardrobe Malfunction

One of my pathetically regular entertainments is to go to Walmart in a sort of anthropological expedition frame of mine, marveling at the number of people who apparently do not have a mirror at home.

Or don't care how they look when they look in the mirror.

Of late it has been way too many way too big women stuffed into way too short shorts. With tattoos. And piercings.

So, today I had myself a judge not lest ye be judged moment, related to Walmart.

I needed milk. And so, instead of getting my daily dose of endorphins via aerobic walking stimulation in an outdoor venue, I opted to get the endorphins in the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart.

My Walmart walking attire was simple. Sandals, cargo shorts, t-shirt. That's it.

When I put on the cargo shorts and bent over to strap in the sandals I heard a slight tearing noise. I felt around and felt no disruption in the cargo short material.

So, I drove the short distance to Walmart. Exited the vehicle and thought, well, the breeze is feeling extra refreshing today.

Inside Walmart the air-conditioning seemed extra cooling.

I got in my miles of Walmart walking and then drove back home, where I took off my walking clothes to put on my making lunch clothes.

When I took off the cargo shorts I instantly was mortified to see a HUGE tear in the back pocket zone.

A HUGE hole. Which is what you see photo documented above.

I do not know how much bare flesh was exposed as I walked around Walmart, oblivious to the possible spectacle.

I hope no one took a photo that will show up on Facebook as part of the "People of Walmart" series...

115 Degrees With Soaring COVID Cases In Wichita County

Yesterday, Saturday, the last day of the month of July in the year 2021, around 6pm I exited air conditioned coolness to drive to Walmart.

The outer world was HOT.

I got in my vehicle and saw the vehicle's temperature monitor was indicating it was 115 degrees HOT.  I attempted to take a photo documenting the temperature, which you will see, above, if you look closely at the right side of the rear view mirror.

Entering Walmart something happened which has never happened previously during the era of COVID. A Walmart employee was handing out masks. Since being vaccinated I have not been doing the masking thing. I asked the person handing out the masks if Walmart was reversing their masking policy due to the new CDC recommendations. Yes was her reply.

The CDC is recommending that even those who have been vaccinated mask up when out and about where humans congregate. So, I put on my new Walmart mask and proceeded into the store, to find myself freshly appalled to see way too many refusing to be masked, even with Walmart giving you a mask upon entry.

 

And then this morning, the first day of the 2021 version of August I read, via the Wichita Falls Times Record News, that COVID cases are soaring again at this relatively isolated area of Texas.
 

I read elsewhere this morning that Walmart has reversed its masking policy, and I'm thinking, due to what I experienced last night, maybe Walmart will maybe perhaps be more assertive with the mask requirement.

For weeks now upon entering Walmart you see a big sign telling you that you can get vaccinated, for free, at the Walmart pharmacy.

In Walmart If You Can't Find A Price You Can't Find It Right Here

 The past couple weeks I have seen in the two Walmarts I way too frequently frequent what you see documented above in a photo my phone took a few minutes ago.

I refer to that big arrow pointing down, with the signage advising shoppers "Can't find a price? You can check it right here."

Except you can't. The price scanner devices have been removed from those two aforementioned Walmarts which I way too frequently frequent.

These now meaningless arrow pointing signs are located throughout the stores. These price check scanners were useful due to the fact that Walmart can be a bit sloppy with making clear the cost of an item sitting on a shelf with a lot of other items.

When the Walmart price scanners were still available one would see products left near the scanner, leading one to assume that someone checked the price and found out it was not what they were expecting. And so left the product at the scanner location.

Now, I have not found Walmart making pricing mistakes often, and by mistake I mean that the price which rings up is not the price indicated by the price sticker on the shelf. 

With Walmart I have found the price mistake can go either way, as in more than I thought the cost was, or less. The most recent example of the latter is I picked up a pack of frozen salmon filets, thought the pack was $11, due to the price tag on the shelf under the salmon. But, those frozen salmon filets rang up at $7.94. 

When I lived in Washington there was a grocery store which was chronic with price mistakes.

Albertsons.

I was appalled when I first arrived in Texas and asked a local what was the best grocery store in the area, with Albertsons being the answer.

There used to be an Albertsons in the town I am currently in, but, I think the three Walmarts in this town caused Albertsons to not be able to survive. Even though Albertsons aggravated me, this did not stop me from buying something there every once in awhile.

Such as the Albertsons fried chicken. I liked their fried chicken...

Wichita Falls Greenbrier Walmart Power Outage Wipeout

Last night, soon before the sun set, I drove to the Walmart nearest to my location, known as the Greenbrier Walmart, due to being located on a road called Greenbrier.

This Walmart, unlike my other nearby Walmart, lost power for the same amount of time I was without electricity. 

I figured Walmarts likely have backup power generators, so as not to lose that which needs to be frozen or refrigerated.

I figured wrong.

Walking into the Greenbrier Walmart last night I instantly saw something was dire wrong. Little produce in the produce section, as you can in the next photo.

Continuing on the meat section was wiped out.

Below is the frozen food area where one finds ice cream and pizza, among other things frozen.

I don't know why Walmart tossed all the frozen stuff. It likely stayed frozen when the power went out. Stuff in my freezer stayed frozen. Stuff in the refrigerator stayed refrigerated in my refrigerator during the duration of having no electricity.

Above is where one usually finds milk products.

I wonder what all this lost stock cost? 

And below is a meme I gleaned from Facebook, giving advice about how to survive this week in Texas...