Perplexed By Gateway Park Green Grass Before Getting Lunch From The Tamale Kid

On my way to Town Talk today I stopped at Gateway Park to get in some salubrious walking on the extremely pleasant first Saturday of the new year of 2013.

Quite a difference from the last Saturday of 2012. Last week I shivered whilst taking a short fast walk around the ball fields before retreating from the elements.

Due to the recent bout of freezing most green has left the natural world. This made the ultra green play fields of Gateway Park stand out in stark contrast.

When I saw the glaring green I walked closer. It looked like grass. I saw blades. I saw what looked like dirt. How are they keeping this grass so green, I wondered?

Then I came upon the sign you see in the picture.

First off the NOTICE caught my eye. With the notice informing that "FIELDS WILL BE CLOSED WHEN FIELD SURFACE TEMPERATURE REACHES 125".

125 is quite HOT. Death Valley type HOT.

And then the sign said, "Welcome to Gateway Park multipurpose synthetic turf fields."

So, I now knew why the grass was so green. Because it is not grass. It is plastic.

After solving the mystery of the green grass it was on to Town Talk, hoping to find the Tamale Kid.

Driving on to the Town Talk parking lot I saw no Tamale Kid.

So, I did my Town Talk treasure hunting. Exiting I saw the Tamale Kid sitting on a picnic table. I pushed my cart over to him and asked if he was selling tamales today.

"Si, senor", said he.

"Chicken or beef, 6 for 5 dollars," said the Tamale Kid.

I gave him 5 dollars and followed him to a white car where he popped open the trunk and took out a foil wrapped package of tamales from a cooler. Well, in this case, it was a heater. The tamales were warm and ready to eat.

And so my lunch plan for today changed. So, I'm making rice with Carne Asada, refried beans with cilantro and tamales from the Tamale Kid.

I was going to make Mexican food for tomorrow's pre-Super Bowl Party. I think I may now revert back to the pizza plan.

No Soft Toss At Gateway Park While Regretting Not Getting Parking Lot Tamales At Town Talk

On this final Saturday of 2012 I stopped in at Gateway Park on my way to Town Talk. I thought I might be able to endure the almost freezing temperature long enough to have myself some salubrious outdoor air exposure.

However, two long-sleeved layers on top did not provide a sufficient buffer from the cold. I walked around two of the Gateway Park ballfields and then returned to the shelter of my vehicle.

Can anyone explain to me what the "NO SOFT TOSS" signs mean that are attached to the Gateway Park ballpark fences at regular intervals?

I forgot to mention, on my way to Gateway Park, driving west on Randol Mill Road, east of the entry to Quanah Park Park, I saw what appeared to be Mr. Hometown by Handlebar, pedaling east.

I think I need to go hunting in my closet for my thermal long underwear so that I might be able to go biking in these icy winter conditions.

Today at Town Talk I was left feeling very Ebeneezer Scrooge-ish.

Pretty much every Saturday I get approached in the Town Talk parking lot and asked if I would like to buy some tamales. 5 for $5. I think that is the price quoted. I always politely say "no thank you."

Buying tamales at a parking lot seems like a bad idea to me.

So, today this little guy, speaking very heavily accented English, asked me if I'd like to buy some tamales. I think he said something like "5 for $5, 12 for $10, beef or chicken," but I'm not sure.

The little guy was smiling cute as he talked to me.

I said my usual "No thank you" and then asked "Do you make the tamales?"

"No, senor, my mama makes the tamales."

I asked, "Are they real good?"

"Si, senor, very good tamales."

As this dialogue was taking place the little guy was helping me load my Town Talk stuff from the cart to my vehicle. All the while smiling.

Then he said "Goodbye senor, I'll take your cart for you," or words to that effect.

I then watched as the little guy, shorter than the cart, wheeled it back into Town Talk.

Then I started feeling like a jerk, feeling bad, as in why didn't I give the kid a couple bucks? Or buy 5 bucks worth of tamales. The tamales can't be bad, what with them being sold at this location every Saturday, year round.

So, next Saturday, I will be buying myself some Town Talk parking lot tamales, if that little guy is back hawking them.