Snow School For Spencer Jack Today

Reading the Seattle Times this morning I learned Western Washington has had itself a snow storm, with accumulations sufficient  in some locations to cause school closings and other inconveniences.

I did not know, via reading the Seattle Times, if my old home zone, known as the Banana Belt of the Skagit Valley, also got hit with a blanket of snow.

The Skagit Valley is known  as the Banana Belt due to the fact that it is located between two of these things known as convergence zones. This somehow causes the blizzards which can rage between the Skagit Valley and a short  distance north to the Canadian border, to not reach the Valley of the Skagit.

Well, such is not the case with the current snow, which I learned minutes ago from Spencer Jack's dad who phoned me the above photo of Spencer Jack's Mount Vernon domicile, along with a text message which said, "Spencer Jack will not be schooled today."

Pre Super Bowl Wichita Falls Nature Bluff Hike

Yesterday, prior to going to ALDI for my Super Bowl Party supplies I thought it might be interesting to check out the current status of Wichita Falls and the Wichita Bluff Nature Area.

A month or so ago I read in the Wichita Falls Times News Record that Wichita Falls was going to be having some work done. A new bridge, trail upgrade to the Circle Trail and a thing or two I am not  remembering.

I  thought I understood that this remodeling was a ready to go project with one of the points of the article being that access to Wichita Falls would be slightly compromised during the process of the upgrade, which I thought was to be quickly underway.

Apparently I thought wrong, because it looked to me as if nothing has been done in the area of Wichita Falls and it did not appear that anything was being prepared to be done.

It was a good walk to the falls, though. A lot of other people were also enjoying that walk along the Wichita River.

Speaking of which, yesterday was the first time I've seen the Wichita River not in muddy red river mode. It looked like normal river water, not that color that always reminds me of Utah type redrock,

After checking out Wichita Falls I meandered back to Lucy Park and then drove west to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, where I was expecting to see the project finally back being worked on after a long delay due to problems with the contractor the city had hired, who had to be replaced.

In the instance of the Wichita Bluff Nature Area the information I read in the Wichita Falls Times News Record matched what I saw. As in there has been a lot of work done since I last checked out this project.

I did not know what to make of those four coffin shaped cement structures, you see above, which have been added just outside the covered pavilion.

I saw a lot of work has been done on the bridge across the gully at the bottom of the bluff. And a lot of trail work is underway.

Judging  by what  I saw yesterday I would hazard to guess that when the Wichita Bluff  Nature Area is available for hiking it will quickly become my favorite go to place for that type activity, in the same way the Tandy Hills Nature Area used to be when I was incarcerated in the D/FW zone of Texas.

Hoping The Fog Lifts Before Lady Gaga's Super Bowl Halftime Show

One of my vehicles under the carport safe from the Fog

When one lives close to the ocean one expects to wake up every once in awhile to find ones outlook on the outer world to be foggy.

Such was the case this morning on this fifth day of 2017's February.

Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl LI

I'm not much of a fan of the football game part of the Super Bowl, unless someone like the Seattle Seahawks is playing, or the Dallas Cowboys.

Apparently not many people are alive in 2017 possessing a living memory of the Dallas Cowboys playing in the Super Bowl.

I do remember the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowling a time or two in the past few years.

I used to find the Super Bowl commercials to have some entertainment value. But the commercials have not been all the memorable the last several years.

Nor has the Super  Bowl Halftime Show been memorable the last several years.

Today I will likely make  it through the Halftime Show before bailing on the 2017 iteration of the Super Bowl.

I like Lady Gaga.

I am expecting Lady Gaga to put on a super Super Bowl Halftime Show. If Lady Gaga does not deliver a super show I will be terribly disappointed.

Enduring Arctic Texas Cold With Green Siracha Sauce From Vietnam

I have lost track, due to not taking notes, of the number of aggravations currently aggravating me.

So, with a cluster of aggravations aggravating me I decided to layer on the outer world to venture out into the current return of the Arctic to have myself a cold, windy walk on the Circle Trail which circles around this tiny Texas town which calls itself Wichita Falls.

I lasted in the chill long enough to take the photo you see here, looking north at Holliday Creek Gorge, with the Circle Trail on the left, barely visible.

This latest Arctic Blast is scheduled to retreat in a couple days, with the temperature then returning to a more reasonable 80 something.

Shrimp is not on the barbie for lunch, instead shrimp is scheduled to be added to a nice hot stir fry of various vegetables including broccoli, bok choy and bean sprouts, along with jasmine rice.

Yesterday I got myself a new product to add some heat to whatever I stir fry.

Green Siracha sauce. From Vietnam.

Living in Texas is such a rewarding multi-cultural experience...

Has Anyone Seen Fort Worth's Imaginary 8.8 Million Visitors?

This morning I got an email from someone who shall remain anonymous asking me if I'd seen this.

This was referring to an article in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram titled Fort Worth attracted 8.8 million visitors last year in booming tourism market.

I replied to Anonymous that I had already seen the article and that I found it to be yet one more appalling piece of Star-Telegram propaganda.

8.8 million  visitors to Fort Worth?

A few years ago the Star-Telegram joined with the Fort Worth chamber of commerce sorts in spewing the nonsense that a sporting goods store in Fort Worth would be the #1 tourist attraction in Texas and was well worth the bribes, I mean, incentives, Cabela's was requesting for Fort Worth to land such a coveted prize.

During the selling of the Cabelas con job the number of visitors, annually, to what would be the top tourist attraction in Texas ranged from 6 to 8 million. Something around 30 to 40 thousand sporting goods shoppers a day.

Fort Worth was left, yet again, with embarrassing egg on its face after falling for the Cabela's con, only to soon learn that the Fort Worth Cabelas was not going to be the only Cabelas in Texas, and soon not even the only Cabelas in the D/FW Metroplex.

And now we are supposed to believe that Fort Worth attracted 8.8 million visitors last year?

Was it to the sporting goods store those millions of visitors were attracted?

Long ago I remember reading that anyone coming from a distance of 50 miles or more was considered a visitor to Fort Worth. How this number of visitors statistic is compiled I have no clue. I suspect it is likely a bogus false statistic conjured out of thin air.

Anyone who has actually been to a town  which attracts out of state visitors knows such is not the case in Fort Worth. One seldom sees out of state license plates, and most of those are from Oklahoma.

Go to San Antonio and make note of how many out of state license plates signifying tourists you see. Do the same in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, New Orleans or even Dallas and you will see a lot of out of state license plates.

Fort Worth is not any sort of tourist mecca. To pretend otherwise is delusional. Why does this type ridiculous propaganda get spewed?

Here's an embarrassing quote from the article...

“There is an excitement about the city and a sense of opportunity that exists right now,” Jameson said. “Our visitors have more things to do than ever.”

Excitement about the city? More things to do than ever?

Like what? Go wakeboarding? No, that effort by America's Biggest  Boondoggle sank. More things to do, like floating in the Trinity River in The Boondoggle's Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube  Floats?

More things to do? Like check out The Boondoggle's bridges being built to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island?

The construction of which has been stalled for what will be a year in March. Is gazing at those moldy V Piers stuck in the air near that Roundabout homage to aluminum garbage cans one of the exciting things to do in Fort Worth?

The Tourism Boom article is full of embarrassing gems. Items about conventions bringing  in big bucks. About expanding the convention center. About the new arena that still is not under construction which voters sort of voted for years ago.

And the need for another convention center hotel built with taxpayer help.

Here's a clue, Fort Worth, to that actual health of your imaginary tourist boom. If such was really the case, developers would be eager to build new hotels, with no incentive help, such as what happens in actual booming tourist towns such as Seattle and San Francisco and others.

Why does the Star-Telegram publish embarrassing propaganda puff pieces like this without  asking  any critical questions? How many times now has Fort Worth been burned by getting conned?

A few examples come to mind. The Santa Fe Rail Market. Cabelas. The Radio Shack Corporate Headquarters. The Mercado, or whatever it is called on Main Street south of the Stockyards.

And then there is the biggest Fort  Worth con job of all.

The Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision which has  become known far and wide as America's Biggest (and most embarrassing) Boondoggle....

Spencer Jack At Oso Mudslide Memorial Straining My Memory

This week Spencer Jack loaded up his new pickup and took his dad to the site of America's worst mudslide disaster, Oso, Washington.

FNJ & FNSJ emailed three Oso photos and the following explanatory text...

FUD --

The winter days are so long here. Spencer and I try each day after school to find something to do.  We have to do this immediately after school pick up time as the sun sets by 5 these days. Today we visited for the first time the nation's deadliest landslide.  The pictures don't do justice.  But if you want to do more research about this, google 'before and after pictures of the Oso mudslide.' A small community literally was covered when a logged mountain couldn't hold an abnormal amount of rain. I expected to do some hiking this afternoon, but the area is off limits to the public.  A makeshift memorial of this tragic event is located where we were able to stop and snap a few pictures. 

Tomorrow Grandma Cindy has Spencer Jack school pick up duty, but Wednesday, I'm hoping to take him bike riding around Lake Padden. Or perhaps the Interurban trail. Spencer bought a pickup truck last month so he can haul our bicycles to fun locations. He has only been able to do this once so far this very cold winter. Do you remember when you and Joey and I started at Larrabee State Park and rode our bikes to Lake Whatcom and back? That was a fun day. I remember we stopped at Haggens (when it was just local to Bellingham) for their deli Chinese lunch. Spencer and I need to do that soon. You should join us.

Hope all is well, FNJ

_______________________

Regarding the other pictures referred to,  you can see them on another blog via Oso Washington Mudslide Update From The Jones Boys.

I remember biking with Spencer Jack's dad and uncle from Larrabee to the Alaskan Ferry Terminal in Bellingham's Fairhaven District, which is about 16 miles roundtrip, if I remember right. But I have no memory of pedaling all the way from Larrabee to Lake Whatcom. That would be a long bike ride. I told Jason I don't remember that bike ride, but he assured me we did do so.

I trust Jason's youthful memory more than my own.

Whilst in Washington Lake Padden was one of my regular go to places, both for mountain biking and hiking. Miles upon miles of great hilly trails. And in summer a dip in the lake was doable.

When I moved to Texas I was appalled to find there were no grocery stores of the Haggen quality level. I used to frequently frequent the Bellingham Haggens Chinese and Sushi deli. When Central Market came to the D/FW zone I was pleased to see it was sort of like Haggens, but not quite. I understand, for reasons unfathomable to me, Haggens has fallen on hard times.

Something to do with Alberstsons.

When I lived in Washington Albertsons was the worst of the grocery stores. When I moved to Texas I was appalled, appalled I tell you, when I asked what the best grocery store was, to find myself being told it was Albertsons.

The Texas Albertsons were/are just as bad as the Washington version, in my humble opinion.

I wonder where Spencer Jack is going to take his dad next? I wouldn't mind seeing some pictures of Lake Padden. It's been many years since I have seen Lake Padden.

HUGE Pro-Trump Dallas Demonstration Draws Eight Women

The anti-Trump protests all over America, and the World, have been HUGE.

And then I saw this this morning on Facebook, via one of my favorite Texans, which I found amusing and a bit embarrassing.

Embarrassing that even this many Texas women could be found who are so deluded they call themselves "Women for Trump" and applaud Trump's busy first week.

A HUGE demonstration of eight women expressing their opinion that they "...just wish they would give him a chance. Because he's only been in office for one week."

Yeah, that makes sense.

It  took only a week for our most  idiotic president since Millard Fillmore to lead America into Constitutional Crisis territory, so let's give him a chance to do even more idiotic things before we decide that maybe it is time to stand up and say "NO YOU IGNORANT INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT' we won't give you a chance to turn America the Great into America the No Longer Great.

Last night, also on Facebook, I saw and shared the meme you see below...

I like to think if I was a German in 1932 I would have verbalized what I thought about Hitler's shenanigans, and publicly verbalized that I thought him to be an  IGNORANT INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT, among other things I found disturbing about Hitler.

Those hapless Germans did not have anything like the Internet, or Facebook, to share how they felt about the Hitlerian Nazi madness. The World, and America, are not so unfortunate. In 2017 it is relatively easy to organize  a resistance to a dangerous despot, thus a lot more difficult for a Hitler type madman to wreak havoc.

At least I hope that is the case and that I am not being overly optimistic....

Mom's Happy Birthday & Hot Walk Around Sikes Lake

With the outer world temperature nearing 70 degrees I decided to take myself on a long jaunt to and around Sikes Lake today for the first time in weeks.

A lot of people, and a lot of birds, had the same idea.

Prior to exiting my abode to get me some salubrious aerobically induced endorphins I made a happy birthday call to Arizona because today is my mom's birthday.

Happy birthday mom.

My mom is twenty years older than me. Give or take a week or two. Or maybe a month or two.

For her happy birthday lunch my mom and dad are going to go to an Arizona restaurant called Denny's. I learned this whilst talking to my mom when their other phone rang with my dad answering and then informing my mom it was sister Clancy calling to confirm being at Denny's at 11.

I did not think to ask if my Arizona favorite nephews were included in, or invited to, the Denny's happy birthday party.

I do know I was not invited to my mom's happy birthday party at Denny's.

Now that you are causing me to think about it, I assumed Denny's was a restaurant. Maybe mom's happy birthday party is taking place at someone named Denny's house.

I should have asked more questions.

Anyway, it is nice to be back on the verge of needing to turn on the air conditioning again....

Fort Worth Sidewalk Inertia Not Found In Wichita Falls

What you are looking at here is something I never saw during the entire time I found myself stuck in the third world city which calls itself Fort Worth.

A sidewalk under construction.

For years I lamented Fort Worth's bizarre sidewalk shortage. I lost track of the number of times I found myself appalled at seeing some young mom struggling to push a baby carriage on a dirt path on the side of a Fort Worth road.

Or some old lady ambling along leaning on a cane as she navigated Fort Worth's mean sidewalk-less streets.

The Good Ol' Boy and Girl Network which runs Fort Worth would not have to travel far to find towns which have figured out how to build sidewalks. Just about any Fort Worth suburb is a modern American city, with sidewalks and city parks with no outhouses.

At my current location in the Texas town which calls itself Wichita Falls, the town knows how to build sidewalks. I can leave my abode and head any direction able to walk on a paved sidewalk.

On both sides of the street.

The sidewalk under construction, which you see above, will connect the Circle  Trail to the sidewalk at the north side of Southwest Boulevard. There was not a foot worn dirt path at this location indicating the need for a sidewalk, but it is easy to see that adding such is a good idea at this location.

If Fort Worth wanted to add sidewalks to its forlorn sidewalk free streets there would be no need to fund a study group to determine where sidewalks are needed. All one would need to do is map all the town's forlorn footworn dirt paths, clearly indicating where a modern paved sidewalk is needed.

Washington Governor Inslee Declares Trump Enemy Of The United States

I think ones memory of living in the United States would have to go back to the 1960s to remember another time such as we are experiencing now.

NATIONWIDE PROTESTS!

Back in the 60s the protests were against things like the Vietnam War and for things like Civil Rights and protecting the environment.

Was it Friday Trump issued his Executive Order banning incoming humans from several Muslim dominated countries, except for those Muslim dominated countries with whom Trump has business ties?

I don't know how it happened, but in airports all across  America, by the time incoming humans were being denied entry, thousands of protesters arrived.

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport most of the protesters were arriving by light rail. At one point the police halted trains from stopping at the Sea-Tac station, for about a half hour, before an intervention put an end to that.

Looking on the bright side, methinks whilst the American democracy has taken a reputation hit, world-wide, these protests, being so spontaneous, and of such magnitude, well, it is showing the world that democracy is alive and well in America.

Regarding the Sea-Tac protests, Washington Representative Pramila Jaypal tweeted "Cries of Let Them In are echoing around Sea-Tac Airport. So proud of Washington's 7th District right now. We will not be silent."

Makes me proud to be from Washington too. And also proud of Texans for showing up at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to express the same protest sentiments.

The Texans do not have as easy a time getting to the airport as Washingtonians do. That and D/FW International is so HUGE it would seem it might be a bit of task to locate the heart of the protests.

I believe it was at Sea-Tac Washington's governor, Jay Inslee, verbalized what many Americans are thinking, that being that Donald Trump has become an enemy of the United States.

I would amend that to add the word "dangerous", as in Trump is a dangerous enemy of the United States.

Only a week into the Trump Reign and we are already seeing unprecedented protests protesting a president's unprecedented un-American incompetence.

I think we all need to fasten our seatbelts, this ride is likely going to get a lot rougher. But, while you fasten your seatbelts listen to Washington's governor express his outrage....