Looking At The Twin Tacoma Narrows Bridges & Mount Rainier

What you see here is known as the Tacoma Narrows Bridges. Twin suspension bridges connecting Tacoma to the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington.

That mountain in the background is the volcano named Mount Rainier.

I was in Tacoma several times earlier this century, during the construction of the new bridge, that being the one on the right.

That bridge was clearly built over water, really deep, fast moving water, when the tide changes.

I was seeing this bridge get built over water at the same time I was seeing the Texas town called Fort Worth struggle to try and build three simple little freeway overpass type bridges, over dry land, to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

Those responsible for building those Fort Worth bridges repeatedly told the gullible Fort Worth public that these three bridges were being built over dry land, to save money, when there was no other option than to build the bridges over dry land, with one day, hopefully, a cement-lined ditch to be dug under the bridges, with Trinity River water diverted into the ditch, thus creating the imaginary island.

Apparently, Fort Worth's plan to create that imaginary island has run into an engineering snafu regarding the design of the mechanism which would divert river water into that cement-lined ditch.

Back to the Tacoma Narrows bridges. Aesthetically speaking, methinks it would have been visually more appealing if the new bridge looked exactly like the older bridge. But, it is wider. And the towers that support the suspension cables were made to somewhat look like the other bridge's towers, but, for some reason they were not painted green, which would have been so much more aesthetically pleasing.

It has been a few years since I have been in Tacoma and seen the Tacoma Narrows bridges. Maybe those gray towers of the new bridge have now been colored to match the original bridge...

Way Too Much Excessive Heat For The Texoma Zone

From the Texhoma homepage you can see it is currently a tad warm at my location.

This morning, with the outer world still chilled to below 100, at 99 degrees, with the humidity making it really feel like 103, I opted not to go on an outdoor walk to get my much-needed endorphins.

Instead, I ventured the short distance to my preferred air-conditioned walking and shopping venue.

Walmart.

Mornings at Walmart one sees way more of us old folks than one sees after the five in the afternoon time frame. 

Most Walmart visits I find myself in the minority, as in the majority sport a thick layer of insulative adipose tissue, which I imagine makes those sorts super appreciative of cool air-conditioning.

Mornings at Walmart the number of those sporting a thick layer of insulative adipose tissue is much higher than later in the day. 

When I knew I was going to move from chilly Washington to not so chilly Texas, I decided I needed to reduce my own semi-thick layer of insulative adipose tissue.

I did so, dropping around 20 pounds before making the move.

And then, as I became acclimated to the Texas climate, I gradually grew back my semi-thick layer of insulative adipose tissue.

This super HOT summer is likely going to cause me to melt away the extra adipose tissue I have accumulated over the years...

Looking At Deception Pass Bridge Takes Me Back To Fort Worth Again

Saw this that you see here, this Thursday morning, on Facebook. A look at a location I frequented frequently when I lived nearby.

Deception Pass State Park.

In this view we are looking east at the Deception Pass Bridge from the Rosario side of the state park. My favorite hiking venues were the Rosario trails, and the Goose Rock trails. Goose Rock is that which you see rising from the right side of the bridge.

Deception Pass Bridge was built in less than one year in the early 1930s. The bridge connects two islands, Fidalgo and Whidbey, crossing over another island between the two bigger islands, as in passing over Pass Island.

Whenever I see a photo of Deception Pass Bridge it puts me in mind of goofy Fort Worth, Texas. A town which has spent most of this century trying to see something called the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision.

A vision which took seven years to build three simple little bridges over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

Apparently, Fort Worth schools do not teach students what an island actually is.

One day it is hoped a cement lined ditch will be added under Fort Worth's infamous bridges to nowhere, with Trinity River water diverted into the ditch, thus creating the imaginary island, which would never be called an island, in locations in the world grounded in sanity...

105 Degrees HOT On This Final Wednesday Of 2024's June

The sun has only been doing its daily heating duty for a couple hours and already the air conditioning seems to be running almost non-stop on this final Wednesday of 2024's month of June

Apparently, today, according to the screen cap evidence you see above, we are heading to the hottest HOT day, so far, this HOT time of the year.

105.

I will not be getting myself any endorphins via outdoor aerobic stimulation today. Any such activity will take place in Walmart or the slowly dying Sikes Senter Mall.

Possible rain and thunderstorming is also on the weather menu for today. Currently there is nary a cloud in the clear blue sky. And no cooling wind blowing.

I am hoping the high heat is killing off the biting bugs...

Is This How Texans View Texas?

I think it might be more accurate to suggest this is how some Texans, not all Texans, view Texas, many of whom have never ventured outside of Texas to see the rest of America, and the world.

I assume it causes some level of culture shock when some Texans venture out of Texas for the first time. Such as if a Texan who had never been out of Texas ventured to another state, say, Arizona, and a town in Arizona, say, Chandler, or really any of the towns in the Phoenix metro area.

That Texan who had never been out of Texas, in Arizona would see broad streets, landscaped, with wide sidewalks on both sides of the street.

Sidewalks are a scarce commodity in most Texas towns I have visited. And the sidewalks which do exist are so narrow a couple plus-sized Texans could not pass each other without one having to make room by getting off the sidewalk.

A bustling downtown in other towns in America would likely surprise a lifelong Texan. For instance, if a native of Fort Worth, a town with one of the deadest downtowns I have ever seen, ventured to the Pacific Northwest for the first time.

In Tacoma the Texan would find a bustling waterfront, a downtown served by public transit light rail.

In Seattle the Texan would find a downtown lively with people, even more so when a cruise ship has docked. Unlike Fort Worth, downtown Seatle has multiple stores, vertical malls, grocery stores, two transit tunnels under downtown, one for vehicles, the other for light rail, a bustling waterfront with multiple attractions, none of which was the result of a ridiculous Water Vision such as that which has deluded Fort Worth most of this century.

I must go tend to my cooling needs now...

HOT In Texas & Arizona Whilst Washington Chills

Yesterday, the day known as Sunday, afternoon, my nephew known as Jason emailed me the screencap from his phone, you see here.

The temperature in Anacortes, the town where Jason's Fidalgo Drive-In is located.

The temperature in Phoenix, the town in Arizona near where one of Jason's favorite aunts lives.

The temperature in Wichita Falls where everyone's favorite uncle lives.

And Lynden, the town in Washington where the Slotemaker Jones family eventually settled, after coming to America from Holland.

As you can see, it is a little HOTTER in Arizona and Texas than my old Washington home zone.

If I am remembering correctly I have only returned to Washington, from Texas, thrice during the summer months. 

When you get acclimated to 100 degree plus days, and then suddenly find yourself where the outer world is chilled into the 50s, it is jarring. I remember being in Washington, summer of 2008, and pretty much shivering the entire month.

I've no current plans to be in Washington this summer...

Wichita Falls Wienerfest On National Dachshund Day

I learned via this Sunday morning's Wichita Falls Times Record News that this past Friday was National Dachshund Day.

And that to celebrate this National Dachshund Day the first annual Wienerfest was held at a dog park in Wichita Falls.

The only dog park I know of in this town is located at Lake Wichita Park. As is often the case with the local newspaper, the article is a bit weak on details, such as being specific about the location of the dog park where Wienerfest took place.

I know an elderly lady, currently living in the east coast state of Virginia, who is obsessed with dachshunds, and has adopted many wiener dogs over her many years on the planet. 

The Virginian wiener dog lover currently is the mother of a cute little dachshund named Rocky.

 The Virginian's house is decorated in a wiener dog motif, with wiener dog pillows, wiener dog wall art, wiener dog window curtains, wiener dog door mat and other wiener dog stuff I am not remembering right now.

On Friday the Virginian made no mention of celebrating National Dachshund Day, with Rocky. She is a bit of a shut-in, so likely the event passed by without Rocky's parent having any awareness of the special day...

Tomorrow We Begin Being Heated Above 100 Degrees Day After Day After Day

Starting tomorrow, the day known as Sunday, the temperature is scheduled to hit the century mark at my location, and then continue getting HOTTER day after day after day, til reaching 106 on the first Friday of July.

I was only able to screen cap four day's worth of 100 degree plus temperature predictions, given you a good sampling of our HOT forecast.

In addition to the temperature the forecast also warns of the danger of dehydration and heatstroke.

I was in no danger of either of those particular calamities due to being out in the HEAT today.

My exposure was limited to the distance between my front door and my vehicle's entry door, and then exiting that door to quickly walk into the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart, where I walked my 32 Google Fit minutes.

I am hoping the high heat kills off the population of biting bugs. I am ready for the bug bite nightmare to come to an end...

Incoming Washington Scenery From Favorite Nephew Jason

Incoming email this second morning of Summer 2024 from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason) with the photo you see here and the following text...

FUD – Thought you'd enjoy this picture of the am fog and the raspberry patch.

The photo was taken by your little brother at 4 am this morning. This is an east view of his back yard. The field being prepped for haying is Jones family-owned turf. You can spot Mt. Baker in the background.  

The days are long here right now (well over 16 hours) in the PNW, and the weather couldn't be better.

Stay cool in TX.   We miss you,  - FNJ

People who have only lived in the south part of the United States have no experience with daylight lasting til a couple hours before midnight, which is what you experience in my old home zone of Washington. 

My one and only time in Alaska, in Summer, daylight lasted til midnight, which really was a bit weird.

I sure do miss living in an agricultural zone. Where raspberries grow. Where blackberries grow wild, free for the picking. Where roadside stands sell corn, paying with the honor system, where all sorts of fruits and vegetables and flowers grow.

Seeing mountains in any direction one looks is something I also miss, if I think about it. No matter which direction I look at my current location I see nothing but a flat horizon.

I probably should make plans for a visit to the Pacific Northwest. I was last at that location in August of 2017...

Sikes Lake Summer Solstice Heat

 It was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning on the longest day of the year, also known as the start of Summer, or the Summer Solstice.

As you can sort of see via looking above the patch of prickly pear cactus clouds are blocking the sun at my location on this first day of Summer.

But, the sun was able to get through the cloud clover enough to heat the ground level into the 80s.

And then there was that vexing humidity making that temperature in the 80s feel way hotter, as in a real feel in the 90s, according to AccuWeather.

The current temperature forecast for my location has us getting heated to over 100, day after day after day, starting next week.

I hope the heat kills off the swarms of biting bugs...