Happy Birthday August 11 Leos

Like Nancy Reagan and Gar the Texan I am a super strong believer in absolutely everything that has anything to do with Astrology, including Horoscopes.

I don't make a move in any direction at any time without consulting my Horoscope. Or Astrologist.

So, each year on my birthday, which is today, I very warily check Horoscopes focusing on this specific day.

It will take me awhile to process all the contradictory and good things that are apparently going to happen to me this year.

I don't know why I remain such a fervent Astrology Believer. Maybe it's my bad memory. But it seems like last year's birthday Horoscope prediction were very optimistic. Yet the year between last year's August 11 and this year's really was not the best of times. In some ways it was the best of times, though. I guess relying on Horoscopes to predict ones future is fraught with possible confusions.

Anyway, here is a sampling of my future from today's various Horoscopes....

IF AUG. 11 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You're a powerful Leo! You have a lot of energy and drive. You genuinely like people and are always involved with people at some level. You're an excellent researcher because you cannot resist seeking the truth of things. You're very comfortable with an audience; indeed, you like to perform. This year will focus on partnerships and close friendships.

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Today's birthday (Aug. 11): You'll be quite satisfied with what you get and give this year. You get into shape physically over the next 10 weeks. Someone wants to make you part of the family in September. Your career picture shapes up nicely through the fall. Virgo and Sagittarius are your fans. Lucky numbers: 30, 50, 11, 22 and 17.

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Your fiery energy makes almost everything a bit more exciting today, from driving to work to eating dinner. You may just mix up your routines, or you may decide to shake things up in a big way!

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Everything points to your taking the initiative this day. You will have more support than you thought possible. This is a lucky day and energies are in your favor for whatever you want to accomplish. Your career, practical vision and skills are of central importance to you. You are organized and deliberate in this area of life. Your reputation and image are a source of concern and you do everything you can to make them solid. Interestingly enough, if you look around, you will find your job security is more secure than ever. You may find that over the past few months you have gained a new group of friends. These are people that have similar goals to your own--you will help each other to reach goals. Your life seems to be moving in very positive ways.

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This is an excellent time to create a co-operative attitude with your co-workers, employers or employees depending on your status. You may have to play peacemaker or matchmaker at this time and bring people together. This will bring a sense of satisfaction as well as a relief from any tension that has precipitated your involvement.

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Cheerful cooperation the 11th may put you in a very good mood and IS your best day to 'ask for favors.' A long talk near the 13th to 15th may help you to see a 'selfish interest' forming in 'family dynamics' and thereby 'avoid' an upcoming clash/problem. Act upon it by or before the full moon this 16th. A 'big project' may feel like 'biting off more than you can chew,' near the 15th to 17th.

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The world you inhabit is merely a reflection of the thoughts in your head and once you come to terms with that fact you can start changing your life for the better. The more positive vibrations you send out this year, the more wonderful things you'll get back.

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Being famous isn't everything, but to you it means a lot. You like people to realize you're someone special from the moment they meet you.

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IF AUGUST 11 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: When you're hot, you're hot. For the next few months, your effervescent charm can be a valuable asset if you are seeking a new job, changing careers or diligently looking for that special someone. People will overlook your shortcomings and accentuate the positive, so it is easy reach your goals. Mid-October through mid-November is an especially good time to make major changes in your life or to hook up with influential and beneficial people. In January you may meet up with fascinating people, but don't rock the stable boat you have built by changing partners or jobs then.

Heading for Paradise on Mount Rainier

God willing and weather permitting, Kristin, Kristin's mom, Janet and myself will be heading to Mount Rainier today.

That is, if Janet gets all her sewing tasks done.

The forecast today is for drizzle followed by early morning clearing. Near as I can tell we have skipped the drizzle and I can see clearing to the southeast in the direction of The Mountain.

We hope to be able to go on the hike that leads from Paradise to the top of Mount Rainier. No, we are not planning on hiking to the top. Not today. Or tomorrow.

It is a little more than 70 miles from here to Paradise. I'm thinking we are closer to Paradise than most people on the planet. In more ways than one.

Tacoma Sweat Shop Exploiting Seniors

The day my Mom and Dad left, Kristin's mom arrived. During my Mom and Dad's visit they had an extensive task list that they had to complete each day.

My 70-something Dad had to dig up rhododendrons. Two of them. They were huge. Dad fixed doors, doorbells, car lights, built a raspberry patch complete with a trellis system. And for his biggest project my Dad converted a broom closet (some say this was an ironing board closet, the truth is in dispute) into a huge spice cabinet. I'm likely forgetting a lot of what my dear old Dad did here.

Meanwhile my Mom was tasked, with Dad's already overworked help, to can, jam and otherwise process a large amount of various fruits. Mom and Dad's day would start early and last late.

And, if all that were not enough, Mom and Dad also cooked dinner while they were here.

And then Kristin's mom, Janet, shows up. Janet is a renowned world class quilter in town to attend an International Quilters Convention in Seattle at the Washington State Convention Center. Despite her elevated credentials, Janet was immediately tasked with re-doing all the curtains in this house. It's a big house. Janet has been working on her various sewing projects for hours, using a primitive sewing machine. Janet was also tasked with sourcing the material. This required a long trip to Puyallup that was so exhausting that Janet's daughter ended up bedridden with a migraine. Meanwhile, Janet was a trooper and kept on sewing.

Yes, Janet trooped on. Motivated by things like the promise of Marionberry Pie. That failed to materialize, even after Janet worked for a few hours on the promise of that pie.

Isn't there some Federal agency that tries to prevent this type of abuse of Old Folks?

I don't mind the sweatshop conditions and tasks I'm put through. I'm relatively young and can handle it for the most part. But the workloads that my Mom and Dad and now Kristin's mom, Janet, have been put through, is just unseemly.

She is making some nice curtains though.

The Collapse of the Wall

Big Ed, in Big Texas, this morning emailed me a link to a shocking story in the New York Times about the collapse of the Wall.

Wall Arch that is. In Arches National Park. One of my favorite places on the planet, of what little of the planet I have seen.

The last time I was in Arches National Park was shortly before I moved to Texas, in 1998, I think. We'd spent several days in Moab, exploring Arches NP and Canyonlands NP. It was a group of 6 or 8, hard to remember. From Moab we went houseboating on Lake Powell.

The first picture is from the New York Times showing Wall Arch before and after the collapse. When I was at Arches in 1998 the trail under Landscape Arch was no longer open due to a large chunk of rock falling from that unlikely fragile looking arch.

I am almost certain the above photo shows Wall Arch in 1998. That is Big Ed's Big Sister, Lydia, in the foreground, with his nephew and niece being followed by Big Ed's Big Twin, Wally and his little wife, Wanda. I believe that is Wall Arch behind them. I could be wrong.

The arch below is the aforementioned Landscape Arch. With Wally and Wanda and Big Ed standing in front of it. I just looked it up and it is still standing, 17 years after it lost a large chunk of its midsection. Some suspect the weight loss made the arch stronger.

There is a longstanding myth that Landscape Arch was supposed to be named Delicate Arch, while the state symbol of Utah, shown below, was supposed to be named Landscape Arch. I always believed this myth to be true, due to Landscape Arch looking so delicate, while Delicate Arch seems like an unlikely addition to the rocky landscape. Below is one of my favorite photos, Delicate Arch in the background, me and someone who's name escapes me right now, next to me. This picture and the one above it were taken with my now antique Casio digital camera. I bought it way back in 1997 for the appalling price of $599. I was young and stupid. But, I did take a lot of pictures with that old camera.

Video of the Saturday Lacey Community Market

Yesterday was likely the last of the Lulu market shows I will be attending during my short stay in Washington. The Grand Finale was a stereotypical Washington Winter Day. In August. With cold winds blowing in downpours of rain.

I liked how this particular Community Market had live music. Some of which you will hear on the video.

This Saturday's Lacey Community Market was Pet Day. Hence all the dogs you'll see on the video. Lots of cute dogs. If you like dogs. Which I do. As long as they are cute. And someone else's.

China Olympics Opening Ceremony

I've not watched much TV here in Tacoma since my arrival. Til Friday, when all the current inhabitants of this abode watched the Opening Ceremony of the China Olympics on the big flat panel TV.

I tried to watch the last Olympic's opening, that being the one in Athens. But NBC's Bob Costas' constant pointless yammering ruined it for me. So, I bailed.

In Tacoma I had the option of watching the China Show live on Canadian TV at sometime like 3am and then again, repeated that afternoon. The Canadians did not run the re-run again in Primetime.

In past Olympics, the Canadians let you just watch the show, for the most part, they don't have some yapper constantly narrating that which needs no narration. How do those people watching it live, in person, manage without the help of Bob Costas pointing out the unneccessary?

So, we were stuck with the NBC American Bob Costas hosted edited version. I was ready to bail if Bob Costas talked too much.

I made it through almost the entire spectacle. I don't even know if Bob Costas was saying much of anything during most of the show. Because the over the top, incredibly well-done, Chinese Opening Ceremony was so jaw-droppingly impressive it didn't matter if some NBC talking head was yapping too much.

The only time I noticed Bob Costas being annoying was when the USA team came into the Bird Nest Stadium. They'd been making note of how the Chinese received various nations. As in the Japanese were received coolly. Which is totally understandable, seeings how Japan has treated China badly over time. Hong Kong and Taiwan were greeted loudly.

So, of course I was curious to hear how the Chinese reacted to the Americans walking into the stadium. But all I could hear was Bob Costas droning on about nonsense I did not care to hear. Eventually he shut up and the other talker, the name of whom I do not know, remarked that the Americans had been loudly greeted by the Chinese. We didn't get to hear that though.

We did see our Supreme Glorious Leader put his jacket back on in the sweltering heat when the American team walked into the stadium. I don't recollect an Olympics where so many of the major world leaders were in attendance.

Other than a couple times, when the pyrotechnics and light display reminded me of the Nazis' infamous Nuremberg rally, with huge spotlights making pillars of light into the darkness, and one unfortunate moment when some Chinese in uniform pretty much did a goosestep, this Opening Ceremony seemed like the best of this type thing I've ever seen.

Very enjoyable. But. NBC. Please fire Bob Costas.

A Rainy Night in Tacoma BBQing Women

I think I mentioned, in the midst of yesterday's Blogging about my woeful day in Lacey, that I was looking forward to a Large Group of Lovely Women joining us for the evening last night.

The group of incoming females included Jenny and her amusingly dry-witted friend Elise (spelling may be incorrect). Jenny and Elise have a Blog that details some of the travails of their recovering little doggie. Jenny's mom was also here. Along with Jenny's mom's mom. I don't know how old Jenny's mom's mom is. She appeared to possibly be anywhere from 80 something to possibly over 100. What I do know for certain is Jenny's mom's mom fires on all cylinders and laughed at dumb stuff I said.

By the time the BBQ needed to be lit a Texas-worthy downpour was deluging us. So, of course, with me being the house Monkey Boy, I was assigned the task, sans umbrella, of lighting the BBQ and monitoring the cooking meat product. Despite the previous incidents of me slightly burning beef products.

During the course of the evening Kristin's mom, Janet, regaled us with detailed monologues about a wide variety of subjects.

Max & Blue each got a raw bone last night, which they enjoyed in the rain.

At some point in the evening Jenny and Elise verbalized alarm at a sharp bulge pointing out from my midsection. Their speculations as to what was causing the bulge ranged from it being a portable dialysis machine to more sordid speculations. They seemed slightly relieved when they finally got the courage to inquire as to what was causing the odd pointy bulge and I reached into my pants and pulled out a card that I'd stuck into my waistband.

It was the birthday card from my mom and dad that my mom gave me upon their departure for Phoenix, in which, she told me, was a handwritten special request for me. So, last night, despite my mom's prohibition against me opening this until my birthday, my little sister convinced me to go against my mom's wishes and open the card. I must say that my mom's prohibition against the pre-birthday opening was pretty much blown when my mom, asked yesterday, when we called her, well, Kristin called her (the phone doesn't get answered if I show up on the called I.D.), if I'd opened the card yet. I said no, you told me not to open it til my birthday.

So, I opened the card last night. In it was 60 bucks and a note from my mom to take Michele and Kristin and myself out for dinner for my birthday.

All in all, all things considered, yesterday was a good day in Tacoma. Despite getting soaking wet BBQing.

Seven Eleven's New Big...Gulp

Freshing incoming from Don Young regarding drilling for natural gas in the Barnett Shale in the Tarrant County, Fort Worth urban zone.....

Are you one of those people who says, "I'm not against gas drilling in general, but..."?

Then, where DO you think is an OK place to drill?

For those of you who aren't quite sure if you want a gas well in your 'hood or not, come on over to east Fort Worth. We have plenty.

Check out our latest pad site in the pic below. It is directly behind the Seven Eleven store on E. Lancaster Ave. (Hwy. 80) @ Beach St.

Do you think this new addition to our neighborhood enhances our quality of life?

Do you think it will help us attract new businesses and residents?

Would you like to have one in YOUR neighborhood?

Would you feel safe and secure with dozens of them surrounding your neighborhood?

How about a few miles of 24" odorless gas pipelines threading under your streets and a few compressor stations scattered about?

Maybe FW Mayor Mike Moncrief would like one behind the Seven Eleven near his home over on Camp Bowie Blvd.

He was quoted last Thursday as saying, "We protect the quality of life of people who live here, which we are not going to sacrifice."

Gosh, Mr. Mayor, did you tell a little white lie?

FW Gas Drilling Task Force
Public Hearing:
August 11, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
City Council Chambers - City Hall
1000 Throckmorton St.

Public comments are solicited---

(If you get lost, just look for all the Chesapeake, XTO and Devon Energy pickup trucks that take up all the parking spots.)

---Key Issues & talking points:

- Moratoriumis - Trinity Trail System needs protection - Master Plan - Public Health & Safety - Conflict of Interest - Odorless wet gas - Pipelines - Compressor Stations - Stop permitting new gas wells, NOW - Moratorium NOW - Environmental Impact studies NOW - Increase set-back distance - No Confidence in current Task Force - Bring in independent consultants - No confidence in Mayor & Council - Keep minutes of TF meetings - Broadcast & record public hearings

Lulu & Durango Cold & Wet in Lacey

I am getting behind in venting about the various things I'm being subjected to up here in the frigid Arctic zone of the Pacific Northwest.

I had agreed to go to Lacey with Lulu this morning. This was yet one more 6am departure. I've relied on the sun waking me up via the skylight directly above the 2 foot wide army cot I try to sleep on.

But, unbeknownst to me the sun was blocked by thick clouds this morning, thus ruining my alarm clock. I checked the time at 20 til 6 and realized I had a problem. Had to make coffee, drink it, make breakfast, eat it, take a shower and be ready to go in 2o minutes. I tried to call Lulu to stall her. No answer.

At 5 minutes til 6am Lulu calls me to tell me she is outside, ready for me to drive. I told her I needed 5 minutes. I rushed and made it out the door by 6.

It was raining. If the rain continued, in Lacey, we were gonna bail. But, by the time we reached Lacey the dripping stopped and we saw blue sky to the west.

We set up the tent and unpacked. All was well. This was at the Lacey Saturday Market, which occurs once a month. It was a nice location, but a small crowd, likely due to the bad weather.

We had wind gust woes. And then about 1 or so it began to rain. Hard. And then Lulu's first husband showed up on his Harley. I thought if only my sister and her crew would show up maybe I would have an escape. Right about then they showed up.

I escaped, leaving Lulu to fend for herself. I'd done enough. No more could be expected of me.

I was then drug into Olympia to an eating place where I had a Mud Bay Cookie. It was good. Then we went to the World's Largest Bead Store, Shipwreck Beads. This was no Texas Brag. It really is the World's Largest. After what seemed a day, we finally left the beads.

On the way back here, calling my Mom and Dad was discussed. It was suggested if I called they would not answer. So, I called. They did not answer. Then Kristin called and my Mom instantly answered. My feelings should have been hurt, but I'm used to this type treatment.

As we neared Tacoma I was told that my sister and Kristin were having a large group of lovely ladies over for dinner. All with varying degrees of lovlieness. I'm assigned the duty of being the token male.

It's just all too much.

Oh, Good Lord, just as I get relaxed into doing this Blogging thing, I am now being asked to go get a propane tank filled. Or something like that. So, thus ends this Blogging. With me in search of gas.

Pioneer Square Art in the Park Video

Even with a real good night's rest I've still not got the energy to talk about yesterday's shocking realization that my perception of Seattle is so last century. Yesterday, my longest dose of 21st century Seattle was a shock to me. I'm still not sure what to make of it or what I really think of it.

Suffice to say, Seattle used to be easy. Like Fort Worth. The Seattle of my memory was, well, way more modern than the Fort Worth of the present. Fort Worth seems to suffer from way too little planning and aesthetic sensibility, let alone environmental trendiness. Seattle seems to be one huge urban planning experiment. Perhaps gone slightly awry.

Anyway, while I muster the energy to finish making little movies of the video I took yesterday, below is a little video of the event I was in Seattle for, that being Art in the Park at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square.

I wandered all over downtown Seattle, Pike Place, the waterfront, Westlake Center, the bus tunnel. By the time the Gallery Walk occurred at Art in the Park and we were flooded with what looked like a parade of fashion models, my camcorder battery was dead. Darn. I missed getting video of the biggest pair of fake boobs I've ever seen. Walking on the most ridiculous boots I've ever seen outside of Texas. Next time I must conserve my battery power. Or get a back up battery. But then I'd have to figure out how to exchange the battery and since it's been 6 years since I bought my antique camcorder I doubt doing anything with the battery is anything I can figure out.