Fort Worth's Trinity River Vision

Interesting little news video. You get so see some of the notorious players, like Kay Granger's son, he of the nepotism charges. And Fort Worth's notorious mayor, Mike Moncrief. You get to see the notorious Trinity River Vision Project underway. And you get to see some of what is being destroyed by this vision.

T. Boone Pickens Energy Plan

Makes sense to me...

One More Stupid Thing I've Done In Texas

When I was up in Tacoma earlier this year I walked a lot. Right out of my little sister's house. You exit the front door to a walkway that connects to a sidewalk that connects to other sidewalks that you can walk all over town. That is a Tacoma sidewalk you see in the photo.

My sister lives in the swanky north end of Tacoma. A former acquaintance lives in the less swanky south end of Tacoma. About 6 miles from my sister's. One day I was at the less swanky side of town and decided to walk back to my sister's. It was a nice, long walk. Sidewalks all the way.

Tacoma is heavily landscaped. When you walk the sidewalks it is sort of like being in a park. Very nice.

So, today, I don't know how I managed to be possessed by an idea of total idiocy, but I needed to go to the Post Office. It's about 2 miles from here. So, I decided I walk to the Post Office. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Well, Fort Worth is a large city. Over 3 times bigger than Tacoma in population. But it is sadly lacking in a lot of big city amenities. Like sidewalks. Maybe 15% of the route from here to the Post Office and back had some semblance of a sidewalk. Narrow little things. Large sections of the route were basically worn down foot paths, where hapless Fort Worthers, like myself, had worn a path through the weeds.

The amount of litter was astonishing. As was the variety. But I made it to the Post Office. I decided to make a loop of it and get back here via a different route. This was a mistake. Way fewer sidewalks. I guess I don't notice how sparse the sidewalks are when I'm driving.

I crossed over I-30 on a very old bridge that also had no sidewalk. It must have been built back when I-30 was a tollway, before the Feds mandated sidewalks on bridges.

I was barely on the other side when I was accosted by 3 pit bulls. Loose pit bulls. I clapped my hands together real hard to scare them. This worked, but I ended up with a real sore spot on the palm of my hand.

Soon after the pit bull attack I stepped on a glass shard. It penetrated my shoe, but not my skin. The "ouch" made me lift up my foot in time to prevent further damage. I pulled out the glass shard and continued on my way.

Suffice to say, I made it back here. I will never try and walk the mean streets of Fort Worth again. Unless I have to.

Meanwhile, Fort Worth continues to be enamored of a messianic vision, that I've mentioned before, called the Trinity River Vision, a vision to build a little lake, some canals, a flood diversion channel and some wetlands restoration.

I wish Fort Worth had the vision to build some sidewalks. Maybe the canals in the Trinity River Vision will have sidewalks.

It's Almost Icy Cold In Texas

Last night the temperatures here in Fort Worth plummeted into the 50s. Brrrrr. Slept like a baby with the windows open and no A/C running.

This morning about 7am I contemplated going swimming. At first I decided against it, figuring the water would be too cold. But then I decided to give it a try.

Well, the water in the pool was way warmer than the air. This made it feel good to get in the warm water. Though it did take a few seconds to get adjusted to the water, which must have been in the low 70s.

I've now decided I'm going to keep on swimming every morning all the way through winter. Unless there is an icestorm making it too slippery to go outside. I may change my mind about this plan at a later date.

Texas Railroad Commission Makes Entire Town Mad

The population of the little Texas town of Era is in full umbrage mode due to the fact that the Texas Railroad Commission totally ignored their concerns, even after legions of Eraites travelled all the way to Austin to verbalize their concerns in front of the Commission.

The Texas Railroad Commission is the oddly named Texas government entity that oversees that gas drilling industry, among other things. It is widely believed to be a completely corrupt tool of the gas industry.

Last week Dallas ABC affiliate, WFAA-TV's reporter, Brett Shipp aired a real good report about what has happened in Era. You can watch the Shipp report here.

Stehekin, Bears, Boats, Bikes, Hikes, Eating & Lake Chelan

Looking through old webpages today I've come to the realization I don't do anything new, different, fun and adventurous anymore. This must come to an end. Soon.

I'd forgotten about the fun of Stehekin. That's an isolated town, deep in the Washington North Cascades and the north end of Lake Chelan. Accessed only by boat or hiking or plane.

The summer before I moved to Texas. Or was it the summer before that, a group of 7 or 8 took the Lady of the Lake up Lake Chelan, to stay at the Stehekin Lodge. We took our bikes along. We were barely off the boat when we were greeted by our first of what was to be dozens of bears. Like the one you see in the photo.

Below is an excerpt from one of my 3 webpages about the trip to Stehekin. Go here to read the whole thing.

"The Way to Stehekin is definitely over the Road Less Traveled. Stehekin is situated at the end of 55 mile long Lake Chelan, deep in the North Cascades of Washington, accessible only by boat or foot or floatplane. No phones, no TV, no radio. Very likely the most remote, isolated location in the Lower 48 of the United States. None of your companions on this little adventure had been to Stehekin before. It was to be 4 days of discovering the delights of a world far removed from our usual Urban Madness..."

Proof Of My Memory Loss

I was looking through some old, odd stuff and came across something that appalled me, appalled me, I tell you. A thing from my old old website known as "The Durango Files." Sort of a distant precursor to this blog, a distant precursor in which I webpaged my various travails and tribulations while I still lived in the Pacific Northwest.

I don't know if it was a function of my psyche blocking a painful memory, or my memory itself falling to disrepair, but I came across an accounting I wrote over a decade ago which should have served me as a cautionary tale, that I should have remembered. But, fool that I am, I'm all about giving people second, third and sometimes fourth chances. I no longer have such a foolish policy. I'm all about being Draconian anymore.

Anyway, here's an excerpt from the beginning of this memory jarring account.....

The following took place at the resort community of Sunriver in Central Oregon. Six different individuals with a total of nine different personalities were imprisoned in Hell Lodge on a deserted cul-de-sac for 5 long days of HELL.

The expedition had been arranged by a middle-aged married couple named Jack and Lulu. The other participants were their teenage son, Leo, a temporarily separated from her husband woman named Zelda, a compu-nerd, out-of-date, commie wannabe, who insisted on being called Trotsky; and one totally well-adjusted, completely sane person, your guide on this journey into the netherworld of the human mind, Dr. Durango Jones.....

Go here to read the entire painful episode.....

Alma Returned to Port Aransas Safe From Hurricane Ike

Alma is safe back in Port Aransas, her cottage on the gulf intact. Read on for Alma's account of her encounter with Hurricane Ike. And scroll way down if you want to see a photo of Alma's Boyz who survived Hurricane Ike with her.....

Hey you Guys,

I've posted all of the Hurricane Ike News from Port Aransas emails in my MySpace blog. The MySpace post includes emails I received in response and responses my long-time pal, Durango, received from posting them on his blog.... I've also included lyrics from one of my favorite songs by Blue October that was playing as I drove from Harbor Island to AP. I hope you like....

I woke up and went to the Stipes Store by the ferry and got my caffeine and ice for what has now come to be regarded as that damn meat and cheese. Why did I even bother? I just can't see food going to waste. Maybe I starved in a past life...who knows?. They were doing good business for the people getting ready to leave and the locals that were staying. They were selling massive amounts of ice, beer, sodas, gasoline, water, etc.

I got on Cotter to go home when I ran into my new "friend" from Oceans of Seafood who was waiting for the owner to come down from his residence next door and open the restaurant. They would be open for lunch. We chatted briefly and he told me I was the only left on the Island freaking out. But he did say that the Island was starting to flood from the West side at Shorty's Pasture. I don't understand how everybody could be so calm. I told him I would be checking out the beach and he suggested I go the Cotter Street way as Beach Street was already flooded. I checked out the beach by the Jettys and couldn't find a way to check it out so I followed a truck past the Marine Center and yo, there beyond some little Dunes you could see that the sea was already to the Dunes there. It looked like the sea would be over the Jettys very soon. After I took in the sight, I drove to the Beach St. access road and parked amoungst the surfers who had clogged up Beach Street in search of some good waves. I went home and my "new friend" was looking at my car. They weren't able to figure out what was wrong with it and left.

After mostly taping containers shut (mostly to make myself feet better) even tho that would have diddly effect on anything carried by the sea, I went to eat lunch at the Beach and Station Street Grill. They were doing fair, steady business to the locals who decided to stay and me. I was taking a brief lunch break at the only place that was open. I had a bowl of their killer gumbo with some toasted, crusty french bread and came back home.

I watched the news as they were now saying that Hwy 361 was flooded in places and that the road on Harbor Island (the other side of the ship channel once you take the ferry) was also flooding. I feared that I would be stuck here with the crazy locals who showed no fear or respect for the Hurricane. I then doubled my speed which resulted in discovering my deodorant didn't work and getting my nice white blouse filthy. I was now just tossing things in the car, crying and freaking out that I would lose whatever remained in my "cottage". I finally came to a point where I said, "it's in God's hands" and put the dogs in the car and hit the road.

The water in the ship channel was as high as I've ever seen it. The little ferry boats were valiantly taking passengers back and forth. I must say, it was one smooth ride considering. I thought for sure that we would be jostled about by "rollers". Rollers are large rolling waves. They are the kind of waves that could and might make you sea sick. When I'm outside on deck standing on the boats when there are rollers I instinctively reach out for something to hold on to. The deck hands laugh as they've told me that there are people who step on their brakes. As if that would do anything! It's kinda funny. But, no...no rollers, just a quick current of water filling up the channel. No dolphins. Just birds taking advantage of the disoriented fish.

As I drove past Harbor Island, past the Fin and Feather, past Hog Island, I could see that the fishing encampments and bait shops and RV Parks were all already flooded. I mean water all around them. I drove on past the ghost town of Aransas Pass. I drove on the highway and drove past North Beach and the sea had already flooded most of North Beach where I usta live. There was water already surrounding the little shack where I lived a year ago. Water was almost up to the Sea Lab. I drove over the Harbor Bridge, made my way on the Crosstown, tried to find a doggie crate at the Greenwood Walmart but they were out, tried to go to PetSmart but they were closed, went to the Everhart Walmart and they only had a large doggie crate. I had to leave the boyz in the car each time I went in a store. It was awful and I felt terrible. I was now $60 more in the hole. I finally made it to my sister's in near hysterics. It's all too much. I suffer from anxiety and got off my Klonopin, so by now I'm thinking that maybe I still need them. My hands are shaking and I hate this.

My sister was calm and I love that family so much. The kids were sheer joy to be around. My nephew is phenomenal. He's Pre-K but he can already read. It's amazing. My niece is so gentle and kind to animals and my dogs warmed up to her like I've never seen them warm up to anybody before. They actually loved the whole family. They were nervous, too. Even tho they were having the benefit of a backyard, all they wanted was to know where I was, laid by the back door whimpering and once we brought them inside and put them in the new crate I got on the way in, they calmed down. They had to be in a crate because Jack, my sister's little terrier didn't cotton to having 3 other dogs in his territory. It's only natural. We had to put my dogs outside when her dogs were inside and vice versa. We spent a nice day watching the Weather Channel and cartoons on Nickelodian.

My sister in Houston had it bad. It was scary and they lost power. They were debating whether to come down here after they learned they wouldn't have electricity for up to TWO WEEKS. I hope they do come down. It's intolerable without AC.

I tried to sleep but it was difficult. The dogs would whimper when they couldn't see me. So, at 1am, completely exhausted, I covered their crate with a Sponge Bob blanket, and lay down on the couch where they could see me. I turned off the lights and when they finally settled down, sneaked off to sleep in my nephews Harry Potter bed. When I finally slept, it was not a good sleep because I kept getting up everytime the dogs made noise. I didn't want them to wake everybody up. The dogs were just totally discombobulated not being in their own home. And I'm sure they could read "my energy" as I was worried I'd lost everything. When they settled down, I crashed so hard it seemed like 5 minutes when I woke up 5 hours later. I stayed up for an hour and went back to bed and slept til 9am. It seemed like 5 minutes.

I saw a report where somebody on some jettys in the area (didn't hear where) tried to help somebody in trouble, got swept off the jettys by a giant wave, and was washed out to sea. Wow. I read on my phone that a tree fell thru the roof and killed someone who was inside sleeping. I read where a 67 year old man refused to leave Surfside. They found him drunk in the morning. He drank his way thru Ike. A woman delivered a baby during the storm at a shelter. She was assisted by a specialist in geriatric psychology who hadn't delivered a baby in 20 years. The police reported thousands of calls from frightened people who had changed their mind about riding it out. And, of course, people were rescued from their attics and roofs.

Saturday morning, we mostly watched Sponge Bob and Mighty B cartoons and giggled and laughed. Drank good coffee and had papa con huevo tacos for breakfast. My niece and I tried to keep the dogs calm. We ate some good snacks. My sister cooked up some good stuff. And I tried to work up the energy to shower and get ready to come back to Port A. I was completely drained. I drank copious amounts of coffee but it did nothing. I was depressed and very tired. I tried to take a nap, but it just wasn't gonna happen. I started at 3pm to try to pull myself together. By 5pm or so, I had broken down the new dog cage, downloaded a Hannah Montana song (See You Again) into my laptop, gave the CD (it was the only song I liked) to my niece, rounded up my stuff and loaded it in the car. With her help, we loaded the dogs in the car and I was headed home.

I decided to pay my Cricket phone bill. Just remember, you get what you pay for. I stopped in AP for some chicken. Everywhere I looked I saw tired people. Many, I'm sure wondering how they would make up the money they spent making sure their families were OK.

There were reports of people en masse returning generators and other stuff they bought at Home Depot (and the like) since they didn't use them. The problem with this storm scenario is that people spend grocery, rent, utility, etc. money to survive the storm. To save their families. In other words, spending money they don't have. I would do the same thing. It's this kind of stuff that makes people decide they will hunker down the next time this happens. With our luck down here, next time, it will be "the Big One" but we won't listen to the hysteria mongering media. I am about $200 in the hole and my mental health took a beating.

Yes, I am safe. Yes, it could've just as easily hit here. Just 100 miles South and I would've lost everything except for what I loaded in the car. Yes, I am lucky. I have a home to come home to. I have a job to come home to. I still have all my crap. This great place to live is still here. The 1st cold front of the season blows in tomorrow so that signals the end of Hurricane Season. Yes, I am still alive. My family is alive. My Port A friends are gonna razz me good for over-reacting (in their eyes).

This Hurricane thing is terrible and I fear it will take me time to sort thru the emotions. I was just throwing stuff (literally) and now must clean house before anything comes back in the house. Maybe that, too, is a good thing. I can now set up the table for my desktop computer like I always intended to, at least for the next 2 weeks as I try to deal with this ginormous electricity estimated bill. I have an interview for a second job at a very nice resort hotel. I have gigs coming up at the Tarpon Ice House and Sips and my coffee work continues at Sips. I will probably just take all that damn cheese and meat back. There's no way I could ever even eat that much meat and cheese. I can see me constipated and farting for the rest of my life with that cheese.

My work is cut out for me.

To respond to the folks on Durango's blog...no, I don't know where the Mustang Towers are. I'm sure I've seen them, but I don't think I dropped papers there so don't know where they are. Maybe they're called something different? I dunno. I haven't see the beach today yet. I'll cruise by before I go back to CC to return my bro-in-law's car. I hope my boss, Joanne, did okay. They drove inland.

I would like to thank all of you with your kind words of care. I am so overwhelmed and touched by the concern. Robert, Chuck, Durango, Carol, and Nancy come to mind. It touched my heart that you care. Funny, Dallas got more Ike rain than we did. IT DIDN'T EVEN RAIN HERE. The mosquitoes, tho, are mutants and we could solve the energy crisis by saddling them up and riding them!

The Boyz are each laying down and sleeping soundly surrounding my sitting butt as I type this. They are exhausted. The cat, Selena, was howling loudly at the door a few minutes after we were all huddled in front of the AC. The heat index here today was 106 degrees. And people wonder why the locals wear minimal clothes. I look forward to the cold front and the change in season. We have a forecast of - get this - rain for the next 3 days. Oy.

So, I am eternally indebted to my sister. I regret that I had to be an additional burden to my sister who already has a family to care for. It was quality time with my niece and nephew that I adore.

I come from good people. I love Port Aransas and would be devastated if I couldn't live here. There's just something about this place.

And yes, I realize that I am lucky (all things considered)....

love,
alma

Hurricane Ike In Fort Worth Video

Hurricane Ike has been blowing and dropping rain for hours today. If you didn't know it was a hurricane you would think it was just any old regular rainstorm with a little wind. That goes on all day long.

So, about 5 or so I decided to go over to Miss Puerto Rico's and see if I could get some windy video. That didn't work out so well.

So, I decided to take a short drive. To the Post Office. It's a short distance away. So, the video below starts at my local Post Office and then I head back towards where I am now. On the way I went through the Albertsons parking lot and remarked that as long as I've lived here I've never driven through the Albertsons parking lot and not seen at least one obese Texan.

The video below ends with the windy view from the aforementioned Miss Puerto Rico's.

Saturday Morning Weather Service Hurricane Ike North Texas Update

I wasn't sure in the previous blogging if it was the outskirts of Ike I was seeing and feeling this morning while swimming. but the latest update, below, from the National Weather Service, confirms we are already experiencing Hurricane Ike here in the D/FW Metroplex.

A Hurricane wind warning is in effect along and east of a line from Athens to Hearne. A tropical storm wind warning is in effect along and east of a line from Jacksboro...to Stephenville...to Gatesville. A flash flood watch is in effect east of I-35. At 9 AM...the center of ike was just northeast of Huntsville. Heavy rain has begun to impact Robertson and Leon counties...and the rain will increase in intensity and areal coverage as ike moves north at around 20 mph. Rainfall rates may exceed 3 inches per hour. The center of ike is expected to be near the southeastern corner of Anderson County around noon. Outer rain bands have already reached the I-35 corridor...from Dallas/Fort Worth to Waco. These and additional rain bands will affect much of north Texas throughout the day...with intermittent rain and wind. Residents are urged to be aware of the potential for flooding even in areas outside the flash flood watch. Northerly winds of 20 to 30 mph have enveloped central and east Texas...and will continue to....