We're Freezing in Fort Worth

Coming up on 2 in the afternoon we are still below freezing here in Fort Worth. As in right now it is 28 with a Wind Chill Factor making it feel like 19. According to WeatherBug.

That's me hiking at the Tandy Hills about an hour ago in the dark photo. It's a snow clouds type sky. The white stuff may fall later today. That happens rarely in this part of Texas.

I had to find my long underwear to make hiking possible. I think I had 4 layers on top, two of which had hoods, both of which I pulled over my wool stocking cap. And I wore two pairs of gloves. Eventually I overheated.

Now, I know you're wondering if I went swimming this morning. Well, wonder no more. A bit before 8 I went down to the pool. The air temperature was 25, with WeatherBug saying it'd feel like 19, due to the wind. It was less windy this morning than when I went hiking, which I guess accounts for WeatherBug's Wind Chill Factor being the same 19 degrees.

So, this morning was the oddest getting in the water sensation yet. Due to the air being so cold the water felt warm. I stayed in it longer than yesterday when both the water and the air were way warmer than this morning. I swam maybe 10 minutes, then got in the hot tub. Did not stay in the hot tub long. I got out and back in the cold water for about 2 minutes.

I think I have gradually desensitized my skin nerve endings. They are so traumatized now that I think they've given up sending signals to my brain telling me that I should feel cold.

Uncertain in Texas

I have often been uncertain in Texas. But I've never been to Uncertain in Texas. Uncertain is about 18 miles northeast of Marshall, Texas. I have been to Marshall.

There are a few Texas towns with slightly odd names. Like Uncertain. Uncertain is a small town of less than 200 people. But there are usually a lot more than 200 people in Uncertain. That is because Uncertain sits on the shores of the beautiful swampy bayous of Caddo Lake.

There are plenty of places to stay in Uncertain. Caddo Lake Cabins, Canoa Cove, Crip's Camp, Hodge Podge Cottages, Hoot 'n Holler, Johnson's Ranch, Moonglow Lodges, Shady Glade Resort, Spattedock Guest Houses, Uncertain Inn and Whispering Pines Lodge.

That is a lot of places to stay in a town of less than 200.

Now, you're likely still wondering how Uncertain got its name. Well, the name came about due to the same reason other towns in Texas got odd names. Like when the town of Reklaw sent in its township application to Austin, with the town desired name being Walker, Austin rejected the name because there was already a Walker, Texas. So the new town's settlers sent in a new application with Walker spelled backwards.

The same thing happened to Sacul, Texas. The settlers wanted to call their town Lucas. But there was already a Lucas, Texas. So, the same solution to this vexing problem, that Reklaw used, was used by Sacul.

As for Uncertain. Well, way back over 100 years ago, when the settlers in what is now Uncertain sent in their application to Austin, they had not decided on a name. They wanted to be an official township, figuring they'd come up with a name later. They did not know what to put in the blank spot where they were supposed to enter the proposed name of their new town. So, they entered "uncertain."

Austin sent the township application back to the new town of Uncertain with the good news that their name had been approved and they were now officially the town of Uncertain, Texas.

River Legacy Park Destruction Surprise

That's me, on my new bike seat, today, on the River Legacy Park paved trail, on the north side of Hurricane Creek.

I had the biggest surprise at River Legacy Park today since a guy laying out Barnett Shale seismic testing equipment almost killed me with his Off Road Vehicle, riding fast, the wrong way, on the one way River Legacy Mountain Bike Trail.

Previously to almost being a Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drilling fatality I'd been surprised on the same trail by my first encounter with a Bobcat. At that point in time I did not realize a Bobcat is as harmless as a house cat. So, I biked away at top speed, probably screaming like a school girl. That Bobcat encounter was the scariest critter encounter since 2002 when a Snapping Turtle tried to kill me in Lake Grapevine. I have also had an armadillo encounter or two at River Legacy. As well as some close calls with snakes. Neither the armadillo or snake encounters have been life threatening.

Today's shocking surprise at River Legacy was not an animal or human trying to kill me. Instead it was human activity of a different sort.

I know I've biked at River Legacy within the past 3 months. I'm sure of that. But, in the short time since I'd last been there, much has changed. All was fine as I pedaled along the trail that runs along the south side of the Trinity River. As I pedaled across the bridge to the north side I saw that the boat launch that had been under construction the last time I saw it, was now finished and about 20 from the low water river.

About a quarter mile from that point the trail crosses under the Collins Street Bridge. As soon as I came out the other side I was startled by what I saw. Chain-link construction fencing right up against the trail. And bulldozed dirt as far as I could see. The chain-link fencing along side the trail continued for several miles. It is aesthetically displeasing.

But even more aesthetically displeasing is all the dirt that is being moved around. It appears roads are being built. I knew there was to be a development near the Bird's Fort area towards the end of the paved trail, where there is a big buffer of trees. But, this development I saw today is right up against the River Legacy Park Trail.

There are huge piles of huge pipes laying on the ground with the trench for the pipeline being dug. You can clearly see where the pipeline is going to run. Right under the River Legacy Park trail and then across the Trinity River and under a golf course.

One of the reasons I like this trail is it feels like you've left the city. But today I heard loud screeching noises that I thought were some sort of siren. The noise turned out to be coming from a piece of heavy equipment. There were several bulldozer, earth mover type things, with several of them busy working today.

Where this development is taking place I thought was a flood plain. There are several lakes that are the result of when the river floods. Those lakes are all low due to the drought. Both Hurricane Creek and Boyd Branch have been totally dried up for a long time. But when the Trinity River floods I've seen an incredible amount of water running through those creeks to the flood plain. Or what I thought was a flood plain.

How did this come about without me reading about it? How could Arlington let such a special area be ruined? What did the River Legacy Park people have to say about it? I mean, I got a scolding letter from some lady who works for River Legacy Park because she thought I was promoting environmental damage to the park by pointing out the Off Road Trails that are outside of the park. It is the area around the Off Road Trails that I thought development was to take place.

Not out in the open. And not right up against the River Legacy Trail.

Arlington is a town where dirty dealings seem to take place with nary an eye batted. You want to build a football stadium? Well, Arlington will help you pay for it and will go along with abusing the perfectly legit concept of eminent domain to kick thousands of people out of their homes and apartments in the single worst case of eminent domain abuse in American history.

And now, somehow plans got approved that it seems will totally alter what may be the best park in the D/FW Metroplex. Why did the city not buy this land? Or at least a buffer? That land could not have cost much. It's like a wasteland. A beautiful wasteland. That isn't so beautiful anymore.

The Sacramento Bee & Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Yesterday, that being Saturday, December 13, a guy blogged about my blogging at the start of the month about finally cancelling my subscription to the Fort Wort Star-Telegram. Actually his blogging pretty much consisted of linking to mine and copying it on his blog. His blog is called McClatchy Watch with the blog URL being cancelthebee.blogspot.com.

McClatchy Watch describes his blog as "mainly about the spectacular train wreck at The Sacramento Bee and its parent company, the McClatchy Company. But I also post about current events, the Iraq war, politics, and things that interest me. Take a look around this blog, I hope you enjoy it."

Then this morning, yet one more person calling him or herself Anonymous, commented on yesterday's McClatchy Watch. What made the comment interesting, besides being directed at the blogging about my paper cancellation, was the commenter has a Star-Telegram connection.

Here's the comment....

I left the FWST (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) months ago during one of the staff reductions in mid year. The newspaper was paid from my paycheck automatically, so I called to try and get it changed and pay for a year in advance. Three times I called and left messages and I still have not gotten a reply so that is that - I tried.

BTW - I'm still getting the paper - for free.

When they do catch on, I doubt I will continue. The paper is nothing but wire, which I can get for free on the Internet. And this content sharing with the DMN (Dallas Morning News) - no thanks. If I want the DMN, I'll buy it - I don't need them making my decisions. Sad situation - nothing but panic.

Last month I finally got a new job and can see what many others have said about life being better away from the newspaper business.

And then in what must be a related thing, yet one more Anonymous person made a comment. This comment was also made this morning. The comment was made regarding the blogging on December 1 regarding cancelling the Star-Telegram.

The commenter commented....

**crickets chirping**

I'm guessing McClatchy monitors what gets said about their newspapers in the same way Chesapeake Energy does.

Swimming Under Windy Sunday Clouds in North Texas

It has been windy for over 24 hours here in North Texas. This morning when I was in the pool I looked up to see a very strange and beautiful Sunday morning sky.

The wind was pushing low level wispy clouds at a high speed. There were more clouds much higher in the sky, apparently above the wind, because the high clouds did not appear to be moving.

This created a very unique 3-D effect. While I was looking up 3 jets heading to or away from D/FW Airport added to the odd movement in the sky.

It was all quite hypnotic. So, when I finished swimming and hot tubbing I got my video camera to see if it would be able to capture the beautiful Sunday morning Texas sky. Sadly, the video doesn't do justice to what my eye was seeing. But it comes close...

Horseshoe Trails, Lake Grapevine, New Gas Low & Extreme Home Makeover

Well, I've had me a day. Did my usual early morning swim thing. Done with that by 8am. Then I put my new bike seat on my old bike. Pedaled around testing the seat. I liked it. Then I hit a bump and the seat came loose. Back to the tools for some better screw tightening.

A bit after noon I headed up to Southlake and Grapevine. I was hungry so I went to Costco for their extravagant free sample lunch. Today was the best ever. A lot of very good cheeses and breads. Giant shrimp. I had the sweet chili shrimp. Beef stroganoff, pork tamales, cheesecake, fudge, chicken pot pie and other stuff that I can't remember.

After eating too much at Costco I went to the Horseshoe Trails Park on Lake Grapevine. I used to mountain bike the Horseshoe Trails a couple times a week. I used to live closer. That's the view from the Horseshoe Trails, looking out at Lake Grapevine in the photo above. It has been very windy today here in North Texas. It made for a fun hike in the wind. Gusts to 45 mph.

We hiked for about 5 miles, 7 if you factor in the extra exertion required to make headway into a heavy wind.

After hiking I went to Sprouts Farmers Market in Southlake. Got a lot of good stuff, like oranges and broccoli and apples and ham hocks. I'm making pea soup tomorrow.

I mentioned a couple days ago that if I were in the area I might try and find the Extreme Makeover Home Edition house under construction up in far north Fort Worth. Well, I was sort of in the area. So, I left Sprouts and headed west on Southlake Boulevard for a few miles. Took a right on 377 and then left on to Keller-Hicks Road.

Keller-Hicks Road is where I'd read the new house was being built. This area is where I first lived when I moved to Texas so it's familiar territory to me. Except so much has changed. As in new houses as far as you could see.

Eventually I came to a detour with cops blocking any further driving on Keller-Hicks. A sign said "No Walk-Ins." Following the detour I came to another guarded access point to the TV production.

I could see a lot of cars, tents, light poles and someone being loud over a sound system. It did not sound like Ty Pennington.

Finally I got out of the detour on to a main road. That main road was the main access point for "volunteers" working on the new house. They had to drive a bumpy field of dirt to get in and out.

I could see across the field to a better view than the one by where the cops were blocking the road. I could see a lot of people and I think the new house. You can see that house in the photo to the right of the big white tent.

After all that excitement it was time to head back here. Horrible traffic on I-35. So, I got off the freeway at Western Center Boulevard and made my way to Beach Street, stayed on Beach til Randoll Mill, which leads me to where I am now.

I forgot to mention, on Beach Street, near the Beach Street Super Wal-Mart, I saw a new gas low. $1.42 at a Racetrack station. I didn't need any, so I got none, so Mom didn't get a gas call.

Interlochen Christmas Lights Map & Directions

Yesterday when I blogged about the Interlochen Christmas Lights it did not occur to me to tell people how to find the lights.

By this morning I found several emails asking me for directions. And I found that yesterday's blogging comes up #1 when Googling "Interlochen Christmas Lights." Hence the questions.

Below are 2 maps. The first shows you where Interlochen is in relationship to I-30. That's Interlochen with the big red circle drawn around it. You can see the Interlochen canals on the map. The second map shows the Interlochen Traffic Routes.

To find Interlochen all you have to do is exit I-30 at Fielder Road or Eastchase Parkway. From Eastchase head east on Meadowbrook, which becomes Green Oaks. You'll come to a Shell station on your left. Turn right on Randoll Mill Road, at the Shell station. Continue on Randoll Mill til you come to a light. At that point you will likely be encountering a lot of Interlochen traffic. It is pretty straightforward from then on. Just follow the signs.

A more direct route to Interlochen may be found by exiting I-30 at Fielder Road. Go south on Fielder til you come to Randoll Mill Road. Turn right onto Randoll Mill and head west til you are obviously in the Interlochen zone.

From Division Street head north on Bowen Road til it runs into Interlochen.

Interlochen Christmas Lights in Arlington Texas

I'd not been on my bike in a long time. It had a flat that I had trouble getting around to fixing, til this morning, when I came in from swimming and needed something to warm me up.

About noon I went to Village Creek Natural Historical Area to do some pedaling. The paved trail leaves the park after about a mile. You are then in what is called Interlochen. That's an Arlington neighborhood that is famous in these parts for its over the top Christmas Lights.

A couple years ago an Interlochenite was asked by D/FW Airport to tone down their lights due to distracting pilots. To those who have not seen Interlochen that likely sounds ridiculous. How could lights be that bright? Well, like I said, Interlochen is over the top.

Police have to direct traffic. It is very controlled. You can go in only one direction. One lane is kept open for residents. I probably shouldn't say this, but for those of us who live in the area, it's easy to know how to sneak in and avoid the 2 hour or more wait to get to the lights.

Interlochen is so-named, I think, because "lochen" is some language's word for canals. There are several canals in Interlochen. You can take a boat to visit the neighbors. The canals are all lit up as well as the front yards.

Today I got off the paved trail and pedaled some of the Interlochen streets. Christmas decorations have an entirely different look when the power is off and the sun is up. Most people go all traditional, manger scenes, reindeer, snowmen.

I saw a couple of somewhat original displays today. One had Santa kneeling over what I assume was Baby Jesus in a crib.

My favorite was a Pedro's Trailer Park themed display. At least that was my take on it. Santa was sitting in front of his brightly painted trailer, surrounded by palm trees, lots of lights and a big herd of big pink flamingos.

If it wasn't such a major deal to go to Interlochen at night, I'd go back to see Santa and the Trailer all lit up. The last time I went to see the Interlochen Lights was a couple Christmases ago with Miss Puerto Rico. We had libations on board. It was very festive.

CLICK HERE FOR MAPS & DIRECTIONS
TO THE INTERLOCHEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Kill The Cockroach Part IV: Cockroach Hall Of Fame

I've not seen a Cockroach in several days. I sort of miss the little buggers. I learned yesterday that I'm not the only person in Texas with a perverse fondness for Cockroaches.

There is a guy in Plano, Texas named Michael "Cockroach Dundee" Bohdan. He is a pest control specialist with a store called The Pest Shop.

In The Pest Shop Mr. Bohdan has opened the Cockroach Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame features dead Cockroaches dressed as celebrities and historical figures. There is David Letteroach, Liberoachi and something called the Combates Motel which is
somehow based on the Bates Motel in Psycho. The Combates Motel is a little roach-sized house with the Cockroach holding a little-bitty dagger.

The Liberoachi display is the most elaborate with the dead bug sitting at a little piano decorated with a little candelabra. Liberoachi is wearing a big white cape.

The bugs aren't all dead at the Cockroach Hall of Fame. There are live Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. They are about 4 inches long and an inch thick. If you pick one up it hisses at you.

There is a snack shop in the Cockroach Hall of Fame with only one item available, that being "Larvets Original Worm Snacks" in yummy BBQ, Cheddar Cheese and Taco flavors. Tasty.

The Cockroach Hall of Fame is open Monday through Friday from 12:15pm til 5pm. And on Saturday from 12pm til 3pm. The location is 2231-B West 15th Street in Plano, Texas.

Fort Worth Space Shuttles, Swimming, Hiking & Zorro's Buffet

I did not see the Space Shuttle Endeavor fly over me when I was in the pool this morning. I was not in the pool very long. I got up real early, as in before 4, I was down at the pool a bit past 7. I don't know when in the morning the Shuttle lifted off from Fort Worth.

It is supposed to get in the 70s this weekend, followed by an Arctic Blast coming in on Monday that might bring snow with it.

I went hiking at the Tandy Hills around noon. And then on to Zorro's Buffet. It's Mexican Food Day on Thursday. Zorro's has added some new Mexican food since my last Thursday visit. There were tamales, chipolte chicken, chicken mole, BBQ pork ribs and all sorts of other good stuff I'm not remembering right now due to a cerebral bloodflow problem.

The chicken mole looked like chicken covered with thick chocolate. I had to ask what mole meant. I was told it's like BBQ. It was messy, but tasty.

Every other time at Zorro's the nearby gas station has a new record low. But not today. The Tandy Hills Gas Station remains the lowest I've seen, at $1.44. Zorro's gas was $1.48.

But on the way back here I saw a Fina station at $1.43. Trouble was this Fina station appeared to have been closed for years. I don't know if it was ironic or funny that this long closed station's long ago prices are now back what we're paying today. Just a couple months ago I would have seen that sign and thought, those were the days, we'll never see them again.