Only Child Syndrome Strikes Again

Commenting on Only Child Syndrome, someone told me that "Eric Cartman (South Park) is a spoiled only child of a mother who smothers him with attention and food. He’s a greedy, manipulative being, is a smartass and a foul-mouthed little brat, is vindictive & shallow AND a liar, a cheat, a smug winner and a backstabber!"

Yup, Cartman is just like one or two of the Only Children I know. Or used to know. Only Children tend to wear out their welcome. Or steal from you, swear at you, try to get even with you and in some way or the other stab you in the back.

When I first blogged about Only Child Syndrome I had no idea there were so many people out there dealing with the Syndrome. Every day there are people coming to my blog using various search strings, such as "Only Child Brat," or "Only Child Syndrome," or "Only Child Problem," or "Only Child Liar," or "Only Child Sickness," or "Only Child Disease."

If you scroll down til you see my FeedJit stats on the right, then at the bottom of that you can click "watch in real time" and you'll likely see one or two people looking for help in dealing with an Only Child.

I've gotten quite a few comments regarding Only Child Syndrome. This morning I got a real good one, which quotes me up til the LMAO part....

"Googling 'Only Child Syndrome' I found several blogs written by Only Children, basically admitting they are different and another blog blogging about the Syndrome with several Only Children commenting on the blog and ironically and cluelessly confirming the Syndrome with their comments."------LMAO. I googled the same and could not believe the comments that were being left by only children regarding the fact that in no way did they conform to such a terrible stereotype!!! They would then continue on to contradict themselves and be completely clueless that they had done it too! Hilarious! I am engaged to an only child. I deal with the very real syndrome every day of my life. Now, probably not all only children have it, but it exists. It DEFINITELY exists!!!!! "This is mine! I won't share it!" "Look at me!! I want attention!!!" " Waaaaaaaaah you made fun of me just like I just made fun of youuuuu only I cant handle it!!!" hahaha. I wish there were more blogs about this topic. Very interesting.

Well, if you're looking for more blogs about Only Child Syndrome, this morning I found one written by an Only Child, called "Only Child Syndrome: Confessions of a recovering only child."

One of the things I find most troubling with Only Children is their irrational, easily triggered tempers. The Only Child can say the rudest, most inappropriate of remarks, but if you reply in kind, the Only Child will erupt. I've known an Only Child who will erupt if she simply perceives you are somehow being critical of her. It can be over something as simple as saying "Take a right at the next intersection." or "The change is 6 dollars, give her 6 dollars."

If you deal with an Only Child you learn to avoid the triggers. So, this sort of makes the Only Child an overbearing bully. I have an aversion to someone yelling at me, particularly when it makes no sense and is caused by the yeller's screwed up thinking, so I definitely try to avoid the triggers.

If the Only Child makes a demand, like, "Hey, I want a flat of those raspberries," you have to weigh the situation carefully. You think to yourself, "they are my berries, I got them, I've got a use for them." You think to yourself, "I know the raspberries will just go to waste if I give this pig a flat." And then you conclude, "If I tell her I'm taking all 3 flats, she will lose her temper. She's already had one fit today, it's not worth it, I'll give her a flat." And then a week later I'm at the Only Child's pigsty house and sure enough, there are the raspberries, in the fridge, maybe a third eaten, the rest starting to mold.

I've never said all Only Children fit the Only Child Syndrome mold. I will say, I have known many who do. The ones who do are all despicable, difficult human beings.

I fear China is setting itself up for a future disaster with their one child only policy. Over a billion Only Children. That can not be good for the world.

Below is a YouTube video in which what appear to be students are practicing a debate. About Only Child Syndrome....

The Travails of Tootsie Tonasket

I don't know what it is with those people up in Washington. Is it epidemic Seasonally Affected Disorder? I know they are having yet one more bad storm, today, in a winter that's been the worst in a long long time.

But, gray skies and sub-zero temperatures and a case of SAD, does not explain the stuff that goes on in Washington's Peyton Place, where Tootsie Tonasket lives.

The Tonasketans have more over the top nonsensical soap opera than a Mexican Telenovela. Just today, Tootsie's husband, Alfred, 57, freshly smitten with the charms of 22 year old, pimply-faced vixen named Misty, got a call from Misty wanting Alfred to come spend the night at her apartment in Omak.

Tootsie heard the arrangements being made. And then it got worse. Tootsie and Alfred's 25 year old, ne-er do-well son, Spade, wants to go along so he can spend the night with Misty's roommate. Spade is feeling lonely ever since the mother of his child, Beulah, booted Spade out, so she could take up with a Chinese Alaskan fisherman, who is keeping Beulah and Spade's child Nervada in a style that Spade was never able to afford. Spade has now turned pretty much into an alcoholic, drinking up to 2 six packs a day.

So, it is below zero in Tootsie's town. There is ice and snow on the ground. To be able to get out to the cleared roads, much shoveling was needed. So, Alfred has been out in the cold for a long time, trying to move the white stuff. That's poor ol Alfred in the picture, above, trying to shovel his way to Misty's.

Now, Tootsie is just beside herself with worry about all these shenanigans spinning around her. So, she's called me twice today. I am currently a great resource for advice about these type matters, due to I am currently reading "Jackie Ethel Joan: Women of Camelot." I knew Jack and Teddy were serial womanizers, but I had no idea Bobby was a bad boy too. I figured how could he have the time or energy, while helping Ethel pop out that huge litter they produced.

Tootsie seemed to appreciate hearing how Jackie, Ethel and Joan handled their womanizing husband woes. I'm sure she'll do as I suggested and look the other way while she works at re-decorating the house.

Meanwhile, here in Texas it is so darn HOT. I've got the windows open and the ceiling fan spinning. There is no chance of having Seasonally Affected Disorder in Texas at the current moment. I think I'll go over to Miss Puerto Rico's for some Telenovela type interaction.

Closeup Look At Chesapeake Energy's Tandy Hills Natural Destruction

As long as I've been paying attention to Chesapeake Energy's public relations machine, it has always seemed so bizarre to me that someone like myself, who really does not have all that much contact with what Chesapeake Energy is up to, finds himself seeing so many contradictions between how Chesapeake Energy describes what they are doing. And what they actually do.

For example, until Chesapeake Energy went into operation across the street from where I live, I did not realize that all the complaints about noise and dust weren't just some whiny person with a delicate constitution getting all upset due to a little dust and noise.

Instead, I was to learn that it is VERY noisy. And the dust is more like airborne mud that gets on everything. Did Chesapeake send anyone through the neighborhood to offer car washes and new filters for our cars and air conditioner units? No. They did not. We were covered in dust, as if we lived next to a cement plant and nothing was done about the pollution or the polluters.

From that point on I become a shrill anti-Chesapeake Energy shill.

And then there's the case of my beloved Tandy Hills. Chesapeake Energy bought a plot of land in the Tandy Hills. Those who see what a great recreational resource Tandy Hills represents were mortified that this rogue defiler of the land was going to do drilling in the Tandy Hills.

Well, Chesapeake Energy assured the public that the area affected would be very small, that little damage would be done to the Tandy Hills. It was not long into the operation when it became obvious that the area affected was huge and the damage done to the Tandy Hills was enormous.

Last Monday, returning from Zorro's Buffet via Interstate 30, heading east back to here, I went by the Tandy Hills Chesapeake Energy operation and saw it from the freeway for the first time. It is appalling how it looks from the freeway. A total flattening of the landscape with huge berms and drainage ditches.

When I saw how bad it looked I decided I'd figure out how to get a picture of the view from that perspective. It took a rather adventurous hike, where no trails existed, to get to the freeway and the vantage point I wanted. The sun was in an unfortunate location, so the photos did not turn out all that great. But you still get a real good idea of how Chesapeake Energy has turned this part of the Tandy Hills Natural Area into something very unnatural.

Another HOT Winter Day In Texas

I think we are going to break a temperature record, again, this Saturday, 3rd day of the new year. It is 81, right now, at a bit past 3 in the afternoon.

I have my windows open. I'm starting to think I may need to close the windows and turn on the A/C.

I went hiking at the Tandy Hills today, a bit past noon. I was not long into the hiking when it started to feel like summer. This is not normal. I do not remember having the slightest inclination to hike shirtless, last winter. But, today, there was no way I could keep the shirt on.

I think I may have a bit of a sunburn. I've never had a sunburn in January before.

By the end of hiking I was a sweaty mess, just as if it were a HOT day in August. I am now, finally, a believer in this Global Warming thing.

I had trouble sleeping last night, due to it being too warm in here, even with a window open. I think it's almost a foregone conclusion that, before the day is done, I will have turned on my air conditioning for the first time ever in January. That just ain't right. This is the time of year I run my furnace and put logs in my fireplace.

I hope we get some days like this when Mom and Dad are here.

Incoming Parental Units Heading To Texas

I've confirmed my Mom and Dad are locked and loaded and ready to head this way early Sunday morning. They are currently scheduled to get here early Tuesday. They have a history of arriving earlier than scheduled. If they show up late Monday, they'll find me hard to find.

That's my Mom and Dad in the picture, from last summer, up in Skagit County, north of Seattle, at Bay View State Park. That is my Grand Nephew, Spencer Jack and his Mom, Jenny between my Mom and Dad.

I got Mom and Dad a Texas type Xmas present. If they are cooperative I'll, later, show you what that is. I don't know how cooperative they will be regarding letting me take video of their visit. Likely, that will prove difficult. Mom has trouble seeing. Maybe she won't notice the video camera.

I can find no Christmas wrapping type paper in this place. Would butcher paper suffice? I'm known for very tacky wrapping.

I don't have any chores for my Mom and Dad to do here. No raspberries to can, no holes to dig, no cars to fix. When you stay at my sister's in Tacoma you are given a daily Chore List, first thing in the morning. She runs a very strict house. You are not allowed to move on until your particular chores are checked off and approved as being properly completed.

It was hell for me, hell, I tell you. I'd never experienced anything like it. I don't know where my sister learned to be such a militaristic taskmaster. It certainly wasn't from my dear saint-like Mommy.

Anyway, my windows are currently open. It is a very nice warm Texas winter day. Tomorrow a big chill blows in. And then my Mom and Dad.

Below is video taken the same day as the above picture. You'll see my Mom and Dad (and me) meet Spencer Jack for the first time.

Clear Lake Penguin Dip

I am up early. Again. Though not quite as early as yesterday. This morning's early wakeup came after 4.

I'm being cranky right now because Fort Worth is still keeping my pool closed. It is 65 outside right now. It was warm yesterday. My pool water is likely a somewhat swimmable temperature. Certainly, more so than the last time I got in it.

My closed pool became a current issue this morning while reading my old hometown newspaper, online, that being the Skagit Valley Herald. There was an article, with pictures and video, of the New Year's Day 18th Annual Clear Lake Penguin Dip.

Clear Lake is only a couple miles from where I used to live, in Mount Vernon. My nephew, Joey, lives in Clear Lake. I don't know if Joey was a Penguin dipper. My longtime reader may remember me blogging about Clear Lake last August, when Clear Lake was the site of the infamous Mannequin Murders.

About 100 men, women and kids ran into the 34 degree Clear Lake, when a Countdown Clock reached zero. Apparently there was a lot of screaming and shrieking when the Penguin Dippers hit the water.

There were 2 large bonfires on shore to warm the Penguin Dippers, after they quickly got back out of Clear Lake.

The Clear Lake Penguin Dip began in 1990. I had no awareness of this event when I lived there. I suspect I would not have participated had I known

Buzzworms in the Backyard: Strikes Again!---Next Friday Night

An exhibition of visual art protesting irresponsible gas drilling

Gala Opening Reception
January 9, 2009
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
1300 Gendy Street
6 - 9 pm

Featuring Live performance art by:

Tammy Gomez & Friends
and
Lori Thomson & Laney Yarber

Refreshments provided

Don't miss it!

I'm sure I won't....I'll bring Mom & Dad

Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project & Fort Worth Trinity River Vision

It is strange, now, getting my Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex news from the Dallas Morning News, rather than the Fort Wort Star-Telegram. I've learned of all sorts of interesting things going on in the Dallas zone that I did not know about from reading the Star-Telegram.

Like a huge new arts complex (was it opera?) going up in what Dallas calls its Arts District. I find that way less pretentious sounding than Fort Worth's Cultural District.

And there is a very cool new bridge about to open, spanning across Lake Lewisville.

But the most interesting thing I've read in the Dallas paper, that is pretty much ignored in the Fort Worth paper, is the progress Dallas is making with their Trinity River Corridor Project.

The gestation of the 2 town's river projects is interesting. The vision came first to Dallas. If I remember right, originally it was called The Trinity River Vision Project. The plan was to turn a huge flood plain into a lake with recreational amenities. That has grown to being quite more complex and interesting.

A few years after Dallas had its vision, Fort Worth had one of its own. Fort Worth's started off being called, quite simply, "Town Lake." But as the vision grew clearer, Fort Worth figured out it needed a way to scam Federal dollars. And it was renamed "The Trinity River Vision." So, Dallas changed its projects name to "Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project." Soon Fort Worth's vision will likely become "Fort Worth Trinity River Corridor Project." After which, Dallas will change its name again. It's a vicious cycle here, between these two towns.

So, the Town Lake was overshadowed by the suddenly necessary, "River Diversion Channel," to prevent a flood, the likes of what happened in the early 50s, that the Army Corps of Engineers already fixed with massive dikes along the flood zone. So, Town Lake grew from a little lake to a lake with canals and a diversion channel. This required 3 new bridges. Just like Dallas.

Of course, the Fort Worth bridges are smaller than the Dallas bridges and cost way less.

It is pretty easy to see where the Fort Worth Vision may go blind during the likely upcoming period where the Feds get a bit more picky about handing out bucks to bridges that go nowhere. Or River Diversion Channels where none is needed.

Meanwhile, over at the official website of the Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project I found some of the type verbiage that made me cringe when I read it in the Fort Wort Star-Telegram. As in this Dallas project is "the most complex and the largest urban development effort undertaken by the city and it will make Dallas the envy of other large cities..."

Maybe it is a Texas thing. "Envy of." "Green with Envy." However, looking at the info about the Dallas Trinity Corridor Project and all that has already been done and what the goal is, I'm thinking that this Project is going to amp up Dallas' coolness and Dallas is already pretty darn cool.

For those of you who know Dallas, only through J.R. Ewing, well, you know the opening credits of Dallas, where you swoop across an open area and head to downtown Dallas with Reunion Tower standing tall? Well, that open area is the zone of the Trinity Corridor Project. Picture the opening of Dallas now, swooping across a series of lakes, forests of trees, trails and 3 unique bridges designed by internationally acclaimed architect, sculptor and engineer, Santiago Calatrava.

I really like what I've seen of the bridge designs. The first bridge is supposed to soon be under construction.

Meanwhile, here in Fort Worth, the vision continues. So far, near as I can tell, it involves using Eminent Domain to tear down some businesses. I don't know when a Town Lake is going to destroy Fort Worth's historic confluence of the West and Clear Forks of the Trinity River.

Texas Insomnia & Other Woes

New Year's Day I went to bed fairly early. Which caused me to get up fairly early. As in a bit past 2 this morning. Consequently I'm feeling punch drunk, like I've been on the road, driving non-stop for 24 hours and in dire need of a motel room.

I got up, made coffee, with it being hours before the Dallas Morning New would arrive. I finished reading Hollywood Kryptonite. That's the book that makes the case that George Reeves (Superman) was murdered, rather than a suicide. The Ben Affleck movie, Hollywoodland, with he playing Reeves, is based on this book.

Superman killing himself has always bothered me and I really think that is at the root of my extreme distrust of Super Heroes. After reading Hollywood Kryptonite, I'm convinced Reeves was murdered by a hitman ordered up by his jilted girl-friend, Toni Mannix.

I called my Mom early this morning to try and persuade them that waiting a week to come here, rather than leaving this coming Sunday, might be a good idea, due to we are supposed to be getting a cold snap, starting with rain on Monday. I told Mom, the way it goes here, is a few days cold, then back warm again, that by the Sunday after next we should be back in warm times again.

Mom said it would be too much trouble to wait a week, they were already packed, they'd add more cold weather clothes. Where Mom and Dad grew up, in Whatcom County, just south of the Canadian border, they experienced many a blizzard with very cold temperatures, heavy wind and a lot of snow, blowing into big drifts that could cover barns.

No one here in Texas can understand how varied the weather in Washington is. It is so unlike here. Most here think it rains all the time up there. Where Mom and Dad grew up, in Whatcom County, was only 40 miles north of where I grew up, in Skagit County. Whatcom County was in the path of weather systems coming down Canada's Frasier River Valley. As in very cold fronts, meeting up with wet Pacific air, causing massive snowstorm.

Meanwhile, where I lived, we called it The Banana Belt, while my Grandma's were snowbound with huge drifts, we'd have no snow and not even be freezing. Just a few miles to the west of where I lived the land was in the shadow of the Olympics, meaning they were a dry zone with way less rain than those of us living near the Cascades. When the clouds hit the Cascades they'd back up and pour rain on us. But the Olympics block a large area to the west, with some areas getting desert like levels of rainfall, annually.

And then there's the other side of the mountains. You drive over one of the Cascade Passes (you can't right now, closed due to avalanche danger) and you are in a brown Texas-like, albeit it more hilly and way more irrigated, zone. Eastern Washington gets real cold. And has a lot of orchards where they grow all those apples you see in stores here. And apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, grapes and all sorts of good stuff.

I take it back. Eastern Washington bears little resemblance to Texas.

So, anyway, Mom and Dad know what a cold winter is like, but they've become Weather Babies, like me. We all shivered in my sister's Iceberg she calls a house, in Tacoma, last summer. But I don't know if they remember what it is like when it is 20 degrees with a 40 mile wind blowing from the north. I expect to hear my Mom do a lot of complaining about the weather. She told me she just won't get out of the car.

I wonder if it is from my Mom I learned the Art of Complaining?

A Texas Home Security System

TO INSTALL A TEXAS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

1. Go to a secondhand store and buy a pair of used men's work boots, size 14-16.
2. Put them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo magazine.
3. Place a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazine.
4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

Hey Bubba,

Big Jim, Duke, Slim, and I went for more ammunition. Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls - - they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.

Cooter