I did not know, Sunday morning, when I blogged about an alligator skinnydipping in my pool that Saturday night a short distance from my abode a 10 foot long, 400 pound alligator had been roaming around.
The alligator had been hit by a vehicle, breaking the gator's back legs and tail. A person in another passing vehicle spotted the injured alligator on Trinity Boulevard, south of the Bell Helicopter/Hurst Trinity Railway Express Station.
A call to 911 had Fort Worth police and a Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife responding. It was decided to put the alligator out of its misery, rather than try and tangle with a live, injured alligator in an attempt to get it to a vet who was willing to work on a giant reptile.
The area were the alligator was found is sort of a lowland, Trinity River flood zone where there are a lot of ponds and lakes. The paved trail at River Legacy Park goes by several of those type lakes. I had no idea I should be on the lookout for alligators, in addition to snakes, bobcats, panthers, tarantulas and armadillos, while pedaling my bike at River Legacy. The mountain bike trail there goes through what would seem to be prime alligator territory.
At the Fort Worth Nature Preserve there is a sign letting you know that there are alligators in the marshy waters between Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth. The sign warns you not to feed, kill, molest or attempt to move an alligator. What sort of pervert would molest an alligator?
When I left here to drive to the Hong Kong Market in Arlington's Chinatown it did not cross my mind that I might be seeing the new Dallas Cowboy stadium up close for the first time.
After I got my goods at the Hong Kong Market I headed north towards the Wal-Mart Supercenter that sits across from the new stadium.
There has been extensive roadwork in the area around the stadium. I have been through this area since the stadium had its ribbon cutting, but at that point access to the new roads was still blocked.
So, I was a bit surprised to see I could take a left on to the new bridge that crosses Johnson Creek. That's what you see in the first picture, with the Stadium dead ahead.
My next surprise was I came to a new intersection with a wide boulevard. These new roads serve to funnel the traffic to the multiple parking lots that surround the stadium. I took a right at the intersection. I was surprised that I was driving so close to the east entrance. I could see cars were parked, people were wandering about.
So, I joined them. Over the past 4 years I've watched the stadium grow, starting with piles of rubble from destroyed homes and apartment buildings. My usual vantage point to look at the construction was the parking lot of the Wal-Mart. That's the Wal-Mart parking lot, today view, of the new stadium, in the above picture. Make note of that big arch coming out of the stadium. We'll get right up to it from the other side in the next picture.
Looking under the northeast supporting arch anchor at the Super Wal-Mart across the street.
In the above picture I'm standing on the plaza outside the east end zone, where Jerry Jones is planning to let people stand during a game for about 30 bucks. What we are looking at at the end of the plaza is the world's biggest sliding glass door. During a game the sliding panels can be opened, conditions permitting.
The above picture was taken through one of the glass door panels. You can see one of the world's biggest flat panel TVs and some of the seating. But you can't see the playing field. It is well below ground level.
There were people walking all around the stadium. This view is looking north from the east end. Parking lots were open, making it easy for the people of Arlington to see what they helped pay for.
Here we're looking at the south side roof support arch and the giant chunk of cement that it is anchored to. Watching these arches get built, piece by piece, eventually meeting up with its counterpart from the other side, was an interesting engineering feat to get to observe.
A close up look at the arch roof support on the north side. The two arches hold up the massive, movable roof and the hugely heavy giant TV screens. I really would like to know if earthquakes, of the type we have been shaking with here in North Texas, were factored into the design.
Like I've said before, the new stadium is not in a very nice location. Industrial, commercial and residential squalor sits on its south and west sides. However the view to the north and east is not eyesore/squalor material. In the picture above we are looking east at the Ballpark in Arlington. That is where the Texas Rangers play this game named baseball. That orange thing to the left of the Ballpark is the Titan Hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas.
Also, from the same location as where we were looking at the Ballpark in Arlington and Six Flags Over Texas, you can look north, across Interstate 30 and see Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Because all these attractions are in such close proximity is why this is called Arlington's Entertainment District. It will soon be an even more cohesive entertainment district when 3 very elaborate new bridges connect the north side of I-30 with the south side.
Well, in the next picture we are back on the other side of Randoll Mill Road, heading into the aforementioned Wal-Mart. Make note of the baseballs on the building. There are a lot of baseballs stuck on this Wal-Mart, that sits directly across the street from the world's biggest football stadium. Methinks Wal-Mart needs to add some footballs.
I have to say, as much as I have criticized what was done to build this stadium, there is no denying the fact that up close it is one impressive structure. During the construction phase a high fence surrounded the property. I was very surprised to see how totally open it now is. There is no fence. Anyone can easily walk on the property and check out the stadium. Several parking lots were open, allowing anyone to drive right up to the monster and walk around. The landscaping is still a work in progress. A lot of grass sod appeared to by dying and in dire need of water.
Speaking of water, I was surprised by the water features. At the parking spot at the far end of the east end zone plaza there is a water wall, that's about 100 feet long and 6 feet tall. People were using it as a photo spot. On the other side of the water wall, leading to the plaza there is a long rectangular reflecting pool.
Summing up, if you are in D/FW zone and are curious to see the new stadium, you needn't be shy, just drive right up and check the thing out.
And below is the YouTube video I made in which you can see some of what was done to build this stadium. I'd not looked at the video comments for awhile. There are 3 pages of them. I'll see if they are blog worthy. Some commenters are so totally clueless that it's very amusing...
Usually I am the only one dipping skinny in the pool in the morning. This morning was an exception to that rule.
A reptile that looked like a small alligator, with no clothes on, was in the pool skinnydipping.
This was not the first time I've shared water with a reptile. I think I've mentioned previously that I was swimming in Lake Grapevine, on a 110 degree day, in a No Swimming Zone, when a huge reptilian head popped out of the water right in front of my face.
I thought it was a water moccasin. I swam for shore at a speed I did not know I was capable of. I reached the shore and ran out on the metal floating dock, forgetting how hot that metal would be on my bare feet. By the time I got to the end of the dock I saw that it was not a water moccasin that was trying to kill me, it was a giant turtle of some sort.
It is a myth that turtles can't move fast. In water they are little speed boats. I was at Oakland Lake Park and came upon a big turtle, startling it. The turtle took off running for the water at a speed I did not think them capable of.
So, that has been my exciting day, so far, this Father's Day, Summer Solstice, Naked Hiking Day in Texas. It is half past 9, only 81 degrees, heading to a high near the century mark. I'm heading to Arlington's Chinatown some time this morning. I need supplies.
Below is an educational YouTube video about skinnydipping. I did not know, til today, that the proper term for skinnydipping, when the person swimming sans swimsuit is overweight, is "chunk dunk."
It's been awhile since the planet has seen events like what's been happening in Iran ever since the recent presidential election.
It's also been awhile since the last Iranian Revolution, as in that was thirty years ago. 65% of Iranians have only known the repressive regime of the Ayatollahs and their Islamic extremism.
The Iranian youth have had a lot of exposure to Western and American culture, snuck in via satellite dishes and the Internet. I don't think today's crackdown is going to stop this latest Iranian revolution. It seems way too big to suppress.
This all seems very similar to the collapse of communism, something many thought would never happen, yet it did happen, and with stunning speed. And then there was the revolt in the Philippines that booted the Marcos.
The Iranian government has tried to suppress news coverage. But that is not working too well, due to a few American invented freedom of expression devices. As in, today, an Iranian managed to YouTube a video of a huge clash between protesters and security forces. Iranians are twittering like mad, getting out little bits of info about what is happening. Some of the Iranian twittering is to other Iranians. letting people know where to take the wounded, letting people know alternative routes around police blockades.
It was so bizarre watching CNN, during lunch, to see the news talking heads using YouTube and Twitter as news sources. We live in a very different world that no one foresaw coming. Instant news reporting, all over the world, by ordinary citizens using their cell phones, camcorders and computers. I'm thinking tyrants can't long survive when the people get the power to control the information flow.
I heard not a word explaining how it is that Iranians are managing to access the Internet during this crackdown. The government turned off cell phone transmissions. I assume TV is tightly controlled. I don't know by what means Iranians access the Internet. Dial-up? Unlikely for uploading a YouTube video. Do Iranians have broadband? Seems unlikely, but they must. Are the Ayatollahs clueless about the power of the Internet, so they don't realize they need to shut it off if they want to survive? A couple years ago I had my vehicle worked on at a shop owned by an Iranian who was going to school somewhere in East Texas when the 1979 Iranian Revolution shook things up and made America a bit cranky at Iran. He told me it was not pleasant for him, here, at that time. He did a very funny mimicking of a redneck Texan, sounding so funny trying to sound Texan, while filtered through an Iranian accent.
Anyway, this Iranian told me that most of the Iranians were fed up with being ruled by the Ayatollahs. This conversation took place during the months before George W. began his unfortunate Iraq boondoggle. Well, this Iranian was all gungho for the takeover of Iraq. He thought with the U.S. in power, next door, that the Iranian people would feel strong enough to revolt.
Well, it didn't quite work out that way. Or maybe it did. Maybe it just took a few years and a catalyst to light the explosion of the Iranian Revolution of 2009. If the Ayatollahs and the current regime get toppled, I'm thinking this will bode well for America and the Middle East.
So, interesting day, today. It has been awhile since we have had one of those type days when events seem to be occurring that might bring a big change in the world. Then again, I remember thinking the same thing during huge protests in Tienanmen Square. That did not work out so good. I'm thinking if the Iranian government goes for a China type suppression it will spark an explosion, with a Full Blown Revolution in its wake, if we aren't already at the Full Blown Revolution point.
It was only about 90, with a breeze, when I hiked the trails at the Tandy Hills Natural Area today, around noon. It is being a bit humid. When I'd stop and set up my camera, to document me walking through the Tandy Hills Jungle, I got instantly drenched in natural cooling moisture.
Very refreshing.
The Tandy Hills Waterfall has totally dried up. Jammin Mole has never seen a waterfall. She is coming to Fort Worth next month for a class reunion at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I think her class had something like 11 students, with one of them being Gar the Texan. Gar the Texan was the top student in his class, with Jammin Mole being #2. I think they went to Wink High School. I may be wrong. Sometimes I don't pay sufficient attention and so I don't retain information very well. If your class has only 11 people in it, I really don't know if that means much of anything to be #1. That's being a Big Fish in a really really little pond.
Since Wink High School is in Wink, which is way out in West Texas, near New Mexico, I don't understand why a class reunion would be hundreds of miles to the east. It's very perplexing, but really none of my business. I only mention it because I have nothing else to talk about. I thought seeing new wildflowers was over for the year. As I often am, I was wrong. I saw two new ones today. Both were seen in only one location. The purple one was real delicate looking, like an orchid. It looked like something that would sprout from a bulb, like a tulip.
The other new wildflower was a white and purple striped stalk, in a group of several dozen stalks.
So, that's been my exciting Saturday in Texas, so far. In the pool early, then visiting and webpaging Tyler, Texas, then hiking the Tandy Hills Jungle and seeing two new wildflowers. I am easy to entertain.
We are on the road to Wink in the picture above. Today is Day Two of Wink's Roy Orbison Festival.
My on the ground corespondent in Wink, Jammin Mole, reports this morning that Roy Orbison is crying on his festival in the form of continuing rain.
Jammin Mole did not say how the rain has affected the festival. Or who won Friday night's Pretty Woman Contest. I am fairly certain that Jammin Mole won, but that she too modest to be the one to report that news.
Earlier in the month Jammin Mole reported that a big storm had passed through Wink on the morning of June 10. By 6 pm, that same day, that same storm thundered through North Texas, dropping a lot of rain, knocking out a lot of power and blowing a lot of wind, some in tornado form. I don't know if today's Wink storm is heading this way.
Early to bed, early to rise. Again. Still not feeling any wealthier, healthier or wiser. Just feeling monotonous, like my weather forecast.
The sun has been up for awhile. The birds are chirping. Magnolia fumes are wafting in through the open windows. I hear the fountain splashing down by the pool, reminding me that it's about time to go swimming.
I've got a long list of things to get done today. Of which, most likely, not much will get done. Yesterday I went to San Antonio. Today I think I'll go to Tyler. And then when I'm done with Tyler I think I'll go up to Bob Jones Park in Southlake to do me some beach hiking on Lake Grapevine.
In the blogging previous to this one I blogged about this coming Sunday's Summer Solstice Naked Hiking Day.
There have been articles in various media today about the naked hiking phenomenon.
The New York Times had an article in which a machinist from Warren, PA, Andrew Williams, 28, said, "There's no way to explain it until you experience it. It's not about being lewd and crude and all that. It's just enjoyment."
Well. Now, I have used some basic photo-chopping to fake that I've gone hiking at the Tandy Hills, au naturel, previously, just to amuse myself with the reactions of some. Some did not disappoint.
And then today, with Naked Hiking Day looming 2 days hence, I decided today I was going to see if it actually is true that hiking in the buff is a fun thing.
Now, I've long been a fan of skinnydipping. That just seems natural. One does not wear shoes when one skinnydips. So, there is a basic problem with naked hiking, in that one needs to wear hiking boots.
I got to the Tandy Hills Natural Area around noon. I knew there'd be no one there. This time I was going to test if Naked Hiking is enjoyable. I took along a backpack to carry my water, cameras. And, eventually, shorts.
As soon as I reached the point where I was no longer visible from the road I doffed my shorts and stuck them in the backpack. And then started hiking like I usually do. Only in Naked Hiking mode.
Well. It did not take me long to feel totally ridiculous. I did not see anything remotely enjoyable about it. Yes, it was a bit cooler. But it quickly became apparent that skinnyhiking is not like skinnydipping. I don't worry about going through brushy areas when I'm skinnydipping. I did not like feeling exposed to something poking me.
And then there was the issue of areas being exposed where normally the sun does not shine. I had not thought to sunscreen those areas.
I did maybe a half mile of naked hiking before I decided this was one of the stupider things I've done in awhile. It was not in the slightest enjoyable. I don't know what that Williams guy from Pennsylvania is thinking. From this day forth, when I am hiking, I am keeping my shorts on. My shirt, not so much.
That is a photo from the Seattle P-I taken at last year's Fremont Solstice Parade. I really can't imagine a picture like this appearing in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Or the Dallas Morning News.
In a rare confluence of events, Sunday is Fathers Day, the Summer Solstice and Naked Hiking Day.
Naked Hiking Day has grown into a Summer Solstice event in recent years. It is very popular in Europe. And in some parts of America. On Sunday there will be a lot of naked hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Law enforcement authorities say the naked hiking rarely presents a problem due to most of it taking place in remote areas. But you could get a citation if caught clothes-less at the wrong time and place.
One naked hiker said he was inspired to hike, sans clothing, after reading passages from Henry David Thoreau, naturalist John Muir and backpacking guru, Colin Fletcher, that suggest that hiking naked enhances the appreciation of nature.
If you want to ride your bike, naked, in this year's 2009 Fremont Solstice Parade, it begins at noon, on Saturday, June 20. This is the 21st annual celebration of life, art and being naked. The parade starts at N. 36th and Leary Way, then winds through downtown Fremont on the way to a picnic and beer garden at Gas Works Park on Lake Union. I do not know if clothes are required at Gas Works Park.
According to the Fremont Arts Council's website, regarding the Solstice Parade, "In the parade nearly anything goes...just remember Three Rules:
1. No printed words or logos
2. No motor vehicles (except wheelchairs)
3. No animals (except aid animals)
In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex we have no naked bike riding, that I know of, to celebrate the Summer Solstice. We do have several Naturists & Nudists Camps in the area. Yvonne is taking me to the one in Midlothian.
Here in Fort Worth we do have the Tandy Hills Natural Area, where all things natural are encouraged. I often enjoy a nature hike at the Tandy Hills, getting in touch with my inner Thoreau, feeling one with the flora and fauna of the jungle. It's primal, it's primitive, it's healthy and it's fun. I love nature and being natural.
I was promised 100 degrees today. I don't like being misled by the weatherman. I get all looking forward to it being HOT and then it's not. As HOT as I expected.
I think I mentioned earlier today that I got up around 3 am. This is making for an interesting day. Around noon I headed to the Tandy Hills Natural Area to be natural for an hour or so.
It was only about 88, the humidity made for a Heat Index of 94. But it was windy. I think a Wind Chill Factor should be figured in to the calculation. Because the wind was making for an almost chilling effect, every once in awhile, when a good gust would hit my drenched in sweat, long-suffering body.
That's the today view of downtown Fort Worth, in the picture above, as seen from the Tandy Hills jungle. I was told today that last night the Tandy Hills jungle came alive with Fireflies. The last time I saw Fireflies was years ago at River Legacy Park, pedaling the paved trail with darkness setting in towards the end, with hundreds of Lightning Bugs lighting the way through the darkness.
The first time I saw Fireflies was at a Concert in the Garden at Fort Worth's Botanic Garden. The theme that night was Star Wars. The flashing bugs darting about fit the theme perfectly.
If I remember, maybe tonight I'll drive back to the Tandy Hills Natural Area and see if I can see some bright bugs and get pictures or maybe video.
I did not know, Sunday morning, when I blogged about an alligator skinnydipping in my pool that Saturday night a short distance from my abode a 10 foot long, 400 pound alligator had been roaming around.
The area were the alligator was found is sort of a lowland, Trinity River flood zone where there are a lot of ponds and lakes. The paved trail at River Legacy Park goes by several of those type lakes. I had no idea I should be on the lookout for alligators, in addition to snakes, bobcats, panthers, tarantulas and armadillos, while pedaling my bike at River Legacy. The mountain bike trail there goes through what would seem to be prime alligator territory.
