Visualizing The BP Oil Spill Disaster Spilled On Fort Worth

Yikes! Just got an email from Don Young, subject line "Fun with Maps!"

I had no idea what fun I was about to have with maps.

At the website, Ifitwasmyhome.com - Visualizing the BP Oil Spill Disaster, you can see how big the BP Oil Spill is in relation to your town.

My town is currently Fort Worth, Texas. I had no idea the BP Spill was so huge. As in if it were centered on Fort Worth the spill would extend north nearly to Ada, Oklahoma, south nearly to Waco, east nearly to Canton and west nearly to Abilene.

It is about a 160 mile drive from here up to Ada, Oklahoma. About 90 miles south to Waco. Another 90 miles east to Canton. And 150 miles west to Abilene.

That is a lot of oil spilled over a really big area.

Walking Off My Misery With The Birds At Village Creek Natural Historic Area

That is one long-beaked bird doing some Sunday fishing in Village Creek today at Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

I think I mentioned earlier today that I was miserable and exhausted from very little sleep last night.

I knew getting outside would make me feel better. I also knew I did not have the energy to climb around on the Tandy Hills.

And the trails in Village Creek Natural Historic Area are mostly in the shade. Which is a good thing when you are in throes of HEAT exhaustion.

My therapist, Dr. L.C., told me to take a nap because I was out of sync. If I have told Dr. L.C. once, I have told her twice, I can not take naps, no matter how tired I am. My most recent medical advisor, Dr. Somaphx, has been given me some detailed prescriptions to mediate my misery.

Anyway, I feel hugely better after a nice peaceful walk through the woods. Now it's time for lunch.

Texas Heat Insomnia Strikes Deep Into Sleep

Saturday night was not all right. Insomnia.

All day long, Saturday, for the most part, this, that and the other thing did not go well.

By around 4 in the afternoon the official temperature taking location for D/FW, that being the airport, went over 100 degrees for the first time this year.

I went to bed early, feel asleep, went into pleasant dream mode. And then about 11 I woke up to find myself a hot, sweaty mess.

And thus began the rest of the night's attempt to battle with the A/C to make the temperature in here semi-pleasant.

Have I mentioned I am not acclimating to the HEAT well this year? Why? I don't know.

And now this morning I found the pool pump is not circulating the water. Again.

Seeing The Light But Not 100 Degrees Today In Texas

You are looking west at downtown Fort Worth from near the top of Mount Tandy, today, this first Saturday of June, which was supposed to be the first 100 degree day of the year, but the National Weather Service changed its mind and took away our HEAT WAVE.

So, at half past 3 in the afternoon, it is only 97.

Elsie Hotpepper threw off my tightly organized schedule this morning when she called to talk about Tootsie Tonasket and some other things.

I just found out from the Queen of Wink that she and I are going to Marfa to see the Marfa Light. Neither the Queen or I have seen the Light before.

What Do You Know About Goodman Chapel In Durango Texas?

I don't remember if I've mentioned it before that prior to moving to Texas I did not know there was a town in Texas named Durango.

Unfortunately, I guess, for Durango, my Durango Texas sort of overwhelms the other Durango, Texas when someone Googles "Durango Texas".

I've only been to my Texas namesake one time. I've also only been to my namesake in Colorado one time. I have never been to my namesake in Mexico.

This afternoon I got an email from Toni. Toni Goodman King. Toni's great-grandfather's last name was Goodman. Toni tells me Goodman Chapel in Durango is named for her great-grandfather. Toni would like someone to tell her if Goodman Chapel is still standing and any info about it.

Well, I don't remember seeing a chapel in Durango. I do remember the eating establishment you see in the picture. There easily could have been a chapel. I also don't remember seeing a school. Or a grocery store. Or even a gas station.

There really was not a lot to see in Durango, Texas. The town had seen better days.

At Glenview Baptist Church We Love God, Each Other & Serve The World

Every once in awhile Elsie Hotpepper says something that I am unable to parse, what with my primitive understanding of Texan English.

For instance a couple weeks ago Elsie said something like "I'm surprised you're advertising churches now."

This did not compute.

Well, then I noticed that fairly frequently, lately, Google has been putting an image ad on this very blog you are reading now, it being an ad for Glenview Baptist Church, where they love God, love each other and serve the world.

And, apparently buy Google ads.

This morning I Googled Glenview Baptist Church to learn there is a church by that name here in Fort Worth and another in Haltom City.

I have no control over the ads Google puts on my blogs and website. Google tries to match the ads to content, I think, for the most part.

I do not recollect myself talking about religion, church, God, gods, Jesus and like subjects all that much.

Maybe it's because I do mention Fort Worth fairly frequently. I wonder how many blog readers my Glenview Baptist Church ad have sent to church? I hope my churchgoers put enough in the collection plate to cover what Google pays me for the ad.

Feeling 100 Years Old On The Tandy Hills With A Lot Of Ladybird's Century

Yesterday I learned the small pink wildflower, that I'd not noticed before, is called Ladybird's Century. And that the Ladybird's are rare and to not step on them.

So, today I was looking for Ladybird's Century and saw them all over the Tandy Hills, including seeing a big patch as soon as I stepped out of my vehicle at my parking location on top of Tandy Mountain by the Fort Worth Space Needle.

That is that patch in the picture.

I'm thinking the rain a couple days ago must have caused all the Ladybird's Centuries to go into bloom mode.

Are the Ladybirds named after Lady Bird Johnson? She was a big wildflower advocate.

I went to the Tandy Hills earlier than my norm today, hoping the salubrious effect of some aerobicizing would make me feel better.

It didn't. I'm still feeling like I got in a fight and someone slugged me in the gut. Maybe I had a sleepwalking incident last night.

Now I'm hoping lunch alleviates my misery. I just heard the rice cooker click off. Which means it is time for some Chinese food.

My Chesapeake Energy Quiet Sick Zone

I don't know if I'm sick. But I feel sick. I went to bed early last night, dead tired. Woke up tired and feeling like I'd been hit in the gut.

This morning, when I tried to read, my eyes burned like lemon juice was being squirted at me.

Yesterday my next door Chesapeake Energy Barnett Shale Natural Gas well site was acting up, making weird popping noises. Eventually a Chesapeake Energy truck showed up and the popping noises stopped.

This was the second popping noise incident. I've no idea what makes the popping noise. But I do know when the Chesapeake Energy truck shows up the security gate is opened very quickly and the driver drives on to the site at high speed, which sort of indicates to me that the popping noise is something serious.

I think I'll get out of here earlier than my norm and see if generating some endorphins with some aerobic activity has a salubrious effect on my current state of non well being.

A Pink Wildflower Blooms On A Dried Out Tandy Hill While I Have A Royal Conversation

It rained hard here yesterday, early in the evening. Along with some good lightning strikes and thunder booms.

Today, I figured, with it nearing 100, that the Tandy Hills would be dried out from yesterday's deluge. I was correct in this assumption. You would have thought not a drop of water had fallen on the hills.

The dose of water did seem to perk up some of the remaining wildflowers. Like the pink guys you see in the picture.

The Queen of Wink called me this morning. I, once more, did not hear the phone make the noise indicating someone was calling me. When I later flipped open the phone I saw the Queen had called me.

So, I hit the return call button and a miracle occurred. My telecommunication device successfully reached Wink. Yes there were some followup issues that required me to call back. And then to plug the antique thing into a wall.

Now that you're making me think about it, I wonder where my phone is now?

Anyway, yesterday the Queen of Wink called me from Fredericksburg where she'd gone to have sauerkraut and fudge. Such cravings might indicate a baby is on the way. But, I'm almost 100% sure that is not the case.

I can't remember the last time I had sauerkraut and fudge.

The Texas Champion Of Natural Gas Chesapeake Energy

The Texas Champion of Natural Gas, Chesapeake Energy, sends out an E-Newsletter called Barnett Bulletin.

The latest Barnett Bulletin has some interesting information about Chesapeake Energy and the good deeds the company has been up to.

Like in Euless. There used to be a sports bar in Euless called Gators. It was very popular, very successful. It was one of Gar the Texan's favorite places to sing and consume adult beverages. Attached to Gators was a Ramada Inn that had closed down.

A couple years ago, for reasons that made no sense to me, the City of Euless shut down Gators.

And now in this Barnett Bulletin I learn what Chesapeake Energy did to Gators.

Property sees new life at familiar location in Euless

Just recently, two properties in Euless experienced a much-needed “face-lift” when Chesapeake Energy had the buildings demolished by Midwest Wrecking and the area cleaned up.

Located at Hwy. 183 and Murray , the former Ramada Inn and nearby Gator’s Restaurant had become an unattractive part of the landscape over time, due to neglect.

“It’s been an eyesore for a long time,” said Bedford resident Lloyd Hicks. “Now we’ll have beautiful greenery to look at until something else goes in,” added Hicks.

With the help and support of community leaders and various city staff, Chesapeake continues restoring blighted properties to more acceptable standards, allowing the best and highest use of each.

Okay, how is it that Chesapeake Energy "had" buildings demolished in Euless? Is Chesapeake Energy now the shadow government of Euless like it is in Fort Worth?

And in another part of the Barnett Bulletin I learned that Chesapeake Energy is now working with the Fort Worth Independent School District, which would seem to render that independent word a bit ironic.

School may be out, but the learning and fun don't have to stop!

With Chesapeake’s support, the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Independent School District have created a fun and educational program for students to enjoy during the summer.

Yesterday we learned that DISH mayor, Calvin Tillman, is considering leaving DISH to escape the hazards brought to his town, courtesy of Chesapeake Energy and others.

But in the Barnett Bulletin we learn there is nothing wrong in DISH.

State-conducted health study shows no pattern of contamination in DISH

Texas Department of State Health Services study shows no sign of "community-wide" exposure for DISH, Texas residents.

Yes, all the Texas state agencies have a very solid record of doing un-biased, accurate testing in their ever vigilant looking out for the welfare of the citizens of Texas.