Discovering Manhole Worshipers Today On The Tandy Hills

The smog here, in my zone of Texas, seems greatly diminished from yesterday's smoggiest day in my Texas memory. Yesterday's super smoggy day was already super smoggy before a nearby natural gas pipeline exploded, sending a big plume of pollution skyward.

I think the air got vacuumed cleaned, today, by Mother Nature working up some wind, blowing it all to Oklahoma, including yesterday's unfortunate explosion residue.

That wind also made the Tandy Hills not the Sauna/Steam Bath experience it was yesterday.

Today I parked on top of Mount Tandy, by the Fort Worth Space Needle. As I came down the north side of Mount Tandy I was surprised to see a large group, well, large for deep in the Tandy Hills.

As I got closer it appeared the group of maybe 8 guys were standing over a manhole cover, worshiping it. That is what their rapt attention looked like.

I inquired, regarding the object of worship, to learn it was a robot video camera on wheels that was not cooperating properly, that was the focus of their attention.

So, I continued on my merry way, turning around to take a picture to see that a pair of the manhole cover robot video camera worshipers were following me. That is what it looked like, on first glance, but what I think they were actually doing was heading towards their vehicular transport that was on the north side of Tandy Falls.

It seems like well over a month now the Tandy Hills pipeline has been vexing the Fort Worth Water Department.

It is 90 right now, with a 94 degree Heat Index. The current forecast is a 50% chance of rain tomorrow. Standing outside in a warm summer downpour sounds like a really good thing right now, even if it isn't quite actually summer.

The pool is right on the temperature edge of not being all that refreshing. We are now at the time of year when I take my showers using only the cold water. Because, it is no longer all that cold.

The Queen Of Wink Starring Saturday In Summer Mummers At The Yucca Theatre In Midland Texas

This coming Saturday, June 12, the Queen of Wink joins Kathleen Turner and George W. Bush as the latest celebrity to take the stage in the Yucca Theatre's production of Summer Mummers.

Summer Mummers has been an annual production, since 1949, taking place in the historic Yucca Theatre in downtown Midland, Texas.

The Summer Mummers is a locally written melodrama, plus a production called an Olio, which is sort of a comedy/variety show.

Each year the melodrama script follows pretty much the same plot, with the theme of the story being a heroine and her hero sidekick finding themselves in some sort of woe. Then a villain and his sidekick try to take advantage of the heroine's woe. After a predictable struggle the heroes are victorious, the villains in ruins and the hero and heroine fall in love.

An alliteration lover makes up the titles for the Summer Mummers scripts, with a non-alliterative subtitle.

Such as "Debauchery on the Drawbridge (or More Than Just Another Sworded Affair)", and "Mayhem at the Moviola (or There's A Sexy girl Over My Body)" and "Dastardly Doings on the Diamond (or The Latter Batter's Chatter Rarely Flatters)".

I really like that The Latter Batter's Chatter Rarely Flatters subtitle.

After the melodrama ends, the Olia comedy/variety show begins.

The Olio has 20 acts, give or take 1 or 2. All acts are set to music and are, at longest, 90 seconds. Each year there are new acts, but many remain constants.

Like The Cow. This act is basically a man in a cow suit, dancing to music with back up singers.

Les Girls is a female dance troupe that is a sort of strip show, removing clothing til they are down to some sort of corset. (I do not know if the Queen of Wink is in Les Girls. I do know she was in a production of Hair in New Orleans.)

The Guys is the male version of Les Girls with this being a male strip routine.

In Mule Train a cowboy runs on to stage lip syncing the Frankie Lane song "Mule Train." While he sings the cowboy whips a small, stuffed goat.

For the Olio Finale the entire cast gets onstage to sing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Throwing popcorn is part of the fun throughout. You can get a bag for $3, 2 for $5, or really load on the popcorn at $20 for 8 bags.

Booze is sold, both mixed drinks and beer. You buy alcohol tokens to redeem for your drink of choice. Cast and crew get half price tokens, which they are not allowed to use during a performance. So, what is called a "beer bitch," is designated to turn the cast member's booze tokens into drinks and deliver them backstage.

During its 3 month run, Summer Mummers sells more popcorn than all the Midland theaters sell in an entire year.

I don't know how much alcohol Summer Mummers sells compared with all the other alcohol vendors in Midland.

It will be interesting to read the Queen of Wink's review of her Summer Mummers experience. I hope with pictures.

Magnolia Trees Blooming in my Washington & Texas Backyards

That is a big while flower blooming on a big green Magnolia Tree, one of three which perfumes up the air surrounding my swimming pool. This morning the pleasant perfume was particularly pleasant, with a steady wind having blown yesterday's extra bad smoggy pollution north across the Red River, to Oklahoma.

I looked up Magnolia Tree this morning to see where they grow. I was wondering because in my feeble memory it seems when we first moved to our house in the little town of Burlington, in the little state of Washington, there was a Magnolia Tree in the backyard.

And that my mom called it a Tulip Tree, due to the fact that the blooms look like big tulips. In my feeble memory, the tree was removed when the city needed to dig up the area under it to replace a pipe of some sort.

The Wikipedia article about Magnolia Trees said the natural range of Magnolia species is a disjunct distribution (I have no idea what disjunct means) with a main center in east and southeast Asia and a secondary center in eastern North America, Central America, the West Indies, with some species in South America.

Well, no mention is made of either Texas or the Pacific Northwest growing Magnolia Trees. But, I am in Texas and looking out a window at a Magnolia Tree right now. I suspect my memory of the Magnolia Tree in the backyard in Burlington is not a false memory.

I'll ask my mom about the backyard Magnolia Tree, the next time I get gas.

Natural Gas Pipeline Exploded In Hood, Johnson, Or Maybe, Somervell County

A little before 4, this afternoon, Elsie Hotpepper called to tell me there had been a natural gas explosion. Elsie did not know if it was a well or a pipeline or what.

I quickly checked and saw it was a pipeline. In Johnson County. By Cleburne.

Elsie hung up and within a minute the Queen of Wink called to ask me if I'd felt the explosion.

Talking to the Queen postponed looking for information about the explosion.

Hours later it is still confusing. I've seen (and heard on TV) the location of the BIG BOOM being Johnson County, Hood County or the border of Hood County and Somervell County.

I've read and heard the explosion was near Cleburne. Or south of Granbury. Or near Pecan Plantation, next to Highway 67 or along County Road 1120, on Georges Creek Ranch.

I suppose, technically, all could be true, except for, maybe, the county confusions. I mean, one could say the explosion was near Fort Worth, which would be true, but not as accurate as one could be.

But there are also contradictions about the number killed, missing and injured. As few as 1 killed. As many as 3 killed. The number injured and missing varies too. I suppose that is understandable. When a big bomb explodes it isn't going to be easy to find all the victims.

My favorite commenter, the Ubiquitous Anonymous commented on the previous blogging about the explosion. It was such a good comment I thought I'd repeat it below...

This catastrophe was covered by the three major networks' evening news, CNN, and yahoo news. This pipeline is about twice as large as the one proposed for Carter Ave. residents, but the rural residences are nowhere as close to the pipeline or as tightly packed together either. So if such an awful thing were to happen on Carter St., even with just a 16-inch pipeline (remember CHK originally wanted to place 24-inch size and HELD FAST ON RUNNING AS MANY LINES AS POSSIBLE under those little yards), the likely results include obliterated--as in cremated bodies, so no need for autopsies--bodies and homes where the explosion/s occur with related damages from flying building materials/concrete and re-bar from the city streets and spreading fires NOT ONLY FROM THE EXPLODED PIPELINE but from the grid of smaller utility gas lines connected to the whole neighborhood and the nearby electrical lines. Of course, there will be exploded water and sewer (eeew!) lines spewing forth their contents. Traffic for the north central Texas area could come to a standstill as the nearby I-30 is within that "kill zone" and the I-35W mixmaster is just 1&1/2 mile away. The good part is that even people in the mid-cities and possibly nearby counties can see the drama by just looking since Carter St. is located on top of one of the highest geographical locations in FW. Note how first- responders could do very little since they lacked training and plus the heat makes it impossible to get anywhere close, unless some major fire suits are available.

Natural Gas Explosion In Hood County Kills At Least 3

At approximately 2:40, Monday afternoon, June 7, 2010, a Hood County, Texas, natural gas facility exploded south of Granbury, near Pecan Plantation, killing three.

At least 10 people are missing. So far.

There was a loud explosion, with a rumbling noise, like a tornado.

A massive fireball and big plume of black smoke could be seen for miles.

Early reports are that workers hit an underground natural gas pipeline while digging.

Area residents reported continued thunder like rumbling after the initial explosion.

I do not know what natural gas company is responsible, but they are working to shut the gas flow to the damaged pipeline.

It may be late in the evening before the natural gas fire is controlled.

Firemen from 8 different fire departments have surrounded the site of the explosion. Parkland Hospital, in Dallas, is expecting burn victims to be brought to their specialist burn unit.

Something like this can happen, and yet there are people who can not understand why people like Steve Doeung and the others who live on Carter Avenue objected to Chesapeake Energy running a non-odorized, high pressure natural gas pipeline under their homes.

I heard nothing at my location, about 65 miles northeast of Granbury.

More details when I hear them.

Today's Hot, Sweaty, Smoggy Tandy Hills View Of Downtown Fort Worth

I don't know what air pollution level watch we are at today, here in sunny, smoggy, HOT, Fort Worth.

Orange, Red. Or Purple.

But, I do know I don't recollect seeing it this smoggy before, or looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth through such a thick dirty filter, as what I was looking through today.

I was feeling the best, this morning, when I got up, that I've felt in well over a week. The miracle of a really good night's sleep. And a clear conscience, strong body, good heart and kind nature.

I stayed in the pool a very long time this morning, just enjoying feeling so good. And enjoying how good the place was smelling due to all the blooming Magnolia blossoms.

I knew well before I hit the pool that Google was having a serious problem with its Blogger system. I figured it would be quickly fixed. At that point in time I did not know the problem had already been going on for over 7 hours. Or realize that the problem would continue for another 7 or more hours.

With no Blogger to blog on I had to find other things to do that needed doing. So, I updated several of my Eyes on Texas webpages. This turned out to be a good thing. I did not realize I was a bit out of date on some stuff. Like who is going to be at the WinStar Resort Casino in Oklahoma. Or at Billy Bob's Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

I went over to Miss Puerto Rico's to take a picture of the smoggy view of her place, thinking I would blog it, forgetting I could not blog due to the Blogger malfunction. It's moments like these that give me pause to wonder and worry about the quality of my cerebral blood flow.

Around noon I got out of here, got gas, called my mom, like I always do when I get gas, but my phone was acting screwy, so I didn't get to tell my mom I got gas.

It was not all that HOT when I got to the Tandy Hills, high 80s, maybe. But very very humid. I do not recollect ever getting so drenched on the Tandy Hills, not even when it's 110. When it is 110, it usually is not very humid. But, today it was like a big, hot, wet cotton, smoggy blanket out there.

When I was done, with my steam bath, I decided, though I'd not previously planned to, to go to Town Talk, just to spend some quality time in their very refreshing walk in cooler. I spent my time in the cooler and then left Town Talk, without buying anything, and headed to Super Wal-Mart where I needed to get milk.

And then back here for lunch, after which, the Blogger thing was back working.

For now.

I Successfully Slept & Traumatically Dreamt About Sonja Morgan & The Queen Of Wink

I think I mentioned, yesterday, that I'd been traumatized by a horrible bout of insomnia, the night before, due, I think, to adjusting to the HEAT WAVE and getting the A/C to the right level of COOL.

I was a bit worn out by the time I tried to sleep again, sometime after the sun turned out the lights, last night.

I fell asleep fairly easily, went into vivid cinematic technicolor dream mode. I was being driven in a Disneyesque superpark by my favorite New York City Housewife, Sonja Morgan. Sonja and I were having ourselves a really good time, driving and talking and looking at the Disney sights.

Sonja suggested I come to New York City for a visit. And then my phone rang. I looked to see it was the Queen of Wink calling. I weighed the propriety of taking a call whilst I was having fun with Sonja and decided to risk it and flipped the phone open. The Queen of Wink said hello, I am transferring you to another person, where you can sign up.

What? This startled me. And woke me up. It was a bit past 11. Sometime after midnight I'd calmed down from the Queen of Wink's phone call and fell asleep and back in to dream mode again.

I won't be detailing the second scary wake me up dream of the night. Suffice to say the MPAA rating would likely be R. And not for violence. Or language. I won't say if it involved the Queen of Week or Sonja Morgan.

Or both.

Blogger Was Currently Unavailable But Now It Is

That is what greeted me early this morning when I went to blog, blog what, I don't remember, now, 10 hours later.

By greeted me, I mean the message that "Blogger is currently unavailable."

Apparently the outage began before midnight and affected Blogger Bloggers all over the world.

As far as I know, Google has not yet explained what went wrong.

And now I've got such a backlog of blogging I don't know how I can catch up.

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.