Fort Worth's East Regional Library's Freshly Painted Parking Lot

You're looking at the East Regional Library in East Fort Worth in the picture. Library hours have been cut back in Fort Worth. And elsewhere.

The East Regional Library is closed Friday and Sunday. It is Monday today, with the library open from noon til 8. It is also open from noon til 8 on Wednesday. The other days, when it opens, the library is open from 10 til 6.

Today I was at the East Regional Library just a few minutes after it opened. Every computer terminal was already in use. I counted 6 people using their laptops. I'd guess there were at least 100 people using the library.

Of late I've noticed a lot of blank space on the library shelves. And a big increase in paperback books. I assume this has to do with the funding woes.

What surprised me today was the bright, new striping that had been painted on the parking lot. Plus the curbs had been painted bright red.

I'd not noticed the parking lot striping looking in need of being re-done.

I've no idea how much it cost to re-paint a parking lot. It would seem like this is a type of spending that could be postponed. Spending money on painting a parking lot seems like it should be lower on the priority list than buying new books or keeping libraries open.

It's perplexing to me.

L’exploitation Du Gaz Au Texas With French Buying 25% Of Chesapeake Energy

Interesting incoming from Don Young via France....

In April, 2010, Radio France International sent reporter, Murielle Paradon, to north Texas to tape interviews for a report on natural gas in the Barnett Shale, or as they say in France, "le gaz de schist."

(Photo above from Muriella Paradon's report of a Gas Drilling operation in Denton, Texas)

Why would people in France be interested in the Barnett? In January, Total, the French energy giant acquired 25% of Chesapeake Energy's Barnett shale assets for 2.25 billion. Total said it is "conscious of the environment impact and is confident in Chesapeake's ability to contain any damage." I wouldn't bet the chateau on that, Francois.

Murielle caught up with me on April 24 at Prairie Fest in Fort Worth. She also toured a gas rig and visited a playground-park in Denton and various other folks in the region. My French is not so good, but I'm pretty sure this report is one of those that tries to tell both sides of the issue.

Click on the small, red "headphone" button labeled "Ecouter" to listen in French.

Below is a slightly fractured translated English excerpt:

Exploitation of gas in Texas
By Murielle Paradon

It is the new gold rush in the United States: the schist gas. Natural gas enclosed in the rock, that the companies are from now on able to extract, thanks to novel methods: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Thanks to that, the United States became into 2010 the first gas producers in the world, in front of Russia. The gas producer companies drill from now on with all goes. In Texas, where is most productive the schist gas layer of the United States, Barnett shale, the companies do not hesitate to install their derricks downtown full. What is not without posing problems with the local population. Between the environmental noise pollutions and risks, anger goes up.

A Plum Picking June Monday In Texas

You are looking out my computer room window on the day before the Ides of June, the second Monday of the month.

Half of June is almost gone. Time is accelerating. I would prefer that time would slow down and stop with the speeding.

I decided to give my decrepit, rapidly aging sore body a rest today and stay out of the pool and off of any hiking hills.

I do not know if this resolve will last the morning.

I had a semi-pleasant Sunday evening over at Miss Puerto Rico's. Until the police were called.

We were sitting out on Miss PR's balcony, enjoying the balmy breeze, when a pickup stopped on the road beneath us. Then 3 guys got out and started climbing up a tree. Then one of them lifted up a section of the wrought iron security fence.

By the time the police arrived we realized what the 3 guys were doing. They were picking fruit. Sad little sour excuses for plums. Apparently locals turn this sour fruit into jam. The police told the 3 guys to get out of the tree and be on their way. Which they proceeded to do, after putting the fence back together.

I think I'll go over to Miss Puerto Rico's today and pick me some plums and see if I can turn them into jam. How hard can that be?

In Fort Worth Hiking Across The Texas Prairie of 1810

You are looking at my favorite vista deep within the Tandy Hills, this second Sunday of June. In this view we are looking north.

At this location you can almost make a 360 turn without seeing any sign of civilization. You are far enough from the freeway that you don't hear vehicle noise. The only sound is birds chirping.

It does not take much of an imaginative leap to think you are back in the pre-Texas of 1810, not 2010. That illusion would not have been possible if the thick smog of late had not been blown to Oklahoma.

The Queen of Wink went to Summer Mummers at the Yucca Theatre in Midland yesterday. The Queen's description made it sound fun, with a lot of popcorn and margaritas.

In the Queen of Wink's Summer Mummers Review she mentioned me and a joke, saying...

"I remembered this one joke for my buddy Durango. It goes like this, "How are Old Men and Good Coffee the same?" "They're RICH." I'm sure he'll appreciate that one."

I'm not even sure I get the joke, let alone appreciate it. I often have trouble understanding a joke. I think this trouble understanding a joke may be yet one more indicator of my extremely low IQ.

Elsie Hotpepper has gone missing. Again. She has not been heard from since Friday. I fear a Lost Weekend bender may be the explanation. I know saloon hopping was mentioned on Friday, soon before Elsie went missing.

It's always something.

In Texas In The Arena With Richard Nixon

I think I may have mentioned I'm currently reading Richard Nixon's "In the Arena: A Memoir of Victory, Defeat and Renewal."

I'm currently on the final chapter, titled "Twilight." With Twilight referring to the twilight years, old age, you know, being elderly.

I've long liked Richard Nixon, particularly after he came back from the humiliation of being the only president forced from office.

In "In the Arena" Nixon is amusingly gossipy about all sorts of subjects, such as the drinking habits of leaders he's known. And his own drinking habits.

The chapter on "Pat" is quite touching. The chapter where Nixon explains why he felt compelled to start the War on Cancer is also quite touching.

An excerpt from the "Twilight" chapter that I found resonated with my own views on the subject...

"While each individual must confront old age in his own way, some basic guidelines apply to everyone: keep fit, keep active, keep up with what's going on in the world. The key word here is "keep," which suggest that good habits from a person's younger days are continued in old age. The problem comes with those who didn't have good habits to begin with. A remarkable number of people I've met who are categorized as senile probably didn't have a lot on the ball when they were thirty-five. Alzheimer's Disease, which brings about marked mental decline in some older people, is another matter. But for the man who works his eight hours, comes home and speaks briefly to his wife and children, and then watches television until bedtime, retirement will probably bring on acute simplemindedness within a few years, not because he got old but because his job was the only thing in his life that forced him to use his brain."

Now, what I have noticed is that people who I found dull, boring and totally ignorant regarding the world at large, when they were in their 20s, are far more difficult to relate to now, years later, basically because there has been very little growth. In other words due to the widening gulf, brought about by the passage of years, these sorts seem even more dull, boring and ignorant. And best avoided, if possible.

Below is a short review from Amazon of Nixon's "In the Arena." I think it succinctly nails the appeal of this book...

"Richard Nixon was one of the finest political writers of the twentieth century. I first read "In the Arena" in the early nineties; it inspired me to explore all of his other books. In this semi-autobiographical work, he talks about what it takes to be a politician who can make a difference in the world. Whatever his failings, his words both inspire and entertain. He has a lightness of style which is untypical of politicians of his generation. Too many people close their ears to him because of Watergate. They are missing out on a literary and political treat. He has a lot to teach us, if only we are prepared to listen."

The Fort Worth Space Needle Is Closed For Lunch So I Went To Esperanza's In The Fort Worth Stockyards Zone

We are standing on View Mountain, looking east at the Fort Worth Space Needle that points skyward from the top of Mount Tandy, today, in the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

I was late hiking the Tandy Hills today due to going out for lunch.

No, I did not have lunch at the revolving restaurant at the top of the Fort Worth Space Needle. It has no revolving restaurant. There isn't even an observation deck. Or an elevator to the top. You have to climb a ladder to get to the top of the Fort Worth Space Needle. And even that involves negotiating a chain link fence or two.

Since a high elevation revolving restaurant is not available in Fort Worth I went to the next best thing. Esperanza's in the Fort Worth Stockyards zone.

Esperanza's makes my favorite chili relleno. I'd not been to Esperanza's in awhile. Was the last time when I listened to Hillary Clinton in the Stockyards? That's a long time ago.

Today's reason to be at Esperanza's was it was Molly Magpie's birthday. So, Big Ed, Molly, me and Delores de Luca had ourselves some birthday Tex-Mex.

You know, people tell me not to use their real names on my blog. Why? I don't know. I would think they'd prefer their real names to the ones I come up with. Then again, Molly Magpie has a nice ring to it.

The only person who insists I use her real name is Elsie Hotpepper. But who can blame her? That is one cool name.

There was a good breeze blowing on the hills today. But. It was in the 90s. And humid. I sort of over ate a bit at Esperanza's. I hill hiked for an hour and a half. I hiked til I felt I'd sufficiently purged the Esperanza's excess.

And then I went home. Which is where I am now.

Interrupting Richard Nixon With Incoming From AZMAPA

That's my cell phone sitting on a Richard Nixon book I'm reading, In the Arena: A Memoir of Victory, Defeat and Renewal.

Last night I was tired. I decided to go to bed about 9:30. I'd barely put my ear plugs in, which I have to do to drown out the cacophony of noise, like an air conditioner turning off and on, when I heard, through the earplugs, the distant sound of a symphony.

It was my cell phone ringtone. I looked down at the phone, which was sitting on the Nixon book, to see it light up with incoming from "AZMAPA."

That means Arizona Ma & Pa.

If this had been an out of the blue call I would have been instantly worried a bad thing had happened. But, since I'd called my mom and dad earlier in the day, when I got gas, I figured it was mom calling back just to talk.

I was correct in my assumption.

Today my mom and dad start cat sitting duty for my sister who is flying up to Seattle for a month. I hope my sister is able to safely negotiate the Dens of Toxicity that one can find oneself in in that zone.

When I called earlier, mom and dad had been out and about enjoying finally having a day that was under 100 degrees.

Meanwhile, here in Texas, at 10am Saturday, it is chilly, compared to Phoenix, 83, windy and humid.

Calling Mom While Hiking The Hot Humid Hills Of Fort Worth

The wildflowers are still a-blooming on the Tandy Hills. I don't recollect if I'd seen this little lavender orchid-like guy before. I only saw him in one location, today, with the plant having, maybe, 10 orchid blooms.

I was really liking hiking the HOT HUMID HILLS today. A good strong breeze was blowing, thus countering the Heat Factor with some Wind Chill Factor.

I'm pleased to find myself finally acclimated to the HEAT. The fact that I'm acclimated raises the specter of being in Washington, in summer, again. And shivering the entire time. I'm sure I'd survive the shock. Again.

I got gas today, $2.41 a gallon, so I called my mom to tell her I got gas, how much it cost and how hot it was.

The temperature of the air, I mean, not the temperature of the gas.

But, mom did not answer the phone, which means mom and dad must be out and about, which is good. Usually when I call, when they are out and about, my mom calls me back when they get home. I suspect that is what will happen today.

I've been asked, a time or two, if my siblings call my mom when they get gas. I don't know, for sure, but I suspect not, since both siblings live close to mom and dad, and see them regularly. And thus can deliver their gas acquisition information in person.

The 21st Annual City Of Wink Texas Roy Orbison Festival

You are looking at my windshield, last June, heading towards Wink, across the flatlands of West Texas, with my windshield getting slapped with Roy Orbison memorabilia.

For you non-music history aficionados out there, Wink was the hometown of rock and roll legend Roy Orbison, he of "Pretty Woman" fame.

This year the City of Wink Texas presents the 21st Annual Roy Orbison Festival.

I know no details of this year's Roy Orbison Festival, except for the fact that it is taking place June 18. And that music and a car show is involved. Last year the festival was a 2 day affair.

The only lodging available, in Wink, is at The Queen's Palace. Unfortunately, all rooms are already booked. The nearest other lodging is in Kermit, about 7 miles northeast of Wink.

I believe term limit rules prohibit the Queen of Wink from being named Pretty Woman in the Roy Orbison Pretty Woman contest. But, I am not certain of this.

Meanwhile, the 4th of July will soon be here. For purely non-altruistic reasons I made a webpage this morning of my Texas Top 10 Fourth of July Events.

I did not put the Wink Fireworks Show on the list. It was a close call.

Escaping The Texas HEAT By Going To Washington Again

You are looking at the Friday morning window view from my computer room. It is half past 9 and already 81 on the way to a high of 95, with extremely high humidity making it feel HOTTER.

The temperature of the air and the pool, this morning, were identical, or so it seemed to me, according to my built-in skin sensors.

Last night I managed to have the best night's sleep in recent memory. What a difference sleeping well makes. It's like a major rejuvenation.

This morning I heard from the 50th state, planting the idea in my head to head north, to Washington, for some quality time with some quality people. I like this idea.

The last time I headed north was July 20, 2008, almost 2 years ago, for a traumatic one month long bout of bizarreness, the bizarreness of which continues, in various iterations, to this day. When I returned to sane Texas, on August 20, 2008, I vowed to myself that it would be a long time before I subjected myself to any variation of what I subjected myself to in 2008.

But, the idea of heading up to Washington to spend time with non-toxic people, now that appeals to me. I am currently in the midst of working on a website deal that might require a visit to Washington. I'm thinking, maybe I can combine the two, the website with the non-toxic people.

It is being breezy this morning. If this breeziness continues I see a breezy Tandy Hills Steam Bath in my mid-day future. Or, I may skip it.