Texas Downpour Aborted Walk Turns Wet At Town Talk & Then Wetter

I'd intended to go to Oakland Lake Park again, today, to walk around Fosdic Lake, on the way taking a picture of a bizarre billboard that I see on Bridge Street, over and over again.

I'll get to the bizarre billboard later.

When I stopped to take the billboard picture, what had been a few small drops of rain turned into a Texas-size Downpour.

So, I had no choice but abort the plan to walk around Fosdic Lake. Instead I drove through the treacherous downpour to Town Talk.

Last week, when I mentioned Town Talk, former Fort Worth native, now exiled in the Seattle zone, MLK, a fan of Town Talk, asked for some Town Talk pictures.

So, I took a picture of the front of Town Talk looking through my windshield at the downpour. I ran real fast to get into the store. I still got drenched. This made the walk-in cooler cooler than usual.

I got some good Town Talk stuff. Like the giant loaves of Artisan Bread showed up again.

When I left Town Talk it was downpouring harder than when I entered.

I drive slow in a Texas Downpour. You never know when you are going to hit a deep pocket of water.

By the time I got to my abode location it was raining even harder. I felt no alternative was available to me, but to wait it out. Yes, I did have an umbrella with me. But I find those really of little use in a Heavy Downpour.

You are looking at the view through my windshield of the downpour. It was being really loud. That brown thing you see, sort of in the middle of the picture, is my picnic table. As you can see, it is pretty much a lush jungle here. So many people have the erroneous idea that all of Texas is a parched brown desert.

I think I waited maybe 15 minutes for some respite from the downpour. Finally it let up enough to make a mad dash for it. I gathered up my stuff and ran. Fast.

When the sidewalk that leads to my pool came into view I was appalled to see it flooding, making a big muddy mess.

This latest downpour has now let up. As in stopped.

Summer, here in Texas, so far, is being like spring, in Texas, used to be. I'm sort of ready for the climate to change back to the way it used to be.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Reporting Perplexing Parking Lot Paving & Barnett Shale Driller Water Destruction

Has there been some sort of change take place within the inner workings of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram?

Have the powers that be, who run that paper, decided that it was time to start acting like a real newspaper, instead of a propaganda shill for the Good Ol' Boy & Girl Network which tries to run Fort Worth, with, it seems, diminishing success?

Of late the Star-Telegram has had articles critical of the Fort Worth City Council's kowtowing to RadioShack.

There has been some honest coverage of the problems being created, air pollution-wise, by the drilling in the Barnett Shale. And the corruption of the state agencies who's supposed job it is to over see drilling practices in Texas.

And now today, there are 2 articles on two subjects I would not have expected to see in the Star-Telegram a year or two ago.

One article is about the absurdity of spending thousands of dollars to pave the parking lot of one of the Fort Worth city pools that are now closed due to budget woes.

In the limited range that my eyes see, I've made note of similar things that seem odd. Like the sprucing up of my neighborhood library parking lot. At the same time library hours are cut.

And just last week a big Fort Worth city road work crew resurfaced the road I take to get to the Tandy Hills and Oakland Lake Park, re-surfacing and re-striping Bridge Street from Oakland Avenue to the east. Like I said, I drive this road often. I'd not made note of it being in need of help. Why re-surface Bridge Street? Why now?

And then the big surprise in the Star-Telegram today. An article about well water gone bad soon after a Barnett Shale drilling operation pokes a hole in the nearby ground.

This type water contamination has been being reported for a long time now, in other venues. And now the Star-Telegram seems to be getting the fact that this is a really bad thing.

That photo at the top is from the Star-Telegram article, showing the orange stain left behind by the formerly clear water. Linda Scoma, who lives near Crowley, in rural Johnson County, had made note of the fact that her well water had taken on an odd odor. She worried something had gone wrong. And then Linda washed her hair to find it turned orange. From that point on there was no denying she had a serious problem

Gas Drilling Propagandists continue to deny their hole poking is polluting underground water. No matter how many times it has happened and how many times the well water has been tested to find that it contains the same chemicals that the gas drillers are squirting into the obviously leaky drill well pipe casings. That are then making their way into people's water supplies.

And rendering the water unsafe to use.

It's all appalling and perplexing and it pleases me the Star-Telegram is finally getting around to reporting on this nasty stuff that is happening to people here in North Texas.

Sleepwalking Through Another Semi-Chilly July Day In Texas

I was up before the sun was, again, this second day of July. You are looking at the view from my patio a short time later. With the sun starting to brighten up the place.

It is only 78 out there right now, so I've got the windows open with a pleasant breeze blowing in. I do not recollect being able to do this in July, in Texas, before.

I believe I had a sleepwalking incident last night where I switched my A/C to heat mode. In the morning I back off the A/C and turn off the fan. But, this morning when I turned the A/C knob, I could not turn the fan off.

And then I thought I smelled something like a candle burning. Followed by perceiving heat. I went back to thermostat and saw that the COOL lever had been moved to HEAT. So, when I cranked the A/C dial to 90, rather than turning off the A/C, it turned on the heater to heat this place to 90.

Worst sleepwalking incident since I found myself down at the pool, at 3am, with no swimming suit to be found.

Speaking of swimming and missing swimming suits, I found another swimming suit that I was able to wear for my morning swim. A very long swim.

The Dallas/Fort Worth forecast, today, is for a chance of rain and thunderstorms. Again. Followed by the same tomorrow. And the same for the 4th of July. And the same the 4 days following the 4th of July.

So far, basically, here in Texas, I'm getting to experience a Pacific Northwest summer without having to go to the hassle of flying up there. I suspect this will soon change. I hope.

Fort Worth's First Of July Fosdic Lake Ghost & Birds With Possible Hurricane Oil Spill Nightmare Scenarios

A volume of rain has fallen on these parts since Monday, which was the last day I was able to go hill hiking on the Tandy Hills.

Good thing with this HOT time of the year, the hills dry out way faster than when they get drenched in winter.

I'd gone to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdic Lake on Sunday, forgot my camera, so I took no pictures of the water deprived little lake and its newly formed beaches.

Well, the downpours of late have covered the Fosdic Beaches and water is flowing over Fosdic Falls. It's not a deluge of water, flowing after heavy rain, like you might see cascading over Washington's Snoqualmie Falls, but it's still water falling over a precipice, so, technically a waterfall, though manmade.

As I walked across Fosdic Dam, heading west towards the crossing over Fosdic Falls, I saw a big tree snapped apart. Struck by lightning? Blown by wind? I don't know. Flying in front of the murdered tree was a white ghost, named, by me, the Fosdic Ghost.

Soon after crossing Fosdic Dam I saw what I assumed was a grandma with her granddaughter in a stroller. The grandma was throwing bread into the lake. I assumed to feed birds, of which I saw none eating any bread.

I'd earlier, while walking, made note of the fact that I'd seen few birds. But, the grandma kept throwing bread in the water.

I sat on the picnic shelter overlook and watched. For 5 minutes, maybe more, grandma kept throwing bread in the water.

I started to think she was feeding Fosdic Lake's mutant fish.

And then a duck came into view. And then another. Soon a big flock of birds of different feathers surround edgrandma and the granddaughter, who was now joining in with the bird feeding.

Some of the birds were geese. Geese can be aggressive. I was a little concerned that the little girl might have a too close encounter with a goose beak. I have had one of those, and it hurts.

But, that did not happen, not while I watched. Instead the bird feeding frenzy grew more frenzied.

The sky has brightened, slightly, this afternoon, small patches of blue are peaking through in a few spots. It has been several hours since anything wet has hit my windows.

I have not heard if we are expected to get any moisture from the remains of Hurricane Alex. I remember Hurricane Ike, I think that was his name, gave us quite a drenching here. I think that was in September of 2009. I could be off a year. I know the South Padre Island beaches took quite a hit and are closed for their busiest time of the year, that being the 4th of July.

I think we are in for an interesting summer. I saw a supposed expert on Fox News (always suspect) who said if a hurricane crossed the path of the Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill that because a hurricane reaches into the sea up to 300 feet to suck water up into its wall of storming, the Fox expert said this meant oil would be sucked into the hurricane and when it made landfall big gobs of oil would be falling all over the place.

I'll believe that when I see it. And I hope I don't.

Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma On The 4th Of July

That is me and Big Ed sitting outside Outlaw Cave at Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma.

I'm thinking Turner Falls Park might be a fun 4th of July destination. Going to Turner Falls is always a nice escape from Texas.

First off, it's in Oklahoma, which is not Texas.

Second off, Turner Falls is in a sort of mountain-like zone called the Arbuckle Mountains. My zone of Texas is mountain free.

Third off, there is the waterfall. I do not know where the closest Texas waterfall to my current Texas location might be. Pedernales Falls down by Austin? I have no idea.

If I go to Turner Falls on the 4th of July I'll be able to do some pleasant swimming in the pleasantly temperatured water of crystal clear Honey Creek.

And do some hiking on semi-mountain trails. Run up the stairs of the castle. I recollect straining my shins real bad doing that on a previous Turners Falls winter excursion.

Exploring Outlaw Cave is not all that much of a spelunking adventure. It is no Carlsbad Caverns. Or Lava Beds National Monument. But it does require some flexibility and a willingness to crawl.

The world's 5th biggest casino, WinStar World Casino Resort is on the way to Turner Falls Park. I'm thinking, either pack a picnic or stop at WinStar for their buffet. The picnic option seems to sound more like a 4th of July thing to do than a casino buffet.

I don't know how anyone could have any trouble finding Turner Falls Park. But if you are one of those who require a map to find anything, I've made one that will show you where to find Turner Falls.

Betty Jo Bouvier Segways Across America (Except For Texas) Dispensing Economic Advice

You are looking at the Wild Woman of Woolley, Betty Jo Bouvier, on the right, and Betty Jo's daughter, Betty Jo, Jr., taking a tour of California's Sonoma wine country.

On Segways.

Does this give you a clue as to why Betty Jo came to be known as the Wild Woman of Woolley?

I have toured a California winery. Or two. But, always on foot.

Betty Jo was in Wine Country due to being in San Francisco visiting Betty Jr. I do not know if the Segways were used to tour Alcatraz or Chinatown.

This morning Betty Jo sent me a funny thing. I'm sure it's been all over the Internet. But, even so, I found it amusing, so I'm copying it below...

What do you think of this plan?

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive another 'Economic Stimulus' payment.

This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format:

Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen of it.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

* If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka ...

* If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.

* If you purchase a computer, it will go to India , Taiwan or China .

* If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala ..

* If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea ..

* If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan .

* If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in America by:

1) Spending it at yard sales, or

2) Going to ball games, or

3) Spending it on prostitutes, or

4) Beer, or

5) Tattoos.

(These are the only American businesses still operating in the U.S. )

Conclusion:

Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day!

No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.

Melancholy 1st Of July In Texas

You are looking at my melancholy view of Texas from my patio on the 1st day of July.

Once again the sun is hidden behind a shroud of clouds.

I've been feeling melancholy ever since a moment in Wal-Mart in Hurst yesterday. I've had these type melancholy moments at Wal-Mart before.

I'd just gotten gas and then went to Wal-Mart. Because I'd gotten gas as I walked into Wal-Mart I got my phone out of my pocket to call my mom to tell her I got gas. Just like I always do.

Then this lady caught my eye. She looked to be in her 30s. Tall. Nicely dressed. And she was disabled. Something had happened to her feet and legs that made walking very difficult. We both entered Wal-Mart at the same time.

The Wal-Mart greeter greeted her as if she was a long lost friend. And proceeded to help the lady get a motorized cart running.

I continued on walking. But put my phone back in my pocket. I was sort of overcome with feeling real sad and didn't feel like talking to my mom right then.

I was thinking how lucky I am to be able to do what I do without having the sort of struggle that lady goes through.

I wondered what happened to her. Was this a problem from birth? Was she in a car wreck? A wounded vet from Iraq or Afghanistan?

Is the problem fixable? Did she get the medical treatment she needed?

Another time at another Wal-Mart I saw a little girl with a club foot. That was such a sad thing. And treatable. If one has access to a doctor's care.

Sometimes when I am in the mood to be aggravated I listen to Rush Limbaugh. One of his things he repeats, that always aggravates me, is when he says that "Americans have the best health care in the world." Limbaugh never adds the corrective caveat, "If they can afford it."

I hope the lady I saw struggling to walk into Wal-Mart yesterday was, and is, able to afford the health care she needs.

And, on another related note, I think it's a nice thing Wal-Mart and other stores do in providing electric carts for those who need them. Though it sort of irritates me to see them being used by obese people who would likely be doing themselve a favor if they pushed a shopping cart through the store, rather than riding.

I'm thinking, would it not be a good thing if Wal-Mart, and other stores, had some sort of buzzer that could be pushed, located at the handicap parking, to summon the Wal-Mart greeter to bring out a cart?

When you help those most in need among us, you help yourself, because you never know when it might be you, or someone you love, who needs the help.

Or so it seems to me.

Oh, eventually I did call mom while I walked around in Wal-Mart. I got the answering machine. Mom and dad had gone to lunch at my brother's in Maricopa, about 20 miles south of where mom and dad live in the Phoenix suburb of Sun Lake. Mom called back later. It is being HOT in Arizona. Over 110 for days in a row. I told mom to come for a Texas visit, where my windows are open, right now, at 76.

A very pleasant hour in the pool this morning. One of my blessings I'm counting.

In Texas Thinking About Going To Church & Sunday's 4th Of July Parades

It is the last day of June, Wednesday. In the picture you are sitting with me out on my bedroom balcony, looking at the slightly inclement sky.

I did not get rained on when I went swimming this morning. I like swimming in the rain, but I learned a couple days ago that I do not like swimming in a raging downpour.

It being the last day of June would make tomorrow the 1st day of July. Math is not my forte, but I am fairly certain with tomorrow, that being Thursday, being the 1st of July, that this would mean that Sunday is the 4th of July.

As far as I know I have no special plans to celebrate the 4th of July. I have no memory of what I did on that particular date last year.

Over the years of my Texas exile I have been to two Texas 4th of July Parades. Texas towns put on good parades. The first Texas 4th of July Parade that I got to witness was Arlington's. I believe this one is the biggest in the big state of Texas. It is quite a spectacle. I should muster the effort to go watch it on Sunday. Since Sunday is the 4th and we are big churchgoers here in the Buckle of the Bible Belt, I wonder if Arlington's parade is on Saturday?

Okay, I just looked it up. Arlington's 4th of July Parade is on Saturday, starting at 9am. The parade begins at West and Mitchell Streets, then turns north on to Pecan Street. Then west on UTA Boulevard, turning north on West Street, then north on to Abram Street, then south on Center Street, back west on Mitchell Street to Pecan Street, again, and then ends near Doug Russell Road.

The other Texas 4th of July Parade I've watched is the Granbury 4th of July Parade, which is also on Saturday, starting at 10am. The Granbury Chamber of Commerce website has info about Granbury's 4th of July events. I found the Granbury 4th of July Parade to be a lot of fun and very, very well done.

Interesting. A couple days ago I blogged about the Sedro Woolley Loggerodeo in my old home state of Washington. Loggerodeo has a big 4th of July parade. Washington is not in the Bible Belt. So, I was curious if the Loggerodeo Grand Parade is taking place on the 4th. Well, it is. The Grand Parade starts at 11am. Sunday, the 4th of July. I think 11am is before some church services end on Sunday, but it has been many years since I've been in a church, I may be remembering wrong.

The Lack Of Initiative In Texas

In Washington I was used to citizens taking Initiative. In Texas I don't think this is allowed.

The lack of Initiative in Texas came to mind this morning when I read the following....

OLYMPIA (AP) — It’s a busy week for initiative campaigns, which face a Friday deadline for turning in petitions.

Five campaigns have appointments to drop off their voter petitions with Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Initiative 1082, which would allow private workers’ comp insurance, turns in its petitions Wednesday. The campaign says it’s bringing about 340,000 signatures.

Campaigns need a minimum of about 241,000 valid voter signatures to get on the ballot.

Initiative 1098, an income tax on the rich, is scheduled to drop off signatures Thursday.

Three initiatives have Friday appointments: I-1053, which calls for a two-thirds vote to raise taxes; I-1105, privatizing retail liquor sales; and I-1107, which would roll back several recent tax increases.

I think the lack of any Initiative in Texas is part of what makes the elections here a bit on the boring side. As in if there was an Initiative to Legalize Casino Gambling in Texas, that might motivate some voter turnout. Or an Initiative to Control Eminent Domain Abuse. Or an Initiative to Legalize Marijuana.

Politically scientifically speaking, an Initiative is a means in which a petition is signed by a proscribed minimum number of registered voters, forcing a public vote on a proposed constitutional amendment, statute, ordinance or any number of other things. The concept of Citizen's Initiative is a form of direct democracy.

24 American states and Washington, D.C. have the Initiative form of direct democracy.

South Dakota led the way with the modern American system of Initiative and Referendum, adopting this form of direct democracy in 1898. Followed by Oregon in 1902. What was known as the "Oregon System" then spread to other states from the 1890s to the 1920s during what is known as the Progressive Era.

Apparently the Progressive Era did not progress to Texas. Although I do think on the city and local level there is some form of the Initiative method of direct democracy. I vaguely recollect some sort of petition attempt to stop the construction of Fort Worth's Convention Center Hotel.

I recollect no attempt by citizen's in Fort Worth to exercise direct democracy in the form of an Initiative Petition to force the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle to a vote.

I wonder if you can do an Initiative Petition to recall a conflicts of interest corrupted mayor in Fort Worth?

What excuse does Texas have for not having the Initiative/Referendum method of direct democracy, in this, the Greatest State in the Union?

It Has Been A Rainy Tuesday In Fort Worth With More Water On The Way

Rain dripped from above until after noon today. I don't think we've seen the last of the wet stuff. The forecast is for more wetness for the next 5 days.

Around 3 this afternoon I needed to escape from rubbing my fingertips sore on a keyboard.

So, I hiked over to Miss Puerto Rico's balcony to enjoy the slightly cool breeze and the view of the retreating storm.

Having said that. I just walked outside for a second. Wet stuff is falling again. Though not in copious amounts.

Texas in summer, in the past 2 days, has become like a Washington winter. Except warmer. But the rain seems way too familiar. Except here, in Texas, the rain falls with extreme prejudice in a volume I never saw in Washington.

Well, there was the Thanksgiving Flood in the 1990s. I remember 5 inches of rain falling within a couple hours in a Texas-style downpour. This wreaked all sorts of havoc of the flooding sort. Not flash floods. More massive than that.

In Texas you don't have snowmelt due to rising temperatures sending massive amounts of water into the rivers, because Texas removed its mountains years ago. I think around the time Texas removed its Native Americans. Mountains and Indians went to Oklahoma. I may be misinformed about this.

I remember during the Thanksgiving Flood staying up late sandbagging the dike in downtown Mount Vernon, to save the downtown. The crest of the flood was expected to breech the sandbags. A HUGE crowd gathered to wait for the crest.

Suddenly the river dropped a couple feet. It was a major what the hell moment. Within an hour it was known that a dike further down river had failed, flooding what is known as Fir Island. The release of pressure saved downtown Mount Vernon.

Massive efforts were made to repair the dike breech following the Thanksgiving Flood. And then 2 weeks later it happened again.

I sort of miss this type of weather drama. But, actually, Texas weather drama outdoes Washington weather drama, for the most part. The snow can get a bit more wicked there, it can get colder, Pacific typhoons can be a bit breezy, a Washington HEAT WAVE is a torture Texans can not imagine.

Because few people in Washington have air conditioning. Due to not needing it, except for a couple days a decade.

It has been a good last Tuesday of June 2010. Up late the night before, up before dawn's crack, learned that the Queen of Wink is okay, and hopefully safely back in Wink. And I went swimming in the rain this morning. Does not get much better than that.

My drippy forecast below....