100 Degree Streak Ends Yesterday In North Texas With Return To Super HOT Today

As you can see, odd clouds are above me as I sip coffee out on my patio this morning, the day after the North Texas Hot Streak ended. As in, we did not reach the 100 degree mark yesterday, due to being under a cloud cover for most of the day, insulating us, a little, from the sun's brutal rays.

But, today, apparently, there will be no respite from the sun's brutal rays, with a return to heating us to over 100 degrees.

The sun is coming back with such a vengeance today that the National Weather Service issued a HEAT ADVISORY for today and tomorrow.

I believe this is the first time this HOT season that the NWS has issued such an advisory.

With it being a HOT day you'd think I would start it off by going swimming. Well, you'd be thinking wrong. My pool is in treatment mode, as in it has been shocked. It takes a delicate balance of chemicals to keep the pool water crystal clear when it gets subjected to day after day after day over of over 100 degree temperatures.

Meanwhile, up in Eastern Washington, Tootsie Tonasket sweltered yesterday in 109 degree heat. Due to being in Eastern Washington, where it's sort of a desert-like climate, I don't believe humidity would have been a factor in making Tootsie feel even hotter.

Unlike people in Western Washington, as in, on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, those on the east side of the mountains have air conditioning. So, Tootsie was able to stay cool.

In Texas Thinking About Going Hiking With My Favorite Former Sister-In-Law

No, you are not looking at today's view from the Tandy Hills Natural Area in Fort Worth, Texas.

What you are looking at is the big hiking boots of my favorite former sister-in-law, Mindy Mae, taking a rest after hiking to the top of Sauk Mountain in the Skagit Valley of the State of Washington.

The snow cone in the distance is what is known as a mountain. We don't have such things in my current location. I can tell the mountain in the picture is a volcano, but I can't tell if it is the Mount Baker or Glacier Peak volcano.

I am leaning towards it being Mount Baker, because I don't recollect being able to see Glacier Peak from Sauk Mountain. Glacier Peak is the least seen of the Washington volcanoes. It is deeper into the Cascades, thus blocked from view, usually, unless you are up high in the Cascades or in a location deep in the valleys surrounding Glacier Peak.

The last time I was on Sauk Mountain was with my favorite former sister-in-law's youngest, my nephew, Joey. It was snowing and icy. I was likely being an irresponsible uncle. But, we made it to the top of the mountain and safely back down. With a little sliding along the way.

My favorite former sister-in-law has become an ardent hiker. Hiking was something she did not do before she got the "former" title. I think maybe being married to my brother kept Mindy Mae metaphorically anchored to the valley, and when that anchor went aweigh she started soaring into the mountains.

I blogged about Sauk Mountain on one of my other blogs today. Along with another picture from Mindy Mae.

Sprouts Farmers Market Website Major Malfunction

Last Wednesday when I knew I was heading in the direction of Southlake I went to check the Sprouts Farmers Market website to see if anything motivated me to stop at Sprouts.

Awhile back the Sprouts Farmers Market website changed to an annoying Flash-based mess. But, there was a non-Flash option that worked fine.

Until last week when I found the Sprouts non-Flash option had turned into a Flash option. Which really is not an option because it gets my computer all hot and bothered.

Today I decided to get my computer hot and bothered and try and look at the Sprouts website. Well, it is totally messed up. The cutesy entry page you see in the picture loads, but when you click to view the ad all kinds of stupid starts to happen.

A little thumbnail of the ad appears. You click to zoom and nothing happens. Then suddenly the zoom happens, for a flash, (because it's a Flash thing?) and then it reverts back to the thumbnail.

Using Flash for a commercial website is really dumb. Particularly one like Sprouts. A lot of people access websites via their cell phone. I can't imagine that working well with the Sprouts Flash mess.

Maybe the problem is my computer, I've not tried to get on the Sprouts Farmers Market website from another computer.

So, I did not get anything good from Sprouts today, but I did get some real good strawberries from the ALDI Food Market.

Will Today Be Day 19 In A Row Over 100 In North Texas?

I got up just a few minutes before the sun today. As you can see from the view from my patio, I'm drinking coffee under a mostly blue sky. Today should be Day 19 in a row of getting heated to over 100 here in North Texas.

I think the record is 42 days in a row, set back in 1980.

Today there is, supposedly, a 20% chance of rain. The forecast for today is for the high to be only 98, which, obviously, would end the streak of days over 100.

A couple days ago the prediction was also for under 100. That day hit 102 with a Heat Index of 113.

I am heading up to the Southlake zone around noon, I think.

But, before that I am going swimming, as in, right now.

Hiking In The Texas HEAT After Another Fort Worth Police Encounter

Another 100 degree day. Number 18 or 19 in a row. Very humid. I opted for the shaded trails of Village Creek Natural Historic Area when my need to commune with nature kicked in around noon.

I had myself a really fine morning of filling out forms for the IRS, then making copies of them. I was almost to the Post Office to send the IRS my offering when I saw lights flashing behind me.

I was being tailed by a Fort Worth Police Cruiser, with its lights flashing.

I pulled into the Post Office, parked and turned off the engine, opened the door and stepped outside. An amplified voice ordered me to remain in the vehicle.

I knew I'd not done anything as serious as shoplift a pair of sox and some diapers, so I was not too concerned. Maybe a blinker was not blinking appropriately.

Eventually the officer got out of his cruiser. I asked what did I do. Your emissions sticker has expired, I was told.

Well, I knew that. I'd not gotten around to the laborious bother of getting this year's nuisance sticker. I find it aggravating.

When I lived in Washington I never had to get my vehicle's emissions tested. Here in the Fort Worth/Tarrant County zone we have thousands of Barnett Shale Natural Gas Wells that apparently put off more pollution than cars do. But, do they go through an emissions test every year? I think not.

So, the officer took my driver's license and retreated back to his cruiser. I got out of mine to ask if I could go mail my letter while he did his thing. Remain in your vehicle I was told. So Gestapo-like over having an expired emissions sticker.

When I was stopped for the serious crime of driving too slow, while not wearing my seatbelt, it took the officer at least 15 minutes before he returned with the ticket that was thrown out.

This time the officer showed up back at my door in just a couple minutes, saying something like "I'm giving you a break, so continue on your way. And get that emissions test."

I then exited my vehicle and went to mail the letter. When I came back out of the Post Office the Police Officer was back on his merry way chasing down other evildoers.

When I related this story to a particular party familiar with my various Fort Worth shenanigans, this particular person suggested the Fort Wort Police probably have me red-flagged, something along the line of unless it is a serious crime, let this person go.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it. It was strange though. I probably should go get that emissions test. If I remember right, last year I put it off for 3 months.

In Texas Thinking About Eleanor Grigby & Long Ago Fondue

You are looking at Eleanor Grigby and her Black Labrador, Emma. Eleanor snail mailed me the picture, with it arriving yesterday. I assume Eleanor and Emma are sitting on the ground somewhere in Seattle, since that is where Eleanor and Emma live.

Eleanor and I started school together in the first grade. And continued to go to the same school all the way through the 2nd year of college.

Eleanor's dad gave me my first experience with catching cod out in the Straits of Juan de Fuca near Cattle Point off San Juan Island.

We caught so much cod that day. When we got back on land Eleanor's dad made what remains in my memory as the best fried fish I've ever had.

My tales of all the cod we caught directly led to my mom and dad buying their first boat. This led to an even bigger boat, which eventually led us back to Cattle Point for the most scary boating experience I ever had, with the seas so rough our tiny ship was tossed like a cork. We high-tailed it out of there.

During our high school years Eleanor introduced me and others to the concept of fondue, with her elaborate Fondue Parties. I don't remember if the Fondue Parties were tied to the annual Academy Award Party at Eleanor's, or not.

I remember one memorable night with Eleanor. It was after a football game and post-game dance. We went to get in my car, a 1964 Chevy Impala. We were in the car sitting on the seat before realizing the windshield had been totally smashed in, with us sitting on the shattered remains. I have absolutely no recollection as to what we did next. Did I clear out the broken glass and drive without the windshield? I'll have to ask Eleanor if she remembers.

I think the last time I saw Eleanor in person was in 1991. I think the last time I spoke to Eleanor, via a phone, was in 2001, when I was in Seattle for my mom and dad's 50th.

I am not much of a fan of Facebook. It seems a marginal improvement over that abomination known as MySpace, which I really did not like.

But there is one thing I have liked about Facebook. It has re-connected me with a lot of people and I've found that to be quite enjoyable.

I forgot, I also like Facebook for Scrabble. I really think getting beaten regularly by the Scrabble Queens of Washington and California has sharpened my lazy brain.

Eleanor Grigby is coming to Texas soon.

Day 18 Over 100 In North Texas

You are looking at the view out my bedroom window, with me getting up after the sun.

Yesterday's cold front did not arrive, with its predicted breaking of the day after day after day of being over 100 degrees in North Texas.

Instead of getting colder, we got HOTTER. As in at 3pm yesterday, at the official temperature measuring station at D/FW International Airport, it hit 102, with the Heat Index hitting 113, due to an increase in humidity brought by the clouds that were supposed to bring the chill, but instead dropped very few bits of wetness.

So, we are at Day 17 in a row over 100, with today scheduled to be Day 18 and off to a good start with a morning temperature of 80 at a little past 7.

I have no idea what I am doing today. If it gets windy I may be doing some Tandy Hills hiking.

Virtually Visiting The Queen Of Wink On Her Throne

I mentioned earlier today that I took another virtual trip to West Texas, this morning, to Monahans and Monahans Sandhills State Park.

I did not mention that I took a virtual sidetrip, to Wink, for a quick virtual visit with the very virtuous Queen of Wink.

The Queen of Wink received me on her throne.

I was a bit surprised to make note of the rather un-regal nature of the Queen's throne.

It appeared to be made of plastic.

I am almost 100% certain the Queen of England's throne is not made of plastic.

Now, I think a plastic throne would be just fine for an old krone like the Queen of England. But Wink has a Beauty Queen as its Queen and a plastic throne is just wrong.

I guess I will have to make it a project of mine to get the Queen of Wink a proper throne, suitable for seating her royal derriere in plush comfort.

I'm thinking I should make a non-virtual trip out to West Texas and Wink and be King for a Day. Or something like that.

TCEQ Issues Level Orange Air Pollution Alert While Fort Worth's Fosdic Lake Turns Green

It is 99 right now, coming up on 3 in the afternoon. We should be crossing over the 100 mark at any moment, thus continuing the days in a row over 100 streak, at what is it now? 17? 18?

A cold front was predicted to keep us under 100 today. I see no hint of the predicted incoming rain and thunderstorms, or chill.

I did see the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a Level Orange Air Pollution Alert a few minutes ago for the Dallas/Fort Worth area. A Level Orange Alert means it is dangerous for the elderly, like me, to be outside.

Prior to the Level Orange Alert I went outside, around noon, to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdic Lake.

As you can see in the pictures, the day after day after day over 100 has caused Fosdic Lake to need to issue a Level Green Water Pollution Alert.

Fosdic Lake is currently being the color of anti-freeze.

The birds did not appear to be too happy regarding the condition of their lake. I saw a group of ducks waddling on the eastern shore, like they were having a duck protest.

This morning I virtually went out to West Texas again, this time to Monahans and Monahans Sandhills State Park. On the Monahans Sandhills you can go sand surfing and sand tobogganing. I did neither. It was too HOT.

Sunday Night's Fort Worth Version Of To Catch A Thief

You are looking at the Sunday night view from Miss Puerto Rico's balcony. Those are Fort Worth police cars you are seeing through the foliage.

Police car after police car arrived on the scene. Eventually the street was clogged with police cars, no traffic moving.

We figured a very serious crime, likely of the violent sort, must have taken place. We could see the police talking to a guy who was pointing at shrubbery in front of Miss Puerto Rico's office.

At that point we thought maybe this was a drug-related bust type police action, hence the massive show of force.

Then a phalanx of officers came into view with a guy in custody. They put the guy over the trunk of a police car and handcuffed him. It was all done very gently, none of that police brutality type stuff that seems to happen way too often.

Miss Puerto Rico called her boss to tell her something major had happened on the property they manage. That was the assumption at that point in time. We decided to go find out what major crime had been committed.

I walked up to the guy who I'd seen pointing out shrubs to the police. I said I was with the property and would like to know what the guy in custody had done.

Well.

The guy helping the police told me he was in Dollar General when he saw the guy now in custody shoplift a pair of socks and a box of disposable diapers. He and his girl friend tailed after the guy, calling 911 as they tailed. They followed the guy onto Miss Puerto Rico's property, where he'd scaled the security fence. I assume this is about when the first police arrived.

Now, I am fully cognizant of the fact that shoplifting is a crime. But, was this not overkill? Does Fort Worth maybe have a few too many cops out on patrol? Maybe the police force could be scaled back a bit and the freed funds used to keep a library or two open an hour or two longer.

I could understand a massive police response to a really serious crime. But, stealing a pair of socks and a box of diapers is borderline Jean Valjean territory, you know, the guy in Les Miserables who's life was made miserable because he was super hungry and stole a loaf of bread. The police overreacted in that case too.

I wonder how much last night's police action cost? Obviously way more than the cost of a pair of socks and a box of diapers.

I enjoy my visits to Miss Puerto Rico's. You never know what you're going to see. Or hear. Or do.