The Baker Hotel In Mineral Wells May Be Brought Back To Life

In the picture you are in Mineral Wells on top of a Palo Pinto Mountain, looking at the Baker Hotel.

I really think the Palo Pinto Mountains should be more accurately named the Palo Pinto Hills.

A few months after my Exile in Texas began I was out and about exploring the territory and was surprised to come upon a little town named Mineral Wells that had a gigantic abandoned hotel sitting in its downtown zone.

A year or two after first seeing it I made a webpage about the Baker Hotel on my Eyes on Texas website.

Over the years I've received several emails from people interested in buying and restoring the Baker Hotel. Asking if I knew who to contact. One or two were befuddled into thinking I was directly involved with the Baker Hotel. I remember one person was flying in from Los Angeles and asked if I could meet them and take them to the Baker Hotel.

Well, the Baker Hotel has been in the local news the past few days due to a fresh effort to restore the Baker Hotel (and Mineral Wells) to its former glory. Apparently $54 million has to be found. Officials in Mineral Wells and a development team are trying to put all the puzzle pieces together to turn the former 450 room hotel into a 4 star resort of 155 rooms, with the top floor ballroom restored and a spa with the waters that made Mineral Wells famous.

This is not the first time I've read that the long neglected Baker Hotel was going to get fixed.

Three years ago I wrote the following on my website about efforts to restore the hotel...

"After over 3 decades of floundering in an ever increasing state of decay, with numerous attempts by many to find some way to develop the Baker Hotel for a modern use, the city of Mineral Wells has, as of November, 2007, taken an active role in trying to restore the hotel to its former glory. The city has created a tax increment finance district hoping to entice potential developers to re-vitalize the Baker. The city has a 14 month agreement with the hotel's current owner to aggressively market the building to developers. The city will be doing feasibility and building examinations for the next 2 months. We can save them some trouble, the structure is sound, but it desperately needs a new roof."

I hope it all works out, this time, and the Baker Hotel is restored. And I hope the restoration stays true to the Baker Hotel's art deco style.

Up Late After Being Up Late Going Swimming Then To Gilmer Texas

Two days in a row, up late the night before getting up late, as in up after the sun this Sunday August 22 morning.

As you can see, I've not quite made it out to the table on my patio to sip my morning coffee.

I had myself a nicely tiring day Saturday, with 2 long bouts in the pool plus one long bout on the Tandy Hills.

And one long bout, Saturday night, at Miss Puerto Rico's.

I think I may have had one or two too many adult libations last night. I do not like it when I have one or two too many adult libations.

I will not be having one or two too many adult libations today. I may be going to the Tandy Hills again. I will be swimming in a few minutes. I will be grilling some Cornish Game Hens and making a Fire-Roasted Eggplant Casserole this morning.

And I think I'll be taking a virtual visit to the Piney Woods town of Gilmer where they have an annual festival called Yamboree to celebrate the Sweet Potato.

I like Sweet Potatoes.

Getting A Tandy Hills Rash While Delivering Ice

It was windy when I went to hike the Tandy Hills today. That helped make the 100 degrees feel less like 100 degrees.

But.

I have developed a painful heat rash type ailment in delicate areas best left rash free. I am currently in treating it with ointment mode.

I'd not been on the Tandy Hills for a few days. Since my last visit there has been a new arrival. In the middle of the hills that big black round thing with a white stripe showed up at a trail junction.

How did this get there? And why? Is it the start of a new Tandy Hills Shrine? There are pieces of long dead vehicles scattered about the Tandy Hills. It would be a lot of bother to move the vehicle pieces to the central location of the black round thing.

It is just one more perplexing Tandy Hills mystery.

I'm out of here in a bit to make an ice cube delivery to a hapless individual who requires ice for her libations, but who's icemaker is currently not making ice in amounts sufficient to meet the libation's needs.

I have no idea if the ice I deliver will survive the HEAT it will endure on the way to the libations.

Homeless Nice Doggy Needs To Be Adopted

Are you looking for a nice doggy to move in with you? Last winter the nice doggy you are looking at here was abandoned in the apartment complex Miss Puerto Rico takes care of.

Miss Puerto Rico has been feeding the nice doggy ever since. And making sure it has water.

The nice doggy follows Miss Puerto Rico around, but gets very wary if she tries to pet it. But, it will take a dog bone treat from her hand.

Miss Puerto Rico would adopt the nice doggy herself, except for one big problem. That problem being her cat, Tasha, who channels the spirit of Adolf Hitler.

The nice doggy needs a home, and a trip to a groomer.

Up Late Saturday Morning Daring To Leave Out Gilmer & Pritchett Texas

Up late Friday night, up late Saturday morning. I do not like getting up after the sun.

We started a new streak of going over 100 yesterday. I believe the prediction is for the streak to continue today.

Yesterday's 100 degrees plus was made tolerable by a strong wind. Had that wind not been strong I don't know if I could have managed to walk the mean streets of Pantego like I did yesterday.

If it is windy today I'm going to go to the Tandy Hills. It has been several days since I've been there.

I got an email from my Eyes on Texas website this morning, from Elaine Fletcher in fully goofy umbrage mode. Elaine had been to my Piney Woods Region page and was very upset that I dared leave out her beautiful town.

This is what Elaine had to say...

To whom it my concern,

How dare you leave out talking about Beautiful Small Town Gilmer,Tx and our Yamboree and also about the 2nd annual Okra Festival in Pritchett,Tx. We're 6 miles from Gilmer and 6 from Big Sandy,Tx.

E. Fletcher

Yes, this is an excellent way to motivate me to go to the bother of adding your town and festival.

It is time to go swimming now in lukewarm water.

Marfa's Somaphx Has A Blog With Fascinating Subjects

You are looking at a resident of Marfa named Somaphx in the picture. Somaphx lives in a cave in Marfa. Marfa is known for its mysterious Marfa Lights.

I first met Somaphx in late May. She made a comment or two on my blog. Somaphx may have emailed me, too. I don't remember.

I remember Somaphx telling me she wanted to start up a blog, but that doing so got her computer all riled up. So, she thought that in lieu of a blog, commenting on my blog would be the Somaphx blogging experience.

Well.

Today I found that Somaphx did go ahead and do a blog. It is called "Odd Blogs: Perfect Infinitives & Serendipitous Convergence."

Somaphx has written one post on her blog, dated June 1. Much of what Somaphx wrote referenced me and this very blog you are reading.

Some excerpts from the incredibly insightful, incredibly intelligent, Somaphx blog....

"I accidentally wandered into this site last week, searching for the City of Marfa's Noise Ordinance (I don't believe we have one, many street signs, either) and found myself somewhere in the stacks inside Durango Texas' substantial internet library, where I spent the next two days...."

"Durango, Texas is nowhere near Marfa. And Durango is an actual dude -- not aboding in Durango -- whose name just happens to be Durango. And in Texas, not Colorado. And he just happens to be from Washington in the visually spectacular Pacific Northwest, where I have family...."

"And, he jumped orbits in 1999, the same year my Houston-Marfa exodus saved my life. Now I know you're thinking an in-state move hardly constitutes an "orbit jump" such as Durango's Odyssey, but trust me on the sunscreen: Twenty-two years in Oiltown, pop. 4,000,000 (anyone know the post-Katrina numbers?), 600 miles into the Far West Texas Borderland Vortex of Strange is a million miles from home (more on these triangular phenomena in future episodes). Six hundred miles in any direction in this state ain't nothin'."

"On Thursday, I open Durango's pink-flower post, and there are my flowers, blooming on a Tandy Hill I've neither seen nor heard of. His closeup photograph was stunning; took my breath away. Century's Lady. Lovely. Perfect infinitive. That Tandy Hill has a place of distinction on my places-of-longing list."

I don't know what has become of Somaphx. Marfa is West of the Pecos. When you live past the frontier, miles past were civilization ends, well, you can go missing and it can take a long time for anyone to notice.

Chase Bank Fun Walking The Mean Streets Of Pantego Because My Vehicle Was Held For Ransom By Iranians

The sign is a warning in Pantego's Bicentennial Park. All suspicious persons are immediately reported. Can't say I was not warned.

So, how did I end up in the Pantego Park? Well. I needed to drop in on a location in Pantego on website related business.

Big Ed needed to be in Arlington on non website related business. Big Ed needed a Big Favor done. I agreed to do the Big Ed Big Favor if he'd take my vehicle in for its emissions test and an oil change, something I do not like doing.

The plan was to drop me off where I needed to be. After I completed my business I'd go to the Pantego Park and read a book til the newly tested vehicle arrived.

On the way I needed to deposit a check. I went to the nearest Chase Bank. The ATMs were being worked on. The bank was busy. Continued on to the Chase Bank in Pantego. The walk-in ATM was out of service and the drive-up one had a long long line.

I decided to go into the bank, make the deposit and get that vexing missing VISA card thing taken care of. I blogged about my fun with Chase Bank a week or two ago. I said at that time that I knew going into the bank was going to turn into yet more silliness.

I'd been told all I had to do was talk to a teller. So, after the teller took the deposit I explained the missing VISA card problem. He listened and then told me this lady out at a kiosk in the middle of the bank could help me. I explained to her what I wanted. She then told me she'd get me a banker. She'd look at one and go, oops, he just got on the phone, after 3 or 4 oops, she led me into the cubicle of this guy named Brandon.

Brandon was very nice. We are doing lunch. He wants to know all about Google ads. I had to show ID, enter my PIN, twice, answer an awful lot of questions, then Brandon made a print out and sprinted across the bank to pick it up. Brandon told me, just like I'd been told before, that the new card will be sent within 2 business days. I asked Brandon for his number so I could call him directly when the card does not show up.

So, after spending way too much time in Chase Bank, it was off to South Pantego where I got dropped off. A half hour later I was in the Pantego Park, acting suspicious, while I read a book by Peggy Noonan.

An hour and a half later Big Ed called. He did not have his wallet. He could not pay for the oil change and emissions test.

The emissions testers would not let Big Ed drive to get me so I could pay for it. I figured I could walk to the emissions testing place, and get there, maybe, before dying from heatstroke. And so I took off walking at high speed. Distance seems way longer walking a road that you'd just driven on. It took me a long while to get to Bowen Street, to head north to Division. I was barely on Bowen when Big Ed called to say they are letting him go, holding his phone hostage til he returns with money.

About 10 minutes later, just as I think heatstroke was starting to happen, Big Ed shows up. I take over driving. The A/C quickly cools me down. We get to the place Big Ed took the vehicle to. Apparently he'd been there before for previous emissions tests. It's run by Iranians, or maybe they were Iraqis. I know for certain they were Middle Eastern and not very conversant in English.

So, I paid the ransom fee and high-tailed it back to the relative safety of Fort Worth, driving without worrying about seeing flashing lights behind me, pulling me over for having an expired emissions test sticker.

So, I am good to go emissions-wise for another year, when I'll be expired by 9/11. I think I've gained at least a half a year by always being late getting the emissions test.

In Texas Thinking About Getting My Stomach Stapled

Til this morning I'd not heard from my mysterious Tacoma Informant for awhile.

I am being optimistic that I am finally rid of the Tacoma irritant known as Fubbo, after she had a really bizarre episode a couple months ago that must have been really embarrassing to her when she had a fleeting moment, hopefully, of lucidity.

My Tacoma Informant is claiming that we are looking at a recent photo of Fubbo. The Tacoma Informant claims Fubbo is on a doctor directed diet that may involve one of those surgery things, like stomach stapling

That does look like the backside of Fubbo, in the photo, sort of. Except the person in the photo appears to be about half the size of Fubbo, when I last saw the behemoth over 2 years ago.

Yikes! I just realized, it is August 20. In about 2 hours it will be exactly 2 years since I escaped from Washington and made my way back to the relative sanity of Texas.

Two days before I escaped I watched Fubbo get her daily calorie supply of donuts, a box of cookies, bacon and assorted other things one needs if one wants to grow big.

I can't imagine having one of those weight loss surgeries. Why not just ceasing with the eating? That seems as if it would be way more pleasant than having the size of your stomach shrunk.

Now don't go thinking I am being mean to Fubbo, or making fun of her. Fubbo does not read my blog. Or the blog of anyone I know in Texas. I know this because Fubbo says so. And Fubbo never lies.

Two Days In A Row Under 100 In North Texas

That white round thing in the picture is the top of a table out on my patio, as viewed from my bedroom window. Beyond the table is the pool, which I will be wet in, in a few minutes.

I got up after the sun this morning. That does not happen too often. Events conspired to keep me up late last night. Up having myself a real fine time.

Today is the 20th day of August. We are 2/3rds through the month. The majority of August has seen a daily temperature over 100.

But yesterday, and the day before, we did not see the century mark. That means we are on Day 2 in a Row under 100.

Yesterday, around 4 in the afternoon, a few drops of rain hit my window. I thought it was a precursor to a downpour, but nothing else poured down.

I am heading to Arlington this morning to get that vexing emissions test done. It grows tiresome driving and always wondering if I'm about to see flashing lights in my rear view mirror.

Walking Around Fosdic Lake Enjoying The Neon Green Color & Interesting Fragrance

I did not do any outdoor aerobicizing endorphin creating activity yesterday besides swimming and marveling at the interesting variations of humanity waddling through the Hurst Wal-Mart Supercenter.

With little walking yesterday, by today, with my swimming pool not swimmable due to getting shocked, I was starting to get cranky, so I went to Oakland Lake Park to walk around the incredibly green Fosdic Lake.

I don't mean green in the use of the green word which means environmentally friendly. In this case green means the opposite of environmentally friendly.

Fosdic Lake is very polluted and has turned a very unnatural shade of green. The turtles don't seem to mind. But I saw no birds on Fosdic Lake today. A few were in the shade on shore.

In addition to Fosdic Lake's new neon green color it seems to have developed a bit of a fragrance. I would not say it smelled bad, I also would not say it smelled good. I would say it definitely smelled different.

I managed to overheat walking again today. All I had on were shorts and shoes. And I was drenched. I saw a guy jogging. He appeared to be in good shape. He was not drenched in sweat. And we were similarly attired.

As I sat on a picnic table, in the shade, trying to put a stop to all the water leaking from my pores, a lady walked by. Plus-sized. In sweatpants and what appeared to be a long sleeved sweatshirt, with another shirt underneath. Even though she did not appear to be a sweaty mess, I told her she was overdressed. She laughed and told me this was how she kept cool.

That is the view from the picnic table in the second picture. As you can see, Fosdic Lake has shrunk, with the creation of beaches, in addition to turning green. This is at the south end of the sad lake, looking west.

The cash strapped City of Fort Worth seems to have found some money to do some work at Oakland Lake Park. A cement stairway has been removed. With the chunks piled on what kids use as a soccer field. The removed cement stairway was a bit uneven, maybe someone tripped on it. The wood planks on the bridges across ditches have been replaced.

It's Thursday. I think my neighborhood library might be open today.