Repairing Sidewalks At Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park While Fosdic Lake Flows Green

You are looking at the paved trail that surrounds Fosdic Lake in Oakland Lake Park. Of late the City of Fort Worth has been doing a lot of work in Oakland Lake Park.

Some of what has been done makes some sense to me. Like replacing the tired wood planks on the bridges.

A few weeks ago a cement series of steps was replaced. That is still not quite finished and I still don't quite understand why this needed to be replaced.

And now today to find chunks of the paved trails have been replaced, or in the process of being replaced. I've never noticed any serious problem with the Fosdic Lake Paved Trail.

Except for one location, an area with poor drainage. When it rains, like today, mud gets on this section of the paved trail. It can be a pain to get around the muddy mess for days after the rain stops.

That is the muddy section of the Fosdic Lake paved trail below. As you can see, nothing has been done to help stop the flooding. So far.


I think I wondered previously, when I saw earlier work being done on the park, if this was federal stimulus money being spent.

Why does Fort Worth have money to make questionable sidewalk repairs, at the same time library hours must be cut, or libraries closed, due to lack of funds?

Why not build some new sidewalks, rather than do dubious repairs to existing sidewalks?

Like on Bridge Street. There are no sidewalks taking walkers to the East Regional Library. Or to the nearby Krogers. I have often seen people ambling along the well worn dirt path, carrying a load of groceries.


If federal stimulus money must be spent, I wish it'd get spent on something like fixing the color of Fosdic Lake. I don't know how that could be done. Maybe dozens of aerator fountains in the lake.

I have made note, previously, of the anti-freeze green color that Fosdic Lake is currently sporting. Today, due to the rain, Fosdic Falls was falling.

It is hard to get a good picture of Fosdic Falls, but you can clearly see the green water. It looks weirder in person.

After the water of Fosdic Lake falls over Fosdic Falls, it makes a very short journey to the Trinity River, maybe a half mile distant.

Recently a local cult leader led a group of his brainwashed followers on a group float down the Trinity River. The floaters did not float as far as where the water from Fosdic Lake tries to dye the river green.

Looking At Hurricane Hermine Hanging Over Fort Worth & Thinking About Braunschweiger

In the picture I am on top of Mount Tandy, in the Tandy Hills Natural Area, looking west at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, with remnants of Hurricane Hermine hanging overhead.

I was on my way to Oakland Lake Park to dodge drops of rain while I walked around Fosdic Lake, when the view of the sky over downtown Fort Worth, as I drove west on I-30, made me think a detour to the top of Mount Tandy might make for an interesting photo.

I got a bit wet getting to a good photo spot. There are these tall weeds, many of them over 6 feet tall, currently sprouted in various locations on the Tandy Hills. These particular weeds are skinny with branches sticking out from the main stem. Due to being tall and skinny, like me, these weeds get whipped easily by the wind. Today, making my way past the tall, skinny weeds, the weeds got me all wet.

I dried out during my walk around Oakland Lake Park. More about that later. Not the drying out part, the Oakland Lake Park part of that sentence is what there will be more about later.

After I walked around Fosdic Lake I went to Town Talk. I got a great big round thing called Braunschweiger, among other stuff. I don't know what Braunschweiger is, for sure, other than being some sort of German meat product.

The rain I mentioned earlier today, courtesy of Hurricane Hermine, went into downpour mode when I was in the pool. Swimming in a downpour is not as much fun as you might think it would be. I usually do not get wet above the neck when I go swimming. This morning I was totally wet above the neck and none of it was water from the pool.

Well, it is time for lunch. I think I'll try and figure out what one does with Braunschweiger.

Incoming Hurricane Hermine Brings Rain While Fried Frito Pie Wins Big Tex Choice Award As Best Taste At The State Fair of Texas

I stepped outside to take a picture on this, the first Tuesday of September, and was surprised to find myself being hit by falling blobs of water.

Hurricane Hermine crossed into Texas yesterday. We are under a Flash Flood Alert through Thursday due to the expected big dose of rain from Hermine. But, I did not expect it to arrive already.

Maybe this morning's drops are not courtesy of Hermine, but a Hermine pre-cursor.

Meanwhile, over in Dallas, at the State Fair of Texas Fair Park Fairgrounds the Big Tex Choice Award winners were announced yesterday.

Texas Fried Frito Pie won the coveted top award of Best Taste. While Fried Beer was picked as Most Creative.

Miss Puerto Rico's Nephew Oscar Meets With President Obama

Last night over at Miss Puerto Rico's the big news was about President Obama.

Last week the President had been in El Paso. He visited the troops at Fort Bliss.

Miss Puerto Rico's brother, Tito, is in the army. He served 2 tours in Iraq. Tito is currently stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Tito is married to Sonia. Sonia was a beauty queen in Puerto Rico. If I remember right, she was runner up in the Miss Puerto Rico contest. I have met Sonia. She is definitely beauty queen material.

Sonia and Tito have 3 kids, Jose, Fernando and Oscar. I have met the kids. Oscar is the youngest and a real smart little guy.

When President Obama came to El Paso, 2 El Paso school kids were selected to meet the President. Oscar was one of the 2 kids.

The meeting took place on the Fort Bliss base. Tito was able to attend. Sonia was not allowed. So, Tito used his smart phone to stream video of their son meeting the President of the United States, to Sonia, then Sonia sent text message updates to Miss Puerto Rico.

I do not know what President Obama and Oscar talked about. I think Oscar would make a good advisor to President Obama. I think the President could use some good advice.

Visiting Big Bend National Park and Terlingua While Getting Hot Hiking & BBQing Labor Day Hot Dogs

After swimming in the almost cool pool this morning I took a virtual trip to Big Bend National Park and Terlingua.

In 2 months, in November, the International Chili Championship takes place in the former ghost town of Terlingua. Terlingua is the Chili Capital of the World, ordained as such by those who ordain such things.

By the time I was done with Big Bend and Terlingua it was time to get out of here and do some laboring on Labor Day.

I decided to labor up and down the Tandy Hills. The air was heated only to the mid-80s. A good wind was blowing. But, somehow I managed to experience the hills like it was 110.

In other words, hiking on Labor Day turned me into a sweaty, wet mess.

I was dried up by the time I got back here to barbecue my Labor Day hot dogs, well, more precisely, Labor Day Polish Kielbasa.

Up Late On A Happy Labor Day In Texas

The Texas sun woke up before me this first Sunday of September.

Labor Day.

The birds are silent this morning. Labor Day must be a holiday for them too.

I was having myself too much fun over at Miss Puerto Rico's last night. This likely was the cause of the rare anomaly of my rise after the sun.

I will need to be wearing my sunglasses when I go swimming in a few minutes.

I have no idea what labors lay ahead of me on Labor Day. Besides laboring in the pool.

Gagging Behind A Really Bad Fort Worth Polluter

I was appalled on my way to Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market to see aluminum cans flying out of the bed of a pickup as it pulled on to the 820 freeway. Freshly appalled, was I, at this very common Texas trash disposal method.

And then, minutes ago, as I pulled back on to the freeway, after I'd finished with Wal-Mart, I was appalled to see a pickup spewing the worst exhaust pollution I'd ever seen.

I thought I did not have time to get a picture before I exited the freeway at the John T. White exit. So I did not reach for my camera.

I quickly changed that plan when I saw the spewing pickup get off the freeway at my exit. I started snapping pictures. And then I was right behind the pickup at the redlight.

I was already gagging from the fumes when I was still on the freeway. Being behind the guy was unbearable. I pitied the vehicle occupants to his right.

The driver saw me taking pictures and seemed to get agitated. Then the light turned green and the plume of gray continued on its way. How has this guy not been stopped? I'm almost 100% he does not have a valid inspection sticker.

Putting out that much pollution, with others having no choice but to breathe it, really needs to be a serious crime with a serious penalty. I can still smell the fumes.

I've had me a day. So, I'm heading over to Miss Puerto Rico's for some diverting entertainment. Hopefully smoke-free.

Having Fun Getting Overstimulated On The River Legacy Park Mountain Bike Trail

I have now had my first mountain bike ride in over a year. I went to River Legacy Park today around noon. The mountain bike trail has become very popular. The parking lot was almost full. A lot of bikers were hanging out in groups. It was being like the parking lot at the Slick Rock Trailhead in Moab.

The previous time I went a long time without mountain biking was due to the trails being badly damaged by storms. The River Legacy trails were flooded, that time, with a lot of wind damage.

If I remember right the flood/wind damage kept me off the River Legacy trails for a long time, maybe 6 months. I remember when I first pedaled there again I had trouble with the first drop, wobbled and had to jump off the bike. It was only on my second time around, that time, that I got my mountain bike legs back.

Well, today it was like I'd not been off my bike for a year. I sailed down the first drop and zipped up the other side. Same with the next drop. I was being sort of amazed at how much obviously stronger I am being. I had no idea.

Mountain biking was being way funner than I remembered. It is way more intense than pedaling on a smooth paved trail. On a mountain bike trail, particularly one like River Legacy, you have to be constantly alert, lest you run into a tree or miss a curve. It's very stimulating.

I'm thinking testing out my new power legs on the Cedar Hills State Park Dorba Trails would be interesting. I used to go there all the time. But, nowadays it seems foolish to drive 50 miles, round trip, to ride a bike.

I went 11.934 miles today, in an hour and 12 minutes, plus some seconds, the number of which I have forgotten.

When I pedaled the River Legacy Park paved trail a couple days ago, a few miles in, I discovered my mesh shorts had developed a malfunction. Today a few miles in I made the same discovery about another pair of biking shorts. I bought a new pair at Wal-Mart on my way back here. We'll see how long they last without an unfortunate splitting.

Chilly Early Sunday Morning In Texas Getting De-Flocked & Chrome

A few minutes ago a bird gave a false alarm tweet announcing the arrival of the sun on the first Sunday of September. But, I think we are about a half hour away from that glowing orb doing its daily duty of lighting up the place.

And heating up the place. It is 67.7 out there right now. I had to shut the windows and turn off the ceiling fan last night, due to shivering.

I had myself some major nightmare related tossing and turning last night. So much tossing and turning that I've got myself some major muscle soreness going on this morning.

I am hoping the major muscle soreness is alleviated by a salubrious swim this morning. If the major muscle soreness is not alleviated by swimming I don't see a bike or hike expedition in my future for the day.

On a totally unrelated note, I have switched to using the Google Chrome browser. It seems to work way better than the Flock browser I had been using.

Cold Front Drops Texas Temperature With Snow On The Prairie

You are looking at Snow On The Prairie in the picture. That is the name of the white flower.

Today so many of the white flowers were blooming on the Tandy Hills that it was real easy to see how it got its name.

A cold front arrived overnight, dropping the temperature to 60 this morning, with the pool not much warmer than that. Which had me wondering how it is I managed to get in that water in the middle of winter?

In just a couple months we will be at the time of the year when there can be real snow on the prairie. Last winter at one point there was almost a foot of real snow on the prairie.

This morning I took a virtual trip down to Alpine. Alpine is out in far West Texas, near Big Bend National Park. Alpine is a popular tourist town. The original Reata Restaurant is there.

When I was a kid my brother and I were avid agate hunters. That seems like a long time ago. I wonder if my brother remembers being an avid agate hunter? I think my brother and I would have really liked visiting Woodward Ranch, by Alpine. This ranch is famed for its agates and other gemstones.

I don't think I've spoken to my brother since April of 2006, at my nephew's wedding reception. He was way over weight at that point in time. Since then he has moved to Maricopa, south of Phoenix, and has lost the weight, according to reliable sources.

Phoenix is in the Valley of the Sun. I do not know if Maricopa is in the Valley of the Sun. I do know that that yellow flower in the picture is a Sunflower, or at least a good imitator of a Sunflower. This particular Sunflower was blooming solo today, surrounded by Snow On The Prairie.