Saturday Morning With A Pool Half Empty, A Divorce From Skinny, A Horror Story From Carlotta & A Weird Email From A Cousin With Deep Fried Turkey

Looking out from my patio prison cell bars you'd think the pool was back full of water, due to looking blue again. You would be wrong. It is only about a third full. It will likely take til late Sunday to get full.

I don't think we got any of the predicted rain and lightning, yesterday, in my zone of Texas. We did get a lot of wind. Which blew down a tree across John T. White Road, which made an interesting return, last night, as I was heading west, back to here.

This morning I was shocked to see a message from "Skinny" in which he or she says he or she is divorcing me, due to my inability to learn the proper nomenclature for critter and flora sightings on the Tandy Hills. "Skinny" suggests I focus some attention on the best part of Texas. That being the Trans Pecos area of West Texas.

But I have already been all over Big Bend Country, to places like Terlingua and Marfa and Fort Davis and Alpine and Wink. I just have not gone there (too much) on this blog.

I heard from Carlotta Camano this morning, telling me a teacher horror story. I used to think teachers were paid sufficiently, what with that long summer vacation they get every year. For some time now I have changed my mind and think teachers are underpaid.

I also heard from one of my cousins and his wife this morning, via email. I'd not heard from them in a long time. I don't know what to make of this bizarre email.

Subject: URGENT HELP NEEDED!!! Mike & Karen Jones

Am so sorry that I didn't inform you about our trip,I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,I came down here to Wales,United Kingdom for a short vacation unfortunately I Was mugged at the park of the hotel where We Logged all cash,credit card and cell were stolen Away From us but luckily for me i still have my Life And passports with me

I've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and my flight leaves in less than hours from now but having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the bills,I'm freaked out at the moment.

Thanks
Mike & Karen Jones

Are they trying to be funny? Is this some sort of Nigerian scam parody? I don't get it. This email was sent to multiple "undisclosed recipients."

Tonight I expect to be connected, via I-Phone Face Talk, or whatever it is called, to a virtual visit to the Trainwreck in Burlington, Washington. I await this virtual visit with eager anticipation.

Switching the subject to Thanksgiving. This is the time of year my Eyes on Texas website gets a lot of hits due to people looking for info about Deep Frying Turkey. A couple days ago a guy named Dave told me the method I described to measure the amount of oil needed was erroneous and could lead to a bad accident. Like a fire. I don't know where I got the original frying instructions. They seemed completely credible to me.

The sun has now totally lit up the place. But no swimming for me.

UPDATE: Above my memory failed me when I said we got none of yesterday's predicted rain and lightning yesterday in my zone of Texas. I forgot that around noon heavy rain thwarted my plan to go hiking on the Tandy Hills. I saw no lightning, though, and heard no thunder.

The Shadow Of The Thin Man Was Not On The Texas Tandy Hills Today

Clouds rendered no Shadow on the Tandy Hills, today, of this particular Thin Man. Meaning me.

The re-filling process of my pool has begun. It takes a long time. I hope a heavy downpour is incoming to help with the process.

The Thin Man movies, starring one of my all time favorite actresses, she being Myrna Loy, as Nora Charles and William Powell, as Nick Charles, may be my favorite movie series. Hollywood just does not make them like this anymore.

Nick and Nora's heavy drinking, just shortly after the ending of Prohibition, seems borderline scandalous, looking back at it, now, from our more Puritan times.

If you've not watched any of the Thin Man movies, you really should. But start with the early ones, not the ones towards the end of the series. The early ones are the classics.

The first Thin Man movie was, appropriately, titled The Thin Man. It came out in 1934. Followed by After the Thin Man in 1936. Then Another Thin Man in 1939. Shadow of the Thin Man in 1941. The Thin Man Goes Home in 1945. And the last of the series, Song of the Thin Man in 1947.

Below is a video compilation of Nick and Nora Charles and their boozy behavior in the Thin Man movies....

Getting Thousands Of Comments About Subjects Other Than Today's Texas Storm

My three in the afternoon, Stormbound view. The first rainstorm of the day dropped drips just as I was about to head to the Tandy Hills for my daily communing with nature.

Aborted by rain, the nature communing turned into getting my aerobic exercise by rapidly clacking the keys on my computer keyboard.

The rapid keyboard clacking has me thinking, the past couple days, that I may be developing carpal tunnel syndrome in my 'mouse' hand.  My left, non-mouse hand, does not exhibit the same level of ache as the right.

Yesterday, Elsie Hotpepper inadvertently caused me to discover that there is a record of all the comments I get to this blog, as in, all the comments are on a long, long list, that goes on for page after page. I only go to the comments area to the "Moderate the Comments" option. I'd never gone back and clicked on "Published Comments," til Elsie caused me to do so.

I was surprised to see there have been, as of 5 minutes ago, 4,126 comments to this blog. And that the current number of blog postings is 2,997. Which would seem to indicate that some time today, but certainly by tomorrow, I will do my 3,000th blogging on this blog.

Comments can come to any of the 2,997 bloggings. The more you blog, the more the bloggings are indexed by the search engines, the more comments you get. It is like some perverse pyramid scheme.

Had I to do it over again I would never have blogged about my search for the world's biggest seating part of the human anatomy. I don't know why, but my bloggings on that subject are Googled high, causing a lot of people to come to this blog, looking to find the world's biggest seating part of the human anatomy.

Strangely, a disproportionate number of those seeking the world's biggest of that item are from the Middle East. And they never leave comments.

I think the Number One comment generators have been the bloggings about Only Child Syndrome. At times this blog Googled #1 on that subject, making me, I guess, the World's Default Expert on Only Child Syndrome. I have gotten some fairly sad comments from victims of Only Child Syndrome. And inadvertently funny comments from Syndrome deniers. They are sort of like Holocaust deniers.

When I started doing this blogging thing I figured the novelty would wear off at some point in time. Then I monetized the blog, which caused it to have an added motivating incentive. Then the really appalling thing happened. I started making more blogs. I think the total is now 5, plus a Durango Vegas blog I've done nothing with.

To make 5, there is the blog you are currently looking at.

Then I added Durango TV. That one does well, visitor-wise. And other-wise.

I thought a blog about Roadtrips would do real well, so I made Durango Roadtripping. Those bloggings were fun to write, but that blog does not do well, visitor-wise. Ironically, I think Durango Roadtripping is the best of my blogs. After awhile I sort of ran out of first hand material for the Roadtripping blog.

Then it occurred to me that it would be fun to do a blog about a part of the country near and dear to me, about which I am very familiar, that being the Pacific Northwest. So, I made Durango Washington. That blog does better that than the Roadtripping one, visitor-wise.

Then a few weeks ago I blogged about the appalling procedure known as Lapband Surgery on the blog you are reading right now. This singular blogging caused a lot of interesting ads to appear and a big jump in the monetizing part of the deal.

So, I thought to myself, well, the Obesity Epidemic is a subject about which I would never run out of material. It is a subject I have opined on previously. So, I figured, it's easy to do, I'll make another blog. So, I made DurangObese. So far, it has not been up and running long enough to make a success or failure call. DurangObese is being interesting. Finding out stuff about which I was unaware. Like I've got a video and blogging ready to publish about the Obesity Epidemic in China. I had no idea.

I have found several amusing videos regarding the Obesity Epidemic. The funniest video is one of George Carlin ranting about Fat Americans. Click the link if you can handle some outrageously good humor with a lot of bleeping. Or select the "uncensored" option.

I had no idea til I saw this particular George Carlin video and read the Wikipedia article about him, that he got his comedic send-off from Fort Worth. That sort of seems impossible. Cutting edge humorist getting his start in Fort Worth? Seems counter-intuitive.

Below is a blurb from the Wikipedia article about George Carlin and his Fort Worth send off to California and fame and fortune...

In 1959, Carlin and Jack Burns began as a comedy team when both were working for radio station KXOL in Fort Worth, Texas. After successful performances at Fort Worth's beat coffeehouse, The Cellar, Burns and Carlin headed for California in February 1960 and stayed together for two years as a team before moving on to individual pursuits.

Friday Morning Thinking About Getting Fracked In Texas

You are looking out at the dreary November 12, Friday, view from my computer room window.

No rain fell in my zone yesterday, near as I can tell. I suspect today the rain prediction will prove accurate, though, just judging by how it looks out there, right now.

I do not believe enough rain will fall to fill my pool, which is currently empty.

Last night's episode, on CBS, of CSI, was titled "Fracked." Due to last night's murder being about two men who were offed before they could expose that a natural gas company was poisoning residents in a farm town.

I had intended to hit the record button on my DVR. I forgot. But, AT & T U-Verse has TV on Demand. But, in the past week there has been no updating of CBS shows. However, it is likely viewable on the CBS CSI website.

This is not the first time CSI has used something bad that has happened in Texas for a plotline. I remember when CSI used, as a plotline, that awful story of a woman, in my neighborhood, who ran into a guy and left him stuck in her windshield, in her garage, until he died. A movie was also made of this incident. I believe the name was "Stuck."

On Sunday CBS is doing a story on the Barnett Shale Texas drilling, with Lesley Stahl interviewing Christine and Tim Ruggiero about the unwanted drilling on their land, which resulted in ruining the Ruggiero's 10 acres, destroying their property value.

Below is a YouTube video in which Tim Ruggiero describes some of the misery to which he and his family have been subjected, thanks to the corrupt practices of the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drillers and their co-horts in corruption, the State of Texas and its corrupt state agencies which are supposed to look out for the public good, but, due to that corruption, I just mentioned, basically only look out for the welfare of the Natural Gas Drillers....

Fall Has Colorfully Fallen On The Tandy Hills

The leaves in the trees, in the Tandy Hills, have dramatically been going into full color mode the past few days.

Today, at noon, the hills were almost as colorful, and almost as nicely lit, as they were yesterday evening.

And at noon today the hills were quite a bit warmer than last night. As in, get too HOT and doff the t-shirt, level of quite a bit warmer.

So far, nothing has dripped from the Texas sky on top of me. And I have heard no booms of thunder.

It is just being extraordinarily pleasant. Whatever was in the air that was irritating my eyes is irritating them no more.

I do not recollect having my windows open, at this point of time, in the year, in Texas in years previous. But they are open now.

Town Talk has really fresh asparagus today. I got a lot of it. I foresee asparagus soup in my future.

In the meantime I'm going blogging. And then to do some investigating for Elsie Hotpepper.

Veterans Day In Major General Worth's Fort Waiting For Rain & Thinking About American Wars

As you can sort of see, looking out at my empty pool, we are under a cloud cover, this November 11 Veterans Day, in the Fort of Major General Worth.

Incoming rain expected. With Thunderstorm action tomorrow.

What is the total number of American veterans living today, I am wondering?

I'm guessing America has the world's highest per capita number of war veterans, due to the fact that America seems to get involved in more wars than any other country.

American kids, in the 10 year old age range, have never known an America that is not off in some foreign land, with soldiers dying. Those kids are growing up thinking war is some sort of perpetual reality.

That is sort of disturbing.

I wonder what percentage of the years, between 1776 and 2010, America has been at war? I could figure that out if I wanted to take the time to do so.

Some of the American wars have been of very short duration, like the Spanish-American War. American victory came in only 4 months. And out of that we ended up with Puerto Rico, among other lands, now returned to their natives, like the Philippines.

The Mexican-American War was also a short one, 1846 -1846. Out of that war America gained a lot of land from Mexico. Places like California, among others. President James K. Polk was determined to expand America all across the continent. Texas was annexed a day or two before Polk's inauguration. The Mexicans were not happy about that. The Mexican unhappiness set in motion events that would give Polk the excuse to make war on Mexico, with a full on invasion that made it all the way to Mexico City.

Polk considered taking all of Mexico for the United States, but settled for just taking California and most of what is now known as the American Southwest. Years later Adolf Hitler was to use America's aggressive expansionist technique, of the Polk era, as one of his excuses for his bad expansionist behaviors, like the takeover of Poland.

Had California not been taken from the Mexicans would there be no Hollywood? No Disneyland? I can't imagine a world without Hollywood and Disneyland.

Another of America's short wars was the War of 1812. This was to be the only American war, other than the War of Independence and the War on Terror, that saw America attacked on its homeland. In the War of 1812 the British invaded, eventually running President Madison and wife Dolley out of Washington, D.C., burning the White House, which was not white at the time. The White House become white during the refurbishment after the British burning, and then became known by the name we know it today.

The biggest victory, in the War of 1812, came after the war was over. Due to the slow communications of the day, Andrew Jackson and the British did not know the war was over when the Battle of New Orleans took place, with a future President Jackson led rout over the British.

American involvement in the worst war of all time was less than 4 years, that being World War II. In that war America used all its power to get the thing over with as quickly as possible, with a positive outcome.

In the American wars since WWII America has not used its power to the max to get the wars over quickly, with a positive outcome.

Well, that is enough American war talk for this 2010 Veterans Day.

The Extra Long Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man

The sun lights up the Tandy Hills in a much more attractive manner in the hour or two before it turns off for the night, than it does in the middle of the day, sun overhead, noon time frame.

As you can see, the Shadow of the Thin Man is way thinner than previous shadows. The the grass moves like waves of golden grain.

I was really feeling the effects, by mid-afternoon, of extreme endorphin withdrawal. It had me feeling like I was bloating up. Because, I think I was bloating up.

The pool caulkers showed up and started to work on the pool fix. I don't know what the re-fill time frame is. But I do know that the temperature has been sufficiently temperate the past couple days that swimming would have been pleasantly doable.

Right now, as I sit here typing as the sun slowly makes its final exit for the day, I am drinking Kava Tea, combined with some Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time Tea. The medicinal teas are having their desired relaxation effect.

And thanks to the vigorous late afternoon salubrious Tandy Hills hiking I no longer feel like a bloated bi-pedal whale. I really do not understand how sedentary people manage it.

The late in the afternoon, early in the evening, sunset view from near the top of Mount Tandy, looking west at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting. How do I know that? Because every day is, if you look hard enough.

Missing Caulkers With A Drought In My Pool With Salvation Army Bell Ringers & Christmas Trees At Wal-Mart

With the passing of today, November 10, a third of November will already be history.

I went to the Beach Street Wal-Mart Supercenter yesterday after inspecting the Tandy Hills and was appalled to be greeted, not by the elderly Wal-Mart greeter, but by a Salvation Army bell ringer.

And inside Wal-Mart there was a tall Christmas tree, already totally tarted up with balls, lights and glitter.

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell, this morning, you can see neither my pool or hot tub is being blue this morning. But I'm feeling blue, due to their being no water in either.

So, no swimming for me this morning. Which means I will be suffering endorphin and shock chill thrill withdrawal soon. I will not be able to fix that withdrawal problem til sometime in the late afternoon, due to needing to be in the north part of the D/FW Metroplex in the noon time frame.

Caulkers were supposed to show up yesterday, after pool drainage was complete, to do some caulking repairs. But, the repairers failed to appear. More urgent caulking must have been needed elsewhere.

Chicken and lasagna with tomato salad is on the lunch menu today. It will be late, a bit before 2. Show up on time or the lasagna will be all gone.

Fort Worth Monstrosity Monument Meeting Tomorrow

I took the picture of the view you see above, today from the I-30 overlook in the Tandy Hills Natural Area. That Fort Worth Monument you see in today's view was not there when I took the picture. I added it later.

Tomorrow there will be a public meeting about this particular proposed monument.

Before I type away further from the picture, I must point out that the actual monument would face the other direction, in this location. I could not get a picture looking west, to illustrate, more accurately, how badly this monument would deface the Tandy Hills. And Fort Worth. But this still gives you a fairly good idea of what this monstrosity would look like in this location.

As in horribly out of place.

Don Young sent out an email this morning about this monument monstrosity and tomorrow's meeting...

Part of what makes Tandy Hills Natural Area and Fort Worth special is the spectacular view along I-30 between Oakland Boulevard and Beach Street, just minutes from downtown. Few big cities have so much wide open, undeveloped green space so close-in.

The serenity of the Tandy Hills greenbelt corridor had been threatened by plans to install a large monument sign on the north side of I-30 where the small, sometimes decorated Mimosa tree now stands.  Fortunately, it appears the location of this sign has been changed, but that is not yet certain.

Either way, this sign project will affect all of Fort Worth wherever it is located along I-30, because it will be in a high-profile location and seen by all who enter the city by the interstate highway.

A rendition of the monument is shown below.  More about the project can be found here. 

An important meeting about the sign project is being hosted by Fort Worth Public Art this Wednesday, November 10, at 6:30 pm at the East Regional Library, 6301 Bridge Street.  For the meeting agenda go here.

Please come to this meeting to learn more about this project and give input on decisions that will have a major impact on the appearance and image of the Tandy Hills greenbelt and our city.

Don Young

On The Tandy Hills Finding Missing T-Shirts, Bike Pushers & Babies

Yesterday I lost a t-shirt on the Tandy Hills.

Today I found it.

Apparently I'd dropped the t-shirt just a short time before I realized it was missing.

The t-shirt was laying, like a ghost on the ground, about half way up the south trail that leads to the top of Mount Tandy. The t-shirt was none the worse for having spent the night braving the Tandy Hills elements.

I saw a couple strange things on the Tandy Hills today. Human things. I got pictures, but the pictures don't really illustrate what was strange.

As I walked on to the Tandy Hills via the View Street Main trail, about halfway to the overlook over I-30, I met a guy pushing a bike. A 10 speed bike, not a mountain bike. I have seen a guy on a mountain bike a time or two on the Tandy Hills.

I don't think you'd try to mountain bike the Tandy Hills more than once. The trails just are not conducive to that activity. That and bikes are banned in the park, along with horses, motorbikes and golf carts.

Why would anyone push his bike down that trail, I wondered? I assumed he was walking the bike due to the park's bike prohibition.

And then, as I was leaving the Tandy Hills I see the same guy pedaling towards me, this time riding the bike on the street. He was also holding a big bag. He got to the park entry just as I got to the exit. He hopped off his bike and once more walked it past the 'No Bikes" sign. The bag was from McDonald's. He was back in the park for lunch.

Prior to seeing the bike guy a second time I saw another guy. He was by where some blue flags were stuck in the ground. From the distance it looked like he was writing in a notebook. I assumed he must be a TWU student working on the study that involves the flags.

I continued on towards the guy, he started walking down the trail, where it comes to a steep downhill. What I was doing was heading down another trail so I could hike up that steep trail for my last steep trail climb of the day.

As I continued down the trail I saw the guy to my left, also heading down the hill. I get to the bottom, head back up the trail the guy was on, me assuming we would quickly cross paths.

I get to the top of the climb. No guy in sight. Where could he have gone. Off trail? Seems like I still should have been able to see him.

I continued on, taking a trail that angles back to the overlook over I-30. I get there and there's the guy. How did he get there? When I saw him walking he was not a fast walker. Kept stopping to look at stuff.

So, I'm looking at the guy, with me thinking he is working on his project, taking notes. He turns sideways and what is he holding? A notebook?

No. A baby!

Why would anyone hike in this location with a baby? And how did he get so far ahead of me on the trail? It spooked me.

And what does the fortuitous finding of my missing t-shirt mean? Is it an omen that my ominous string of bad things is over? Finding that t-shirt, today, really is the first good thing to happen to me in a long long time. What a miracle.