A Carter Avenue Holiday Card

That is Elizabeth Doeung and her dad, Steve, on Christmas Eve a year ago, surrounded by flags and snow on Fort Worth's infamous Carter Avenue.

Steve, with some help from Elizabeth, this morning, sent me the nicest Christmas card I've gotten this year.

So, I thought I'd share Steve's E-card, (for those reading this who are not so lucky as to be living in The Shale, the CHK to which Steve refers is Chesapeake Energy. TxDOT is Texas Department of Transportation)......

Dear Band of Bloggers,

You already know how I feel about you and what you mean to me.  So you are the first to receive this clumsy attempt at an e-card (with some help from little Elizabeth, of course). Love you all for who you are, what you stand for, and what you do--that reflect the essence of this season and the best of what those flags represent.

It looks like CHK started to dig trenches for the 8-inch diameter gathering line along TxDOT's right-of-way last week. Apparently, TxDOT has determined that 8 inches of high pressure is the maximum risk they will allow in their wide easement along the freeway. However, my mayor and city government obviously saw no problem with one or more pipelines 2X the size and pressure (thus threat, danger, and damages) under front yards along a residential street. All that aside, this is better for them than the previous two years of very bad PR and no pipeline/million$ in profit.

I asked Santa to bring Durango a new bike, Elsie something to occupy her spare time, and Joely a less stressful new year...and a nice hunk :>) I have a gift for each of you but am waiting for the right opportunity to give it. I hope to do it before we move, not immediate but hopefully soon/when feasible.

Merry Christmas and holidays wishes to all our friends and neighbors--both near and far--from the exhausted but thankful survivors of the Barnett Shale "Alamo". 

Thank you for helping us be the "miraculous" Victors after a two year long (and costly) battle. May the new year bring you health and happiness

May there be more Victors and less victims of the Exploiters of the Shale.

Your co-resister of Tyranny,

Y. Steve Doeung and family

Having Myself A Very Merry Wet Slippery Christmas Eve In Texas

Rain began dropping around 11 this morning. Around noon I took off, out of here, heading to ALDI in Pantego.

A year ago, today, we were being pelted with frozen rain in the form of snowflakes, which piled up quickly.

I was reminded of what Christmas Eve was like last year when I opened a Christmas card from Steve Doeung and daughter Elizabeth, and saw both of them surrounded by a Winter Wonderland. With flags.

The view in the picture is heading south on Dottie Lynn Parkway in Arlington, about to take a left on to Division Street.

You might be thinking what sort of fool drives along in treacherous conditions taking pictures. Well, a short time after this picture was taken I was thinking the same thing.

Because, when I turned from Dottie Lynn Parkway on to Division my vehicle suddenly spun out of control. It just sort of slid sideways, rather than making the turn.

No. There was no ice on the road. It is not cold enough for ice to be on the road.

It has not rained in a long time. This can cause oily greasy spots that become like ice when covered with a lot of water. Like today.

When I was in ALDI the lady behind me in line was going on about how slippery it was. We then commiserated about our driving misery.

So far I have not seen nor heard any of the predicted Thunderstorm action. Maybe that is scheduled for later in the day.

I won't be going out in it again this Christmas Eve, unless someone somehow strongly motivates me to do so.

Up With The Sun On the Morning Of Christmas Eve In Texas

Looking out my bedroom window this morning you can see I got up about the same time the sun did, on this Christmas Eve morning, the next to last Friday of 2010.

I thought we were scheduled to get some Thunderstorm action last night. I heard nothing.

Looking at the ground outside it does appear some moisture may have fallen, but not enough to do any puddling. At least from my current view.

I do not know what lays ahead for me on this Christmas Eve day.

I think what I am going to do today is try and find the flow. And then go with it. I do know for sure that going with the flow will not lead me to an unheated swimming pool.

Cold Clucking With The Ducks At Fosdic Lake On Christmas Eve Eve

You can sort of tell from the picture that it is a cold, dreary winter day in the Fort known as Worth, this Christmas Eve Eve.

Birds of different feathers were flocked together in the cold water of Fosdic Lake, today, in Oakland Lake Park.

That group on the right managed to draw all the birds on the lake towards them, due to the tossing of bird food into the lake.

I assume this made for some very happy ducks with full gut ducks, because this group had several large bags of bird food.

The Fosdic Lake birds must be fed manually, due to signs around the lake warning that it is not safe to eat anything that grows in the lake.

I managed to be underdressed today. It was 46. But felt colder. I was minus my wool cap, had no gloves and only one shirt layer under my windbreaker. I can step outside and think I've got enough clothes on. Then get to my destination to quickly realize I was erroneous.

I must remember to stock extra clothes. And gloves. In my vehicle. I'm not much of a Boy Scout. Being prepared is not one of my traits.

I Am All Done With My Christmas Shopping On The Eve Of Christmas Eve

I am up before the sun on the morning of Christmas Eve Eve, this next to last Thursday of 2010.

I've been long done with all my Christmas shopping, due to doing no Christmas shopping. I don't know why more people don't adopt my holiday traditions.

Yesterday I blogged about my opinion that Santa Claus sets a very bad example for kids by being over weight and in dire need of going on a diet. There are way too many cookies consumed this time of year.

Just yesterday I went to my mailbox to discover two big boxes. One of the boxes was filled with Christmas Cookies, sent all the way from Seattle. I don't eat such things. Now, if it were a cheesecake in the box, there would have been a different outcome. Or if one of the cookie types were white chocolate macadamia nut.

I learned from the Scrabble Queen of Washington that North Texas is currently scheduled for some heavy duty storming on Christmas Eve. I did not know this, so I checked the weather forecast to learn that Thunderstorms are on the menu for tomorrow.

If I remember right, last year on Christmas Eve the snowstorm had already started that piled up a lot of inches by Christmas.

I don't know what I am up to today, except for being fairly certain that I am going to be shoving a big turkey in the oven. And likely going on a hike somewhere.

Millions Of Americans Are Good Without God While Wondering What If There Is A God?

I was surprised on the way to Wal-Mart tonight, waiting at a light, and seeing one of the Fort Worth T buses drive by with one of the controversial "MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE GOOD WITHOUT GOD" ads on its side. I thought the ads had been removed due to the silly protests of those types who go into protest mode over such silly things.

But then, when the light changed, and I pulled up behind the bus, I was surprised to see another ad on the back of the bus, with this ad asking, "WHAT IF THERE IS A GOD?"

So much for banning the religious message ads from Fort Worth buses.

The quality of the photos is a bit lacking, due to there being a lot of traffic causing me to hurry. The first attempt at a picture of the back of the bus had the flash going off. The above is the second attempt. Then I drove past the bus to take the "MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE GOOD WITHOUT GOD" picture, but I only had one chance, so I didn't get the zoom pulled back.

I digress in explaining the bad quality of the photos.

Are we having some sort of BUS AD WAR here in Fort Worth? I really don't get why the message that millions of Americans are good without God should get anyone upset.

Because it is true.

There are millions of Americans. And millions of people around the world who know how to be good without being told what to do by anyone. Who just live their lives naturally doing what Jesus would do, without having to ask what would Jesus do.

In other words, people who are good without God.

I'm sure, if there is a God, He really appreciates the humans who are good without having to follow a set of rules supposedly laid down by Him. As interpreted by Man.

Or maybe the God referred to in the Good Without God ad is the Muslim God, Allah. I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that Millions of Americans are Good Without Allah.

Methinks some of the more extreme religious sorts, locally, should familiarize themselves with the American concepts of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. One is free to think and say whatever one wants to in this country, within reason, and worship or not worship any religion of their choice.

This is sort of fundamental to the concept known as being American. Sadly, I am afraid that chapter in what it means to be American is not taught. Or learned. In way too many Texas schools.

And churches.

Pine Coning, Horse Riding, Mountain Biking & Hiking By Lake Grapevine From Bob Jones Park in Southlake

Above you are looking at a lone pine tree, loaded with big pine cones, sitting on a bluff above Lake Grapevine, in Southlake, with the tree shadowing Army Corps of Engineer's trails that you access from Bob Jones Park.

The Army Corps of Engineer's trails that you access from Bob Jones Park are the site of my second worst (and funnest) case of getting lost in Texas, with the best (and not fun) case of getting lost happening on Christmas day of 2002 at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Yesterday it was in the 80s when I went hiking the Tandy Hills, thus requiring no additional warmth producing clothing beyond the minimum needed. Less than 24 hours later I needed two layers of long sleeved shirts, a windbreaker with a hoodie and a wool cap. And long pants.

Pine trees grow in Texas, naturally, mainly in the Piney Woods Region of East Texas. This solo pine tree seems a bit out of place, all alone with no relatives. I don't recollect ever seeing a pine tree so overloaded with pine cones.

If I had something along with me to carry them I would have picked some pine cones. They smell good. Sort of like getting the aromatic benefit of a Christmas tree without all those nasty needles drying out and falling to the floor.

Above you are looking at an inlet on the vast inland sea known as Lake Grapevine. I don't remember if I have been on these trails in winter before. I do remember I have never been on these trails when it is cold. My first experience on these trails occurred approximately a decade ago, in summer. It was a combo mountain bike/horse ride exploration.

I suppose you are thinking that is me, back in the saddle, using 4 horseshoed hooves to explore the Lake Grapevine trails.

You would be wrong.

The kid on the horse stopped to tell me of late he'd been seeing a lot of people on the trails. He wondered where I was from and how I knew about this place. This was an interesting question for him to ask, due to the fact that I'd come upon 4 separate groups of humans hiking today. And was wondering the same thing. I don't recollect ever seeing any humans, besides the ones I was with, in this location, previously.

Tomorrow is going to be cold, too. No pool for me. That is for sure.

The Cold Morning Moon Shadow Of The Thin Man

That is the Moon Shadow of the Thin Man early this second day of winter and next to last Wednesday of 2010.

It is colder than I expected this morning. 42 degrees. I was hoping it'd be in the 50s. This 42 degrees makes my plan to go swimming this morning not quite so certain.

I think I am going up to Southlake today. But, that plan could easily change.

The sun is beginning to provide light in addition to the full moon light. So, I guess I am going to try and go swimming now.

Record Breaking High Temperatures In North Texas On The First Day Of Winter

Yesterday I was on  the Tandy Hills in shorts and a short sleeved t-shirt.

Today, on the first day of winter, I was back on the Tandy Hills, without a t-shirt.

The first day of winter in North Texas will likely be setting a temperature record. Currently, at right before 3pm it is 84 degrees.

I have my windows open. I may need to close the windows and turn on the A/C.

I know I have never had my windows open before in winter in Texas. Or run the A/C.

It is nice to finally get to experience some of that Global Warming you hear so much about.

I went off trail again today on the hills. Exploring the west side of the trail that leads in from View Street. I thoroughly explored a large area and found no wrecked van or dead witchey tree.

My attempt to go swimming this morning did not go well. Previously I believed whenever the 24 hour average was over 50, the water was warm enough. Yesterday it got to the low 80s, with the low in the 50s. But that pool was way too cool this morning.

I will try the pool again tomorrow morning. It will definitely be warmer than it was this morning. But, will it have warmed enough that I can have myself a fun swim? We'll see.

The Moon Has Recovered From Being Eclipsed On The First Day Of Winter

By the time I saw it this morning the bright glowing object in the sky had totally recovered from earlier this morning when it was totally eclipsed by the sun.

I forgot about the early morning total eclipse of the moon, so I missed it.

At some point in time today Earth's axis will be at its maximum tilt in relation to the sun. Thus heralding the start of winter.

Winter is getting off to a warm start in my zone of Texas. Just 4 degrees shy of 60 this morning.

So, I am going to make a swimming attempt this morning.