Up Late The Day After Christmas After A Night Of Elizabeth Taylor's Harping

You are looking out my frosty bedroom window, with me up after the sun, on this day after Christmas, last Sunday of 2010.

The current temperature out there, according to my computer AccuWeateher plug-in, is 23 degrees. That's Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

This explains why I had to find me an extra blanket in the middle of the night.

I had a night of tossing and turning.

I believe I was over-stimulated from watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

I think Elizabeth Taylor's Martha the Harpy was way too much like a good-looking version of a horrendously ugly Harpy, who I was harped at by in a similar manner, well over 2 years ago in that Pacific Northwest town well known for producing  Harpies and Serial Killers, Tacoma.

I just realized, typing that, that I have been Harpy-free for almost 2 and a half years.

Now that you are making me think about it, more accurately stated, I have not had direct, in person, Harpy interaction in almost 2 and a half years.

However, I have had some problems with the worst of the Tacoma Harpies, via the Internet, what that particular Harpy displaying her particularly disturbing mental problems and pathological lying, in astounding displays of demented hypocrisy and histrionic narcissistic neuroticness. That was actually slightly entertaining, because I was not having to deal with it in person.

Total change of subject, back to Christmas. So, yesterday morning I opened the package from my mom and dad. In it were a couple shirts, candy canes and a cargo shorts swimming suit.

The swimming suit was a medium. I don't think I've fit in something medium sized in decades. The shirts I could get on, but not freely move.

So, when I called my mom and dad yesterday, mom asked if the shirts and shorts fit.

Well, I'm thinking, oh oh, this is some sort of test, mom is seeing if I'll tell the truth about the small-sized shirts and shorts.

I told my mom that, well, uh, I've put on some weight since you last saw me.

My mom then asked how that happened, that I was so slender at that point in time. This was the first time I remember the word 'slender' being used to describe me.

I then said, well, I'm not so slender anymore.

My mom then told me that the shorts and shirt give me a reason to lose weight.

I told my mom that I'd already come to that conclusion.

I should take a picture of me in the mini-shorts and shirt.

We are back under a clear blue sky, this morning, in Texas, hence the need for sunglasses.

The shirt and shorts don't look as tightly fitting in the picture as they feel in person.

I have been told, more than once, that my clothes are mostly too baggy. Maybe snug-fitting is the way to go. Somehow, I doubt it.

Merry Christmas To My Mom & Dad From Village Creek Natural Historic Area

You're looking at the Village Creek Rapids, around noon, Christmas, in Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

Village Creek was running a little extra water due to Friday's rain, but not enough to cause the park to be closed

A surprisingly large number of people were taking a break from Christmas in the park today.

I called my Mom and Dad when I started walking, even though I had not gotten gas. My Mom answered with a "Merry Christmas." Mom was being quite cheerful. We talked for around a half hour.

Talking for a half hour, outdoors, with the wind chill factor making it feel like 25, eventually made my phone holding left hand very cold. So, I had to say goodbye to my Mom.

I had intended to call my Mom and Dad and then call Elsie Hotpepper. When I flipped the phone open to call  Mom and Dad I saw there was a voice mail from Elsie. Wishing me a Merry Christmas with a slight amount of Bah Humbug tossed in.

But, I did not call Elsie back due to the fact that I'd had my quota of phone talking in the cold for the day.

Merry Christmas From Texas

Looking out from the bars of my patio prison cell I can not quite tell for sure if the last Saturday of 2010, also known as Christmas is another cloudy Texas day, or not.

Cloudy or not, I'm sure I'll be having myself a very Merry Christmas, today.

My phone just made a noise and popped up with a text message.

I don't do that cell phone texting thing, as in I don't send text messages, but I have figured out how to read incoming ones.

This one was from the Queen of Wink. The message said "Merry Christmas."

Near as I can tell, despite Steve Doeung asking him to, Santa has not brought me a new bike. Perhaps Santa did not know where to put the new bike because I do not have a Christmas tree.

A year ago today I looked out my window to see a White Christmas. Right now, with the sun finally adding enough light, I can see that the only thing that appears semi-white is the sky with its covering of clouds.

I have no idea what lays ahead for me on this Christmas day, besides opening a box that arrived in the mail on Monday. And BBQing steak.

Merry Christmas to all and my one longtime blog reader.

On Christmas Eve I Finally Won Another Game Of Facebook Scrabble

It has been a long while since the Scrabble Queen of Washington let me win a game of Facebook Scrabble.

I think the Scrabble Queen knows how much my Scrabble ineptness depresses me and diminishes my easily diminished self esteem.

So, tonight, on Christmas Eve, the Scrabble Queen of Washington gave me my best Christmas present to yet be revealed this year.

She let me win again.

It is like a pre-Christmas miracle.

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.