Up Early The 10th Day Of March Thinking About Wandalyn & The Garden Of Angels

We are already almost a third through the third month of 2011.

You can't quite tell it by looking out my viewing portal on the world, but this 10th day of March has dawned with another blue sky morning over North Texas.

It is only 40 degrees out there this morning. It barely got above 60 yesterday. Today I am taking a day off of my morning swim.

I slept well last night, nothing like the previous night's horrible insomnia.

I've been intending to mention, but keep forgetting, til now, I heard from Wandalyn again. This time with good news.

My one longtime reader may remember Wandalyn is the lady who's daughter had been murdered, with the murderer never caught. Wandalyn has had trouble getting any sort of closure on the tragedy that had left her so grief stricken. Wandalyn thought a cross at The Garden of Angels might help.

But, when Wandalyn met up with the guy who supposedly oversaw The Garden of Angels she was told a cross would cost a minimum of $150, with the guy trying to guilt Wandalyn into going for the deluxe $400 version.

The Garden of Angels website indicated a cross was $40 and gratis if one could not afford one.

Well, below is the message from Wandalyn with her good news about The Garden of Angels....

I received GOOD NEWS today from Amy's grandmother, Carolyn. After a board meeting this morning, they decided I would get a cross for my daughter for $40. It will be ready in about 2 weeks. I was so happy to hear this, after all I just went through. I told my story to a mother who has a cross at "our garden of angels". I had asked her if she was pleased with the gardens. She said she was. She gave me Carolyn's phone number. I called her and told her my story. She said she was so sorry that happened. She said I would get a cross for Tina and that she would present the cross story and the flag story to the board, when they met Saturday. Thank you for your interest. I read your blog. You presented my problem good. It's nice to know someone listens to an old lady nowadays. The flag was donated by "Joe" from Grand Prairie~the flag came from Illionis, though. I can't wait till I get Tina's cross out there. Maybe, since Spring is just around the corner, the Volunteers will began to appear and the Garden of Angels will once again look like your webpage. I surely hope so. I'm planning on being one of the Volunteers to appear at the next cleanup the last Saturday of the month.

Thank you again,
wandalyn

The Shadow Of The Tandy Thin Man Was Late To The Fort Worth Hills Today

As you can clearly see, by the long shadow, I am walking fast and carrying a big stick and wearing a shirt today for a windy short hike on the Tandy Hills.

I do not think I will be going swimming in the morning. It only got in the low 60s today. By morning the water in the pool will have likely cooled to a temperature that may be sufficiently low to induce an unwanted excessive shivering reaction.

I went to Town Talk after I was done Tandying. I have only one thing to say about Town Talk today. I wish people with hacking coughs would not go out in public. God knows what I was exposed to today in Town Talk.

I believe Gail Galtex and her husband are heading to Seattle today for the first time. Transplants to Fort Worth from Austin, the Galtex's are looking for a more cosmopolitan place to live. And are hoping Seattle may be the place.

I just checked the Seattle weather. Rain and temperatures in the 50s. I was afraid this would happen. March is not a good time to go to Seattle and hope the weather gods decide to remove the clouds and reveal the mountains.

Last week Western Washington had a clear day or two that the locals told me were gorgeous. I'm hoping the clouds part for the Galtex's and they get to see what Seattle and environs look like after a fresh scrubbing by Mother Nature, with the air sparkling clean and smelling of evergreens, with mountains and water in all directions. And, unlike here, in Texas, very little litter.

The Galtex's should find taking the light rail from Sea-Tac International to the downtown Seattle transit tunnel, to their hotel, to be a bit more convenient than the convoluted mass transit they had to use to lug their luggage from their downtown Fort Worth abode to the Fort Worth transit center to make their way to D/FW International..

At 63, currently, it is 10 degrees warmer than Seattle is right now. I have now shut my windows. I am not a big fan of getting chilly.

Muammar Gaddafi Doing It The Fort Worth Way Being An Example Of How To Deal With The MHMR-Gate Scandal

I tell you, Anonymous and the Paradise Center MHMR-Gate Scandal is one of those gifts that just keeps giving.

I got a couple comments from the ubiquitous Anonymous today in which I learned some things.

I learned MHMR CEO Jim McDermott is so rich and powerful he will survive the MHMR-Gate Scandal just like he has his previous scandals.

I learned that Jim McDermott is a survivor, just like Muammar Gaddafi, who will crush his opponents just as ruthlessly as the Libyan dictator.

I learned Teresa Davis is a whiney "boohoo."

I learned the reason MHMR has not addressed the concerns of the Paradise Center people is because they are little nobodies.

I learned if the Fort Worth Star-Telegram does not report a story, this means the story is not worth reporting.

The most interesting thing, to me, that I learned from Anonymous, is that this blog is a pathetic news source. I knew my blog was pathetic, but I had no idea it was a news source. I did know I was a damn Yankee and a nobody. Which Anonymous also pointed out quite poetically.

And now for your informative reading pleasure, the two comments I got from an Anonymous MHMR thug today.....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "County Commission Gal Explains Fort Worth's MHMR-G...":

Dr. McDermott has so many political connections and money at his disposal that this scandal will just fade away, like other ones during his twenty something years as the top dog.

Like the powerful Col.Kadafi in Libya, Jim McDermott will get his political allies to crush these loony birds and that hard headed woman many seem to see as a saintly figure. P-l-e-e-z. She can't hold a candle to the awesome women in charge now Lynn and Ellen.

You all go get a life. Or a job, like that whiney Teresa "bohoo" Davis.

BTW, it's not any kind of suppression of freedom by MHMR, it's just that they have more important things to do than answer questions from you little nobodies. 

Especially the damn yankee owner of this pathetic news source. If the Star-Telegram doesn't report it, it ain't worth the time. Period. 

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Paradise Center Scandal Has Me Mad As Hell At ..."

To answer your question, yep it's all over. Move along. There's nothing to see here. 

Just FYI to all the fools and this blog owner, you think a handful of crazies and an unemployed (probably unemployable now) woman can win against a PhD. and a $100M government McDermott agency? Really?

ATTENTION!!! Urgent Message About Texas SB 875 & Your Property Rights

From TX Sharon:
We need 10,000 people to take this action!  

This bill will effect the entire state of Texas! 

You need to understand that this bill means you will have NO RECOURSE against trespass onto your property of pollution--air, water, spills and underground trespass--from natural gas drilling, coal plants, mining, cement plants or any other industry.  NO RECOURSE, folks! 

Any industry that is operating under a permit gets a pass under this bill. 

Don't let Troy Fraser and his corporate cronies
trample your property rights!

Tell your TX state senator to block SB 875

State senator Troy Fraser, chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and renowned champion of corporate interests, recently introduced his latest bad idea,  SB 875.

TAKE ACTION Click here to tell the Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee to stop SB 875

In a nutshell: SB 875 allows Texas state permit holders to trample on your property rights

A permit -- for gas drilling, or anything else -- is supposed to make the permit-holder behave responsibly.

SB 875 turns that on its head – it makes a permit a “get out of jail free” card.

No matter what the gas driller (or other permit holder) does -- if they’re holding a government permit, they can’t be held accountable under Texas nuisance law.

If SB 875 becomes law, that is.

Pollution from industry can trespass onto your property all day and night, pollute it, make your family sick, kill your livestock,  and industry only has to say “I was just following my permit or rule.”

TAKE ACTION:
Tell the members of the Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee: protect our property rights, oppose SB 875!

Instructions:

1. Go to the action page.
2. Go to page bottom and enter your zip code so the system can find your Senator
3. Read the sample letter that appears and edit it if possible. Customized letters have greater impact.
4. Click "Send My Message" to fax your letter to our member of the Texas Natural Resources Committee.
5. For more information, go to the action page.
6. NOTE: only Texans who are represented by members of the committee can take action

Up Early After A Bad Bout Of Insomnia With Morning Aggravation With The Dallas Morning News

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at the second Wednesday of March it appears we have dawned with yet one more blue sky morning in North Texas.

It is 45 degrees out there this morning.

I had myself a bad insomnia outbreak last night. Endless bouts of short bursts of falling asleep and then waking up again, with constant tossing and turning.

I likely burned a lot of calories during last night's attempt to sleep. The problem was exacerbated, I think, due to it being a bit warm and muggy. Opening the window brought in a cold breeze, causing bouts of blankets off blankets on, til common sense kicked in clear enough to cause me to shut the window.

Just typing this blogging I can see this is going to be a rough day. Almost every other word I am either misspelling or typing some odd typo. I don't recollect ever giving the backspace key the level of workout it is getting right now.

I think I am going to have to bail on the Dallas Morning News online. You have to be an online subscriber to read the content. When I open the paper it says "Hi Durango" indicating I am logged in.

However, this morning when I clicked to read a story about the Dallas kayaking whitewater section of the Trinity River that is part of the Dallas Trinity River Vision, which sees a bit more clearer vision than the cross-eyed Fort Worth Trinity River Vision, I was told I needed to subscribe to read the content.

When I clicked on the register and subscribe button I was brought to a subscribe to the hard copy offer. Which I rejected when I clicked "No Thanks" and took off to read the Seattle P-I online.

For free. Except for annoying ads.

I guess I will try and go swimming now and hope that that perks up my tiredness and sloppy synapses.

The Shirtless Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man With Some Possible Good Paradise Center News

Yesterday I was under dressed and cold when I did me some hill hiking in the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

Today, at noon, the temperature was in the mid 70s and, as you can clearly see, today it was the Shirtless Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man that went hiking.

It is now around 3 in the afternoon and 83. I think I'll open a window.

Thunderstorms were predicted to be arriving at this point in time. Currently I don't see that happening.

I stayed as long in the pool, this morning, as I did yesterday. But today this did not lead to a bad case of out of control shivering.

I've been told that the owners of the Rainbow Lounge have offered space to the good people at the Paradise Center, so they can re-open in a new location, after Tarrant County, in the form of something called MHMR, kicked them out of their home a couple weeks ago.

The Rainbow Lounge has also been the victim of Fort Worth government hooliganism in the form of a brutal Gestapo-like raid that left many injured and one or two hospitalized.

I don't know if anyone responsible for that bizarre raid on the Rainbow Lounge was ever brought to justice and punished. I also don't know if anyone responsible for that bizarre raid on the Paradise Center will ever be brought to justice and punished.

In America justice would be the eventual outcome. But, unfortunately, America is not where the Rainbow Lounge and Paradise Center are located.

The 2nd Tuesday Of March Has Dawned In Texas Heated To 58 Degrees

We are looking out my viewing portal on the world on the 2nd Tuesday of March at air currently heated to 58 degrees.

That balmy temperature likely means I will be able to go swimming this morning without a repeat of yesterday's out of control shivering incident.

Rain and possible Thunderstorms are on the agenda for my location today. It has been awhile since we've had a good Thunderstorm in these parts. We are due.

Particularly with Spring ready to be sprung on us in about 12 days. Spring is tornado season in North Texas. Along with wildflower season.

In 5 days we roll forward time an hour with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time on the 13th.

It is now time for my scheduled morning swim. I am all about keeping to a very strict schedule.

Shivering On The Tandy Hills While The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Talks To Don Young About Barnett Shale Gas Drillers & The Tandy Hills

In the picture we are standing on top of Mount Tandy in the Tandy Hills Natural Area looking west at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.

It was in the 50s and windy. I was under dressed. I should have been in long pants with a long sleeved shirt. But I was not.

This was my second bout of being cold today. This morning it was 47 when I went in the pool. The water was quite a bit warmer than the air. So, I ended up staying a long time in the pool.

Too long.

After I got out of the hot shower I had myself about an hour of extreme shivering before that sensation went away. It sort of feels good.

Speaking of the Tandy Hills. I got back from there to learn, via email, that the Tandy Hills was being discussed in today's issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a 2 part article with the first part titled "Deep in the Heart of the Gas Drilling Controversy."

Part 2 of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article is titled "Natural gas fields have provided a fount of cash for Texas cities"

Part 2 focuses on what drilling in the Barnett Shale has done for and to North Texas. Fort Worth's #1 Watchdog, Don Young, provided input as to the bad stuff done by the drillers. That is Don Young in the photo, standing on the Tandy Hills, in a photo taken by Michael Henninger of the Post-Gazette.

The First Monday Of March Dawns Late Because Of Jennifer Anniston

As you can sort of tell by looking out my viewing portal on the world, I am up well after the sun on the first Monday of March of 2011.

I had myself a night of restful dreams, that seemed to play out in real time.

Suffice to say this morning I know Jennifer Anniston way better than I did before last night.

It is 15 degrees above freezing this morning. A refreshing increase in warmth from yesterday morning's sub-freezing temperature that had me being wary of going swimming.

A wariness I was able to get past.

I don't know for certain what I am going to be doing this first Monday of March. The only thing I know for almost certain is I will be doing some hill hiking today.

In the meantime I am going swimming.

Calling Honey Lulu While Walking With Cbonesmom In Veterans Park & Hearing Lame Excuses From Elsie Hotpepper

Today I wanted to go to ALDI in Pantego. Veterans Park in Arlington is in the neighborhood, so I went there for a virtual walk with my sister, Cbonesmom, in Arizona.

By virtual walk, I mean I called and we talked while I walked.

I had a few questions to ask regarding my plans to go to Phoenix in April.

Cbonesmom is going to Tacoma for a few weeks in April to see my new nephews and niece, David Jay, Theodore Ryan and Ruby Jean. She said she can change her flight north so she can be in Arizona when I'm there. I'll just push off going to AZ so my sister doesn't have to change her plans.

Cbonesmom is my sister's email nickname. She is CJ and JR's mom. I've no idea what Cbones means. I don't think I've ever asked.

Before calling Cbonesmom I called Honey Lulu. Honey Lulu called me at midnight last night. I did not know this until I flipped my phone open this morning. I called Honey Lulu 12 hours after she called me. I got voice mail. Until a few months ago Honey Lulu lived on Oahu, where she regularly appeared on a TV show called LOST. Honey Lulu is now back on the mainland, having trouble adjusting to the cold Washington winter weather.

This morning Elsie Hotpepper called. Her excuse for not showing up at last night's TRIP event was that she forgot. And her phone was supposedly dead, which is why she was not reachable by phone. Elsie Hotpepper is so unimaginative with her excuses.

I need to call Elsie Hotpepper to tell her we are going to Finn MacCools next weekend to meet some Special Powers. Finn MacCools is a pub. I think they may serve alcoholic beverages there.

Driving around today it sure does not appear that people are cutting back on their driving due to the big jump in the price of gas. There were a lot of people having fun at Veterans Park. ALDI was real busy. Yesterday Town Talk was the busiest I've ever seen it. For the first time ever I had trouble finding a parking space.

I rarely get headaches. I have a slight one right now. I think it may be from spending too much time on the phone today. I don't like spending too much time on the phone.

I forgot to mention, though earlier today I said I would not be going swimming due to the temperature being below freezing, I later re-thought that and realized the water would be significantly warmer than the air. So, I managed about 15 minutes of swimming in water noticeably colder than it was yesterday.

And then I got in the hot tub.