America Has Become A Place Where You Can't Stand On Your Property Or Keep A Basketball Hoop

Just got an incoming email from Elsie Hotpepper. All Elsie wrote was "This makes me so mad."

With a link to a YouTube video.

I watched the video. And it made me mad, too.

Sometimes I think something has gone dire wrong in the Fort Worth/Tarrant County zone I live in, what with all the corruption, eminent domain abuse and what with the people acting like sheep.

For the most part.

And then there's the Paradise Center Scandal. Maybe it is a bit complicated to understand what is so scandalous about all the factors involved, but when you do come to understand the scandal, well, it makes you mad.

Mad that the Paradise Center Scandal happened, mad that the powers that be have done nothing about the Paradise Center Scandal and mad that the lame local media have not reported on the Paradise Center Scandal.

I have never understood why more people were not outraged by the abuse of eminent domain that was used to displace 1000s of people so that Jerry Jones could have a new football stadium.

And then there is this YouTube video that Elsie Hotpepper sent me. This video makes me think that what has gone dire wrong in America is not limited to Fort Worth and Tarrant County. I assume the incident depicted in the video took place in Delaware due to the video coming from something called Delaware Online.

Delaware is one of the progressive states, isn't it? How does stuff like this happen? How is this not a crime perpetrated by those who are supposed fight crime? Not commit crimes?

A Blue Monday In Texas Drying Out From An Early Morning Thunderstorm

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell on this second Monday, 11th day of April you can see the clouds have been removed from the sky and it is yet one more blue morning in Texas.

Sunday's predicted Thunderstorm eventually arrived. In the wee hours of Monday. I heard a thunderclap or two. Rain has dampened the ground.

I don't know if the Tandy Hills will be hikeable today.

I read a touching poetic letter to the editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this morning...

Our Texas?

Texas, our Texas, Where: Ignorance is respected, education neglected and the uninformed elected, leaving children unprotected.

-- Betty W. Fay, Fort Worth

I heard from the Queen of Wink last night. Currently Wink has been spared from the wildfires scorching West Texas.

I think I'll go swimming now and listen to the tweeting of the birds.

Hot Rock Lukewarm's Photo Of Smoky Midland Texas Surrounded By Wildfires

Incoming photo from Hot Rock Lukewarm, currently out in Midland, in West Texas, where his band is playing in a gala at the Midland Petroleum Club.

The above view was from last night, looking south from beautiful downtown Midland, where the smell of smoke was strong, very windy, with fires burning in several directions from Midland.

I have not heard from the Queen of Wink, yet, as to the status of her realm. Wink is to the west of Midland, about 30 or 40 miles, I think.

What happens with all those oil wells in West Texas when a wildfire burns through?

When you drive through the West Texas zone the air reeks of petroleum.

We are now past 3 in the afternoon in my zone of Texas. As you can see in the latest weather update, what was earlier predicted to be 'A Severe T-Storm," has turned in to "A strong t-storm in spots."

Currently my zone of far east Fort Worth is not one of those spots. It is relatively sunny, birds are chirping, the wind has died down.

And I think I'll go for an afternoon swim with no fear of incoming thunderbolts.

Driving On Fort Worth's New Crosswalks With An Electric Motorized Transport Device

After I left Village Creek Natural Historic Area today I headed north on Eastchase Boulevard to the location of my coffee purveyor on the north side of Interstate 30.

Several months ago I was surprised to see work being done to the overpasses over I-30 at Eastchase and at Cooks Lane, about a half mile west.

The sidewalks were being upgraded with wheelchair accessible ramps added.

I remember thinking to myself I'd never seen anyone walk across either the Cooks Lane or Eastchase freeway crossing.

So, I was a bit surprised, today, to be stopped at the light before crossing the freeway overpass, to look up to see a lady on some sort of motorized transport motoring on the new sidewalk crossings.

She'd made it up a rather steep hill from the Lowe's/Wal-Mart/Sam's Club zone. That must be a very powerful electric transport device to be able to haul so much mass up such an incline.

If I remember right, I think I actually heard myself opining that working on these crosswalks seemed like a huge waste of resources, considering how many areas of Fort Worth are in dire need of a sidewalk, in places where people actually walk.

So, color me deeply chagrined, now that I realize this particular lady on wheels would not have been able to safely cross the freeway, had these improvements not been made.

I wonder how far she was traveling on her motorized transport? I wonder if she drives it right in to Wal-Mart. Or does she switch to one of the Wal-Mart electric carts to do her shopping?

Testing For Barnett Shale Natural Gas In Village Creek Natural Historic Gas Drilling Area In Arlington

I nixed going to the Tandy Hills today and instead opted for going to the Village Creek Natural Historic Area in Arlington.

I needed to replenish my coffee supply, so, since Village Creek is closer to my supplier, it made sense to go there.

I was surprised as soon as I pulled into the Village Creek Natural Historic Area parking lot to see some very unnatural cable strung on the ground.

I'd seen this type thing before, at River Legacy Park. Seismic testing for Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drilling.

I soon confirmed that that is what the cables were for when I came upon testing equipment deeper in the park.

There were a lot of walkers today. The first group I came to was quite excited to tell me they'd seen water moccasins swimming in the creek. I saw no snakes, but I did see what appeared to be a couple alligator gar.

I don't know what ever became of the River Legacy Park seismic testing. Is a drill pad slant drilling under that park? I've no idea. I suppose since it is natural gas that is being sought, testing for it in a Natural Area sort of makes sense.

Seems very odd to me, though, having all that cable of various colors and equipment laying about.

We've got about an hour and a half to go before the predicted arrival of today's severe Thunderstorm. Currently it appears a bit topsy turvy out there. I think topsy turvy is a very scientific meteorologic term.

Early Sunday Morning After A Bad Night Of Insomnia Wondering How Close The Giant West Texas Wildfire Is To The Queen Of Wink's Realm

Stepping outside on this second Sunday of April and looking up at the sky it does not appear that the expected cloud cover has yet arrived.

We are already one third of the way through April. Time seems to be accelerating along with the price of gas.

I had myself another really bad insomnia bout last night. I think this was mostly due to being unable to find a happy medium between too hot and too cold.

So far I have not smelled the acrid odor of a wildfire. The wildfire currently burning out in West Texas is enormous. I do not know if it is burning in the Queen of Wink's realm in West Texas.

Checking the hourly forecast, for my zone, I see the predicted Thunderstorm is scheduled to arrive around 3 this afternoon.

If it rains hard today, the noon time frame may be my last chance to do some Tandy Hills hiking til dryness returns.

I see a morning swim, a mid-day hike, fish and chips and a Thunderstorm in my future for the 10th day of April. I don't think I will be going for an afternoon swim in the Thunderstorm.

Two Weeks Til The 2011 Prairie Fest On The Tandy Hills Hopefully With Lots Of Wildflowers

Two weeks to go til the 2011 Prairie Fest, with the Tandy Hills Wildflowers needing to get serious about amping up their bloomage.

It was in the low 80s when I hit the hills today. And windy. Very pleasant.

I saw several of the wildflowers you see in the picture today. Each day there are more wildflowers, but some areas, like Lost Sunglasses Ridge are still bloom free.

A lady with a little kid was flying a kite on top of Mount Tandy today. The little kid had rolled the toy stroller, that is part of the Tandy Hills Shrine, over to where his mom was flying a kite, in case the Tandy Hills Shrine Keeper wonders why the stroller moved.

The top of Mount Tandy does not seem, to me, to be a good kite flying location, due to all the cables anchored to the ground from all the towers. I guess the worst that could happen is the kite gets tangled in a cable.

Tomorrow we are currently scheduled to get heated to a high of 92, with a strong Thunderstorm. I don't know at what time Sunday the T-Storm is expected to arrive.

A pushy lady on Weight Watchers convinced to buy a big loaf of gingerbread at Town Talk today. She had several people chiming in on how good this gingerbread is. Having never had gingerbread I would not know good from bad.

I'll let you know what I think of gingerbread when I get around to trying some.

In the meantime, I am going swimming again.

The Second Saturday Of April In Texas Has Dawned Heated To 70 Degrees With No Government Shutdown

I was up late Friday night and thus up late Saturday morning.

It appears this second Saturday of April has dawned with yet one more clear blue sky day in Texas, as you can clearly see, looking out one of my viewing portals on the world.

Yesterday started off that way too. But by noon hazy grayness had moved in.

I was so relieved this morning to see the news that a government shutdown had been averted at the last minute. What would have become of all of us if the government ceased to exist? It is just too troubling to even consider such a dire thing.

Like John Lennon once said, "Imagine there's no government, I wonder if you can." Or something like that.

It is 70 degrees at this point in time. I think I will go swimming now.

Talk to you later.

I'm Having A Hazy Lazy Day In Fort Worth Thinking About Nothing Except Keeping Cool

When I drove to the Tandy Hills a bit before noon the sky was not blue. It was gray. Looking towards downtown Fort Worth it appeared the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth was being viewed through a hazy gauze.

By the time I reached the point where I took today's picture of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, the haze was lifting and blue sky was starting to make its way through the cloud cover.

We are now almost cloud-free and 86 degrees.

Which means I can do my daily lounging under the sun, working on my tan, in preparation for being in the Arizona desert.

When I got back here from the Tandy Hills I turned on the A/C. I'd forgotten I'd turned it on til right now when it cycled back on, blowing chilled air on me.

An afternoon bout in the pool, followed by some sun lounging should cool me off. I think I will go do that right now.

On The 2nd Friday Of April I Learned I Drink The Best Water In Texas

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell it appears that the 2nd Friday of April is going to be yet one more sunny day in Texas.

Currently heated to 72 degrees.

Yesterday I ran my A/C for the second time this year. I've got my windows open right now, but I suspect later today the windows will be closing and the A/C will be running again.

This morning I was a bit surprised to learn that Arlington has the best drinking water in Texas.

I believe my drinking water comes from the Arlington system. But I am not certain about that. It is perfectly tasty drinking water, just as tasty as I used to taste when I drank pristine Washington drinking water.

At my first location in Texas, in the hamlet of Haslet, on the border of far north Fort Worth, the water was not drinkable as it came out of the tap. A special filter made it slightly more drinkable.

My one and only time in San Antonio occured while I was still drinking the Haslet water. The water in San Antonio comes from the Edwards Aquifer. This water was as good, if not better, than Washington water. I fillled 2 gallon jugs with the San Antonio water to take back north with me.

So, I'm a bit surprised that Arlington's water beat San Antonio's for best in Texas.

Arlington's water now goes on to the national drinking water competition, held by the American Water Works Association. No Texas water has ever won the national competition. That is really shocking.

Water seems to be the theme this morning. So, now I guess I will go swimming in it.

Talk to you later.