The Tandy Hills Have Already Dried Out From This Week's Deluge

I figured the trails of the Tandy Hills would be muddy in places today, due to the heavy rains of Wednesday and Thursday.

But, no mud stuck to me today.

Absolutely perfect temperature. 65 degrees, with a good wind blowing.

I don't know if the Fort Worth water boys finished their sanitary sewer project. I do know that the bridge they so carefully engineered over Tandy Creek has washed out again.

But this time it is not a complete washout. I think each time the bridge gets rebuilt it gets rebuilt a bit better than the previous one.

I saw no humans on the Tandy Hills today. I thought maybe the Tandy Hills Wildflower Extravaganza might still be happening by the time I hit the hills. But, I don't think it was.

Steve A had an amusing blog post today titled "Cold Dark Winter - North Texas Version" about how our weather in North Texas, this year, has us paler and deficient in Vitamin D, as compared to a year ago. Complete with photo documentation.

I remember when I flew up to Washington in April of 2006 I was already suntanned and had to endure comments about my suntannedness. If I flew up to Washington, right now, I don't think I'd hear any comments about my suntannedness.

First off, because I am not very tanned, second off, because I would stay way from those types who make comments about ones level of suntannedness.

Anyway, I must go get in some lounge time around the pool now and work on my suntan.

All I found to get at Town Talk today was a lot of roma tomatoes and sharp cheese. I could have gotten a talking tulip for a buck. But I really so no good use for a talking tulip.

I Did Not Wait In A Long Line Today To Vote For Fort Worth's Mayor & My City Council Person

As you might guess, from all the signs, you are looking at my voting place, the East Regional Library.

Yes. I voted.

On my way to the Tandy Hills, which have already dried out from the rains of Wednesday and Thursday.

There were a lot of cars in the parking, which had me fearing a long line that would have me regretting not early voting.

I parked next to a pickup plastered with Cathy Hirt for Mayor signs with a guy campaigning for Cathy Hirt sitting on the tailgate. The vehicle on the other side of my vehicle was a Lupe Arriola for City Council campaigner. I told both the Cathy guy and the Lupe guy I was heading inside to get in line to vote for their girls.

They thanked me.

I was soon to have my fear of a long line disappear. There was no line. There was no one voting til I walked in.

Every time I vote, the method is different. I always end up being a little confused. We had trouble finding my name on the list of registered voters. I guess way too many Joneses made it confusing. As we were looking for my name, another voter arrived. An old lady.

Finally we found my name. I signed in. I was directed to go to the ballot man, where I picked a ballot from a table. Then I was directed to a voting booth. I was looking at the blank sheet of paper, likely looking perplexed, so the ballot man told me to turn to ballot over.

I don't ever remember voting for something in Washington where there are only two things on the ballot. This may be why today's election will have such a low turnout. And be one of the methods Fort Worth's Ruling Oligarchy retains control.

So, it did not take long to vote. My fellow voter, the old lady, was talking to me from her voting booth, telling me she did not know who to vote for for City Council. I told her I did not think I was suppose to make a suggestion.

Then as I walked past her, to stick my ballot in the machine that reads it, I said to her, "vote Lupe."

Oh no, she said, I voted for the wrong one. Then she actually asked ballot man if she could do it over. He said yes. She then walked over to ballot man and as she got another ballot actually asked him who she should vote for. He told her he can not make suggestions.

It was bizarre. Why was this lady bothering to vote, I could not help but wonder?

And then later I was thinking to myself that voters should have to pass some sort of Voter's Test in order to get your Voter's License. I think we'd have much better outcomes in elections. And change the voting age. Instead make the age when you can first apply for your Voter's License to be something like 12 years old.

I suspect I probably would have been able to pass the Voter's Test at 12 years old. That would have given me 6 more years of voting.

Almost The Middle Of May Thinking About The Super Bowl XLV Debacle In North Texas

We are already almost at mid May. I am really getting tired of how fast time flies. Really tired of it. I feel like I'm on the fast track to being elderly.

The second Saturday of May has dawned pleasantly cool at 50 degrees, with no clouds in the sky, as near as I can tell from my limited view through the bars of my patio prison cell.

Google's Blogger has still not totally recovered from its recent debacle. My missing posts have been restored. But the missing comments are still missing.

Speaking of debacles.

Remember the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Debacle? Snow and ice wreaked havoc. Then Jerry Jones' greed wreaked more havoc, irrationally trying for an attendance record, cramming extra seats into the Cowboy stadium that weren't ready by game time.

Remember how the Super Bowl was going to be a HUGE economic boom for North Texas?

Well, now, just a few months after the Super Bowl Debacle, towns in the D/FW Metroplex are seeking money from the State of Texas to cover costs caused by the Super Bowl Debacle.

Arlington is asking for $2.7 million from a special state fund, to cover costs related to the Super Bowl Debacle.

Fort Worth is asking for $2.3 million. Fort Worth's propaganda meisters, pre Super Bowl Debacle, were in heavy duty super puffery mode due to a cable network, ESPN, hosting its Super Bowl broadcasts from a downtown Fort Worth parking lot.

Unfortunately, the broadcasts from the downtown Fort Worth parking lots turned a bit icy and did not end up making downtown Fort Worth the envy of the nation.

And now Fort Worth wants money from the State of Texas to compensate for its foolhardiness.

Changing the subject to other important matters. I must remember to vote today.

I must also remember to go swimming, which I think I will do right now.

Turtle Today At Fosdic Lake,Wildflower Extravaganza At Tandy Hills Tomorrow

I was startled today during my brisk walk around Fosdic Lake in Oakland Lake Park, when I came upon the big reptile you see in the picture.

If I remember right, I think I've been told that during mating season male turtles hit the road looking for love outside of their usual water homes.

I remember coming upon turtles on the Horseshoe Park mountain bike trails on Lake Grapevine, far from the lake.

Despite their slow reputation, turtles can move rather fast when they want to.

But, I don't understand how leaving the lake, where all the turtles live, is going to find you a turtle girlfriend. Maybe this guy was coming from another watery place and was heading for Fosdic Lake, due to its reputation for having a lot of good-looking turtle girls.

Switching the subject from turtles to another subject.

The Tandy Hills are scheduled to be dry enough for hiking tomorrow. I know this because I got email this morning from Don Young informing me that on Saturday the Wildflower Extravaganza at Tandy Hills is taking place. Master Naturalist, Jim Varnum, will be your guide through the Tandy Wildflowers. Show up at noon at View Street & Lewis Avenue for a nature hike with a naturalist.

Google's Blogger Has Had A Major Meltdown But Is Now Back Working

On the left is the message being seen all over the world ever since yesterday. Google's Blogger program suffered a major meltdown.

Apparently the problem arose during some routine maintenance. Others are saying the problem occurred during the rollout of an upgrade to Blogger.

To fix the problem Google removed all posts and comments made from some point in time on Wednesday. The status message from Google has been saying those posts and comments are being restored.

I have a big blog backlog

If you are reading this it means Blogger is back is blog mode. I won't know til I hit the publish button. I'm going to do that and then go on a walk.

And take care of my big blog backlog later.

Walking With My Mom Today Around Fort Worth's Fosdic Lake Thinking About Being A Jerk

I walked all the way around Fosdic Lake in Oakland Lake Park with my mom today around noon.

Today was the first time I've gotten my mom on the phone for her annual Mother's Day call.

Mom called last night, while we were storming and I was without power. I did not hear the phone ring last night and did not hear the voice mail from my mom til I flipped the phone open this morning.

Today mom and dad were heading south from the Phoenix metro zone town they live in, called Sun Lake, to Maricopa to bring my brother lunch. I think that's about an 80 mile round trip. My brother is recovering from knee surgery, which I guess makes him unable to make his own lunch. That and his latest wife has abandoned him, apparently, which leaves my mom and dad as the only possible lunch solution in the area.

When my mom and dad were last in the D/FW Metroplex they did not bring me lunch. But they did bring me a big ham and an awful lot of citrus products.

Just as I was getting the picture of a couple fisherman fishing in Fosdic Lake, off my camera, my power went out again. That is two days in a row. This can't be normal. Today's outage only lasted a couple minutes, while yesterday's outage went on for hours.

Good news on the Paradise Center Scandal front, brought courtesy of one of the main victims of the scandal, Teresa Davis, detailed on the Paradise Center Scandal blog.

Just got one of those amusing blog comments, that I always enjoy, from someone called Anonymous, saying, "you are a jerk - go back to washington you jackass!"

The comment was made to a blogging from way back last summer, July 27, 2010, to be precise, with the blogging titled "Inspired By A Texan Panhandling Guitar Man I Am Thinking Of Begging With Bongos."

I did not remember this blogging til I went back and read it. I then remembered seeing the panhandling guitar man. Nothing I wrote seemed particularly jerky to me, or jackassy. I can think of many times where saying I was a jerk who should go back to Washington because I was a jackass, would have made sense, but it doesn't really make much sense in this instance.

It felt good to get out and go on a walk today. The Tandy Hills are going to need some drying out time. Swimming was a real good thing this morning, with the pool cooled by the infusion of a lot of rain and some hail.

Who Am I Really Voting For For Mayor Of Fort Worth?

I never got around to doing the early voting thing. Which means I'll be going to the East Regional Library on Saturday to do my voting duty.

Eunice Lovers sent me the Betsy Price poster showing Betsy being a puppet of Congresswoman Kay Granger.

The only candidate I've totally ruled out voting for, for mayor of Fort Worth, is Betsy Price, she being the pick of the Fort Worth Ruling Oligarchy.

Jim Lane also is a tool (and member) of the Fort Worth Ruling Oligarchy, but, even so, I am really attracted to Jim Lane's goofiness.

If the Fort Worth Way prevails it will be the FWRO's pick, Betsy Price, who will replace the corrupt Moncrief Regime. With Jim Lane maybe having a slight chance. Sort of like a snowball in hell.

Then again, there is an awful lot of noise in support of Cathy Hirt. It would be a stunning victory should Cathy Hirt win. A virtual revolt against the Fort Worth Way and the FWRO. Not to mention the TRVB.

Now that I am typing it out, I can clearly see that Cathy Hirt is who I must vote for.

Betsy Price is just too dumb to be mayor. This may be why the FWRO picked her. The woman is so dense she actually admitted, at a candidate forum, that she is running because FWRO member, Kay Granger, asked her too. She shouldn't say that with her out loud voice.

One of my favorite Fort Worthers, Don Woodard, sent in a very good letter to the editor of the Star-Telegram on the subject of Betsy Price, Cathy Hirt, the mayoral election and the ruling oligarchy.

Below is Mr. Woodard's letter....

Horse Feathers

We hold this truth to be self-evident. Fort Worth is ruled by a big-money oligarchy. Nothing of consequence can be done without their say-so.

The oligarchy tells you to vote for Betsy Price because she would make independent decisions. Horse feathers. At a recent candidate forum I asked Betsy why she would leave a $140,000 life time job for a two year $30,000 job. Her response: "Because Kay Granger asked me to." Independent decisions? Like a puppet on a string.

Long before Mike Moncrief announced he would not run again, Cathy Hirt wrote her declaration of independence. Likewise, we the taxpayers of Fort Worth declare that we are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent voters, and are absolved from all allegiance to the oligarchy. With our John Hancock, we the people will elect a truly independent voice -- Cathy Hirt -- as our mayor.

-- Don Woodard Sr., Fort Worth

Is Your Sex Life As Dead As Osama Bin Laden?

I am a fan of tacky ads. Well, maybe not a fan. But I do notice them. And often find them amusing.

But.

I did not really find the tacky ad I found in the latest issue of Fort Worth Weekly to be all that amusing.

Somehow using the death of Bin Laden to sell condoms is really weird.

And asking if ones sex life is as dead as Bin Laden is really tacky.

But, the tackiest part of this ad is showing the body of Bin Laden, buried at sea, still floating, with a U.S. aircraft carrier in the background.

Does this Condom Sense store sell something other than condoms? How do condoms keep ones sex life alive? I can see how something like Viagra might help keep ones sex life alive. Or a testosterone boost. But condoms? If anything they are a bit of a downer.

This ad might have Al-Qaeda adding Condom Sense to their ever expanding jihad list.

The 12th Day Of May In Texas Has Dawned With The Power On And No Thunder Booming

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell this 12th morning of May it looks as if the day has dawned serene and calm.

Yesterday's multi-hour thunderstorm that hammered Fort Worth and most of North Texas, was exhausting.

But, more exhausting than hours of loud booms, downpouring rain and bright flashes of electricity, was being with out manmade electricity for hours.

Even though the period without power was during daylight time it was so dark I had to use a flashlight in order to find whatever I was looking for.

I lived in the East Thunderbird neighborhood of East Mount Vernon, Washington from 1985 til 1998. In those 13 years I never once lost power. The TV cable would go out every once in awhile. But never the power.

Since I have been in Texas I could not tell you how many times the power has gone out. I can tell you it has been dozens of times. Just in the past 30 days the power has gone off at least 4 times. I joke that I know what it is like to live in Baghdad. But it really is not funny.

In the area I lived in in Washington the power lines were underground. Is that the difference that caused the Washington power delivery to be reliable? Or is the power delivery in Texas just one more area where Texas lags a bit behind?

What I know for certain is losing power yesterday messed me up. I had a big project I needed to get finished yesterday afternoon. Now postponed til today.

It seems to me that when the power goes out, for whatever reason, some sort of compensation should be given. Krogers had to close yesterday when the power went out. Krogers lost money. Even though we pay for a metered service, only paying for what we use, we are also paying for that service to be delivered reliably.

Okay, enough with the whining for now. It's time to go swimming.

Video Of Last Night's Fort Worth Fireballs

I mentioned earlier today that last night, apparently, Fort Worth was bombed by fireballs.

A lot of people called 911 to report incoming fireballs resulting in explosive booms upon hitting the ground.

An hour or two after I read about last night's fireballs I got email from an eye witness to last night's celestial event.

That eye witness described the fireballs as looking like successive explosions on the ground, as if a natural gas pipeline was exploding.

Someone, somewhere in Fort Worth managed to capture last night's explosive phenomenon in digital form, rendered in YouTube format, for your viewing pleasure...