Up Early The 4th Morning Of June In Texas Thinking About Heat Waves & Concealing My Handgun

Looking at the blue oasis through the bars of my patio prison cell this 4th morning of June it appears I am up and awake before the sun.

It is currently 72 degrees, windows open, and I just realized I am hearing no birds tweeting. Where have all the birds gone?

The sun has barely arrived at my location and it is already 72. Meanwhile up north, in the Puget Sound region of the State of Washington, the natives are preparing for the first heat wave of the year.

With a high of 79.

79 is what I set my air conditioner to.

I remember flying to Washington in July of 2004. D/FW was in the 100s when I flew away. Seattle was in the 70s when I landed. The next days were in the 70s and low 80s. The locals were bemoaning the heat wave. While I was in long pants trying to stay warm.

I have found it is easier to acclimate to heat than acclimate to cold. I shivered for an entire month the last time I was up north, July 20 - August 20 of 2008.

Yesterday I mentioned in a blogging that I got a comment from an Anonymous commenter in which the commenter said having CHL was one of the things that is great about Texas. I had no clue as to what CHL might be.

And then this morning, lifelong Texas girl, Elsie Hotpepper, alleviated me of my CHL ignorance.

CHL = Concealed Handgun License.

Is Texas the only state to have such a license? I have no idea.

I'm going swimming now, without my handgun. Because I will have nowhere to conceal it.

Are You Ready To Go Over The Edge In Fort Worth?

Well. Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. is providing me blogging fodder today, both times courtesy of Andy Taft, he being the President of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.

Earlier today I blogged about DFWI's Picnic & Politics in the Park event where you can attend an old-fashioned political picnic for a measly $60.

And then this afternoon I get an email informing me that there are only 24 spots left where you can rappel down a Fort Worth short skyscraper for the bargain price of, if I'm remembering right, $1,000.

Apparently this is a "remarkable opportunity to do something you or your friend will talk about for the rest of your life!"

Now that is just sad.

I remember years ago I made a website for a guy here in Texas who had a ridiculous business where he'd put giant signs on victim's yards, celebrating things like birthdays, retirements, divorces and prison release dates.

I remember meeting this sign guy for the first time and him explaining his business to me, saying something along the line of his signs "give people something they will talk about for the rest of their lives."

I remember looking at this guy's crossed eyes and thinking to myself that I was staring at pure idiocy.

Just like I thought when I saw the graphic in today's email from DFWI of Fort Worth's goofy mayor, Mike Moncrief, going "Over the Edge on Media Day!"

I need a break from goofiness. It is beginning to wear on me.

My Mom Hiked The Tandy Hills With Me Today While I Dehydrated & Wondered About Anonymous

The heat has been burning off some of the humidity, but not enough to where I don't get a bit overheated whilst quickly hiking up and down the Tandy Hills.

I did not get gas today, but I called my mom anyway on the way to the Tandy Hills. Mom was being a bit talkative, which caused me to continue with the talking after I got to my parking spot on top of Mount Tandy.

Usually I drink a bottle of water on the way to do my hiking. Today the talking on the phone thing prevented that. And then I did not think to stick a bottle of water in my pocket.

It is now the time of year when I must remember to carry water. By the time I got to the top of the last hill, the one before scaling to the top of Mount Tandy, I was a bit light-headed from dehydration.

I continue to be annoyed at the comments being made regarding the Paradise Center Scandal. CatsPaw is doing a real good job of countering the bad commenters. CatsPaw is providing this service on both the Paradise Center Scandal blog and the blog you are reading right now.

I got a real strange, non-Paradise Center Scandal, comment from the ubiquitous Anonymous, yesterday, to a blog post from way back on September 12, 2009....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fort Worth Glacier Peak Bearfire Resort Vision":

Obviously, this blogger has never been to Texas. Yes its hot, and yes there are conservatives, but Texas , as a state and a place to live is the best!! No state income tax, prop taxes are low, real estate is cheaper, and we have CHL!! People who talk bad about Texas are just jealous they dont live here

Is Anonymous talking about me being the blogger who has obviously never been to Texas? What is CHL? Did someone steal the apostrophe from Anonymous's keyboard? People who talk bad about Texas are just jealous they don't live there?

I have had a bad thing or two to say about Texas. And I live there. And I'm not jealous.

What is it about the ubiquitous Anonymouses? The majority of them seem to have a problem with their thought processes, with their words all too frequently turning into a train wreck of illogic. With grammar and punctuation problems.

It's very perplexing.

Does Fort Worth's $60 Picnic & Politics In The Park Include A Hot Dog?

Yesterday I got email from Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. that included a new poster for June 9's Picnic & Politics in the Park event.

The top of the email asks, in red...

DO YOU "LIKE LANE" OR IS THE "PRICE RIGHT?"

And then instructs you to...

"Come and Hear Fort Worth Mayoral Run-Off Candidates Jim Lane & Betsy Price - Just Days Before the June 14 Election"

Then comes the invitation....

"Please join Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. for "Picnic & Politics in the Park," an old-fashioned, town-square style political picnic - and one of the last open forums to hear from the two Fort Worth Mayoral run-off candidates, Jim Lane and Betsy Price."

And then we learn that old-fashioned political picnics are expensive...

"Individual tickets are $50 for DFWI members and $60 for non-members. Sponsorships are available beginning at $750."

It costs $350 a year to be a DFWI member.

So, in the old days, in Fort Worth, when there was a town square, public park political picnic event, the townfolk were charged an entry fee to attend? That just doesn't seem right to me. Shouldn't poor voters like me, who don't have an extra $60, be able to hear the mayoral candidates speechify before an election? This entry free just sort of seems, well, un-democratic to me.

Yes, I know, I've been told plenty of times, I don't need to be told again. It's the Fort Worth Way.

I probably should mention, in case you want to spend $60 for a Picnic & Politics in the Park, that this takes place next Thursday, June 9, at Burnett Park, in beautiful Downtown Fort Worth, from 11:30 am til 1:00 pm.

A Humid Morning In June Wondering Where The Panther Pavilion Is On The Trinity River

It is the morning of the 3rd day of June. I am currently feeling a bit trapped. So the view looking through the bars of my patio prison cell is an apt metaphor for my current mind frame.

It is 73 degrees outside my currently open windows. I do not think the windows are going to be open for very long. It is humid out there, making it humid in here.

We are scheduled for a high of 96 today. 99 on Saturday.

I heard from a Seattle dweller this morning I'd not heard from in awhile. Just like everyone else up there is doing, she verbalized her displeasure over the non-stop rain.

Currently it must be very green in the Evergreen State. The last two times I've been in that zone they've been in drought mode with a lot less green than the norm.

I heard from a reliable source, this morning, that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle has had to move their Trinity River Inner Tubing Happy Hour Floats from Fort Worth's Trinity Park to something called the Panther Pavilion, due to the consumption of adult beverages not being allowed in the park.

I have no idea where Panther Pavilion is. How am I going to get my free inner tube and do my drunken Trinity River inner tubing if I don't know where Panther Pavilion is?

I think I'll stop thinking about this and go swimming instead.

Getting My Tandy Hills Endorphin Fix While Thinking About Fort Worth's Paradise Center

Yesterday I had no aerobic endorphin stimulating activity except for swimming.

Endorphin withdrawal hits quick and hard.

I remedied that today by hitting the Tandy Hills quick and hard.

There are still plenty of wildflowers coloring up the Tandy Hills landscape, like the delicate looking one blowing in the breeze in the picture.

I returned to my current location in a much better mood than when I left my current location.

And then soon had my much better mood turned into a somewhat foul mood.

If you've been following the Paradise Center Scandal you've likely read some of the extremely ugly comments some extremely ugly commenters have made.

I don't moderate the Paradise Center Scandal Blog comments. I can delete a bad comment after it gets published. But I've not yet done so.

The worst of these ugly type comments are the ones that go after the daughter of the director of the Paradise Center. The commenters making the ugly comments all act as if they are proponents and supporters of MHMR-TC and its CEO Jim McDermott.

Some of the comments brag about all the great things MHMR-TC has bought and installed in the old Paradise Center building. And then make fun of what is in the new Paradise Center building.

Which had me feeling real bad and real stupid today, whilst hiking the Tandy Hills, when I remembered Miss Puerto Rico calling me and asking me if I knew anyone who might want her perfectly fine 36 inch TV. It did not cross my mind to take it to the Paradise Center. Miss PR gave it to one of her co-workers.

I do not know what type items, if any, Paradise Center currently needs. Are there any church or service groups in Tarrant County that could inquire as to what might be needed? And help?

I'm guessing Paradise Center might appreciate outdoor furniture, like lawn chairs. Indoor furniture, maybe, like couches and chairs. I'll try and find out what, if anything, Paradise Center could use some help with.

The 2nd Day Of June Cowtown Blues

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at the blue oasis this 2nd day of June I find myself feeling a bit ill this morning.

I hope this is a fleeting feeling.

This morning the Star-Telegram had a semi breathless article about the soon to open Cowtown Wakepark. The article made some mention of the fact that some question the sanity of using the polluted Trinity River for recreational purposes where bare skin is in contact with that particular water.

I called my mom yesterday when I got gas. No answer. My mom called back last night, but I was separated from my phone and did not hear the voice mail til this morning. I guess I will need to make a non-gas related call to my mom today. If I remember.

Betty Jo Bouvier also called me yesterday. She was concerned when she read she was going to be helping me unpack when I move back to Washington.

This morning there were a lot of Facebook comments in my email box. About half of them I don't understand what the person is talking about.

I think I will go swimming now and not think about anything.

Adrian Murray Has Some Questions For Fort Worth's Next Mayor Jim Lane

The distinguished looking gentleman you are looking at in the picture is Adrian Murray.

Adrian Murray was in the most recent race to get elected to the Tarrant Regional Water District. Instead of electing Adrian Murray, the few people who voted chose to keep Jim Lane on the water board.

Jim Lane is currently running against Betsy Price, hoping to become the new mayor of Fort Worth.

Adrian Murray was supporting Cathy Hirt for mayor. When the voters chose not to support Cathy Hirt, Cathy Hirt threw her support to Jim Lane.

Most Cathy Hirt supporters became Jim Lane supporters.

But not the rebel known as Adrian Murray. Adrian Murray endorsed Betsy Price for mayor.

And then proceeded to have some interesting questions for Jim Lane, questions asked on Facebook...

Question for Jim Lane: In June 2010, Carl Bell, owner of the FW Cats was in default on his loans and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and foreclosure when the Tarrant Regional Water District handed him $17.5 million for 41 acres of environmentally contaminated land around LaGrave Field, allegedly for the TRV "flood control project". Since Carl Bell is a friend of yours, how do you explain your vote on this?

Question for Jim Lane: The Tarrant Regional Water District has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in gas royalties that are shared with developers and lobbyists for the TRV but not with the people in the district. You say the law prohibits water districts from using royalties to offset property taxes or water rates. If you are for the people, why have you not fought to overturn this exemption?

Question for Jim Lane: Why is the Tarrant Regional Water District exempt from the state's Open Meetings law. If you're for the people why would you not champion open meetings so all the financial skullduggery happening with the TRV could be exposed?

If Jim Lane answers Adrian Murray's questions, I will let you know.....

Too HOT To Hike Today So I'm Maybe Moving Back To Washington

I was in North Richland Hills and Hurst during my usual noon daily hike timeframe. I got back here coming up on 2.

Had a big lunch. Having a big lunch and then going on a hike is not a good idea, I've learned from previous bad experiences with that combo.

Add to that bad combo the fact that it is HOT and HUMID and you've got me in the mood to stay undercover in air-conditioned comfort and get my daily Vitamin D from a pill instead of the sun.

Yesterday I mentioned to Carlotta Camano that I'd seriously consider moving back to Washington if I had a house waiting for me, like when I moved to Texas. The Washington house would not require a pool, unlike what was required to make the Texas move happen.

By late afternoon, yesterday, Carlotta had worked out all the details of my move back to Washington. Carlotta says if I trust her judgement, she'll find me a house. I am to shed as much of my stuff as I can get rid of. Then rent a U-Haul and drive to my new location where Carlotta, Betty Jo, Honey Lulu and Sue will help me unpack and set up the new house.

Sounds sort of like the move to Texas, in reverse. Only that move it was a Penske truck, not a U-Haul. None of the Texas un-packers were named Carlotta, Betty Jo, Honey Lulu or Sue.

Now, via the current weather info for Mount Vernon, which I got at the same time I got the Fort Worth weather info, you might spot the reason I might have a slight trepidation about moving back to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest.

Note that the sun rises earlier and sets later in Washington than it does in Texas. The longer days this time of year is a good thing up north. But then in winter the opposite happens.

But, those extra hours of sunlight do not come close to heating up the outdoors to the HOT level the sun manages to heat Texas to with fewer daylight hours.

Currently pretty much every one I am hearing from in Washington is complaining about this being the coldest, wettest spring ever.

All the rivers on both sides of the mountains are running full. (both sides of the mountains is Washington-speak, meaning both sides of the Cascade Mountains, as in both Western and Eastern Washington) And now it's warming up enough that the snowpack is melting and adding to the already way too high rivers.

In Texas there are no problems with a mountain snowpack melting, adding water to any rivers.

Actually, being near mountains is something I do miss. That and being near saltwater. And rivers with fish in them, like salmon, that are safe to eat, because the river water is so clean.

I guess I should give Carlotta Camano the go ahead to look for a place for me to escape to.

June Begins With A Red Sky Morning

The 1st day of June has dawned with a red tinted sky.

On the west coast a sailor would take a red sky in the morning as a warning. I have no idea what a sailor does with a red sky in the morning when he's hundreds of miles from the nearest coast.

Reading the news this morning only a few things stuck in my memory.

One is that today is Marilyn Monroe's birthday. Had Marilyn not died in 1962, today she would be 85 years old. An 85 year old Marilyn Monroe would have been an interesting thing to see.

An amusing line from an article in the Star-Telegram about Fort Worth's droopy drawers epidemic...

"Residents who try to board a bus while exposing their rumps can expect to get bumped."

The Fort Worth Transit Authority has a new dress code which allows bus drivers to refuse entry to those with pants sagging below their waist.

Meanwhile, yesterday, up in Seattle at the University of Washington, hundreds of students stripped to their underwear in some sort of charity run that donated the doffed clothes to those who are in need of clothes.

I don't remember seeing anyone with droopy drawers in the Seattle zone. They are slow to catch on to trends up there. I may have that backwards.

Yesterday that little Canadian kid who is inexplicably an international pop star, Justin Bieber, along with his girl friend, an older woman named Selena Gomez, went to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the Parks at Arlington Mall.

Apparently the Gomez girl is from Grand Prairie and she was taking her underage, 17 year old, boyfriend home to meet the family.

It is now time to continue on with my casual lifestyle and go swimming.