Hiking The HOT Tandy Hills With A Purple Wildflower Thinking About D-Day & An Old Lady In Need Of Clothes

The Texas wildflower season has definitely passed its peak. And this definitely was not a peak wildflower season.

But, you can still find plenty of wildflower color coloring the Tandy Hills.

Like today's picture of a purple wildflower.

Today it was in the low 90s when I exited my vehicle on top of Mount Tandy.

Not being able to go swimming in the morning seems to have benefited me with extra hiking energy. I was a speedy maniac going up hills today.

I've decided there is something very addictive, in addition to the endorphins, about getting drenched in sweat whilst aerobicizing in air heated to almost 100 degrees.

It is like a Mother Nature provided steam/sauna bath.

I rarely, if ever, mention it, but I'm a big fan of doing random acts of kindness, charitable moments of helping someone in need. Today it was an Old Lady desperately in need of new clothes.

The Old Lady mentioned today being D-Day and said she remembers that day like it was yesterday. I would never ask an Old Lady how old she is, charitable guy that I am, but I estimate if she remembers D-Day, with D-Day being June 6, 1944, then the Old Lady must be at least 77. Much younger than 10 and it is unlikely one would remember D-Day.

Maybe I am projecting my own inability to remember anything from my first decade.

I Am Not Swimming & Risking A Migraine Headache Today

No picture of the view through the bars of my patio prison cell this morning. I had no need to go out on the patio to retrieve my swimming suit because I won't be swimming this morning due to a major pool malfunction involving a big pump.

As you see via the 5-day forecast, it is going to be HOT in these parts. A functioning swimming pool is a good thing when it is HOT. It appears relief arrives on Thursday when we chill to 93.

Apparently today's weather will not impact the risk of a migraine. That's a relief.

What's become of the flooding Mississippi River? Ever since the horrible tornado destruction of Joplin, Missouri the flooding Mississippi seems to have disappeared from the news.

I guess I will go make breakfast now. A daily event that usually occurs after I go swimming.

Tandy Falls Was Roaring Today While The Grass Whisperer Weeps

As you can see in the picture, Tandy Creek was roaring over Tandy Falls today.

Tandy Falls had returned to being a dry falls soon after the deluge of almost 2 weeks ago.

From forensic evidence, gathered at the scene, it appeared that a large volume of water had rushed down Tandy Creek. It was easy to see the muddy high water mark.

That this had been a large release of water was confirmed later on today's hike when I came to the point where I cross Tandy Creek over the washed out dirt bridge on the Tandy Highway.

I had to hop boulders to cross the dirt bridge due to the dirt being muddy due to the flood. The flood had to have occurred not long before my arrival, due to the level of wetness. Temperatures in the 90 to 100 range tend to have a rapid drying effect on anything wet.

We seem to leak a lot of water in these parts.

Ironically, on the way to the Tandy Hills, of late, I drive by a billboard that has the "Grass Whisperer" whispering that over watering your lawn may not only be wasting water, it may be killing your grass. Or something like that.

As long as I'm on the subject of water I'll stay there.

I had myself a good swim this morning. This is the last time you will be reading me saying that for awhile.

I knew something was not right with the way the water was circulating. This was confirmed later with the discovery that the pump is not producing sufficient pressure to force the water through the filter.

I have no clue what it will take to fix the swimming pool this time.

Sarah Palin Visits Paul Revere's House & Revises History

If Sarah Palin was homely and thick as a brick would she have been elected governor of Alaska and nominated for vice-president?

I suspect not.

For some unfathomable to me reason Sarah Palin can say the most ridiculous things and continue to be taken seriously.

By some.

In a saner world Sarah Palin's infamous Katie Couric interview would have been the end of her in politics.

But it wasn't.

Currently Sarah Palin is roaming America on her "One Nation" traveling bus tour. On Thursday Sarah was in Boston with her mom and dad, first husband, and one of her daughters, visiting historic sites, like Paul Revere's house.

At one point Sarah Palin was blindsided by a ruthless reporter who asked Sarah the extremely difficult question, "Who was Paul Revere?"

Sarah answered that terribly difficult question with, "He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms, uh, by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed."

You'd think, if she couldn't come up with a coherent answer to such a simple question, she'd simple look incredulous at the reporter and flip it back at him by saying, "You actually don't know who Paul Revere is? Did you miss that day in your American History class?"

You can watch a YouTube video of Sarah Palin's latest gaffe below...

Up Late In Hot Texas On The Sunny Sunday 5th Day Of June

Can you tell looking through the bars of my patio prison cell that I am up well after the sun on this Sunday?

The 5th day of June is starting off heated to almost 80.

I ran my air conditioner all night long for the first time this year.

At this point in time the predicted high for today is 101. These predictions seem to change as the hours of any particular day pass.

I have no idea what I am going to do today. Except for going swimming in a few minutes. Whatever else I do today I suspect I will be hot doing it. Or in air-conditioned comfort.

Spotting Jim Lane On The Tandy Hills Thinking About Washington Weather Whiners

I was surprised by a Jim Lane for mayor of Fort Worth campaign sign today on the Tandy Hills.

Someone exerted some energy to put up this particular sign.

I'm not sure who is able to view it. The sign faces the west bound lanes of Interstate 30. The eastbound lanes are directly below the sign. The only way those drivers would see the sign is in their rear view mirror.

Earlier today Sunday was scheduled to get 101 degrees HOT. I see this has now been revised to 98 degrees HOT. With the first 100 degree day of the year, here, scheduled for Monday.

I've heard from several of the Washington Weather Whiners in the past 24 hours in celebratory mode because the clouds have gone, the sun has returned and the mountains are back visible.

This is how Eleanor Grigby, in Seattle, described today in the Pacific Northwest...

"It is finally beautiful here. I am sure you remember those crystal blue skies with the mountains popping out, and the Puget Sound flickering.  Nice indeed."

I do remember. There can be months of bad weather and then one day you wake up to blue sky and warm temperatures. People flock to the parks and beaches. I remember one time this happening in late February. There had been a long bout of cold and rain. And then clear sky and warm temperatures. I remember going to Camano Island State Park on that particular Saturday in February and doing some sun basking.

I could go do some pool-side Texas sun basking right now. But, I'm not in the mood.

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.