Walking In The Shade Of Village Creek Talking To My Sister About The Great Arizona Dust Storm

Today is my weekly weakly take it easy day. I tend to overdo the physical activity activities at times. Thus leading to some areas of soreness that benefit from a rest period.

So, today, on my way to ALDI in Pantego, I called my sister in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler and talked to her on my way to the Village Creek Natural Historic Area to go on a short walk on the cooly shaded paved trail.

I was curious to hear my sister's first hand tale of the dust storm that blew into the Valley of the Sun yesterday.

My sister did not know of impending incoming doom. She was firing up the BBQ, getting ready to grill some steaks, when she saw a dark wall moving towards her. She called for my brother-in-law to come outside. When he saw what was heading their way he wanted the camera to take pictures.

But, my sister told my brother-in-law there was no time for pictures. She wanted to get the lawn furniture pads out of harm's way and cover the pool.

Within 5 minutes the clear blue sky had turned to total darkness. 50mph plus winds blew dust for over an hour. When it was over, daylight returned to reveal several inches of dusty mud covering the outdoors.

Even though I had not gotten gas, after I talked to my sister, I called my mom and dad to hear their dust storm experience. I got the answering machine. I was sort of forewarned that that might happen, due to my sister thinking mom and dad might be at a doctor's appointment.

My sister had not heard from my brother who lives in Maricopa, south of Phoenix. The dust storm came from the south. One would have thought my brother would have called my mom and dad and sister to warn them about what was heading their way.

Meanwhile I heard from my little sister, in Tacoma, asking me what is wrong in Texas? Where does one start to answer that question?

Who Wants To Rent A Cabin At Turner Falls Park In Oklahoma?

In the picture, that is Big Ed on the right, under the cowboy hat. That would make me on the left, without a cowboy hat. Sitting on a rock wall outside The Castle in Turner Falls Park in Davis, Oklahoma.

I don't remember what year this picture was taken. I do remember it was in August and very hot, with a lot of people in the park and cooling off in crystal-clear spring-fed Honey Creek.

I have a few pages on my Eyes on Texas website that people mistake as being the official website for some location or event. This can cause me to get asked some interesting questions.

For example, the webpage I made of my visit to the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup gets me asked a lot of questions from people wanting to buy my rattlesnake skins or rattles. Oddly, many of these inquiries come from the United Kingdom.

The other webpage that generates a lot of questions is the Turner Falls Park webpage. This morning I was asked how many people my cabins can accomodate, what the cost is, are dogs allowed and are any cabins available for the July 30 weekend.

Within an easy drive from my location there are only a few of what I consider to be scenic destinations. One is Turner Falls Park, another is Dinosaur Valley State Park and another is very close to Dinosaur Valley State Park, that being the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

I have been to Turner Falls twice in summer, once in winter. The winter visit was with Gar the Texan. Taking Gar the Texan somewhere always reminded me of taking my nephews somewhere when they were little, due to a sort of babysitting aspect.

With Gar the Texan the babysitting often involved a case of the vapors, or an accident either caused by the vapors or leading to the vapors. Gar the Texan had a horrible case of the vapors on the way to Turner Falls.

By the time Gar the Texan made it to Turner Falls the case of the vapors was a distant memory and he was now in hyper mode, just like one of my little nephews, climbing up steep cliffs, into caves, doing all sorts of things I do not do due to my acrophobia.

Anyway, I do not know how much a cabin costs to rent at Turner Falls, or if you can keep a dog in the cabin, or if one is available the last weekend of July.

What I do know is Turner Falls Park is a scenic surprise in the Arbuckle Mountains, just a couple miles west of Interstate 35, a bit more that 50 miles from the Red River Texas border with Oklahoma.

Up Early On The 6th Day Of July Wondering About The Texas Drought & The Phoenix Sandstorm

Almost a 5th of July has already come and gone. This is morning is the start of day #6 of July.

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at the pool oasis below and the sky above, you can sort of see that this day has dawned with yet one more bright clear cloud-free sky in Texas.

Speaking of being cloud-free. The Texas drought continues to worsen. This morning  brought the news that the Tarrant Regional Water District will be going into mandatory water restriction mode when the district's water supply drops to 75 percent of capacity.

Yesterday, in the short distance I drove by the Trinity River, I saw 3 instances of multiple pipelines sucking water out of the Trinity River by Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drillers.

In June Fort Worth broke its water use record, using an all-time high of 8 billion gallons.

How many of those gallons were injected into natural gas wells, I could not help but wonder?

No mention was made, in the article, about the drought, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, regarding the fact that a new heavy user of water has moved into town in recent years. One would think mention of this would be made in an article about the local water woes.

Am I the only person curious as to what the water gallon total is in Fort Worth and Tarrant County that is being used by the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drillers?

Meanwhile, news out of Arizona and the Phoenix zone this morning brought astonishing photos of a giant sandstorm that hit the Valley of the Sun on Tuesday.

I must remember to call my mom and dad and sister to see how they fared in this mess.

I will not be going swimming this morning. The pool got its weekly shock treatment late yesterday. The lack of going swimming should have me being grumpy in about 2 hours.

High Anxiety Hiking The Tandy Hills Thinking About Getting Hot in Death Valley

It is currently only 99 degrees. With the humidity making it feel like 102. It was 92 when I took my Hiking Club to the Tandy Hills today. It felt like it was 110.

In the picture you are looking north on the trail you access the Tandy Hills from via the park on View Street.

The hottest I have ever experienced was Death Valley in August of 1998. I was in Las Vegas with my two oldest nephews. The morning paper had the news that conditions were such that Death Valley might break its temperature record that day.

My nephews were up for chasing a record high temperature, so it was off to Badwater in Death Valley we drove.

Unfortunately the temperature did not break the record. If I remember right it only reached 124. Being in 124 degree heat in Death Valley does not feel as HOT as Texas HEAT feels.

When you are at 124 degrees in the super dry desert you drink copious amounts of liquid. But you do not perspire, for the most part. Nor do you find yourself needing to find a restroom facility to void excess liquid. Getting super HOT in the desert is quite a different experience from getting super HOT in Texas.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit of angst, with no reason for the angst. I thought swimming would alter the feeling of foreboding. Post-swim, I still felt angst. Usually over-stimulating myself on the Tandy Hills restores my usual good mood.

But, not today.

I'm sure my high anxiety will dissipate by tomorrow.

Riding The New Texas Giant Wooden Roller Coaster In Six Flags Over Texas

In the picture you are looking at the newly re-built Texas Giant Wooden Roller Coaster in Six Flags Over Texas, right before the coaster drops down what is now the world's steepest wooden roller coaster drop.

Since I have been in Texas I have only been to Six Flags three times. When I moved here I assumed I'd get a season pass and visit frequently.

This assumption was based on assuming that Six Flags was as fun as Disneyland, with Disneyland being a theme park I've visited many many times.

I was not long into my first visit to Six Flags when I realized it was not quite the Disneyland type experience.

Disneyland is immaculate. Six Flags is a bit messy. Litter floating in waterways. Broken down TVs overhead when waiting in line. This may have been all fixed by now. The last time I've been to Six Flags was the year the Titan Hypercoaster opened. I've no idea how many years ago that was.

I did not like the Texas Giant Wooden Roller Coaster in its original form. It was a bone jarring, neck jerking, back aching, bumpy ride. With very uncomfortable seats. The new version appears to be a HUGE improvement.

You can take a virtual ride on the Texas Giant Wooden Roller Coaster via the YouTube video below....

The Morning After A Very Quiet 4th Of July In Texas

I am up early this 5th day of July, looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at a glowing hot tub and a blue oasis.

It is already semi-HOT this morning. 80 degree. Heading to a predicted high of 103, with the humidity making it feel like it is 106.

Thunderstorms are on the menu for today.

I made it through the 4th of July in Texas without seeing a single firework light up the sky or the crack of even one firecracker.

Sometime in the late afternoon of the 4th I did see and hear a loud flyover of several military jets in formation. I assume this was part of one or more of the D/FW Metroplex's 4th of July celebrations. Maybe they were heading towards the Fort Worth Stockyards to fly over Willie's 4th of July Picnic.

The sun has now lit up the outdoors enough to enable me to find my way to the swimming pool. Which is where I am going right now.

No 4th Of July Firecrackers Cracking In Texas While I Drink Beet Juice Lemonade

It is almost 4 in the afternoon of the 4th of July in Texas. I have yet to hear the crack of a single firecracker or any other noisemaker.

Those of you reading this in Washington, particularly those reading this in the Skagit Valley, know why I find this 4th of July quiet so strange.

Before moving to Texas and experiencing the reality of Texas, had you asked me what I thought the 4th of July would be like in Texas I would have guessed that the noise level would be greatly louder than Washington.

Instead it is very, very quiet.

The Tandy Hills Bamboo Tepee is still standing. It has been months since this mysterious piece of Guerrilla Art appeared deep inside the Tandy Hills.

Why did someone go to the effort of hauling 14 long bamboo poles, over difficult, rocky trails, up and down hills, to this particular location? And then build a Bamboo Tepee?

I may not be hearing any firecrackers cracking, but I sure am hearing a lot of cicadas cracking.

Speaking of wildlife. I have not seen a single lizard on the Tandy Hills this year. Last year I saw many lizards, including one very big one. Where are the lizards?

Wink has no 4th of July celebration of the city organized sort. But, apparently a group skinny dipping 4th of July party is planned for one of the Wink Sinkholes. I learned this from the Queen of Wink who was thinking of dipping in the Wink Sink today.

I had a tasty 4th of July lunch today. Pizza, pulled BBQ pork, beet onion salad and beet juice lemonade.

You are what you eat...

The Dawn Of The 4th Of July In Texas

It is the 4th of July with me feeling rebellious. So, I am breaking free of my usual habit of taking a picture from one of my viewing portals on the world.

What you are looking at in the picture is a very tall Uncle Sam walking in the 4th of July Parade in Granbury, Texas.

The 2011 version of the Granbury 4th of July Parade will get underway in a few hours. I do not believe I will be in attendance.

Later today, after the sun sets, fireworks will be lighting up the sky all over the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. I do not know if I will be viewing any of these explosions.

The temperature prediction for today has been revised slightly downward, with the predicted high for today now being only 100 degrees. With the humidity making it feel like 106. A possible late afternoon thunderstorm has been added to the schedule.

A good thunderstorm with a lot of lightning would seem to be an excellent companion piece to a fireworks show.

Currently the sky is void of clouds. Perfect conditions for going swimming, which I think I will do right now.

Stalking Yucca Plants On The HOT Tandy Hills

I think the plant with two stalks growing out of it is a yucca plant. I see a lot of this plant on the Tandy Hills.

A couple years ago I read that yucca was very nutritious. Rich in iron, if I remember right, and other minerals.

I bought yucca roots a couple times at my favorite Asian grocery store in Arlington's Chinatown.

I think yucca is an acquired taste that I was unable to acquire.

If that is yucca growing on the Tandy Hills I don't know if it is the edible sort. I do know that it'd be really bad behavior to dig up some Tandy Hills yucca roots.

The drought seems to be affecting some of the Tandy Hills prairie greenery. I saw some major wilting going on today.

I also did some major wilting on the Tandy Hills today. Very humid. Right now it is 99 degrees with the humidity making it feel like 110. That is HOT.

Tomorrow, for the 4th of July, the current prediction is for the real temperature to hit 103, with the HEAT INDEX reaching 108. That is also HOT.

The Great Texas Mosquito Festival In Clute

This morning I mentioned that I had suffered my first mosquito bite since being exiled in Texas.

Miss GG then commented regarding me getting bit, saying, "I know you don't like to hear this, but it's just more proof you're a Texan. Also, you said 'skeeter' the other day. Maybe that's WA speak, but I doubt it."

Actually skeeter is WA speak for mosquito. It must be a universal nickname.

Mosquito seems to be the theme of the day, today.

This morning I got an invite to The Great Texas Mosquito Festival. This festival takes place in the Brazosport Area, in the town of Clute, down in the Texas Gulf Coast Region.

The Great Texas Mosquito Festival has taken place annually for 3 decades on the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday of July. Which makes this year's Great Texas Mosquito Festival happening on July 28, 29 and 30 at Clute's Municipal Park.

The Great Texas Mosquito Festival has a carnival, games, contests, races, tours and Live Entertainment Nightly on stage. For the athletically inclined, there is a “Mosquito Chase” 5K Run and 600 meter Kids run on Saturday. Also on Saturday there are tournaments featuring double horseshoe pitching and double washer pitching. If you can cook then you must enter the BBQ Cookoff and Grill Master Competition. For the more mature (60+) there is BINGO and for the little ones, there are haystack dives, Skeeter Beaters Baby Crawling, O’You Beautiful Doll, Petting Zoo, Kid’s Fishing, Monster Water Balls, Carnival, and more. There are food and arts and craft vendors. Then for some extra fun enter the Mosquito Calling or Mosquito Legs Contest.

The Great Texas Mosquito Festival website has an informative press release with an imaginative tale of how a mosquito named Willie Man-Chew began The Great Texas Mosquito Festival.

From his vantage point high atop a moss-hung oak, Willie Man-Chew rested from his long search for a perfect home and surveyed the scene below. Here, in the early summer of 1981, the sight and sounds that greeted him were a delight to his senses. There were healthy, tanned humans playing ball, swimming in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, enjoying state of-the-art playground equipment, laughing and having fun. Willie’s discerning eye noted the lush greenery surrounding the homes and schools in the neighborhood. Springing, as he does from the finest bloodlines in southern Brazoria County, he realized that he had, at last, found the land of his dreams.

Willie quickly marshaled a group of humans as his official goodwill ambassadors and began preparations for the first of the annual festivals that honor him and his fellow mosquitoes the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of July each year. These ambassadors, whom Willie affectionately and jokingly calls his “Swat Team” present three fun filled days of special events, games, food, carnival rides, and contests, craft booths, cookoffs and much, much more.  Ya’ll come down to Clute, Texas and join us just for the fun of it!

I guess The Great Texas Mosquito Festival sort of sounds fun. I don't know if it sounds fun enough to drive all the way to a location 55 mile southeast of Houston.