The North Texas Hippie Revival With Gar The Texan's Notorious Mullet

I only of late learned to pay attention to the ads in Fort Worth Weekly.

I learned to pay attention because I discovered the ads can be funny, goofy, tasteless, bizarre and sometimes informative.

In the goofy/funny/bizarre category is the ad for a hair cutting business in Fort Worth called Salon 70.

I was shocked to recognize the guy in the photo to be Gar the Texan back in his mullet days.

I wonder how much Gar the Texan is getting paid for allowing his likeness to be used in this manner?

Gar the Texan continued with this particular peculiar hairstyle well after I first met him. Though at that point in time he was no longer coloring his mullet blond.

I did not notice a Condom Sense tasteless ad in this week's Fort Worth Weekly. It was likely there, with me failing to notice it.

A few years back something someone said to me caused me to wonder if the Hippie Era of the 60s at all penetrated into the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Zone. Was it Don Young saying he was kicked out of school for being a long-haired weirdo who refused to get a haircut? I don't remember.

Well, there is an ad in this week's Fort Worth Weekly for a store in Arlington called Feed Your Head.

Feed Your Head claims it is "Your Hippie Revival Headquarters."

Feed You Head has a website. Hippies never had websites.

By the time the Hippie Era ended, longer and longer hair had become accepted by most. And then, by the 80s, what had been a counter-culture type thing, regarding hair, had morphed into things like mullets, where the un-cool tried to be cool by getting what they thought was a cool cut. A mullet.

So, this ad has me wondering anew, did the Hippie Era intrude at all into the D/FW zone? Was there a D/FW equivalent of Haight-Ashbury?

I suspect not.

Fads take awhile to reach these parts. And to leave these parts. Just today, on my drive back from Arlington, I saw two instances of clueless fools thinking they were cool by having their pants hanging low, below their underwear. This fad died a long, long time ago in the more trendsetting zones of America.

How much longer is this fad going to live on in North Texas? It is both perplexing and pathetic. On the plus side, Gar the Texan has not had a mullet for almost a decade. And he quit wearing droopy drawers at least 5 years ago.

Escaping The Blistering Texas Heat Walking In the Shaded Wildscape Of Arlington's Veterans Park

I had to go to beautiful downtown Arlington today to renew my vehicle license. I realized yesterday I'd forgotten to do this.

I got to the vehicle license renewal location and took a number. While I waited for my number to be called, I called my mom and finally got mom on the phone, after many tries, on many days, so I could hear mom and dad's tale of the Great Phoenix Dust Storm.

Unlike my sister, mom and dad were not taken by surprise by the Dust Storm. They'd heard warnings on TV. Mom said they are still cleaning up the aftermath.

Since I was in Arlington I decided to go walk in the shady Veterans Park Wildscape. To get from the parking lot to the shaded Wildscape one has to walk a distance in open area totally exposed to the blistering sun. That exposure started up the overheating process.

Even though I was mostly in the shade I suffered the drenching wet phenomenon that I don't remember happening in Texas summers of the past. Maybe this is happening because I am so grossly overweight and no longer the skinny boy I used to be.

The shaded trails of the Veterans Park Wildscape are a bit of a maze. Parts of the trail are boardwalks. There are critters in the shade. I saw my first lizard of the year. And heard a squirrel having some sort of emotional crisis.

As you can see, at a few minutes after 3, this Friday afternoon, we have hit 103. I suspect it was nearly 100 when I walked in the shaded Veterans Park Wildscape.

My old home location in the Skagit Valley of Washington is currently naturally air-conditioned to a chilly 66. At my current location in the Trinity Valley of Texas I am currently unnaturally air-conditioned to a semi-chilly 82. With ceiling fans spinning.

The 3rd Friday Of July Will Likely Be Day 14 In A Row Over 100 In North Texas

As you can see, I am up before the sun this 3rd Friday of July, Day 15, almost half of the 7th month of 2011 is over.

The pool looks extra inviting glowing a sort of aqua-marine color right before the sun starts its daily illumination job.

Speaking of that illuminating sun, yesterday was the 13th day in a row we have reached or exceeded the 100 degree mark, hitting 103 yesterday.

Thursday's morning low of 84 broke a record by being the highest low ever recorded for July 14 in North Texas.

My temperature monitoring device tells me it is 82 this morning. I do not know if that is a record high for today's morning low. We are currently scheduled to hit a high of 104 today, with a Real Feel Heat Index of 109.

Meanwhile, up north, at my old home location in the frigid state of Washington, it is currently 59 degrees, with rain showers.

We are currently 5 days from it being 3 years since I last flew up to the frigid north for a month of shivering.

When I returned to HOT Texas from my last visit to the frigid north I said it'd be at least 10 years before I subjected myself to that torment again. Time has since sort of softened that attitude. A little.

It is time, now, for my morning swimming in a pool naturally heated to a temperature about 30 degrees warmer than the sun is currently heating Washington.

Visiting Fort Worth's Paradise Center With CatsPaw

I have returned to Durango Headquarters from my visit to Paradise Center with CatsPaw.

I had my camera with me. But, I did not feel right about asking if I could take pictures. That always puts people on the spot. I usually only take pictures if I am surrepititious about it. I had no idea if the Paradise Center folks would be shy about pictures, so I thought it best just to keep the camera in my pants.

Fort Worth's Lone Ranger, Steve Doeung, took some pictures when he arrived towards the end of our visit. At that point in time, due to Steve's camera-free example, I realized it would have been okay for me to go into picture taking mode, but that point in time was when CatsPaw and I were leaving.

I don't know why I am going on and on about pictures, except to explain why I took none, when usually I am a picture taking maniac.

Teresa gave CatsPaw and me very nice Paradise Center t-shirt's. Mine is 2XXL, which means it fits me well. Unlike the medium sized shirts my mom sends me. That would be me in my Paradise Center t-shirt in the picture. I am smiling because Elsie Hotpepper said she'd pay me $100 if I smiled in a picture.

Visiting the Paradise Center, up close and personal, I can say they need no more TVs or computers.

However, is there anyone out there in the Fort Worth zone with a BIG HEART and plumbing skills who could help do some simple plumbing involving installing a sink?

Anyone out there in the Fort Worth zone with a BIG HEART with some building skills who could help knock out a wall to make a bigger common area room?

Anyone out there in the Fort Worth zone with a BIG HEART with some ability to help build a simple outdoor shaded area?

Anyone out there in the Fort Worth zone with a BIG HEART and a picnic table they would like to see go to good use?

Today I could clearly see, with a little help, and a little work, Paradise Center could easily be a paradise, inside and out.

I can't remember the last time I felt my spirits lifted by so many uplifting spirits.

Including CatsPaw.

You can find information about Paradise Center, contact info and location on the Paradise Center website.

You can learn all about the Paradise Center Scandal and the dirty deeds done in Tarrant County by those who need to be held accountable for their dirty deeds, by visiting the Paradise Center Scandal website.

I Did Not Suffer Heatstroke Today Thinking About Hiking In Yosemite Or General Tarrant's Eminent Domain Abuse At Village Creek

Yes, I know I sort of clearly indicated I was going to stay out of the Texas sun today and thus avoid any minor heatstroke incidents.

But, I was feeling the need to be outside after spending hours inside working on webpages and blogs.

Including a blogging on my Durango Roadtripping Blog that made me want to return to Yosemite National Park and hike to the Glacier Point viewpoint of Half Dome, Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada Falls and the rest of the panoramic view of the Yosemite Valley from up high.

The highest I have ever been up the Yosemite Valley walls of granite is half way up to the top of Yosemite Falls. My co-hikers lacked the stamina to go any further. That and they were hungry.

Today I did not do anything in the Texas Heat as strenuous as hiking in the Yosemite Valley. In the ongoing process of taking America away from the Natives who had lived there for thousands of years, at one point Indians sought refuge in the Yosemite Valley.

Indians wish they had refuge in the place I walked today, that being, again, Village Creek Natural Historic Area, it being the site, long ago, of one of the biggest Indian Villages in America, an agricultural center growing corn and squash and other goodies, until, like I've said before, Texans came along, in what became Tarrant County, using a somewhat primitive form of eminent domain abuse to take their land away from its rightful owners.

One of the Texans who used the primitive form of eminent domain abuse, to remove (or kill) the Village Creek Indians, was named Edward H. Tarrant. He was a General. Due to his successful use of primitive eminent domain abuse, Tarrant County was named after him. Tarrant County continues to honor the memory of General Tarrant by repeatedly securing its reputation as the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of the Free World.

Changing the subject from eminent domain abusers to my HEAT woes.

I did not overheat today, even though it was 94 when I left my abode, with a Real Feel Heat Index of 98.

In the Village Creek Bayou, today, I saw a bird colored in a very nice shade of blue. Is it a blue heron?

The Village Creek Bayou appears to be quickly drying up. Parts of it are now mud. What becomes of the snakes, turtles, fish and birds if the bayou turns totally to mud?

Well, I am totally headache-free and heading towards downtown Fort Worth in a few minutes to find the Center of Paradise and the Paws of a Cat. Wish me luck in this very risky endeavor.

I hope I don't overheat.

A HOT Hiking Heatstroke Moratorium Hoping To Enter Paradise In Texas

Looking at the blue-tinted view from my primary viewing portal on the world on this, the 2nd Thursday of July, Day 14, it appears to be yet one more cloud-free morning in Texas.

Currently heated to 83 degrees, heading to a scheduled high of 105, with a Real Feel Heat Index of 109.

I think I will test my doctor's theory that my recent afternoon headaches have been heat exposure related and not expose myself to the noonday heat today.

I have some skepticism regarding this theory I have been suffering from a minor case of heatstroke due to the fact I have been hiking in the HOT Texas noonday sun for years without any noticeable dire effects.

However, this summer it does appear to be more humid than summers past. And, the number of Barnett Shale Natural Gas wells spewing who knows what into the air that I breathe is something I did not much contend with 5 or 6 or 7 years ago.

I am currently scheduled to go with a cat to the Center of Paradise this afternoon around 3. I can not remember the last time I went to the Center of Paradise with a cat.

If I do not get aerobic endorphin stimulation via HOT hill hiking today, that means the only way I can get my needed daily fix is via swimming. I think I will go take care of that right now.

Recovering From Possible Heatstroke Possibly Caused By Hiking The 102 Degrees HOT Tandy Hills Today

I had myself plenty of endorphin stimulating aerobic activity swimming early this morning.

By the time my regular, daily, I feel cooped up and need to get some of what passes for fresh air in this seriously polluted location I currently inhabit time of the day rolled in around noon I was just a bit wary of doing any hill hiking on the Tandy Hills.

Even though the Tandy Hills is a registered, certified, Natural Sanatorium Area, which does a body a world of good, it was 96 when I decided it was time to leave air-conditioned comfort.

96 with a Real Feel Heat Index of 102.

Since I was going to Town Talk hoping to get sushi and Cornish game hens I parked at the park on View Street access to the Tandy Hills. I was not soon into walking when I realized I likely was not going to be wanting to go down and up any steep hills.

I was already feeling a bit woozy, for who knows what reason. I did not have with me my favorite piece of elderly person equipment, that being my little remote control device that I can use to hit a button and say, "Help me, I've fallen and can't get up."

But, I did have my cell phone with me, so if a serious case of heatstroke struck me I figured I could call 911. But that really would seem rather selfish to put the 911 rescue people through HOT HELL just because I was foolish enough to subject myself to the Texas Furnace.

So, I risked no steep trail heat prostration by staying on the trails that are fairly flat that lead in from View Street. I still got too HOT.

All it takes is some wind and for the humidity to head further south and then these HOT temperatures become much more easy for me to tolerate.

As you can see, by around 3 in the afternoon it has not heated up all that much hotter than it was at noon. Currently 100, with the Real Feel Heat Index feeling like 104.

The predicted high for today is 104, which should happen, if it does, around 5. At 104 the Real Feel Heat Index will only be 106.

This morning I read the Queen of Wink waxing on about rain that fell upon her parched parts in West Texas yesterday. Why is rain falling in the West Texas desert and not in this part of rain-starved Texas? We are wilting here. Wilting and turning brown.

I got a confession from Tarrant Liberty Guy an hour or so ago, confessing to playing fast and loose with my words on the TRIP website. I mentioned this particular crime in a blogging earlier today. I don't know if it is too late to turn off the police investigation.

I am having myself what seems to me, for me, a bit of a very very rare headache. Is this some sort of possible heatstroke symptom?

TRIP's Enhanced Version Of Durango Rockin' The River With JD Granger & His Mama

The screencap on the left is from the Trinity River Improvement Partnership website.

TRIP.

TRIP advocates a sane alternative to the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Of late I have been surprised a time or two to see my blog being re-posted by some entity other than myself.

Last night it was TRIP which surprised me.

TRIP has a blog on which I found my blog.

I likely told the TRIP people to feel free to use anything they want of my stuff. What made this use of my stuff interesting is my stuff was "enhanced." Arguably for the better.

For example, the opening sentence says....

From “Durango, Texas”, Saturday, July 9, 2011, where he asks, “Don’t algae and amoebas like it when the water gets warm like this?”

What I actually said was...

Is the Trinity River turning green due to the water warming up, due to the HOT weather, causing algae and other bad stuff to grow?

Now, when I wrote the above, I tried to think of another thing that grows in hot water. Amoebas did not occur to me. So I used the banal "bad stuff." I would have used amoebas had it occurred to me, just for the alliteration alone.

And then, under the ad for Rockin' the River on my blog, I have no caption. TRIP added the following caption...

Float in various germs, contaminants, bio-hazards and turds.

I would not have written this because the word "turds" is not in my vocabulary. I believe "turds" is Texas-speak for fecal matter.

The last 2 sentences in my blogging about Rockin' the River were...

Are J.D. Granger and his mom, Kay, going to be in the Trinity River on Thursday? If not, why not?

After those last 2 sentences TRIP repeated some of what I had written, including the 2 above sentences, and then added a lot more, which is pretty good verbiage, but not quite what I'd say, in the way I'd say it.

You can read the TRIP augmentations below...

WARNING!  DO NOT BECOME A FLOATER IN THE TRINITY! ELEVATED FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA CONDITIONS PRESENT!

Are J.D. Granger and his mom, Kay, going to be in the Trinity River on Thursday? If not, why not? When our ‘friends in the government’ are trying to persuade folks that all is great in the Trinity.  In fact, grab a tube and  join them in a float down the river!   PLEASE  remember this:

    * This is a media stunt, aimed at showing people having fun in the ‘clean enough’ waters of the Trinity ONLY!
    * These promoters care LITTLE for your health and well-being, apparently.
    * This is a taxpayer funded frat party (complete with drink specials for those that participate)
    * Federal and state studies warn us NOT to eat fish caught in the Trinity due to elevated PCB levels (a known carcinogen) and other harmful legacy (aka – BANNED) chemicals.
    * Industrial and agricultural waste runoff have only INCREASED since those tests
    * This portion of the Trinity is home to alligator gar and more importantly a growing population alligators.  They don’t mind sludgy, polluted swamps.  They have thick skin and murky water makes it easier for them to do their hunting.
    * Did we mention that this frat party was being paid for BY YOU?!?!?  Did you sign up to pay for this?

Real flood control is being ignored, water cleanup is claimed as unneeded and your health is at risk.  Demand some accountability!

I have no idea who I have to thank for so greatly enhancing my meager words. So, I'll just thank TRIP.

The 2nd Wednesday Of July In Texas Pondering Swimming While Not Drinking Cancer Causing Beer

The 2nd Wednesday of July, Day 13, has surprisingly dawned with yet one more blue sky morning a few miles north of being Deep in the Heart of Texas.

That blue oasis in the picture is looking particularly inviting this morning.

Currently we are being heated to 83 degrees with a 20 degree increase planned for the day, heading to a scheduled high of 103.

The drought is starting to noticeably take a toll. Greenery from tree leaves to weeds is starting to wilt.

Switching subjects to another type of liquid consumption. Surprising news from the French this morning. A French research study has concluded that the consumption of any amount of an alcoholic beverage presents a cancer danger.

As the news of this latest cancer danger spreads around the planet I expect alcohol consumption to plummet. This could lead to a Great Depression far greater than the Great Depression that began in 1929.

Switching subjects, again, to another subject involving water. My swimming pool is back in swimming mode again. I think I will go swimming now and ponder the Great Depression that is about to hit the world when everyone stops consuming adult beverages after finding out that such consumption will likely result in cancer.

Firearms And Hitting Golf Balls Are PROHIBITED In Arlington's Village Creek Natural Area

I am a fan of spotting what seems to me to be goofy verbiage on signs. Or in ads.

I do not know how I missed this particular verbiage on the sign I walk by every time I walk into the Village Creek Natural Historic Area in Arlington.

There are many things listed on the sign "For the Enjoyment of all Visitors," asking those visitors to "Please Observe these Park Rules."

Among the rules one is asked to observe is "Firearms and hitting golf balls are PROHIBITED."

I have never seen firearms and hitting golf balls linked together like this. I guess both potentially endanger park visitors with fast moving projectiles.

The sign does not prohibit fireworks. I heard no firecrackers cracking during our recent 4th of July in Texas. But today I saw a little unexploded, fuse still intact, firecracker, laying on the Village Creek Natural Historic Area ground.

Note the signage that includes the warning about firearms and hitting golf balls makes no mention of Village Creek being an Historic Area. I don't know why some of the Village Creek signs omit that, whilst others add that it is a Historic area.

Is there a park within easy driving distance from my location where I am not prohibited from having fun with my firearms while hitting golf balls? Preferably a natural, historic area.