4th Day Of August Day 34 In A Row Over 100 In North Texas

Looking at the outdoor world via my primary viewing portal one might correctly assume the fiery sky orb did its daily light up the day duty before I arrived awake for the 4th day of August.

Today will be Day 34 in a Row of 100 degrees or higher.

Yesterday again broke the Texas electricity usage record. For the third day in a row. So far the HEAT has not broken the grid and no rolling blackouts have been needed.

We are already at 87.1 this morning with the sun barely beginning its daily HEAT duty. Up in my old home zone of the Skagit Valley the sun is only able to warm that chilly zone to 53.2 this morning.

I think I will go swimming now, before it gets any HOTTER.

Trying To Track The Location Of My Mom & Dad While Walking With The Texas Ghosts Along Arlington's Village Creek

It was over 100 by a couple degrees, when I left air-conditioned comfort to head to a shaded place to walk under trees.

Only two places meet the shaded walk place criteria within a 10 mile radius of my location, as far as I know.

Both in Arlington. River Legacy Park and the Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

I chose history over legacy today.

As you can see in the picture there is still greenery surrounding the now dried up Village Creek Bayou. I worry where the fish, snakes, alligator gar and turtles go when a bayou goes dry.

I talked to my Arizona sister whilst walking in the jungle today. We compared our relative HEAT levels (double meaning). At that point in time my sister was HOTTER than me by 6 degrees. I think I likely beat Arizona in the Real Feel Heat Index, due to the Valley of the Sun, where Phoenix and Chandler lie, being in a desert. A dry HEAT desert.

Currently the Real Feel Heat Index at my location in North Texas is 114 degrees. 108.6 feeling like 114. Meanwhile in Phoenix it is 107.7 feeling like 112.

This morning I was surprised to learn that the local vigilante version of Homeland Security thwarted a plot to stick me in a kayak in the Trinity River, then flipping the kayak and videotaping me coming back to the surface covered with Trinity River excrement.

There are many reasons I live behind a multi-level security system.

Changing subjects from getting me muddy in the Trinity River to my mom and dad.

Mom and dad's trip to Washington has turned very mysterious. I learned today that when they arrived in Tacoma on Friday they did not stay at my sister's house, instead staying in a hotel. They left Tacoma some time Sunday to retrieve some goods at a location on the Olympic Peninsula, before heading to our old home zone in the Skagit Valley.

I do not know by what route they ended up in the Skagit Valley. I suspect the peninsula route and ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island was taken, thus avoiding the traffic on the east side of Puget Sound.

Apparently mom and dad had a meeting arranged with Spencer Jack and Spencer's dad, my nephew, in Mount Vernon, where my nephew, Jason, made dinner for mom and dad. It is not known if Spencer's uncle Joey was at this dinner.

From Mount Vernon mom and dad headed east across the Cascades, by which pass, it is not known. I think we can rule out the North Cascades Highway Pass, and likely Snoqualmie Pass, as that pass would involve heading south, back into King County and bad traffic again. I am guessing they took Stevens Pass, which has always been our family unit's favorite for multiple reasons.

Reasons like it was the route to getting apples, apricots, peaches, cherries and other Eastern Washington agricultural goodies. The route to Sun Lakes State Park. The route to Soap Lake. The route to Wenatchee State Park. The route to Leavenworth. The route to Stehekin.

And the scenic way to get to my aunt's place on a bluff above the Columbia River south of Othello, which was mom and dad's last known destination.

Up Early On The First Wednesday Of August Ready For Some More Record Breaking Texas Heat

I was up before the sun, again, on this 3rd day of August.

I am over 24 hours without any endorphin producing aerobic stimulation. In a few minutes I will alleviate that problem by visiting that glowing bluish thing you see in the picture.

The sun has now arrived, just a couple minutes ago. Already the outer world is being heated to 88.4, heading to a high, again, of 106.

Yesterday, Texas again set an electricity consumption record. That record is expected to be broken again today.

Today will be Day 33 in a Row of 100 or higher in North Texas. The record is 42 Days in a Row. I suspect that record will also be broken.

In summers previous in Texas, if I am remembering correctly, on HOT days there usually was always a good wind blowing. For the most part, this summer, that does not seem to be the case. I think the reliable wind blowing is what made hiking doable during the extreme HOT times in summers past.

If it is windy today, which I doubt will happen, I am going to do myself some HOT hill hiking.

In the meantime, I am going swimming.

The Texas HEAT Has Driven Me From The Tandy Hills

Almost 109 in the 3 in the afternoon time frame on this sweltering 2nd day of July.

I suspect a temperature record will be set again today.

I was not able to go swimming today.

With no wind blowing, and even though the humidity had dropped, I decided not to subject my aged self to my usual daily salubrious HEAT stress.

I can not remember the last time a day has gone this far past midnight with me having had no aerobically induced endorphins sedating my pain. It sort of makes me sleepy. I am drinking coffee, right now, something I rarely do, except early in the morning, hoping the coffee caffeine stimulates me out of this extreme doldrum that has me thinking this must be how people feel when they decide to take a nap in the middle of the day.

Changing the subject from the Texas temperature to my nomadic mom and dad. A couple hours ago I heard from my Tacoma sister that mom and dad have left Tacoma and the company of Blue, Max, David, Theo and Ruby to head North to see Spencer Jack and then East to see my favorite auntie and then back to Arizona.

I imagine mom and dad have been shivering bad up in Washington. Right now it is only 69.8 in Tacoma. That is 10.2 degrees chillier than my interior space and 38.8 degrees chillier than my exterior space.

I'm shivering just thinking about being up in Washington right now.

Is It Time To Escape The Texas Heat By Heading North For Mom & Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary Party?

I was fairly certain my mom and dad were currently up in Washington. I have been unable to reach them when I get gas and call to tell them how much it cost. And how HOT it is.

Currently it is over an hour til noon and we are already over 100 at 102.2, with the Wind Chill Factor and low humidity making it feel like 101.

I learned this morning, via the poodles, Blue and Max, that they are currently playing with my mom and dad.

In the picture that is my mom and dad, in Tacoma, with either Blue or Max sitting next to mom.

In 4 days, on August 6, it will be mom and dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary. I was in Tacoma with mom and dad for their 57th Wedding Anniversary.

I have never known why mom and dad chose to get married on the same day a bad bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, 6 years prior to their nuptials.

I believe it was 10 years ago tomorrow that I took off, solo, from Fort Worth, on one of my funnest Roadtrips ever, heading to Washington for mom and dad's 50th Anniversary Party, which was taking place 5 days after their anniversary, on Saturday, August 11.

No one but my two oldest nephews knew I was coming home for the Anniversary Party.

I have not been informed of any 60th Anniversary Party. Currently there are multiple issues between my sisters, of which I have little understanding, except for the fact that, near as I can tell, they emanate from one source. That one source has also been having problems with my mom. And me. You may be able to deduce from this limited information that one of my siblings is a bit of a problem child.

I suspect there will be a small 60th Anniversary Party at my sister's house in Tacoma. I suspect I will not be there. I remember mom and dad's 40th, 20 years ago, as if it were yesterday. That party took place out on Samish Island. The party place on Samish Island no longer exists. Yet one more thing lost to the passage of time.

August Starts With Record Breaking Texas Temperatures & Electricity Use With My Pool In Shock

Day 2 of August has barely seen the arrival of that giant hydrogen explosion in the sky, yet those nuclear reactions are already heating my area of Planet Earth to 88.1 degrees.

Heading to a scheduled high of 108 today.

The first day of August got to 107, breaking the former record of 106.

The Texas electric grid operator, called the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, reported that Texas set a peak-hour electricity usage record yesterday between 4 and 5 in the afternoon.

Today will be Day 32 in a Row of 100 or higher. The record is 42 days. I strongly suspect the record will be broken.

In the meantime, I am unable to escape the heat for a refreshing dip in the pool, due to this being the day the pool gets it non-electrical chemical shock. A very needed shock when the water is being overly heated on a daily basis.

As you can see in the above picture, the pool is looking particularly inviting this morning. Sadly, I can not accept the invitation.

Walking HOT In Texas With Indian Ghosts & Dead Possums

The temperature was slightly HOT when I left air-conditioned comfort and headed to the Post Office a bit before noon. At that point in time it was only 99.7 with a Real Feel Heat Index of only 103.

It was not feeling all that HOT to me, so upon leaving the Post Office I drove to the Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

In the area of the former Indian Village there are a lot of big oak trees, likely old growth oak trees dating back to the days when they provided shade for the big Indian Village that thrived in this historic area.

A wind was blowing. Despite the Great North Texas Drought the leaves on the trees along Village Creek are still green, creating a shaded, lush, jungle-like walking space.

Water no longer flows in Village Creek. The creek level has dropped below the outlets of the dam/bridge crossings. The Village Creek Bayou is now totally dried up.

Due to Village Creek running out of water, isolated ponds have formed. Below one of the dam/bridges I saw a couple dozen fish trapped, waiting for rain to raise the creek so they could escape before their pond dries up.

At one of the sharp corners on the trail through the jungle there is a mirror so that you can see if a fast moving bike is about to hit you. Or a rattlesnake.

I tried to take a picture of myself reflected in the trail mirror. That did not work out too well.

Arlington Animal Control releases animals in the Village Creek Natural Historic Area. The only animals I have seen released are possums. Last week I saw an animal control guy release a very small possum. When I pulled into the parking lot today an Animal Control truck was leaving.

Soon after starting my walk in the shade I was startled to look down to see a possum.

The possum looked like it was playing possum, sleeping on the concrete. But, it actually was dead, not playing possum, with a lot of flies making note of that fact.

Upon my return a lady, with two big dogs pulling her along the trail, was about 100 feet from the dead possum. I sped up to warn her about the dead possum. I was afraid she'd be upon it before she realized it, with who knows what level of unpleasantness with the dogs.

I watched as she maneuvered around the possum, with her dogs trying hard to inspect it closer.

Change of subject from dead critters to our deadly weather. We are currently at 105.8, with a Heat Index of 110. Tomorrow is scheduled to be HOTTER, as you can via the 7 day Fort Worth forecast below....

The First Day Of August Will Be Day 31 In A Row Over 100 Degrees In North Texas

As you can see via the existence of a Shadow of the Bald Thin Man I am up well before the sun this first day of August.

Monday is already heated to 86.1, heading to a scheduled high of 106 on Day 31 in a Row of 100 degrees or more.

This morning, at my former location in the Skagit Valley of Washington, the natural air conditioning is chilling the Puget Sound zone to 47.4.

My interior A/C just cycled on, cooling me to 80.

Yesterday I blogged about seeing an old lady in pink and a gloved jogger.

Someone calling him or herself Anonymous commented about the gloved jogger....

Yes, the gloved hands do look odd. You aren't old enough, yet- but treatment for skin cancer (basal or squamous) or post- forever treatment requires covering up the affected areas. Hence, his long sleeved shirt too. Men, particularly seem to get these conditions on the hands, forearms, balding heads and chests. He probably used to do exactly what you are doing now, outdoors, with no protection.

Why would the gloved jogger go jogging in the High Noon HEAT if everything needed to be covered due to cancer? How does Anonymous know how old I am? How does Anonymous know whether or not I slather SPF 50 sunscreen all over my exposed parts, including my bald head?

I think I shall go swimming now and do some Anonymous pondering. Without sunscreen.

Fort Worth's Forward Thrust Turning Fosdic Lake Into A Boondoggle-Free Recreational Lake

As you can see, Fort Worth's Fosdic Lake was looking particularly scenic on this last Sunday of July. Dead calm had the lake turned into a giant mirror.

In the picture you are standing on Fosdic Dam, looking south.

I think I have mentioned previously my disgusted disdain regarding the fact that Fort Worth has no public swimming pools open during this HOT time.

I've mentioned before that I thought Fort Worth should use eminent domain, in a non-abusive way, for once, to take Burger's Lake and turn it into a free to the public swimming hole.

Or turn Fosdic Lake into a big swimming hole, giving kid's free bus passes to get to an actual town lake.

There are at least three water inputs running into Fosdic Lake. I'm sure diversion channels could easily divert that water, running it to the Trinity River, without running it into Fosdic Lake.

Some in Fort Worth are really big on building un-needed diversion channels for things like the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

The Fosdic Lake diversion channels would actually have a legitimate purpose. And probably would cost a fraction of the cost of the TRV Boondoggle's unneeded flood diversion channel.

Once the dirty water is stopped from flowing into Fosdic Lake, the lake could be drained, a new lake bottom installed, with aerating fountains.

Then re-fill Fosdic Lake with nice clean processed water. Really, how much could this cost? Likely way less than building new swimming pools.

I believe Fort Worth is the biggest city in America without public swimming pools. Or clean lakes. With beaches.

Turning Fosdic Lake into a recreational lake could be the start of a real Fort Worth Forward Thrust, with a solid chance of not becoming the latest Fort Worth Boondoggle.

The Old Pink Lady & Gloved Jogger Today Turned Fort Worth's Fosdic Lake Into Texas Twin Peaks

Walking around Fosdic Lake at Oakland Lake Park, today, had a bit of a Texas Twin Peaks feel.

When I left air-conditioned comfort, before noon, the sun was already heating Sunday to a HOT 97.4 with the Real Feel Heat Index feeling like 101.

The First Texas Twin Peaks thing was what I saw upon arrival at Oakland Lake Park's east parking lot. An elderly lady, dressed mostly in pink, was standing under the sparse shade of a small tree by the tennis courts.

The Old Lady in Pink was using a very crooked cane to support herself.

Walking across Fosdic Dam a guy who appeared to be a very overweight middle-aged man of Asian descent was being pulled by 4 yapping Chihuahuas on very long leashes. I said howdy to the dogs and the guy as I passed. The guy said something back to me in some Asian language. Maybe Chinese. Maybe Thai. Maybe Korean.

A short time after howdying the Chihuahuas, the most Texas Twin Peak thing of the walk rapidly ran toward me. That's right, you read correctly, a man was out jogging in the 101 degree HEAT. An elderly man with a very very well-worn face, wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirt, a headband, hat. And gloves.

Yes. Gloves. 101 degrees HOT and this guy was jogging while wearing gloves.

After the Gloved Jogger passed me, I got to the west side of Fosdic Dam and took several pictures of him, using the zoom. One of those pictures is at the top.

I then continued with my walk around Fosdic Lake. When I got back to the west side of the lake I saw the Gloved Jogger jogging once more across Fosdic Dam. I knew our paths would again intersect, so I prepared to shoot.

I was not prepared for what happened next. I snapped several pictures as the Gloved Jogger ran towards me. And then he stopped jogging, took a left and said something. He was some distance from me, so I was fairly certain he was not addressing me.

The person the Gloved Jogger was addressing was the Old Lady in Pink. The Gloved Jogger walked up to the Old Lady in Pink and took her hand, holding hands as they walked to their car. Apparently they are a couple.

She had stood there under the slight shade of that slight tree while the Gloved Jogger ran at least two times around Fosdic Lake. In 101 degree HEAT.

I was down at lake level, the parking lot is on a bluff above the lake. I watched the slow process of the Old Lady in Pink helping the Gloved Jogger remove most of his outerwear. This is how I learned he had a headband on under the hat. And a t-shirt under the long sleeved shirt. He did not take his pants off, so I don't know if he was wearing long underwear under them.

Prior to the Gloved Jogger, meeting up with the Old Lady in Pink, another jogger Texas Twin Peaked me. This guy had a very odd jogging style. With very skinny legs covered with tattoos. By his grizzled leathery face he appeared to be old. But I don't think he was. He had a youngish spiked haircut, dyed blond. And really creepy piercings all over his face.

And then there were the Fosdic Lake Ducks today.

I don't think the ducks like the HEAT.

Usually the birds that live on Fosdic Lake are skittish. But not today. Ducks floated in the shade of shoreline trees. And did not care that I was getting close to them.

I would have thought the Fosdic Lake Turtles would have been out and about, loving the HEAT. But I saw no turtles today. That is unusual.

According to my weather station, we have gone over 100 today. I don't know if it has gone over 100 at the official measuring station. I suspect it has, thus making this Day 30 in a Row of 100 or HOTTER in North Texas. Which would make this now the 2nd longest HOT streak in North Texas history. Twelve more days of 100 or more and we either tie or break the all time record of 42 HOT days in a row, set in 1980.