Three Boys Stuck In The Fosdic Lake Mud While Fosdic Creek Floods With Fosducks & Turtles

Today as I drove on to the parking lot on the east side of Fosdic Lake in Oakland Lake Park I looked across to the west side of the lake to see something I have never seen before. Humans in the lake. Well, more precisely, humans appearing to be stuck in mud made bare by the receding Fosdic Lake, evaporating away due to the ongoing  Great North Texas Drought and 40 days in a row of 100 degrees of more.

The 3 guys in the mud were pulling stuff out of the mud. And then running across the mud to deposit what they'd pulled up in the garbage can that usually floats in the lake, but is currently sitting on the mud flat. I could see the boys were barefoot. Barefoot in thick, gooey, black mud that holds who knows what.

A short time later I was on the west side of Fosdic Lake, directly above where I'd seen the boys in the mud. No boys to be seen. A short distance from that location I walked down a cement stairway to lake level.

Still no boys to be seen. Then I noticed black mud footprints on the cement steps. I've no idea where those 3 boys went and how they went there so quickly. While barefoot.

The 3 boys may have hurried off the mud sand bar when they noticed that the level of Fosdic Lake was rising. Rising due to a large volume of water entering Fosdic Lake from a flooding Fosdic Creek. I assume yet one more Fort Worth water main had broken, somewhere upcreek from Fosdic Lake. The water appeared very milky.

In the news the past couple days has been the news that we may soon be in water restriction mode in North Texas due to the drought. Those vexing water main breaks are not helping conserve water.

I suspect the Fosdic Creek flood will likely quickly abate and Fosic Lake will continue evaporating. In the above picture you are looking at the beach that has formed on the east side of the lake.

The Fosdic Ducks, also known as Fosducks, had moved to a new shade location. Also in evidence were a few turtles. The Fosducks were not in the water, but the turtles were. So, that makes turtles and humans I sort of saw in Fosdic Lake today.

I think I'd be more willing to go inner tubing in Fosdic Lake than I would in the Trinity River. No slightly treated sewage is pumped in Fosdic Lake, as far as I know.

If You Like Soap Opera Mixed With Politics You've Come To The Right Place

I was blogging this morning about good news about the Paradise Center's little sweetheart's Elizabeth's successful heart procedure, when I clicked on the link to the Paradise Center website and found myself being talked about.

I found what was said to be nice and amusing....

We know this is out there.  Some of the comments are outrageous, unethical, unprofessional, and false.  We don't read it very often, because alot of the mean things are written by anonymous people ABOUT US.  And when we do read it, we get upset.  We don't like the negativity.  We're focusing on the here and now and our bright future.  So, if you like soap-opera stuff mixed in with local politics, click below and have some fun.

http://Paradise-Center-Scandal.blogspot.com

That blog and the following blog are written and hosted by Durango.  None of us at Paradise Center have ever met or talked to him.  We're pretty sure that's just his internet name.  But he is a local blogger with his finger on the pulse of what's happening in and around Fort Worth.  We think you'll find some interesting information about Fort Worth, and if you look closely, about Paradise Center.

http://durangotexas.blogspot.com

Thanks, Durango, for keeping our story alive!

You are welcome, Paradise Center.

On the Paradise Center website the sentence that says, "None of us at Paradise Center have ever met or talked to him," now has a line struck through it, because people at Paradise Center have now met me.

Microsoft Caused Tardiness On Day 40 In A Row Over 100 On Dr. L.C.'s Happy Birthday

It is almost 4 hours after a pre-dawn picture was taken of the view through the bars of my patio prison cell on this 10th day of August.

Microsoft is always very concerned about evil doers exploiting a weakness and taking over my computer. This morning it was Microsoft installing security updates which took over my computer.

Microsoft really seems to be the only evil doer that regularly takes over my computer.

I just heard from my therapist, Dr. L.C., asking what is wrong with me, apparently concerned that I am tardy with my regular blogging. Dr. L.C. also informed me she was canceling today's regularly scheduled therapy appointment due to needing to go celebrate the 20th Anniversary of her 29th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dr. L.C.

Speaking of schedules, today we are scheduled to be Day 40 in a Row over 100 degrees in North Texas. The record is 42 days.

Also scheduled is tomorrow's Grand Opening of Fort Worth's first In n' Out Burger joint. I suspect there will be traffic jams on West 7th tomorrow caused by legions of In n' Out fans looking to have a Double Double Cheeseburger.

I won't be one of the legion of fans jamming West 7th. I'll wait for the hubbub to die down to get me a Double Double Cheeseburger.

Visiting The Soldier Guarding Arlington's Veterans Park Memorial Worrying About My Double Dip Recession & My Nephew Shooting Himself

Today in the noon time frame I was heading to Chinatown in Arlington. On the way I decided to stop at Arlington's Veterans Park to pay my respects to the soldier guarding the memorial.

The shady walk on the Veterans Park boardwalk through the Wildscape slightly cheered me up.

I've been feeling a bit depressed, of late, worrying I may be slipping into a dreaded double dip recession. My credit rating recently took another hit. I had a nightmare where, someone who I thought liked me, suggested I was a parasite on the world.

That was harsh.

My stock in the world has really taken a hit lately.

On the positive side of my current state of mind, this morning I was surprised to check the mail to find a settlement for a class action suit in the form of a check. The lawyers took over half of the settlement.

A few minutes ago Elsie Hotpepper sent me a link to a disturbing video on MSNBC about a gun incident in Chandler, Arizona.

Where my nephews live.

Apparently a 27 year old male Chandlerite was in a grocery store fumbling in his pants pocket when his girl friend's pink gun, which for some reason he was carrying, without the safety on, went off, sending a bullet through his most private parts.

A full recovery is expected. I have not received a phone call from my sister or mom with tragic news, so I strongly suspect the shooter is not one of my nephews.

Speaking of places, like Arizona, where it is very HOT. Today, in Texas, it was a little under 100 when I visited the Veterans Park Soldier.

Currently, at a little past 4, it is 106.5, feeling like 111, at my location in HOT Texas. Right now Chandler is a relatively chilly 103.6.

Today is Day 39 Over 100 in North Texas. Tomorrow will be Day 40. When is this HOT madness going to end?

Day 39 In A Row Over 100 In North Texas While I Ponder Inner Tubing In The Green Trinity River

Looking skyward through the bars of my patio prison cell on the second Tuesday of August, Day 9, I am seeing something that has been a bit rare of late.

Clouds.

According to the forecast there is 0% chance of precipitation today in North Texas. So, those clouds are just a big tease in the sky.

Today will be Day 39 in a Row of 100 degrees or more, as measured at the official temperature monitoring station at D/FW Airport.

21 days til September arrives. In Septembers of the past, in Texas, by the end of September the temperature of the pool starts to be a slight bit of a challenge to acclimate to. I will be glad when that day arrives.

Today is my pool-free day due to the pool getting its weekly shock.

I do not know if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle is shocking the Trinity River in preparation for Thursday's Rockin' the River Inner Tube Happy Hour Float in the currently very green river.

Perhaps the TRVB could use Fort Worth's former goofy mayor, Mike Moncrief's method for dying the Trinity River purple, to dispense chemicals to turn the formerly purple river a more aesthetically pleasant color than green.

I suppose crystal clear, like a swimming pool, is out of the question.

I can not help but wonder what sort of testing is done of the river water in the Happy Hour Zone prior to encouraging 100s of people to get in the green water?

The Paradise Center's Elizabeth's Heart

I got a blog comment this morning from someone calling him or herself "Anonymous" that those of you who have been following the Paradise Center Scandal and who know the story of Elizabeth, will find of interest.

This is what Anonymous had to say......

Durango, I was told by two people from Paradise Center that Elizabeth had surgery to repair the hole in her heart. The couple said she had the procedure in Childrens Hospital at Dallas. Thought you might want to check it out and let folks know who love and follow Paradise Center happenings.

I hope Elizabeth and her mom and dad are doing well. This family has been through a lot the past couple years. The Battle to Save Carter Avenue from having an un-odorized natural gas pipeline run under the homes of Carter Avenue, which was a battle successfully waged by Elizabeth's dad, Steve, also known as Fort Worth's Lone Ranger.

And then the family got hit by the Paradise Center Scandal via the unscrupulous underhanded dealings of a corrupt Tarrant County Agency, MHMR-TC and its equally corrupt, irresponsible, unethical, inhumane co-horts in bad behavior.

I will try and find out where get well cards can be sent to Elizabeth. I suppose the Paradise Center address would work. That would be 525 South Henderson Street, Fort Worth.

Walking With My Mom & The Ghosts Along Village Creek Thinking About Cherry Pie

Today I learned that dialing my camera to the "Aquarium" setting makes for a much better picture of the reflection in the Village Creek mirror than my previous attempt.

I called my mom when I left air-conditioned comfort to drive to the Village Creek Natural Historic Area to walk in the shade with the ghosts and my mom.

Mom and dad got back home yesterday from their trip to Washington.

I found out, via talking to my mom, I was wrong in my assumption as to what pass they took to get over the Cascades to see my aunt in Eastern Washington. They took the northernmost pass, the North Cross State Highway, also known as the North Cascades Pass, among other things it is known by, like the road that passes through North Cascades National Park. Or simply Highway 20, which is what my mom called it.

Mom and dad got peaches and cherries in Eastern Washington, among other things. I'd been lamenting missing cherries and good cherry pie just yesterday.

Cherry pie came up whilst talking to my mom when I asked about their eldest grandson making them dinner at his house in Mount Vernon. My two oldest nephews were there. And my oldest nephew's oldest, Spencer Jack. And Spencer Jack's grandma, who is my favorite ex-sister-in-law, who brought what my mom said was really good cherry pie.

Anyone reading this who happened to be a Twin Peaks fan knows cherry pie and the Pacific Northwest go together. Along with coffee.

After I lamented my lack of cherry pie my mom told me to look for Marie Callender, suggesting she might provide a worthy substitute in my current cherry deprived location.

The last time I had a cherry was at the Fremont Sunday Market in Seattle, sometime in August of 2008. They were Rainier cherries. Great big ones.

The 2nd Monday Of August In North Texas Will Likely Be Day 38 In A Row Over 100

My first look out my primary viewing portal on the world at the 2nd Monday of August occurred after the sun had already begun its daily heating and lighting duties.

Even though the sun has been up for over a half hour it has only managed to warm the exterior of my immediate vicinity to 83.9 degrees. That is almost the temperature my air conditioner is reducing the interior HEAT to.

Today will most likely be Day 38 in a Row of 100 degrees or higher as measured at the official temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport. 42 Days in a Row is the record.

I read this morning that the number of Global Warming Deniers in North Texas is declining. I do not know what is causing this decline.

I think I will go swimming now before it gets any hotter.

Fort Worth's Fosdic Lake Ducks Do Not Seem To Be Enjoying the HEAT or Fosdic Lake

The heat seems to be stressing out the Fosdic Lake ducks. Or maybe it is Fosdic Lake that is stressing the ducks.

Twice within the last week I have found the Fosdic Lake ducks out of the water, huddled under the shade of a tree on the eastern shoreline of Fosdic Lake.

Is the lake water too HOT for the ducks? Is the lake water too polluted? Are the Fosdic Lake ducks the parakeets in the Fort Worth metaphoric mine, warning that the water is not safe?

I saw only one turtle in Fosdic Lake today. Where have all the turtles gone? Usually the Fosdic Turtles are sunning themselves on any available log when it is HOT.

There were a couple guys fishing in Fosdic Lake today, despite the signs warning about consuming Fosdic Fish.

It was only 98.7 when I left air-conditioned comfort today, around noon, to enjoy walking around the polluted lake called Fosdic in Oakland Lake Park.

I was surprised to see a group of guys playing baseball in the noonday sun. Maybe there was a cooling breezing blowing off Fosdic Lake.

There were a couple people enjoying what appeared to be a picnic under cover in the picnic pavilion.

I do not remember if I've mentioned previously that it perplexes me that, in this city of over 700,000, there are parks, like Oakland Lake Park, with picnic facilities with no running water or restroom facilities.

Is Fort Worth somehow immune from the health and sanitation rules that operate in other parts of America?

Like I said, it is perplexing.

The First Sunny Sunday Of August In Texas Will Be Day 37 Over 100

Looking at the Shadow of the Skinny Dipping Thin Man you can see the sun has not yet arrived on the first sunny Sunday of August and already those distant nuclear explosions in the sky have heated the pre-dawn darkness to 86 degrees.

Today will be Day 37 in a Row of 100 degrees or higher as measured at the official temperature measuring station of North Texas at D/FW Airport.

I have yet to locate my mom and dad, who, today, begin day 21,901 of wedded bliss. Give or take a day or two.

Meanwhile up in my old home zone it is currently 54.1. The Puget Sound region has had two days in the 80s this summer. Carlotta Camano thinks air-conditioning needs to be installed in her house to combat those rare instances of sweltering heat. Carlotta's current husband is not agreeing to taking cooling measures. He must not realize what a delicate orchid he married.

The sun has now arrived to light up Sunday and turn up the HEAT. Which means it is time to take my sunny Sunday skinny dip.