Another Record Breaking HOT Day Thinking About Being In Fort Worth In 1980

You are looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world, well before the arrival of the yellow sky heater, on Tuesday the 13th Day of September.

It is currently 77 degrees, so I have my windows open.

Yesterday the temperature high ended up being higher than the predicted high, hitting a high of 103, as measured by the National Weather Service at the official temperature monitoring station at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

In Grapevine.

Monday's HOT high of 103 tied the infamous 1980 record for most days of 100 or more in a year. The predicted HOT high for today seems to range from 104 to 106, depending on who is doing the predicting.

Which means, unless a freakish Arctic Cold Front quickly arrives, today will break the 1980 days of 100 or HOTTER record.

I did not know til this morning that that 1980 record ended on August 11, 1980, when a thunderstorm lowered the temperature causing the high to reach only 97 on that day.

Ironically and bizarrely, I remember that day. My first time ever to visit the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex (the term "Metroplex" had not been invented at that point in time) was in that infamous summer of 1980.

I arrived in Fort Worth on August 11, 1980. I am able to remember this precisely because August 11 is a date I remember. For personal reasons.

I drove to Fort Worth, from Mount Vernon, Washington, in a Toyota without air-conditioning. The entity that caused me to come to Fort Worth put me up in what was then a Ramada Inn.

A Ramada Inn on Beach Street, right off Interstate 30, about 4 miles from where I now live, 31 years later. And less than a mile from the Tandy Hills, where I also live 31 years later.

My impression of Fort Worth and the Dallas area, at that 1980 point in time, was not good. Fort Worth's downtown was not the impressive envy of the world that it is now. I don't think at that point in time there was a single skyscrapers. The Fort Worth Stockyards was not then in the tourist attraction mode it is now.

I remember driving to Dallas and being unable to find Dealey Plaza and the site of the JFK Assassination. That seems very odd now, due to the fact that that location is extremely easy to find.

I got one of my worst sunburns ever that summer in Fort Worth, spending too much time at the Ramada Inn pool. I can not remember the last time I had a sunburn. I do remember the last time I was in a Fort Worth pool.

I think I will go relive that memory of being in a Fort Worth pool right now.

A Reminder To Take A Trip To A TRIP Meeting On Wednesday

Just minutes ago I got an urgent email from TRIP infoming me of a meeting on Wednesday where I am expected to give a speech and sing the National Anthem. I can not guarantee I will do what is expected of me. I seldom do.

Below is the TRIP message....

Dear Friends of the Trinity River,

Worried About Water In Tarrant County?  Maybe You Should Be.

Over the past ten years, North Texas has seen record population growth while our water supply levels have consistently fallen.  There seems to be no real plan to solve the problem and as we're beginning to see the dry lake bottoms baking in the sun, it can only get worse.  But this is nothing compared to what we're facing.  Where is the money that can be used to solve this problem - and where should it be going?  John Basham will tell you.

Also - What is TMDL and what's the status of our TMDL?  TMDL is the Total Maximum Daily Load.  Sounds like just another government alphabet soup acronym, but it actually refers to the levels of PCBs in the Trinity River. PCB or Polychlorinated biphenyls, are highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical compounds that river tubers, wake-boarders and others enjoying a dip in the Trinity have been exposed to.  The North Central Texas council of Governments is involved in a study of the maximum allowable levels of PCBs in the Trinity.  Since they hold their "public" meetings during business hours (when most people are at work), we attended for you and will give you the lowdown. Of course, you can ask US tough questions!  Because we like asking tough questions ourselves.

Get updates on the increased costs of the Trinity River Vision and how it will impact you. 

Then, take a look at some alternative plans.

We'll have many guest speakers - -You won't want to miss this one!

Join the Trinity River Improvement Partnership (TRIP)

Wednesday, September 14th @ 6:30 PM

2501 Ludelle, Fort Worth (Map Below)

And remember - our water is a non-partisan issue!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at TRIP

Tandy Hills Litter Stomp & Creek Bed Exploration

Stratford Park Picnic Table Location

I did not make it to the Tandy Hills Natural Area and Giant Tire Sanctuary today.

But I did get an email from Don Young inviting me.

And you.

To the Tandy Hills this coming Saturday of September 17.

This is one of those invitation type things that I do not know why anyone would pass up due to the fact that not only do you get a T-shirt for participating, you also get a Certification of Appreciation, presented, I assume by the Wizard of Tandy Hills.

Below, as best as I can re-create it, is the invitation inviting you to the Tandy Hills this coming Saturday....

Howdy Friends and Neighbors,

Have you ever been hiking at Tandy Hills Natural Area/Stratford Park and noticed all the trash in the creek bed? You probably said to yourself: "Yuck!"

And, if you did, we have an opportunity for you...

JOIN US for 
**** The 1st Neighborhood FALL LITTER  STOMP ****

Saturday September 17th, 9am to 12noon

We have an amazing opportunity RIGHT NOW  because the drought has dried up the creek. That means, we can walk the creek beds (neat!) and clean up the cups, cans and crud that will (when we eventually get rain) be washed all along the creek's path through THNA and into the Trinity River.

WHEN & WHERE:
Meet at Stratford Park picnic table at 9:00 AM this coming Saturday, September 17. 2288 Chelsea Road @ 4000 Meadowbrook Drive. Park on Chelsea Rd.  (Stratford Park is on the eastern border of Tandy Hills)

WHAT:
Spend the morning adventuring and making a difference.
It will be fun, and you'll see bits of the Natural Area that you have possibly never seen before.

BRING:
The City of Fort Worth is providing Bags, Gloves, and a couple of "Little Grabbers".
If you have Gloves or Grabbers, you may want to bring them along.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
A tee-shirt!
A Certificate of appreciation (woo!)
And a sense of accomplishment on your next visit to Tandy Hills/Stratford Park.

RSVP & ADDITIONAL INFO:
Contact: Jen Schultes
jenschultes@gmail.com

Don Young

Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area
P.O. Box 4700412288
Fort Worth, TX 76147
817-731-2787

"Keep it like it was."

Village Creek Natural Historic Area Tree Limbs Crash While Flowers Bloom Spiting The Great North Texas Drought

A Natural Pecan Tree Loses A Limb

It is being another clear blue sky HOT day in North Texas, currently heated, according to the Weather Underground, to 100 degrees.

It was not that HOT when I left air-conditioned comfort and headed to Village Creek Historic Natural Area around noon to walk under the shade of giant oak trees.

We have had no high winds blowing through North Texas since the last time I walked under the Village Creek giant oak trees. And yet, since I last walked among them, several have lost limbs.

I suspect the Great Texas Drought of 2011 is causing trees to lose limbs. It's tragic.

Village Creek is no longer flowing. Pools of water remain. I don't know what's happened to the fish and water snakes. The turtles seem to be adjusting, though a bit extra skittish.

The Drought Clematis

The Village Creek Bayou is now totally dried up with large swatches of brown vegetation. And yet, somehow, since I was last in that location, flowers are blooming.

The flowers are growing from vines growing beside the dried up bayou. I'm not much of a flower identifier, but these looked like clematis. I tried to grow clematis a time or two on my Washington rooftop garden. Never successfully.

Obviously, whatever this flower and vine is, it is very resistant to the Great North Texas Drought.

We're Back In HOT Grilling Mode Breaking Temperature Records In North Texas

Another Temperature Record Breaking Day In Texas

Earlier today I blogged about today's predicted temperature whilst relying on out of date information. Thusly I was erroneous when I said we were scheduled to be heated to 99 degrees HOT today in North Texas.

Around 5 this morning the National Weather Service added 2 degrees to today's scheduled heat, taking us over the century mark again, plus one, to 101.

If the temperature as measured at the official North Texas temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport does reach 101 today it will be yet one more temperature record in a summer of record breaking temperatures, with today being the hottest September 12 in recorded North Texas history.

We have not hit 100 in North Texas since September 3, lulling us into a false sense of relief.

The reason we are back HOT again is the upper level high pressure HOT zone that had been moved out of town by an upper level low pressure cold zone, has returned with a vengeance.

The low pressure cold zone is expected to come back fighting, later in the week.

So far in 2011 North Texas has had 68 days of 100 or higher. One HOT day short of the record set in the infamous summer of 1980.

It seems fairly clear that 2011 is going to go down in history as the HOTTEST in North Texas history. A record that will likely fall in 2012, what with this ongoing Global Warming thing we've got happening.

One nice personal side benefit for me due to the return of HOT temperatures. My pool had become a bit cool. It should be a bit warmer by tomorrow morning than it was today.

Up Early Worrying About Getting HOT Again With Ellis The Schizophrenic

In the picture you are up early with me looking at the pre-dawn darkness at air already warmed to 73 degrees even though that nuclear reaction in the sky has not arrived to do its daily heating duties.

Apparently today, September 12, the 2nd Monday of this 9th month of 2011, we are scheduled to be HOT, with the high currently predicted to be 99.

Tomorrow the scheduled high is 101 degrees HOT. I was sort of hoping that this type thing was done with for the year.

This temperature schizophrenia is sort of annoying. Right now my windows are open. I suspect they will need to be closed sometime this morning and then remain closed for the duration of this new incoming HEAT wave.

Speaking of confusing schizophrenics, I know one who, among her many identities, is Ellis. Near as I can tell, Ellis is a man, but the other personalities, near as I can tell, are women. I think Ellis just pretends to have multiple personalities to have fun. Ellis is quite prolific at spewing verbiage, while the female Ellis personas are very terse and cryptic with their verbiage, as manifested in email.

Enough about Ellis, it's time to go swimming, even though the sun has not yet arrived.

My Heartfelt Apology To Washington's Carlotta Camano For My Misuse Of Duck Tape

A few months ago Carlotta Camano, up in Washington, mentioned to me that she had used "Duck Tape" to fix something.

I then, in a rare moment of acting like a know-it-all, informed Carlotta that the correct term was "Duct Tape."

Carlotta thanked me for correcting her alleged egregious error.

Well, imagine my horror, this morning, when I was in Wal-Mart, needing, among other things, to acquire what I thought was "Duct Tape", to find that Carlotta Camano was using the correct terminology, when I saw nothing but "Duck Tape" on the shelf.

I have emailed Carlotta Camano what I hope she accepts as a heartfelt apology for my bad manners and misinformation, telling Carlotta....

I was mortified today to realize I had ignorantly and pedantically erroneously schooled you for using a wrong word. Some time ago you said you used "Duck Tape" to fix something. I then overbearingly and condescendingly informed you that I lived in the state with the highest consumption of that tape, which is used in all sortsa ways, everything from car repairs, to clothing malfunction repairs, to emergency birth control, to temporary dentistry, to stopping gunshot bleeding.

So, today I needed some of that tape. Not for emergency birth control, but for a more elevated use.  Imagine my shock when I found the tape section in Wal-Mart to see that this particular product is called "Duck Tape."

I hope you can find it in your extremely forgiving heart to forgive me for being such a Duck Tape buffoon.

I truly am mortified. This type thing must be the type thing that Gar the Texas Pedantic Know-It-All, But-Often-Wrong Nerd goes through every day.

It is humiliating.

On Top Of Mount Tandy Thinking About Waving A Flag On 9/11 & Missing Camaflouged Canisters

In the picture you are standing on top of Mount Tandy, around noon, on 9/11, looking past some dying trees at the semi-stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.

I am really enjoying the more tolerable temperatures of late making the Tandy Hills hill hiking a lot more pleasant.

Upon arrival at the top of Mount Tandy today I was fiddling with something under my hood when a pair of humans exited the hill zone, howdying me and inquiring if I required assistance. Since I did not require assistance I indicated I did not.

On my way to the Tandy Hills I saw a few American flags waving, but not nearly the number that I saw waving 10 years ago and the weeks that followed that awful day.

The most memorable flag waving I saw in the days that followed the 9/11 of ten years ago was in the parking lot of the McDonald's that you go by when you exit I-30 to head to Six Flags in Arlington. A guy was standing on the bed of his pickup, waving a big flag stuck on a long pole, back and forth.

An hour later I drove by the same spot and the same guy was still waving the same flag. This was not a young guy so fervently waving that flag.

The only mystery I came across on the Tandy Hills today is that 24 hours after showing up, the sinister looking camouflaged canister has disappeared from inside the Giant Tandy Tire. I suspect foul play of some sort.

Up Early On The 10th Anniversary Of The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Looking through the bars of my patio prison bars at a very somber September 11 morning.

In a little over an hour, 10 years ago, I felt myself compelled to call people on the west coast to tell them to get out of bed and turn on their TVs.

I'd gotten a call from Big Ed, in Dallas, telling me he'd seen a plane crash into the World Trade Center.

Big Ed was in the Dallas Fashion District, near the Dallas World Trade Center. I assumed he was talking about a plane crashing into that World Trade Center.

I turned on my TV totally confused about what I was looking at. And then, live, I saw the 2nd plane strike the 2nd tower.

I don't remember at what point I started calling the west coast. I know it was well before the first tower collapsed.

My little sister at that point in time worked in law offices high up in a downtown Seattle skyscraper. I remember when I called her I told her I did not think she should go into downtown Seattle that day. I don't remember if she heeded her big brother's advice or not.

It is sort of unsettling that that vivid day happened a decade ago.

I'd returned to Texas only a few days before 9/11, after spending a month up in Washington, driving myself up there for my mom and dad's 50th Anniversary. This was to be the last time I drove from Texas to Washington and back.

A lot of things changed, post 9/11, like driving back to Washington. I think there'd been 5 trips back, pre 9/11, since the move to Texas in late 1998. Or was it 1999?

This morning, as I was looking at my various news sources, online, with all the focus on 9/11 remembrances, it crossed my mind to wonder what sort of fuss was made on December 7, 1951, ten years after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into World War II. A war which ended less than 4 years later, after America dropped a pair of atom bombs on Japan.

In 1951 America did not have quite the highly developed electronic news media industry it has today. I suspect not as much attention was paid to December 7, 1951 than is being paid to September 11, 2011.

An awful lot of people have died as a result of the barbaric acts of 9/11. And continue to die. An awful lot of people died as a result of the barbaric acts of 12/7. With people, for the most part, ceasing dying in September of 1945.

I imagine the memory of December 7, 1941 would be etched much more vividly into the American consciousness if that awful day was covered live on TV, like the events of 9/11.

Anyway, this should be an interesting day. I think I will start 9/11 off with a long swim in semi-cold water.

Encountering A Sinister Looking Camouflaged Canister Today On The Tandy Hills On The Way To David's 3rd Birthday Party & Elephant Garlic

Yesterday a Giant Tire appeared on the Tandy Hills. How this Giant Tire got to where it sits on the Tandy Hills remains a mystery.

Adding to the mystery is the sinister looking camouflaged canister which showed up inside the Giant Tire today.

I slightly moved the sinister looking camouflaged canister to see if I could tell if it was empty.

It did not feel empty. I did not feel like taking the lid off the sinister looking camouflaged canister for fear something like a spring-loaded snake might pop out at me.

That and due to the current state of high alert due to tomorrow being the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I thought it best to let Homeland Security deal with the sinister looking camouflaged canister.

My nephew, David's, 3rd birthday is this weekend. His favorite aunt flew up from Phoenix for David's birthday party. I do not know if today is David's birthday. Or tomorrow.

I was not invited to the party.

Having ones birthday on 9/11 would make it easy to remember.

Treasure hunting at Town Talk today only yielded one unique item, that being huge bulbs of Elephant Garlic. I also got a lot of chicken wings, among other things.