The Last Saturday Of October Waiting To Stand To Watch A Wet World Series Game Tonight At The Ballpark In Arlington

You're looking out my primary viewing portal on the world at the barely post-dawn view of the last Saturday of the 10th month of 2011.

The sky is currently clear of clouds in my location.

Apparently this currently clear sky will start to fill with clouds as Saturday progresses. By 7pm, at the start of tonight's World Series game at the Ballpark in Arlington, the weather predictors are predicting a 50% chance of rain falling on the field.

I did not get a ticket to tonight's World Series game. All that left were standing room only non-seats. While those non-seats were a bargain at something like $380 I did not think I could stand for several hours, not in my delicate condition.

I have not gone swimming for 2 or 3 mornings in a row. My aching elbow joint problem seems to have greatly abated. Was this caused pain being caused by swimming? I don't know. But, I may find out this morning when I return to the pool in a few minutes.

With Betty Jo Bouvier & The Afternoon View Of Texas & Washington's Central Markets

If I remember right I've referenced the morning view through the bars of my patio prison cell a time or two. I do not recollect ever referencing the afternoon view from my patio prison cell.

That is what you are looking at in the picture. The Friday afternoon view through the bars of my patio prison cell.

As you can see, it is a bit brighter than the morning view.

And warmer. Currently it is 80 degrees out there, somewhere between 5 and 6pm.

I was talking to Betty Jo Bouvier a few minutes ago about the salubrious benefits of herbal teas. This led me to mentioning where one might find Kava Kava tea. In my location I can find Kava Kava at Sprouts Farmers Market and Central Market.

Betty Jo Bouvier is in Washington. That is an American state in the far northwest corner of the country. Washington has no Sprouts Farmers Market. Until this afternoon I thought Washington did have a Central Market.

Well, actually, Washington does have a Central Market. It is just not the Texas version.

I remember when first I heard that a Central Market had opened in Mill Creek, in Washington, thinking it odd that Central Market would be expanding to Washington when they have only recently expanded from Austin to the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

I had heard reports from Washingtonians about the Mill Creek Central Market. What a great grocery store it was. When I asked if they'd gone to Burger and Bock this was met with confusion. That should have been a clue to me.

So, today, whilst conversing with Betty Jo, about tea, I looked up Central Market Mill Creek. Then went to their website. Surprisingly low quality level website for a Central Market operation, I thought to myself. It did not take much looking at this website to realize the Central Market in Mill Creek has nothing to do with the Austin based Central Market, except for sharing a name.

The Austin based Central Market's website matches what I'd expect from a Central Market Texas website.

I must try and remember which Washingtonians I have told that they need to check out Mill Creek's Central Market and make amends.

Confirming That There Are Now Two Giant Tires On The Tandy Hills While Worshiping At The New Tandy Shrine With Fort Worth Sewer Guys

The Tandy Hills Horse Shrine

I had not planned on returning to the Tandy Hills today. It seems like I was just there yesterday.

But extremely pleasant temperatures and an anonymous comment from someone calling him or herself :"Anonymous" had me deciding to go to the Tandy Hills today.

Anonymous made a comment to a blogging yesterday where I mentioned another GIANT Tire had appeared on the Tandy Hills.

This is what Anonymous had to say...

I'm pretty sure it is the same tire as Tire Number One, and just appears to be Tire Number Two by virtue of its having (by itself or with help) moved a bit northwest (a direction with which you are obviously familiar). It has been lollygagging in its new spot for a while now.

And while we are in Tandy Hills, how come no pictures of the monument taking shape at the junction where the North Trail Up The Hill and South Trail Up The Hill merge into The Trail Up The Hill? The little horse on wheels has been joined by golf balls, an electric cable insulator, and a really large hollowed-out bone. If you've been taking the New Trail Up The Hill Recently Hewn By City Workers, then you would miss the newest art installation, thus explaining the lack of pictures.

(Which is fine by me since encouraging artists by noticing what they do can lead to unpredictable results, not all of which are pleasant.)

I was 100% certain I'd seen two GIANT Tires yesterday, so I felt compelled to confirm the existence of two GIANT Tandy Tires with photo documentation. And to check out the new, apparently ever growing, Tandy Hills Shrine. That is the new shrine above. The view from the shrine is looking west at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.

The most interesting, or disturbing, part of the new Tandy Shrine is one of the pieces Anonymous mentioned, that being the "really large hollowed-out bone." Is it a Cow bone? Dog bone? Human bone?

Giant Tandy Tire #1 With Baseball Cap

Above is the original GIANT Tandy Tire in its resting place in a dry Tandy Creek bed. This particular GIANT Tandy Tire is still wearing the baseball cap I pointed out a couple days ago. Now let's move on to GIANT Tandy Tire #2.

Giant Tandy Tire #2 Without Baseball Cap

As you can see, this GIANT Tire is not resting in a dry creek bed. It is laying on the ground near one of the odd green and white posts that appeared within the past year or two. Please make note of the tire tracks on the Tandy Highway. Those tire tracks were not there yesterday. I decided to follow the tracks to see where they led, since that sign that you saw by the new Tandy Shrine clearly says "NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES."

Fort Worth Sewer Guy's Tandy Hills Transport Device

I headed south on the Tandy Highway, following the tire tracks. After a quarter mile, give or take a few feet, I heard voices. Then a white pickup truck could be seen through the brush.

My one long time reader may remember I have an aversion to white pickup trucks. They have been nothing but trouble to me.

I continued on my quest and soon saw what had been making the tracks on the Tandy Highway that led all the way to GIANT Tandy Tire #2. It is the Fort Worth Sewer guys back doing what ever it is they do every once in awhile on the Tandy Hills.

Changing the subject from Tires and Shrines to the temperature. It is surprisingly warm today. Almost 80 at the present point in time. I thought the hiking with minimalist outerwear days were over for the year. As I often am, I was wrong. I heard on the radio, though, on the way to the Tandy Hills, that a new cold front is scheduled to arrive in a few days. Possibly with the first freeze of the year? I don't know.

Up Late After Being Up Late Watching The Texas Rangers Win A World Series Game & Emmanuel Kelly

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell you can tell, on this next to last Friday of the 10th month of 2011, that it is yet one more clear sky morning in Texas.

It is 20 degrees above freezing. I am almost 100% certain I am not going to go swimming this morning.

Apparently the Texas Rangers beat the St. Louis Cardinals last night to tie the World Series at one win a piece. I now know, for now, these games are being played up in St. Louis.

I have not acquired tickets, yet, to go to a World Series game when it comes to the Ballpark in Arlington.

This morning Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast sent me a YouTube video. If you are feeling sorry about your sad lot in life, watch this video to put things in perspective....

Hiking The Tandy Hills Without Moammar Gadhafi Haunting The Planet

Giant Tandy Tire Number Two

Today is the first time I've gone hiking on the Tandy Hills without the malevolent presence of Moammar Gadhafi being on the planet.

I did not notice the absence of Moammar Gadhafi making the Tandy Hills any more peaceful than its usual peacefulness.

The way things are going for corrupt, evil dictators I think if that were my business I'd be doing some quick reforming to try and save my sorry hide.

Methinks the former dentist who's dictates dictate to Syrians is the next dictator toppler.

On a totally different from dictating note.

I came across another GIANT tire on the Tandy Hills today. Actually it was on the Tandy Highway, not a Tandy Hill.

For quite some time, I'd not walked the stretch of Tandy Highway that runs from Tandy Falls to the south trail that runs to the top of Mount Tandy. It was on that section of highway, between those two landmarks, that I came upon the GIANT tire, you see in the picture, blocking the road.

The temperature today has gone from being a few chilly degrees above freezing to one degree shy of 70. Near perfect.

4.6 Magnitude Supposedly Rare Texas Earthquake Shakes San Antonio This Morning

4.6 Magnitude Quake 50 Miles South of San Antonio

Texas seems to be constantly shaking from earthquakes.

Yet each time we feel the earth move here in Texas it seems I read how rarely Texas has earthquakes.

In the past few years I have experienced earthquakes centered in all directions all around me.

But, I have not felt the earth move.

I often felt the earth move, at times quite violently, when I lived in the shaky state of Washington.

This morning, at 7:24 am, an area about 50 miles south of San Antonio got popped with what the U.S. Geological Survey says was a 4.6 magnitude earthquake.

The earthquakes that have rattled my immediate vicinity have been puny little shakers. Most people seem to credit the Barnett Shale gas drillers and their fracking cracking with causing the local quakes.

A 4.6 level quake is a bit more serious. If you were at the epicenter of a 4.6 quake you'd be feeling a lot of motion and likely hear a lot of noise.

This morning's Texas quake was centered near the town of Campbellton. Faint tremoring was felt as far away as downtown San Antonio. The shaking was strong enough in San Antonio that a downtown federal building was briefly evacuated.

And once again, the earth has moved in Texas, where earthquakes are rare, with me not feeling it.

Shivering 10 Degrees Above Freezing On Day 20 Of October After Texas Rangers Lose Game 1 Of The World Series

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the world you can not tell it is only 10 degrees above freezing out there.

Not windy. But cold. I am taking a morning off of my usually morning swimming ritual.

It seems like only yesterday I verbalized being appalled that it was already day 20 of September. And now it is already day 20 of October. Which has me appalled.

It is only 11 days until the biggest holiday of the year.

Halloween.

After Halloween we get on the fast track to the dreaded, by me, Holiday Season.

I think the Holiday Season should be like the Olympics and Presidential Elections. Held only every 4 years.

The first game of the World Series of 2011 is history. The Texas Rangers lost. I could not tell from my brief glancing at info about the game if it was played 8 miles from my abode, in the Ballpark in Arlington, or if it was played in St. Louis. I suspect it was in St. Louis because I saw the Star-Telegram had an article singing the praises of the new St. Louis baseball park.

Controversial Texas Nerds With Tandy Hills Sinkholes

It has always been controversial to mention sinkholes on this blog. Usually because Gar the Texan Nerd usually turns the sinkhole into a bizarre controversy.

But, I believe Gar the Texan Nerd is currently out of the country due to his newly diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome having him on his 6th Caribbean cruise of the year.

So, I think it is safe to assume I can mention a sinkhole without it turning into a controversy courtesy of Gar the Texan Nerd.

Today on the main trail that leads to the Tandy Hills, from View Street, I came upon what looked like a sinkhole in the making. Currently I do not believe there is any danger of falling into this abyss, but I would not want to come upon it on a hike in the dark. I think a major tripping might be the result.

The recent rains have caused some new little wildflowers to sprout out. Adding a little color to the currently browned hills.

I am liking the cool temps. It is only 65 right now. I think it was 61 when I headed for the hills.

The pool ended up being more pleasant this morning than yesterday morning, even though the air temperature was colder, with it being in the 40s. The difference was yesterday morning it was real windy. This morning it was not windy.

I need to send out a BOLO (Be On Look Out) for Elsie Hotpepper, who has gone missing again. I'll put out the BOLO and then have lunch. Spaghetti sauce with mushrooms and salami over brown rice, with fresh asparagus.

Which reminds me, Top Chef Texas starts up soon.

Did Rick Perry Embarrass Himself At Last Night's Entertaining Las Vegas Western Republican Presidential Debate?

The early morning sky of the 3rd Wednesday of October is glowing clear and blue, which you can clearly see looking skyward through the bars of my patio prison cell.

I watched the Republican Presidential Debate last night, which overstimulated me and made me want to go to Las Vegas.

I don't think I've been in Las Vegas since 2005.

I've never watched a Presidential Debate with so much amusing bickering as I heard last night.

I don't know if my opinion is shared by anyone else, but to me, it appears Rick Perry is in way way way over his head. He seemed, to me, to make a big fool of himself. He even got the audience booing at him with his stupid harping about Mitt Romney supposedly being an illegal alien enabler.

Ron Paul makes a lot of sense a lot of the time. And then sometimes he says something fruitcakey. I can not think of a specific right now.Maybe one was the Wall Street occupiers should be occupying the Federal Reserve instead.

I don't know how many people watched last night's Vegas debate. If millions upon millions were viewing I suspect Newt Gingrich will be taking a jump in the polls, while Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann continue to plunge.

On a totally non-political note. Last night we got down into the 40s for the first time in a long time at my location on the planet, as you can see via my computer generated weather graphic.

My going swimming rule, that I adopted during our last swimming season, is that swimming is doable if the 24 hour temperature average is 50 degrees or above.

I am fairly certain the temperature has averaged 50 degrees, or above, during the previous 24 hour time period. So, I am going swimming now. I will let you know later how that worked out.

Updating the Cotton Bowl's Red River Rivalry Between Texas & Oklahoma

The Red River makes up part of the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. Every year the University of Texas Longhorns play the University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in a football game known as the Red River Rivalry.

This Red River Rivalry game takes place during the State Fair of Texas. Googling for Red River Rivalry info I think I gleaned that this year's Red River Rivalry game has already taken place, with OU beating Texas, 55 to 17.

Clearly I pay little attention to football. So, why am I bringing up this Red River Rivalry? Well, apparently I have blogged about the Red River Rivalry previously. And erroneously.

Today a guy named David Fussell kindly alleviated me of my erroneousness. This is was Mr. Fussell had to say...

Love your blog on the State Fair of Texas! One inaccuracy though. The blog states:

The Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl will soon be history. It will become the Red River Rivalry in the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington. 

The presidents of both universities have emphatically stated that the Red River Rivalry game between Texas and OU will NEVER leave the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park.

The current contract runs through 2015, and all parties involved are in negotiations to extend the contract long-term. 

Thanks!

The link in the message went to my Eyes on Texas webpage about the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal. Which had me scouring that overly big webpage looking for the error. When I could not find it I emailed Mr. Fussell and asked if this error was on a blogging. It was. Rather than try and find that particular needle of a  blogging in this haystack of a blog I decided to just blog about my error.

Googling for info about the Red River Rivalry I found that at one point in time I was correct in saying the game was moving to the new Cowboy Stadium.

In February 2007, the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic let it be known the game would move out of Dallas to Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, in 2010.

This threat to move the game to Arlington got Dallas Mayor Laura Miller to champion a bond referendum to greatly expand and improve the Cotton Bowl. In November 2006 Dallas voters passed a $30 million bond issue to improve the stadium. The City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas kicked in an additional $20 million.

By April of 2007 Mayor Miller was able to announce that Texas and Oklahoma had agreed to keep playing in the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park though 2015.

Well, I'm glad that is all cleared up. So, what happens after 2015? Methinks that Red River Rivalry should stay in Dallas. Arlington's Cowboys Stadium has nothing like the State Fair of Texas to add to the overall fun.