The 2nd Wednesday Of December Dripping Slightly While Thinking About Houseboats On Lake JD Granger & Mary Ann Getting Old

All the light you see glowing in the outer world is electrically derived light.

The sun has yet to arrive on this 2nd Wednesday of the last month of 2011. Already we are at Day 14 of December. Almost half way through the month and only 11 shopping days left til Christmas.

I got all my Christmas shopping done a long long time ago.

It is currently 55 degrees in the outer world at my location. I believe the 24 hour average has been 60 or above. So, I am going to try to go swimming this morning.

The weather predictors are currently predicting, again, that we will have rain and thunderstorms today.

I can tell, via the dampness visible on the ground, that some rain has rained down overnight.

Changing the subject from rain to other wet subjects,

I was appalled this morning to read in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that Seattle is cracking down on some types of houseboats. After reading the reasons for the crack down I can sort of understand, but still, Seattle without houseboats would not be Seattle.

The subject of Seattle houseboats caused me to wonder if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Dictator, J.D. Granger, will be selling houseboat slips on his little town lake and canals. Selling houseboat slips might have a better profit potential than doing sweetheart restaurant deals with his buddy's in Fort Worth's good ol' boy network.

The thing I am most appalled about this morning has nothing to do with houseboats or J.D. Granger. Last week I was shocked to realize Doris Day is 87 years old. This morning I was shocked to read that Gilligan's Island's Mary Ann, aka Dawn Wells, is now 73 years old.

Time flies. Like I said, it is already almost the middle of December.

Walking Softly While Wielding A Big Stick With Yoga & The Indians At Village Creek

A Man With His Club Heading Towards A Yoga Group

Is the moon full? Is it the lunatic time of the month?

I could not see the moon, even if it were dark and possibly visible, because we are under a thick cloud cover, currently, in this sort of parched part of the planet.

Rain was predicted for today. But, so far, none has fallen on my location.

It is currently 61 degrees. I tested the temperature of the swimming pool this morning. I deemed it not swim-worthy. Tomorrow morning I suspect it will be.

Back to today's walk with the Ghosts of the Caddoan Confederacy, the Native Americans who made up the Anadarko, Bidais, Caddo, Keechi, Kickapoo, Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Waco, Waxahachie and Wichita tribes, who used to live in a huge village that has now been reduced to being made note of via the existence of Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington.

Today there were a lot of people haunting Village Creek. In the picture, above, you see a club wielding man heading to a group of women doing yoga, led by a giant of a man of what looked to be of African-American distinction.

I met a couple dressed in what looked to be Middle Eastern garb, with the female of the couple wearing a head scarf and the man of the couple speaking on a smart phone in what sounded to be Arabic. I am almost 100% certain they were not on a terrorist mission. They greeted me in a very friendly manner, as I passed by, with the man taking a time out from speaking on the phone, in Arabic, to give me a very nice Texas accented "Howdy."

A family of 5, with a baby in a wobbly stroller, pushed by a dad wearing droopy drawers, which he cinched up as I approached, greeted me with a nice Mexican accented "Howdy."

I love how multi-cultural going on a walk in Texas in Village Creek Natural Historical Area is at times. Like today.

In Texas We Do Not Chop Off The Heads Of Our Witches & Sorceresses

Texas may be a bit notorious for its seemingly unseemly number of executions.

However, in Texas, to get executed, you need to be convicted of murder. As in taking another life.

Now, Texas may have, a time or two, accidentally executed someone who turned out later to be innocent. But, those type mistakes are very rare.

And then we have the Barbaric, Medieval, Backwards, Inhuman, Embarrassing Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Executing Amina bint Abdel Halim Nassar, on Monday, by chopping off her head, not because she murdered anyone. She lost her head because she supposedly "committed the practice of witchcraft and sorcery."

And we are allies of this regime why?

Oh yeah, they have oil.

Practicing Christian that I be, I heed the words of Jesus who said, "That which you do to the least among me, you do unto me."

I think Jesus considered all humans his children, not matter what race, creed or religion.

So, Supposedly Christian, sort of, nation that we be, how can America not get all up in arms over something like this?

What is a worse crime in need of punishment? Supposedly practicing witchcraft? Or chopping off someone's head?

Blue & Max Wish Grandpa A Happy Birthday From Tacoma

I thought this was too cute. Blue & Max, the well known Tacoma Adventure Poodles and Primary Caregivers to my nephews, David & Theo and niece, Ruby, put a "Happy Birthday Grandpa" greeting on their Blue & Max blog yesterday for my dad's birthday.

I believe that is Max resting on Grandpa's lap in the picture. This Grandpa lap sitting would have taken place last summer, I believe, in Tacoma.

I do not know if Blue & Max called Grandpa on his birthday yesterday. Grandpa did not mention getting a call from Blue & Max when I called.

I believe Blue & Max prefer sending text messages. That is the only way I ever hear from Blue & Max via my phone communicating device.

The 2nd Tuesday Of December Thinking About Rare Texas Rain & Blowing Up Drones

The pre-dawn view through the bars of my patio prison cell, of the early morning of the 2nd Tuesday of the last month of 2011, does not give you a clue that even though the sun has yet to arrive, already the outer world is being heated to a relatively balmy 52 degrees.

Yesterday morning, at first view of the outer world, I reported that the sky was clear. Within about 15 minutes it was raining.

So much for the accuracy of my weather condition observations.

Today weather prognosticators, other than myself, are predicting rain. I'll believe it when I get wet.

The only other thing I have on my simple mind this morning, other than the weather, is wondering why, if you are going to violate another nation's airspace with pilot-less drones, would you not equip those drones with some auto-destruct mechanism, like what happens to the tape after the Mission Impossible teams gets its mission?

Changing the subject from blowing up drones to swimming.

Even though the temperature average the past 24 hours has been above 50 degrees, I know that the swimming pool water is cold. I know I could get in it. But I also know I would not last long. I think I'll change my swimming protocol to 24 hours with a temperature average of 60 degrees or above. This seems far more sensible.

Walking Around Another Lake Fosdic Tree Before Learning The Durango Tree Is On Rantwick In Canada While Talking Way Too Long To My Dad

Fosdic Trees Overlooking Fosdic Lake & Fosdic Dam

Due to the lack of swimming induced salubrious aerobic stimulation, because the cold temperatures are not heating my swimming pool sufficiently to make getting immersed in water a doable thing, I decided today to see if jogging might be a fitting substitute.

I went to Oakland Lake Park to jog around Fosdic Lake and quickly decided I did not think I wanted to return to being a jogger.

A few weeks ago someone told me what type trees those are in the picture. But, the addled state of my brain's memory retention has forgotten.

Last week I took a picture of a Fosdic Lake tree and put it on my blog. That tree is now known, in Canada, as the "Durango Tree."

After I put the picture of the aforementioned tree on my blog, Steve A asked if he could submit it to the Canadian National Best Fall Foliage Tree Contest.

I said sure.

Next thing I know the tree picture is on the Canadian Rantwick website with verbiage that had a bit of an imaginative explanation of how the "Durango Tree" ended up in Canada.

The Tree Contest will be judged by visitors to a London mall. That is London, Ontario, not the one in England.

The prize for the Tree Winner is an authentic bottle of Canadian Maple Syrup. I told Steve A if the "Durango Tree" wins I am giving the syrup to him. Steve A told me I could keep it because syrup is banned on his Atkin's Diet.

Changing the subject from trees to my dad's birthday.

After I gave up on jogging I got on the freeway to go to Sam's Club. On the way I called my dad to wish him a Happy Birthday. Dad answered the phone, which is very rare. My mom is the phone answerer. I'd not talked to my dad in awhile. He was being very chatty. So many questions.

After I don't know how long my dad finally ran out of things to talk about.

I then called my oldest sister to remind her that today is dad's birthday and to warn her that he is being very talkative. My sister told me she was aware of this and so she sent her birthday wishes via text message.

My Nephew David Takes Ruby & Theo To Talk To Santa

David, Theo, Santa & Ruby

In the Santa picture you are looking at my nephew, David, talking to Santa, being the mouthpiece for his brother and sister, the twins, Theo & Ruby.

David had already visited Santa once, relaying to Santa that he had been a really good boy and that all he wanted for Christmas was his own personal robot.

Apparently, as the days passed after David's visit with Santa he became concerned that Santa had not been told what Theo & Ruby would like for Christmas. And that Santa also needed to know that his brother and sister had also been very good.

So, back to Santa the kids went. In the picture David is telling Santa that Theo & Ruby have been very good kids, even though they did do some squabbling on Thanksgiving.

David then proceeded to inform Santa that all his brother and sister wanted for Christmas was Thomas the Train stuff.

I have absolutely no idea what Thomas the Train stuff is. I hope Santa does. Or knows how to Google.

Happy Birthday Today From Texas To My Dear Ol' Dad

That is my dad's high school graduation picture you are looking at.

My dad graduated from Nooksack High School a couple years after the end of World War II. Nooksack High School is in the town of Nooksack, near the town of Lynden, near the Canadian border, near where my mom lived at that point in time.

The Nooksack are a Pacific Northwest Indian tribe.

Today is my dad's birthday.

Had you told my dad on the day this picture was taken that in the year 2011 he would be living in Arizona and his son would be in Texas, sending his picture out to the world, with a happy birthday greeting, on a blog, using something called a computer and the Internet, likely none of that would have made any sense.

Nor would my dad have been, way back then, able to understand how his son would be able to call him, long distance, for free, to wish him a happy birthday. And to do so whilst driving.

I remember when I was a kid it was a long distance call to call from Burlington to Lynden. All calls had to be very short. You got charged by the second for long distance calls back in Ancient Times.

In July of 2002 I flew north for the biggest family reunion ever of my dad's side of my family relations. This reunion took place at the fairgrounds in Lynden. At that reunion people I did not know would come up to me and say they knew who I was, without needing to ask, because I looked just like my dad. At the time I thought that odd, but now I sort of see the resemblance, except my dad has a cooler haircut. At least back in his senior year in high school.

Pretty much all of my good traits, such as they are, I got from my dad. Like always being totally calm and unflappable while driving. I have never ever seen my dad even remotely lose his temper. Lord knows he has had plenty of reason to, but I've never seen it happen. My dad has always been a Mr. Fix-it. Years ago it was fixing TVs.  Among other things. The last time I was in Washington my sister had a multi-page to-do list for my dad to get done during mom and dad's one week stay. Everything from fixing doors, building shelves to digging up rhododendrons.

If my memory serves me correctly, my sister and dad dug deep around the rhododendrons and I came along later and wrenched them out of the ground.

I have no idea what my mom and dad are doing today for my dad's birthday. When I talked to my mom Saturday night they had been being busy traveling about with one of my aunts. That is likely continuing.

The 2nd Monday Of December With Warmer Temperatures & Fort Worth Star-Telegram Library Propaganda

The view from my primary viewing portal on the outer world on the 2nd Monday of the last month of 2011 indicates Day 12 of December is going to be yet one more nice rain-free day in Texas.

That is scheduled to change tomorrow, according to the weather prognosticators. Tuesday's temperature high is supposedly going to reach 62 degrees, with the low being 58, which according to my swimming protocols indicates I will be able to go swimming Wednesday morning, due to the 24 hour average being over 50.

I can not go swimming this morning without violating the swimming protocols, because it is currently only 46 degrees. I don't think we got over 50 yesterday.

Changing the subject from my favorite one to Fort Worth's library system.

This morning I was a bit surprised to read the following in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram...

A little more than a year ago, the city was contemplating closing libraries and reducing hours.

But after the public made it clear that it sees libraries as essential services, those branches stayed open and the hours were restored.

Now, the City Council is poised Tuesday to approve a library master plan that includes remodeling and adding facilities and possibly pairing branches with other city departments in multipurpose facilities.

The above excerpt of propaganda from the Star-Telegram  pseudo-newspaper brought to mind the following lyrics from the John Mayer song Waiting on the World to Change...

Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want

The city "contemplated" closing libraries and reducing hours? Is not the non-propaganda version the fact that the city did close libraries and did reduce hours?

It is true the some of the public made clear they were appalled at the shoddy way the City of Fort Worth was handling its libraries.

The cutbacks have been quite noticeable at my neighborhood East Regional Fort Worth Public Library. Fewer books on the shelves, fewer periodicals, fewer hours open, fewer days open.

And now the Star-Telegram is reporting that the City Council is poised tomorrow to approve a $58 million library master plan to remodel and add facilities, among other things. If the money can be found in these troubling economic times.

Enough of that.

I wish I could go swimming now and purge my aggravation via salubrious aerobic stimulation.

WEATHER UPDATE The weather prognosticators have disillusioned me. The morning my post dawn blue sky optimism saw no chance of rain today. By 8 this morning wet drops were falling.

Today I Attended Church At Village Creek & Later Checked On My Obsession

A Rare View Of An Isolated Location On Village Creek

Since today is Sunday, with me being a creature of predictable habit, this would indicate I went to my regular Sunday worship place, that being going to Arlington to the Village Creek Historic Area's Natural Cathedral, where every day of the week, and especially Sunday, you can have yourself a special type of communion with the Indian Ghosts that haunt this part of Texas.

Last Sunday there was quite a large number of worshipers in the Village Creek Natural Cathedral.

Today there were several vehicles in the church parking lot, but few in the sanctuary.

I did run into a couple with a vicious, yapping little black terrier dog, which was my wickedest ankle biter encounter since Elsie Hotpepper's pit bull/poodle mix jumped up and bit me on the butt. I was grateful that bite did not require stitches. An ice pack stifled the pain and reduced the swelling.

It was 45 degrees when I went to my special church in the noon time frame. It is 49 degrees now, over 4 hours later. I doubt it will get to 50 today. Thus, I will not be going swimming in the morning. I continue to bloat up from the loss of my regular exercise.

Changing the subject from the temperature and church and hideous weight gain to my mom.

I forgot to mention that yesterday I got gas on my way to the Tandy Hills, which, obviously required calling my mom to tell mom that I got gas. Mom was not home. So, I left a message saying how much gas cost and what the temperature was.

My mom called back, last night, to tell me that mom and dad also got gas yesterday, almost as cheap as mine. And that they have also been freezing in the Phoenix zone. One of my Aunts is visiting mom and dad, from Washington, so they have been out and about.

The biggest news my mom had for me was my nephew, CJ, who lives in Scottsdale, had his house broken into. Neighbors saw the burglary in progress and called the police who caught the perps in the act. The robbers had removed pretty much everything of value. The cops returned it all with only 2 items missing. The only missing item my mom could remember was a bottle of expensive cologne that was not returned.

What is my nephew doing with a bottle of expensive cologne I sat here and wondered? I've got myself a bottle of Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men that's got to be in about its third decade of life. It's likely fermenting into an entirely new fragrance by now.

Just a second, I'll go see.....

Still smells the same to me. Except maybe I am detecting a rancid fruit note I'd not made note of before. Now thanks to you talking me into checking on my Obsession, I'm likely going to be having myself a sneezing fit now.

Thanks.