In The Middle Of The Morning Of The Middle Of The Last Month Of The Year It Is 75 Degrees At My Location In Texas

It is not yet 10 in the morning at my location. I looked up at my computer temperature monitoring device to see the device indicating it was currently 75 degrees in the outer world.

This seemed unlikely to me.

So, I stepped outside to be greeted with some wind, some rain and some of what felt like slightly warm air.

Methinks, with these suddenly balmy temperatures that that lightning strike in the weather graphic likely accurately represents what may be happening soon.

Due to figuring that the 24 hour temperature average had been 60 or above, I did get in the pool this morning.

Getting in the pool this morning did not go well. I ran from the shallow end to the deep. Swam, paddling and kicking hard for, maybe, 20 seconds, before deciding that I think I need at least 5 days averaging 60 degrees or above to make the pool doable.

Apparently I need to lard on even more fat to give myself a sufficient layer of insulative adipose tissue to make swimming comfortable during this cool time of the year.

Google Has Altered My Profile Photo To Accurately Reflect How Fat I Am

I know Google is technologically innovative to a level that is almost spooky.

But, methinks the latest Google innovation, that I have made note of, has gone too far.

In the column to the right you see my original Google Profile Photo. That photo was taken years ago, back when I was skinny.

Somehow Google figured out that I am no longer skinny and so Google altered the Profile Photo to be more accurate when one views my Google profile.

If you click on "View My Complete Profile," on the right, you will see the same Google altered photo that you see above.

I am sort of embarrassed to have my fatness revealed in this manner, but, the fat bottom line is, it was I who ate all those gallons of heavily buttered popcorn, so I guess I have to willingly accept having Google display a more accurate profile photo of me.

This may cause me to go on a diet.

In Texas Observing Three Generations Of Pacific Northwest Train Fanatics

In the picture you are looking at one of the Pacific Northwest's best selling authors, Martin Burwash, on the left, with his dad next to him and son, Seth, on the right, near the town of Lombard, in the state of Montana.

Martin is married to one of my best friends, dating all the way back, decades ago, to high school.

I am not sure, because my Adult Attention Deficit Disorder causes me to remember things incorrectly, but I believe Seth is about to be a baby daddy, making Martin a grandpa. I could be wrong about this, so don't go repeating what I say. I'm not a reliable source.

Martin's best selling historical novel is called Vis Major. I read somewhere that "Vis Major has received glowing reviews and is climbing the Best Seller lists. It's been reported that Burwash has been negotiating for screen rights to Vis Major, with Brad Pitt playing Burwash as the story's narrator."

Vis Major is about the Wellington Train Disaster, way back early in the previous century. A train disaster in the Stevens Pass zone of Washington's Cascade Mountains. One of the worst train disasters in history.

On Facebook Martin regularly posts black and white photos, that he has taken and then developed in his secret darkroom, of trains rolling across various tracks in the Pacific Northwest.

I have long wondered from whence Martin's rather extreme interest in trains came.

This morning, via Martin's blog, I got the answer, in a rather charming blogging titled "Three Generations."

I do not know what the current status is of Vis Major: the Movie. I do know that Martin told me that he preferred to be played by Sam Elliot, not Brad Pitt. I see Meryl Streep as Martin's wife in the movie. Or Jennifer Anniston. Or maybe Kim Kardashian.

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.